Specific Growth Research Articles (Page 1)

We present the ENV-FIBA macro-micro model framework that can be used to analyze the climate-macro-financial consequences of climate scenarios and related policy counterfactuals. The model consists of a multi-country Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) core and a connected micro simulation module for an economy’s individual nonfinancial firms and banks. The climate-macro-financial scenario simulations are anchored in future temperature and emission pathways, alongside policy assumptions regarding carbon taxation, fiscal revenue recycling and reinvestment, optional carbon border adjustment mechanisms, and others. We illustrate the use of the model for Japan. We emphasize, exemplify with the model, and recommend in general: (1) that physical and transition risk effects be modeled jointly to a maximal extent (given their intertwined nature); (2) that it is important to consider bank balance sheets that are dynamic (not static), to capture the differential growth of emmission intensive industries that may shrink, opposed to those that may flourish; and (3) related to the latter, that such dynamically evolving lending has primary impacts on bank solvency via interest income, along with quantitatively often smaller impacts through loan losses from borrower defaults.

The role of design in corporate strategy is increasingly recognized as a catalyst for innovation, competitive differentiation, and organizational growth. This study explores the integration of design leadership, design thinking, and academic-industry collaboration as strategic enablers for business per- formance. Conducted within the Project in Product Design II (PDP II) at the Universidade de Aveiro, in partnership with Revigrés, a Portuguese ceramic tile manufacturer, the initiative served as a prototype for examining the role of the Chief Design Officer (CDO) in managing design processes and aligning them with business objectives.This study contributes to the discourse on design leadership by demonstrating how companies can embed design methodologies within corporate structures. Future research should examine the long-term impact of design governance, internal advocacy, and academic-industry partnerships in scaling design-led innovation within business environments.

Background: In the oral cavity, impacted teeth are those which fail to erupt into their proper functional location beyond the chronological time usually expected. Etiology may be multifactorial, usually due to adjacent teeth, dense overlying bone or soft tissue, size of the mandible or maxilla with the resultant lack of space in the jaw, aberrant path of the eruption, abnormal positioning of tooth bud, differential root growth between the mesial and distal roots, or pathological lesions. Amongst all, mandibular third molar impaction is an important clinical issue, as impacted teeth may predispose to periodontal disease, such as: Pericoronitis, Periodontitis, cystic lesions and neoplasms, root resorption, causing determined effects on the adjacent tooth and resulting in pain, discomfort and loss of function. Impacted third molars can be diagnosed based on clinical as well as radiographic examination. Intraoral and panoramic radiographs are usually used to assess the impacted molar, helping to evaluate the pattern of impaction, aiding in accurate treatment planning and management. Different classifications have been introduced of which Winter's and Pell, and Gregory Classifications are claimed to be the most common ones. Aim: To radiographically evaluate the prevalence and angulation pattern of mandibular third molar impaction in terms of age, gender and side in a sample of Libyan patients, using panoramic images. Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective, cross-sectional (2021-2022) study, that utilized the radiographic records; Panoramic images of 1000 patients, aging between 20-50 years old, attending the Dental Center in the Faculty of Dentistry at the Libyan International Medical University (LIMU) Benghazi- Libya. Based on Winters Classification, the method of defining the angle of impaction by estimating the angle between the longitudinal long axis of the second and third molars to decide the type of impaction: Mesioangular, or distoangular, or vertical, or horizontal, or others. Results: Among the original sample (1000 images), only 783 images were included; 130 (16.6%) displayed impaction of mandibular third molars, including 70 (53.85%) males; (P>0.13) and 60 (46.1%) females; (P>0.06). The most frequent age group was 22 years (16%); out of which 11 (50%) were males and 10 (45 %) were females. The most common angulation pattern of impaction was the mesioangular position (53.8%). Conclusion: In the assigned sample, the mesioangular impaction is the most common angulation pattern followed by the vertical, and horizontal patterns. Males had an increased predilection of third molar impaction than females. The prevalence of mandibular third molar impaction was higher on the left side and most frequent in the 22years old age group.

Overstory and understory interactions as key drivers of differential growth in tropical tree seedlings during the conversion from pure Araucaria angustifolia stands to mixed stands

Systematic analysis of Wnt family genes reveals the potential role of Wnt4 in driving female differentiation in Spotted knifejaw.

How growth-induced stresses guide shape changes during animal morphogenesis: Mechanisms and implications.

BackgroundHigh body-mass index (BMI) is a major modifiable risk factor for gynecological cancers, yet its contribution to the global cancer burden remains incompletely characterized. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current burden of gynecological cancers attributable to high BMI and projects future trends through 2050.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, examining uterine and ovarian cancers attributable to high BMI across 204 countries and territories. Burden was quantified using deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Temporal trends were identified using joinpoint regression analysis, while future burden was projected using Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) models. We evaluated relationships between socio-demographic index (SDI) and cancer burden to identify development-associated patterns.ResultsBetween 1990 and 2021, global deaths from gynecological cancers attributable to high BMI increased by 143.4% (from 20,743–50,479), with corresponding DALYs rising by 141.7% (from 561,515–1,357,395). Rising age-standardized rates indicated increasing individual-level risk. While burden was highest in high-SDI regions, the most rapid increases occurred in low- and middle-SDI settings. Cancer-specific patterns varied, with uterine cancer showing consistent increases across all SDI quintiles, while ovarian cancer exhibited decreasing trends in high-SDI regions after 2003. Projections indicate a 2.6-fold increase in deaths by 2050, with differential growth by cancer type: a 3.2-fold increase for ovarian cancer versus 2.3-fold for uterine cancer.ConclusionsThe global burden of gynecological cancers attributable to high BMI has increased substantially and is projected to accelerate through 2050, particularly in developing regions. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted obesity prevention strategies within comprehensive cancer control programs to avert a substantial proportion of future gynecological cancer cases.

This study investigated the fecundity, sex ratio, and condition factor of Heterotis niloticus in Epie Creek, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. 99 samples were collected for 6 months between January - June 2023 using castnets, baited hooks, and gill nets in three stations. Gravimetric method was used to calculate fecundity using the equation: Fecundity = \(\frac{\text { Ovary weight } \mathrm{x} \text { number of eggs in the subsample }}{\text { Sub sample weight }}\), condition factor was determined for 1 year using Tukey's multiple comparisons of the means and ANOVA. Results showed that fecundity varied monthly, with the highest mean value in January (28003.00±37883.24) and lowest in June (2151.00±733.98). The condition factor ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 across stations. The sex ratio did not differ significantly from 1:1 across seasons and size classes; however, males were slightly more numerous, likely due to differential growth rates between the sexes. The result showed that H. niloticus spawns more during the wet season with the highest egg, and it thrive perfectly well in Epie Creek. These findings provide valuable insights into the breeding potential and reproductive timing of H. niloticus, supporting aquaculture development and sustainable practices.

Limbs and vertebrae elongate by endochondral ossification, but local growth control is highly modular such that not all bones are the same length. Compared to limbs, which have a different evolutionary and developmental origin, far less is known about how individual vertebrae establish proportion. Using the jerboa and mouse tail skeletons, we find that cell number is a common driver of limb and vertebral proportion in both species. However, chondrocyte hypertrophy, which is a major driver of proportion in all mammal limbs, is limited to the extreme disproportionate growth of jerboa mid-tail vertebrae. The genes associated with differential growth in the vertebral skeleton overlap significantly, but not substantially, with genes associated with limb proportion. Among shared candidates, loss of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor 3 in mice causes disproportionate elongation of the proximal and mid-tail vertebrae, in addition to the proximal limb. Our findings therefore, reveal cellular processes that tune the growth of individual vertebrae while also identifying natriuretic peptide signaling among genetic control mechanisms that shape the entire skeleton.

Nasal turbinals are scrolled or folded internal nasal bones. In bats, prior work suggests turbinal anatomy is simplified in association with laryngeal echolocation (especially nasal emitting bats) and in association with insectivory. Using histology and iodine-enhanced micro-computed tomography, we examined a sample of 83 adult bats (54 species) to test these hypotheses more broadly across Chiroptera. Compared to bats that lack the capacity for laryngeal echolocation (i.e., Pteropodidae), all echolocating bats lack some of the more peripheral turbinals (e.g., interturbinals), and many lack at least one ethmoturbinal. Generally, turbinals are simple and plate-like in echolocating bats; most lack the scrolled turbinal morphology seen in pteropodids. When ethmoturbinals are measured in summed cross-sectional perimeters, pteropodids exhibit greater complexity in the olfactory recess compared to all echolocators. In contrast, some echolocators lack any olfactory recess. Bats that emit calls through the nasal cavity have novel turbinal morphology that could play a role in modifying calls. A preliminary quantitative survey suggests frugivores have greater olfactory surface area than other dietary groups, with as much as 66% of the nasal cavity lined with olfactory mucosa in the frugivorous pteropodid Cynopterus sphinx. Also, frugivorous bats within Phyllostomidae possess more elaborate turbinals than species belonging to other dietary groups in the family, including greatly enlarged interturbinals in the frugivorous Artibeus jamaicensis. Nevertheless, olfactory reduction (e.g., olfactory recess absence) is not universally seen among insectivores. Our results emphasize the multifunctionality of turbinals and suggest the evolution of differential growth rates and novel functions of the nasal cavity in extant bats.

Objective: To identify the influence of foliar application of homobrassinolide at various doses and frequencies on the growth and ex vitro acclimatization of Guarianthe skinneri (Bateman) Dressler & W.E.Higgins Design/methodology/approach: G. skinneri seeds were germinated in vitro on Yasuda medium. Once the seedlings developed roots, leaves and reached a height of 2 cm, they were transferred to the nursery for ex vitro acclimatization. Coconut fiber was used as a substrate in 10 oz beakers. Hbr-based treatments were generated with three doses of Hbr (2, 4 and 6 mgL-1) and three application frequencies (every 7, 14 and 21 days), plus a control with 10 replicates in a completely randomized design. he following variables were evaluated at 28, 56, 70, 77, and 91 days: plant height, number of green and dry leaves, and number of dead plants. Results: Foliar application frequencies and concentrations of Hbr induce differential growth and survival of G. skinneri. Applying Hbr more frequently at higher concentrations improves G. skinneri survival in the nursery. Limitations on study/implications: The results may vary under different environmental conditions during the acclimatization of G. skinneri. Findings/conclusions: Foliar application of Hbr induced greater growth in G. skinneri, particularly in terms of plant height. More frequent applications and higher concentrations of Hbr improved the acclimatization and survival of G. skinneri in nursery conditions. Different concentrations and application intervals of foliar Hbr resulted in distinct effects on the growth and survival of G. skinneri.

Objective: To know the influence of the bioactive plants Ruta graveolens L., Ocimum basilicum L., Stachytarpheta jamaicensis and Chenopodium ambrosoides L., on the chemical and microbiological properties of the soil associated with Nephelium lappaceum L. Design/methodology/approach: Cuttings of R. graveolens L., O. basilicum L., S. jamaicensis (L.) Vahl and C. ambrosoides L. were collected and five treatments with six replications each were established, using a randomized complete block design. At the time of planting the medicinal plants and one year later, a soil sample was collected at a depth of 30 cm for physicochemical (UNACH-FCA) and microbiological analysis of the soil (MASTERLAB S. A. de C. V) to record variables. Results: The chemical analyses results showed changes in the content of most nutrients between sampling years, with the exception of N. Microorganism populations also exhibited contrasting values ​​between the two sampling periods. Limitations on study/implications: The answer may vary depending on plant density and time of year. Findings/conclusions: The association of bioactive plants induces changes in soil nutrients, with year-to-year fluctuations. Furthermore, it promotes differential growth among the populations of beneficial and harmful microorganisms. Beneficial microorganisms increased, and the presence of pathogens in low populations did not result in plant damage. Beneficial microorganisms such as Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus spp. were present with S. jamaicensis, and Trichoderma and Aspergillus with R. graveolens and O. basilicum, suggesting a dependence on exudates.

Growth phenotypes mediated by environmental and endogenous cues in Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Growth performance, an important trait in the broiler industry, is defined by both thehost genome and gut microbiota. At present, it is not known how gut microbiota contributeto the growth of Dahen broilers, a commercially important breed in China. In this study,we used metagenome sequencing to compare the taxonomic composition and functionalimplications of cecal microbiota in fast-growing Dahen broilers and slow-growing Tibetanchickens. A total of 2,207,811 unique genes were assembled in the non-redundant set, and99% of them were taxonomically annotated as having a bacterial origin. The fast-growinggroup displayed a higher alpha diversity than the slow-growing group in terms of ACE,Chao1, and Good’s coverage statistics. The two groups presented also significantlydifferent (P < 0.05) relative abundances of the generaCollinsella, Olsenella,Pyramidobacter, Basidiobolus, andMieseafarmvirus, along with that of eight species (e.g.,Olsenella timonensis and Victivallis sp. MarseilleQ1083). Although not statistically significant, we found a higher expression ofseveral energy metabolism-related eggNOG terms in the fast-growing group. In summary, thepresent study identifies gut microbiota associated with growth performance in Dahenbroilers and offers new tools for gut microbiome-related intervention in this breed.

Herniation, rotation, looping, and retraction of the midgut occur sequentially during midgut morphogenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of mechanical forces arising from the differential growth between the midgut and mesentery in the formation of small intestinal loops. However, the roles of mechanics and differential growth in the overall process remain unclear. In this study, we developed a computational model of midgut morphogenesis based on continuum mechanics. We showed that the protrusion, rotation, and retraction of the midgut can emerge sequentially because of temporal changes in differential growth. The midgut was modeled as a hyperelastic tube with a Gaussian shape. The differential growth of the midgut and mesentery was modeled by the spatial variation in spontaneous plastic deformation. The hyperelastic tube developed a protrusion by compression-induced deformation, suggesting that other external forces are not necessary for midgut herniation prior to rotation. Appropriate differential growth induced a rotation of the tube. A less-growing mesentery attempts to face inward to minimize the tensile forces, which causes tube twisting and results in midgut rotation. Excess differential growth may cause the retraction of the midgut before the formation of small intestinal loops. The results of this study will serve as reference in future studies on embryology and tissue engineering.

Notwithstanding the demonstrated benefits of electrical stimulation in enhancing tissue functionality, existing state-of-the-art electrostimulation systems often depend on invasive electrodes or planar designs. This work exploits the versatility of graphene to fabricate biocompatible electrodes for the three-dimensional in vitro electrical stimulation of neural stem cells. A conductive green graphene-based ink was formulated and screen-printed as the bottom and top electrodes in a bottom-less standard culture well plate. Upon exposure to macrophages, although some oxidative stress was observed, this graphene-based ink did not elicit an increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. An analysis of the electrode impedance as a function of time and frequency was performed to optimize the 3D electrical stimulation. The efficacy of these graphene electrodes for electrically stimulating cells across 3D environments was investigated in scaffolds composed of a decellularized extracellular matrix and reduced graphene oxide, which had previously shown the capability to facilitate neuronal differentiation in vitro and to create a pro-regenerative microenvironment in vivo. Neural stem cells were seeded on these scaffolds and electrically stimulated with a 10 Hz bidirectional current signal of 200 μA for 1 hour daily. At the target frequency of 10 Hz, deemed advantageous for neural regeneration, a scaffold impedance below 800 Ω was ensured. The low-frequency 3D stimulation proved to enhance cellular mechanisms essential for the development of neuronal networks, including neuronal differentiation, neuritogenesis and neurite growth.

Arabidopsis has been pivotal in uncovering fundamental principles of plant biology, yet a comprehensive, high-resolution understanding of its cellular identities throughout the entire life cycle remains incomplete. Here we present a single-nucleus and spatial transcriptomic atlas spanning ten developmental stages, encompassing over 400,000 nuclei from all organ systems and tissues-from seeds to developing siliques. Leveraging paired single-nucleus and spatial transcriptomic datasets, we annotate 75% of identified cell clusters, revealing striking molecular diversity in cell types and states across development. Our integrated approach identified conserved transcriptional signatures among recurrent cell types, organ-specific heterogeneity and previously uncharacterized cell-type-specific markers validated spatially. Moreover, we uncover dynamic transcriptional programs governing secondary metabolite production and differential growth patterns, exemplified by detailed spatial profiling of the compact yet complex apical hook structure; this profiling revealed transient cellular states linked to developmental progression and hormonal regulation, highlighting the hidden complexity underlying plant morphogenesis. Functional validation of genes uniquely expressed within specific cell contexts confirmed their essential developmental roles, underscoring the predictive power of our atlas. Collectively, this comprehensive resource provides an invaluable foundation for exploring cellular differentiation, environmental responses and genetic perturbations at high resolution, advancing our understanding of plant biology.

ABSTRACTOscillatoria species are considered versatile, eco‐friendly bio‐factories with significant potential for diverse sustainable innovations and applications. Characterizing Oscillatoria sp. is crucial for realizing their full potential as they exhibit differential growth patterns and produce various secondary metabolites. This study aims to systematically characterize and compare two freshwater and two marine Oscillatoria species. Thus, growth phases, nutritional composition, biochemical profiles (fatty acid and amino acid) and pigment contents of Oscillatoria species were analyzed. Oscillatoria species were cultured for growth curve determination and eventually mass cultured, harvested, and oven‐dried for the analyses. The growth curve of Oscillatoria spp. was assessed through chlorophyll‐a and optical density. Crude protein, lipid, and carbohydrate contents varied from 21.56% ± 0.09% to 56.97% ± 0.03%, 9.07% ± 0.07% to 17.13% ± 0.13%, and 7.49% ± 0.15% to 17.04% ± 0.08%, respectively. Mono‐unsaturated fatty acids were found higher in Oscillatoria spp. than saturated fatty acids. Non‐essential amino acids (61.12% ± 0.05% to 64.62% ± 0.03%) were found higher than essential amino acids (35.38% ± 0.02% to 38.84% ± 0.04%). Higher pigment contents were found in highly filamentous Oscillatoria spp. than in planktonic species. This comprehensive approach facilitates the targeted characterization and selection of Oscillatoria spp. with desirable traits, ensuring their effective and specific utilization. Optimizing large‐scale cultivation and efficient extraction of valuable metabolites from Oscillatoria sp. can significantly advance their potential benefits and integration into diverse commercial applications.

The crystallization kinetics of FK-800, a commercialsemicrystallinecopolymer of chlorotrifluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride (poly­(CTFE-co-VDF)), dictate its microstructure and functional performance.Crystallization occurs between the glass transition (Tg ≈ 31 °C) and melting point(Tm ≈ 110 °C),with grain boundaries playing a key role in applications such as memristors,where they regulate filament growth. This study integrates in situatomic force microscopy (AFM), grazing-incidence wide-angle X-rayscattering (GIWAXS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tocharacterize nucleation, growth, and morphology across the full crystallizationwindow. Hot-stage AFM reveals a transition from homogeneous to heterogeneousnucleation near 45 °C and a shift from reaction-limited to diffusion-limitedgrowth above 60 °C. Kinetics are analyzed using Lauritzen–Hoffman,Turnbull–Fisher, and Avrami models to extract surface freeenergies and activation barriers. A multiscale modeling frameworkis developed in which nucleation densities and growth rates measuredby AFM are used to reconstruct Avrami kinetics, which are then validatedagainst coverage data, and extrapolated to predict bulk crystallizationbehavior observed by DSC. GIWAXS confirms a primarily flat-on chainorientation at all temperatures, linking orientation to domain morphology.This integrative approach quantitatively connects nanoscale crystallizationdynamics with macroscopic phase evolution, establishing a quantitativeframework for modeling crystallization across time, temperature, andlength scales.

Abstract The development of high‐throughput phenotyping platforms to capture time‐series data on large, diverse populations holds promise for crop researchers and breeders investigating growth‐related traits. We used imagery from unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) with red/green/blue (RGB) and multispectral cameras flown over multiple site‐years in Saskatchewan, Canada, and Metaponto, Italy, to gather data for crop height, area, and volume in a lentil diversity panel (324 genotypes). The temporal nature of the UAV image‐derived data enabled the modeling of growth curves for volume, height, and area, something that would be impractical under traditional phenotyping procedures in such a large population grown in multiple environments. A principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering revealed differential growth patterns across contrasting environments, with large variations in temperature and photoperiod, within our lentil diversity panel. Combining this analysis with genome‐wide genotyping data, we identified markers, from an exome capture array (267,845 single nucleotide polymorphisms), associated with crop growth that could be used for marker‐assisted selection. Our study demonstrates the potential for UAV‐based imaging to obtain large‐scale time‐series data across multiple environments to model growth curves and investigate genotype‐by‐environment interactions. In addition, we can now use phenotypic traits that were once impractical to collect and derive novel phenotypes to improve our understanding of crop growth and the genetics underlying adaptation in lentil, approaches that will be useful for both researchers and breeders.