Comprehensive microRNA expression analysis of pediatric gonadal germ cell tumors: unveiling novel biomarkers and signatures.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous noncoding RNAs, and alterations in their expression may contribute to oncogenesis. Discovering a unique miRNA pattern holds the potential for early detection and novel treatment possibilities in cancer. This study aimed to evaluate miRNA expression in pediatric patients with gonadal germ cell tumors (GCTs), focusing on characterizing the miRNA profiles of each histological subtype and identifying a distinct histological miRNA signature for a total of 42 samples of pediatric gonadal GCTs. The analysis revealed distinct miRNA expression profiles for all histological types, regardless of the primary site. We identified specific miRNA expression signatures for each histological type, including 34 miRNAs for dysgerminomas, 13 for embryonal carcinomas, 25 for yolk sac tumors, and one for immature teratoma, compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, we identified 26 miRNAs that were commonly expressed in malignant tumors, with six miRNAs (miR-302a-3p, miR-302b-3p, miR-371a-5p, miR-372-3p, miR-373-3p, and miR-367-3p) showing significant overexpression. Notably, miR-302b-3p exhibited a significant association with all the evaluated clinical features. Our findings suggest that miRNAs have the potential to aid in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of patients with malignant GCTs.

Effect of freezing rates on α-amylase enzymatic susceptibility, in vitro digestibility, and technological properties of starch microparticles.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of freezing rates using direct (LF: Liquid nitrogen) and indirect (RF: Cryogenic refrigerator and UF: ultra-freezer) methods at temperatures of (-20, -80, and - 196 °C) on the enzymatic susceptibility with α-amylase for microparticles. In vitro digestibility parameters and technological properties were also analyzed. Lower rates resulted in larger ice crystals, damaging the starch structure. Hydrolysis was more pronounced at slower rates RF: 0.07 °C/min and UF: 0.14 °C/min, yielding maximum values of RDS: 37.63% and SDS: 59.32% for RF. Type A crystallinity remained unchanged, with only a noted increase in crystallinity of up to 6.50% for FR. Starch pastes were classified as pseudoplastic, with RF exhibiting superior textural parameters and apparent viscosity. (RF: 7.18 J g-1 and UF: 7.34 J g-1) also showed lower values of gelatinization enthalpy. Freezing techniques were viable in facilitating the diffusion of α-amylase and reducing RS by up to 81%.

Combined Use of Fatty Acid Profiles and Elemental Fingerprints to Trace the Geographic Origin of Live Baits for Sports Fishing: The Solitary Tube Worm (Diopatra neapolitana, Annelida, Onuphidae) as a Case Study.

Diopatra neapolitana Delle Chiaje, 1841 (Annelida, Onuphidae) is one of the most exploited polychaete species in European waters, particularly in Ria de Aveiro, a coastal lagoon in mainland Portugal, where the overexploitation of this resource has led to a generalized decline of local populations. In an attempt to reduce the impact of harvesting, several management actions were implemented, but illegal poaching still fuels a parallel economy that threatens the sustainable use of this marine resource. The present study evaluated the combination of fatty acid profiles and elemental fingerprints of the whole body and jaws, respectively, of D. neapolitana collected from four harvesting locations within Ria de Aveiro in order to determine if their geographic origin could be correctly assigned post-harvesting. Results showed that both fatty acid profiles and elemental fingerprints differ significantly among locations, discriminating the geographic origin with higher accuracy when combining these two natural barcodes than when employing each individually. The present work can, therefore, contribute to the implementation of an effective management plan for the sustainable use of this marine resource, making it possible to detect if D. neapolitana was sourced from no-take zones and if it was collected from the place of origin claimed by live bait traders.

Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) induces changes in IFN-pathway and Interferon-Stimulated Genes (ISGs) on the bovine endometrium at Day 18 of pregnancy.

We hypothesized that the hCG modulates the expression of IFNT-pathway and ISGs in bovine endometrium during early pregnancy. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the effect of hCG on IFNT-pathway signals and ISGs expression in endometrial cells. For this, 29 non-lactating cross-bread cows were used in the study and submitted to a 9-day fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol. The day of the AI was considered Day 0 (D0), and five days (D5) after the FTAI, the cows were allocated into two groups: Control and hCG group, when a hCG group received a single dose of 2.500UI of hCG. On day 18 after FTAI (D18) cows were slaughtered and endometrial tissue samples were collected. There was no difference between the embryo recovery rate of the cows in C compared to the hCG. The hCG group increased the accessory corpus luteum formation rate. The hCG resulted in greater serum progesterone concentration in the hCG group compared to the C on Day 14. Only the expression of IFNAR2 and STAT1 were upregulated on pregnant cows of the hCG group compared to the C group. The pathway genes (JAK1, STAT2, and IRF9) were not regulated. The mRNA abundance of ISG15, MX1, MX2, and OAS1 was upregulated in pregnant cows for hCG group, compared to C group. The results show that the administration of hCG, 5 days after AI, in addition to increasing the serum progesterone, modulates the expression of IFNT-pathway and ISGs on bovine endometrium on Day 18 of pregnancy.

Factors associated with adherence to the principles of responsible companion animal guardianship in a municipality in southeastern Brazil.

Responsible companion animal guardianship (RCAG) covers aspects that are relevant to both animal and human health. Understanding the factors associated with adherence to RCAG principles can guide accountability, animal welfare and disease control. The present observational study describes the level of adherence to RCAG by guardians living in a medium-sized Brazilian municipality and identifies the factors associated with inadequate guardianship. Questionnaires were administered to randomly selected guardians of 704 dogs. The binary outcome of the study, namely more and less adequate compliers to RCAG principles, was analyzed using a score list comprising eight variables relating to the care provided to the dogs, namely provision of veterinary services, vaccination against rabies, deworming, no access to the streets without supervision, walking with guardian, dog freedom at home, registration (microchipping) and satisfactory food supply. Factors possibly associated with less adequate adherence to RCAG by the guardian, such as socioeconomic and cultural features of the guardians, characteristics of the dogs and attributes of the guardian-animal interactions, were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. The RCAG actions least adopted by guardians were animal registration, provision of veterinary care, walking with the dog and preventing access of the dogs to the streets without supervision. Individuals who cared for a single dog, a mixed breed dog or had previously lost a dog were less likely to show adequate adherence to RCAG. Conversely, guardians who owned cars, acquired dogs as puppies, lived in households with a maximum of four residents, cared for a sterilized dog or thought that caring for a dog was easier than (or as) expected, had a higher chance of showing adequate adherence to RCAG. The results verify that the socioeconomic and behavioral characteristic of guardians must be taken into consideration for understanding the adherence to RCAG. In addition, it is important to facilitate access to veterinary services and to raise awareness about the significance of a safe and healthy environment for companion animals.

The effects of a large-scale home visiting programme for child development on use of health services in Brazil.

Partnership between early childhood development interventions and primary health care services can help catalyse health care uptake by socially vulnerable families. This study aimed to assess the real-life effects of a large-scale home visiting programme [Primeira Infância Melhor (PIM)] in Brazil on the use of preventive (prenatal visits, well child visits, dentist visits and vaccination) and recovery (emergency room visits and hospitalization) health services. A quasi-experiment nested in a population-based birth cohort study was conducted. The intervention group was firstly defined as all children enrolled in PIM up to age 6 months, and afterwards stratified between those enrolled during pregnancy or after birth up to 6 months. Children receiving PIM were matched with controls on propensity scores based on 27 confounders to estimate effects on health service use from prenatal to age 2 years. Double adjustment was applied in outcome Quasi-Poisson regressions. No evidence was found for effects of PIM starting anytime up to 6 months (262 pairs), or for the children enrolled only after birth (133 pairs), on outcomes occurring after age 6 months. When the programme started during pregnancy (129 pairs), there was a 13% higher prevalence of adequate prenatal visits (prevalence ratio = 1.13; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.27), but no effect on use of any other health service. Sensitivity analyses suggested longer participation in the programme with reduced visitor turnover might improve its impact on prenatal visits. Integration between PIM and primary health care was not adequate to affect overall patterns of contacts with health services. Nevertheless, prenatal home visits showed potential to increase health service contact during a sensitive period of development, indicating the need to start such programmes before birth, when there is more time for maternal care, and family engagement in a network of services is facilitated.

Influence of Specimen Dimension, Water Immersion Protocol, and Surface Roughness on Water Sorption and Solubility of Resin-Based Restorative Materials.

The evaluation of water sorption and solubility is pivotal for the development of new resin-based restorative materials with the potential for clinical application. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the specimen dimension, water immersion protocol, and surface roughness on the water sorption and solubility of three resin-based restorative materials. Disk-shaped specimens of 15 mm × 1 mm, 10 mm × 1 mm, and 6 mm × 1 mm were produced with a composite resin (Z100), a resin cement (RelyX ARC), and an adhesive system (Single Bond 2-SB2). The specimens were immersed in distilled water according to four protocols: ISO (all the specimens for each group were vertically immersed in 50 mL); IV-10 (the specimens were individually and vertically immersed in 10 mL); IH-10 (the specimens were individually and horizontally immersed in 10 mL); and IH-2 (the specimens were individually and horizontally immersed in 2 mL). The surface roughness (Sa and Sp) was evaluated using an atomic force microscope, and the degree of conversion was determined using FT-IR spectrometry. The specimen dimension and water immersion protocol had no effect on water sorption and solubility. For the three resin-based restorative materials, Sp was higher than Sa. The degree of conversion was not influenced by the specimen dimension. The variations in the specimen dimension and water immersion protocol compared to those determined by ISO 4049 did not prevent the comparison between the values of water sorption and solubility obtained for a given resin-based restorative material.

Effects of H2O2 pretreatment on the elemental fingerprints of bivalve shells and their implications for the traceability of geographic origin.

The fraudulent mislabelling of seafood geographic origin has been growing due to complex supply chains and growing consumer demand. To address this issue, seafood traceability tools, such as those based on elemental fingerprints (EF) of bivalve shells, have been successfully used to confirm their harvesting location. However, despite the usefulness of these methodologies, there is still room for optimization. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of a routine procedure during bivalve shells preparation for ICP-MS analysis - their pretreatment with H2O2 to remove organic components. More specifically, the present study evaluated the effects of H2O2 on i) the elemental fingerprints of shells of two bivalve species (Ruditapes philippinarum and Cerastoderma edule) from four different locations over the north-western and the western Iberian coast, and ii) their influence on the accuracy of models (based on the EF of shells) used to confirm the geographic origin of these species. Significant differences were observed between untreated and pretreated shells of R. philippinarum (p within location ranging from 0.0001 to 0.0011) and C. edule (p ranging from 0.0001 to 0.0007 for C. edule) for both their elemental fingerprints as a whole and several individual elements. The accuracy of the models employed to determine the origin of the two bivalve species, using i) untreated shells, ii) pretreated shells, and iii) both pretreated and untreated shells grouped per location, was high, with the models accurately predicting the geographic origin of 100, 90 and 95% of R. philippinarum and 95, 100 and 95% of C. edule, respectively. These results show that the shifts in the EF of bivalve shells promoted by treating them with H2O2 prior to ICP-MS analysis did not affect the accuracy of the models used to confirm the geographic origin of both bivalve species. Therefore, the need to pre-treat bivalve shells with H2O2 can be dismissed in future studies addressing the traceability of bivalves when using ICP-MS, thus contributing to reducing environmental impacts and economic costs associated with this procedure, as well as the time required to obtain results.

Development of a new assay for quantification of parasite load of intracellular Leishmania sp. in macrophages using flow cytometry.

Finding novel methodologies that enhance the precision, agility, and standardization of drug discovery is crucial for studying leishmaniasis. The slide count is the technique most used to assess the leishmanicidal effect of a given drug in vitro. Despite being consolidated in the scientific environment, it presents several difficulties in its execution, assessment, and results. In addition to being laborious, this technique takes time, both for the preparation of the material for analysis and for the counting itself. Our research group suggests a fresh approach to address this requirement, which involves utilizing nuclear labeling with propidium iodide and flow cytometry to determine the quantity of Leishmania sp. parasites present in macrophages in vitro. Our results show that the fluorescence of infected samples increases as the infection rate increases. Using Pearson's Correlation analysis, it was possible to establish a correlation coefficient (Pearson r = 0.9473) that was strongly positive, linear, and directly proportional to the fluorescence and infection rate variables. Thus, it is possible to infer a mathematical equation through linear regression to estimate the number of parasites in each sample using the Relative Fluorescence Units (RFU) values. This new methodology opens space for the possibility of using this methodological resource in the in vitro quantification of Leishmania in macrophages.

Towards a better understanding of real-world home-visiting programs: a large-scale effectiveness study of parenting mechanisms in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The scale-up of parenting programmes to support early childhood development (ECD) is poorly understood. Little is known about how and when early interventions are most effective. Sustainability of ECD programming requires a better understanding of the mechanisms of real-world interventions. We examined the effects on caregiving practices of Primeira Infância Melhor (PIM), a state-wide home-visiting programme in Brazil. METHODS: This propensity score matched, longitudinal, quasiexperimental study uses data from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort. We matched children who received PIM at any age with other cohort children on 25 key covariates. Sensitivity, guidance and responsiveness were assessed using video-recorded play tasks. Coerciveness and the parent-child relationship were assessed using the Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales. All parenting outcomes were examined at age 4 years. Separate moderation analyses were conducted for each effect modifier: family income, child age and duration of participation. RESULTS: Out of 4275 children in the cohort, 797 were enrolled in PIM up to age 4 years. 3018 children (70.6%) were included in the analytic sample, of whom 587 received PIM and 2431 were potential controls. We found a positive effect of PIM on responsiveness (ß=0.08, 95% CIs 0.002 to 0.16) and sensitivity (ß=0.10, 95% CIs 0.02 to 0.19). No effect was found for any secondary outcomes. Moderation analyses revealed a stronger positive effect on sensitivity for low-income parents (ß=0.18, 95% CIs 0.03 to 0.34). CONCLUSION: A state-wide, home-visiting programme in Brazil improved aspects of responsive caregiving. Effects were more pronounced for low-income families, suggesting benefits of purposeful targeting.

Pre-existing structural control on the recent Holuhraun eruptions along the Bárðarbunga spreading center, Iceland.

The active rift zones in Iceland provide unique insight into the geodynamic processes of divergent plate boundaries. The geodynamics of Iceland are studied intensively, particularly, by geophysical methods sensitive to active and/or visible structures such as earthquake seismic and Synthetic Aperture Radar observations or aerial photographs. However, older and less active structures, that may exert a strong control on the presently active geodynamics, are often buried beneath recent volcanic or sedimentary deposits and are-due to their passive mode-overseen by the typical geophysical investigations. Aeromagnetic surveys provide spatial information about subsurface magnetization contrasts relating to both active and inactive structures. However, the aeromagnetic data in Iceland were collected in the 1970-80s and are relevant only to large-scale regional rift studies. With the availability of reliable drones and light-weight atomic scalar sensors, high-quality drone magnetic surveys can provide an unprecedented spatial resolution of both active and passive structures of rift systems as compared to conventional airborne surveys. Here, we present the results of a drone-towed magnetic scalar field and scalar gradiometry study of the north-northeast trending Bárðarbunga spreading center to the north of the Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland. Our results provide new information about the structural complexity of rift zones with evidence of densely-spaced, conjugate and oblique faults throughout the area. Evidence is shown of a hitherto unknown and prominent east-northeast trending fault structure that coincides with the northern tip of the main eruption edifice of the 1797 and 2014-15 Holuhraun volcanic events. We suggest that this pre-existing structure controlled the locus of vertical magma migration during the two Holuhraun events.

Post-sorption of Cd, Pb, and Zn onto peat, compost, and biochar: Short-term effects of ecotoxicity and bioaccessibility.

Contamination by potentially toxic metals and metalloids (PTMs) has become a significant health and environmental issue worldwide. Sorption has emerged as one of the most prominent strategies for remediating both soil and water contamination. New sorbents are being developed to provide economically viable and environmentally sound alternatives, in alignment with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals. This research aimed to assess the potential effects on human health and environmental toxicity following the sorption of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) using peat, compost, and biochar as sorbents. The peat was collected in Brazil, a country with a tropical climate, while the compost and biochar were produced from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). In terms of bioaccessibility, the results showed the following order: compost < biochar < peat for Pb, and compost < peat < biochar for Cd and Zn. There was a significant growth inhibition for Eruca sativa and Zea mays exposed to increasing concentrations of PTMs treated with peat and compost. The presence of contaminants played a decisive role on immobilization of neonates of Ceriodaphnia silvestrii after treatments with compost and, especially, peat. However, the biochar addition rate caused a significant influence on the outcomes of ecotoxicity across all tested species. Although the samples treated with biochar exhibited lower residual concentrations of PTMs than those treated with compost and peat, the inherent toxicity of biochar might be attributed to the material itself. The exposure to residual PTM concentrations post-desorption caused ecotoxic effects on tested species, emphasizing the need to assess PTM desorption potential. Peat, compost, and biochar are promising alternatives for the sorption of PTMs, but the addition rates must be properly adjusted to avoid the occurrence of undesirable ecotoxicological effects. This research offers valuable insights for sustainable environmental management and protection by thoroughly investigating the impacts of different sorbents and contaminants on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Further development of the reflective practice questionnaire.

Background: This article provides an update of the Reflective Practice Questionnaire (RPQ). The original RPQ consisted of 40-items with 10-sub-scales. In this article, the RPQ is streamlined into a 10-item single reflective practice construct, and a 30-item extended version that includes additional sub-scales of confidence, uncertainty/stress, and work satisfaction. Methods: A total of 501 university students filled out an online questionnaire that contained the original Reflective Practice Questionnaire, and two general measures of reflection: The Self-Reflection and Insight Scale, and the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire. Results: Based on factor analysis, the RPQ was streamlined into a brief 10-item version, and an extended 30-item version. Small positive correlations were found between the RPQ reflective practice measure and the two measures of general reflection, providing discriminant validity evidence for the RPQ. The RPQ was found to be sensitive to differences among industries, whereas the general measures of reflection were not. Average reflective practice scores were higher for health and education industries compared to retail and food/accommodation industries.

The first full study of heavy metal(loid)s in western-European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from Portugal.

The western-European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is an insectivore with a wide distribution in Portugal and a potential tool for biomonitoring relevant One Health hazards, including heavy metal(loid)s' pollution. The aim of this study was to positively contribute to the current knowledge about the metal(loid) pollution in Portugal. Forty-six hedgehogs (from rescue centres; with known provenance) were necropsied. Sex, age category and weight were determined. Spines, liver and kidney were collected, and metalloid concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry (ICP-MS). In general, results did not present alarming metal(loid) concentrations, with the exception of cadmium (Cd) (in the kidneys) and copper (Cu). Hedgehogs from Viana do Castelo and Viseu showed elevated concentrations of arsenic (As) and Castelo Branco presented concerning values of cadmium (Cd). Adult and heavier hedgehogs tended to present higher levels of metal(loid)s. Sex does not seem to significantly affect the metal(loid)s' concentrations. Further analysis would be needed to prioritize areas with detail and allow the application of the necessary mitigation strategies.

Heavy metals and metalloids in wild boars (Sus Scrofa) - a silent but serious public health hazard.

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are part of the hunting economy and are highly consumed in the Iberian Peninsula, including in the Castile and Leon regions. As zoonotic diseases, chemical pollutants in wild boars' internal tissues should be interpreted as evidence of environmental contamination and a matter of concern for animal, human and ecosystem health; in other words, a One Health concern. Twenty-eight wild boars' livers and kidneys (n = 28) from Castile and Leon were submitted to metal(loid) determination (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry (ICP-MS) and histopathological exam. Cd levels, especially in the kidneys (7.063 ± 7.271 mg/kg dw), were the most concerning results, considering the calculated maximum values for consumption (EC No. 915/2023) (2.491 mg/kg dw or 1.0 mg/kg ww). Wild boars with hydropic changes in the liver presented higher concentrations of Ni. Thus, the metal(loid) contamination of wild boar carcasses seems to be a "no trace" but very relevant problem that should raise awareness of a more accurate monitoring program and other strategies to avoid public health consequences.

Systemic non-steroidal immunomodulators for oral lichen planus treatment-a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this scoping review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the use of systemic nonsteroidal immunomodulators (SNSI) for oral lichen planus (OLP) treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines and registered at PROSPERO (CRD42021243524). Consulted databases were Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria was as follows: clinical trials, case series, prospective, and retrospective studies conducted with participants presenting OLP of any sex and age. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies were selected, assessing 9 different SNSI: methotrexate, dapsone, levamisole, hydroxychloroquine, thalidomide, metronidazole, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and colchicine. Methotrexate and dapsone were the drugs with the best evidence among the options included, regarding number and quality of studies. Methotrexate resulted in significant improvement in the clinical condition and remission of symptoms, ranging between 63 and 93% of cases. Dapsone presented a similar effect to the use of topical corticosteroids and tacrolimus CONCLUSION: Among SNSI therapeutic options, methotrexate, and dapsone showed promising efficacy and safety. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials are still needed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SNSI have been used in the treatment of recalcitrant OLP; however, so far, it is not clear which are the best options. This scoping review highlights the potential use of methotrexate and dapsone.

First report of putative Leishmania RNA virus 2 (LRV2) in Leishmania infantum strains from canine and human visceral leishmaniasis cases in the southeast of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Leishmania RNA virus 1 (LRV1) is commonly found in South American Leishmania parasites belonging to the subgenus Viannia, whereas Leishmania RNA virus 2 (LRV2) was previously thought to be restricted to the Old-World pathogens of the subgenus Leishmania. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the presence of LRV2 in strains of Leishmania (L.) infantum, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), originating from different hosts, clinical forms, and geographical regions. METHODS: A total of seventy-one isolates were screened for LRV2 using semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene. FINDINGS: We detected LRV2 in two L. infantum isolates (CUR268 and HP-EMO) from canine and human cases, respectively. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detection of LRV2 in the New World.

Red rice starch modification - Combination of the non-thermal method with a pulsed electric field (PEF) and enzymatic method using α-amylase.

The objective of this study was to investigate the dual modification of red rice starch using pulsed electric field (PEF) and α-amylase, focusing on morpho-structural, thermal, and viscoamylographic properties. Native starch (Control) underwent various treatments: PEF at 30 kV cm-1 (PEF30), α-amylase at 9.0 U mg-1 (AA0), and a combination of both (PEF30 + α and α + PEF30). The PEF30 + α treatment exhibited the highest degree of digestion (10.66 %) and resulted in morphological changes in the starch granules, which became elongated and curved, with an increased average diameter of 50.49 µm compared to the control. The starch was classified as type A, with a maximum reduction in crystallinity of up to 21.17 % for PEF30. The deconvolution of FT-IR bands indicated an increase in the double helix degree (DDH) for PEF30 and AA0, while the degree of order (DO) was reduced for PEF30, AA0, and PEF30 + α. DSC analysis revealed significant modifications in gelatinization temperatures, particularly for PEF30, and these changes were supported by a reduction in gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) of up to 28.05 % for AA0. These findings indicate that both individual and combined treatments promote a decrease in starch gelatinization and facilitate the process, requiring less energy. Differences were observed between the formulations subjected to single and alternating dual treatments, highlighting the influence of the order of PEF application on the structural characteristics of starch, especially when applied before the enzymatic treatment (PEF + α). Regarding the viscoamylographic parameters, it was observed that AA0 presented higher values than the control, indicating that α-amylase enhances the firmness of the paste. The double modification with PEF + α was more effective in reducing syneresis and starch retrogradation, leading to improvements in paste properties. This study provided significant insights into the modification of red rice starch using an efficient and environmentally friendly approach.

Comprehensive meta-analysis of QTL and gene expression studies identify candidate genes associated with Aspergillus flavus resistance in maize.

Aflatoxin (AF) contamination, caused by Aspergillus flavus, compromises the food safety and marketability of commodities, such as maize, cotton, peanuts, and tree nuts. Multigenic inheritance of AF resistance impedes conventional introgression of resistance traits into high-yielding commercial maize varieties. Several AF resistance-associated quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and markers have been reported from multiple biparental mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in maize. However, QTLs with large confidence intervals (CI) explaining inconsistent phenotypic variance limit their use in marker-assisted selection. Meta-analysis of published QTLs can identify significant meta-QTLs (MQTLs) with a narrower CI for reliable identification of genes and linked markers for AF resistance. Using 276 out of 356 reported QTLs controlling resistance to A. flavus infection and AF contamination in maize, we identified 58 MQTLs on all 10 chromosomes with a 66.5% reduction in the average CI. Similarly, a meta-analysis of maize genes differentially expressed in response to (a)biotic stresses from the to-date published literature identified 591 genes putatively responding to only A. flavus infection, of which 14 were significantly differentially expressed (-1.0 ≤ Log2Fc ≥ 1.0; p ≤ 0.05). Eight MQTLs were validated by their colocalization with 14 A. flavus resistance-associated SNPs identified from GWAS in maize. A total of 15 genes were physically close between the MQTL intervals and SNPs. Assessment of 12 MQTL-linked SSR markers identified three markers that could discriminate 14 and eight cultivars with resistance and susceptible responses, respectively. A comprehensive meta-analysis of QTLs and differentially expressed genes led to the identification of genes and makers for their potential application in marker-assisted breeding of A. flavus-resistant maize varieties.