Ramtin Vamenani^#, Ethan Brister^#, Ling Li^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.078683 - 28 April 2026

Abstract The potting substrate is an important determinant of post-germination growth in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum under controlled laboratory conditions. We evaluated four commercially available soil substrates—Sta-Green potting mix plus fertilizer (SPM), Sta-Green flower & vegetable garden soil plus fertilizer (SGS), Miracle-Gro potting mix (MPM), and Miracle-Gro raised bed soil (MBS)—to assess their effects on seed germination and post-germination growth. Germination rates did not differ significantly among substrates for either species. In contrast, post-germination growth was strongly influenced by the substrate, with MPM consistently supporting greater biomass accumulation, stem elongation, and leaf production. Through integrated analysis of More >

Savindi Thathsarani¹, Ashan Lakshitha², Pasindu Pramodya², Praveen Perera², Rasanjali Samarakoon^1,*, Shagufta Henna³, Upaka Rathnayake^4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.078657 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Accurately determining the optimal post-harvest storage period is still a major challenge in mango processing, especially for the Tom EJC (TEJC) variety, due to reliance on subjective visual evaluations, leading to inconsistent product quality and increased post-harvest losses. This study presents an artificial intelligence-based framework combining computer vision and physicochemical analysis to objectively predict the optimal post-harvest storage period of TEJC mango before processing. TEJC mangoes of grade one were stored for eight days at 24–28°C temperature and 66.4–80% relative humidity. Daily measurements of pH, Total Soluble Solids (TSS), firmness, and peel color parameters (L*,… More > Graphic Abstract

Xin Guo^1,2, Shuangting Qi², Lian Duan², Xueyuan Lou², Xian Wang², Songlin He^1,*, Fangyun Cheng^3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.076905 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Plant quantitative trait allelic variation stems from complex regulatory networks. Tree peony, which is native to China, is a unique woody plant with ornamental, medicinal, and oil-producing value. Paeonia ostii, as an important species of tree peony, has emerged as a novel woody oil crop in recent years. However, research on functional genes associated with yield traits in P. ostii remains relatively limited. To gain deeper insights into the genetic architecture underlying one of the three key yield components—grain weight—in this study, a genome-wide association map for 123 unrelated P. ostii was constructed by integrating short-read and long-read… More >

Hanna Ahrnberg^1,*, Kaija Appelqvist-Schmidlechner², Pekka Mustonen¹, Sari Fröjd³, Katja Aktan-Collan¹

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077244 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Objectives: Positive Youth Development is an evidence-based, holistic approach that underlines adolescents’ strengths, competence, and interests instead of deficits, thus promoting psychosocial well-being in adolescents. This study aims to explore adolescents’ perceived impacts of the Finnish service-learning program “Gutsy Go”, which is based on a Positive Youth Development approach. Methods: The program educates 8th-grade comprehensive school students to perform good deeds in their communities and enhances adolescents’ psychosocial well-being. Focus group interviews were conducted two to three weeks after the program week with 61 program participants. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Four broad More >

Zizhen Wang, Shitian Su^*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076161 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Objectives: Structural and cognitive social capital are increasingly recognized as key factors influencing mental well-being. In China, older adults from minority groups often experience different levels of network support, trust, and social connection compared with their Han counterparts. These differences may contribute to the mental health gap observed between the two groups. This study aims to examine how structural and cognitive social capital are associated with mental health outcomes among Han and minority older adults in China, and to assess the extent to which these dimensions of social capital explain mental health disparities between the two… More >

Zhenlian Luo, Rongning Luo, Zhenzhu Cao, Huiyue Jiang^*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075797 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Background: Experiences of social exclusion can significantly affect individuals’ cognitive and emotional well-being, potentially resulting in maladaptive coping strategies or harmful behaviors. College students are at a critical stage of personal development, exhibiting distinctive psychological and behavioral patterns. Therefore, exploring the underlying mechanisms connecting social exclusion and malevolent creativity among college students is particularly important. This study aims to reveal the relationship between social exclusion and malevolent creative behavior among undergraduates and its potential mechanisms. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 500 undergraduates across three universities in Guangxi via convenience sampling. Participants completed the Ruminative… More >

Juyan Fang¹, Xin Deng¹, Mengting Pan², Guoqiang Chen¹, Yang Liu^1,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.073013 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Objectives: Social Media Dependence (SMD) has emerged as a growing public health concern among adolescents. Psychological Maltreatment (PM), characterized by denigration, intimidation, and emotional neglect, is considered an important familial risk factor for adolescents’ emotional and behavioral problems. However, the psychological mechanisms linking PM to adolescent SMD remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine the relationship between PM and SMD and to explore the mediating roles of Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF), Depression (DP), and Anxiety (AN). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2243 Chinese adolescents. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and mediation analyses were performed… More >

Zhengliang Zhang¹, Shijian Wu², Xinna Tang³, Haowen Wu^3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071999 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Objectives: Amid accelerating urbanization, digitalization, and population aging, mental health issues have become increasingly salient among urban community residents. This study aims to examine how community environmental governance influences mental health (MH) by conceptualizing the community environment as comprising social capital (SC) and environmental perception (EP). Aging anxiety (AA) and digital usage tendency (DUT) are introduced as psychosocial background variables to analyze MH pathways under multifactor influences. Methods: Using data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this study constructed a structural equation model (SEM) based on 362 urban residents from the Yangtze River Delta.… More >

Huan Song^1,2, Yuan Zhao³, Chenglin He^2,4,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 249-255, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.069347 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This study aimed to explore the mediating roles of body dissatisfaction and self-esteem on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and among female college students. Using a cross-sectional study design, 669 Chinese female college students completed the Body Mass Index, the Body Image States Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale. The results showed that body dissatisfaction partially mediated the relationship between BMI and social avoidance. Additionally, body dissatisfaction and self-esteem together formed a serial mediation pathway between BMI and social avoidance. In other words, BMI shows a direct association More >

Qiaobo Wei^1,2, Hui Zhou^1,3,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 277-284, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.068776 - 29 April 2026

Abstract We investigated the relationship between social anxiety on adolescent students’ internet fiction reading and mediation by self-esteem. A total of 774 adolescent students (female = 48.9%; mean age 13.39 ± 1.46) completed surveys on internet fiction addiction, social anxiety and self-esteem. Mediation analysis results indicated a significant school grade placement effect in internet fiction reading to be lower . The self-esteem of adolescent students plays a mediating role between social anxiety and internet fiction reading for higher internet fiction reading with higher self-esteem. This mediating effect accounts for about two-thirds of the total effect. This More >