Linking phenology, harvest index and genetics to improve chickpea grain yield.

Understanding phenology and its regulation is central for the agronomic adaptation of chickpea. We grew 24 chickpea genotypes in 12 environments to analyse: the environmental and genotypic drivers of phenology; associations between phenology and yield; and phenotypes associated with allelic variants of three flowering related candidate loci: CaELF3a; a cluster of three FT genes on chromosome 3; and an orthologue of the floral promoter GIGANTEA on chromosome 4. A simple model with 3 genotype-specific parameters explained the differences in flowering response to daylength.

Deep Learning-Based Estimation of Radiographic Position to Automatically Set Up the X-Ray Prime Factors.

Radiation dose and image quality in radiology are influenced by the X-ray prime factors: KVp, mAs, and source-detector distance. These parameters are set by the X-ray technician prior to the acquisition considering the radiographic position. A wrong setting of these parameters may result in exposure errors, forcing the test to be repeated with the increase of the radiation dose delivered to the patient.

Mitigating flood risk and environmental change in show caves: Key challenges in the management of the Las Güixas cave (Pyrenees, Spain).

A successful management of a show cave requires knowledge of cave dynamics and the main risk factors. Show caves close to the water table are prone to sporadic flooding, which can threaten visitor safety and result in severe economic losses. Las Güixas cave, located in the Collarada Massif (Pyrenees - Spain), is representative of a show cave close to the water table that is exposed to energetic flash floods.

Optical Genome Mapping as a New Tool to Overcome Conventional Cytogenetics Limitations in Patients with Bone Marrow Failure.

Cytogenetic studies are essential in the diagnosis and follow up of patients with bone marrow failure syndromes (BMFSs), but obtaining good quality results is often challenging due to hypocellularity. Optical Genome Mapping (OGM), a novel technology capable of detecting most types chromosomal structural variants (SVs) at high resolution, is being increasingly used in many settings, including hematologic malignancies. Herein, we compared conventional cytogenetic techniques to OGM in 20 patients with diverse BMFSs.

Silver Dendritic Gels with Luminescence and Aggregation-Induced Emission Effect.

This work reports on a novel family of silver metallogels based on discrete coordination complexes. Structurally, they consist of dendrimers containing a trinuclear silver metallacycle at the core, with the general formula [M(μ-pz)], and poly(benzyl)ether branched structures with different numbers or terminal alkoxy chains at the periphery. These silver metallodendrimers are able to gel low-polarity solvents such as dodecane or cyclohexane, giving rise to luminescent organogels at room temperature with the property of aggregation-induced emission (AIE).

Effect of Hydrogen Bonding and Chirality in Star-Shaped Molecules with Peripheral Triphenylamines: Liquid Crystal Semiconductors and Gels.

Organic semiconductors with well-defined architectures pose a suitable alternative to amorphous silicon-based inorganic semiconductors. Encouraged by the development of organic semiconductors based on columnar liquid crystals, herein, we report on a family of -symmetric star-shaped mesogens based on triphenylamine (TPA), a functional unit with strong electron donor character. Highly stable columnar phases with high hole mobility values were obtained out of this nonplanar functional unit, and this was achieved by using flexible amide spacers to join the TPA units to a tris(triazolyl)triazine (T) star-shaped core, allowing the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds.

Genetics of phenological development and implications for seed yield in lentil.

Understanding phenology, its genetics and agronomic consequences, is critical for crop adaptation. Here we aim to (i) characterize lentil response to photoperiod with a focus on five loci: the lentil ELF3 orthologue Sn, two loci linked to clusters of lentil FT orthologues, and two loci without candidates in chromosomes 2 and 5 (Experiment 1: 36 lines, short and long days in a phytotron), and (ii) establish the phenology-yield relationship (Experiment 2: 25 lines, 11 field environments). A vintage perspective, where we quantify time trends in phenotype over three decades of breeding, links both experiments.

Patient-derived follicular lymphoma spheroids recapitulate lymph node signaling and immune profile uncovering galectin-9 as a novel immunotherapeutic target.

Follicular lymphoma (FL), the most common indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma, constitutes a paradigm of immune tumor microenvironment (TME) contribution to disease onset, progression, and heterogenous clinical outcome. Here we present the first FL-Patient Derived Lymphoma Spheroid (FL-PDLS), including fundamental immune actors and features of TME in FL lymph nodes (LNs). FL-PDLS is organized in disc-shaped 3D structures composed of proliferating B and T cells, together with macrophages with an intermediate M1/M2 phenotype.

The Impact of Rootstock on "Big Top" Nectarine Postharvest Concerning Chilling Injury, Biochemical and Molecular Parameters.

Peaches and nectarines have a short shelf life even when harvested at appropriate physiological maturity. Market life is increased by storage at low temperatures. However, chilling injury symptoms can appear, causing physiological disorders and limiting shipping potential.

[High nutritional risk by three variants of NUTRIC score in critically ventilated patients].

Introduction: variants of the NUTRIC score with or without inflammatory biomarkers, modified without interleukin 6 (IL-6) (NUTRICm), with C-reactive protein (CRP) instead of IL-6, dichotomous (NUTRICpcr1) or in tertiles (NUTRICpcr2), were proposed to assess nutritional risk (NR) in critical patients. However, the assessment of the high NR might not be uniform between these scores. Objectives: to compare the assessment of the high NR by NUTRICm and the two variants of the NUTRICpcr.

The two synthetic cannabinoid compounds 4'-F-CBD and HU-910 efficiently restrain inflammatory responses of brain microglia and astrocytes.

To study the anti-inflammatory potential of the two synthetic cannabinoids 4'-F-CBD and HU-910, we used post-natal brain cultures of mouse microglial cells and astrocytes activated by reference inflammogens. We found that 4'-F-CBD and HU-910 efficiently curtailed the release of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in microglia and astrocytes activated by the bacterial Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)4 ligand LPS. Upon LPS challenge, 4'-F-CBD and HU-910 also prevented the activation of phenotypic activation markers specific to microglia and astrocytes, that is, Iba-1 and GFAP, respectively.

Toward Optimal Irrigation Management at the Plot Level: Evaluation of Commercial Water Potential Sensors.

Proper irrigation practice consists of applying the optimum amount of water to the soil at the right time. The porous characteristics of the soil determine the capacity of the soil to absorb, infiltrate, and store water. In irrigation, it is not sufficient to only determine the water content of the soil; it is also necessary to determine the availability of water for plants: water potential.

EUSEDcollab: a network of data from European catchments to monitor net soil erosion by water.

As a network of researchers we release an open-access database (EUSEDcollab) of water discharge and suspended sediment yield time series records collected in small to medium sized catchments in Europe. EUSEDcollab is compiled to overcome the scarcity of open-access data at relevant spatial scales for studies on runoff, soil loss by water erosion and sediment delivery. Multi-source measurement data from numerous researchers and institutions were harmonised into a common time series and metadata structure.

Challenges and progresses in the detailed estimation of sediment export in agricultural watersheds in Navarra (Spain) after two decades of experience.

Soil erosion is a very serious environmental problem worldwide, with agriculture considered the main source of sediment in inland waters. In order to determine the extent and importance of soil erosion in the Spanish region of Navarra, in 1995 the Government of Navarra established the Network of Experimental Agricultural Watersheds (NEAWGN), which consists of five small watersheds representative of local conditions. In each watershed, key hydrometeorological variables, including turbidity, were recorded every 10 min, and daily samples were taken to determine suspended sediment concentration.

Agricultural expansion raises groundwater and increases flooding in the South American plains.

Regional effects of farming on hydrology are associated mostly with irrigation. In this work, we show how rainfed agriculture can also leave large-scale imprints. The extent and speed of farming expansion across the South American plains over the past four decades provide an unprecedented case of the effects of rainfed farming on hydrology.

Triphenylamine-Containing Benzoic Acids: Synthesis, Liquid Crystalline and Redox Properties.

The synthesis, characterization and liquid crystalline and electrochemical properties of novel triarylamines, in which the triphenylamine platform is non-symmetrically modified with a 4-(6-oxyhexyloxy)benzoic acid group, are reported. Compounds show columnar liquid crystalline behavior, as confirmed through the use of polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical properties were measured using cyclic voltammperometry, obtaining low oxidation potentials and HOMO values that were optimum for consideration as organic semiconductors in hole transport layers.

A novel patient-derived 3D model recapitulates mantle cell lymphoma lymph node signaling, immune profile and in vivo ibrutinib responses.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a rare and aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mainly develops in the lymph node (LN) and creates a protective and immunosuppressive niche that facilitates tumor survival, proliferation and chemoresistance. To capture disease heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment (TME) cues, we have developed the first patient-derived MCL spheroids (MCL-PDLS) that recapitulate tumor oncogenic pathways and immune microenvironment in a multiplexed system that allows easy drug screening, including immunotherapies. MCL spheroids, integrated by tumor B cells, monocytes and autologous T-cells self-organize in disc-shaped structures, where B and T-cells maintain viability and proliferate, and monocytes differentiate into M2-like macrophages.

Population Structure and Association Mapping for Agronomical and Biochemical Traits of a Large Spanish Apple Germplasm.

A basic knowledge of linkage disequilibrium and population structure is necessary in order to determine the genetic control and identify significant associations with agronomical and phytochemical compounds in apple ( Borkh). In this study, 186 apple accessions (Pop1), representing both Spanish native accessions (94) and non-Spanish cultivars (92) from the EEAD-CSIC apple core collection, were assessed using 23 SSRs markers. Four populations were considered: Pop1, Pop2, Pop3, and Pop4.

Experimental evidence that rill-bed morphology is governed by emergent nonlinear spatial dynamics.

Past experimental work found that rill erosion occurs mainly during rill formation in response to feedback between rill-flow hydraulics and rill-bed roughness, and that this feedback mechanism shapes rill beds into a succession of step-pool units that self-regulates sediment transport capacity of established rills. The search for clear regularities in the spatial distribution of step-pool units has been stymied by experimental rill-bed profiles exhibiting irregular fluctuating patterns of qualitative behavior. We hypothesized that the succession of step-pool units is governed by nonlinear-deterministic dynamics, which would explain observed irregular fluctuations.

Simple Microcontact Printing Technique to Obtain Cell Patterns by Lithography Using Grayscale, Photopolymer Flexographic Mold, and PDMS.

Microcontact printing using PDMS embossing tools and its variations have aroused the interest of a wide spectrum of research fields, hence the feasibility of defining micro and nanoscale patterns. In this work, we have proposed and demonstrated a novel lithography method based on grayscale patterns printed in a flexographic photopolymer mold and transferred to epoxy resin and a single PDMS stamp to obtain different microprint pattern structures. The geometry of the patterns can be modified by adjusting the layout and grayscale of the stamp patterns.

Concrete/Glass Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) Synergies in Ternary Eco-Cement-Paste Mineralogy.

The study described sought further understanding of the synergies in a mix of CDW pozzolans, containing (calcareous and siliceous) concrete and glass waste, used to prepare ternary eco-cement paste bearing 7% of the binary blend at concrete/glass ratios of 2:1 and 1:2. The mineralogical phases in the 2-day, 28-day, and 90-day cement matrices were identified and monitored using XRF, XRD-Rietveld, SEM-EDX, FT-IR, and NMR. The findings showed that changes in the reaction kinetics in the ternary blended pastes relative to OPC pastes depended on the nature of the recycled concrete and the glass content.

Recent Advances in MXene/Epoxy Composites: Trends and Prospects.

Epoxy resins are thermosets with interesting physicochemical properties for numerous engineering applications, and considerable efforts have been made to improve their performance by adding nanofillers to their formulations. MXenes are one of the most promising functional materials to use as nanofillers. They have attracted great interest due to their high electrical and thermal conductivity, hydrophilicity, high specific surface area and aspect ratio, and chemically active surface, compatible with a wide range of polymers.

The impact of nutritional status on health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

Malnutrition is frequent in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Nutritional deficiencies may negatively impact quality of life (QOL). This study examines the utility of the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) in detecting nutritional risk (NR) and assesses the correlation between nutritional status and QOL in dialysis patients upon starting a nutritional intervention program (NIP).

Structural Diversity of Hydrogen-Bonded 4-Aryl-3,5-Dimethylpyrazoles for Supramolecular Materials.

The 1-pyrazoles have high versatility and ability to form hydrogen-bonded supramolecular materials. In this study, the thermal stability, fluorescence, and H-bonding ability of the studied 3,5-dimethyl-4-(4-X-phenyl)-1-pyrazoles showed large differences depending on the terminal substituent. Supramolecular structures were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and Hirshfeld surface calculations.