Physiological Maturity Research Articles

Non-destructive estimation of flesh oil content in avocado (Persea americana Mill.) using fluorescence images from 365-nm UV light excitation.

The flesh oil content (OC) is a crucial commercial indicator of avocado maturity and directly correlates with its nutritional quality. To meet export standards and optimize edible characteristics, avocados must be harvested at the appropriate stage of physiological maturity. The significant variability in OC during maturation, without any external morphological indicators, poses a longstanding challenge. Currently, harvesting maturity is optimized through time-consuming, destructive laboratory methods like freeze-drying and chemical extraction, which use representative samples to estimate the maturity of entire orchards. In this study, for the first time, we employed fluorescence imaging of avocado skin using 365-nm UV polarized light excitation to estimate the OC in the 'Bacon' avocado cultivar. We developed a surface fluorescence index that strongly correlates with OC, achieving correlation coefficients up to -0.91. Our non-destructive and rapid approach achieved a cross-validation accuracy with an R2 value of 0.81, enabling the classification of avocados with low and high OC. This pioneering method shows considerable potential for further improvement and refinement. This study lays the groundwork for developing a portable, cost-effective, and real-time method for non-destructive in situ monitoring of avocado OC in the field and its integration into large-scale post-harvest grading systems.

7 Role of the preovulatory follicle in oocyte metabolic and developmental competence for pregnancy

Abstract A majority of bovine pregnancy loss occurs in the first 7 d of gestation. The oocyte is a key driver of embryo viability during this time, and its competence for embryo development and pregnancy establishment is greatly influenced by the surrounding microenvironment during oocyte maturation. Assisted reproductive technologies allow for more efficient propagation of superior genetics and improved reproductive management of the cattle herd; however, many assisted reproductive technologies alter the normal microenvironment of the maturing oocyte and negatively impact oocyte competence for early embryo development. For example, oocytes induced to ovulate from preovulatory follicles of lesser physiological maturity (decreased estradiol production and smaller diameter) have reduced blastocyst development, poorer embryo quality, and a hastened rate of embryo development compared with those ovulated from follicles of greater maturity. Our overarching hypothesis is that the intrafollicular milieu of physiologically mature preovulatory follicles provides the necessary microenvironment to metabolically program maturing oocytes for successful embryo development. Studies by our team have demonstrated that the follicular fluid metabolite milieu during in vivo oocyte maturation differs between preovulatory follicles of greater and lesser maturity and that such differences have direct effects on the maturing oocyte. Numerous follicular fluid metabolites involved in glucose and amino acid metabolism were more abundant in preovulatory follicles of greater versus lesser physiological maturity. Additionally, abundance of transcripts encoding glycolytic enzymes was higher in cumulus cells from follicles of greater maturity, and both ATP and levels of key transcripts in the mitochondrial respiratory chain were higher in oocytes collected from preovulatory follicles of greater versus lesser maturity. We supplemented in vitro maturing oocytes with follicular fluid from preovulatory follicles of greater or lesser maturity to determine causality of differing follicular fluid milieu on cumulus-oocyte metabolism and oocyte competence for early embryo development. Follicle maturity status had robust effects on cumulus-oocyte complex consumption or production of key metabolites in glucose, purine, and amino acid metabolism pathways during oocyte maturation. We also observed hastened development rate in embryos arising from in vitro matured oocytes supplemented with lesser maturity follicular fluid, mirroring past in vivo findings by others. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing of resulting blastocysts of identical stage and quality suggested more efficient metabolism and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in blastocysts derived from oocytes matured in preovulatory follicular fluid from greater maturity follicles. In contrast, transcriptome profiles of blastocysts from oocytes matured in preovulatory follicular fluid from lesser maturity follicles indicated oxidative stress and dysregulated cell division. These recent findings by our lab indicate that impacts of follicle maturity and the resulting follicular fluid microenvironment on the maturing oocyte withstand throughout early embryo development and hold promising roles to improve reproductive efficiency in cattle.

Human Skeletal Muscle Myoblast Culture in Aligned Bacterial Nanocellulose and Commercial Matrices.

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a durable, flexible, and dynamic biomaterial capable of serving a wide variety of fields, sectors, and applications within biotechnology, healthcare, electronics, agriculture, fashion, and others. BNC is produced spontaneously in carbohydrate-rich bacterial culture media, forming a cellulosic pellicle via a nanonetwork of fibrils extruded from certain genera. Herein, we demonstrate engineering BNC-based scaffolds with tunable physical and mechanical properties through postprocessing. Human skeletal muscle myoblasts (HSMMs) were cultured on these scaffolds, and in vitro electrical stimulation was applied to promote cellular function for tissue engineering applications. We compared physiologic maturation markers of human skeletal muscle myoblast development using a 2.5-dimensional culture paradigm in fabricated BNC scaffolds, compared to two-dimensional (2D) controls. We demonstrate that the culture of human skeletal muscle myoblasts on BNC scaffolds developed under electrical stimulation produced highly aligned, physiologic morphology of human skeletal muscle myofibers compared to unstimulated BNC and standard 2D culture. Furthermore, we compared an array of metrics to assess the BNC scaffold in a rigorous head-to-head study with commercially available, clinically approved matrices, Kerecis Omega3 Wound Matrix (Marigen) and Phoenix as well as a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel. The BNC scaffold outcompeted industry standard matrices as well as a 20% GelMA hydrogel in durability and sustained the support of human skeletal muscle myoblasts in vitro. This work offers a robust demonstration of BNC scaffold cytocompatibility with human skeletal muscle cells and sets the basis for future work in healthcare, bioengineering, and medical implant technological development.

A convolutional neural network approach to early detect physiological disorders and maturity in ‘Abate Fétel’ pears

A convolutional neural network approach to early detect physiological disorders and maturity in ‘Abate Fétel’ pears

Emergence delay effect on maize (Zea mays L.) nitrogen uptake

AbstractSpatial and temporal variability in plant emergence may cause differences in nitrogen (N) uptake by crops leading to a mismatch between plant nitrogen requirements and nitrogen supply, with negative environmental and economic impacts. We aimed to understand N uptake and concentration (%) in unevenly emerged plants by conducting experiments in pre‐determined yield stability zones (YSZs) in three farmers’ fields planted to maize (Zea mays L.). We found that maize emergence ranged from 64 to 124.1°C day, with significant variability between YSZ in two of three fields. Maize biomass plant‐to‐plant variation decreased from maize six leaves stage (V6) to maize silking stage (R1). At maize physiological maturity (R6), biomass ranged from 54 to 736 g plant−1 and was significantly affected by YSZ (p < 0.001). In the cases where late‐emerging plants accumulated less N than early emerging plants, this led to altered N partitioning within the plant (i.e., nitrogen harvest index decrease). Although N concentration in the grains remained unaffected by late emergence, the N concentration in the biomass increased. This was likely due to a reduced total biomass and the lack of a N sink (i.e., less yield per plant due to less grain per plant). The absence of variations in N utilization across emergence classes, coupled with the significant impact observed in the YSZ, reinforces the advantages of focusing on N management fitted to YSZ. Understanding the impact that the spatial and temporal variation of plant emergence has on maize N uptake is important in helping to improve N input prescription maps, N‐use efficiency, and reduce N losses to the environment.

Effects of far infrared therapy in hemodialysis arterio-venous fistula maturation: A meta-analysis.

Hemodialysis patients rely on stable vascular access to perform effective hemodialysis and reach good dialysis quality. However, an obstructed or under-matured arteriovenous fistula (AVF) may increase infection rate and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Far infrared (FIR) therapy might help to promote AVF maturation and reduce obstruction rate. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of FIR therapy on AVF obstruction rate and maturation. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and other databases which provide publications in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of FIR to improve AVF in patients with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) or HD (hemodialysis) were used to collect articles which published before February 2023. Two authors selected relevant articles independently based on pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and assessed the quality of the articles by using the Cochrane Handbook before performing a meta-analysis in Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4 software. Four RCTs with 475 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the FIR therapy groups had better physiological maturation at 3 months (RR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.39; p = .002) and clinical maturation at 12 months (RR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.14 to 1.60; p < .001) than the control groups without FIR therapy. The obstruction rates within 12 months were much lower in the FIR therapy groups than in the control groups (RR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.68; p = .007), also, there was no statistical heterogeneity. FIR could promote fistula maturation and reduce the incidence of AVF obstruction.

Jackfruit Genotypes in Southern Nayarit: A Comparative Study of Morphological, Physiological, Physicochemical, Phytochemical, and Molecular Assessments

Jackfruit, primarily cultivated in Nayarit, Mexico, has four notable genotypes: “Agüitada”, “Rumina”, “Licenciada”, and “Karlita”, which require thorough characterization. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive characterization of these genotypes through an integration of morphological, physiological, physicochemical, phytochemical, and DNA fingerprinting analyses. Measurements were taken from physiological maturity to senescence. SSR and SRAP markers were employed for DNA fingerprinting, and a complete randomized design followed by multivariate analysis was used to observe variable relationships. The results revealed that “Rumina” had the largest leaf size, while “Karlita” had the largest fruit size and the highest respiration rate (117.27 mL of CO2·kg−1·h−1). “Licenciada” showed the highest ethylene production (265.45 µL·kg−1·h−1). “Agüitada” and “Licenciada” were associated with orange bulbs, whereas “Rumina” and “Karlita” were associated with yellow ones. Additionally, “Agüitada” demonstrated higher levels of soluble phenols and carotenoids, indicating greater antioxidant capacity. The Jaccard index suggested moderate genetic diversity among the genotypes, and the dendrogram revealed two genetic clusters. “Licenciada” emerged as a promising genotype, combining high genetic diversity with desirable physicochemical traits. This study highlights the need to broaden future genetic analyses to include a wider range of jackfruit genotypes from various regions, offering a more comprehensive understanding of genetic diversity.

Assessment of growth, metal uptake efficiency and yield traits of castor bean genotypes for phytoremediation of lead contaminated soils of Chakera-Faisalabad having history of long term irrigation with waste water

The agricultural soil of Chakera village, Faisalabad, Pakistan is under significant threat due to irrigation with wastewater containing Pb. Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), a non-edible oil seed crop showed considerable capacity for phytoremediation of heavy metals. Restoration of Pb contaminated soil of Chakera using castor bean until physiological maturity could be an effective approach for mitigating hazardous impacts of Pb contamination in the soil. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the growth, biochemical traits, phytoremediation potential, and yield attributes of two castor bean genotypes (NIAB-2020 and DS-30) under the conditions of two different soil-filled pots; uncontaminated soil of NIAB (0 mg Pb kg−1) and contaminated soil of Chakera (250 mg Pb kg−1). Results have shown that plant agronomic, biochemical and seed compositional analysis have revealed a faint drop on Chakera soil. Metal accumulation response resulted in highest shoot Pb uptake in DS-30 compared to NIAB-2020. Conversely, maximum Pb uptake in roots of NIAB-2020 (4470 µg plant−1) was recorded when compared with DS-30 (3576 µg plant−1). Highest translocation factor (TF) was calculated for DS-30, whereas, for the metal tolerance index (MTI), both genotypes exhibited non-significant difference. Interestingly, concentration of Pb in seeds remained undetected for both genotypes. The study indicates that NIAB-2020 exhibited slightly higher tolerance than DS-30, potentially leading to economic gains through widespread use of castor oil across industries, positioning castor bean as a promising candidate for rehabilitation of contaminated soils. Nevertheless, additional in-situ investigations are necessary to validate the findings of current pot study.

Pre Extension Demonstration of Soil Test Crop Response Based Recommended Phosphorus Fertilizer for Maize in Bako Tibe and Gobu Sayo Districts of Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Pre-extension demonstration of soil test crop response based phosphorus fertilizer recommendation for maize was conducted in Bako Tibe and Gobu Sayo districts with the objective of participatory demonstration of soil test crop response based phosphorus recommendation under farmers’ condition in 2022 cropping season. Two treatments were applied (T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;) blanket Recommendation (T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;) Soil Test crop response based recommended phosphorus fertilizer with improved maize (BH-661) variety. The trial was conducted on eleven farmers’ fields which were used as replications. Plot size for each treatment was 10m x 20m with the spacing of 35cm and 75cm between plants and rows respectively using seed rate of 25 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; and with recommended optimum N-fertilizer rate of 110 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;. In each PAs, one FREG unit comprising of 20 farmers were established. About 185 (139 male and 46 female) participants were take part on field visit based training held during physiological maturity of maize. The average total biomass with soil test crop response based Recommended phosphorus fertilizer was 32,385 kgha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; while blanket recommendation was 27,730 kgha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;. Again the average grain yield for STCRBPR was 7,205kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; while blanket recommendation was 4,641kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;. Similarly, the results of the economic analysis indicated that the use of p-fertilizer based on soil test crop response and the blanket suggestion with MRR 500.93% could yield net returns of 188,029.36 and 119348 ETB per hectare, respectively. As a result, the suggested phosphorus fertilizer based on soil test crop response should be expanded/scaled up to include additional maize producer farmers in the region and surrounding districts.

Effect of Customized Fertilizer Application on Physiological Aspects of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

It is predicted that India will required around 32 million tons of pulses to feed around 1.68 billion people by 2030. Therefore, improved technologies must be needed to increasing production. And increase in physiological efficiency of crop is important to improve the productivity and production of crop. Hence, the experiment entitled "Effect of customized fertilizer application on physiological aspects of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)" was carried out at Department of Plant Physiology, AB &amp; MAP, College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) during rabi 2020-21. The experiment consists of five treatments with replicated four times in RBDS design and Indira chana 1 variety of chickpea used as a test crop. The study highlighted that that the T5 CFG 3 (NPKSZnMo 5.5:4.6:4.5:8.3:1.4:0.034 %) based on recommendation (125%) was found effective to minimize the phenophase like 50% flowering, physiological maturity significantly. Higher chlorophyll value was observed in T5 CFG 3 (NPKSZnMo 5.5:4.6:4.5:8.3:1.4:0.034 %) based on recommendation (125%) and Maximum Fv/Fm (chlorophyll florescence) was observed in T4 CFG 2 (NPKSZnMo 5.5:4.6:4.5:8.3:1.4:0.034%) based on recommendation (75%). T3 CFG 1 (NPKSZn Mo5.5: 4.6:4.5:8.3:1.4:0.034%) based on recommendation (100%) was also observed effectively increased dry matter partitioning towards the economic sink and maximize Crop growth rate, Relative growth rate, economic (seed) yield, biological yield and harvesting index. Thus, it is proved that in comparison with the recommended doses of fertilizers application of CFGA has enhanced the plant yield.

Factors influencing fumonisin B1 contamination in maize: insights from two production regions in Costa Rica.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop worldwide. Contaminated maize kernels pose a significant mycotoxin exposure risk for humans in Latin America. Fumonisins, the most prevalent mycotoxin in maize, typically occur during pre-harvest conditions leading to significant economic losses. Various factors, including weather conditions, may influence this contamination. This study aimed to determine the association between fumonisin B1 (FB1) contamination, prevalence of Fusarium verticillioides, weather conditions and kernel quality in the two primary maize production areas in Costa Rica (Brunca and Chorotega). All maize samples (100%) showed FB1 contamination, with higher concentrations in samples from Brunca region, consistent with the presence of F. verticilliodes. Weather conditions appeared to play an important role in this contamination, since Brunca region had the highest mean temperature and relative humidity after maize silking (R1) and the total monthly rainfall in this region was significantly higher during the last two months of maize cultivation (grain-filling and physiological maturity stages R3 to R6). Interestingly, this study found a negative correlation between grain damage and kernel contamination with FB1 and F. verticillioides. The concentration of mineral nutrients in kernels from both regions was largely similar. Most nutrients in kernels exhibited a negative correlation with FB1, particularly nitrogen. Zinc and phosphorus were the only nutrients in kernels showing a positive correlation with FB1 in samples from the Brunca region. The results highlight elevated levels of FB1 contamination in maize and contribute to a better understanding of pre-harvest factors influencing FB1 contamination in tropical conditions.

Response of Maize (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Zea may&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; &amp;lt;I&amp;gt;L.&amp;lt;/I&amp;gt;) Cultivars to Urea Time Application on Phenology, Growth and Grain Yield at Bako, East Wollaga, Ethiopia

The results of this research provide a basis for additional exploration and advancement, which will culminate in suggestions for the timing of split urea treatment and cultivars for sustainable maize production within the study region. During the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, a field experiment was conducted at the Bako Agricultural Research Center to determine the response of hybrid maize cultivars to urea split application on phenology, growth, and grain production. In the experiment, six levels of urea split application were applied to two types of corn. T1 = 1/2 dose of urea at planting + 1/2 dose of urea at Knee height; T2 = 1/2 dose of urea at planting + 1/2 dose of urea at tasseling; T3 = 1/ 3 dose of urea at planting + 1/3 dose of urea at knee height + 1/3 dose of urea at tasseling; T4 = 2/3 dose of urea at knee height + 1/3 dose of urea at tasseling; T5 = 1/2 dose of urea at knee height + 1/2 dose of urea at tasseling; and T6 = 1/4 dose of urea at planting + 1/2 dose of urea at knee height + 1/4 dose of urea at tasseling. The experiment&amp;apos;s randomized complete block design made use of three replications. The primary effects of the urea split time of application were found to have a substantial impact on plant height, 90% physiological maturity, grain production, total leaf area per plant, and leave area index. Three urea split applications 1/4 dosage at planting, 1/2 dose at knee height, and 1/4 dose at tasseling provided the maximum net benefit of EB 246,536.7 ha-1 and the best marginal rate return of 2822.26% for maize output. In conclusion, urea split application 1/4 doses at planting stage 1/2 dose at knee-height and 1/4 dose at tasseling stage is the best time of application in good rainy seasons and hence recommended for the end users. However, in the case of erratic and heavy rainy seasons, application at three times should be used to get maximum profit and acceptable MRR.

Maize seed inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense as strategy to improve photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency in the Amazonian periphery

In the Amazonian region of Brazil, the combination of different inoculation forms of Azospirillum brasilense and N rates has not been studied for its effect on photosynthetic N use efficiency and yield in maize plants. The effects of inoculation forms of A. brasilense and N rates on photosynthetic N use efficiency and maize yield were evaluated. Two field trials were conducted, combining four N rates (0 to 180 kg ha−1) with different inoculation forms of A. brasilense (seed, leaf, or control). Photosynthetic N use efficiency (photosynthesis per unit leaf N) was taken at the beginning of tasseling stage, while yield and N use efficiency components were evaluated at physiological maturity. Photosynthesis and specific leaf N increased with increasing N rates, regardless of inoculation forms. Azospirillum-inoculated seeds, along with 114 kg ha−1 of N provided the maximum yield (6.0 Mg ha−1). Without N, seed inoculation increased yield by 33% and photosynthesis by 31% compared to the control. Averaged across N rates, seed inoculation increased photosynthetic N use efficiency by 17%–24% compared to the control. Azospirillum-inoculated seeds improved N use efficiency compared to the control under low N available. The results show that the Azospirillum-inoculated seeds could potentially decrease N rates from 180 to 114 kg ha−1 of N, while increasing yield by 9%. Besides, Azospirillum-inoculated seeds could enhance photosynthetic N use efficiency in a sustainable manner on low-fertility soils. Therefore, the benefits of the A. Brasiliense drive a sustainable agriculture by improving yield and reducing the need for N inputs.

Advancing research and development of anti-infectives for children: A clinical development perspective

The HIV treatment landscape for adults has progressed dramatically in recent decades; however, paediatric populations continue to experience delayed and limited access to effective and safe antiretroviral therapy options. Despite current incentive programmes, formulation research and development and approved drug dosing for children have been limited, particularly for neonates (aged <4 wk). Regulatory approval of drug formulations and dosing in children may lag behind adult approvals by years. Formulation and trial design adjustments complicate paediatric drug development, all of which are vital to accommodate for physiological differences, organ maturation, and rapid weight gain, which are most significant in the youngest children. To facilitate more rapid anti-infective drug development for paediatric populations, regulatory agencies provide guidelines that include extrapolating efficacy and safety data from relevant populations; using pharmacokinetic (PK) bridging and modelling to reduce sample sizes and limit the number of PK studies needed before efficacy analyses; and enrolling age- or weight-based cohorts in parallel rather than sequentially for clinical trials. Ensuring access to approved drugs poses an additional challenge, as uncertainty in demand leads to manufacturing and supply complexity with potentially higher costs that can be a barrier to uptake. Here we summarise challenges in drug development for children living with HIV, which are not unique to antiretrovirals. We aim to propose strategies for how model-based approaches and global partnerships can overcome some of these barriers to accelerate paediatric drug development, with particular reference to HIV, and how lessons learnt from HIV could be extended to other anti-infectives.

Leaf and seed yield response of vegetable amaranths to nitrogen fertilizers applications and harvesting frequency at Jimma, South West, Ethiopia

Amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus) is an alternative food crop that requires fewer agronomic practices relative to other food crops. However, the yield of Amaranthus varies due to factors such as season, soil fertility, variety, and management practices. There is limited information available on certain agronomic practices for Amaranthus, such as harvesting frequency and N fertilizer application rates. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of nitrogen levels and harvesting frequencies on the growth, leaf and seed yield, and yield components of the Amaranth Madiira-2 cultivar at Jimma, under irrigation. The study used a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement of five N levels (0, 34.5, 69, 103.5, and 138) and three harvesting frequencies (weekly, every 2 weeks, and every 3 weeks), replicated three times. Data on phenological growth, yield, and yield components were collected and analysed using SAS software (version 9.3). The results revealed that the combined effect of nitrogen and harvesting frequency significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the days to 50% flowering and days to 50% physiological maturity. Leaf area, plant height, above-ground fresh weight, above-ground dry weight per plant at harvest, leaf yield, and seed yield were highly significantly influenced (p < 0.01). However, the thousand seed weight when a two-week harvesting frequency was followed after transplanting and 103.5 kg N ha−1 was applied. The leaf yield was found to be significantly influenced by the harvesting frequencies, with the highest yield of 30.33 tons ha−1 observed under this particular combination of factors. Similarly, the seed yield was also maximized at 3.23 tons ha−1 under the same conditions, with 103.5 kg N ha−1 and a three-week harvesting frequency. Therefore, these findings suggest that farmers can benefit from applying 103.5 kg N ha−1 with a two-week harvesting frequency for better leaf yield and 103.5 kg N ha−1 with a three-week harvesting frequency for better seed yield. However, it is important to note that this study was conducted only during one season and in one location. Hence, conducting the experiment again in real-world settings, across various seasons and locations, would be beneficial. This would allow for drawing more reliable conclusions and making appropriate recommendations.

Возрастная динамика субпопуляций Т-лимфоцитов у пациентов с синдромом делеции 22q11.2 (синдромом Ди Джорджи)

Patients with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DiGeorge syndrome, DDS) suffer from T-cell lymphopenia, changes in function and subpopulation of T-lymphocytes. The bibliographical data conflicts on the characteristics of T-lymphocytes in patients with DDS and their changes during physiological maturation. The purpose of this research was to follow-up patients with emphasis on the dynamics of changes in T-lymphocyte subpopulations with age. Methods used: 117 patients observed during 2013-2023 who were administered at the Allergology and Immunology Department with the G.N. Speransky City Children’s Hospital No. 9 (Moscow, Russia) with a diagnosis of DDS and who had undergone blood sampling to assess T-lymphocyte subpopulations using flow cytometry. All patients (0 to 18 y/o) were divided into 4 age groups: 0 to 2 y/o, 2 to 5 y/o, 5 to 10 y/o and 10 to 18 y/o. In parallel, the blood samples of 185 apparently healthy children of the corresponding age were examined. Results: a decrease in CD3 T-lymphocytes, CD4 T-helper cells, CD8 T-cytotoxic lymphocytes, CD4 early thymic emigrants and CD4 naive T-lymphocytes was found in all age groups (p&lt;0.05). CD8+ naive T-lymphocytes and CD8+ early thymic emigrants were reduced in all age groups, but in the 2 to 5 y/o age group their values were close to normal (p=0.072 and p=0.220, respectively). CD4+ central memory cells were elevated in all age groups (p&lt;0.001), while CD8+ central memory cells, CD4+ and CD8+ effector memory cells differed in that they had normal values in the 2 to 5 y/o age group (p=0.229, p=0.457 and p=0.140, respectively). CD4+ TEMRA were significantly increased in the 0 to 2 y/o age group (p=0.002), and in older age groups they tended to normal values. CD8+ TEMRA did not differ from the control group and did not have age-related dynamics. The T-helper subpopulations were characterized by a significant increase in the percentage of T-helper type 1, T-helper 17, T-helper 17.1 and a decrease in T-helper type 2 compared to the population of healthy blood sample donors (p=0.001), except for patients from the 2 to 5 y/o age group. T-regulatory cells in absolute amount were reduced in all age groups (p&lt;0.001), while their relative number corresponded to the norm in the 0 to 2 y/o age group (p=0.811) and decreased slightly in patients in older age groups, especially in the 2 to 5 y/o age group (p=0.030). Conclusion: the pathology of thymus development in patients with DDS leads to impaired maturation of T-lymphocytes, leading to an increase in the number of mature forms of T-lymphocytes, shifts towards the development of T-helper 1 and T-helper 17, and a decrease in T-regulatory cells. Disturbances in T-lymphocytes can cause changes (dysregulation) in subpopulations of B-cells. All these processes may underlie the progression of autoimmune and infectious complications in such patients that are increasing with aging.

Pediatric Shoulder Girdle.

The pediatric shoulder girdle is a complex anatomical structure uniting the upper extremity and trunk. The osseous structures, their articulations, and the surrounding soft tissue support structures (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) allow for a wide range of motion at the shoulder. Growth and maturation of the components at the shoulder girdle vary, particularly the osseous structures. This characteristic renders interpretation of imaging of the pediatric shoulder girdle more challenging because normal or variant anatomy can be confused for pathology. We review the physiologic growth and maturation of the shoulder girdle with special emphasis on the development of the bones and their articulations. The role of various imaging modalities and the common osseous and soft tissue variants in the pediatric shoulder are also discussed.

Physiological Maturity and Harvesting Date on Seed Yield and Quality of Indigo (Indigofera suffruticosa Mill.)

Background: Indigo is used to dye many fabrics, which also needs a lot of indigo plants enough to dye the fabric. Indigo seeds were used for propagation, but the seed of indigo is not simultaneous. The physiological maturity and optimum harvesting date affected the yield and quality of indigo seeds. This research aims to study the physiological maturity and harvesting date of indigo on seed yield and quality. Methods: Indigo plants were grown in the dry season. The experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications, consisting of 4 harvesting dates; 140, 150, 160 and 170 days after planting (DAP). Result: The results showed that the first indigo flower was at 51 DAP and matured to pods at 59 DAP. It takes 113 DAP for the indigo color to change from green to brown. The appearance of the pods changed from green to yellowish green, brown and black, respectively. As the indigo pods became 50% brown, they started harvesting. The weights of a dry pod, a fresh pod and a seed were different. When harvesting at 140 DAP, the fresh pod weight had the maximum of 82.60 g/plant and dropped as the indigo harvesting date grew (P less than 0.01). The dry pod weight was the lowest, at 27.58 g/plant (P less than 0.05). The seed weight per plant for harvesting at 170 DAP was 25.57 g. The harvesting date, however, did not differ statistically. The highest percentage of germination and vigor were from the indigo seeds, which were harvested at 140 DAP, 31.94% and 38.81%, respectively (P less than 0.01). Therefore, the optimum harvesting date at 140 DAP is the physiological maturity stage and harvesting of the pods when they turn brown for the highest seed quality.

Above- and Below-Ground Interactions and Interspecific Relationships in Wheat/Maize Systems

Above- and below-ground interactions play a crucial role in achieving higher yields in intercropping systems. Nonetheless, it remains unclear how these interactions impact intercropping crop growth and regulate interspecific relationships. This study aimed to quantify the impact of above- and below-ground interactions on crop yield by determining the dynamics of dry matter accumulation, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance, and leaf area index (LAI) in intercropped wheat and maize. Three below-ground intensities were set for an intercropping system: no root separation (CI: complete interaction below ground), 48 μm nylon mesh separation (PI: partial interaction below ground), and 0.12 mm plastic sheet separation (NI: no interaction below ground). Two densities were set for maize: low (45,000 plants hm−2) and high (52,500 plants hm−2). At the same time, corresponding monoculture treatments were established. The grain yields in the CI and PI treatments were, on average, 23.7% and 13.7% higher than those in the NI treatment at high and low maize densities, respectively. Additionally, the grain yield for high density was 12.3% higher than that of low density in the CI treatment. The dry matter accumulation of intercropped wheat under the CI and PI treatments was, on average, 9.1%, 14.5%, and 9.0% higher than that in the NI treatment at the flowering, filling, and maturity stages, respectively. The dry matter accumulation of intercropped maize at the blister, milk, and physiological maturity stages increased by 41.4%, 32.1%, and 27.8%, respectively, under the CI treatment compared to the NI treatment. The PAR transmittance and LAI of maize at the V6 stage were significantly increased by increasing the intensity of below-ground interactions. This study showed that complete below-ground interaction contributed to a significant increase in the competitiveness of intercropped wheat with respect to maize (Awm) under the high-density maize treatment, especially at the filling stage of wheat. Moreover, the CI treatment enhanced the recovery effects of maize (Rm) after wheat harvesting. Increasing the intensity of below-ground interactions can significantly enhance the Awm and Rm in intercropping systems, favoring the accumulation of crop dry matter mass and light energy utilization to increase system yields.

Performance of bread wheat advanced lines under late sowing and reduced irrigation

Twenty eight advanced wheat lines and cultivar Borlaug 100 were sown on January 15 and 30, 2020, at the Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station, in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, México. Plots consisted of 1 bed 2 m long with two rows and 0.80 m apart with two replications, a seed density of 100 kg ha-1 with two complementary irrigations. Average daily temperature (°C), maximum, minimum, relative humidity, rainfall, heat and cold units were recorded from January 1 to May 15, 2020. The average days for heading of the group was 67 for the first sowing date and 64 for the second, while days for physiological maturity were 103 and 95, respectively. The average plant height of the group for the first and second sowing dates was 83 cm; line SOKOLL/3/PASTOR//HXL7573/2*BAU/4/PARUS/ PASTOR/5/PIHA// WORRAKATTA/2*PASTOR/3/PRL/2*PASTOR consistently reached the maximum height with 92.5 and 95 cm in the first and second dates, respectively. The average a thousand grain weight of the group was 53.8 g for the first sowing date and 43.8 for the second; sister line SOKOLL/3/PASTOR//HXL7573/2*BAU/4/ SOKOLL/WBLL1/5/PIHA// WORRAKATTA/2*PASTOR/3/PRL/2*PASTOR (PTSS14Y00057S-0B-099Y-099B-43Y-020Y) showed the highest average weight with 57.07 g. The average grain yield per plot was 340 g; sister line WBLL4//OAX93.24.35/WBLL1 /5/CROC_1/AE.SQUARROSA(205)//BORL95/3/PRL/SARA//TSI/VEE#5/4/FRET2/6/D67.2/PARANA66.270//AE.SQUARROSA(320)/3/CUNNINGHAM/4/VORB (PTSS15Y00024S-099B-099Y-099M-10Y-020Y) showed the highest yield with 420 g which was above 5 t ha-1. The average temperature was 19.09 °C with a maximum of 36.3 °C and a minimum of 1.04 °C, and the number of heat and cold units was 229 and 227, respectively.