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Small target detection of floating objects in river channels based on improved YOLOv7
Phase-targeting rapid cryofixation of the beating heart and histological analysis unveil contractile state-dependent sarcomere dynamics
Abstract The heart is a functional syncytium consisting of numerous cardiomyocytes that repetitively exhibit coordinated contractions/relaxations. However, the extent to which myocyte sarcomere arrangements in the heart differ across beats is unknown. To examine this, we conducted cardiac phase-targeting rapid cryofixation of Langendorff-perfused rat hearts. We adjusted the timepoint of cryogen exposure to the electrically paced heart and observed phase-dependent differences in the sarcomere length (SL) of subepicardial myocytes by α-actinin immunohistochemistry, namely a significantly shorter SL during systole than during diastole. We detected spatially inhomogeneous SL distributions by generating a heatmap of the myocardium. For peak systole the SL heatmap exhibited nearly uniform SL shortening within and among the individual myocytes with some myocardia exhibiting nonuniform SLs. During diastole, the heart showed predominant SL elongation, which was also accompanied by patchy distributions of locally short-SL regions, reflecting inhomogeneous SLs. This SL inhomogeneity was attenuated by pharmacological relaxation by 2,3-butanedione monoxime. The heatmap of the rapidly-frozen heart during ventricular fibrillation also revealed inhomogeneous SLs within and among individual myocytes. Overall, cardiac phase-targeting cryofixation unveiled in-depth behaviors on SL in the heart. Our cryofixation strategy will open a new horizon to clarify precise spatiotemporal changes in sarcomere structures and understand cardiac functions.
Timing of rainfall influences juvenile and yearling mass of a long-lived herbivore in a semiarid environment
Human-centered design-based lightweight wearable IMU human pose estimation
Tissue and maturation specific DNA methylation dynamics of gonadotropin genes in chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) using cost-effective targeted bisulfite sequencing
Knowledge graph–large language model fusion approach for emergency knowledge recommendation in gas tunnels
Joint effect of uncertainty-of-outcome and calorie content on food preference
Abstract In today’s market, mystery boxes (where the contents are uncertain) introduce uncertainty concerning the outcome, offering the consumer the chance to receive one of several possible foods. However, the role of uncertainty-of-outcome induced in food preference is unclear. This research investigated how uncertainty-of-outcome affects food preference for high- versus low-calorie food products, and its cognitive and neural mechanisms. Fifty-eight participants completed a binary-choice task, deciding between a certain option (a known food) and an uncertain option (an unknown food hidden in a mystery box), and rated the expected tastiness (subjective value) of each food. The participants exhibited a stronger preference for uncertain options in the low- (vs. high-) calorie case. Using the drift-diffusion model, the drift rate was higher in the low- (vs. high-) calorie condition. Moreover, a larger frontal N2 amplitude and smaller frontal P3 and LPP amplitudes were detected in the low- (vs. high-) calorie condition during the binary-choice task. Besides, frontal LPP amplitudes were negatively correlated with drift rate, suggesting that more cognitive effort was required to accumulate evidence to make a decision. Additionally, high-calorie foods elicited larger frontal alpha event-related desynchronization than low-calorie foods, thus suggesting participants require more evidence and effort in value comparison during the decision-making. This research highlights how uncertainty-of-outcome enhances the reward value of food, especially low-calorie foods, and thus impacts food preference, providing insights for developing marketing and public health strategies.
Genetic Improvement of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) through gamma-ray-induced mutagenesis: evaluation of M₄ progenies for yield, agronomic traits, and low ODAP content
Abstract Grass pea ( Lathyrus sativus L.) is a protein-rich legume widely cultivated in drought-prone areas of Asia and Africa. Despite its resilience and nutritional value, Lathyrus suffers from limited genetic variability and the persistent problem of β-ODAP toxicity, which restricts consumption and warrants focused breeding initiatives. Developing high-yielding, low-ODAP varieties is critical for food safety and agricultural productivity. The present study employed gamma irradiation (250, 300, 350 Gy) to induce mutagenesis in seeds of cultivar NLK-73. Through successive generational selection (up to M₄), 29 promising mutants were evaluated in a randomized block design. Phenotypic and yield attributes were measured, along with ODAP quantification using spectrophotometry. Data analysis included ANOVA, estimation of genetic parameters, heritability, and genetic advance. Significant genetic variability was observed among M₄ mutants for all evaluated traits. The analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences ( p < 0.01) among genotypes for days to flowering, maturity, plant height, branches/plant, pods/plant, 100-seed weight, seed yield, and ODAP content. High heritability (> 60%) and substantial genetic advance were found for key traits such as branches and pods per plant, suggesting additive genetic action. Ten mutants (notably NLM-12, NLM-20, NLM-23) surpassed checks in seed yield (23–24.5 g/plant vs. 13.9 g/plant) with proportionately lower ODAP content, marking them as candidates for breeding programs and further evaluation. Gamma ray mutagenesis effectively broadened variability in Lathyrus sativus , enabling selection of superior M₄ mutants with enhanced yield and reduced ODAP content. The results suggest the feasibility of developing safer, high-yielding grass pea cultivars, warranting further validation. Adoption of mutation breeding should continue for rapid improvement of grass pea, focusing on reducing β-ODAP to trace levels while maximizing germplasm diversity and yield. Multi-location field trials are recommended to confirm stability of desirable traits. Molecular characterization and marker-assisted selection to expedite breeding for low-ODAP, high-protein lines is warranted. Exploration of alternative mutagens and advanced genomic tools will facilitate precise genetic improvement.