Reduction In Height Research Articles

Molybdenum-Induced Oxidative Stress and Histopathological Alterations in the Epididymis

Molybednum is one of the trace elements required for proper functioning of the human body. The present study was designed to assess the effects of molybdenum on accessory reproductive organ i.e. epididymis. Male Wistar rats were administered with three different doses of molybdenum (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight) for 60 days. A recovery study was also conducted in the highest dose group for which half the animals of the group were left untreated for the next 60 days. Exposure to molybdenum induced a significant decline in superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid and glutathione while lipid peroxidation revealed a significant increase in epididymis in dose-dependent manner. Significant reduction in epididymal epithelial cells height, short sterocilia, increased intertubular stroma, decreased epididymal sperm reserve in the lumen and reduction in the diameter of cauda epididymal tubules with a relatively large amount of intertubular stroma was observed in epididymis of mice treated with molybdenum which might be correlated with enhanced oxidative stress. In the recovery group, significant improvement in antioxidant parameters and histoarchitecture of epididymis was observed indicating toxic effects of molybdenum can be reversed by cessation of exposure.

A cyclic nucleotide-gated channel gene HcCNGC21 positively regulates salt and drought stress responses in kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels (CNGCs) serve as Ca2+ permeable cation transport pathways, which are involved in the regulation of various biological functions such as plant cell ion selective permeability, growth and development, responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. At the present study, a total of 31 CNGC genes were identified and bioinformatically analyzed in kenaf. Among these genes, HcCNGC21 characterized to localize at the plasma membrane, with the highest expression levels in leaves, followed by roots. In addition, HcCNGC21 could be significantly induced under salt or drought stress. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of HcCNGC21 in kenaf caused notable growth inhibition under salt or drought stress, characterized by reductions in plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, root length, root surface area, and root tip number. Meanwhile, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly decreased, accompanied by reduced levels of osmoregulatory substances and total chlorophyll content. However, ROS accumulation and Na+ content increased. The expression of stress-responsive genes, such as HcSOD, HcPOD, HcCAT, HcERF3, HcNAC29, HcP5CS, HcLTP, and HcNCED, was significantly downregulated in these silenced lines. However, under salt or drought stress, the physiological performance and expression of stress-related genes in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing HcCNGC21 were diametrically opposite to those of TRV2-HcCNGC21 kenaf line. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays revealed that HcCNGC21 interacts with HcAnnexin D1. These findings collectively underscore the positive role of HcCNGC21 in plant resistance to salt and drought stress.

Stacked mutations in wheat homologues of rice SEMI-DWARF1 confer a novel semi-dwarf phenotype

BackgroundSemi-dwarfing alleles are used widely in cereals to confer improved lodging resistance and assimilate partitioning. The most widely deployed semi-dwarfing alleles in rice and barley encode the gibberellin (GA)-biosynthetic enzyme GA 20-OXIDASE2 (GA20OX2). The hexaploid wheat genome carries three homoeologous copies of GA20OX2, and because of functional redundancy, loss-of-function alleles of a single homoeologue would not be selected in wheat breeding programmes.Instead, approximately 70% of wheat cultivars carry gain-of-function mutations in REDUCED HEIGHT 1 (RHT1) genes that encode negative growth regulators and are degraded in response to GA. Semi-dwarf Rht-B1b or Rht-D1b alleles encode proteins that are insensitive to GA-mediated degradation. However, because RHT1 is expressed ubiquitously these alleles have pleiotropic effects that confer undesirable traits in some environments.ResultsWe have applied reverse genetics to combine loss-of-function alleles in all three homoeologues of wheat GA20OX2 and its paralogue GA20OX1 and evaluated their performance in three years of field trials. ga20ox1 mutants exhibited a mild height reduction (approximately 3%) suggesting GA20OX1 plays a minor role in stem elongation in wheat. ga20ox2 mutants have reduced GA1 content and are 12–32% shorter than their wild-type segregants, comparable to the effect of the Rht-D1b ‘Green Revolution’ allele. The ga20ox2 mutants showed no significant negative effects on yield components in the spring wheat variety ‘Cadenza’.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that chemical mutagenesis can expand genetic variation in polyploid crops to uncover novel alleles despite the difficulty in identifying appropriate mutations for some target genes and the negative effects of background mutations. Field experiments demonstrate that mutations in GA20OX2 reduce height in wheat, but it will be necessary to evaluate the effect of these alleles in different genetic backgrounds and environments to determine their value in wheat breeding as alternative semi-dwarfing alleles.

Deer grazing drove an assemblage‐level evolution of plant dwarfism in an insular system

Abstract Plant dwarfism, a syndrome characterised by a significant reduction in plant height and organ size, is a widely observed pattern of stress‐tolerant life‐form evolution that results from local adaptation to harsh environmental conditions. The drivers of assemblage‐level dwarfism have primarily been attributed to abiotic factors, such as low temperature, aridity, poor soil fertility or frequent fires. While biotic factors such as grazing pressure from herbivores can contribute to the establishment of plant dwarfism, these factors have rarely been tested at assemblage levels. Focusing on a dwarf plant assemblage comprising over 80 taxa on a small continental island in Japan with a high deer density, we hypothesised that historical deer grazing could also be a factor contributing to the large‐scale convergent evolution of dwarfism. To test this hypothesis, we measured the size of 1908 individual plants of 40 taxa pairs, comprising both palatable and unpalatable pairs from the island and their counterpart taxa from neighbouring regions, and sought to assess which factors (i.e. low solar radiation, estimated divergence time, low nutrient conditions and grazing pressure from deer) may have contributed to the formation of the dwarf plant assemblage on the island. We also performed genetic analysis to infer the time frames for the establishment of dwarf taxa. Statistical analyses revealed that plant size was significantly reduced mainly among the palatable taxa growing on the island, with preferential grazing by deer being identified as the most significant factor influencing plant size. Furthermore, genetic analyses revealed that dwarf ecotypes may have evolved over tens of thousands of years. Synthesis: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that interactions with herbivores can shape the assemblage‐level convergence of plant dwarfism. These findings enhance our current understanding of the formation of plant functional diversity.

Transcription factor OsSHR2 regulates rice architecture and yield per plant in response to nitrogen.

Mutation of OsSHR2 adversely impacted root and shoot growth and impaired plant response to N conditions, further reducing the yield per plant. Nitrogen (N) is a crucial factor that regulates the plant architecture. There is still a lack of research on it. In our study, it was observed that the knockout of the SHORTROOT 2 (OsSHR2) which was induced by N deficiency, can significantly affect the regulation of plant architecture response to N in rice. Under N deficiency, the mutation of OsSHR2 significantly reduced root growth, and impaired the sensitivity of the root meristem length to N deficiency. The mutants were found to have approximately a 15% reduction in plant height compared to wild type. But mutants showed a significant increase in tillering at post-heading stage, approximately 26% more than the wild type, particularly in high N conditions. In addition, due to reduced seed setting rate and 1000-grain weight, mutant yield was significantly decreased by approximately 33% under low N fertilizer supply. The mutation also changed the distribution of N between the vegetative and reproductive organs. Our findings suggest that the transcription factor OsSHR2 plays a regulatory role in the response of plant architecture and yield per plant to N in rice.

61 Effects of botanical composition on grazing system management, forage quality, forage availability, and ewe performance

Abstract The objective was to compare the effects of two forage mixtures utilized in a rotational grazing system on ewe performance, forage quality, and forage availability. Dorset-Suffolk crossbred ewes [n = 48; body weight (BW) = 187 ± 20 kg] were stratified by BW, body condition score (BCS), and age, then allotted to six groups. Groups were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: forage mixture 1 (FM1; 47% orchard grass, 30% white clover, 14% brome grass, and 9% ryegrass) and forage mixture 2 (FM2; 44% ryegrass, 33% white clover, and 23% red clover). There were 18 paddocks (30.5 m x 22 m) for each treatment, each group was rotated between one of six paddocks; the rotation of each group was determined by the reduction of forage height to approximately 10 cm. Ewe BW and BCS were collected on d 0, 14, and 28. Forage heights were measured using meter sticks upon the groups entering and exiting each paddock. Forage heights were used to calculate forage availability, and the difference between pre-grazing and post-grazing forage availability was assumed to be forage disappearance. Five pre-grazing forage samples from each paddock were clipped at 10 cm using the forage square (0.0625 m²) to determine fiber content. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS 9.4. No effects on ewe BW or BCS were observed (P = 0.4134) between treatments. Ewes grazing FM2 spent more time grazing each paddock (P < 0.01) compared with ewes grazing FM1. Pre-grazing forage ground cover (P < 0.01) was greater in FM2 compared with FM1; however, grazed forage mass disappearance was not different (P = 0.44) between treatments. The NDF and ADF values were greater for FM1 than FM2 (P < 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively) indicating that more forage is needed to meet ewe energy requirements. Results suggest that neither forage mixture had a significant impact on ewe BW or BCS; however, ewes grazing FM2 maintained themselves on a smaller land area during growing season, making it a more feasible option for rotational grazing management.

Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization and Foot Strengthening Exercise on Navicular Height and Ankle Range of Motion in College Students with Flexible Flat Feet: A Comparative Study

Background: The medial longitudinal arch (MLA) plays a major role in maintaining the biomechanics of the foot and is maintained with the help of active and passive systems. Dysfunction of active and passive support system can lead to a reduction of navicular height, leading to excessive pronation of the foot known as pes planus. Pes planus is caused by injury, prolonged stress on the foot, obesity, and faulty biomechanics which will result in posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, collapse of the foot archand flat foot.The patients with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and pesplanus have reduced dorsiflexion and increased eversion.So, the aim was to study the effects of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and foot strengthening exercise on navicular height and ankle range of motion in college students with flexible flat feet. Method: Total 40 students were recruited for the study as per selection criteria and were divided into two groups (20 in each group). Group A was treated with Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization(IASTM)and group B was treated with Foot Strengthening Exercise for five days a week for 4 weeks. Inter-group analysis by Mann Whitney U-test showed statistically significant improvement in navicular height and ankle range of motion (P value ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed statistically significant improvement in navicular height and ankle ROM with the use of IASTM and foot strengthening exercise. However, IASTM was found to be more effective in improving ankle ROM and foot strengthening exercise was found to be more effective inincreasingnavicular height.

Physical Experiments Of Wave Attenuation Over Submerged Shellfish Reefs

Globally and across Australia shellfish reef ecosystems have become critically endangered due to decades of overfishing, pollution and dredging (e.g., Beck et al., 2011). In response, the Australian federal government, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, committed to restoring 60 shellfish reef ecosystems across Australia by building reefs from limestone and recycled shells scattered with juvenile oysters or mussels. Although the primary aim is to promote healthy marine ecosystems and biodiversity, there are strong indications that these restored shellfish reefs may also substantially dissipate ocean waves and provide protection against coastal flooding. Analogies have been drawn with conventional engineering structures (submerged breakwaters, e.g. Dattatri et al., 1978) as well as nearshore shellfish reefs increasingly considered as a nature-based method for coastal resilience against flooding (“living shorelines”, see e.g. Morris et al., 2021). Although the currently restored reefs do present clear similarities, they also have distinct differences that raise questions to whether they can be as effective in dissipating wave energy. Observational data from laboratory or field to verify this is currently lacking. This study aims to quantify the effectiveness of multiple parallel submerged reef structures in relatively deep water in dissipating wave energy. Experiments (1:10 scale) were carried out in a 54-m-long wave flume using 3 reef designs that vary in reef spacing, width and height, representative for shellfish reef ecosystems as recently restored and established across Australia and the US. All designs were subjected to two water depths (0.7 and 1 m on laboratory scale) and 8 (irregular) wave conditions covering 4 peak wave periods and significant wave heights ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 m (lab scale). For the cases with 0.7 m water depth, wave height reduction varied from 10 to 23%, while for the cases with 1 m water depth wave heights generally decreased slightly up to about 5%. The reefs were found to be particularly effective in reducing the largest waves within the timeseries that would have the highest potential of causing coastal impact (e.g., flooding or erosion). In addition, observations obtained with an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter showed up to 45% reduction of near-bed orbital (rms) velocities, highlighting the potential for these structures to benefit seagrass restoration efforts. Overall, the results of this study show that restored shellfish reefs can reduce incident wave energy and orbital velocities considerably, in particular for relatively high waves in relatively shallow water, and have the potential to be considered in nature-based coastal defense strategies.

Lowering the Schottky Barrier Height by Quasi-van der Waals Contacts for High-Performance p-Type MoTe2 Field-Effect Transistors.

Two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offer advantages over traditional silicon in future electronics but are hampered by the prominent high contact resistance of metal-TMD interfaces, especially for p-type TMDs. Here, we present high-performance p-type MoTe2 field-effect transistors via a nondestructive van der Waals (vdW) transfer process, establishing low contact resistance between the 2D MoTe2 semiconductor and the PtTe2 semimetal. The integration of PtTe2 as contacts in MoTe2 field-effect transistors leads to significantly improved electrical characteristics compared to conventional metal contacts, evidenced by a mobility increase to 80 cm2 V-1 s-1, an on-state current rise to 5.0 μA/μm, and a reduction in Schottky barrier height (SBH) to 48 meV. Such a low SBH in quasi-van der Waals contacts can be assigned to the low electrical resistivity of PtTe2 and the high efficiency of carrier injection at the 2D semimetal/2D semiconductor interfaces. Imaging via transmission electron microscopy reveals that the 2D semimetal/two-dimensional semiconductor interfaces are atomically flat and exceptionally clean. This interface engineering strategy could enable low-resistance contacts based on vdW architectures in a facile manner, providing opportunities for 2D materials for next-generation optoelectronics and electronics.

Effect of microstructure on sag resistance of ultra-high strength spring steel evaluated by hysteresis loop

Sag refers to the reduction in the free height of coil springs during actual usage, hence sag resistance is one of the crucial properties of spring steel and its improvement is essential for prolonging the service life of springs. However, limited research has been conducted on the effect of microstructure on sag resistance in recent years. This study aims to investigate the relationship between microstructure and sag resistance in 65SiCrV6 spring steel. The steel was quenched from various temperatures to obtain microstructures with varying sub-block size, and tempered at different temperatures to obtain microstructures with distinct tempered carbides morphology. The microstructures were characterized and the sag resistance was evaluated by hysteresis loop effect formed during cyclic tensile test. The results revealed that smaller sub-block sizes of martensite and higher proportions of high-angle grain boundary (HAGB) are beneficial for improving sag resistance. Incoherent granular cementite precipitated in the tempered microstructure improves sag resistance by enhancing interactions with dislocations, and coarsened cementite does not reduce the sag resistance due to the generation of back stress in heterogeneous microstructure. The hysteresis loop effect resulting from heterostructure as well as interactions between dislocations and tempered carbides increases with rising tempering temperature until it reaches a saturation state. This study highlights the importance of optimizing the microstructure with both small sub-block size and incoherent cementite precipitation through appropriate heat treatment process to enhance sag resistance, meanwhile provides valuable insights into understanding the micromechanism of sag resistance in spring steel.

Amelioration of chromium toxicity in wheat plants through exogenous application of nano silicon

Chromium (Cr) contamination in agricultural soils poses a risk to crop productivity and quality. Emerging nano-enabled strategies show great promise in remediating soils contaminated with heavy metals and enhancing crop production. The present study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of nano silicon (nSi) in promoting wheat growth and mitigating adverse effects of Cr-induced toxicity. Wheat seedlings exposed to Cr (K2Cr2O7) at a concentration of 100 mg kg−1 showed significant reductions in plant height (29.56%), fresh weight (35.60%), and dry weight (38.92%) along with enhanced Cr accumulation in roots and shoots as compared to the control plants. However, the application of nSi at a concentration of 150 mg kg−1 showcased substantial mitigation of Cr toxicity, leading to a decrease in Cr accumulation by 27.30% in roots and 35.46% in shoots of wheat seedlings. Moreover, nSi exhibited the capability to scavenge oxidative stressors, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage, while significantly enhancing gas exchange parameters, total chlorophyll content, and antioxidant activities (enzymatic and nonenzymatic) in plants grown in Cr-contaminated soil. This study further found that the reduced Cr uptake by nSi application was due to downregulating the expression of HMs transporter genes (TaHMA2 and TaHMA3), alongwith upregulating the expression of antioxidant-responsive genes (TaSOD and TaSOD). The findings of this investigation highlight the remarkable potential of nSi in ameliorating Cr toxicity. This enhanced efficacy could be ascribed to the distinctive size and structure of nSi, which augment its ability to counteract Cr stress. Thus, the application of nSi could serve as a viable solution for production of crops in metal contaminated soils, offering an effective alternative to time-consuming and costly remediation techniques.

Experimental assessment of a solar vortex engine integrated with sensible TES at different collector configurations

This study presents an experimental investigation of the effect of different solar collector geometrical parameters on the solar vortex engine's (SVE) performance. The first parametric study is concerned with a solar vortex power generation system's diameter, inlet height, and thermal energy storage (TES) extension. The experimental results revealed that extending the TES by 1 m outside the canopy significantly increases thermal efficiency by 62 %. In addition, increasing the diameter of the solar collector from 8.8 m to 10.8 m, with an extra 1 m extended TES area, increased the air temperature rise by 57 %, while the outlet air velocity increased by 32 %. On the other hand, a reduction in the collector inlet height from 0.2 m to 0.15 increased the air temperature rise while decreasing the outlet air velocity and power output potential by mean values of 19 % and 48 %, respectively. The enhancement obtained from the extended area of TES is an important finding, as it increased the air temperature for a larger canopy size without extra cost. Therefore, increasing the absorption area or the TES outside the canopy is recommended. Also, further studies are essential to correlate the inlet height to the system's performance.

Evaluation of Pea Accessions Differing in Flower and Seed Coat Pigmentation for Resistance to Fusarium avenaceum Root Rot

ABSTRACTPea production across the world is significantly limited by root rot disease, which is caused by many fungal and oomycetes pathogens. In Canada, Fusarium avenaceum is the most devastating pathogen of the Fusarium root rot complex of pea. Host genetic resistance is the most effective control method for this disease. Evaluation of global pea accessions and Canadian varieties for F. avenaceum root rot resistance has not been reported to date. This study evaluated 20 pea accessions of different market classes with pigmented or nonpigmented seed coats and flowers for F. avenaceum resistance under controlled conditions. The pea accessions CDC Acer, CDC Vienna, PBA OURA, Morgan, CDC Blazer, CDC Dakota, and PI 280609, which have pigmented flowers and seed coats, were identified as resistant or partially resistant to F. avenaceum. This was based on their root rot severity scores and ability to tolerate F. avenaceum infection without significant (p > 0.05) reductions in plant height, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight. Among the varieties with nonpigmented flowers and seed coats, only Cameor showed partial resistance to F. avenaceum when challenged with reduced conidial concentration. Root dry weight (R = −0.86), plant height (R = −0.82), and shoot dry weight (R = −0.78) had a strong negative correlation (p < 0.001) with disease severity, suggesting that F. avenaceum root rot can negatively impact the growth and development of pea seedlings. F. avenaceum resistance identified in this study can be utilized to study the molecular basis of the resistance and develop disease‐resistant varieties. While our findings suggest a relationship between pigmentation and F. avenaceum resistance, future research with a larger, more diverse panel is warranted to validate these initial results.

Quinoa growth and yield performance under salinity stress in arid West Texas

AbstractCrops such as quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) that are both salinity and drought‐tolerant and with high seed value are needed to sustain agriculture in arid Far West Texas facing dual threat of freshwater scarcity and soil salinization. However, quinoa's growth and yield performance under arid conditions of Far West Texas has not been studied previously. This study evaluated growth and yield of a salt‐tolerant quinoa genotype under greenhouse conditions using a completely randomized experimental design with irrigation water salinity as the main factor having five different levels (freshwater, 5, 10, 15, and 20 dS m−1). Plant parameters (plant height, leaf SPAD, leaf tissue carbon, and nitrogen concentrations) and seed yield were measured for two growing seasons. Soil quality (salinity and sodicity) changes were also determined for the same time. Seed yields ranged between 747 and 6065 kg ha−1 across 2 years, indicating significant effects of water salinity. However, these yields were comparable to those reported in the literature. Increasing water salinity significantly affected all growth parameters with leaf C and N decreasing by an average of 20%, whereas reductions in plant height reached a high of 60% at 20 dS m−1. Similar reductions in leaf chlorophyll content were found with increasing water salinity. Soil salinity and sodicity significantly increased over time with irrigation water salinity. Importantly, we observed that quinoa has a much higher soil salinity threshold (∼12 dS m−1) above which yields declined rapidly. Higher salt tolerance threshold of quinoa makes it an alternative economically viable crop for the Trans‐Pecos Texas region.

Fungal plant pathogen Colletotrichum shisoi identified as a potential biological control agent of invasive Perilla frutescens in the United States

ABSTRACT Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton, an annual plant in the mint family, is considered invasive in the United States where it excludes native vegetation in natural areas and can cause respiratory illness in livestock. An effective biological control agent would improve perilla management, but none have been developed or proposed. This study investigated the biocontrol potential of a fungal pathogen, Colletotrichum shisoi, recently found infecting perilla in North America. The growth rates and morphology of seven Colletotrichum shisoi isolates were recorded. A virulence assay was performed on two perilla accessions, and the number and size of foliar lesions produced were used to select a single isolate, Colletotrichum shisoi isolate 21-072, exhibiting consistently high virulence for further evaluation of biocontrol efficacy and host specificity. Treatment with 0.5 mL of 1 × 107 spores/mL H2O caused a 52% reduction in shoot height and 84% reduction in root length of invasive perilla seedlings compared to a control treatment (P < 0.001). Seedlings treated with 1 × 108 spores/mL had a 100% mortality rate. Formulation of inoculum in a 1:1 water:oil emulsion reduced dew period requirements for causing >50% plant mortality from 48 to 24 h, but oil emulsions exhibited a mild phytotoxic effect on seedlings. Four additional perilla accessions were susceptible to C. shisoi, and none of 34 other species included in host range experiments developed disease symptoms following inoculation. These results suggest C. shisoi 21-072 could be an effective antagonist of perilla and likely poses a low risk of non-target impacts.

Growth and Adult Height Attainment in Danish Transgender Adolescents Treated with GnRH Analog and Sex Hormones

Abstract Background Endogenous sex steroids influence the pubertal growth spurt and adult height. However, the impact of puberty suppression and sex steroids on growth in transgender adolescents is sparsely studied. Aim We investigated pubertal growth, serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3, and adult height of transgender adolescents receiving hormone therapy. Methods Observational study of a national cohort (2016-2023) comprising 219 transgender adolescents &amp;lt;18 years of age. Treatment consisted of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) combined with estradiol or testosterone (adjusted to serum concentrations between 0 and +2 standard deviations (SDs) corresponding to the gender identity). Results Adult height was within ±2 SD for sex assigned at birth. Most trans girls reached adult height within references of girls. For trans girls (bone age ≤15 years before treatment), a growth spurt was observed during estradiol therapy. IGF-I and height SDS declined during oral estradiol administration (-0.13 SDS per month, p=0.059, and -0.02 SDS, p=0.001, respectively). We observed significantly lower adult height compared to target height for trans girls (-2.7 cm, p=0.01), and significant differences between height SDS before treatment and at adult height (-0.35 SDS, p&amp;lt;0.001). Half of the trans boys remained short (&amp;lt;-2 SD) compared to references for boys, and most completed growth spurt before initiation of treatment. IGFBP-3 declined following testosterone treatment. There was a significant difference between height SDS before treatment and at adult height (-0.17 SDS, p&amp;lt;0.001). Discussion and Conclusion The minor reduction in adult height of trans girls after hormone treatment may be beneficial to some, whereas trans boys did not experience height gain.

Effect of Bulk Nanobubbles on the Flocculation and Filtration Characteristics of Kaolin Using Cationic Polyacrylamide

This study investigated the influence of bulk nanobubbles (NBs) on the flocculation and filtration behavior of kaolin suspensions treated with cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM). Traditionally, flocculation relies on bridging mechanisms by polymers like CPAM. The present work examines the possibility of combining NBs with CPAM to achieve more efficient kaolin separation. The settling behavior of kaolin suspensions with and without bulk nanobubbles was compared. The results with 2 mL CPAM and 300 s settling time revealed that bulk NBs significantly enhanced flocculation efficiency, with supernatant zone height reductions exceeding 50% compared to CPAM alone, indicating a faster settling rate resulting from bulk NBs. This improvement in the settling rate is attributed to NBs’ ability to reduce inter-particle repulsion (as evidenced by a shift in zeta potential from −20 mV to −10 mV) and bridge kaolin particles, complementing the action of CPAM. Additionally, the study demonstrated that bulk NBs improved dewatering characteristics by lowering the medium resistance and specific cake resistance during filtration. These findings pave the way for the utilization of bulk NBs as a novel and efficient strategy for kaolin separation in mineral processing, potentially leading to reduced processing times and lower operational costs.

Innovative Fertiliser Based on Urea and Ammonium Nitrate Solution with Potassium Thiosulphate as a Crucial Factor in Shaping Plant Yield and Its Parameters

In the cultivation of crops in recent times, in addition to taking care of the balanced supply of nutrients to plants and the protection of soil resources, it is also important to take into account the non-productive factor by implementing production systems based on balanced fertilisation. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of soil kind and the application of a new fertiliser based on a urea and ammonium nitrate solution with potassium thiosulphate (UAN-KTS) on the yielding and biometric characteristics of spring wheat, spring rape, and maize to determine the optimal N:K:S ratio. An increase in the soil kind increased the weight of 1000 spring rape seeds, the yield of maize fresh matter, a reduction in the height of spring wheat and maize plants, a reduction in the yield of spring wheat grains and straw, and the yield of the fresh and dry matter of spring rape straw. A higher nitrogen dose promoted the growth of spring rape at the later growing stage and maize and had a positive effect on the yield of spring wheat grains and straw, spring rape seeds and straw, and the above-ground parts of maize. The application of potassium fertilisers caused a significant increase in the spring rape plant height, an increase in the yield of spring wheat grains and straw and spring rape seeds and straw, the above-ground parts of maize, a reduction in the plant height at the beginning of the spring wheat growing period, and a reduction in the weight of 1000 spring rape seeds (only on the soil with rich quality). The fertiliser with the N:K2:S2 ratio had a particularly favourable effect on the yielding of spring wheat. In the cultivation of maize, the same effect was most often obtained under the influence of fertiliser in the ratio of N:K1:S1 on the weaker soil fertilised at the same time as a higher dose of nitrogen (N 1) and N:K2:S2 (in other cases). In the case of spring rape, generally, fertiliser with N:K1:S1 was the strongest, although, in some objects, a higher yield was achieved under the influence of N:K2:S2. The existence of statistically confirmed correlations (expressed as the percentage of the variability observed) between the soil kind and the fertilisers applied and the yielding and biometric characteristics of the plants were observed.

Response of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) to Herbicides and Weed Control

Industrial hemp is a continuously expanding crop; however, there has been limited research on its herbicide selectivity and weed control. Pendimethalin, s-metolachlor and aclonifen at 1137.5, 960 and 1800 g a.i. ha−1, respectively, were applied in field experiments in 2022 and 2023 in Greece to study the response of industrial hemp to pre-emergence (PRE) herbicides and record their efficacy on weeds. In 2023, each PRE herbicide was followed by the postemergence application of cycloxydim at 200 g a.i. ha−1 due to infestation of Sorghum halepense. In 2022, retardation in hemp growth was recorded by all PRE herbicide treatments, with there being a slight reduction in stand counts by pendimethalin and s-metolachlor and leaf yellowing by aclonifen in one the experiments. In 2023, no reductions in crop establishment and plant height were recorded, whereas leaf discoloration caused by aclonifen was less evident; cycloxydim did not affect hemp and perfectly controlled S. halepense. Despite the herbicide injury, hemp recovered and succeeded in higher biomass in both experiments at Thessaloniki and in higher seed production in the 2023 Thessaloniki experiment. This study showed that pendimethalin, s-metolachlor and aclonifen can be regarded as potential pre-emergence options with precautions in wet and light soils.

Non-surgical treatment of a severe deep bite with aligners and miniscrew: A hybrid approach

This case report describes an orthodontic treatment combining aesthetic aligners with miniscrews and auxiliaries in an adult patient with Class II skeletal pattern and severe deep bite. A 38-year-old hypodivergent male patient with skeletal class II and severe deep bite presented for orthodontic treatment. The patient refused orthognathic surgery and conventional fixed multibracket treatment in favor of aligners in association with the use of miniscrews. The entire treatment was completed within nine months. Smile line and facial profile were improved, and post-treatment panoramic radiography showed good root parallelism, no sign of crestal bone height reduction, and no evidence of apical root resorption. The patient was satisfied with the aesthetic and functional outcomes. This case report illustrates that aligners associated with miniscrews and auxiliaries may be used to treat severe deep bite in certain cases.