Although mollusks represent Earth’s second most diverse invertebrate group,their natural history and ecology are still scarcely known.The compilation of non-traditional data,such as those from citizen science,represe...Although mollusks represent Earth’s second most diverse invertebrate group,their natural history and ecology are still scarcely known.The compilation of non-traditional data,such as those from citizen science,represents an alternative to fill these gaps,particularly on striking land snail species such as Macrocyclis peruvianus.Based on long-term citizen science,we aimed to update and describe some basic ecological aspects,such as the distribution and protected area types used by M.peruvianus.We performed pairwise comparisons to test potential changes in occurrence and occupancy among administrative regions,forest types,and protected area types using chi-squared tests.The citizen scientists were also asked to provide the number of M.peruvianus individuals observed and the tree species that dominated their habitat.Thus,we tested if the number of land snails found by citizen scientists could be related to forest and protected area types using a generalized linear mixed model.We expanded the northern distributional limit,with Nothofagus,evergreen,and mixed forests far the most frequented by M.peruvianus.Parallelly,the occurrence of M.peruvianus in official protected areas(65.73%)was significantly higher than in privately owned areas.Moreover,we did not find associations between forest and protected area types with the number of M.peruvianus recorded.Although citizen science is a helpful method for obtaining novel information regarding the ecology of neglected species such as M.peruvianus,it also introduces spatial and occurrence biases explained by the access and attractiveness of the officially protected areas compared to privately owned patches of native forest.展开更多
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide;however,its therapeutic options are limited.Understanding the molecular mechanisms of HCC could provide insight into new ...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide;however,its therapeutic options are limited.Understanding the molecular mechanisms of HCC could provide insight into new therapies.Emerging studies indicate the important role of long-noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)in the pathogenesis of HCC.The expression of the well-studied lncRNA taurine upregulated gene 1(TUG1)is upregulated in HCC tissues,but its transcriptomic effects in HCC cells remain unexplored.We established TUG1-knockdown and control HCC cells for RNA-seq experiments.KEGG analysis revealed glycolysis as the top enriched pathway upon TUG1 silencing.Accordingly,TUG1-depleted HCC cells showed impairments in glucose uptake,ATP synthesis,and lactate production.Clinical HCC tissue data revealed positive gene expression correlations between TUG1 and several glycolysis-related genes.To identify a molecular function of TUG1 in glycolysis,we explored the competing endogenous model and used bioinformatic tools to find the five microRNAs(miRNAs)that had the most binding sites for TUG1.Among these miRNAs,miR-122-5p exhibited an inverse correlation in gene expression with most TUG1-regulated glycolysis genes,including PKM,ALDOA,ENO2,and PFKM.Dual-luciferase assays demonstrated the direct interaction between TUG1 and miR-122-5p and between miR-122-5p and the 3ʹuntranslated regions of both PKM and ALDOA.We further showed that inhibition of miR-122-5p alleviated the suppression of glycolysis induced by TUG1 depletion.Together,our RNA-seq analysis of TUG1-depleted HCC cells,combined with clinical data,reveals a critical role of TUG1 in regulating glycolysis and provides new insight into its oncogenic function in HCC.展开更多
AIM:To compare the Ishihara test errors scores of colour vision deficiency(CVD)subjects when wearing four different types of red-tinted contact lenses(RCL)that differ in their transmittance as determined using a spect...AIM:To compare the Ishihara test errors scores of colour vision deficiency(CVD)subjects when wearing four different types of red-tinted contact lenses(RCL)that differ in their transmittance as determined using a spectrophotometer.METHODS:Six congenital CVD subjects volunteered to participate in this study.Ishihara plates were used to determine the colour vision errors made,whereas Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue test was conducted to determine the total error scores(TES)and type of CVD.Four types of RCL(Types A,B,C and D)were inserted in the non-dominant eye and tested in a randomised manner by a masked operator.Errors scores in Ishihara test were determined at baseline without any contact lens and after wearing the four different RCL.The subjects were then divided into two groups based on the mean TES.RESULTS:Repeated measures ANOVA with Greenhouse-Geisser corrections showed that there was a highly significant effect of RCL type on Ishihara error score[F(2.056,10.282)=30.214,P<0.001].Error scores with RCL Type B were significantly lower than errors made when no lens was worn,and with RCL Type C and Type D(all P<0.001).Error scores with RCL Type B were also lower than those made with RCL Type A,however,they were not significantly different.For subjects with TES values less than 180,RCL type B showed the largest improvement in Ishihara error score(50%)compared to the other three RCLs.RCL type A showed the best performance in TES value of more than 180,with an improvement of 80%in Ishihara score.RCL Type A has the lowest transmittance at the confusion wavelength(450-568 nm),followed by RCL Types B,D and C.CONCLUSION:This study shows that RCL can improve Ishihara error scores.RCL with lower transmission at 450-568 nm and 90%transmittance beyond 637 nm are the most effective.Lenses which could block more light between 550-580 nm are more effective for colour defectives with more severe colour defects.展开更多
Semantic segmentation is a core task in computer vision that allows AI models to interact and understand their surrounding environment. Similarly to how humans subconsciously segment scenes, this ability is crucial fo...Semantic segmentation is a core task in computer vision that allows AI models to interact and understand their surrounding environment. Similarly to how humans subconsciously segment scenes, this ability is crucial for scene understanding. However, a challenge many semantic learning models face is the lack of data. Existing video datasets are limited to short, low-resolution videos that are not representative of real-world examples. Thus, one of our key contributions is a customized semantic segmentation version of the Walking Tours Dataset that features hour-long, high-resolution, real-world data from tours of different cities. Additionally, we evaluate the performance of open-vocabulary, semantic model OpenSeeD on our own custom dataset and discuss future implications.展开更多
Assessing the resilience of rice varieties against bioterrorism agents is critical to safeguarding food security.This study evaluated Food and Drug Administration-approved and recognized as safe metallic oxide nanopar...Assessing the resilience of rice varieties against bioterrorism agents is critical to safeguarding food security.This study evaluated Food and Drug Administration-approved and recognized as safe metallic oxide nanoparticles(NPs)of zinc oxide(ZnO)and magnesium oxide(MgO)as protective strategies to reduce susceptibility in imported rice varieties to a biothreat model,Escherichia coli.Two types of rice(brown and white)from four countries(USA,Mexico,India,and Thailand)were treated with 60 mg/L NPs or their ionic forms and sterilized before inoculation.The treatments were analyzed for nutritional profiles,heavy metal content,and pathogen susceptibility.Rice organic compositions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,and metal were contents quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy.Pathogenic response was monitored using ultraviolet mass spectrophotometry.The findings revealed that nutrient-rich varieties like brown rice from Mexico displayed reduced susceptibility to E.coli compared with white rice from India,which showed the highest susceptibility.NP fortification demonstrated significant antimicrobial efficacy,particularly with ZnO and MgO NPs,which were more effective than their ionic counterparts in inhibiting bacterial growth.Results showed that ZnO and MgO NP treatments reduced E.coli growth by 72%and 68%,respectively,compared with untreated controls.Brown rice from Mexican treated with MgO NPs exhibited the lowest optical density at 600 nm(OD6000.01),indicating significantly enhanced resistance to bacterial proliferation.This research underscores the potential of nano-fortification not only to improve pathogen resilience in rice but also to maintain its nutritional integrity.This study provides a foundational framework for enhancing food safety against bioterrorism agents and supports the development of resilient agricultural practices.展开更多
The rapid advancements in distributed generation technologies,the widespread adoption of distributed energy resources,and the integration of 5G technology have spurred sharing economy businesses within the electricity...The rapid advancements in distributed generation technologies,the widespread adoption of distributed energy resources,and the integration of 5G technology have spurred sharing economy businesses within the electricity sector.Revolutionary technologies such as blockchain,5G connectivity,and Internet of Things(IoT)devices have facilitated peer-to-peer distribution and real-time response to fluctuations in supply and demand.Nevertheless,sharing electricity within a smart community presents numerous challenges,including intricate design considerations,equitable allocation,and accurate forecasting due to the lack of well-organized temporal parameters.To address these challenges,this proposed system is focused on sharing extra electricity within the smart community.The working of the proposed system is composed of five main phases.In phase 1,we develop a model to forecast the energy consumption of the appliances using the Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM)integrated with the attention module.In phase 2,based on the predicted energy consumption,we designed a smart scheduler with attention-induced Genetic Algorithm(GA)to schedule the appliances to reduce energy consumption.In phase 3,a dynamic Feed-in Tariff(dFIT)algorithm makes real-time tariff adjustments using LSTM for demand prediction and SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)values to improve model transparency.In phase 4,the energy saved from solar systems and smart scheduling is shared with the community grid.Finally,in phase 5,SDP security ensures the integrity and confidentiality of shared energy data.To evaluate the performance of energy sharing and scheduling for houses with and without solar support,we simulated the above phases using data obtained from the energy consumption of 17 household appliances in our IoT laboratory.Finally,the simulation results show that the proposed scheme reduces energy consumption and ensures secure and efficient distribution with peers,promoting a more sustainable energy management and resilient smart community.展开更多
BACKGROUND Herbal supplements are increasingly used to manage menopausal symptoms.Physta®is a commercial herbal ingredient containing Eurycoma longifolia standardized water extract,traditionally used for vitality...BACKGROUND Herbal supplements are increasingly used to manage menopausal symptoms.Physta®is a commercial herbal ingredient containing Eurycoma longifolia standardized water extract,traditionally used for vitality.Its adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory properties promote hormonal balance,physical function,and sexual health,supporting its potential benefits for menopausal health.AIM To investigate Physta®’s role in improving menopausal quality of life,mood states,and overall safety profile compared with placebo.METHODS In this 12-week,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial,138 females aged 40-55 with menopausal symptoms were randomly assigned to receive Physta®50 mg,Physta®100 mg,or placebo.MENQOL and POMS were assessed at baseline,week 6,and week 12.Safety outcomes were evaluated through biochemical tests,vital signs,and female reproductive hormonal profile.RESULTS Physta®100 mg significantly reduced total MENQOL scores by 33.9%from baseline to week 12(P=0.049)with notable improvements in the physical(-36.4%,P=0.046)and sexual(-36.3%,P=0.043)domains.Total mood disturbance also declined more in the Physta®100 mg group(-38.6%)compared with placebo(-30.1%),although not statistically significant.No significant changes were observed in the vital signs and biochemical parameters,indicating the safety and tolerability of Physta®.No significant alterations were found in the female reproductive hormone profile,supporting its hormonal neutrality.CONCLUSION Physta®100 mg improved menopausal quality of life and mood without adverse effects,supporting its potential as a safe herbal therapy.Further studies with higher doses and longer durations are needed.展开更多
The study aims to investigate county-level variations of the COVID-19 disease and vaccination rate. The COVID-19 data was acquired from usafact.org, and the vaccination records were acquired from the Ohio vaccination ...The study aims to investigate county-level variations of the COVID-19 disease and vaccination rate. The COVID-19 data was acquired from usafact.org, and the vaccination records were acquired from the Ohio vaccination tracker dashboard. GIS-based exploratory analysis was conducted to select four variables (poverty, black race, population density, and vaccination) to explain COVID-19 occurrence during the study period. Consequently, spatial statistical techniques such as Moran’s I, Hot Spot Analysis, Spatial Lag Model (SLM), and Spatial Error Model (SEM) were used to explain the COVID-19 occurrence and vaccination rate across the 88 counties in Ohio. The result of the Local Moran’s I analysis reveals that the epicenters of COVID-19 and vaccination followed the same patterns. Indeed, counties like Summit, Franklin, Fairfield, Hamilton, and Medina were categorized as epicenters for both COVID-19 occurrence and vaccination rate. The SEM seems to be the best model for both COVID-19 and vaccination rates, with R2 values of 0.68 and 0.70, respectively. The GWR analysis proves to be better than Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), and the distribution of R2 in the GWR is uneven throughout the study area for both COVID-19 cases and vaccinations. Some counties have a high R2 of up to 0.70 for both COVID-19 cases and vaccinations. The outcomes of the regression analyses show that the SEM models can explain 68% - 70% of COVID-19 cases and vaccination across the entire counties within the study period. COVID-19 cases and vaccination rates exhibited significant positive associations with black race and poverty throughout the study area.展开更多
BACKGROUND Excipients may improve the palatability of polyethylene glycol(PEG),the firstline treatment for childhood functional constipation(FC),leading to good compliance and improved treatment outcomes.AIM To compar...BACKGROUND Excipients may improve the palatability of polyethylene glycol(PEG),the firstline treatment for childhood functional constipation(FC),leading to good compliance and improved treatment outcomes.AIM To compare the developed PEG-based formula(PEG-Chula)to the commercial formula for treating childhood FC.METHODS In this randomized controlled trial,we enrolled children aged<18 years with FC diagnosed by the Rome Ⅳ criteria to receive PEG-Chula[four flavors:(1)Strawberry;(2)Lychee;(3)Apple;and(4)Lychee-rose]or Forlax(orange-grapefruit flavor)for eight weeks.The primary outcomes included changes in stool frequency and consistency measured by the Bristol Stool scale.The secondary outcomes were constipation-related symptom improvement,adverse events,and palatability measured by the facial hedonic scale.RESULTS Fifty-two children diagnosed with FC[median age:4.21(2.33,7.88)years;35(67.31%)females]were enrolled.After the 8-week treatment,the mean weekly stool frequency increased in both groups,the mean change was 4.02(95%CI:3.09-4.95)in PEG-Chula and 3.78(95%CI:2.79-4.78)in commercial PEG compared to baseline(P<0.001).The extent of stool consistency improvement did not differ significantly.The most preferred PEG-Chula flavor was rated more palatable than the commercial PEG.Treatment compliance correlated with medication palatability(r=0.34,P=0.013).No significant differences in adverse events were found.CONCLUSION Both PEG-based formulas are effective and safe for managing pediatric FC.展开更多
The rapidly growing seaweed farming contributes to food,feed,biofuel,and biochemicals,with Indonesia being the largest exporter of raw seaweed(53.35%)but low in carrageenan derivative products(4.49%).Sustainable farmi...The rapidly growing seaweed farming contributes to food,feed,biofuel,and biochemicals,with Indonesia being the largest exporter of raw seaweed(53.35%)but low in carrageenan derivative products(4.49%).Sustainable farming supports SDG 13 and SDG 14 through emission reduction,marine ecosystem conservation,and increased biodiversity.However,its supply chain faces challenges in raw material availability,such as fluctuating harvests,inconsistent quality,limited logistics infrastructure,and market price volatility.Therefore,good environmental management is needed to optimize raw materials in carrageenan production through resource efficiency,environmentally friendly products,environmental regulations,and market and stakeholder awareness.This study identifies factors in the environment-based supply chain that influence the development of carrageenan production centers and analyzes their ecological impacts using quantitative SEM analysis.SEM analysis reveals that resource efficiency,waste management,environmental regulations,and stakeholder awareness and commitment are the main influencing factors.shows significant factors including raw material efficiency,waste management,and environmental regulations.Environmentally based supply chain integration for the development of carrageenan production center areas can be done by;focusing on sustainability and minimal environmental impact,support for achieving SDG 12,13,and 14,strategies for sustainable raw material management,circular economy,sustainability certification,renewable energy and environmentally friendly technology,and stakeholder collaboration and awareness.展开更多
The 19th Workshop on Antarctic Meteorology and Climate(WAMC)and the 8th Year of Polar Prediction in the Southern Hemisphere(YOPP-SH)meeting were held in June 2024 at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center,The Ohio...The 19th Workshop on Antarctic Meteorology and Climate(WAMC)and the 8th Year of Polar Prediction in the Southern Hemisphere(YOPP-SH)meeting were held in June 2024 at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center,The Ohio State University,Columbus,Ohio.These hybrid events convened 79 participants from 15 nations to foster international collaboration on Antarctic meteorology,climate research,and forecasting.The WAMC featured presentations on automatic weather stations,numerical weather prediction,Antarctic sea ice dynamics,and extreme weather events.The YOPP-SH meeting emphasized the positive impacts of enhanced observations during the 2022 Winter Special Observing Period(SOP)on forecast accuracy and addressed the transition toward the Polar Coupled Analysis and Prediction for Services(PCAPS)initiative.The outcomes reflect significant advancements in polar meteorological research and underscore the importance of sustained collaborative efforts,including improved observational networks and advanced modeling systems,to address the unique challenges of Antarctic meteorology.Future workshops will continue to support and expand upon these critical themes.展开更多
In this study,the advanced machine learning algorithm NESTORE(Next Strong Related Earthquake)was applied to the Japan Meteorological Agency catalog(1973-2024).It calculates the probability that the aftershocks will re...In this study,the advanced machine learning algorithm NESTORE(Next Strong Related Earthquake)was applied to the Japan Meteorological Agency catalog(1973-2024).It calculates the probability that the aftershocks will reach or exceed a magnitude equal to the magnitude of the mainshock minus one and classifies the clusters as type A or type B,depending on whether this condition is met or not.It has been shown useful in the tests in Italy,western Slovenia,Greece,and California.Due to Japan’s high and complex seismic activity,new algorithms were developed to complement NESTORE:a hybrid cluster identification method,which uses both ETAS-based stochastic declustering and deterministic graph-based selection,and REPENESE(RElevant features,class imbalance PErcentage,NEighbour detection,SElection),an algorithm for detecting outliers in skewed class distributions,which takes in account if one class has a larger number of samples with respect to the other(class imbalance).Trained with data from 1973 to 2004(7 type A and 43 type B clusters)and tested from 2005 to 2023(4 type A and 27 type B clusters),the method correctly forecasted 75%of A clusters and 96%of B clusters,achieving a precision of 0.75 and an accuracy of 0.94 six hours after the mainshock.It accurately classified the 2011 Tōhoku event cluster.Near-real-time forecasting was applied to the sequence after the April 17,2024 M6.6 earthquake in Shikoku,correctly classifying it as a“Type B cluster”.These results highlight the potential for the forecasting of strong aftershocks in regions with high seismicity and class imbalance,as evidenced by the high recall,precision and accuracy values achieved in the test phase.展开更多
Several countries in Africa, Latin America along with China have incorporated QPM in their Agricultural development plan. A new quality protein maize variety (QPM) was developed by breeders and farmers using the parti...Several countries in Africa, Latin America along with China have incorporated QPM in their Agricultural development plan. A new quality protein maize variety (QPM) was developed by breeders and farmers using the participatory breeding approach in the DR-Congo. It is adapted to all the maize growing regions in the country. Inbred lines from this new variety were produced for further development of maize synthetic populations. The main objective of the present study is to determine the level of amino acid changes in early generations of inbred lines. The results of the study revealed a significant decrease of 33% and 38% of tryptophan in S1 and S2 inbred lines compared to the original parental MUDISHI 3 population, respectively. There was a decrease of 15% of lysine in S2 inbred lines compared to the parental MUDISHI 3. Actually, S2 inbred lines of MUDISHI 3 contain similar level of lysine compared to the genetically improved normal maize (Salongo 2) that is currently released. The development of composite lines is recommended over synthetic populations to maintain the high levels of lysine and tryptophan along with other desirable agronomic characteristics since they involve the intercrossing of open pollinated varieties.展开更多
The primary assumption of Neuroscience is that all experiences are strongly correlated with or caused by the specifics of brain structures and their particular dynamics. The profound experiences attributed to the “se...The primary assumption of Neuroscience is that all experiences are strongly correlated with or caused by the specifics of brain structures and their particular dynamics. The profound experiences attributed to the “sensed presence” and their cultural anthropomorphisms such as deities and gods are persistent reports in human populations that are frequently associated with permanent changes in behavior, reduced depression and alleviation of pain. The majority of traditional clinical observations and modern imaging techniques have emphasized the central role of right temporal lobe structures and their directly related networks. The experimental simulation of sensed presences which can result in attributions to spiritual, deity-based or mystical sources within the clinical laboratory by the application of physiologically-patterned magnetic fields across the temporal lobes through our God Helmet requires the same precision of technology that is essential for synthesizing molecular treatments for modifying anomalous behavior, depression and pain. Despite the clinical utility of these simulated conditions within Neuroscience and Medicine, misinformation concerning the bases and efficacy of this new technology persist. Here we present detailed technical clarifications and rebuttals to refute these misconceptions. A Hegelian approach to this delay of development and impedance provides a context through which the ultimate synthesis and application of this technology may be accommodated in the near future.展开更多
As biomarkers are important in the early diagnosis ofAlzheimer’s disease （AD）, the frst collab-orative work of recruiting early-onset familial AD （EO-FAD） families in Canada and China was initiated in 2012. The r...As biomarkers are important in the early diagnosis ofAlzheimer’s disease （AD）, the frst collab-orative work of recruiting early-onset familial AD （EO-FAD） families in Canada and China was initiated in 2012. The registration networks have collected hundreds of pedigrees, for which genetic screening, neuropsycholog-ical tests and amyloid and tau imaging was used to study diagnostic biomarkers for preclinical and mild cognitive impairment （MCI） stages of AD. Besides identifying ped-igrees with novel mutations in presenilins （PSENs）/amy-loid precursor protein （APP）, the program has benefted training of Chinese research fellows, AD clinical trials forprevention,the ethical concernsfor clinical fndings, and other collaborative projects with Chinese investiga-tors. Further research of the collaborative program may facilitate the testing and clinical use of novel treatments for EOFAD and late onset AD and contribute to dementia prevention strategies in Canada and China.展开更多
The paper investigates the practical prescribed-time fuzzy tracking control problem for a category of nonlinear system subject to time-varying actuator faults.The presence of unknown nonlinear dynamics and actuator fa...The paper investigates the practical prescribed-time fuzzy tracking control problem for a category of nonlinear system subject to time-varying actuator faults.The presence of unknown nonlinear dynamics and actuator faults makes achieving tracking control within a prescribed-time challenging.To tackle this issue,we propose a novel practical prescribed-time fuzzy tracking control strategy,which is independent of the initial state of the system and does not rely on precise modeling of the system and actuators.We apply the approximation capabilities of fuzzy logic systems to handle the unknown nonlinear functions and unidentified actuator faults in the system.The piecewise controller and adaptive law constructed based on piecewise prescribed time-varying function and backstepping technique method establish the theoretical framework of practical prescribed-time tracking control,and extend the range of prescribed-time tracking control to infinity.Regardless of the initial conditions,the proposed control strategy can guarantee that all signals remain uniformly bounded within the practical prescribed time in the presence of unknown nonlinear item and time-varying actuator faults.Simulation example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.展开更多
We report on the theoretical and experimental investigations of the transition of a typical quantum system with mixed regular-integrable classical dynamics to one with violated time-reversal(T)invariance.The measureme...We report on the theoretical and experimental investigations of the transition of a typical quantum system with mixed regular-integrable classical dynamics to one with violated time-reversal(T)invariance.The measurements are performed with a flat superconducting microwave resonator with circular shape in which chaoticity is induced by using either long antennas or inserting two circular disks into the cavity,and by magnetizing a ferrite disk placed at its center,which leads to violation of T invariance.We propose an extension of the Rosenzweig-Porter(RP)model,which interpolates between mixed regular-chaotic instead of integrable dynamics and fully chaotic dynamics with violated T-invariance,and derive a Wigner-surmise like analytical expression for the corresponding nearest-neighbor spacing distribution.We propose a procedure involving this result and those for the RP model to determine the size of T-invariance violation and chaoticity and validate it employing the experimental eigenfrequency spectra.展开更多
This study aims to investigate grain quality and nutritional values of rice(Pokkali,a salt-tolerant cultivar;RD73,a new cultivar improved from KDML105 introgressed with Saltol QTL from Pokkali,and KDML105,a moderately...This study aims to investigate grain quality and nutritional values of rice(Pokkali,a salt-tolerant cultivar;RD73,a new cultivar improved from KDML105 introgressed with Saltol QTL from Pokkali,and KDML105,a moderately salt-susceptible cultivar)grown under non-saline(0.04–0.87 dS/m)and slightly saline(1.08–4.83 dS/m)field conditions.The results revealed that salinity caused significant reduction in grain size but significant increments in reducing sugar and total protein contents in the grains.Nevertheless,the amounts of starch in the grains of KDML105 and Pokkali rice genotypes were unaffected by the stress.The starch granule size distribution was also unaffected by salinity.Interestingly,only starch from Pokkali was significantly diminished in amylose content,from 19.18%to 16.99%.Accordingly,parameters relating to starch gelatinization,retrogradation,and pasting properties of KDML105 and RD73 were unaffected by salinity;only Pokkali showed a significant increase in percentage of retrogradation along with a significant reduction in gelatinization enthalpy.In the saline field,total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in the grains of all rice cultivars tended to increase,particularly in Pokkali.On average,essential element contents in grains from the saline-treated plants showed a 33%,32%,32%,22%,20%,11%,and 10%increase in total P,N,K,Mg,Zn,Fe,and Ca content,respectively.Interestingly,total Fe content exhibited the greatest percentage of increments in KDML105(187%).Taken together,cultivation of rice in the slightly saline field did not alter its eating and cooking qualities,while enhanced some nutritional properties such as proteins,minerals,and secondary metabolites like phenolic compounds.展开更多
基金supported by the Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo(ANID)with the ANID grant[SIA 85220045].
文摘Although mollusks represent Earth’s second most diverse invertebrate group,their natural history and ecology are still scarcely known.The compilation of non-traditional data,such as those from citizen science,represents an alternative to fill these gaps,particularly on striking land snail species such as Macrocyclis peruvianus.Based on long-term citizen science,we aimed to update and describe some basic ecological aspects,such as the distribution and protected area types used by M.peruvianus.We performed pairwise comparisons to test potential changes in occurrence and occupancy among administrative regions,forest types,and protected area types using chi-squared tests.The citizen scientists were also asked to provide the number of M.peruvianus individuals observed and the tree species that dominated their habitat.Thus,we tested if the number of land snails found by citizen scientists could be related to forest and protected area types using a generalized linear mixed model.We expanded the northern distributional limit,with Nothofagus,evergreen,and mixed forests far the most frequented by M.peruvianus.Parallelly,the occurrence of M.peruvianus in official protected areas(65.73%)was significantly higher than in privately owned areas.Moreover,we did not find associations between forest and protected area types with the number of M.peruvianus recorded.Although citizen science is a helpful method for obtaining novel information regarding the ecology of neglected species such as M.peruvianus,it also introduces spatial and occurrence biases explained by the access and attractiveness of the officially protected areas compared to privately owned patches of native forest.
基金supported by the Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fund Chulalongkorn University(Grant No.HEAF67300078)the 90th Anniversary Scholarship,Chulalongkorn University Ratchadapisek Sompoch Fund(Grant No.Batch#55,T.Boonto)the Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer,Faculty of Medicine,Chulalongkorn University.T.Boonto was supported by the scholarship from the Graduate School,Chulalongkorn University,to commemorate the 72^(nd) anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej(Grant No.Batch#22).
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide;however,its therapeutic options are limited.Understanding the molecular mechanisms of HCC could provide insight into new therapies.Emerging studies indicate the important role of long-noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)in the pathogenesis of HCC.The expression of the well-studied lncRNA taurine upregulated gene 1(TUG1)is upregulated in HCC tissues,but its transcriptomic effects in HCC cells remain unexplored.We established TUG1-knockdown and control HCC cells for RNA-seq experiments.KEGG analysis revealed glycolysis as the top enriched pathway upon TUG1 silencing.Accordingly,TUG1-depleted HCC cells showed impairments in glucose uptake,ATP synthesis,and lactate production.Clinical HCC tissue data revealed positive gene expression correlations between TUG1 and several glycolysis-related genes.To identify a molecular function of TUG1 in glycolysis,we explored the competing endogenous model and used bioinformatic tools to find the five microRNAs(miRNAs)that had the most binding sites for TUG1.Among these miRNAs,miR-122-5p exhibited an inverse correlation in gene expression with most TUG1-regulated glycolysis genes,including PKM,ALDOA,ENO2,and PFKM.Dual-luciferase assays demonstrated the direct interaction between TUG1 and miR-122-5p and between miR-122-5p and the 3ʹuntranslated regions of both PKM and ALDOA.We further showed that inhibition of miR-122-5p alleviated the suppression of glycolysis induced by TUG1 depletion.Together,our RNA-seq analysis of TUG1-depleted HCC cells,combined with clinical data,reveals a critical role of TUG1 in regulating glycolysis and provides new insight into its oncogenic function in HCC.
文摘AIM:To compare the Ishihara test errors scores of colour vision deficiency(CVD)subjects when wearing four different types of red-tinted contact lenses(RCL)that differ in their transmittance as determined using a spectrophotometer.METHODS:Six congenital CVD subjects volunteered to participate in this study.Ishihara plates were used to determine the colour vision errors made,whereas Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue test was conducted to determine the total error scores(TES)and type of CVD.Four types of RCL(Types A,B,C and D)were inserted in the non-dominant eye and tested in a randomised manner by a masked operator.Errors scores in Ishihara test were determined at baseline without any contact lens and after wearing the four different RCL.The subjects were then divided into two groups based on the mean TES.RESULTS:Repeated measures ANOVA with Greenhouse-Geisser corrections showed that there was a highly significant effect of RCL type on Ishihara error score[F(2.056,10.282)=30.214,P<0.001].Error scores with RCL Type B were significantly lower than errors made when no lens was worn,and with RCL Type C and Type D(all P<0.001).Error scores with RCL Type B were also lower than those made with RCL Type A,however,they were not significantly different.For subjects with TES values less than 180,RCL type B showed the largest improvement in Ishihara error score(50%)compared to the other three RCLs.RCL type A showed the best performance in TES value of more than 180,with an improvement of 80%in Ishihara score.RCL Type A has the lowest transmittance at the confusion wavelength(450-568 nm),followed by RCL Types B,D and C.CONCLUSION:This study shows that RCL can improve Ishihara error scores.RCL with lower transmission at 450-568 nm and 90%transmittance beyond 637 nm are the most effective.Lenses which could block more light between 550-580 nm are more effective for colour defectives with more severe colour defects.
文摘Semantic segmentation is a core task in computer vision that allows AI models to interact and understand their surrounding environment. Similarly to how humans subconsciously segment scenes, this ability is crucial for scene understanding. However, a challenge many semantic learning models face is the lack of data. Existing video datasets are limited to short, low-resolution videos that are not representative of real-world examples. Thus, one of our key contributions is a customized semantic segmentation version of the Walking Tours Dataset that features hour-long, high-resolution, real-world data from tours of different cities. Additionally, we evaluate the performance of open-vocabulary, semantic model OpenSeeD on our own custom dataset and discuss future implications.
文摘Assessing the resilience of rice varieties against bioterrorism agents is critical to safeguarding food security.This study evaluated Food and Drug Administration-approved and recognized as safe metallic oxide nanoparticles(NPs)of zinc oxide(ZnO)and magnesium oxide(MgO)as protective strategies to reduce susceptibility in imported rice varieties to a biothreat model,Escherichia coli.Two types of rice(brown and white)from four countries(USA,Mexico,India,and Thailand)were treated with 60 mg/L NPs or their ionic forms and sterilized before inoculation.The treatments were analyzed for nutritional profiles,heavy metal content,and pathogen susceptibility.Rice organic compositions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,and metal were contents quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy.Pathogenic response was monitored using ultraviolet mass spectrophotometry.The findings revealed that nutrient-rich varieties like brown rice from Mexico displayed reduced susceptibility to E.coli compared with white rice from India,which showed the highest susceptibility.NP fortification demonstrated significant antimicrobial efficacy,particularly with ZnO and MgO NPs,which were more effective than their ionic counterparts in inhibiting bacterial growth.Results showed that ZnO and MgO NP treatments reduced E.coli growth by 72%and 68%,respectively,compared with untreated controls.Brown rice from Mexican treated with MgO NPs exhibited the lowest optical density at 600 nm(OD6000.01),indicating significantly enhanced resistance to bacterial proliferation.This research underscores the potential of nano-fortification not only to improve pathogen resilience in rice but also to maintain its nutritional integrity.This study provides a foundational framework for enhancing food safety against bioterrorism agents and supports the development of resilient agricultural practices.
基金Funded by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences(KFAS)under project code:PN23-15EM-1901.
文摘The rapid advancements in distributed generation technologies,the widespread adoption of distributed energy resources,and the integration of 5G technology have spurred sharing economy businesses within the electricity sector.Revolutionary technologies such as blockchain,5G connectivity,and Internet of Things(IoT)devices have facilitated peer-to-peer distribution and real-time response to fluctuations in supply and demand.Nevertheless,sharing electricity within a smart community presents numerous challenges,including intricate design considerations,equitable allocation,and accurate forecasting due to the lack of well-organized temporal parameters.To address these challenges,this proposed system is focused on sharing extra electricity within the smart community.The working of the proposed system is composed of five main phases.In phase 1,we develop a model to forecast the energy consumption of the appliances using the Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM)integrated with the attention module.In phase 2,based on the predicted energy consumption,we designed a smart scheduler with attention-induced Genetic Algorithm(GA)to schedule the appliances to reduce energy consumption.In phase 3,a dynamic Feed-in Tariff(dFIT)algorithm makes real-time tariff adjustments using LSTM for demand prediction and SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)values to improve model transparency.In phase 4,the energy saved from solar systems and smart scheduling is shared with the community grid.Finally,in phase 5,SDP security ensures the integrity and confidentiality of shared energy data.To evaluate the performance of energy sharing and scheduling for houses with and without solar support,we simulated the above phases using data obtained from the energy consumption of 17 household appliances in our IoT laboratory.Finally,the simulation results show that the proposed scheme reduces energy consumption and ensures secure and efficient distribution with peers,promoting a more sustainable energy management and resilient smart community.
基金Supported by Biotropics Malaysia Berhad,Malaysia,NN-2021-016.
文摘BACKGROUND Herbal supplements are increasingly used to manage menopausal symptoms.Physta®is a commercial herbal ingredient containing Eurycoma longifolia standardized water extract,traditionally used for vitality.Its adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory properties promote hormonal balance,physical function,and sexual health,supporting its potential benefits for menopausal health.AIM To investigate Physta®’s role in improving menopausal quality of life,mood states,and overall safety profile compared with placebo.METHODS In this 12-week,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial,138 females aged 40-55 with menopausal symptoms were randomly assigned to receive Physta®50 mg,Physta®100 mg,or placebo.MENQOL and POMS were assessed at baseline,week 6,and week 12.Safety outcomes were evaluated through biochemical tests,vital signs,and female reproductive hormonal profile.RESULTS Physta®100 mg significantly reduced total MENQOL scores by 33.9%from baseline to week 12(P=0.049)with notable improvements in the physical(-36.4%,P=0.046)and sexual(-36.3%,P=0.043)domains.Total mood disturbance also declined more in the Physta®100 mg group(-38.6%)compared with placebo(-30.1%),although not statistically significant.No significant changes were observed in the vital signs and biochemical parameters,indicating the safety and tolerability of Physta®.No significant alterations were found in the female reproductive hormone profile,supporting its hormonal neutrality.CONCLUSION Physta®100 mg improved menopausal quality of life and mood without adverse effects,supporting its potential as a safe herbal therapy.Further studies with higher doses and longer durations are needed.
文摘The study aims to investigate county-level variations of the COVID-19 disease and vaccination rate. The COVID-19 data was acquired from usafact.org, and the vaccination records were acquired from the Ohio vaccination tracker dashboard. GIS-based exploratory analysis was conducted to select four variables (poverty, black race, population density, and vaccination) to explain COVID-19 occurrence during the study period. Consequently, spatial statistical techniques such as Moran’s I, Hot Spot Analysis, Spatial Lag Model (SLM), and Spatial Error Model (SEM) were used to explain the COVID-19 occurrence and vaccination rate across the 88 counties in Ohio. The result of the Local Moran’s I analysis reveals that the epicenters of COVID-19 and vaccination followed the same patterns. Indeed, counties like Summit, Franklin, Fairfield, Hamilton, and Medina were categorized as epicenters for both COVID-19 occurrence and vaccination rate. The SEM seems to be the best model for both COVID-19 and vaccination rates, with R2 values of 0.68 and 0.70, respectively. The GWR analysis proves to be better than Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), and the distribution of R2 in the GWR is uneven throughout the study area for both COVID-19 cases and vaccinations. Some counties have a high R2 of up to 0.70 for both COVID-19 cases and vaccinations. The outcomes of the regression analyses show that the SEM models can explain 68% - 70% of COVID-19 cases and vaccination across the entire counties within the study period. COVID-19 cases and vaccination rates exhibited significant positive associations with black race and poverty throughout the study area.
基金Supported by the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University Fund(Ratchadapiseksomphot Endowment Fund)Ratchadapiseksompotch Funds,Graduate Affairs,Faculty of Medicine,Chulalongkorn University,Bangkok,Thailand,No.GA68/028.
文摘BACKGROUND Excipients may improve the palatability of polyethylene glycol(PEG),the firstline treatment for childhood functional constipation(FC),leading to good compliance and improved treatment outcomes.AIM To compare the developed PEG-based formula(PEG-Chula)to the commercial formula for treating childhood FC.METHODS In this randomized controlled trial,we enrolled children aged<18 years with FC diagnosed by the Rome Ⅳ criteria to receive PEG-Chula[four flavors:(1)Strawberry;(2)Lychee;(3)Apple;and(4)Lychee-rose]or Forlax(orange-grapefruit flavor)for eight weeks.The primary outcomes included changes in stool frequency and consistency measured by the Bristol Stool scale.The secondary outcomes were constipation-related symptom improvement,adverse events,and palatability measured by the facial hedonic scale.RESULTS Fifty-two children diagnosed with FC[median age:4.21(2.33,7.88)years;35(67.31%)females]were enrolled.After the 8-week treatment,the mean weekly stool frequency increased in both groups,the mean change was 4.02(95%CI:3.09-4.95)in PEG-Chula and 3.78(95%CI:2.79-4.78)in commercial PEG compared to baseline(P<0.001).The extent of stool consistency improvement did not differ significantly.The most preferred PEG-Chula flavor was rated more palatable than the commercial PEG.Treatment compliance correlated with medication palatability(r=0.34,P=0.013).No significant differences in adverse events were found.CONCLUSION Both PEG-based formulas are effective and safe for managing pediatric FC.
文摘The rapidly growing seaweed farming contributes to food,feed,biofuel,and biochemicals,with Indonesia being the largest exporter of raw seaweed(53.35%)but low in carrageenan derivative products(4.49%).Sustainable farming supports SDG 13 and SDG 14 through emission reduction,marine ecosystem conservation,and increased biodiversity.However,its supply chain faces challenges in raw material availability,such as fluctuating harvests,inconsistent quality,limited logistics infrastructure,and market price volatility.Therefore,good environmental management is needed to optimize raw materials in carrageenan production through resource efficiency,environmentally friendly products,environmental regulations,and market and stakeholder awareness.This study identifies factors in the environment-based supply chain that influence the development of carrageenan production centers and analyzes their ecological impacts using quantitative SEM analysis.SEM analysis reveals that resource efficiency,waste management,environmental regulations,and stakeholder awareness and commitment are the main influencing factors.shows significant factors including raw material efficiency,waste management,and environmental regulations.Environmentally based supply chain integration for the development of carrageenan production center areas can be done by;focusing on sustainability and minimal environmental impact,support for achieving SDG 12,13,and 14,strategies for sustainable raw material management,circular economy,sustainability certification,renewable energy and environmentally friendly technology,and stakeholder collaboration and awareness.
基金support from the Office of Polar Programs of the National Science Foundation(Grant Nos.2205398,2233182,1951720,1951603,2301362).
文摘The 19th Workshop on Antarctic Meteorology and Climate(WAMC)and the 8th Year of Polar Prediction in the Southern Hemisphere(YOPP-SH)meeting were held in June 2024 at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center,The Ohio State University,Columbus,Ohio.These hybrid events convened 79 participants from 15 nations to foster international collaboration on Antarctic meteorology,climate research,and forecasting.The WAMC featured presentations on automatic weather stations,numerical weather prediction,Antarctic sea ice dynamics,and extreme weather events.The YOPP-SH meeting emphasized the positive impacts of enhanced observations during the 2022 Winter Special Observing Period(SOP)on forecast accuracy and addressed the transition toward the Polar Coupled Analysis and Prediction for Services(PCAPS)initiative.The outcomes reflect significant advancements in polar meteorological research and underscore the importance of sustained collaborative efforts,including improved observational networks and advanced modeling systems,to address the unique challenges of Antarctic meteorology.Future workshops will continue to support and expand upon these critical themes.
基金funded by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Co-funded within the RETURN Extended Partnership and received funding from the European Union Next-GenerationEU(National Recovery and Resilience Plan-NRRP,Mission 4,Component 2,Investment 1.3-D.D.12432/8/2022,PE0000005)the grant“Progetto INGV Pianeta Dinamico:Near real-time results of Physical and Statistical Seismology for earthquakes observations,modelling and forecasting(NEMESIS)”-code CUP D53J19000170001-funded by Italian Ministry MIUR(“Fondo Finalizzato al rilancio degli investimenti delle amministrazioni centrali dello Stato e allo sviluppo del Paese”,legge 145/2018)supported by the Japan Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology(MEXT)project for seismology Toward Research innovation with data of earthquakes(STAR-E),Grant Number JPJ010217.
文摘In this study,the advanced machine learning algorithm NESTORE(Next Strong Related Earthquake)was applied to the Japan Meteorological Agency catalog(1973-2024).It calculates the probability that the aftershocks will reach or exceed a magnitude equal to the magnitude of the mainshock minus one and classifies the clusters as type A or type B,depending on whether this condition is met or not.It has been shown useful in the tests in Italy,western Slovenia,Greece,and California.Due to Japan’s high and complex seismic activity,new algorithms were developed to complement NESTORE:a hybrid cluster identification method,which uses both ETAS-based stochastic declustering and deterministic graph-based selection,and REPENESE(RElevant features,class imbalance PErcentage,NEighbour detection,SElection),an algorithm for detecting outliers in skewed class distributions,which takes in account if one class has a larger number of samples with respect to the other(class imbalance).Trained with data from 1973 to 2004(7 type A and 43 type B clusters)and tested from 2005 to 2023(4 type A and 27 type B clusters),the method correctly forecasted 75%of A clusters and 96%of B clusters,achieving a precision of 0.75 and an accuracy of 0.94 six hours after the mainshock.It accurately classified the 2011 Tōhoku event cluster.Near-real-time forecasting was applied to the sequence after the April 17,2024 M6.6 earthquake in Shikoku,correctly classifying it as a“Type B cluster”.These results highlight the potential for the forecasting of strong aftershocks in regions with high seismicity and class imbalance,as evidenced by the high recall,precision and accuracy values achieved in the test phase.
文摘Several countries in Africa, Latin America along with China have incorporated QPM in their Agricultural development plan. A new quality protein maize variety (QPM) was developed by breeders and farmers using the participatory breeding approach in the DR-Congo. It is adapted to all the maize growing regions in the country. Inbred lines from this new variety were produced for further development of maize synthetic populations. The main objective of the present study is to determine the level of amino acid changes in early generations of inbred lines. The results of the study revealed a significant decrease of 33% and 38% of tryptophan in S1 and S2 inbred lines compared to the original parental MUDISHI 3 population, respectively. There was a decrease of 15% of lysine in S2 inbred lines compared to the parental MUDISHI 3. Actually, S2 inbred lines of MUDISHI 3 contain similar level of lysine compared to the genetically improved normal maize (Salongo 2) that is currently released. The development of composite lines is recommended over synthetic populations to maintain the high levels of lysine and tryptophan along with other desirable agronomic characteristics since they involve the intercrossing of open pollinated varieties.
文摘The primary assumption of Neuroscience is that all experiences are strongly correlated with or caused by the specifics of brain structures and their particular dynamics. The profound experiences attributed to the “sensed presence” and their cultural anthropomorphisms such as deities and gods are persistent reports in human populations that are frequently associated with permanent changes in behavior, reduced depression and alleviation of pain. The majority of traditional clinical observations and modern imaging techniques have emphasized the central role of right temporal lobe structures and their directly related networks. The experimental simulation of sensed presences which can result in attributions to spiritual, deity-based or mystical sources within the clinical laboratory by the application of physiologically-patterned magnetic fields across the temporal lobes through our God Helmet requires the same precision of technology that is essential for synthesizing molecular treatments for modifying anomalous behavior, depression and pain. Despite the clinical utility of these simulated conditions within Neuroscience and Medicine, misinformation concerning the bases and efficacy of this new technology persist. Here we present detailed technical clarifications and rebuttals to refute these misconceptions. A Hegelian approach to this delay of development and impedance provides a context through which the ultimate synthesis and application of this technology may be accommodated in the near future.
文摘As biomarkers are important in the early diagnosis ofAlzheimer’s disease （AD）, the frst collab-orative work of recruiting early-onset familial AD （EO-FAD） families in Canada and China was initiated in 2012. The registration networks have collected hundreds of pedigrees, for which genetic screening, neuropsycholog-ical tests and amyloid and tau imaging was used to study diagnostic biomarkers for preclinical and mild cognitive impairment （MCI） stages of AD. Besides identifying ped-igrees with novel mutations in presenilins （PSENs）/amy-loid precursor protein （APP）, the program has benefted training of Chinese research fellows, AD clinical trials forprevention,the ethical concernsfor clinical fndings, and other collaborative projects with Chinese investiga-tors. Further research of the collaborative program may facilitate the testing and clinical use of novel treatments for EOFAD and late onset AD and contribute to dementia prevention strategies in Canada and China.
基金partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62322307)Sichuan Science and Technology Program,China(2023NSFSC1968).
文摘The paper investigates the practical prescribed-time fuzzy tracking control problem for a category of nonlinear system subject to time-varying actuator faults.The presence of unknown nonlinear dynamics and actuator faults makes achieving tracking control within a prescribed-time challenging.To tackle this issue,we propose a novel practical prescribed-time fuzzy tracking control strategy,which is independent of the initial state of the system and does not rely on precise modeling of the system and actuators.We apply the approximation capabilities of fuzzy logic systems to handle the unknown nonlinear functions and unidentified actuator faults in the system.The piecewise controller and adaptive law constructed based on piecewise prescribed time-varying function and backstepping technique method establish the theoretical framework of practical prescribed-time tracking control,and extend the range of prescribed-time tracking control to infinity.Regardless of the initial conditions,the proposed control strategy can guarantee that all signals remain uniformly bounded within the practical prescribed time in the presence of unknown nonlinear item and time-varying actuator faults.Simulation example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11775100,12247101,and 11961131009)the financial support from the China Scholarship Council(Grant No.CSC202306180087)the financial support from the Institute for Basic Science in Korea(Grant No.IBS-R024-D1)。
文摘We report on the theoretical and experimental investigations of the transition of a typical quantum system with mixed regular-integrable classical dynamics to one with violated time-reversal(T)invariance.The measurements are performed with a flat superconducting microwave resonator with circular shape in which chaoticity is induced by using either long antennas or inserting two circular disks into the cavity,and by magnetizing a ferrite disk placed at its center,which leads to violation of T invariance.We propose an extension of the Rosenzweig-Porter(RP)model,which interpolates between mixed regular-chaotic instead of integrable dynamics and fully chaotic dynamics with violated T-invariance,and derive a Wigner-surmise like analytical expression for the corresponding nearest-neighbor spacing distribution.We propose a procedure involving this result and those for the RP model to determine the size of T-invariance violation and chaoticity and validate it employing the experimental eigenfrequency spectra.
基金supported by the National Research Council of Thailand(Grant No.NRCT813/2563)the Post-Doctoral Training,Khon Kaen University(Grant No.PD2565-02-02)。
文摘This study aims to investigate grain quality and nutritional values of rice(Pokkali,a salt-tolerant cultivar;RD73,a new cultivar improved from KDML105 introgressed with Saltol QTL from Pokkali,and KDML105,a moderately salt-susceptible cultivar)grown under non-saline(0.04–0.87 dS/m)and slightly saline(1.08–4.83 dS/m)field conditions.The results revealed that salinity caused significant reduction in grain size but significant increments in reducing sugar and total protein contents in the grains.Nevertheless,the amounts of starch in the grains of KDML105 and Pokkali rice genotypes were unaffected by the stress.The starch granule size distribution was also unaffected by salinity.Interestingly,only starch from Pokkali was significantly diminished in amylose content,from 19.18%to 16.99%.Accordingly,parameters relating to starch gelatinization,retrogradation,and pasting properties of KDML105 and RD73 were unaffected by salinity;only Pokkali showed a significant increase in percentage of retrogradation along with a significant reduction in gelatinization enthalpy.In the saline field,total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in the grains of all rice cultivars tended to increase,particularly in Pokkali.On average,essential element contents in grains from the saline-treated plants showed a 33%,32%,32%,22%,20%,11%,and 10%increase in total P,N,K,Mg,Zn,Fe,and Ca content,respectively.Interestingly,total Fe content exhibited the greatest percentage of increments in KDML105(187%).Taken together,cultivation of rice in the slightly saline field did not alter its eating and cooking qualities,while enhanced some nutritional properties such as proteins,minerals,and secondary metabolites like phenolic compounds.
