Xin Qi^1,#, Yu Wang^1,#, Xing Zhang¹, Xiaoshuang Wei¹, Xinyang Liu¹, Zhennan Wang¹, Zhenhui Wang^1,*, Fenglou Ling^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.7, pp. 1767-1779, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.052844

Abstract DNA methylation is an important epigenetic regulatory mechanism, it regulates gene expression by recruiting proteins involved in gene repression or by inhibiting the binding of transcription factor(s) to DNA. In this study, a novel methyltransferase 2a gene (Zmet2a) was cloned in maize and identified by polymerase chain reaction-base (PCR-base) using a bioinformatics strategy. The Zmet2a cDNA sequence is 2739 bp long and translates to 912 amino acid peptides. The Zmet2a protein revealed that it contains BAH and CHROMO structural domains, is a non-transmembrane protein that is hydrophilically unstable, and has no signal peptide structure. Meanwhile, we verified More >

Adel A. Rezk^1,2,*, Mohamed M. El-Malky³, Heba I. Mohamed^4,*, Hossam S. El-Beltagi^1,5

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.7, pp. 1733-1748, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.052739

Abstract Twenty-four rice genotypes were examined to assess genetic variability, heritability, and correlations for seven-grain quality traits, eight nutritional elements, and protein. ANOVA revealed significant differences for the quality traits studied. For every trait under study, the phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the correspondence genotypic coefficient of variation. Heritability in a broad sense varied from 29.75% for grain length to 98.31% for the elongation trait. Hulling percentage recovery had a highly significant positive correlation with milling and head rice percentage. Consequently, milling percentage had a highly positive correlation with head rice percentage. In amylose… More >

Pengcheng Li^1,2,#, Tianze Zhu^1,#, Yunyun Wang^1,2, Shuangyi Yin¹, Xinjie Zhu¹, Minggang Ji¹, Wenye Rui¹, Houmiao Wang¹, Zefeng Yang^1,2,*, Chenwu Xu^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.7, pp. 1441-1453, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.052219

Abstract The nutritional composition and overall quality of maize kernels are largely determined by the key chemical components: protein, oil, and starch. Nevertheless, the genetic basis underlying these nutritional quality traits during grain filling remains poorly understood. In this study, the concentrations of protein, oil, and starch were studied in 204 recombinant inbred lines resulting from a cross between DH1M and T877 at four different stages post-pollination. All the traits exhibited considerable phenotypic variation. During the grain-filling stage, the levels of protein and starch content generally increased, whereas oil content decreased, with significant changes observed between… More >

Abida Aziz¹, Shafiqa Bano¹, Mubshar Hussain², Muhammad Farooq Azhar³, Ghulam Yasin³, Naila Hadayat⁴, Iqra Arooj⁵, Abeer Hashem⁶, Ajay Kumar⁷, Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah⁸, Qamar uz Zaman^9,10,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.7, pp. 1647-1665, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.050974

Abstract Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exhibits a greater capacity for cadmium (Cd) absorption compared to other cereal crops, leading to elevated daily Cd intake, and posing a significant threat to public health. For the mitigation of Cd stress in sustainable and environmentally friendly way, a pot study was designed by using exogenous application of various biostimulants, i.e., Nigella sativa and Ocimum sanctum extracts: 0%, 10%, and 20% in combination with the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) using 0 and 5 mg kg under various levels of Cd stress (i.e., 0, 5, 10, and 15 mg kg soil). Results revealed… More > Graphic Abstract

Ryan G. McQueen¹, Nikki M. Singh², Ronald K. Woods^3,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 257-266, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.052108

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to compare cardiac transplant operative and postoperative courses of patients with failed Fontan physiology who were initially palliated with a Norwood (FFN) to those without a prior Norwood (FF). Methods: A single-institution retrospective review of all patients with Fontan failure who underwent cardiac transplantation from 2003–2021 was completed—22 underwent prior Norwood (FFN) and 11 did not (FF). Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated for operative course and patient outcomes. Results: The operative course of the FFN cohort appeared to be more complex (not statistically significant, but clinically relevant)—this group… More >

Sherif Negm^1,2, Loic Mace¹, Fedoua El Louali³, Beatrice Desnous⁴, Philipe Aldebert³, Virginie Fouilloux¹, Marien Lenoir^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 267-273, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.051642

Abstract The aorto-ventricular tunnel is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly. We present a case of aorto-ventricular tunnel diagnosed via fetal echocardiography. Emergency surgery was performed on the 2nd day of life to close the tunnel, located just in front of the right coronary ostium, due to the patient’s unstable health condition. The postoperative period revealed complete occlusion of the right coronary artery. Due to the patient’s stability, we opted not to reintervene on the right coronary artery. The patient fully recovered without the need for further coronary intervention. In cases of patients with an aorto-ventricular tunnel More >

Jiawang Xiao, Jianming Wang, Zhongchao Wang, Lili Meng, Ming Zhao, Qiguang Wang^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 293-303, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.051427

Abstract Background: Transcatheter closure (TCC) has emerged as the preferred treatment for selected congenital heart disease (CHD). While TCC offers benefits for patients with postoperative residual shunts, understanding its mid- and long-term efficacy and safety remains crucial. Objective: This study aims to assess the mid- and long-term safety and efficacy of TCC for patients with residual atrial or ventricular septal shunts following CHD correction. Methods: In this consecutive retrospective study, we enrolled 35 patients with residual shunt who underwent TCC or surgical repair of CHD between June 2011 to October 2022. TCC candidacy was determined based on… More >

Yang Hua^#, Jinyu Sun^#, Yuxuan Lou, Hao Zhang, Jing Shi^*, Wei Sun^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 279-291, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.051190

Abstract Background: White matter lesion (WML) is common in aging brain and is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. However, recent studies reported an association between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and WML in migraineurs, especially in young, middle-aged migraineurs. Our retrospective, case-control study aims to describe the clinical characteristics of WML in this population and to explore potential risk factors. Methods: 226 patients with migraine and PFO were consecutively initially screened. Relevant factors were selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariable logistic regression model. A Nomogram was employed to visualize… More >

Jiamin Huang^1,2, Ping Wu^2,*, Wangxin Li³, Jun Zhang², Yidong Xu²

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.18, No.5, pp. 577-598, 2024, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2024.050338

Abstract With the advent of the big data era and the rise of Industrial Revolution 4.0, digital twins (DTs) have gained significant attention in various industries. DTs offer the opportunity to combine the physical and digital worlds and aid the digital transformation of the civil engineering industry. In this paper, 605 documents obtained from the search were first analysed using CiteSpace for literature visualisation, and an author co-occurrence network, a keyword co-occurrence network, and a keyword clustering set were obtained. Next, through a literature review of 86 papers, this paper summarises the current status of DT More >

S. F. Ismael^1,2,*, A. H. Alias¹, N. A. Haron¹, B. B. Zaidan³, Abdulrahman M. Abdulghani⁴

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.18, No.5, pp. 525-551, 2024, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2024.050088

Abstract In this review paper, we present a thorough investigation into the role of pavement technologies in advancing urban sustainability. Our analysis traverses the historical evolution of these technologies, meticulously evaluating their socio-economic and environmental impacts, with a particular emphasis on their role in mitigating the urban heat island effect. The evaluation of pavement types and variables influencing pavement performance to be used in the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework to choose the optimal pavement application are at the heart of our research. Which serves to assess a spectrum of pavement options, revealing insights into the most More >