Effects of Seed Processing with Cold Plasma on Growth and Biochemical Traits of Bertoni Under Different Cultivation Conditions: In Soil Versus Aeroponics.

This study compared the effects of seed treatment with low-pressure cold plasma (CP) and atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on morpho-biochemical traits in Bertoni plants cultivated by two methods: in soil and aeroponics. We investigated the impact of the treatments on the germination, plant growth, and content of secondary metabolites, namely steviol glycosides (SGs), rebaudioside A (RebA), and stevioside (Stev), as well as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Seeds were treated for 2, 5, and 7 min with CP or DBD and 5 min with vacuum six days before sowing.

Comparative Analysis of Phenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activity in the Leaves of Invasive (Lam.) K. Koch in Lithuania.

The environmental impact of invasive species necessitates creating a strategy for managing their spread by utilising them as a source of potentially high-value raw materials. (Lam.) K.

Improved Antibacterial Properties of Fermented and Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Bee Pollen and Its Combined Effect with Antibiotics.

A variety of phytochemicals from different plants are collected by bees into bee pollen granules. This research focused on evaluating the effects of lactic acid fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis on the antibacterial activity of bee pollen and its interaction with antibiotics. There is limited knowledge regarding the interactions between treated bee pollen extracts and antibiotics, and this study contributes to the field by providing new insights into the antibacterial activity of pollen subjected to eight distinct treatment methods.

Diversity and Plant Growth-Promoting Properties of Root Endophytic Bacteria.

Plants inhabiting environments with suboptimal growth conditions often have a more pronounced capacity to attract and sustain microbial communities that improve nutrient absorption and expand abiotic stress tolerance. L. is a succulent plant of the family adapted to survive in sandy or rocky soils or dry tundra.

Psychometric properties of the Fear of Birth Scale in women in the perinatal period: A multicountry study.

Assessing Fear of Birth Scale's (FOBS) psychometric properties in the perinatal period using multicountry data is a step toward effectively screen clinically significant fear of childbirth (FOC) in maternal healthcare settings. FOBS psychometric properties were analyzed in women in the perinatal period using data from Australia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and Portugal. FOBS' reliability, criterion (known group and convergent), concurrent, predictive, and clinical validity were analyzed.

Multi-omics architecture of childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction uncovers biological pathways and prenatal determinants.

Childhood obesity poses a significant public health challenge, yet the molecular intricacies underlying its pathobiology remain elusive. Leveraging extensive multi-omics profiling (methylome, miRNome, transcriptome, proteins and metabolites) and a rich phenotypic characterization across two parts of Europe within the population-based Human Early Life Exposome project, we unravel the molecular landscape of childhood obesity and associated metabolic dysfunction. Our integrative analysis uncovers three clusters of children defined by specific multi-omics profiles, one of which characterized not only by higher adiposity but also by a high degree of metabolic complications.

Prediction of Deoxynivalenol contamination in wheat kernels and flour based on visible near-infrared spectroscopy, feature selection and machine learning modelling.

Contamination of wheat by the mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol (DON), produced by Fusarium fungi, poses significant challenges to the quality of crop yield and food safety. Visible and near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy has emerged as a promising, non-destructive, and efficient tool for detecting mycotoxins in cereal crops and foods. This study aims to utilize vis-NIR spectroscopy, coupled with a feature selection technique and machine learning modelling, to predict and classify DON contamination in wheat kernels and flour.

Ensemble learning based sustainable approach to rebuilding metal structures prediction.

The effective implementation of the European Green Deal is based on closing cycles by means of reusing products and extending their durability, especially for steel products in the construction industry. The Life Cycle Assessment gives an opportunity to determine the potential impact caused on the environment by building structures and it is used mainly at the early design stage. At the same time, there are significant gaps when it comes to predicting properties of steel products at the last stage of the life cycle of existing buildings in the End of Life Stage (C1-C4) phases and especially D-Benefits and Loads Beyond the System Boundary.

A meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies of ultra-processed food consumption with DNA methylation in European children.

Background/objective: There is limited knowledge on how diet affects the epigenome of children. Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is emerging as an important factor impacting health, but mechanisms need to be uncovered. We therefore aimed to assess the association between UPF consumption and DNA methylation in children.

A Spectroscopy Solution for Contactless Conductivity Detection in Capillary Electrophoresis.

This paper introduces a novel contactless single-chip detector that utilizes impedance-to-digital conversion technology to measure impedance in the microfluidic channel or capillary format analytical device. The detector is designed to operate similarly to capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detectors for capillary electrophoresis or chromatography but with the added capability of performing frequency sweeps up to 200 kHz. At each recorded data point, impedance and phase-shift data can be extracted, which can be used to generate impedance versus frequency plots, or phase-shift versus frequency plots.

Service preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITE.

Background: Women in the postpartum period are at greater risk of intimate partner violence (IPV), which may cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm and have a long-lasting negative impact on mother and child. Seeking help in case of IPV in the postpartum period can be difficult.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine service preferences among postpartum women in Germany (non-)affected by IPV.

Assessment of changes in soil contact stress depending on tractor tire parameters.

Soil compaction by agricultural machinery in general by and tractors in particular is an important problem in modern agricultural production. Such compaction destroys the soil structure, creates unfavorable physical parameters of the soil, and as a result, reduces crop yields. Therefore, it is important to clearly establish how the tractor wheels affect the soil.

Seasonality in mortality and its impact on life expectancy levels and trends across Europe.

Background: Seasonal fluctuations in mortality affect annual life expectancy at birth (e). Nevertheless, evidence on the impact of seasonal mortality on longevity is very limited and mainly restricted to assessing season-specific mortality levels due to shocks (e.g.

Association Between Residential Exposure to Road Traffic Noise and Psychological Health in Preschool Children.

Environmental noise pollution is one of the biggest concerns and the most important challenges in urban areas. Evidence from epidemiological studies shows that acoustic pollution can impact human health, and the effects may be stronger in susceptible and sensitive individuals. The objective of the study was to determine the individual exposure to road transport noise for preschool children in the residential environment and to assess its impact on children's psychological health.

Toxic effects of tetracycline on non-target lichen .

Tetracycline (TC) antibiotics are one of the class of drugs widely used in clinical practice but also constitute a significant environmental concern. However, the adverse effects of TC on non-target organisms have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of exposure to high levels of TC on thalli of lichens to determine the impact on (1) physiological parameters including integrity of cell membranes, photosynthetic efficiency and viability, (2) oxidative stress response such as membrane lipid peroxidation, and (3) enzymatic antioxidant activities as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR).

Can triad forestry reconcile Europe's biodiversity and forestry strategies? A critical evaluation of forest zoning.

Balancing increasing demand for wood products while also maintaining forest biodiversity is a paramount challenge. Europe's Biodiversity and Forest Strategies for 2030 attempt to address this challenge. Together, they call for strict protection of 10% of land area, including all primary and old growth forests, increasing use of ecological forestry, and less reliance on monocultural plantations.

Association of exposure to second-hand smoke during childhood with blood DNA methylation.

Introduction: By recent estimates, 40% of children worldwide are exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS), which has been associated with adverse health outcomes. While numerous studies have linked maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) to widespread differences in child blood DNA methylation (DNAm), research specifically examining postnatal SHS exposure remains sparse. To address this gap, we conducted epigenome-wide meta-analyses to identify associations of postnatal SHS and child blood DNAm.

Characterization of Myrrh Extract Effect on Polylactide and Polypropylene Melt Spun Multifilament Yarn Structure and Properties.

Myrrh has unique medicinal properties: it is an anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial material. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of ethanolic myrrh extract on the production and properties of modified PP and PLA melt spun yarns. In this work, multifilament yarns of polylactide (PLA) and polypropylene (PP) containing 10 wt% myrrh resin at different melt-spinning drawing ratios (DRs) were prepared.

Extraction of Bioactive Compounds and Influence of Storage Conditions of Raw Material (L.) Holub Using Different Strategies.

The study evaluates different preparation methods for identifying the best strategy for extracting biologically active compounds from raw (L.) Holub plant material. The methodologies include direct aqueous methanol extraction with a combination of natural aerobic and anaerobic fermentation for 24-72 h, followed by 35 °C and 60 °C drying.

Urban-Rural Disparities in the Transition to Parenthood During Times of Uncertainty: A Multilevel Perspective on Finland.

Over the last 15 years, many European countries have experienced fertility declines. Existing research on this shift in fertility behavior points to economic aspects and increased levels of uncertainty as important drivers. However, in this debate little attention has been paid to how the relevance of individual- and contextual-level dimensions for understanding the new fertility patterns varies by level of urbanization.

Prevalence and associations of neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders with academic and well-being challenges among nursing and midwifery students: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: This study highlights the significant stress faced by nursing and midwifery students stemming from the rigorous requirements of their curriculum, which includes both demanding theoretical and practical elements. This study aims to identify the causes and manifestations of learning environment stress among midwifery and nursing students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study in Lithuania, Poland and Latvia was employed to evaluate students' learning challenges and neurodiversity using 40 different questions assessed on a Likert scale.

Development of a cell-type cylindrical carrot seeder.

Accurate planting of the required number of carrot seeds is one of the important parameters in developing a carrot seeding device. This study developed a metering mechanism that promotes the deposition of <3 carrot seeds on each planting hill at negligible seed damage. The metering disc and hopper were especifically designed to ensure consistency and uniformity in seed loading into the seed cell and their subsequent efficient discharge onto the planting hills.

Comprehensive tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole toxicity evaluation to earthworm Dendrobaena veneta through life-cycle, behavioral and biochemical parameters.

Veterinary antibiotics are widely spread in the environment, however, the knowledge about their impact on soil key species is still limited. This study evaluated the short-term and long-term effects of tetracycline (TC), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) (1-500 mg kg) on earthworm Dendrobaena veneta by measuring multiple parameters (survival, growth, reproduction, behavior and biochemical responses). Neither antibiotic induced acute toxicity and low mortality was observed after chronic exposure.