Limited Growth Research Articles

Identification and Characterization of an Antifungal Gene Mt1 from Bacillus subtilis by Affecting Amino Acid Metabolism in Fusarium graminearum.

Fusarium head blight is a devastating disease that causes significant economic losses worldwide. Fusarium graminearum is a crucial pathogen that requires close attention when controlling wheat diseases. Here, we aimed to identify genes and proteins that could confer resistance to F. graminearum. By extensively screening recombinants, we identified an antifungal gene, Mt1 (240 bp), from Bacillus subtilis 330-2. We recombinantly expressed Mt1 in F. graminearum and observed a substantial reduction in the production of aerial mycelium, mycelial growth rate, biomass, and pathogenicity. However, recombinant mycelium and spore morphology remained unchanged. Transcriptome analysis of the recombinants revealed significant down-regulation of genes related to amino acid metabolism and degradation pathways. This finding indicated that Mt1 inhibited amino acid metabolism, leading to limited mycelial growth and, thus, reduced pathogenicity. Based on the results of recombinant phenotypes and transcriptome analysis, we hypothesize that the effect of Mt1 on F. graminearum could be related to the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), the most affected metabolic pathway with significant down-regulation of several genes. Our findings provide new insights into antifungal gene research and offer promising targets for developing novel strategies to control Fusarium head blight in wheat.

Blast failure and energy analysis of rubber-modified carbon-fiber vinyl-ester composite laminates

Modifications in vinyl ester resins, a popular matrix resin choice in naval applications through rubber additives, are being experimentally investigated in the current study. Toughening of the composite matrix resin using additives has been a popular choice, where it has been postulated that the inherent modifications to the base resin polymer would enhance the overall response of the composite structure to dynamic loadings. This work intends to understand the effect of such matrix modifications on the shock response of composite panels and the failure mechanism of a composite plate subjected to air shock loading. The study comprises material fabrication, resin and composite material characterization, and analysis of composite panels' response and damage evaluation under a range of shock loadings. A shock tube apparatus is used to generate controlled shock on composite laminates with fixed-fixed boundary conditions. In conjuncture, a high-speed 3-D DIC camera system is used to obtain full-field deformation and strain fields on the specimen's back face (furthest from the loading face). Based on the structural response and energy analysis, the effect of rubber modification is quantified and compared with non-modified resin composites, where the change is shown to improve the structural damping and energy dissipation under below-failure shock loadings and further shows relatively limited crack growth under high-intensity shock loadings.

Interaction of liming, mineral nitrogen fertilization, and Rhizobium inoculation in biomass partitioning and production of cowpea

Cowpea has great capacity of biological fixation of nitrogen (BFN) in association with Rhizobium. However, it is not known whether the interaction of liming, mineral N fertilization, and Rhizobium-inoculated seeds can modify the efficiency of BFN, and still, result in gains in biomass production and yield in cowpea. This study evaluated the use of liming associated to Rhizobium-inoculated seeds and supplemental mineral N fertilization on the nodulation improvement, biomass production, and on the increase of cowpea grain production. Two experiments were conducted under field conditions in two consecutive years, using the same treatments and experimental design. The treatments were conditioned in a split-plot scheme in randomized blocks with four replications in a 2 × 6 factorial, the first factor being two cowpea cultivars (BRS Tapaihum and BRS Marataoã) and the second factor was considered six conditions of corrective practice and N supply [no N supply and no liming (T1), liming + rhizobium (T2), rhizobium (T3), liming + mineral N (T4), liming (T5), and liming + mineral N + rhizobium (T6)]. Nitrogen concentration and accumulation in the leaves increased with liming and N supply (T2, T4, and T6) and increased dry matter (DM) accumulation in the stem, leaves, shoots, and total DM. The absence of liming limited root length growth, decreased root DM, and the number and DM of nodules thus limiting grain production. Additionally, N fertilization supplemented with Rhizobium-inoculated seeds did not increase grain production. However, the use of liming and the inoculation of seeds with Rhizobium increased plant performance and improved grain yield of both cowpea cultivars.

Anthropogenic change decouples a freshwater predator’s density feedback

Intraspecific interactions within predator populations can affect predator–prey dynamics and community structure, highlighting the need to better understand how these interactions respond to anthropogenic change. To this end, we used a half-century (1969–2018) of abundance and size-at-age data from Lake Erie’s walleye (Sander vitreus) population to determine how anthropogenic alterations have influenced intraspecific interactions. Before the 1980s, the length-at-age of younger walleye (ages 1 and 2) negatively correlated with older (age 3 +) walleye abundance, signaling a ‘density feedback’ in which intraspecific competition limited growth. However, after the early 1980s this signal of intraspecific competition disappeared. This decoupling of the density feedback was related to multiple anthropogenic changes, including a larger walleye population resulting from better fisheries management, planned nutrient reductions to improve water quality and transparency, warmer water temperatures, and the proliferation of a non-native fish with novel traits (white perch, Morone americana). We argue that these changes may have reduced competitive interactions by reducing the spatial overlap between older and younger walleye and by introducing novel prey. Our findings illustrate the potential for anthropogenic change to diminish density dependent intraspecific interactions within top predator populations, which has important ramifications for predicting predator dynamics and managing natural resources.

Improvement of straw decomposition and rice growth through co-application of straw-decomposing inoculants and ammonium nitrogen fertilizer

BackgroundThe growth of rice is reduced by the slow decomposition of accumulated straw, which competes with rice for soil nitrogen nutrient. In recent year, straw-decomposing inoculants (SDIs) that can accelerate straw decomposition and ammonium nitrogen (N) fertilizer that can quickly generate available N is increasingly adopted in China. However, it is still unknown whether the N demand of straw decomposition and crop growth can be simultaneously met through the co-application of SDIs and ammonium N fertilizer.ResultsIn this study, we investigated the effect of the co-application of SDIs and ammonium bicarbonate on decomposition rate of wheat straw, rice growth and rice yield over two consecutive years in rice-wheat rotation system. Compound fertilizer (A0) was used as control. The ratios of ammonium bicarbonate addition were 20% (A2), 30% (A3) and 40% (A4), respectively, without SDIs or with SDIs (IA2, IA3, IA4). Our results revealed that without SDIs, compared with A0, straw decomposition rate, rice growth and yield were improved under A2; However, under A3, rice yield was decreased due to the slow decomposition rate of straw and limited growth of rice during late growth stage. Combining SDIs and N fertilizer increased straw decomposition rate, rice growth rate and yield more than that of N fertilizer alone, especially under IA3. Compared with A0, straw decomposition rate, tiller number, aboveground biomass, leaf area index, root length, and nitrogen use efficiency were significantly increased by 16%, 8%, 27%, 12%, 17%, and 15% under IA3. Consequently, the average rice yield of IA3 was increased to 10,856 kg/ha, which was 13% and 9% higher, respectively, than of A0 and A2.ConclusionOur results indicated that ammonium bicarbonate application alone carried a risk of nutrient deficiency during late growth stage and yield decline. Therefore, the co-application of SDIs and 30% ammonium N fertilizer substitution can be a favorable practice to simultaneously accelerate straw decomposition and increase rice crop growth.

Phase formation in CrFeCoNi nitride thin films

As a single-phase alloy, CrFeCoNi is a face centered cubic (fcc) material related to the archetypical high-entropy Cantor alloy CrFeCoNiMn. For thin films, CrFeCoNi of approximately equimolar composition tends to assume an fcc structure when grown at room temperature by magnetron sputtering. However, the single-phase solid solution state is typically not achieved for thin films grown at higher temperatures. The same holds true for Cantor alloy-based ceramics (nitrides and oxides), where phase formation is extremely sensitive to process parameters such as the amount of reactive gas. This study combines theoretical and experimental methods to understand the phase formation in nitrogen-containing CrFeCoNi thin films. Density functional theory calculations considering three competing phases (CrN, Fe-Ni and Co) show that the free energy of mixing, \ensuremath{\Delta}$G$ of ${(\mathrm{CrFeCoNi})}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{N}}_{x}$ solid solutions has a maximum at $x=0.20\ensuremath{-}0.25$, and \ensuremath{\Delta}$G$ becomes lower when $x<0.20$ and $x>0.25$. Thin films of ${(\mathrm{CrFeCoNi})}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{N}}_{x}$ ($0.14\ensuremath{\ge}x\ensuremath{\le}0.41$) grown by magnetron sputtering show stabilization of the metallic fcc when $x\ensuremath{\le}0.22$ and the stabilization of the NaCl B1 structure when $x>0.33$, consistent with the theoretical prediction. In contrast, films with intermediate amounts of nitrogen $(x=0.22)$ grown at higher temperatures show segregation into multiple phases of CrN, Fe-Ni-rich and Co. These results offer an explanation for the requirement of kinetically limited growth conditions at low temperature for obtaining single-phase CrFeCoNi Cantor-like nitrogen-containing thin films and are of importance for understanding the phase-formation mechanisms in multicomponent ceramics. The results from the study further aid in making correlations between the observed mechanical properties and the crystal structure of the films.

Controllable and large‐area growth of ZnO nanosheet arrays under ambient condition as superior anodes for scalable aqueous batteries

AbstractTwo‐dimensional (2D) oxides have been the focus of substantial research interest recently, owing to their fascinating physico‐chemical properties. However, fabrication of large‐area 2D oxide materials in a controlled manner under mild conditions still remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we develop a facile and universal strategy based on the sonochemistry approach for controllable and large‐area growth of quasi‐aligned single‐crystalline ZnO nanosheets on a Zn substrate (Zn@SC‐ZnO) under ambient conditions. The obtained ZnO nanosheets possess the desired exclusively exposed (00) facets, which have been confirmed to play a critical role in significantly reducing the activation energy and facilitating the stripping/plating processes of Zn. Accordingly, the constructed Zn@SC‐ZnO||Zn@SC‐ZnO symmetric cell has very low polarization overpotential down to ~20 mV, with limited dendrite growth and side reactions for Zn anodes. The developed Zn@SC‐ZnO//MnO2 aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs) show a voltage efficiency of 88.2% under 500 mA g−1 at the stage of 50% depth of discharge, which is state of the art for ZIBs reported to date. Furthermore, the as‐assembled large‐size cell (5 cm × 5 cm) delivers an open circuit potential of 1.648 V, and can be robustly operated under a high current of 20 mA, showing excellent potential for future scalable applications.

Interfacial Dynamics and Growth Modes of β2-Microglobulin Dimers.

Protein aggregation is a complex process, strongly dependent on environmental conditions and highly structurally heterogeneous, both at the final level of fibril structure and intermediate level of oligomerization. Since the first step in aggregation is the formation of a dimer, it is important to clarify how certain properties of the latter (e.g., stability or interface geometry) may play a role in self-association. Here, we report a simple model that represents the dimer's interfacial region by two angles and combine it with a simple computational method to investigate how modulations of the interfacial region occurring on the ns-μs time scale change the dimer's growth mode. To illustrate the proposed methodology, we consider 15 different dimer configurations of the β2m D76N mutant protein equilibrated with long Molecular Dynamics simulations and identify which interfaces lead to limited and unlimited growth modes, having, therefore, different aggregation profiles. We found that despite the highly dynamic nature of the starting configurations, most polymeric growth modes tend to be conserved within the studied time scale. The proposed methodology performs remarkably well taking into consideration the nonspherical morphology of the β2m dimers, which exhibit unstructured termini detached from the protein's core, and the relatively weak binding affinities of their interfaces, which are stabilized by nonspecific apolar interactions. The proposed methodology is general and can be applied to any protein for which a dimer structure has been experimentally determined or computationally predicted.

COST ACCOUNTING IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Cost management becomes the most effective aspect in effective business management. This is determined both by the limited growth of margin income in the stable trends of low added value, and by industry features. The relevance of the presented research is determined both by the dynamic development of the construction industry, which indicates the concentration of risks, and by the increasing potential in optimizing conditionally constant and conditionally variable costs, which are characteristic of construction. The search for reserves to reduce the cost of construction and increase profitability requires management data on the real level of costs. Research in the field of cost management and accounting is receiving increasing attention from researchers due to the scientific prospects of this area of economic knowledge.The purpose of the research is to clarify the features of cost management and their accounting in construction, taking into account current trends in the development of the industry.Research methodology: the use of general scientific methods of cognition (synthesis, analogy, generalization, deduction) allowed us to develop general patterns in the management of costs in construction. Data collection, study and comparison were carried out using empirical methods. When processing and systematizing the data, grouping and classification methods were used, which made it possible to identify opportunities for allocating new cost groups in the management accounting system. The information and statistical base of the study was compiled according to official periodicals and information and analytical data of the Republic of Kazakhstan.The originality / value of the study lies in the fact that it summarizes, evaluates and expands knowledge about costs in the construction industry, clarifying the impact of cost classification in improving the accounting of variable and fixed, direct and indirect costs.Findings. The author analyzes the main issues related to determining the cost of housing construction. The main types of costs arising in construction are clarified, the differentiation of costs for the purposes of their management and distribution in margin management is carried out, the issues of cost accounting in the context of financial and managerial accounting are investigated.

Robust projections and consequences of an expanding bimodal growing season in the western United States

AbstractPlant growth is restricted to times of the year when actual evapotranspiration (AET) is greater than zero because AET requires both the presence of water in the soil and temperatures warm enough to allow transpiration. Locations where water rather than temperature limits plant growth, such as semi‐arid areas of the southwestern United States, often have a bimodal growing season, such that distinct AET (growth) peaks occur in the spring and late summer, with a period of very limited plant growth occurring during the intervening summer months. We hypothesized that future warming will increase the zone containing bimodal growth seasons, likely resulting in significant changes in the competitive relationships between plant species that differ in their tolerance of a bimodal seasonality. This will likely alter plant distributions. Using climate projections to drive a water balance model, we mapped geographic regions within the continental United States projected to experience bimodal growing seasons in the future. The area containing bimodal seasonality increased under all 13 general circulation models (GCMs) and two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) examined. This robust result (seen in all alternative futures examined) nevertheless showed considerable variability depending on the GCM examined. The bimodal zone was projected to increase 13%–212% (49,000–792,000 km2) by the late 21st century relative to 1981–2010 estimates. Climate futures that contained the greatest temperature increases and greatest precipitation decreases projected the greatest expansion in the bimodal zone. For plant species that depend on relatively long, consistent time periods that are favorable to growth each year, the projected shift in seasonality may be an acute disturbance that could cause widespread mortality. These changes will likely have cascading ecological and management implications, including changes in the dominant plant life history strategies that occur in affected areas.

Epitaxial growth of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on patterned Si substrate for high voltage power switching applications

In this work, a series of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) have been grown on patterned (Al)GaN-on-Si seed layers by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) to study the effect of the (Al)GaN buffer thickness and its aluminum content on the vertical breakdown voltage. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis performed on the GaN seed layers shows a perfectly smooth, MOCVD-like morphology with a threading dislocation density (TDD) around 2 × 109 cm−2. We succeeded to regrow up to 10 μm and 5 μm crack-free GaN + HEMT and Al0.30G0.70N + HEMT structures, respectively and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed limited lateral growth on mesas with few microscopic defects while AFM show the same surface morphology of HEMT structures as ones grown on planar substrates. NiAu Schottky contacts were deposited on the regrown (Al)GaN HEMTs as well as on (Al)GaN seed layer structures. No breakdown was noticed up to 200 V for the regrown Al0.30Ga0.70N (3 μm) HEMT and the GaN seed layer structures and the leakage current remained in the range of 1 nA. However, the leakage current in the regrown GaN (5 μm) structure reached rapidly 1 mA. Such a high leakage was not noticed for non-patterned devices. Thus, it is possibly attributed to silicon contamination in the regrown GaN layer. On the other hand, the absence of noticeable leakage in the regrown 3 μm thick Al-rich AlGaN buffer HEMT opens the way to a new competitive solution for high power electronics applications on silicon substrate.

Opportunities to diversify the activities of wholesale and retail trade organizations in modern conditions

There are presents the results of a study of promising areas of diversification of the activities of wholesale and retail trade enterprises in the conditions of economic transformation. The purpose of this study is to identify and substantiate the possibilities of diversifying the activities of wholesale and retail companies in conditions of limited economic growth. The relevance of the research on the chosen problem is due to the need to find solutions to the problems of import substitution of enterprises that are interested in expanding their activities, including on the basis of diversification of activities. The methodology of the research is based on the analysis of modern theoretical provisions on the diversification of the activities of leading Russian scientists and economists. The main research methods used in the preparation of the materials of the article: system analysis, methods of expert evaluation, comparison, analogy, analysis of absolute and relative indicators, and others. Additional research methods include: traditional literature analysis, document analysis, design, synthesis, analysis of the data obtained. Within the framework of the article, the directions of diversification of the activities of wholesale and retail trade organizations are considered, as well as a multifactorial model is proposed that allows assessing the potential for increasing sales volumes based on diversification. The value of the conducted research lies in the consideration and detailed analysis of the state of the trade industry of the Russian Federation in the conditions of sanctions and restrictions. Also, this study shows development options in the field of diversification for wholesale and retail trade enterprises that depend directly on foreign supplies. The practical significance of this article is that the results of the study can be used by domestic enterprises specializing in the implementation of both wholesale and retail sales in the Russian market.

Date Palm Fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) and Its Promising Potential in Developing Functional Energy Bars: Review of Chemical, Nutritional, Functional, and Sensory Attributes

Snack bars, known as energy bars, are widely consumed worldwide as highly nutritive on-the-go products. Due to the date fruit’s significant nutritional and functional characteristics, it can be an exceptional choice for developing snack bars. Dates contain a wide range of macro- and micronutrients known for their strong bioactive properties. The functional properties of date fruit have been demonstrated in the literature and include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial activities. This review summarizes the available studies investigating the potential application of dates for developing nutritive and functional snack bars. Date paste was used as a main ingredient at 55–90% concentrations. In addition, protein sources were used to provide protein-rich snack bars, as date fruit is considered high in carbohydrates and low in protein. Skim milk powder was the most common and favorable protein source, delivering significant amounts of protein with limited negative effects on sensory attributes. Incorporating other ingredients, such as cereals or legumes, was also explored; adding such dry ingredients can promote positive nutritional effects along with improving sensory attributes, mainly in terms of the bars’ textures. Dry ingredients can significantly lower moisture content, reducing the bars’ fracturability to acceptable ranges. Reduced moisture content can also significantly enhance the shelf-life stability, as observed by limited microbial growth. Furthermore, the incorporation of bioactive or functional ingredients such as fruit peels, plant seeds, or plant leaf extracts was also reported; such ingredients promoted significant enhancements in the contents of phenolics or flavonoids, for instance, leading to an increase in the bars’ antioxidant potential. Though dates are rich in such bioactive components, incorporating additional bioactive ingredients can boost the dates’ functional properties. In conclusion, this review shows the high potential of the application of dates for developing nutritious and functional snack bars. Taking this into account, the snack bar market has grown remarkably over the past decade; thus, providing well-balanced, nutritious, and functional date-based bars in markets worldwide is expected to show positive consumer acceptance.

Sediment routing systems to the Atlantic rifted margin of the Guiana Shield

Abstract Sediment routing systems of cratonic domains have not been studied extensively because their relief and erosion rates are very low, although their vast dimensions allowed them to contribute to a significant proportion of the sediments exported to the global ocean. To gain further insights into the behavior of cratonic sediment routing systems at geological time scales, we investigated the Guiana Shield and its Atlantic rifted margin (i.e., the Guiana-Suriname and Foz do Amazonas Basins, northern South America) over the Meso-Cenozoic with an emphasis on paleoenvironment and accumulation histories of the offshore sediments. We show that the basins of the Guiana Shield rifted margin record (1) periods of very low siliciclastic supply concomitant with the development of carbonate platforms, alternating with (2) phases of higher siliciclastic supply associated with sand-dominated clastic deposits and turbidites. Low siliciclastic supplies reflect either very limited rift-related relief growth and erosion such as during the Central Atlantic rifting in the Late Jurassic or intense lateritic weathering of the cratonic source area during Paleogene–Miocene climate optima. Higher siliciclastic supplies correspond either to (1) periods of rapid rift-related relief growth and erosion such as during the Equatorial Atlantic rifting (Early Cretaceous), (2) periods of drainage reorganization over a steadily eroding cratonic domain (Late Cretaceous), or (3) periods of tapping of sediments stored in the Andean retro-foreland basins via the presentday Orinoco and Amazon Rivers (Plio-Pleistocene).

The effect of temperature on the release of silicon, iron and manganese into seawater from resuspended sediment particles

Sediments are considered to be refractory materials with limited influences on dissolved iron (dFe) pool in the ocean. However, recent field observations and laboratory experiments suggest that iron released from resuspended sediment particles and transported from continental margins is prone to fertilize large areas of the world ocean. Here we conducted a dissolution experiment to quantify the amount of dFe released from two types of resuspended sediments (silicate and calcite-rich) to open ocean surface seawater under two temperatures (5 and 15 °C). We followed pH, dissolved oxygen (dO2), phosphate, silicate, dissolved Fe and Mn concentrations (dFe and dMn), and bacterial abundance over 250 days. Extremely low and undetectable phosphate concentrations (<50 pmol kg−1) were measured throughout the duration of the experiment, causing limited bacteria growth and stable pH and dissolved O2 concentrations under all conditions. Silicate and dFe concentrations increased through time and high temperature (15 °C) induced more iron dissolution from the two sediments than low temperature (5 °C). Temperature had no effect on the dissolution of Mn. Our results further show that Fe and Mn are not released concurrently from the sediment source and that their distribution can be very different. Scavenging of Fe likely caused a decrease of dFe observed during the experiment, which was probably linked to the formation of Mn oxides. We also observed elevated dissolved Fe isotope ratios after dissolution, around +0.16 to +0.27‰. Isotopically heavy Fe was released from sediments to the dissolved pool during the dissolution but no difference in Fe isotope ratios was observed between the two temperature conditions. The Fe isotope fractionation can likely be attributed to ligand complexation and scavenging of Fe. These two mechanisms can be important factors not only in controlling the amount of Fe released from sediments but also in fractionating Fe isotopes at the sediment–seawater boundary.

Assessment of Serum Vitamin D Status and Its Associated Health Problem Among Children With Protein Energy Malnutrition: A Cross-Sectional Research Study in Central Rural India.

Background Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is a condition that results from inadequate intake of both macronutrients and micronutrients, leading to a lack of energy. The condition can manifest quickly or gradually, ranging from mild to severe. It predominantly affects children in low-income countries who do not receive enough calories and proteins. In developed nations, it is more prevalent among older individuals. PEM is more common in children as they consume less protein. In rare cases in developed countries, it may result from fad diets or a lack of knowledge about children's nutritional requirements, especially in cases of milk allergy. Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone growth and development by facilitating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from food and supplements. Additionally, vitamin D has been linked to a reduced risk of infections, immune system disorders, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Aims and objectives The primary objective of this study is to evaluate serum vitamin D levels and their relationship with health complications in children affected by PEM. The specific aim is to estimate the serum vitamin D levels in children with PEM who exhibit symptoms of being underweight, stunting (limited linear growth), wasting (abrupt weight loss), or edematous malnutrition (kwashiorkor). Additionally, this study seeks to analyze the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and the associated health problems in children with PEM. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study employed an analytical research approach. A total of 45 children with PEM participated in the study. Data were collected through a venipuncture method, and serum vitamin D level was assessed using an enhanced chemiluminescence method. The children's pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale, and developmental delay was evaluated using an assessment chart. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results The study's results indicate that a considerable proportion of children, specifically 46.6%, were deficient in vitamin D, whereas 42.2% exhibited insufficiency and only 11.2% had sufficient levels of the vitamin. Pain assessment using the visual analogue scale classification revealed that 15.6% of children reported no pain, 60% reported mild pain, and 24.4% reported moderate pain. The mean and standard deviation of vitamin D levels correlated with developmental delay were 4.22±0.212 and 5.34±0.438, respectively. Similarly, the mean and standard deviation of vitamin D levels correlated with pain were 4.22±0.212 and 2.98±0.489, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient for vitamin D levels and pain was 0.010, with a significant level of 0.989, significantly lower than the tabulated value at a 5% significance level. Conclusion Based on the study's findings, it was concluded that children who suffer from PEM are at a risk of developing vitamin D deficiency, which can result in adverse health outcomes, including developmental delay and pain.

Distribution of mangroves with different aerial root morphologies at accretion and erosion sites in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam

Aerial roots are a vital feature that allow mangroves to survive in anaerobic and unstable soil conditions. Mangrove species have different aerial root characteristics and show their own site-specific distribution. The distribution of three types of aerial roots with different morphological characteristics was investigated between accretion and erosion sites in Ca Mau, Vietnam. Stilt roots, pneumatophores and knee roots were the three main aerial root types in the study area. Stilt roots of Rhizophora apiculata BL. and pneumatophores of Avicennia species were the two most abundant root types at the study sites, dominating erosion and accretion sites, respectively. Stilt roots had a higher number of primary roots in seaward plots than in landward plots (p < 0.05), supporting the ability of R. apiculata to withstand erosion of the surface. Tidal erosion moved away sediment and exposed roots, which resulted in higher aboveground stilt root height in seaward plots than in landward plots at erosion sites (p < 0.05). The higher density and biomass of pneumatophores in seaward plots than those in landward plots at accretion sites (p < 0.05) confirmed the adaptation of Avicennia to newly accreted sites where tidal inundation and anaerobic conditions limited mangrove growth. The density of A. alba decreased with the distance from the sea at both erosion and accretion sites, implying that this species was a pioneer species adapted to newly accreted sites or disturbed sites among mangrove species. Bruguiera parviflora with knee roots was distributed in more stable conditions. Mangrove species with different root types displayed a zonal distribution with increasing distance from the shoreline. This distribution reflects mangrove species adaptabilities and species-specific roles in the context of coastal processes and site conditions, which should be considered in coastal mangrove restoration.

Optical Characteristics of Monochrome and Multilayer Fully Stabilized Zirconia Upon Sintered Cooling Speed.

Firing protocols influence optical properties of dental ceramics. Effects of varying cooling rates of monochrome and multilayer 5 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal polycrystalline (5YTZP) on optical properties are subjected for investigation. Ninety specimens (width, length, thickness = 10 × 20 × 2 mm) were prepared from monochrome (Mo: Cercon xt) and multilayer (Mu: Cercon xt ML with cervical (C) and incisal (I) zoning) 5YTZP. Specimens were sintered and randomly treated with three cooling rates (n = 15/group): slow (S: 5°C/min), normal (N: 35°C/min), and fast (F: 70°C/min). Color appearance (∆EW), color appearance difference (∆E diff), translucency parameter (TP), contrast ratio (CR), and opalescence parameter (OP) were evaluated in CIEL*a*b* (Commission International de I'Eclairage) system. ∆E diff was achieved from the coordinate difference of specimen to VITA classic shade A2. Microstructures and compositions were evaluated by scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Monoclinic (m), tetragonal (t), and cubic (c) phases were investigated with X-ray diffraction. An analysis of variance and Bonferroni multiple comparisons were determined for significant differences (p < 0.05). ΔEW of MoF was highest (66.04 ± 1.86), while MuN-I was lowest (62.60 ± 0.86). TP and OP of MoS were highest at 2.85 ± 0.11, and 2.25 ± 0.10, while MuF-I was lowest at 2.16 ± 0.10 and 1.60 ± 0.12. CR of MuF-I was highest (0.948 ± 0.005), while MoS was lowest (0.936 ± 0.005). ΔEdiff of MoF was highest (3.83), while MuN-I was lowest (0.93). Limited grain growth and m-phase composition were indicated upon fast cooling. There were significant differences for all color parameters due to varied materials, cooling rates, and their interactions (p < 0.05) except for interaction in ∆EW and OP. Translucency of monochrome and multilayer 5YTZP were different, possibly due to colorant additives. Incisal layer of multilayer 5YTZP was perfectly matched with VITA shade. Increasing cooling speed resulted in smaller grain size, t-m transformation, and finally lower translucency and opalescence. Therefore, to achieve most favorable optical properties, slow cooling rate is recommended.

Shading by giant kelp canopy can restrict the invasiveness of Undaria pinnatifida (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae).

The spread of non-indigenous and invasive seaweeds has increased worldwide, and their potential effects on native seaweeds have raised concern. Undaria pinnatifida is considered among the most prolific non-indigenous species. This species has expanded rapidly in the Northeast Pacific, overlapping with native communities such as the iconic giant kelp forests (Macrocystis pyrifera). Canopy shading by giant kelp has been argued to be a limiting factor for the presence of U. pinnatifida in the understory, thus its invasiveness capacity. However, its physiological plasticity under light limitation remains unclear. In this work, we compared the physiology and growth of juvenile U. pinnatifida and M. pyrifera sporophytes transplanted to the understory of a giant kelp forest, to juveniles growing outside of the forest. Extreme low light availability compared to that outside (~0.2 and ~4.4 mol photon ⋅ m-2 ⋅ d-1 , respectively) likely caused a "metabolic energy crisis" in U. pinnatifida, thus restricting its photoacclimation plasticity and nitrogen acquisition, ultimately reducing its growth. Despite M. pyrifera juveniles showing photoacclimatory responses (e.g., increases in photosynthetic efficiency and lower compensation irradiance, Ec ), their physiological/vegetative status deteriorated similarly to U. pinnatifida, which explains the low recruitment inside the forest. Generally, our results revealed the ecophysiological basis behind the limited growth and survival of juvenile U. pinnatifida sporophytes in the understory.

MiR-4529-3p Promotes the Progression of Retinoblastoma by Inhibiting RB1 Expression and Activating the ERK Signaling Pathway.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a malignant ocular cancer that affects children. Several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in RB regulation. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miR-4529-3p in RB pathogenesis. Scratch, Transwell, and Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 assays were conducted to assess the migratory, invasive, and proliferative abilities of RB cells. The expression levels of miR-4529-3p, RB1, and ERK pathway-related proteins were analyzed using western blotting and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Target relationships were verified using dual-luciferase reporter experiments. A murine RB model was developed to analyze the effects of miR-4529-3p on RB tumor growth in vivo. Our experiments revealed high levels of miR-4529-3p and low levels of RB1 in RB tissues. Functional analyses revealed that the migratory, invasive, and proliferative abilities of RB cells were repressed by miR-4529-3p inhibition. Similarly, p-ERK 1/2 protein levels were suppressed by miR-4529-3p inhibition. Furthermore, downregulation of miR-4529-3p limited tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, miR-4259-3p targets RB1. Interestingly, RB1 silencing abrogated the alleviative effects of miR-4529-3p downregulation in RB cells. MiR-4529-3p promotes RB progression by inhibiting RB1 and activating the ERK pathway. This evidence suggests that the miR-4529-3p/RB1 regulatory axis may be a prospective target for RB treatment in clinical settings.