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(1) Background: The kick of the ball in soccer is considered one of the most important technical gestures in soccer. Despite this, there is little evidence on ball-striking performance factors in base soccer. The main objectives of the present study were to identify the potential factors of long-ball kicking (LBK) performance and to determine the target training cut-off for LBK performance in young soccer players. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 31 soccer players, with ages ranging from 12 to 18 years. Age, anthropometric data, sport experience, range of motion (ROM) and maximal isometric strength (MIS) of the lower limb were noted. Kick-of-the-ball performance was assessed by maximum ball displacement per kick. A k-mean cluster analysis determined two groups according to ball-kicking performance: low group (LPG-LBK) and high group (HPG-LBK). (3) Results: Differences were found between both groups in age, body mass, body mass index, leg length and knee flexion ROM (BF10 ≤ 6.33; δ ≥ 0.86 (moderate or higher)). Among the factors discussed above, age was the strongest predictor of ball-striking performance (odds ratio = 2.867; p = 0.003). The optimal cut-off for age predicting those players most likely to have a higher ball-striking performance was determined to be 13.5 years (p = 0.001; area under the curve = 85.3%). (4) Conclusions: Age over 13.5 increases the chances of a higher optimal ball-striking performance. The flexibility (knee flexion ROM) and strength (knee flexors) must be specifically trained in soccer players beginning at an early age.

HIV-1 virion maturation is an essential step in the viral replication cycle to produce infectious virus particles. Gag and Gag-Pol polyproteins are assembled at the plasma membrane of the virus-producer cells and bud from it to the extracellular compartment. The newly released progeny virions are initially immature and noninfectious. However, once the Gag polyprotein is cleaved by the viral protease in progeny virions, the mature capsid proteins assemble to form the fullerene core. This core, harboring two copies of viral genomic RNA, transforms the virion morphology into infectious virus particles. This morphological transformation is referred to as maturation. Virion maturation influences the distribution of the Env glycoprotein on the virion surface and induces conformational changes necessary for the subsequent interaction with the CD4 receptor. Several host factors, including proteins like cyclophilin A, metabolites such as IP6, and lipid rafts containing sphingomyelins, have been demonstrated to have an influence on virion maturation. This review article delves into the processes of virus maturation and Env glycoprotein recruitment, with an emphasis on the role of host cell factors and environmental conditions. Additionally, we discuss microscopic technologies for assessing virion maturation and the development of current antivirals specifically targeting this critical step in viral replication, offering long-acting therapeutic options.

The aging ability of dry white wines has been increasingly recognized. The present work aimed to identify which sensory features drive their quality assessment by experienced tasters. Individuals assessed several sensory attributes, using dark tasting glasses. Wines originated from the grape varieties Alvarinho, Arinto, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Bianco with a wide range of ages. Basic physical–chemical analysis, browning (Abs 420 nm), elemental composition and a partial volatile fraction were also determined. The overall quality scores were a function of complexity and balance and were negatively influenced by the perception of faultiness. The aging process could be associated with a continuous sensory space characterized by a declining perception of freshness and an intensification in the mellowed flavors. Despite their age, wines were characterized by an austere perception caused by their acidity, saltiness, bitterness, smoothness and dryness. Nevertheless, quality scores were similar from the youngest to the oldest tasted wines (17 years old). The exception was a Sauvignon Blanc wine from a recent vintage that was judged as faulty due to the perception of earthiness. Overall, the tasted wines displayed an unexpected aging ability as demonstrated by the difference between the predicted and real wine ages. To improve the recognition of old wines, the metaphor “mellowed by age” is proposed to describe flavors resulting from beneficial aging instead of “oxidized by age”.

This study examines the influence of the mass percentage and maturation stage of bottom ash on bio-composite mechanical strength. Two kinds of bottom ash were used: matured and non-matured. To elaborate the composites, several different percentages of bottom ash were mixed with an organic matrix. Casein, starch, alginate, polyethylene glycol, pre-vulcanized natural latex, and water are the components of matrix. The idea was to use as much bottom ash as possible, since it can be used as 80% or more as the main charge, which was in prismatic form for mechanical testing after drying. The results show that whatever the state of maturation of the bottom ash, the resistances present a maximum for a percentage of bottom ash equal to 85%. It could also be noticed that non-matured bottom ash composites have better mechanical strengths than composites with matured bottom ash. This is due to the decrease in porosity of the composites and to the improvement in their structural integrity. These new composites could solve some of the solid waste problems created by bottom ash production. As the matrix is made from organic resources, it saves energy and reduces the carbon footprint. This bio-composite contributes to the circular economy by giving waste a second life.

The aim of this study was to determine the anthropometric and physical fitness profiles of inter-county female Gaelic football players from under-14 to under-18 age levels. A total of 156 athletes (U14, n = 33; U16, n = 64; U18, n = 59) participated in this study. Testing was conducted in a single session for each group and included anthropometric measures of standing and sitting height, weight, estimated age of peak height velocity (PHV), and maturity offset. Physical performance tests included squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ), 0–5 m and 0–20 m sprint times, pro-agility test, medicine ball chest-pass throw, and YoYo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YoYoIR1). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate differences between the age groups. Significant differences were identified between age groups for measures of height (p < 0.001, ES = 0.127), body mass (p.002, ES = 0.076), and estimated age of PHV (p < 0.001, ES = 0.612). No significant differences were found between age groups for any of the physical fitness tests except for the YoYoIR1, where a significant difference was found between the U14 and U18 age groups (p.029, η2p = 0.048). These findings may assist coaches to better understand female athletic development, provide insight on talent identification and development programmes, and provide reference data when working with this cohort so that realistic and attainable training goals can be achieved.

Menarche is a significant pubertal event influencing girls’ participation in physical activity. As menarche is a sensitive matter, a non-invasive substitute is needed to help classify girls’ maturity status and provide physical literacy to them in this regard. The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the classification agreement between self-reported age of menarche and calculated maturity offset in adolescent girls from South Africa by making use of various statistical methods. Fifty-eight girls, n = 13 pre- and n = 45 post-menarche (Status Quo method) aged 13.51 ± 3.51 years at baseline, were analyzed (2010–2012). Independent t-testing, cross-tabulation, Roc Curve statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the classification agreement between markers. All four statistical methods revealed the potential to categorize different maturity groups through the maturity offset equation, although the accuracy declined with increased age. A realized power of 0.92 was found for the group in the first year of the study, with a gradual and significant decline over time. Cross-tabs showed a significant moderate predictive effectiveness (Chi-square = 0.042) during T1, closer to PHV (13.51 years) although also declining significantly with increased age (T2, 14.51 years) beyond PHV (Chi-square = 0.459). Although positive results were found, caution must be used when using maturity offset equations in different homogenic populations due to their unique growth characteristics.

In the last decades, non-native pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha successfully spread and occupied the rivers of the White Sea basin. We studied twenty-two blood parameters characterizing lipid metabolism, osmoregulation, energy exchange, and steroidogenesis at the crucial time point of pink salmon spawning migration: the passage of the critical salinity barrier in the estuary, preceding the migration upstream of the Umba River. The heterogeneity of biochemical parameters of non-native pink salmon predominantly was demonstrated in sexual dimorphism. We attributed this result to two main processes: maturation features and different timings of fish running from seawater to freshwater. Maturation features were characterized by differences between females and males in concentrations of estradiol-17β, triglycerides, and alanine aminotransferase. Both sexes had increased levels of cortisol due to changes in fish osmoregulation. Females had higher levels of cortisol, total protein, and calcium in comparison with males, which indicated that pink salmon females run to the river later than males.

The purpose of this study was to compare the step parameters, the Body Center of Mass (BCM) kinematics, as well as the angular and linear kinematics of the lower extremities’ joints of prepubescent and adult sprinters of both sexes. A total of forty-two athletes were examined, including adult men (AM) and women (AF) as well as preadolescent boys (PPB) and girls (PPG). A 2D-DLT analysis was conducted on video recordings (sampling frequency: 100 fps) of the participants’ maximum effort trial while in their maximum sprinting velocity phase. A 2 (age) × 2 (sex) ANOVA revealed significant (p < 0.05) effects of the factors age and sex, and an interaction of age × sex in the sprint running velocity. It was also found that the spatiotemporal structure of the step parameters was significantly (p < 0.05) different between AM and AF but not between PPB and PPG. Also, a significant (p < 0.05) main effect of age was evident mainly for the ankle joint of both legs, as well as for the angular kinematics of the swing leg’s knee joint. In conclusion, apart from the possible disparities in training experience, differences due to age and sex exist in the step parameters and the kinematics of the sprinting technique due to differences in the technical elements related to coordination, strength application capability, and stiffness.

The aim of this study was to test a machine learning (ML) model to predict high-intensity actions and body impacts during youth football training. Sixty under-15, -17, and -19 sub-elite Portuguese football players were monitored over a 6-week period. External training load data were collected from the target variables of accelerations (ACCs), decelerations (DECs), and dynamic stress load (DSL) using an 18 Hz global positioning system (GPS). Additionally, we monitored the perceived exertion and biological characteristics using total quality recovery (TQR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), session RPE (sRPE), chronological age, maturation offset (MO), and age at peak height velocity (APHV). The ML model was computed by a feature selection process with a linear regression forecast and bootstrap method. The predictive analysis revealed that the players’ MO demonstrated varying degrees of effectiveness in predicting their DEC and ACC across different ranges of IQR. After predictive analysis, the following performance values were observed: DEC (x¯predicted = 41, β = 3.24, intercept = 37.0), lower IQR (IQRpredicted = 36.6, β = 3.24, intercept = 37.0), and upper IQR (IQRpredicted = 46 decelerations, β = 3.24, intercept = 37.0). The player’s MO also demonstrated the ability to predict their upper IQR (IQRpredicted = 51, β = 3.8, intercept = 40.62), lower IQR (IQRpredicted = 40, β = 3.8, intercept = 40.62), and ACC (x¯predicted = 46 accelerations, β = 3.8, intercept = 40.62). The ML model showed poor performance in predicting the players’ ACC and DEC using MO (MSE = 2.47–4.76; RMSE = 1.57–2.18: R2 = −0.78–0.02). Maturational concerns are prevalent in football performance and should be regularly checked, as the current ML model treated MO as the sole variable for ACC, DEC, and DSL. Applying ML models to assess automated tracking data can be an effective strategy, particularly in the context of forecasting peak ACC, DEC, and bodily effects in sub-elite youth football training.

Scientific reports on the distribution of Mesocentrotus nudus in Hokkaido are limited from Cape Soya to Cape Erimo along the coast of the Sea of Japan; however, fishery statistics show that its distribution has extended to the Sea of Okhotsk and Pacific Ocean off Hokkaido. In 2021, large-scale harmful algal blooms (HABs) occurred in the Pacific Ocean off eastern Hokkaido, resulting in the massive die-off of marine organisms, including M. nudus. This study aimed to redefine the distribution of M. nudus in the Pacific Ocean off eastern Hokkaido after the HABs. Field surveys were conducted in July, August, and December 2023 in Akkeshi, the site farthest from Cape Soya among the areas where irregular catches of M. nudus have been recorded in eastern Hokkaido, and the distribution of this species was confirmed in August and December. All sea urchins collected were >6 years of age, indicating that they survived the HABs. High gonad indices and spermatozoa-filled gonads were observed in the sea urchins collected in December, suggesting that the reproductive cycle of M. nudus in Akkeshi may be close to that observed in specimens off Wakkanai, Cape Soya. Warming trends may cause population increases in the future.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) enables the assessment of changes in brain tissue microstructure during maturation and ageing. In general, patterns of cerebral maturation and decline render non-monotonic lifespan trajectories of DTI metrics with age, and, importantly, the rate of microstructural changes is heterochronous for various white matter fibres. Recent studies have demonstrated that diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics are more sensitive to microstructural changes during ageing compared to those of DTI. In a previous work, we demonstrated that the Cohen’s d of mean diffusional kurtosis (dMK) represents a useful biomarker for quantifying maturation heterochronicity. However, some inferences on the maturation grades of different fibre types, such as association, projection, and commissural, were of a preliminary nature due to the insufficient number of fibres considered. Hence, the purpose of this follow-up work was to further explore the heterochronicity of microstructural maturation between pre-adolescence and middle adulthood based on DTI and DKI metrics. Using the effect size of the between-group parametric changes and Cohen’s d, we observed that all commissural fibres achieved the highest level of maturity, followed by the majority of projection fibres, while the majority of association fibres were the least matured. We also demonstrated that dMK strongly correlates with the maxima or minima of the lifespan curves of DTI metrics. Furthermore, our results provide substantial evidence for the existence of spatial gradients in the timing of white matter maturation. In conclusion, our data suggest that DKI provides useful biomarkers for the investigation of maturation spatial heterogeneity and heterochronicity.

SP140 is an epigenetic reader protein expressed predominantly in immune cells. GWAS studies have shown an association between SP140 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and diverse autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, suggesting a possible pathogenic role for SP140 in immune-mediated diseases. We previously demonstrated that treatment of human macrophages with the novel selective inhibitor of the SP140 protein (GSK761) reduced the expression of endotoxin-induced cytokines, implicating a role of SP140 in the function of inflammatory macrophages. In this study, we investigated the effects of GSK761 on in vitro human dendritic cell (DC) differentiation and maturation, assessing the expression of cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules and their capacity to stimulate T-cell activation and induce phenotypic changes. In DCs, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation induced an increase in SP140 expression and its recruitment to transcription start sites (TSS) of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. Moreover, LPS-induced cytokines such as TNF, IL-6, and IL-1β were reduced in GSK761- or SP140 siRNA- treated DCs. Although GSK761 did not significantly affect the expression of surface markers that define the differentiation of CD14+ monocytes into immature DCs (iDCs), subsequent maturation of iDCs to mature DCs was significantly inhibited. GSK761 strongly reduced expression of the maturation marker CD83, the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86, and the lipid-antigen presentation molecule CD1b. Finally, when the ability of DCs to stimulate recall T-cell responses by vaccine-specific T cells was assessed, T cells stimulated by GSK761-treated DCs showed reduced TBX21 and RORA expression and increased FOXP3 expression, indicating a preferential generation of regulatory T cells. Overall, this study suggests that SP140 inhibition enhances the tolerogenic properties of DCs, supporting the rationale of targeting SP140 in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases where DC-mediated inflammatory responses contribute to disease pathogenesis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate indicators of bone health associated with sports practice in male adolescents using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure bone mineral content (BMC), density (BMD), and body composition (BC) for the whole body (WB) and specific regions. This cross-sectional study involved 65 individuals (18–35 years). Athletes had higher BMD for WB (1.064 ± 0.121 g/m−2) than sedentary individuals (0.753 ± 0.129 g/cm−2). Differences were also observed within specific regions such as the trunk, upper and lower limbs. Individuals who practice regular sports present improved bone health indicators compared to their sedentary peers.

The complex dynamics between oxygen exposure, sulphur dioxide (SO2) utilization, and wine quality are of the utmost importance in wine sector, and this study aims to explore their fine balance in winemaking. As a common additive, SO2 works as an antiseptic and antioxidant. However, its excessive use has raised health concerns. Regulatory guidelines, including Council Regulation (EC) N° 1493/1999 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1622/2000, dictate SO2 concentrations in wines. The increasing demand for natural preservatives is driving the search for alternatives, with natural plant extracts, rich in phenolic compounds, emerging as promising substitutes. In this context, Bioma Company has proposed alternative additives deriving from vineyard waste to replace SO2 during winemaking. Thus, the aim of the present work was to compare the compositional characteristics between the product obtained with the alternative vinification and the traditional one during the winemaking, as well as the aroma compositions of the final wines. After a year of experimentation, the wines produced with Bioma products showed compositional characteristics comparable to their traditional counterparts. Notably, these wines comply with current legislation, with significantly reduced total sulphur content, allowing their designation as “without added sulphites”. Bioma products emerge as potential catalysts for sustainable and health-conscious winemaking practices, reshaping the landscape of the industry.

Hemodynamics is the eternal theme of the circulatory system. Abnormal hemodynamics and cardiac and pulmonary development intertwine to form the most important features of children with congenital heart diseases (CHDs), thus determining these children’s long-term quality of life. Here, we review the varieties of hemodynamic abnormalities that exist in children with CHDs, the recently developed neonatal rodent models of CHDs, and the inspirations these models have brought us in the areas of cardiomyocyte proliferation and maturation, as well as in alveolar development. Furthermore, current limitations, future directions, and clinical decision making based on these inspirations are highlighted. Understanding how CHD-associated hemodynamic scenarios shape postnatal heart and lung development may provide a novel path to improving the long-term quality of life of children with CHDs, transplantation of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and cardiac regeneration.

Cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao L.) can be used for craft chocolate production, which arouses consumer interest due to their perceived better quality. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical profile of 80% artisanal chocolate samples produced with cocoa beans subjected to different maturation conditions. In the first maturation process, beans were matured under no-oxygen conditions, and in the second, the toasted beans were matured in oak barrels. The volatile compounds of the chocolate samples were extracted by the solid-phase microextraction method in headspace mode and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometer. The non-volatile compounds were extracted with methanol and analyzed through paper spray mass spectrometry. Overall, 35 volatile compounds belonging to different chemical classes (acids, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and pyrazines) were identified, such as propanoic acid and butane-2,3-diol. In addition, 37 non-volatile compounds, such as procyanidin A pentoside and soyasaponin B, were listed. Tannins, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids were the main chemical classes observed, varying between the two samples analyzed. Therefore, it was possible to verify that maturation conditions affected the metabolomic profile of the 80% artisanal chocolate samples, being able to influence the sensory characteristics and bioactive compounds profile. Given these results, the sensory evaluation of these chocolates is suggested as the next step.

Phase change refers to the process of maturation and transition from the juvenile to the adult stage. In response to this shift, certain species like chestnut lose the ability to form adventitious roots, thereby hindering the successful micropropagation of adult plants. While auxin is the main hormone involved in adventitious root formation, other hormones, such as ethylene, are also thought to play a role in its induction and development. In this study, experiments were carried out to determine the effects of ethylene on the induction and growth of adventitious roots. The analysis was performed in two types of chestnut microshoots derived from the same tree, a juvenile-like line with a high rooting ability derived from basal shoots (P2BS) and a line derived from crown branches (P2CR) with low rooting responses. By means of the application of compounds to modify ethylene content or inhibit its signalling, the potential involvement of this hormone in the induction of adventitious roots was analysed. Our results show that ethylene can modify the rooting competence of mature shoots, while the response in juvenile material was barely affected. To further characterise the molecular reasons underlying this maturation-derived shift in behaviour, specific gene expression analyses were developed. The findings suggest that several mechanisms, including ethylene signalling, auxin transport and epigenetic modifications, relate to the modulation of the rooting ability of mature chestnut microshoots and their recalcitrant behaviour.

Saudi Arabia is a prominent producer of dates, producing 1.6 million tons annually. There is a need to evaluate the physical properties and quality of fruits non-destructively and then modeled and predict them throughout the storage period. The aim of the current study was to generate a quality index (Qi) and visible–near-infrared spectra (VIS-NIR) models non-destructively to predict properties of Barhi dates including objective and sensory evaluations. A total of 1000 Barhi fruits were sorted into three stages of maturation, ranging from 80 to 100% yellowish. The physical properties (hardness, color, TSS, pH, and sensory evaluations) of Barhi dates were measured and modeled with Qi based on VIS-NIR of fresh Barhi fruits and during storage in ambient (25 °C), cold (1 °C), and CA (1 °C with 5%:5% O2:CO2, 85% RH) conditions for up to 3 months. The prediction of Qi was non-destructively based on VIS-NIR utilizing PLSR and ANN data analysis. The results showed that the shelf-life of stored Barhi fruits were 20, 40, and 120 days corresponding to 25 °C, cold (1 °C), and CA, respectively. It was found that VIS-NIR spectroscopy was helpful in estimating the Qi of Barhi fruits for PLSR and ANN data analysis, respectively, in calibration with an R2 of 0.793 and 0.912 and RMSEC of 0.110 and 0.308 and cross-validation with an R2 of 0.783 and 0.912 and RMSEC of 0.298 and 0.308. The VIS-NIR spectrum has proven to be an effective method for the evaluation of the Qi of Barhi fruits and their physical properties throughout the supply chain in the handling, processing, transportation, storage and retail sectors. It was found that ANN is more suitable than PLSR analysis.

The determination of grape quality parameters is intricately linked to the mineral composition of the fruit; this relationship is increasingly affected by the impacts of climate change. The conventional chemical methodologies employed for the mineral quantification of grape tissues are expensive and impracticable for widespread commercial applications. This paper utilized Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to analyze the mineral constituents within the skin, pulp, and seeds of two distinct Vitis vinifera cultivars: a white cultivar (Loureiro) and a red cultivar (Vinhão). The primary objective was to discriminate the potential variations in the calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and nitrogen (N) concentrations and water content among different grape tissues, explaining their consequential impact on the metabolic constitution of the grapes and, by extension, their influence on various quality parameters. Additionally, the study compared the mineral contents of the white and red grape cultivars across three distinct time points post veraison. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between the Loureiro and Vinhão cultivars in Ca concentrations across all the dates and tissues and for Mg in the skin and pulp, N in the pulp and seeds, and water content in the skin and pulp. In the Vinhão cultivar, Ca differences were found in the pulp across the dates, N in the seeds, and water content in the skin, pulp, and seeds. Comparing the cultivars within tissues, Ca exhibited differences in the pulp, Mg in the skin and pulp, N in the pulp and seeds, and water content in the skin, pulp, and seeds. These findings provide insights into the relationship between the grape mineral and water content, climatic factors, and viticulture practices within a changing climate.

European hake, Merluccius merluccius L. 1758, is a highly valuable demersal fish species exploited in both the east Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Changes in the size-at-maturity of this species have been reported in various geographic areas. Size-at-maturity is a key parameter in fishery management. Our main goal was to study the trend of the size-at-maturity of European hake in the eastern Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean) over the last five decades. Utilizing a multi-decadal series of data for various environmental variables, we employed multivariate analyses and non-additive modeling in an attempt to identify shifts in the climatic environment of the eastern Ionian Sea and whether the maturation of the hake population could be affected by these changes. The analyses used suggest a plausible environmental regime shift in the study area in the late 1990s/early 2000s. The decrease in size-at-maturity that was detected in the last two decades may, thus, be associated with environmental changes. However, as many fish stocks already experience fishery-induced evolution, further investigation is necessary to determine whether this environmental effect is an additional stressor on a possibly already fishery-impacted population. The outcomes of this study highlight the importance of investigating the relationship between fish reproductive traits and altered environmental conditions, as the latter are generally ignored during assessments, affecting the robustness of fishery management.

The oocyte transcriptome follows a tightly controlled dynamic that leads the oocyte to grow and mature. This succession of distinct transcriptional states determines embryonic development prior to embryonic genome activation. However, these oocyte maternal mRNA regulatory events have yet to be decoded in humans. We reanalyzed human single-oocyte RNA-seq datasets previously published in the literature to decrypt the transcriptomic reshuffles ensuring that the oocyte is fully competent. We applied trajectory analysis (pseudotime) and a meta-analysis and uncovered the fundamental transcriptomic requirements of the oocyte at any moment of oogenesis until reaching the metaphase II stage (MII). We identified a bunch of genes showing significant variation in expression from primordial-to-antral follicle oocyte development and characterized their temporal regulation and their biological relevance. We also revealed the selective regulation of specific transcripts during the germinal vesicle-to-MII transition. Transcripts associated with energy production and mitochondrial functions were extensively downregulated, while those associated with cytoplasmic translation, histone modification, meiotic processes, and RNA processes were conserved. From the genes identified in this study, some appeared as sensitive to environmental factors such as maternal age, polycystic ovary syndrome, cryoconservation, and in vitro maturation. In the future, the atlas of transcriptomic changes described in this study will enable more precise identification of the transcripts responsible for follicular growth and oocyte maturation failures.

Cytoplasmic Dynein is a multiple-subunit macromolecular motor protein involved in the transport process of cells. The Dynein intermediate chain (DIC) is one of the subunits of Dynein-1. In our previous studies, we showed that Pt-DIC may play an important role in the nuclear deformation of spermiogenesis in Portunus trituberculatus. Lamin B is essential for maintaining nuclear structure and functions. Surprisingly, Pt-Lamin B was expressed not only in the perinucleus but also in the pro-acrosome during spermiogenesis in P. trituberculatus. Studies have also shown that Dynein-1 can mediate the transport of Lamin B in mammals. Thus, to study the relationship of Pt-DIC and Pt-Lamin B in the spermatogenesis of P. trituberculatus, we knocked down the Pt-DIC gene in P. trituberculatus by RNAi. The results showed that the distribution of Pt-DIC and Pt-Lamin B in spermiogenesis was abnormal, and the colocalization was weakened. Moreover, we verified the interaction of Pt-DIC and Pt-Lamin B via coimmunoprecipitation. Therefore, our results suggested that both Pt-DIC and Pt-Lamin B were involved in the spermatogenesis of P. trituberculatus, and one of the functions of Dynein-1 is to mediate the transport of Lamin B in the spermiogenesis of P. trituberculatus.

This study aimed to explore the effects of competitive match play and subsequent training during typical competitive microcycle on landing biomechanics in female youth handball players. A group of 11 elite female youth players (age: 14.3 ± 0.6 years; stature: 165.9 ± 8.1 cm; body mass: 58.4 ± 10.6 kg; maturity offset: 0.4 ± 0.8 years) were tested prior to a competitive match, immediately after the match, 48 h after the match, 96 h after the match, and before the next match. The players performed two analyzed trials of a single leg (preferred) counter movement jump. The “Landing Error Scoring System” (LESS) was used to analyze the participants’ landing biomechanics. Results: There was no significant effect of a competitive handball match on LESS (Z = 0.28; p = 0.78). No statistically significant difference in LESS was found between the first and the last measurement (Z = 1.01; p = 0.31). No significant main effect of time was found for landing biomechanics in the observed eight-day period (χ2 = 4.02; p = 0.40). The results of the study indicate that a model of weekly loading during in-season, including competitive match play, does not decrease lower limb biomechanics during landing and does not contribute to an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury in female youth handball players during a competitive microcycle.

The search for improvements in quality of life has increasingly involved changes in the diet, especially the consumption of foods which, in addition to having good nutritional value, are characterized by offering health benefits. Among the molecules that trigger several beneficial responses are peptides, which are specific fragments of proteins known to produce positive effects on the human body. This review aimed to discuss the bioactive potential of peptides from cheeses. Studies show that the protein composition of some cheese varieties exhibits a potential for the release of bioactive peptides. The production of these peptides can be promoted by some technological procedures that affect the milk structure and constituents. The cheese maturation process stands out for producing bioactive peptides due to the action of enzymes produced by lactic acid bacteria. Thus, in addition to being proteins with high biological value due to their excellent amino acid profile, peptides from some types of cheeses are endowed with functional properties such as anti-hypertensive, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, opioid, and zinc-binding activities.

The rules of team sport have been influenced by professional competitions without considering all the factors that differentiate children and adolescents from adults. The aim of this study was to analyse the performance of kinematic variables in two different types of tournaments and the influence of somatic maturation on performance in young basketball players. Thirty-seven under-13 male basketball players (age = 12.91 ± 0.57 years) were selected by four southeast Spanish teams to participate in two different tournaments. On the first day, the tournament was played according to the rules of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) for under-14 players, and on the second day, the tournament was played according to modified rules (Modified Tournament). In this tournament, the height of the basket was lowered to 2.90 m; the three-point line was a rectangle that was 4 m from the basket.The following kinematic variables were analysed: Acceleration (n), Deceleration (n), Maximum Acceleration Speed (km/h), Maximum Deceleration Speed (km/h), Acceleration Meters Covered (m), Deceleration Meters Covered (m), Number of Sprints (n), Sprint Meters Covered (m), Maximum Sprint Speed, and Player Load (n). The results showed no significant differences in player performance between the tournaments. However, significant differences in performance (p < 0.05) were found in players at different stages of maturation. Early maturity players showed the best performance in the kinematic variables in both tournaments; because of this, there should be a modification of the rules and organisation of competitions by bio-banding. It can be concluded that there were no significant differences in the kinematic variables between the two tournaments. However, when comparing maturation timing, there tends to be a group effect.

Neuronal maturation is a process that plays a key role in the development and regeneration of the central nervous system. Although embryonic brain development and neurodegeneration have received considerable attention, the events that govern postnatal neuronal maturation are less understood. Among the mechanisms influencing such neuronal maturation processes, apoptosis plays a key role. Several regulators have been described to modulate apoptosis, including post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs. This study aimed to analyze endogenous expression changes of miR-138-5p, as well as its main validated pro-apoptotic target caspase3, during the maturation of neuronal cultures and their response under apoptotic challenge. Our results point out that the observed opposite expression of miR-138-5p and its target caspase3 might modulate apoptosis favoring neuronal survival at distinct maturation stages. The unchanged expression of miR-138-5p in mature neurons contrasts with the significant downregulation in immature neurons upon apoptotic stimulation. Similarly, immunoblot and individual cellular assays confirmed that during maturation, not only the expression but processing of CASP-3 and caspase activity is reduced after apoptotic stimulation which results in a reduction of neuronal death. Further studies would be needed to determine a more detailed role of miR-138-5p in apoptosis during neuronal maturation and the synergistic action of several microRNAs acting cooperatively on caspase3 or other apoptotic targets.

Oligodendrocyte (OL) myelination is a critical process for the neuronal axon function in the central nervous system. After demyelination occurs because of pathophysiology, remyelination makes repairs similar to myelination. Proliferation and differentiation are the two main stages in OL myelination, and most factors commonly play converse roles in these two stages, except for a few factors and signaling pathways, such as OLIG2 (Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2). Moreover, some OL maturation gene mutations induce hypomyelination or hypermyelination without an obvious function in proliferation and differentiation. Herein, three types of factors regulating myelination are reviewed in sequence.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was explored to assess the element constituents (Ca, Mg and N) in the skin, pulp, and seed of two Vitis vinifera cultivars—a white (Loureiro) and a red (Vinhão) cultivar. This study compares the two grape cultivars chosen and the characterisation of Ca, Mg and N in the skin, pulp and seed on three dates after veraison. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the Ca, Mg and N in the skin, pulp and seed of both grape cultivars during the three assessment dates considered. The results of this study could provide insights into the element composition of grapes, offering a fast, accurate, and cost-effective alternative to traditional element quantification methods.

Pecan nuts (Carya illinoinensis) provide a wide range of bioactive compounds (particularly polyphenols) that improve the nutritional quality of diets. This study aimed to monitor the evolution of polyphenolic compounds (total phenols, total flavonoids, total flavanols, total condensed tannins, and total o-diphenols), the phenolic profile, the antioxidant activity, and the sugar concentration during pecan nut development in three Tunisian cultivars. Condensed tannins (41.98–221.13 mg catechin assay equivalents g−1 FW) were the dominant class of phenolics at all maturity stages, followed by total phenols (12.25–57.92 mg gallic acid equivalents g−1 FW). Ellagic acid and catechin were the most abundant phenolics at all maturity stages. The highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity were found at an early stage of ripening but as maturity progressed, a decreasing trend was observed. Sucrose (6.09–30.79 mg g−1 FW) was the predominant sugar followed by fructose and then glucose. A decreasing and later increasing trend of total carbohydrate concentration was detected during nut development. A Canonical Discriminant Analysis of the data succeeded in separating the three pecan cultivars due to their unique characteristics. Overall, the cultivar and the degree of maturity are the major factors controlling the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of pecan nuts. This study provides more information on the optimal period when the maximum concentration of these health-enhancing compounds is found for use in food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications.

While cells in the human body function in an environment where the blood supply constantly delivers nutrients and removes waste, cells in conventional tissue culture well platforms are grown with a static pool of media above them and often lack maturity, limiting their utility to study cell biology in health and disease. In contrast, organ-chip microfluidic systems allow the growth of cells under constant flow, more akin to the in vivo situation. Here, we differentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells into dopamine neurons and assessed cellular properties in conventional multi-well cultures and organ-chips. We show that organ-chip cultures, compared to multi-well cultures, provide an overall greater proportion and homogeneity of dopaminergic neurons as well as increased levels of maturation markers. These organ-chips are an ideal platform to study mature dopamine neurons to better understand their biology in health and ultimately in neurological disorders.

False alarm flighting in avian flocks is common, and has been explained as a maladaptive information cascade. If false alarm flighting is maladaptive per se, then its frequency can only be explained by it being net adaptive in relation to some other benefit or equilibrium. However, I argue that natural selection cannot distinguish between false and true alarm flights that have similar energetic costs, opportunity costs, and outcomes. False alarm flighting cannot be maladaptive if natural selection cannot perceive the difference between true and false alarm flighting. Rather, the question to answer is what false and true alarm flighting both have in common that is adaptive per se. The fire drill hypothesis of alarm flighting posits that false alarm flights are an adaptive investment in practicing escape. The fire drill hypothesis predicts that all individuals can benefit from practicing escape, particularly juveniles. Flighting practice could improve recognition of and response time to alarm flighting signals, could compensate for inter-individual and within-day weight differences, and could aid the development of adaptive escape tactics. Mixed-age flocks with many juveniles are expected to false alarm flight more than adult flocks. Flocks that inhabit complex terrain should gain less from escape practice and should false alarm flight less. Behavioural ecology framings can be fruitfully complemented by other research traditions of learning and behaviour that are more focused on maturation and motor learning processes.

Cocos nucifera L. is one of the most cultivated palm trees in the world since it is used to obtain both raw materials and food. From a human point of view, the coconut fruit is a very valuable product, producing an aromatic and tasty liquid endosperm (coconut water) containing high levels of sugars, amino acids and other molecules of nutritional and nutraceutical value. Most of the chemical composition studies conducted on coconut to date have focused on the determination of fatty acid content in coconut oil and the extension of the shelf life of coconut water. Despite the economic importance of this species, the maturation of the coconut fruit is a complex biological process scarcely studied from the metabolic approach and biochemical changes occurring during fruit maturation are not well-known. The objective of this study is to investigate and elucidate the metabolic changes that occur during the maturation process of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) fruits, specifically focusing on the liquid endosperm of the Yucatan green dwarf variety. In this study, the liquid endosperm of coconut fruits at the immature, intermediate and mature stages have been analyzed through an untargeted metabolomics approach by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). A total of 591 spectrometric features were detected and the corresponding identified compounds were classified into 24 chemical classes. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed segregation among the samples, according to their stage of maturation. Most of the metabolites detected were related to the metabolism of flavonoids, carbohydrates and organooxygen compounds. Pathway analysis showed that sphingolipid, starch and sucrose metabolisms were among the most over-accumulated during ripening, followed by the metabolism of glyoxylates and dicarboxylates and the metabolism of amino acids such as alanine, aspartate and glutamate, and others. This is the first study that focuses on elucidating the metabolic profiles of the liquid endosperm of coconut Yucatan green dwarf variety during three stages of maturation with an untargeted metabolomics approach through UPLC-MS.

Among alternative perovskite device architectures, mesoporous scaffolds based on metal oxide and carbon look highly promising due to their inherent high stability. In this study, the perovskite deposition has been realized on a 1.5 cm2 active surface area using inkjet infiltration through the mesoporous scaffold, affording a clean industrial process for large-scale and stable perovskite devices. A spectacular enhancement of photovoltaic performances from 10% to 14% was then obtained through the implementation of a maturation step. A study of the occurring mechanisms was conducted using a full set of characterization techniques including J-V measurements, UV–visible and PL spectroscopies, LBIC and PL imaging, XRD, and surface roughness measurements. In addition, the impact of this maturation step on the durability of the performances was investigated.

Electrospun nanofiber constructs represent a promising alternative for mimicking the natural extracellular matrix in vitro and have significant potential for cardiac patch applications. While the effect of fiber orientation on the morphological structure of cardiomyocytes has been investigated, fibers only provide contact guidance without accounting for substrate stiffness due to their deposition on rigid substrates (e.g., glass or polystyrene). This paper introduces an in situ fabrication method for suspended and well aligned nanofibrous scaffolds via roller electrospinning, providing an anisotropic microenvironment with reduced stiffness for cardiac tissue engineering. A fiber surface modification strategy, utilizing oxygen plasma treatment combined with sodium dodecyl sulfate solution, was proposed to maintain the hydrophilicity of polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers, promoting cellular adhesion. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs), cultured on aligned fibers, exhibited an elongated morphology with extension along the fiber axis. In comparison to Petri dishes and suspended random fiber scaffolds, hiPSC-CMs on suspended aligned fiber scaffolds demonstrated enhanced sarcomere organization, spontaneous synchronous contraction, and gene expression indicative of maturation. This work demonstrates the suspended and aligned nano-fibrous scaffold provides a more realistic biomimetic environment for hiPSC-CMs, which promoted further research on the inducing effect of fiber scaffolds on hiPSC-CMs microstructure and gene-level expression.

Background: An inadequate perinatal nutritional environment can alter the maturation of the intestinal barrier and promote long-term pathologies such as metabolic syndrome or chronic intestinal diseases. The intestinal microbiota seems to play a determining role in the development of the intestinal barrier. In the present study, we investigated the impact of consuming an early postnatal prebiotic fiber (PF) on growth, intestinal morphology and the microbiota at weaning in postnatal-growth-restricted mice (PNGR). Methods: Large litters (15 pups/mother) were generated from FVB/NRj mice to induce PNGR at postnatal day 4 (PN4) and compared to control litters (CTRL, 8 pups/mother). PF (a resistant dextrin) or water was orally administered once daily to the pups from PN8 to PN20 (3.5 g/kg/day). Intestinal morphology was evaluated at weaning (PN21) using the ileum and colon. Microbial colonization and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production were investigated using fecal and cecal contents. Results: At weaning, the PNGR mice showed decreased body weight and ileal crypt depth compared to the CTRL. The PNGR microbiota was associated with decreased proportions of the Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae families and the presence of the Akkermansia family and Enterococcus genus compared to the CTRL pups. The propionate concentrations were also increased with PNGR. While PF supplementation did not impact intestinal morphology in the PNGR pups, the proportions of the Bacteroides and Parabacteroides genera were enriched, but the proportion of the Proteobacteria phylum was reduced. In the CTRL pups, the Akkermansia genus (Verrucomicrobiota phylum) was present in the PF-supplemented CTRL pups compared to the water-supplemented ones. Conclusions: PNGR alters intestinal crypt maturation in the ileum at weaning and gut microbiota colonization. Our data support the notion that PF supplementation might improve gut microbiota establishment during the early postnatal period.

In China, the wild population of Nanjing Linden (Tilia miqueliana M.) is experiencing a drastic decline, primarily due to high levels of empty seeds. This study aimed to measure the biochemical and physiological changes during fruit and seed development in T. miqueliana to determine the developmental mechanism. The weight method and photosynthetic respiration were used to determine the biological aspects of both fruits and embryos, while transmission electron microscopy and the anthrone colorimetric method were used to determine the endosperm content, including sugar, starch, protein, and fat. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were conducted to determine the levels of endogenous plant hormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid 3 (GA3), zeatin riboside (ZR), and abscisic acid (ABA). The nonlinear least-squares method was used to fit the model of nutrient and hormone levels, revealing that fruit size expanded from the 5th to the 65th day and that fruit moisture content exhibited a downward trend, along with a decrease in fruit respiration intensity. Embryos were found to be fully developed between 35 DAF and 65 DAF, while the nutrients in the endosperm, i.e., sugar, starch, protein, and fat, continuously accumulated after 50 DAF. Additionally, ABA, IAA, GA3, and ZR contents were found to synergistically regulate seed development and maturation.

T cell responses to cognate antigens crucially depend on the specific functionality of dendritic cells (DCs) activated in a process referred to as maturation. Maturation was initially described as alterations of the functional status of DCs in direct response to multiple extrinsic innate signals derived from foreign organisms. More recent studies, conducted mainly in mice, revealed an intricate network of intrinsic signals dependent on cytokines and various immunomodulatory pathways facilitating communication between individual DCs and other cells for the orchestration of specific maturation outcomes. These signals selectively amplify the initial activation of DCs mediated by innate factors and dynamically shape DC functionalities by ablating DCs with specific functions. Here, we discuss the effects of the initial activation of DCs that crucially includes the production of cytokine intermediaries to collectively achieve amplification of the maturation process and further precise sculpting of the functional landscapes among DCs. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of the intracellular and intercellular mechanisms, we reveal activation, amplification, and ablation as the mechanistically integrated components of the DC maturation process.

Biological maturity can affect performance on motor tests, thus young players can have advantages or disadvantages during testing by being more or less mature than their peers of the same chronological age. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of biological age on speed, agility, and explosive power in young tennis players. Fifty tennis players (age 12.3 ± 1.2 years, height 156.7 ± 12.8 cm, body mass 45.9 ± 8.9 kg) who were ranked up to 50th place in the ranking of the National Tennis Association, as well as up to 300th place on the international “Tennis Europe” ranking, participated in the study. They were divided into three groups according to their maturation status, that is, the peak height velocity (PHV) maturity offset: pre-PHV [n = 10); circa-PHV [0 to 1] (n = 10); and post-PHV [>1.5] (n = 25). They performed tests of speed (5, 10, and 20 m sprints), agility (20 yards, 4 × 10 yards, T-test, TENCODS, and TENRAG), and explosive power (countermovement jump, one-leg countermovement jump, squat jump, long jump, and one-leg triple jump). Results showed significantly higher height of the vertical jump in the post-PHV group compared to the pre-PHV group, in the range of ~16% to ~27%. Moreover, linear and change of direction speed was significantly faster in the post-PHV group compared to the pre-PHV group, in the range of ~5% to ~8%. Height of the squat jump and speed in the T-test were significantly better in the post-PHV group compared to the circa-PHV group, in the range of ~7% to ~15%, while height of the single-leg triple jump was significantly higher in the circa-PHV group compared to the pre-PHV group by ~7%. This study showed that tennis players of older biological age achieve better results in almost all variables of speed, agility, and explosive power compared to players of younger biological age. Coaches should be aware of the differences found in physical performance and consider the practical implications that maturation can have in the long-term development of young tennis players.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE), which leads to the formation of embryonic callus (EC) tissue, is the most promising method for large-scale production and selective breeding of woody plants. However, in many species, SE suffers from low induction and proliferation rates, hindering the production of improved plant materials. We investigated the effects of the explant sterilization method, 4 °C cryopreservation, basal medium, ethylene removal, liquid medium supplementation, and a combination of PGRs on embryogenic callus (EC) induction of Korean pine, using immature embryos of Korean pine as explants. The effects of sucrose and maltose on EC proliferation and maturation were investigated. The differences in the maturation ability of EC somatic embryos before and after cryopreservation were evaluated using the induced embryonic cell lines. The results showed that zygotic embryos (ZEs) performed better than megagametophytes (MGs) as explants. The induction rate of EC was significantly increased after 28 days of cryopreservation at 4 °C. The induction rate of EC in the #5 family increased from 10.00% to 62.8%. The EC induction rate of the five families cultured with the DCR basal medium was higher than that with the mLV basal medium. Among them, the induction rate of the #5 family cultured with the mLV basal medium was 23.3%, while that with the DCR basal medium was 60.9%, an increase of 2.6 times. There was no significant difference in the maturation ability of EC somatic embryos before and after cryopreservation. In conclusion, this study provides a method to improve the EC induction rate and maturation ability of Korean pine.

Kidney organoids possess the potential to revolutionize the treatment of renal diseases. However, their growth and maturation are impeded by insufficient growth of blood vessels. Through a PubMed search, we have identified 34 studies that attempted to address this challenge. Researchers are exploring various approaches including animal transplantation, organ-on-chips, and extracellular matrices (ECMs). The most prevalent method to promote the maturation and vascularization of organoids involves transplanting them into animals for in vivo culture, creating an optimal environment for organoid growth and the development of a chimeric vessel network between the host and organoids. Organ-on-chip technology permits the in vitro culture of organoids, enabling researchers to manipulate the microenvironment and investigate the key factors that influence organoid development. Lastly, ECMs have been discovered to aid the formation of blood vessels during organoid differentiation. ECMs from animal tissue have been particularly successful, although the underlying mechanisms require further research. Future research building upon these recent studies may enable the generation of functional kidney tissues for replacement therapies.

In recent years, cellular neural networks (CNNs) have become a popular apparatus for simulations in neuroscience, biology, medicine, computer sciences and engineering. In order to create more adequate models, researchers have considered memory effects, reaction–diffusion structures, impulsive perturbations, uncertain terms and fractional-order dynamics. The design, cellular aspects, functioning and behavioral aspects of such CNN models depend on efficient stability and control strategies. In many practical cases, the classical stability approaches are useless. Recently, in a series of papers, we have proposed several extended stability and control concepts that are more appropriate from the applied point of view. This paper is an overview of our main results and focuses on extended stability and control notions including practical stability, stability with respect to sets and manifolds and Lipschitz stability. We outline the recent progress in the stability and control methods and provide diverse mechanisms that can be used by the researchers in the field. The proposed stability techniques are presented through several types of impulsive and fractional-order CNN models. Examples are elaborated to demonstrate the feasibility of different technologies.

We aimed to compare the maturation and ripening characteristics of two apple cultivars, early maturation mutant ‘Beni Shogun’ and ‘Fuji’. The study revealed that both cultivars reached full bloom on the same day, but ‘Beni Shogun’ matured earlier than ‘Fuji’. In addition, differences were observed in fruit size, length, width, sweetness, acidity, and ethylene production levels. The study also examined the expression patterns of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction, as well as those involved in auxin signal transduction and transcriptional regulation, to investigate the putative molecular mechanism behind the distinct fruit development, maturation, and ripening. The expression of the MdACO1 gene showed a sharp increase after the maturation date, whereas the expression of the MdACO7 gene was higher in the early and middle stages of fruit development. The clustering analysis provided insights into the correlation between the phenotypic traits and expression levels of the key genes. They were categorized into three clusters, and the third cluster consisted of six phenotypes, including fruit size, length, width, sweetness, starch content, and ethylene production, as well as the one gene MdACO1. These findings suggest that ‘Beni Shogun’ and ‘Fuji’ have distinct fruit development and ripening behaviors, with ‘Beni Shogun’ maturing earlier than ‘Fuji’.

Pit-wall mud (PWM) fosters bacterial communities involved in Baijiu production. PWM varies depending on pit age and height. In this study, we explored the bacterial communities in PWM and factors driving their evolution. The abundance and diversity of bacterial communities were low in new PWM (NPWM). In old PWM (OPWM), similar but diverse bacterial communities were observed at different heights. Lactobacillus was the predominant genus in NPWM, and Caproiciproducens, Aminobacterium, Hydrogenispora, Lactobacillus, Petrimonas, Syntrophomonas, and Sedimentibacter were the dominant genera in OPWM. A decrease was noted in the abundance of Lactobacillus, which indicated evolution. Among all the physicochemical properties, pH had the highest degree of interpretation with an R2 value of 0.965. pH also exerted the strongest effect on bacterial communities. The path coefficients of pH on bacterial community diversity and abundance were 0.886 and 0.810, respectively. Caproiciproducens and Clostridium sensu stricto 12 metabolized lactic acid, inhibiting the growth of Lactobacillus at a suitable pH, which led to the maturation of PWM. Our findings enrich the literature on the evolution of bacterial communities in PM and the maturation of PM.

As differential physiological responses to hypoxic exercise between adults and children remain poorly understood, we aimed to comprehensively characterise cardiorespiratory and muscle oxygenation responses to submaximal and maximal exercise in normobaric hypoxia between the two groups. Following familiarisation, fifteen children (Age = 9 ± 1 years) and fifteen adults (Age = 22 ± 2 years) completed two graded cycling exercise sessions to exhaustion in a randomized and single-blind manner in normoxia (NOR; FiO2 = 20.9) and normobaric hypoxia (HYP; FiO2 = 13.0) exercises conditions. Age-specific workload increments were 25 W·3 min−1 for children and 40 W·3 min−1 for adults. Gas exchange and vastus lateralis oxygenation parameters were measured continuously via metabolic cart and near-infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Hypoxia provoked significant decreases in maximal power output PMAX (children = 29%; adults 16% (F = 39.3; p < 0.01)) and power output at the gas exchange threshold (children = 10%; adults:18% (F = 8.08; p = 0.01)) in both groups. Comparable changes were noted in most respiratory and gas exchange parameters at similar power outputs between groups. Children, however, demonstrated, lower PETCO2 throughout the test at similar power outputs and during the maintenance of V˙CO2 at the maximal power output. These data indicate that, while most cardiorespiratory responses to acute hypoxic exercise are comparable between children and adults, there exist age-related differential responses in select respiratory and muscle oxygenation parameters.

Zinc supplementation has been shown to be beneficial to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the molecular mechanism underpinning this benefit is not well understood. This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify transcriptomic changes induced by zinc supplementation. Human primary retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells could mature for up to 19 weeks. After 1 or 18 weeks in culture, we supplemented the culture medium with 125 µM added zinc for one week. RPE cells developed high transepithelial electrical resistance, extensive, but variable pigmentation, and deposited sub-RPE material similar to the hallmark lesions of AMD. Unsupervised cluster analysis of the combined transcriptome of the cells isolated after 2, 9, and 19 weeks in culture showed considerable heterogeneity. Clustering based on 234 pre-selected RPE-specific genes divided the cells into two distinct clusters, we defined as more and less differentiated cells. The proportion of more differentiated cells increased with time in culture, but appreciable numbers of cells remained less differentiated even at 19 weeks. Pseudotemporal ordering identified 537 genes that could be implicated in the dynamics of RPE cell differentiation (FDR < 0.05). Zinc treatment resulted in the differential expression of 281 of these genes (FDR < 0.05). These genes were associated with several biological pathways with modulation of ID1/ID3 transcriptional regulation. Overall, zinc had a multitude of effects on the RPE transcriptome, including several genes involved in pigmentation, complement regulation, mineralization, and cholesterol metabolism processes associated with AMD.

In starfish, the addition of the hormone 1-methyladenine (1-MA) to immature oocytes (germinal vesicle, GV-stage) arrested at the prophase of the first meiotic division induces meiosis resumption (maturation), which makes the mature eggs able to respond to the sperm with a normal fertilization response. The optimal fertilizability achieved during the maturation process results from the exquisite structural reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in the cortex and cytoplasm induced by the maturing hormone. In this report, we have investigated the influence of acidic and alkaline seawater on the structure of the cortical F-actin network of immature oocytes of the starfish (Astropecten aranciacus) and its dynamic changes upon insemination. The results have shown that the altered seawater pH strongly affected the sperm-induced Ca2+ response and the polyspermy rate. When immature starfish oocytes were stimulated with 1-MA in acidic or alkaline seawater, the maturation process displayed a strong dependency on pH in terms of the dynamic structural changes of the cortical F-actin. The resulting alteration of the actin cytoskeleton, in turn, affected the pattern of Ca2+ signals at fertilization and sperm penetration.

Chlamydia trachomatis usually causes mucosal infections, bringing considerable morbidity and socioeconomic burden worldwide. We previously revealed that IL-27/IL-27R mediates protection against chlamydial invasion by promoting a protective Th1 response and suppressing neutrophilic inflammation. Here, we used the mouse model of Chlamydia muridarum (C. muridarum) respiratory infections to further investigate the impact of IL-27 signaling in the DCs-regulated immune response, since an elevated IL-27/IL-27R expression in DCs was identified following chlamydial infection. An adoptive transfer of Chlamydia muridarum-stimulated DCs to wild-type mice approach was subsequently used, and the donor-DCs-promoted resistance with a higher Th1 response against chlamydial infection was attenuated when DCs lacking IL-27R were used as donor cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed the suppression of IL-27 signaling on DCs phenotypic maturation. A further functional maturation analysis of DCs revealed that IL-27 signaling restricted the protein and mRNA expression of IL-10 from DCs following infection. Thus, these findings suggest that IL-27 signaling could support the Th1 response via inhibiting IL-10 production in DCs, thus mediating the protective host defense against chlamydial respiratory infection.

(1) Background: The selection of raw material and the postmortem processing of beef influence its quality, such as taste. In this study, the metabolome of beef from cows and heifers is examined for differences during aging. (2) Methods: Thirty strip loins from eight heifers and seven cows (breed code: 01–SBT) were cut into ten pieces and aged for 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Samples from the left strip loins were wet-aged in vacuum, while samples from right strip loins were dry-aged at 2 °C and 75% relative humidity. The beef samples were extracted with methanol–chloroform–water, and the polar fraction was used for 1H NMR analysis. (3) Results: The PCA and OPLS-DA showed that the metabolome of cows and heifers varied. Eight metabolites revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the samples from cows and heifers. The aging time and aging type of beef also affected the metabolome. Twenty-eight and 12 metabolites differed significantly (p < 0.05) with aging time and aging type, respectively. (4) Conclusions: The variations between cows and heifers and aging time affect the metabolome of beef. By comparison, the influence of aging type is present but less pronounced.

Poly-ovular follicles are defined as those with more than one oocyte present in single follicles. The occurrence frequency of this follicle type is higher in canines than that in other species. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro meiotic maturation of dog oocytes from this follicle type in comparison to those from mono-ovular follicles of various sizes (small antral, medium antral, and large antral) considering different phases of the estrus cycle (anestrus, proestrus, estrus, and diestrus). Canine oocytes were obtained separately from the poly-ovular and mono-ovular antral follicles from the ovaries of adult females. In each experimental replicate, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from poly-ovular and mono-ovular follicles were incubated in supplemented TCM-199 at 38.5 °C and 5% CO2 for 72 h. After culturing, the meiotic development of each oocyte was evaluated using epifluorescence microscopy. Meiotic stages were classified into germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), first metaphase (MI), and second metaphase (MII). Data were evaluated using an analysis of variance. Oocytes from poly-ovular follicles at all phases exhibited a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of oocytes arrested at the GV stage than those from mono-ovular follicles, showing the highest rate of GV in small antral follicles during anestrus. In contrast, there were no differences in MII rates (p < 0.05) in oocytes from mono-ovular and poly-ovular follicles during the estrus and diestrus phases in all sizes evaluated, with the highest MII rate in estrus. These results suggest that oocytes from poly-ovular follicles can resume meiosis at a slower rate than those from mono-ovular follicles; however, the maturation in vitro of such oocytes is possible. Furthermore, the relationship between the maturation capacity of oocytes from both poly-ovular and mono-ovular follicles depends on the ovarian cycle and follicular development.

The effect produced by the application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in vineyards is clear, but this is a product that, despite its efficiency, is expensive, volatile and difficult to dissolve. Regarding increasing the MeJA use efficiency, new forms of application are proposed in this article, such as the use of calcium phosphate nanoparticles with two different morphologies: amorphous (ACP) and crystalline (Ap). In addition, few of the studies addressed so far have assessed MeJA’s effect during the ripening period of the grapes. As a result of this, in this article, we evaluated/studied for first time the effect of the different MeJA formats on the phenolic composition of the grape during the ripening period. The results showed small differences between the two morphologies of the nanoparticles, which promoted a significant a delay in the sugar accumulation and an increase in the different phenolic compounds compared to the control. Such improvements were not as significant as those induced by the conventional MeJA treatment. However, it is remarkable that when the nanoparticles were applied, we used a concentration 10 times lower than when it is used conventionally. Therefore, these findings revealed that both types of calcium phosphate nanoparticles are potential MeJA nanocarriers allowing for the increase in the quality of the grapes at the time of harvest in a more sustainable way, although future studies must be carried out in order to optimise the concentration with which these nanoparticles are doped.