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Real-time intelligent systems increasingly require hardware that can adapt continuously to evolving inputs, yet most existing processors rely on static-weight inference, making them vulnerable to distribution shifts and error accumulation in dynamic environments. Although adaptive weight updates can, in principle, address this limitation, their implementation on electronic hardware is hindered by the stability-plasticity trade-off, as well as by the memory wall and clocking bottlenecks that become particularly severe in sequential processing. Here, we present a Temporally Plastic Photonic Processor (TPPP) that enables ultra-fast in situ adaptation by combining multi-timescale photonic kernels with a recursive optical delay memory. The architecture integrates a slow, reconfigurable kernel for stable long-term processing and a fast, dynamic kernel for transient adaptation, enabling time-varying weights to be embedded directly in the photonic domain without repeated electronic memory access. We experimentally validate the TPPP on linear and nonlinear sequential tasks. In both regimes, data-driven temporal plasticity enables the TPPP to outperform conventional static photonic baselines in robustness and accuracy. Under an operation-matched INT8 comparison, scaling analysis projects up to 16 × higher per-operation energy efficiency and up to 100 × lower intrinsic single-pass compute delay than advanced electronic processors, establishing the TPPP as a promising hardware framework for real-time adaptive photonic computing. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43593-026-00139-8.

Metallothionein 1&#xa0;A (MT1a) is involved in many pathological conditions associated with antioxidant defense and detoxification, including cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of MT1A rs11640851, rs8052394, and rs11076161 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the risk of breast cancer (BC) and clinicopathological features. The study included 100 patients with BC and 100 healthy controls. We genotyped the MT1A SNPs using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and amplification refractory mutation system PCR (ARMS-PCR) techniques. The genotypic and allelic associations of MT1A SNPs with susceptibility to BC were assessed using logistic regression analysis under co-dominant, dominant, and recessive inheritance models. The combined effect of MT1A SNPs on the BC risk was determined using the haplotype analysis. In silico analysis was performed using the Polyphen-2 and RNAsnp online servers. The rs11640851 was found to be associated with a reduced risk of BC in all three inheritance models (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). We also found that rs11640851 A allele has a protective effect against BC (OR: 4.81; 95% CI: 2.65-8.72; P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). For rs8052394/rs11076161, carriers of AG/AA combined genotype had a 3.84-fold increased risk for developing BC. Also, the haplotypes CAC and CGA (rs1164085, rs8052394, rs11076161) were significantly associated with BC susceptibility. The rs11640851 was predicted to be detrimental using Polyphen-2 server. This study provides the first evidence that rs11640851 is significantly associated with a reduced risk of BC suggesting its protective role in the development of BC. Two haplotypes CAC and CGA were also identified as risk factors for BC. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-025-01323-2.

Lead is a hazardous heavy metal. It has serious health effects due to its unique physical and chemical properties. Lead poisoning can induce inflammatory signaling pathways and oxidative stress. This course decreases resistance to diseases and infections. This study investigates the risks of occupational exposure to Lead in petroleum industry workers and its effect on the increase of high-sensitivity reactive protein (hs-CRP), which indicates an increased risk of heart disease. The study also investigated the antagonistic relationship between Lead and Selenium, as the latter is an important component of the antioxidant defense system. The study included two groups of males: the first group included ninety individuals working in oil well sites in Basrah, and the second group included ninety individuals who were not exposed. The results indicate high levels of toxic Lead, P&#x2009;&#x2265;&#x2009;0.0001, and a significant increase in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), P&#x2009;&#x2265;&#x2009;0.0001, in the worker's serum compared to the control group. In addition, there was a decrease in Selenium levels (P&#x2009;&#x2265;&#x2009;0.001) in the worker's blood compared with the control group. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was measured using a device (Finecare Plus, FS-112/FS-113/FS-205, Wondfo, China). Lead and Selenium levels were determined using an ICP-OES device (HORIBA Scientific, JY2000, France). Explaining the mechanism of lead toxicity. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-024-01271-3.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), primarily caused by mutations in the LDL receptor (LDLR) gene. Screening of family members is crucial for early detection and management. Here, we report on an Indian family with FH harboring a novel pathogenic nonsense mutation in the LDLR gene, which exhibits a pattern suggestive of preferential transmission. Whole exome sequencing of a member with definite FH from consanguineous parents, identified by Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Criteria, revealed a novel pathogenic nonsense mutation (c.743_744delinsAA) in exon 5 of the LDLR gene. This mutation was predicted to be deleterious by in silico online tools such as SIFT and MutationTaster. Sanger Sequencing confirmed the presence of this mutation in all available affected family members. Interestingly, despite an expected 50% chance of inheriting the wild-type allele (CG), all offspring consistently inherited the mutant LDLR allele (AA). This observation suggests a non-random pattern of preferential allele transmission, potentially influenced by genetically biased fertilization or genetic factors beyond typical Mendelian inheritance patterns. This study represents the first report of this novel LDLR mutation in an Indian family with FH. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-024-01252-6.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading malignancies in women in India, with a high mortality rate and no available targeted therapy. This is due to a dearth of understanding of the underlying mechanisms regulating cervical carcinogenesis and the distinguished behavioral patterns of HPV-associated carcinomas. This study aims to understand the associations of HPV infection and cervical cancer with aberrant glycosylation, which is an enabling factor for other hallmarks of cancer. DNA and RNA were isolated from biopsy samples of 92 CC patients. HPV 16 and 18 infection was detected by endpoint type-specific PCR. The RNA samples were processed for expression analysis of the HPV 16-E6, HPV 16-E7 and HPV 16-E2 oncogenes. Analysis of the expression of glycosylated transcripts was performed via qPCR. HPV infection was correlated with the transcript levels of ST3GAL3, ST6GAL1, FUT5 and FUT8. In HPV 16- and 18-positive patients, the transcript levels of ST3GAL3, ST6GAL1 and FUT5 were increased, whereas FUT8 transcript levels were decreased. These data depict hyperglycosylation patterns associated with HPV infection. HPV-associated cancers show downregulation of core fucosylation and upregulation of ST3GAL3, ST6GAL1 and FUT5. The behavioral pattern of HPV-associated cancer could be due to its differential association with altered glycosylation. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-024-01280-2.

Radiotherapy (RT) is a key treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who are ineligible for surgery. Sanyang Xuedai (SYKT), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, has previously been shown to enhance the effectiveness of RT in advanced NSCLC tumors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of SYKT combined with RT on RT-resistant NSCLC and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved. RT-resistant NCI-H460R cells were established by continuous exposure to ionizing radiation (IR). A xenograft model was generated by injecting NCI-H460R cells into the left back of nude mice. Gene and protein expression levels of key factors were assessed using RT&#x2012;qPCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated through a CCK-8 assay, EdU staining, and flow cytometry. The results show that the combined intervention of SYKT and IR inhibited the proliferation of NCI-H460R cells and suppressed tumor growth in nude mice (one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test, P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Moreover, SYKT combined with IR increased the proportion of cells in the G2/M phase, reduced the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase, and promoted apoptosis (one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test, P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). In addition, the combination therapy also upregulated the expression of the autophagy-related proteins LC3 II/I and Beclin 1 and the cell cycle proteins Cyclin B1 and CDC2, as well as iNOS, while inhibiting p62 expression and promoting NO production (one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test, P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Mechanistically, SYKT enhances NO synthesis by activating the TLR2/iNOS signaling axis, which in turn induces autophagy and increases the sensitivity of NSCLC to radiotherapy. This study demonstrated that SYKT can increase the radiosensitivity of NSCLC by activating TLR2 to increase iNOS/NO production, thereby mediating autophagy. Clinically, combining SYKT with radiotherapy may provide a promising and well-tolerated strategy to overcome acquired radioresistance and improve the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with inoperable or radioresistant NSCLC. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10616-026-01027-2.

We here present data collected in a large-scale survey from 25 National Crop Clusters (NCCs) across 10 European countries (Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, and Greece), comprising 8 different crops (grapes, olives, apples, strawberries, wheat, maize, potatoes, and onions). Each National Crop Cluster represents a crop-specific network in one country, which includes farmers growing a specific crop and other relevant actors in its production environment and supply chain. The National Crop Clusters have been selected to represent a diversity of regions, crops, farm types, sectors and system representatives of European agriculture. They cover a broad geographical spread in different climatic zones, making them suitable for studying Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, barriers, and opportunities in various food sectors. In total, 4,684 complete responses were obtained from the farmers, using an online survey in country-specific languages in 2024. The survey focuses on decisions regarding the adoption of IPM practices and low-pesticide use. The survey data contains information on farmers current and future use of IPM measures, as well as their perceived effectiveness. The dataset further provides comprehensive information on farm and farmer characteristics, farmers' preferences and attitudes toward IPM, their sources of information, and perceived barriers to adoption. Additionally, data were collected regarding behavioural factors such as non-cognitive skills and risk preferences. This harmonized and broad coverage survey data are particularly useful to identify factors facilitating or hindering the uptake of IPM measures, considering the heterogeneity of farmer's behaviour, socio-economic and environmental factors in European agriculture. Nevertheless, sample sizes differ across the national crop clusters, and the dataset is not fully representative for some national crop clusters. In addition, for several national crop clusters the share of organic farmers in the datasets is higher than the national average, which shall be considered when interpreting responses related to crop protection practices, IPM uptake, and information sources.

Umbilical cord blood (CB) contains hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and is an established alternative donor source for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in both malignant and non-malignant disorders, particularly in children. We retrospectively studied 12 consecutive pediatric patients with genetically distinct inborn error disorders who underwent single-unit unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) at Vietnam National Children's hospital between October 2020 and February 2026. Outcomes were analyzed descriptively, with emphasis on engraftment, graft failure or rejection, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infectious complications, donor chimerism, and immune reconstitution. The median age at transplantation was 19 months (range, 7-42 months), and the median interval from diagnosis to transplantation was 10 months (range, 3-39 months). The study cohort included patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease caused by an IL10R mutation, severe combined immunodeficiency, major histocompatibility complex class II deficiency, and mucopolysaccharidosis type II. With a median follow-up of 26 months, neutrophil engraftment occurred in nine patients (75%). The cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 41.6%, and no patient developed chronic GVHD. Five patients discontinued immunosuppressive therapy. One patient died due to multiorgan failure within the first month after UCBT. Two patients underwent successful haploidentical transplantation because of graft failure, and one patient developed graft rejection after initial engraftment. No additional deaths occurred during follow-up, resulting in an overall survival rate of 91.1% (11/12), whereas the UCBT success rate was 66.7%. The small sample size and relatively short follow-up for some patients restrict the strength of the study. UCBT was feasible for children who required stem cell transplantation but lacked a suitable donor, providing sustained donor engraftment and immune recovery in most long-term survivors.

Despite the urgent need for conservation, reliable data on the distribution of fish species across countries and federal states is limited for both freshwater and marine habitats. The German Ichthyological Society (Gesellschaft f&#xfc;r Ichthyologie e.V. or GfI) aims to compile fish distribution data with a focus on Germany (including its marine areas), Austria and the marine areas of the Netherlands and Denmark. These data are openly available on the "GfI-Fischartenatlas" web portal which serves as an information platform at the intersection of science, practice and environmental education, promoting the conservation of fish biodiversity and their habitats. The GfI-Fischartenatlas is a joint project of the GfI and the City University of Applied Sciences Bremen. It was developed in cooperation between the biology and computer science departments at the university. The IT basis for collecting, managing and presenting the data online is the "Biodiversity Warehouse" software architecture. The data are hosted by the Biodiversity Informatics Department at the Museum Koenig Bonn, which is part of the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB). The GfI-Fischartenatlas consolidates fish distribution data from various cross-border sources into a unified platform. This includes both data collected specifically for the atlas and data integrated from other databases (in total n = 136,714, as of 13.03.2026). The data primary to the atlas are published as a dataset on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). This dataset (ABCD archive) contains occurrence records (n = 62,545) for 264 freshwater and marine fish species, derived from scientific and grey literature as well as citizen0science observations, covering 16 European countries (with a focus on Germany and Austria).

Severe and enduring psychiatric illnesses, including melancholia and bipolar illness, show prolonged deviations in motivation and mood yet lack a unifying account of their long-term dynamics. Solomon's opponent-process theory provides a qualitative framework for short-timescale affective responses, composed of a fast stimulus-locked a-process opposed by a slower adaptive b-process. Here we evaluated whether these dynamics can be implemented as a computational homeostatic controller, and whether distinct clinical trajectories emerge as canonical failure modes of the same system. We formulated a tractable control-systems model with feedforward a- and b-processes, and examined its behaviour across minute-scale and month-scale regimes. Under "healthy" parameters, the model reproduced classical opponent-process responses. Altering only opponent-process gain and decay generated a prolonged downward drift, matching the clinical timescale and asymmetry of melancholia. Reducing damping within the same controller produced an endogenous underdamped oscillation with long period and phase asymmetry characteristic of bipolar illness. Together, these proof-of-principle simulations suggest that severe severe affective illnesses may be expressed as distinct dynamical regimes of a single motivational homeostat. This framework generates testable predictions and may facilitate experimental quantification of opponent-process recovery, damping, and gain as mechanistic markers of severe affective illnesses. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-026-10507-2.

Linking individual movements to population-level distributions remains a central challenge in ecology. Animal distributions arise from interdependent movement decisions across spatiotemporal scales. However, most studies focus on a single scale or treat them in isolation, constraining our ability to uncover the mechanisms shaping landscape-level patterns. We evaluated whether hierarchical foraging decisions operating across nested scales can be recovered from movement data alone. Specifically, we tested whether multi-state step-selection functions (HMM-SSFs) can identify scale-dependent behavioural organization arising from mechanistic decision rules. We developed a model in which agents exploit resource sites grouped into camps within home ranges. Movement decisions were governed by energetic gains and the costs of travel, missed opportunities, and predation risk. We fitted HMM-SSFs to simulated movements to infer behavioural states and transitions. HMM-SSFs accurately identified latent behavioural states corresponding to within-site resource exploitation, within-camp movements, and between-camp relocations. Transitions among states responded to spatial variation in resources and risk. States emerged from model inference without being imposed a priori. The recovered behavioural hierarchy aligned with predictions from foraging theory. These results demonstrate that hierarchical decision-making leaves identifiable signatures in movement trajectories. We demonstrate that multiscale processes can be inferred from movement data within a unified framework. Although results may be noisier for field observations than for simulations, complementary field methods can help mitigate this limitation by informing both the analysis and its interpretation. This approach therefore provides a valuable foundation for linking behaviour across scales in dynamic environments. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10980-026-02378-z.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in most countries. Although early diagnosis and treatment critically influence prognosis, lung cancers are generally only discovered in the late stages of the disease .Widely-used screening and diagnostic methods are not suitable for preventive screening, and high-throughput technologies based on serum biomarkers are needed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of combined detection of serum CEA, CYFRA21-1, CRP, and prolactin Gene in lung cancer. The study involved a total of 274 participants, divided into three distinct groups: 123 lung cancer patients, 52 patients with benign lung disease, and 99 healthy controls. These participants were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.5 ml of venous blood samples were taken from all participants and it was collected in a test tube containing anticoagulant and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. Serum was separated and used to measure the amount of CEA, CYFRA21-1, CRP, and prolactin Gene using ELISA method. The results showed that the serum levels of CEA, CYFRA21-1, CRP, and prolactin in the malignant group were significantly higher than those in the benign and healthy groups (P0.05), and CYFRA21-1 in non-small cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in small cell carcinoma (P0.05). However, there were significant differences in the levels of CEA and prolactin in different TMN stages (P0.05). A panel of CEA, CYFRA21-1, CRP, and prolactin Gene was found as promising serum biomarkers for the diagnosis of LC with relatively high sensitivity and specificity. CEA, CYFRA21-1, CRP, and prolactin Gene combined biomarker panel holds potential for rapid screening and improving the diagnosis of early-stage LC, thus potentially alsoimproving its prognosis. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-024-01267-z.

The versatility and scalability of blow spinning motivated us to investigate the surface properties of blow-spun poly(&#x3b5;-caprolactone) (PCL), cellulose acetate (CA), polystyrene (PS), and their blends, with and without silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs). Pristine PCL and PS membranes are hydrophobic and oleophilic, whereas CA membranes are hydrophilic and oleophilic. Incorporation of SiO2 NPs renders PCL membranes superhydrophilicity while preserving oleophilicity. Blending PS with CA or PCL&#xa0;yields hydrophobic and oleophilic&#xa0;membranes. These characteristics enable selective oil uptake and either water repellence or water spreading, depending on formulation. Dye removal was assessed using methylene blue (MB), showing rapid uptake on PS/CA and higher overall removal for PCL-SiO2 NPs membranes. SiO2 NPs incorporation was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Under the conditions tested (1&#xa0;mL&#xa0;MB solution), a PCL-SiO2 NPs membrane (6.9 cm2, 118&#xa0;&#x3bc;m thick, 24.6&#xa0;mg) reduced the MB concentration by&#x2009;~&#x2009;4&#xa0;mg L-1 within 19&#xa0;h (~&#x2009;4&#xa0;&#x3bc;g removed; apparent uptake&#x2009;~&#x2009;0.16&#xa0;mg&#xa0;g-1). Overall, blow spinning provides an accessible route to obtain membranes for oil-water separation and dye retention. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10853-026-13279-6 .

As medical imagery remains the cornerstone of diagnosis, the success of complex classification tasks depends on high-quality data and diagnostic features. This study evaluates image pre-processing and feature extraction to optimize model performance. Our investigation assesses how variations in pre-processing and feature extraction impact classification efficiency across three imaging modalities: radiology (chest X-ray images), pathology (H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosin)-stained patches), and ophthalmology (OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) scans). The experimental framework incorporates nine pre-processing techniques, adjustment (brightness, contrast, and histogram equalization), filtering (mean, median, and Gaussian), and three normalization schemes, systematically combined for each modality. Features were extracted using five pre-trained architectures (VGG16, ResNet50, DenseNet121, MobileNetV2, and InceptionV3) and classified via a PCA-LDA (Principal Component Analysis-Linear Discriminant Analysis) pipeline. Performance was evaluated using the mean sensitivity score. Mean sensitivity scores improved significantly: H&E-stained images increased from 74&#xb7;9% to 96&#xb7;95%, chest X-rays from 89&#xb7;9% to 96&#xb7;65%, and OCT scans from 82&#xb7;4% to 98&#xb7;8%. No single pre-processing configuration consistently dominated; optimal settings varied by modality, confirming the absence of a universal solution. VGG16 and DenseNet121 exhibited the greatest robustness. Implementing at least one pre-processing step combined with a robust DL feature extractor can substantially improve model efficacy in diagnostic detection tasks. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44163-026-01768-1.

"Wrong blood in tube" (WBIT) describes the discrepancy of patient identity between tube label and tube content. WBIT events can lead to an incompatible transfusion and may have serious consequences for the patient. There are currently no comprehensive evaluations or analyses of WBIT events in Germany. This study is conducted as a feasibility study. The detected WBIT (dWBIT) events from 2020 to 2023 were retrospectively recorded and analyzed. The reporting of this study is guided by the Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies (CROSS). It is not mandatory to report WBIT events to a central supervisory authority in Germany. Therefore, a cooperation with four blood establishments (BEs) took place. The data were collected using a data collection form. The survey contains a total of 14 questions about each dWBIT event. A database was created in FileMaker 2023 for data storage and plausibility checks. In the 4 years under review, there were a total of 125 dWBIT events in the four cooperating BEs. The rate of dWBIT events results in an overall rate of one dWBIT per 4,530 blood group determinations. Frequencies varied between emergency room (1:6,897), outpatient ward (1:3,866), regular ward (1:2,564), and intensive care unit (1:863). The main reason for the error was incorrect labeling of the collection tube (19%) and blood sample taken from the wrong patient (32%). In most cases, the error was noticed in the laboratory (94%), and in 5% directly after the sample was taken. dWBIT events occurred in 87% of patients with a known blood group and in 13% of patients with a first blood group determination. The time of sampling for blood typing (time of day, day of the week, or weekend) had no influence on the dWBIT rate. None of these WBIT cases led to an ABO-incompatible transfusion. The study examines the frequency of dWBIT incidents in Germany for the first time and shows that these cases continue to represent a relevant risk, especially with regard to incompatible transfusions. Measures to minimize risk could include improving the training of transfusion staff in combination with IT-based identification and two independent blood samples for blood group typing.

Global biodiversity repositories, including GBIF, OBIS and the authoritative taxonomic database WoRMS, consistently indicate that Scina nana is a globally rare holoplanktonic amphipod. None of these databases contains any historical or contemporary evidence of the species within the Mediterranean Basin. This complete absence of records strongly suggests that the specimen documented from Syrian coastal waters represents the first known occurrence of S. nana in the eastern Mediterranean. In this study, Scina nana was observed for the first time in the coastal waters of Syria (Latakia Basin), this species being found mainly in tropical regions of all the world's oceans, except the Mediterranean Sea. Given the complete lack of previous Mediterranean records, the appearance of S. nana in the region is most plausibly interpreted as a recent event, supporting its classification as non-indigenous species that has only recently entered the basin. The rapid warming of Mediterranean waters in recent decades may have provided conditions favourable for the arrival or temporary establishment of this species. Additional factors, such as broader changes in the thermohaline structure of the eastern Mediterranean, may also have facilitated its introduction to the Syrian coast.

Organic conjugated macrocycles have attracted significant attention for their applications in smart luminescent materials, yet precise modulation of their spectral properties remains challenging. In this work, a series of fully B-doped, fully N-doped and hybrid B/N-doped conjugated macrocycles were designed to systematically investigate the relationship between their topological structures and spectral properties. Three topological factors of heteroatom doped macrocycles were incorporated into the molecular design: ring size, number of triarylborane (Ar3B) and triarylamine (Ar3N) segments, and &#x3c0;-linker between segments. For macrocycles with phenyl as the &#x3c0;-linker, at a fixed ring size, both absorption (&#x3bb; abs) and emission (&#x3bb; emi) wavelength exhibit a first increase followed by a decrease as the number of Ar3N segments increases accompanied by the decrease of Ar3B segments. For each size of macrocycles, the reddest &#x3bb; emi usually contains a balanced ratio of Ar3B and Ar3N segments, with at least two Ar3B and Ar3N segments. Regardless of the ring size of macrocycles, the ratio of Ar3B to Ar3N segments plays a crucial role in tuning the spectral properties. A more balanced ratio enhances both electron-donating and electron-accepting abilities, thereby strengthening the intramolecular charge transfer effect and leading to a more redshifted emission spectra. A similar trend of &#x3bb; emi that first red-shift then blue-shift was also observed for macrocycles with fluorene or biphenyl as &#x3c0;-linkers. Notably, at a given ring size and relative number of Ar3N and Ar3B, phenyl-linked macrocycles exhibit a more pronounced red-shift than those with fluorene or biphenyl linkers, and fluorene-linked systems show slightly red-shifted spectra relative to biphenyl-linked analogs. These spectral trends are well explained by the electronic properties of the fundamental building blocks. This work provides important theoretical guidance for the development of smart luminescent materials based on conjugated macrocycles.

Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is an emerging, time-efficient, and eco-friendly strategy for crop trait manipulation. Heat stress severely threatens global maize production; however, whether SIGS can be effectively applied to improve maize heat tolerance remains largely unexplored. The transcription factor ZmHSF20, a class B2a heat shock factor, has been identified as a negative regulator of maize thermotolerance that represses the ZmHSF4-ZmCESA2 module (Li et al. 2024), yet whether its silencing via a non-transgenic RNA-based approach can confer heat protection is unknown. Here, we designed a specific artificial small RNA atsRNA-ZmHSF20 targeting ZmHSF20 and evaluated its potential in improving maize thermotolerance via the SIGS approach. Compared with untreated plants, foliar application of atsRNA-ZmHSF20 significantly enhanced maize heat tolerance, leading to a remarkable increase in survival rate from 7.94% to 41.37% (~&#x2009;5.2-fold improvement). Physiological analyses revealed that exogenous application of atsRNA-ZmHSF20 mitigated heat-induced oxidative damage, as evidenced by reduced ROS accumulation, ion leakage (IL), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. At the molecular level, downregulating ZmHSF20 prior to heat stress pro-conditioned the plants for thermal tolerance by activating the previously characterized ZmHSF4-ZmCESA2 module, transcriptionally upregulating cell wall organization and cellulose biosynthesis pathways. This study provides an initial proof-of-concept for harnessing SIGS to enhance maize abiotic stress tolerance and offers a promising non-transgenic strategy for future applications in enhancing crop thermotolerance. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-026-01698-x.

Large-scale industrial production generates significant amounts of semi-solid waste containing heavy metals. Ceramic industrial sludges, in particular, are potentially hazardous because these metals are toxic and must be disposed of in conventional landfills and the environment within certain limits. Although previous studies have investigated the incorporation of various sludge types into fired clay bricks, these studies have generally reported leachability or physical performance in isolation, without linking the results to formal eco-label criteria. Consequently, limited research has focused on the environmental safety of ceramic sludge, particularly its compliance with both regulatory and eco-label requirements. Therefore, the objective of this research is to use ceramic sludges from the ceramic industry and perform an evaluation to determine the appropriate proportions or ratios of ceramic sludges in fired clay brick to determine the leaching behaviour of heavy metals and whether they meet the requirements of the standard and the eco-label requirements. Six different ratios (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 30%) of ceramic sludge were mixed into fired clay brick and fired at 1050 &#xb0;C in an observed furnace. The sludge element composition was determined by XRF, and the leaching behaviour of the sludge was evaluated by the TCLP procedure method. The result showed that before and after mixing the raw materials, the pattern decreased for all metals, especially zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb). Although some metals showed marginally lower leaching at higher substitution levels (10-30%), 5% is recommended as the optimum ratio because it achieves full compliance with USEPA and eco-label limits for all measured metals while incorporating the least sludge, offering the most practical and economical balance between waste valorization and environmental safety. In addition, 5% has the lowest value for Cu with 0.187 mg L-1 and As with 0.032 mg L-1 compared to the other percentage mixture for Zn, Pb, Al, K and Fe the data are not in the highest values. The novelty of the present study investigates ceramic sludge and provides a comprehensive environmental assessment by integrating TCLP analysis with eco-label compliance evaluation based on USEPA limits and SIRIM ECO 023:2016 criteria.