Leaching of microplastics enhanced through complex soil meso- and macrofaunal community transport.

Plant-based milk alternatives (PBMA) are increasingly being consumed as a supplement to or replacement for cow's milk, even in infancy and childhood. Their effects on later health and growth have been insufficiently studied. We analyze the available evidence concerning the effects of PBMA consumption on health and growth in infants, children, and adolescents. This review is based on publications retrieved by a structured literature search on health and growth outcomes of PBMA consumption in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Comparative cross-sectional and [das ist so genau richtig, "or" wäre dagegen nicht idiomatisch; inhaltlich versteht man hier als Leser:in "oder"] cohort studies have shown that the intake of nutrients typically found in cow's milk, such as iodine, is lower with exclusive consumption of PBMA. Even the partial replacement of cow's milk by PBMA is associated with reduced linear growth and a lower body-mass index (BMI). The height-for-age z-score was -0.04 [-0.07; -0.01] and the BMI-for-age z-score was -0.06 [-0.09; -0.03] for each cup of PBMA in five-year-olds, corresponding to reductions of 0.2 cm in height and 0.1 kg in weight. There have been case reports of severe malnutrition and undernutrition from the exclusive or predominant consumption of PBMA, mainly in the first two years of life, but the informational value of these reports is limited. Our search did not retrieve any longitudinal studies on long-term outcomes or any randomized intervention trials comparing the consumption of cow's milk and PBMA. High PBMA consumption in early life may increase the risk of health impairment. The low methodological quality of the available evidence, along with residual confounding, makes the risk hard to quantify [hier haben Sie im Deutschen die Aussage geändert, aber beide müssen sich entsprechen, d.h. hier: "impossible to quantify"?]. Recommendations regarding PBMA consumption must be differentiated by life phase. Age-related special nutritional requirements must be met, and this is particularly important in early life. More research on long-term outcomes is needed.

Carbide waste perceived as harmful to the environment is used in soil liming to minimize high soil acidity, which is responsible for low crop productivity. Irvingia wombulu remains a high-value and widely used tropical African tree species. The germination and seedling growth of Irvingia wombulu in soils amended with carbide waste were assessed. Polypots measuring 30 cm in height and 24 cm in diameter, filled with 10 kg of soil mixed with carbide waste powder at rates of 0, 35.2, 70.4, 105.6, and 140.8 g kg-1, were used in germination trials of 450 I. wombulu seeds, arranged in a completely randomized design. Growth data, including plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, and germination percentage, were recorded over 16 weeks. The ANOVA analysis showed significant differences, with means separated using standard error of the means (SEM). Germination percentage, leaf area, and stem girth were unaffected (p > 0.05) by carbide application. Seedling height ranged from 32 cm in the control to 37.8 cm in soils amended with 140.8 g kg-1 carbide. The study suggests that carbide waste inclusion is not detrimental to I. wombulu germination. Carbide waste is recommended as an appropriate nursery amendment material at approximately 40.8 g kg-1 for improved performance of I. wombulu seedlings in nurseries.

In the paper, a heterodyne quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (H-QEPAS)-based integrated methane (CH4) sensor prototype is reported. The CH4 absorption line located at 1650.96 nm was selected as the target spectral line. The design features an integrated, 3D-printed gas chamber for reduced size and weight. To realize the coordinated operation of each hardware component, a control program was designed based on LabVIEW platform, enabling the adjustment of various hardware parameters. The piezoelectric signal generated by the quartz tuning fork (QTF) was amplified via a trans-impedance amplifier (TIA), acquired by a data acquisition card (DAQ), and then transmitted to a virtual lock-in amplifier (LIA) on the PC terminal for processing. The dimensions of the integrated CH4 sensor prototype are 33 cm in length, 27 cm in width, and 15 cm in height. The final test results demonstrate that the sensor prototype exhibits an excellent concentration linear response, with a detection limit of 26.72 ppm and a short detection time of approximately 4 s.

ABSTRACT To assess the biomechanical differences between Randall foils and Big blades in rowing sprints, 12 experienced rowers (10 males) with 25.9 ± 8.7 vs. 24.5 ± 9.2 y, 179.8 ± 4.3 vs. 175.0 ± 2.8 cm of height, 74.2 ± 4.8 vs. 65.5 ± 6.2 kg of body mass and 23.0 ± 1.4 vs. 26.6 ± 1.4 kg/m2 of body mass index (for males and females) performed two randomised maximal-intensity 500 m bouts using Randall foils and Big blades. Biomechanical variables were recorded using GPS and IMU-based systems. Randall foils presented lower race time (108.3 ± 5.10 vs. 109.90 ± 4.93 s, p = 0.04), higher mean velocity (4.62 ± 0.20 vs. 4.55 ± 0.19 m/s, p = 0.03) and velocity coefficient of variation (11.38 ± 5.10 vs. 10.14 ± 3.68, p = 0.01). Velocity−time profiles showed higher velocity with Big blades from ~62–68% and ~82–98% of the cycle, particularly at the start (10–30%, 60–72% and 80–92%) and finish (20–25% and 60–65%). Overall, Randall foils provided a consistent advantage that may be decisive in races where outcomes are decided by fractions of a second.

BackgroundAir temperature that is considered as cold varies according to individuals. Urban people who live in temperate climates are accustomed to mild cold with varying wind speeds, but relatively few studies have examined the effects of wind speed in mild cold on individuals wearing winter clothing, especially compared to studies conducted in severe cold environments. We examined thermoregulatory responses to varying wind speeds in mild cold, considering anthropometric characteristics of individuals.MethodsTen healthy males (23.9 ± 3.3 years in age, 175.8 ± 4.9 cm in height, 74.4 ± 7.0 kg in body weight) participated in the following four wind conditions (0, 2, 4.5, and 7 m·s−1) at an air temperature of −5 °C (wind chill temperature: −5 to approximately −12 °C). Subjects wore winter clothing (IT, 2.1 clo), and every trial consisted of 80 min (10-min rest, 60-min walking, and 10-min recovery).ResultsRectal and gastrointestinal temperatures remained stable across all wind conditions, suggesting sufficient insulation from the winter clothing. However, peripheral skin temperatures decreased significantly with higher wind speeds (all Ps < 0.05), with finger temperature averaging 12.7 °C at 7 m·s−1. Overweight subjects showed less frequent shivering than normal-weight subjects. Both body surface area (BSA) and body mass index (BMI) were negatively correlated with overall thermal comfort and positively correlated with shivering frequency (all Ps < 0.05). BSA was also negatively correlated with toe temperature (P = 0.001).ConclusionsWhile typical winter clothing (2.1 clo) effectively maintains core temperature in wind chill conditions down to −12 °C, extremities, particularly the hands, require better insulation. Peripheral skin temperatures and thermal comfort provide reliable indicators for assessing cold stress. Morphological properties of the body also influenced cold responses, with overweight individuals exhibiting less frequent shivering and larger body surface areas correlating with greater cold sensitivity. These findings offer insights into optimizing winter clothing design to improve comfort and safety in windy conditions in mild cold.

A miniaturized 87Rb fountain clock has been developed and tested. It preserves the possibility of launching the atoms to 30 cm above the Ramsey cavity, which is typical for high-performance fountain clocks, while the physics package size is reduced to 80 cm in height and 36 dm3 in volume, by a factor of 2.5 and 20, respectively, compared to National Physical Laboratory Cs fountain clocks. A short-term fractional instability of 4.2 × 10−13/τ/s, and averaging down below 10−15, has been shown. The long-term stability of the systematic effects most affected by the miniaturization (second-order Zeeman shift and light shift) is also discussed. The mini-fountain clock has potential application as an ultra-stable holdover clock and a secondary frequency standard realizing the SI second.

To evaluate staple formation according to endostapler cartridge type and bronchial wall thickness in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy. We prospectively enrolled patients scheduled to undergo lower lobectomy. The bronchus was divided by using an endostapler (ECHELON FLEX Powered Plus Stapler). The cartridge (gold, green, or black) was selected at the surgeon's discretion. After measuring the bronchial stump thickness, the bronchial tissue was proteolyzed, and all staple formations were scored from 1 to 3 points, with 3 representing an approximately perfect B-shaped staple. Eighty patients were enrolled. Gold, green, and black cartridges were used in 26, 49, and five patients, respectively. Green/black cartridges were used more frequently in patients with thicker bronchial stumps (p = 0.001) than gold. The mean staple formation score tended to be higher for green/black than gold cartridges (p = 0.087). The proportion of scores ≥ 2 was equivalent (p = 0.766). The proportion of score 3 was higher for green/black than gold cartridges (p < 0.001). Bronchial stump thickness significantly correlated with sex (p < 0.001) and height (p = 0.001). For men and women > 160 cm in height, the mean score tended to be higher for green/black than gold cartridges (p = 0.068). No postoperative bronchopleural fistulae were observed. Although each cartridge performed well, ensuring tissue apposition and good clinical outcomes, green or black cartridges appeared to be more appropriate than gold for the lower bronchus, especially in men and women > 160 cm in height. UMIN000043969.

ABSTRACTComputed tomography (CT) is a common imaging modality used to evaluate for a pituitary macrotumor in dogs. However, a standard definition of a pituitary macrotumor based on imaging characteristics has not yet been established. The human definition of a pituitary mass that measures >1 cm in diameter has previously been adopted for dogs but fails to account for variability in size, breed, and skull conformation. We hypothesized that normal pituitary gland size and macrotumor size vary by skull morphology. We also hypothesized that canine pituitary macrotumors may be smaller than 1 cm. In this retrospective, case–control analytical study, contrast CT scans from 89 dogs with imaging‐diagnosed pituitary macrotumors and 89 dogs with normal pituitary glands were compared. The height, length, width, and volume of the pituitary gland, sella turcica, and brain were measured along with the brain area at the level of the pituitary gland. Of the pituitary macrotumors, 21.3% (19/89) were smaller than 1 cm in height. Data support that a pituitary gland height >0.60 cm or a pituitary volume of 0.17 cm3 may represent a macrotumor in brachycephalic dogs, and a pituitary gland height >0.65 cm or a pituitary volume of 0.31 cm3 may represent a macrotumor in mesocephalic dogs; small numbers of dolichocephalic dogs precluded determination of cutoffs. These data provide a foundation for future studies to classify pituitary macrotumors on CT imaging according to skull conformation, thereby aiding in the detection, treatment, and response assessment of dogs with pituitary neoplasms.

This research aims to design, develop, and evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a motorcycle camshaft copy machine as an alternative to protect the privacy of modified camshafts from copying or duplication. This research used the ADDIE development model, involving: (1) problem analysis and needs analysis, which then produced a motorcycle camshaft copy machine; (2) the design phase, resulting in a Safety Factor of 1.23 with a load of 22.046 lb force or 10 kg; (3) the development phase, including the process of cutting the frame steel, welding to make the frame, drilling to make holes in the frame steel, assembling the motorcycle camshaft copy machine components, and painting; (4) the implementation phase, consisting of a feasibility test with a result of "very feasible," suggesting that the motorcycle camshaft copy machine can be used in workshops; and (5) the evaluation phase, which resulted in good accuracy of the camshaft copy machine. The results of this study indicate that: (1) the motorcycle camshaft copy machine has dimensions of 60 cm in length, 50 cm in width, and 75 cm in height, weighs 26.5 kg, and has a power of 245 watts. (2) The motorcycle camshaft copy machine is declared "very feasible", with a value of 89.23%. (3) The motorcycle camshaft copy machine has good accuracy with an accuracy of ± 0.13 mm.

Plant genetic resources represent a fundamental basis for biodiversity and the sustainable development of agriculture. Their conservation is critically important for breeding, adaptation to climate change, and ensuring food security. One of the most effective approaches for the preservation and regeneration of rare and endangered plant forms is the use of in vitro technologies. This study aimed to develop an in vitro initiation protocol for commercial grape cultivars «Rizamat» and «Taifi Rozoviy», as well as the wild subspecies Vitis vinifera ssp. silvestris. Thimerosal was used as a sterilizing agent at different concentrations. The most effective treatment was 0.1 mg/L for 5-7 minutes, which ensured complete sterility and 100.0% explant survival. Two hormone-free nutrient media, MS and WPM, were tested. The MS medium demonstrated superior performance, with 90.0% bud break and up to 80.0% shoot induction. Shoots developed strong morphology and normal structure. In contrast, the WPM medium resulted in slower development and thinner shoots. Rooting was performed on a modified MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L NAA. Optimal rooting occurred in shoots measuring 2.5-3.0 cm in height and bearing 2-3 well-developed leaves. These shoots developed complete and functional root systems. The developed protocol enables efficient cultivation of both cultivated and wild grape forms. It provides a valuable foundation for the production of healthy planting material and for the long-term conservation of grapevine germplasm. The results are applicable in the practice of micropropagation, grapevine biotechnology, and breeding programs in Uzbekistan and other countries with similar agro-climatic conditions.

The Dendrobium genus originates from tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, extending to northern Australia. Species and hybrids of this genus, including Dendrobium phalaenopsis Sa-Nook 'Thailand Black', are the second most popular cultivars worldwide. To meet this demand, it is necessary to implement techniques such as micropropagation, which allows the mass production of plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulators (NAA, BA, and TDZ) on the in vitro regeneration of D. phalaenopsis Sa-Nook 'Thailand Black' plants, their acclimatization, and production costs. Rootless shoots of 1-1.5 cm in height were grown on 50% MS medium supplemented with BA (0, 2.22, 4.44, or 8.88 µM), TDZ (0, 2.27, 4.54, or 9.08 µM), and NAA (0 or 2.69 µM), individually or in combination. After the second phase of in vitro shoot growth, the highest number of shoots per explant (8.5) was observed with 9.08 µM of TDZ. Plants regenerated with this concentration of TDZ showed the highest survival rate (96%) at 90 days of greenhouse cultivation, as well as the formation of new shoots (0.9), and the lowest production cost per plant (0.49 USD).

In the osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS) procedure, a wide accessible area is required to introduce the femoral plug at varying angles. This may not always be achievable with a simple arthrotomy using anteromedial, posteromedial, or anterolateral approaches. The aim of this case presentation was to describe the use of an anterior chevron-type tibial osteotomy as a technical approach for treating a centrolateral osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) with the OATS technique. We present a case of a 48-year-old female patient with a history of chronic right ankle pain following an ankle sprain 32 years ago. The anterior osteotomy was performed with dimensions of ∼3 cm in width, 2 cm in depth, and 4 cm in height. After removing the anterior tibial bone block, we identified and debrided the OLT. The lesion site was prepared using a trephine, and a bone plug obtained from the lateral femoral trochlea was inserted, congruent with the surrounding articular cartilage. Finally, the temporarily removed anterior tibial bone block was reattached and secured with 3 cannulated screws. At the 44-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and fully active. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level 5. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

BackgroundKnowledge on the frequency of malocclusion and associated factors allows planning adequate financing in public health care systems for both preventive and treatment measures. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malocclusion in Polish adolescents (from West Pomeranian region) and perform an analysis across a spectrum of factors, including BMI, parental age and education, maternal smoking during pregnancy, gestational age and Apgar at birth, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, eruption age of deciduous teeth, eruption age of permanent teeth, lingual frenulum and frequency of dental appointments.MethodsThe study included 738 children aged 12–13 years subjected to a written interview with the parents and a clinical examination by a specialist in orthodontics or pedodontics.ResultsDistal occlusion was found in 22.09%, deep bite was found in 19.92%, dental crowding was observed in 19.51%, crossbite—in 6.23%, anterior open bite—in 1.63%, mesial occlusion in 2.30%, dental spacing—in 2.71%, and scissor bite in 0.68%.The prevalence of malocclusion did not statistically significantly differ between the sexes. A higher proportion of adolescents without malocclusion were children of parents with a higher education level and they visited the dentist more frequently than adolescents with malocclusion. No statistically significant difference was found referring to gestational age at birth, delivery (cesarean or natural), birth weight, Apgar score, maternal smoking during pregnancy, breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Adolescents with malocclusion had fewer permanent teeth erupted. A short lingual frenulum was more prevalent in teenagers with malocclusion. Body height was identified as significant in logistic regression—each additional cm of height resulted in a 3% decrease in malocclusion odds.Conclusion1. Malocclusion is highly prevalent among Polish adolescents.2. Factors associated to malocclusion in adolescents are: parents’ level of education, frequency of dental appointments, short tongue frenulum, number of permanent teeth erupted and body height.3. Gender, body mass index, feeding practices in infancy, pregnancy and birth condition (Apgar, method of delivery and mother smoking while being pregnant) have no association to malocclusion in 12–13 years old adolescents.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-025-06887-2.

ABSTRACT When the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor’s effluent is released directly into water bodies without being properly treated, it contains more TKN than the discharge limit, which results in eutrophication. The conventional approaches are expensive and ineffective. The present study is more effective and economical for TKN elimination from effluent of UASB reactor. The continuous fixed-bed column is filled with a chitosan – agarose cryogel, serving as a polymeric filter medium (PFM). The resulting cryogel exhibited a highly porous (88.67%), interconnected structure. Utilizing FTIR and SEM, the cryogels were characterized. The Kjeldahl method, which involves digestion, distillation, and titration, was used to quantify the amount of TKN in UASB effluent (27 ± 0.5 mg/L). Boric acid absorption of ammonia was done before sulfuric acid titration. Experiments with varying bed heights and flow rates demonstrated a peak TKN removal efficiency of 75 ± 3.5% at a 20-cm bed height and a flow rate of 100 mL/h using synthetic low-strength wastewater. Kinetic modeling with the Yoon – Nelson and Thomas models (R2 > 0.8) showed strong predictive accuracy, with adsorption capacities of 11.32 mg/g and 17.08 mg/g, respectively. These findings show that chitosan – agarose cryogels have the potential to be a sustainable PFM for effective nitrogen removal from UASB rector effluent.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the combination of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) doses associated with the maximum total dry matter production of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam). The experiment was conducted in pots in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Pampa, Campus Itaqui – RS, Brazil. A total of 20 treatments were tested, resulting from the combination of four N doses (0, 75, 125, and 175% of the recommended N rate) and five doses of P and K (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200% of the recommended rates). The experimental design was completely randomized in a 4 x 5 factorial arrangement with four replicates. Two, five, six, and five cuts were made referring to doses of N, 0, 75, 125, and 175%, respectively, as the plant reached 20 cm in height to obtain total dry matter (DM) production. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (P &lt; 0.05) using the F test with adjusted regressions. The model with the highest significance level between linear and quadratic regressions was selected. Dry matter production (kg ha-1) exhibited a quadratic response to increasing N doses across all P and K levels, with higher production between levels 75 and 125% of N. The highest yield was obtained with 125% of the recommended N dose combined with 150% of the recommended P and K doses, with a mean DM production of 625 kg ha-1.

During a survey of plant diversity conducted in the Helan Mountains, an Allium species was discovered. The plant under consideration features narrowly linear, flat leaves measuring 1 mm in width, which are shorter than the scape; cylindrical, erect scape of 10–15 cm in height; hemispherical, compact umbels with 5–15 flowers; pedicels nearly equal in length, very short (1–2 mm long); and filaments shorter than the tepals. The plant was identified as Allium kansuense in the “Flora of Helan Mountains”. However, following a thorough review of the extant literature, it was determined that the original description of A. kansuense bears a strong resemblance to that of Allium sikkimense. Consequently, the amalgamation of A. kansuense into A. sikkimense is deemed substantiated. This newly defined species resembles A. bidentatum and A. tenuissimum morphologically but can be distinguished by the following diagnostic characteristics: it possesses a creeping rhizome with membranous, yellowish-brown outer bulb tunics; 2-angled scape; very short pedicels, only 1–2 mm long; and purplish-red perianth segments. The nomenclatural proposal is to designate this taxon as the new species Allium brevipedicellatum.

In 2003, the Grotta dei Pipistrelli cave near Casoli in the Val di Lima, Lucca, yielded a human skeleton alongside a 17th century coin and animal remains. Anthropological analysis of the remains enabled the reconstruction of the biological profile of a young adult, likely male, aged approximately 22 years and measuring 164 cm in height. Paleopathological analysis revealed skeletal changes mainly at muscle and tendon attachment sites, which are likely to have been caused by chronic biomechanical stress. Some oral pathologies were also identified. Dental pathologies such as caries, abscesses, and antemortem tooth loss may be indicative of a carbohydrate-rich diet, which is consistent with the rural apennine context of tuscany.

Abstract X-ray microcomputed tomography is increasingly employed for the non-destructive investigation of cementitious materials, enabling both quantitative and qualitative three-dimensional analyses. This study investigates the effect of sample size on the evaluation of porosity, permeability, and thermal conductivity in diatomite-limestone paste using X-ray Microcomputed Tomography. Two samples with identical composition but different dimensions were analyzed: a prismatic sample (0.6 cm×0.6 cm×1 cm) for particle-scale analysis at a voxel resolution of 0.8 µm, and a cylindrical sample (1 cm in diameter ×5 cm in height) for macroporosity assessment at a resolution of 10 µm. The cylindrical sample exhibited a porosity of 2.6% and a thermal conductivity of 2.42 W/m·K, whereas the prismatic sample showed 20.8% porosity and a thermal conductivity of 1.6 W/m·K. Permeability was assessed only in the prismatic sample due to its higher resolution, yielding a relatively high value (1.4×10 −2 μm 2 ), attributed to solid-phase growth and the formation of a granular microstructure. The findings highlight the influence of sample resolution on pore connectivity visualization and the accuracy of permeability and thermal conductivity measurements.

Elsholtzia griffithii (family Liliaceae), commonly known as East India Mint, is an aromatic annual herb reaching up to 50 cm in height and characterized by a strong lemon-like fragrance. The species naturally occurs in disturbed forests and mountain valleys at altitudes of 400–600 m in Northeast India, where it is also widely cultivated. Traditionally, East India Mint is utilized as a seasoning herb and valued in folk medicine for its tonic, astringent, carminative, and antiseptic properties. Decoctions of its leaves and flowers are used to treat ailments such as tonsillitis, fever, cough, hypertension, nasal bleeding, menstrual disorders, and skin itching. Despite its extensive ethnomedicinal uses, detailed pharmacogenetic and microscopic data on this species remain limited. The present study aims to investigate the powder microscopy of E. griffithii to provide diagnostic characters useful for the authentication and standardization of the crude drug.