Growth Period Research Articles

Morphological variation in bulliform phytoliths at different rice growth stages

Studying morphological changes in bulliform phytoliths in rice during different growth periods can provide essential information for understanding phytolith formation mechanisms and rice domestication processes. In this study, we analysed changes in the size and fish-scale decorations of rice bulliform phytoliths during a complete growth and development cycle. We then explored the underlying plant physiology, agricultural practices, and other factors that influence rice bulliform phytolith formation. From the transplanting stage to the ripening stage, the fan width (HL) and fan length (VL) of bulliform phytoliths tended to increase, decrease, and increase, reaching a maximum at the ripening stage (HL = 40.1 ± 6.1 μm, VL = 39.7 ± 5.3 μm). From the transplanting stage to ripening, the proportion of the long-stalked phenotype decreased significantly, and that of the short-stalked phenotype increased significantly. The proportion of rice bulliform phytoliths with ≥ 9 fish-scale decorations was 0 % at the transplanting and tillering stages and then increased from 42 % to 74 % from the elongation to ripening stage, with an average of 57 % for the four periods (elongation to ripening). The results of this study enhance the existing data on rice phytolith morphology, providing valuable insights into the morphological changes associated with rice domestication.

Assessing neurocognitive maturation in early adolescence based on baby and adult functional brain landscapes.

Adolescence is a period of growth in cognitive performance and functioning. Recently, data-driven measures of brain-age gap, which can index cognitive decline in older populations, have been utilized in adolescent data with mixed findings. Instead of using a data-driven approach, here we assess the maturation status of the brain functional landscape in early adolescence by directly comparing an individual's resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) to the canonical early-life and adulthood communities. Specifically, we hypothesized that the degree to which a youth's connectome is better captured by adult networks compared to infant/toddler networks is predictive of their cognitive development. To test this hypothesis across individuals and longitudinally, we utilized the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study at baseline (9-10 years; n = 6,489) and 2-year-follow-up (Y2: 11-12 years; n = 5,089). Adjusted for demographic factors, our anchored rsFC score (AFC) was associated with better task performance both across and within participants. AFC was related to age and aging across youth, and change in AFC statistically mediated the age-related change in task performance. In conclusion, we showed that a model-fitting-free index of the brain at rest that is anchored to both adult and baby connectivity landscapes predicts cognitive performance and development in youth.

Longitudinal evidence for the emergence of multiple intelligences in assistance dog puppies.

Cognitive test batteries suggest that adult dogs have different types of cognitive abilities that vary independently. In the current study, we tested puppies repeatedly over a crucial period of development to explore the timing and rate at which these different cognitive skills develop. Service dog puppies (n = 113), raised using two different socialization strategies, were either tested longitudinally (n =91) or at a single time point (n = 22). Subjects tested longitudinally participated in the battery every two weeks during and just beyond their final period of rapid brain growth (from approximately 8-20 weeks of age). Control puppies only participated in the test battery once, which allowed us to evaluate the impact of repeated testing. In support of the multiple intelligences hypothesis (MIH), cognitive skills emerged at different points across the testing period, not simultaneously. Maturational patterns also varied between cognitive skills, with puppies showing adult-like performance on some tasks only weeks after a skill emerged, while never achieving adult performance in others. Differences in rearing strategy did not lead to differences in developmental patterns while, in some cases, repeated testing did. Overall, our findings provide strong support for the MIH by demonstrating differentiated development across the cognitive abilities tested.

Reference data for body composition parameters in normal-weight Polish adolescents: results from the population-based ADOPOLNOR study.

This study provides reference data for body composition in normal (healthy) weight Polish adolescents, providing a contextualised framework that takes into account the unique physiological and environmental factors of the region. These reference data may also be useful for other Central European adolescents. • Adolescence is a period of significant physical growth and increased susceptibility to nutritional problems due to factors such as suboptimal nutrition, unhealthy dietary choices, inadequate physical activity and psychosocial stressors related to body image concerns. • Body composition (BC) parameters, rather than BMI alone, are more effective in identifying nutritional abnormalities and health risks such as eating disorders, obesity and chronic diseases. Existing studies provide reference data for BC parameters, but often do not cover all relevant measures or specific regional populations. • This study provides new age- and sex-specific reference values for a comprehensive range of body composition parameters, including body cell mass (BCM), total body water (TBW) and muscle mass (MM), in addition to fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), in a large, ethnically homogeneous, normal-weight population of Polish adolescents aged 10-18years. • These reference values for the normalweight cohort reflect healthy adolescent growth and body composition patterns, minimising bias from abnormal weight status.In addition, they can be applied to other Central European adolescent populations.

Evaluation of masticatory muscles in patients with different sagittal direction skeletal anomalies by ultrasonography and ultrasonographic elastography.

The aim of this study was to evaluated the masseter, anterior digastric and geniohyoid muscles of individuals with similar growth and developmental periods but different sagittal skeletal malocclusions using ultrasonography and ultrasonographic elastography and to make interclass assessments. In this study, ultrasonography and ultrasonographic elastography records of 30 Class I individuals (17 females, 13 males), 30 Class II individuals (14 females, 16 males), and 27 Class III individuals (12 females, 15 males) in the normodivergent and growth development periodwere used. The masseter, anterior digastric, and geniohyoid muscles of individualswere examinedusing ultrasonography and ultrasonographic elastography, andcomparisons were madebetween the classes. Statistical analysis was accomplished by Mann Whitney U, One-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis H tests. Interclass differences were foundin ultrasonography and elastography measurements of the masseter muscle. However, no differences were observed in ultrasonography measurements of the auxiliary masticatory muscles, whereas differences were seen only in the geniohyoid muscle in elastography measurements among the classes (p<0.05). Individuals with different sagittal skeletal malocclusions during growth and development exhibited similar muscle sizes and elasticities, approximately close to each other.

Comprehensive Determination of the Phenolic Compound Contents and Antioxidant Potentials of Leaves and Roots of Peucedanum japonicum Harvested from Different Accessions and Growth Periods.

Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg, a medicinal plant, remains understudied despite its potential therapeutic benefits. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant capacities in the extracts of different accessions of P. japonicum by measuring the total polyphenol and flavonoid content of the P. japonicum extracts coupled with DPPH and ABTS+ assays. In addition, phytochemical screening via LC-MS/MS and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis quantified nine compounds wherein chlorogenic acid (CA) was found to be the most abundant in all compounds while hyperoside and peucedanol were the least. Results showed variation in these compounds' content among accessions (2.01-21.31 mg/g CA) and plant parts (0.34-19.57 mg/g CA), with leaves generally showing higher antioxidant activity. The abundance of these compounds These integrated analyses provide insights into the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of this understudied plant, contributing to advances in natural product chemistry and potential therapeutic applications.

Mapping the research of nursing in Parkinson's disease: a bibliometric and quantitative analysis.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Clinically, the therapeutic strategy of PD could only alleviate the symptoms. Nursing plays a crucial role in providing patient education, symptom management, and psychosocial support. This study aims to analyze the current state and prospects of research in the field of Parkinson's disease (PD) and its associated nursing care through bibliometric methods to explore the trends that May guide its future development. Literature related to Parkinson's disease and nursing care was systematically searched by the Web of Science database from 1991 to 2023. Quantitative analysis of cooperative networks was conducted using bibliometric tools VOSviewer and CiteSpace. The analysis covered 2,649 publications in the field of PD and nursing care, authored by 12,576 researchers from 3,869 institutions across 94 countries. The number of articles has steadily increased over the past 20 years. In this research field, the United States and the United Kingdom emerged as leading countries, and Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen was positioned as an international hub. Movement Disorders was identified as the journal with the highest output and with the most co-citation. Prof. Bastiaan R. Bloem published the most papers in the area, and Prof. Per Odin had the highest average citation. The major fields of these publications are clinical neurology, geriatrics & gerontology, multidisciplinary sciences, and health care sciences & services. Hot topics in the field predominantly revolve around Parkinson's disease, quality of life, and dementia. Research in Parkinson's disease and nursing care is experiencing a period of rapid growth, with continuous expansion in research scope and depth of investigation. One of the trends identified is the increasing focus on quality of life and the management of dementia in PD patients, reflecting the importance of these areas in research. The study further suggests that future advancements in the field May rely significantly on strengthening international collaborations and addressing global disparities in resource distribution, particularly by promoting research inclusivity and cooperation among low-resource countries.

Evaluation of Coloured Sticky Traps for Monitoring the Population of Budfly, Dasyneura lini on Linseed Crop

A field study was conducted at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Raipur, Chhattisgarh Rabi 2022-23 and 2023-24 to evaluate the use of different coloured sticky traps to assess the colour magnestism of budfly infecting linseed. The attractiveness of nine colour yellow, light yellow, blue, light blue, white, green, grey, pink, orange, brown, black and transparent (check) were evaluated during 2022-23 and 2023-24. Among the colour sticky traps average budfly attracted were maximum in the yellow coloured sticky traps during both the seasons with the cumulative value of 14.62 budfly/trap. The highest number of budfly trapped in yellow-coloured sticky trap over the crop growth period than other sticky traps. Lowest number of budfly catches were recorded in black traps in this experiment.

Blood Parameter Response in Growing Alpine Goat Kids Fed Diets Containing Extruded Flaxseed or Pumpkin Seed Cake

Blood parameters can provide information on the nutritional status of goat kids, which is related to both health and performance. The present study aimed to research whether feeding extruded flaxseed (FS) and pumpkin seed cake (PC), as an alternative protein source in diets, has an effect on the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of goat kids during growth. In the small-scale goat farm, 31 French Alpine goat kids aged 32 days were used for the study. The goat kids were subjected to three different feeding treatments: a mixture containing soybean meal and extruded soybeans (CON), a mixture containing 16% PC (PC-16), and a mixture containing 9% FS (FS-9). They were monitored during the suckling, weaning, and post-weaning growth periods. PC-16 and FS-9 in goat kids’ diets did not result in any changes regarding average daily weight gain. The WBC count was higher in goat kids fed FS-9 and PC-16 compared to CON (9.84 and 9.54 vs. 6.61 × 109 L) diets during the weaning period. GGT activity was lowest in the serum of goat kids fed PC-16 compared to CON post-weaning (38.65 vs. 48.40 U/L). In addition, FS-19 increased GPx compared to kids fed PC-16 post-weaning (809.7 vs. 600.8 U/L). Regarding blood parameters, PC-16 and FS-9 can be used in goat kids’ nutrition as alternative sources of proteins on a small-scale goat farm without compromising goat kids’ growth.

Modification of a Flexible Reinforcement Model for Root-Soil Complexes Based on the Growth Period

Modification of a Flexible Reinforcement Model for Root-Soil Complexes Based on the Growth Period

Effects of soil amendments and coverings on the kenaf yield and soil physicochemical properties in saline-alkali land

In order to investigate the effects of various treatments on the growth of kenaf in saline soil, this study employed a comprehensive experimental design incorporating a dual approach of soil amendment and mulching techniques. Soil treatment of saline and alkaline land, as well as biological material mulching treatment after sowing kenaf, were conducted. The growth dynamics of kenaf were assessed before the mid-term investigation, and the harvest period was examined. Soil physicochemical properties were measured and analysed at different periods. The results show that in the analysis of red sesame yield traits, the differences mainly appeared between soil treatments. There is no significant difference between the different mulching treatments within each soil treatment. In the mid-term study, significant differences were observed in kenaf plant height. Plant height was the most affected by soil conditioners, while other yield traits did not show significant variations. During harvest, only stem thickness and dry weight of a single plant did not show significant differences, whereas other yield traits did. The application of soil conditioners resulted in a 58.15% increase in dry hull yield compared to organic fertilizers and a 22.66% increase compared to regular fertilizers. Soil conditioners also led to higher levels of effective phosphorus, quick-acting potassium, organic matter, and total nitrogen throughout the kenaf growth period compared to organic and regular fertilizers. This is beneficial for enhancing soil quality and reducing soil alkalinity. Combined with the results of kenaf yield and soil physical and chemical properties analysis, it has been proven that the application of soil conditioner has the best effect, followed by the application of compound fertilizer, with organic fertilizer treatment being the least effective.

A phase field crystal model for real-time grain boundary formation and motion in complex concentration alloy

The complex concentration alloys exhibit the excellent mechanical property due to the dual roles of their heterogeneous compositions and microstructures. However, the formation and motion of grain boundaries to significantly regulate the mechanical properties remain unknown at several microsecond and nanoscale in the complex concentration alloys. Here, we utilize a phase field crystal model to investigate the real-time grain boundary formation and motion in complex concentration alloys, specifically, in comparison to traditional alloys, using the example of AlCu alloys. Our findings reveal that the low concentration alloys exhibit segregation primarily at grain boundaries with minimal compositional fluctuations over a long period of grain growth, and the complex concentration alloys display a high concentration gradient within the grains to cause rapid grain rotation and merging in a short time frame. In the complex concentration alloys, the large component fluctuations not only cause the local lattice distortion to hinder dislocation movement during the deformation process, but also lead to the occurrence from dislocation locking to self-unlocking, which is beneficial to improve the strength and ductility. The present work provides a real-time atomic-scale understanding of grain boundary evolution using in situ atomic-resolution simulations.

In Good Times and in Bad, in Sickness and in Health: The Continuous Rise in Adoption of Labour-Saving Agricultural Technologies in Myanmar

Agriculture is rapidly transforming in many low- and middle-income countries – most often driven by the adoption of new agricultural technologies – but changes remain poorly understood in fragile and conflict-affected states. We look at the case of Myanmar, a prime example of such a state. After decades of isolationism and economic stagnation, it opened its economy in the beginning of the 2010s, leading to rapid economic growth. But the COVID-19 health crisis and a military coup in the beginning of 2021 – leading to heightened conflicts, forced displacements, and increased migration – dramatically reversed that outlook. Based on large-scale farm surveys, we find that adoption of labour-saving agricultural technologies – measured by the use of mechanization, herbicides, and direct seeding of rice – increased rapidly over the economic growth period and that the increase surprisingly persisted during the crisis years, but at a slower rate. This uptake was lower, however, for households in the most conflict-affected areas, partly due to differential agricultural input availability. Smallholders and more remote farmers also participated less. This finding suggests an increasing labour productivity gap for remote and conflict-affected smallholders, with important implications for their welfare.

Characterization Studies on the sugC Gene of Streptococcus suis Serotype 2 in Adhesion, Invasion, and Virulence in Mice.

The sugC gene of Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a coding gene for the ATP-binding transporter-associated protein with strong pathogenicity. In order to reveal the effect of the sugC gene on the virulence of S. suis serotype 2, a wild-type strain of TJS75, isolated from fattening pigs' brain tissue samples, was used as a parent strain, and a knockout sugC gene (ΔsugC) and complementary strain (CΔsugC) were successfully constructed via homologous recombination technology. The biological characteristics of TJS75, ΔsugC and CΔsugC were compared and analyzed through growth curves, biochemical characteristics, hemolysis characteristics, cell infection tests and pathogenicity tests on BALB/c mice. The results of the growth characteristic experiments in vitro showed that the plateau stage growth period of ΔsugC was delayed compared to the TJS75 strain, but there was no difference in the total number of bacteria. The biochemical characteristics and hemolysis ability of ΔsugC in sheep blood had no difference compared with TJS75, but its adhesion and invasion abilities in PK-15 cells were decreased. Knockout of the sugC gene had no impact on the expression levels of adhesion-related genes in TJS75 in real-time PCR analysis. In addition, the LD50 of ΔsugC in BALB/c mice was 1.47 × 108 CFU, seven times higher than that of TJS75 (LD50 = 2.15 × 107 CFU). These results illustrate that the deletion of sugC reduced the virulence of TJS75 to BALB/c mice, but its role in the adhesion and invasion of PK-15 cells in this strain needs to be further explored. In summary, this study provides evidence that the sugC gene is a virulence-related gene in the S. suis serotype 2 strain and plays a crucial role in the adhesion and invasion of S. suis. This study lays a foundation for the further exploration of the potential virulence factors and pathogenesis of S. suis.

Effect of Delayed Irrigation at the Jointing Stage on Nitrogen, Silicon Nutrition and Grain Yield of Winter Wheat in the North China Plain.

Water scarcity is a key limitation to winter wheat production in the North China Plain, and it is essential to explore the optimal timing of spring irrigation to optimize N and Si uptake as well as to safeguard yields. The aim of this study was to systematically study the effect mechanism of nitrogen and silicon absorption of winter wheat on yield under spring irrigation and to provide a scientific basis for optimizing irrigation strategy during the growth period of winter wheat. In this experiment, the winter wheat 'Heng 4399' was used. Five irrigation periods, i.e., 0 d (CK), 5 d (AJ5), 10 d (AJ10), 15 d (AJ15), and 20 d (AJ20) after the jointing stage, were set up to evaluate the nitrogen (N) and silicon (Si) absorption and grain yield (GY). The results showed that delayed irrigation for 5-10 days at the jointing stage had increased the GY. With the delay of irrigation time, the N/Si content of the entire plant at the maturity period increased first and then decreased; among that, the maximum N contents appeared in AJ15 and AJ5 in 2015 and 2020, respectively, while the Si concentrations appeared in AJ5 and AJ10 in sequence. Compared with AJ15 and AJ20, the N accumulation of vegetative organs in AJ5 increased by 3.05~23.13% at the flowering stage, 14.12~40.12% after the flowering stage, and a 1.76~6.45% increase in the N distribution rate at maturity stage. A correlation analysis revealed that the GY was significantly and positively correlated with the N/Si accumulation at the anthesis and N translocation after the anthesis stage. In conclusion, under limited irrigation conditions, delaying watering for 5 to 10 days at the jointing stage can improve the nitrogen and silicon absorption and nutrient status of wheat plants and increase wheat yield.

The Impacts of Phenological Stages within the Annual Cycle on Mapping Forest Stock Volume Using Multi-Band Dual-Polarization SAR Images in Boreal Forests

SAR images with two polarizations show strong potential for mapping forest stock volume (FSV) combined with limited samples. However, accurately mapping FSV still presents challenges in selecting the optimal acquisition date to obtain the SAR images during specific phenological stages within the annual forest cycle (growth and dormant stages). To clarify the impacts of phenological stages within the annual cycle on FSV mapping, SAR images with various polarization models and bands (Sentinel-1(S), GaoFen-3(GF-3 (G)) and ALOS-2(A)) were acquired within the growth and dormant stages of an annual cycle in a boreal evergreen coniferous forest (Chinese pine) and a deciduous coniferous forest (Larch). Subsequently, single-band (G, S, and A) and multi-band combined alternative variable sets (A + G, A + S, S + G, and A + S + G) were extracted within the same stage, respectively. Finally, the forward selection approach was utilized in conjunction with four different models (MLR, KNN, RF, and SVR) to obtain the most suitable variable sets and generate FSV mapping. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between the intensity of backscattering coefficients and the phenological stages of the forest. Within the dormant stage, there was a significant decrease in the gaps of backscattering coefficients obtained from the same polarization compared to those within the growth stage. Furthermore, the results also revealed that more signals from inside the canopy could be detected during the dormant stage in both evergreen coniferous forests and deciduous coniferous forests. Subsequently, the accuracy in mapping FSV obtained from single-band SAR images within the dormant stage are slightly higher than that within the growth stage, and the accuracy was still significantly affected by both overestimation and underestimation. Moreover, the combined effects of different bands significantly improve the reliability of mapped FSV. The rRMSE values in four multi-band combinations ranged from 22.37% to 29.40% for Chinese pine forests and from 21.27% to 34.38% for Larch forests, and the optimal result was observed from combinations of A + S + G acquired within the dormant stage. It is confirmed that SAR signal and their sensitivity to FSV depends on the stages of forest annual growth cycle. In comparison to the growth period, dual-polarization SAR data acquired during the dormant stage is more suitable for estimating FSV in boreal forests.

Harnessing UAVs and deep learning for accurate grass weed detection in wheat fields: a study on biomass and yield implications

Weeds are undesired plants competing with crops for light, nutrients, and water, negatively impacting crop growth. Identifying weeds in wheat fields accurately is important for precise pesticide spraying and targeted weed control. Grass weeds in their early growth stages look very similar to wheat seedlings, making them difficult to identify. In this study, we focused on wheat fields with varying levels of grass weed infestation and used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to obtain images. By utilizing deep learning algorithms and spectral analysis technology, the weeds were identified and extracted accurately from wheat fields. Our results showed that the precision of weed detection in scattered wheat fields was 91.27% and 87.51% in drilled wheat fields. Compared to areas without weeds, the increase in weed density led to a decrease in wheat biomass, with the maximum biomass decreasing by 71%. The effect of weed density on yield was similar, with the maximum yield decreasing by 4320 kg·ha− 1, a drop of 60%. In this study, a method for monitoring weed occurrence in wheat fields was established, and the effects of weeds on wheat growth in different growth periods and weed densities were studied by accurately extracting weeds from wheat fields. The results can provide a reference for weed control and hazard assessment research.

De novo assembly of Idesia polycarpa transcriptome and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis candidate genes Mining and functional Identification

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) in lipids are the key to nutraceutical oil applications, with various potential applications in nutraceutical functional foods and pharmaceutical industries. In Idesia polycarpa (Salicaceae), more than 80 % of UFA have been found in the fruits; yet, the underlying genetic mechanism remains poorly understood. Due to the lack of theoretical research on the genes related to lipid biosynthesis and the complete genetic transformation system of I. polycarpa fruit, the selection and breeding of I. polycarpa, an excellent oil tree, has been severely restricted. In-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism and gene function of lipid biosynthesis of I. polycarpa fruit is therefore of great significance for the development of I. polycarpa resources. This is not only conducive to the genetic improvement of I. polycarpa by molecular breeding technologies but can also provide a reference for the study of the gene functions of other oil plants. In this study, the FA accumulation patterns of I. polycarpa fruits during 8 growth periods were analysed. Fruit from two developmental periods with different UFA levels were analysed for RNA sequencing by an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 HiSeq platform. De novo transcriptome assembly presented 115,350 unigenes and 4382 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional annotation in the KEGG pathway and combined with DEG data revealed candidate genes potentially involved in UFA biosynthesis. Expression analysis of q-PCR of IpDGAT2, IpGPAT, IpKASII, IpSAD, IpFAD2, IpFAD3 and IpFAD8 suggested that these genes are highly involved in UFA biosynthesis. Full-length candidate genes were cloned and analysed by bioinformatic tools, and function analysis of IpSAD and IpFAD3 showed that these genes regulated the products of linoleic acid metabolism. This study provides a foundation for UFA biosynthesis in Idesia polycarpa, facilitating its genetic breeding in the future.

Hybridization and growth characteristics of interspecific crosses between Crassostrea hongkongensis and Crassostrea iredalei

Interspecific hybridization of oysters is a highly efficient breeding strategy that can produce commercially viable phenotypes. Crassostrea hongkongensis, the primary cultivar in southern China, faces increasing summer mortality risks and slow growth rates, which elevate commercial risks for farmers. C. iredalei, a commercially cultivated species in Southeast Asia, has been expanding its ecological niche northward in recent years, providing opportunities for interspecific hybridization with C. hongkongensis. This study conducted a 2 × 2 factorial cross between C. hongkongensis and C. iredalei (II: C. iredalei ♀ × C. iredalei ♂, HH: C. hongkongensis ♀ × C. hongkongensis ♂; IH: C. iredalei ♀ × C. hongkongensis ♂, HI: C. hongkongensis ♀ × C. iredalei ♂) and set up 6 salinity treatments (14, 17, 20, 23, 26 and 29 ppt) to explore the optimal salinity for embryo hatching. The results showed that the hybridization was successful, despite bidirectional fertilization and pronounced asymmetry in fertilization success. The optimal hatching salinity for C. iredalei and C. hongkongensis was 23 ppt and 17–20 ppt, respectively, while the optimal salinity for reciprocal hybrids was 20 ppt. Notably, the hatching rate of IH was lower than that of the control group at the optimal salinity. During the pelagic larval stage, hybrid larvae exhibited significant hybrid inferiority, with slower growth rates and higher mortality rates compared to intraspecific hybridization. It is worth noting that IH failed to overcome genetic incompatibility, resulting in complete mortality during the pelagic larval stage and failure to enter the growth stage. At the 360th day of the growth period, HI hybrids grown in Sanbaimen Sea exhibited significant hybrid vigor in shell height (15.65 %), and in Daya Bay Marine Biology Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences (MBRS), they showed significant single-parent hybrid advantages in shell height (28.44 %) and cumulative survival rate (58.11 %) compared to C. hongkongensis. In terms of gonadal development, HI hybrids were able to produce functional and viable gametes, although with some delay compared to their parents. The hybrid offspring inherited the phenotypic traits of their parents, with a grayish-yellow flesh color intermediate between the two oyster species. HI is a valuable genetic resource for oyster breeding, and its growth potential should be further explored to meet commercialization demands.

Higher peak height velocity in early maturing girls depends on insulin rather than fat mass or IGF-I

Abstract Objective Age at pubertal onset has decreased over the recent decades. Early maturing girls have longer puberty duration, and higher peak height velocity (PHV) than late maturing girls. To what extent this is generated by increased insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), fat mass, or fasting insulin levels is currently unknown. Design, setting, participants A population-based study—part of the COPENHAGEN puberty study—longitudinal part. Eighty-one girls evaluated biannually for a median of 10 (2-15) visits for a total of 815 evaluations. Methods Pubertal staging, anthropometric measures, PHV, skin fold thickness (SFT), and IGF-I and fasting insulin levels were measured. Results Early maturing girls achieved similar final height compared to late maturing girls (166.1 vs 167.1 cm, P = .36). Early pubertal onset was associated with significantly greater PHV (8.7 vs 7.4 cm/year, P &amp;lt; .001) and a longer puberty duration (age at onset of breast development to age at PHV [1.8 vs 1.1 years, P &amp;lt; .001]) compared with late maturation. After correcting for age at pubertal onset, neither body mass index, SFT, nor IGF-I levels differed between early vs late maturing girls. By contrast, fasting insulin levels were significantly higher in early compared with late maturing girls 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 years after pubertal onset (all P = .039). Conclusion Growth velocity was higher and more prolonged in early compared with late maturing girls and associated with higher insulin levels. Thus, the higher insulin levels may compensate for the shorter total growth period by intensifying the pubertal growth period. Clinical trial registration number NCT01411527.