Molecular weights and density of starch from soft rice were lower than those from waxy rice but higher than those from japonica rice. Furthermore, SRS possessed a higher amount of resistant starch. Correlation analysis indicated that the amylose content and the chain-length distributions of amylopectin play a major role in influencing the molecular structure and physicochemical properties of rice starch. In conclusion, the low amylose content, highest viscosity, and other excellent properties of soft rice starch make it have bright application prospects in instant rice and rice cakes.The relationship between the molecular structure and physicochemical properties of soft rice starch (SRS) has been investigated in this research. The amylose content of SRS ranged from 10.76% to 11.85%, classified as the very low amylose type. Compared to waxy and japonica rice starch, the largest amount of small starch granules and the highest viscosity were shown in the SRS. The results of X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared proved that the SRS depicted a typical A-type pattern with a low short-range ordered structure. Additionally, SRS had a great deal of A and B Rice is the most common cereal and predominant principal food crop worldwide, which provides daily nutrition and calories for the majority of people . Along wRice starch is mainly composed of two types of polymers, linear amylose and highly branched amylopectin. The amylose content of rice starch ranges from 0 to 35%. According to the amylose content, rice starch can be classified as waxy (<2%), very low (5–12%), low (12–20%), intermediate (20–25%), and high (>25%) amylose starch . The degThis paper is aimed to study the physicochemical characteristics and molecular structure of soft rice starch (SRS). Its morphology, granule size, thermal properties, pasting properties, crystal structure, short-range ordered structure, cooking properties, in vitro digestibility, molecular weight distribution, and amylopectin chain-length distribution were studied. The correlation between physicochemical and molecular properties was analyzed. These results will provide the necessary knowledge for their potential application in the planting and food industries.Seven paddy cultivars, including two waxy rice (99-25 and Wuyunuo 481—abbreviated as WYN), three soft rice , and two japonica rice (Daohuaxiang 2—DHX and Akitakomati—Aki), were selected. The waxy and soft rice samples were planted and harvested in Jiangsu province, China. These rice varieties selected above were typical and widely cultivated in China. Total Starch Assay Kit, porcine pancreatic α-amylase, amyloglucosidase, and D-glucose assay kit were purchased from Megazyme Co., Ltd. . The moisture content of paddy samples was controlled at 12~15%. All cleaned paddy samples were dehulled using a paddy huller  to obtain brown rice and milled by a vertical rice whitening machine  to get milled rice. The milled rice was ground in the frozen grinding machine and passed through a 100-mesh sieve to collect the rice flour. After completing the above processes, the rice flour was stored in a glass desiccator for subsequent analysis. All the experiments were performed in triplicate unless otherwise specified.g for 10 min to wash the sediment. The washing step was repeated more than six times to ensure that the protein was removed successfully. The extracted rice starch was dried at 40 °C in an oven and collected with a 100-mesh sieve for subsequent analysis.The starch was extracted from rice flour by the alkaline steeping method with slight modifications . Rice flv/v) methanol and was dried at 40 °C; 1 mL of 95% (v/v) ethanol was added to 100 mg rice starch sample in a conical flask, then 9 mL of 1.0 mol/L NaOH was added and mixed slightly. The suspension of the flour was incubated with boiling water for 10 min and cooled to room temperature with ice water, then transferred to a 100 mL volumetric flask and fully mixed. Then, 5 mL of solution was transferred to another 100 mL volumetric flask with a pipette and 1 mL of 1.0 mol/L acetic acid and 2 mL of iodine reagent were added in sequence. Then, 1.5 mL solution was transferred to a cuvette and the absorbance was determined by a spectrophotometer  at 720 nm after 10 min. The determination of amylose content usually used the iodine reagent method (GBT15683-2008). Three grams (dry basis) of rice starch was defatted with 85% . Starch samples were fixed on the aluminum sheet with double-sided tapes and coated vertically gold. The accelerating voltage and magnifications were 5.0 kV and 2400×, respectively .The particle size distribution of rice starch samples was measured using a laser diffraction particle size analyzer . The starch samples (200 mg) were suspended in distilled water (2 mL) and stirred fully at 1500 rpm. Then, the instrument program is selected to determine granule size ranging from 0.1 to 2000 μm. The volume size distribution of starch granules was determined and recorded. w/w) and then pressed into 2 mm pellets. The spectra scanned times, wavenumber range, and resolution were 64, 4000 to 400 cm−1, and 4 cm−1, respectively. The spectra at 1200–800 cm−1 were analyzed with baseline correction before deconvolution by OMNIC 8.2. The width and enhancement factor were 38 cm−1 and 1.9, respectively.The short-range molecular order of rice starch was measured by the IS10 27 Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy . The ratio of starch samples and KBr powder was mixed in a ratio of 1:150   operated at 40 kV and 40 mA Cu-Kα radiation. The diffraction angle (2θ), scanning speed, and step width were 5° to 40°, 2°/min, and 0.02°, respectively. Before measurements, all starch samples were placed in a glass desiccator, where a constant humidity atmosphere was maintained by the saturated NaCl solution at room temperature for 24 h. The relative crystallinity of rice starch was calculated by JADE 6.5 software.Differential scanning calorimetry  was used to measure the thermal properties of rice starch samples. Three milligrams (dry basis) of starch samples and 9.0 μL of distilled water were added to an aluminum pan. The empty pan was considered as the reference, and the pans were sealed and equilibrated for 12 h at 4 °C prior to the measurement. The heating range and rate were 25 °C to 100 °C and 10 °C/min, respectively. The gelatinization temperature was calculated using data recording software, including onset (To), peak (Tp), and conclusion (Tc) temperatures, the gelatinization range (Tc-To), along with the gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH). The pasting profiles of rice starch samples were determined by using Rapid Visco-Analyser . About 3.0 g (dry basis) of starch samples and 25 mL of distilled water were added to the canister. The starch suspension after being stirred underwent a heating and cooling process programmed by the instrument. The measurement procedure is shown as follows. Firstly, the starch suspension started at 50 °C for 1 min before increasing to 95 °C with a heating rate of 12 °C/min. Secondly, equilibrated at 50 °C for 1 min. Finally, cooled to 50 °C with a heating rate of 12 °C/min and maintained for 4 min at 50 °C. Meanwhile, the speed of rotation was 960 rpm for the first 10 s, then increased to 160 rpm and maintained for rest time during measurement. The textural properties were assessed using a texture analyzer . Five grams of starch sample was suspended in 40 mL water and stirred at 300 rpm for 20 min. The suspensions were heated in a water bath at 95 °C for 20 min with continuous stirring to ensure complete gelatinization. Then the pastes obtained were immediately transferred into cups  with a cover and stored at 4 °C for 12 h. The samples were tested on the sample table of the texture analyzer, and the test conditions were set as follows: the P36 probe was selected, the test speed was 1 mm/s, and the pre-speed and post-speed were both set at 2.0 mm/s. The deformation level was set at 20% of the original sample height in order to avoid the complete destruction of starch gel in the first compression.The starch sample (100 mg) and distilled water (10 mL) were weighed into screwcap tubes and mixed evenly. The tube was heated in a boiling water bath for 30 min and shaken every 5 min. After cooling to room temperature, the percentage of transmittance (% T) at 650 nm was measured by spectrophotometer  against distilled water blank.g for 15 min. The supernatant was transferred to an aluminum box with a pipette and dried to a constant weight (W1) in an air oven at 105 °C. The sediment that was attached to the wall of the centrifugal tube was weighted (Ws). The SP and WSI were calculated by the following equations.The SP and WSI were measured by Wei’s  method wn), polydispersity index (PDI = Mw/Mn), z-average radius of gyration (Rz), and molecular density (ρ = Mw/Rz3) of rice starches were obtained from Astra software version 5.3.4.The molecular weight distribution of the rice starch was determined by a size exclusion chromatography-multi-angle light scattering-refractive index detector (SEC-MALLS-RID) . Starch samples (50 mg) were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution with 50 mM LiBr. The starch dispersion was heated at 80 °C with continuous shaking (100 rpm) overnight. The solution was passed through a 0.22 μm organic membrane filter before being injected into the SEC-MALLS-RID system with the He-Ne laser source (658 nm). Three SEC columns   were used to analyze the molecular weight and the column temperature was maintained at 60 °C. DMSO solution containing 50 mmol/L LiBr was the mobile phase, and the flow velocity was 0.6 mL/min. The dn/dc was 0.04 mL/g to calculate the data. Number average molecular weights  to precipitate the starch granules, and the starch sediment was redissolved in the boiling water for 10 min and then cooled to 50 °C. Sodium acetate  and pullulanase  were added to the starch solution. Then, the starch solution was debranched at 50 °C for 48 h. The reaction was stopped by boiling for 10 min. Then, the solution (20 μL) was passed through a 0.22 μm membrane filter and injected into the SEC-RID system. Three SEC columns   controlled at 60 °C. The system was calibrated with Pullulan P-82 . The mobile phase was ammonium acetate  and the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min.The chain-length distributions of amylopectin were determined by the SEC coupled with a refractive index (RI) detector. Starch samples and DMSO (50 mg: 10 mL) were mixed and heated at 90 °C with shaking at 160 rpm overnight. Thereafter, 1 mL of sample was transferred and mixed with 6 mL of absolute ethanol. Then, the suspension was separated by centrifugation  of rice starch were incubated in a 5 mL solution composed of porcine pancreatic α-amylase (290 U/mL) and amyloglucosidase (50 U/mL) in 0.1 M sodium acetate (pH 5.2) at 37 °C with continuous shaking (160 rpm) for 200 min. Aliquots (100 μL) were taken and added to absolute ethanol (900 μL) at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 160, and 200 min to stop the enzymatic reaction. The mixture was centrifuged at 4500× g for 10 min, and the glucose content was determined in the supernatant by the GOPOD kit . The rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content, slowly digestible starch (SDS) content, and resistant starch (RS) content were calculated by the following equation. G20 and G120 represented the glucose content that was digested at 20 and 120 min, respectively.The in vitro starch digestibility of rice starch was determined by the method of Englyst, Kingman, and Cummings with minor modifications as follows . One hunp-values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.Data in all tables were expressed using “means ± standard deviation”. The group means were compared using analysis of variance with Duncan’s post hoc test, and all statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21.0 and The amylose content of different rice starches is presented in The starch granules morphology was determined using scanning electron microscopy, which is shown in The starch granules from various rice cultivars exhibited a remarkable difference in particle size distribution of starch . The smaThe different rice starches showed similar XRD patterns, as shown in −1 for different cultivars of rice starch were similar  and the lowest in WRS (1.200). The short-range ordered structure was principally influenced by the crystalline form and starch granule size [The FT-IR spectra in the range of 1200–800 cm similar B. FT-IR starches . The ratule size .The thermal curve of different rice cultivar starches was similar D. The va−1 and the WSI ranged from 24.09 to 67.57% in various rice starches. WYN exhibited the lowest SP and highest WSI. The highest SP was observed in the SRS and higher than 26 g∙g−1. The WSI of SRS was about 25%, which was lower than JRS. The difference in SP was primarily due to the amylose content, and the double-helix structure of amylose could restrain starch swelling and retain the swollen granules [The crystal structure of the starch granules is destroyed due to the hydrogen bond fracture when starch interacts with excess water during heating. Furthermore, hydrogen bonds are formed between the water molecules and exposed starch, leading to starch swelling and increased solubility . The SP granules . Moreovegranules ,29.Temp). PTemp varied from 67.4 (99-25) to 71.8 °C (DHX). The WRS presented the lowest PTemp and PV. The result was in line with the study of Wang [Temp of SRS ranged from 69.8 to 70.2 °C, which was lower than PTemp of JRS. Sang et al. [Temp. This was not enough to account for the current results. The results showed that the PV and PTemp were also affected by other important factors besides the swelling powder. Hot paste viscosity (HPV) ranged from 1037 to 2140 cP among different rice starches with the lowest in 99-25 and the highest in DHX, and SRS ranged from 1544 to 2006 cP. Cold paste viscosity (CPV) varied from 1434 to 3438 cP with the lowest for WYN and the highest for DHX. The CPV of SRS was lower than JRS while higher than WRS, ranging from 2361 to 2818 cP. The increase in CPV is linked to the rearrangement of amylose and amylopectin during the cooling process [time) during the RVA heating period. The shortest Ptime was found in 99-25 (3.36 min) while the longest Ptime was in DHX (6.20 min). In this study, the SRS achieved the highest PV and BD among different rice starches, and the HPV, CPV, SB, Ptime, and Ptemp were between WRS and JRS. The pasting properties among the analyzed rice starches differed significantly , and the of Wang . PTemp og et al.  demonstr process . The hig process  reportedThe textural properties of different rice cultivars starches are given in n) of rice starch are related to the content of amylose, amylose to amylopectin ratio, and the chain-length distribution of amylopectin. The homogeneous rice varieties showed similar molecular weight distributions. The Mn of SRS varied from 1.64 × 108 g/mol to 2.00 × 108 g/mol. SXJ 100 exhibited the highest Mn while NJ 46 showed the lowest Mn. The Mn of SRS was lower than WRS while superior to the JRS. Moreover, the polydispersity index (PDI) and z-average radius of gyration (Rz) of SRS ranged from 2.16 to 2.58 and 423.1 to 480.4, respectively, which were the highest values of collected rice starch. The higher PDI indicated the different proportions of long chain and short chain in the starch. The molecular density (ρ) of soft rice starch varied from 4.09 to 5.71, which was between starch from the waxy rice and japonica rice. The results indicated that the branch of starch from soft rice was less than that of waxy rice. It may be associated with the different rice varieties and the growth environment. NJ 46 and NJ 9108 presented the approximate Mn and ρ, which illustrated the starch structure was closely related to rice genotypes.The vital molecular structure parameters of SRS are given in 1 chain, B2 chain, and B3 chain, and the corresponding DP values are 6–12, 13–24, 25–36, and >37, respectively. In 1 chain, while the second peak manifests the medium and long chains of amylopectin, which contains the B2 and B3 chain. A significant difference was observed in the chain-length distributions among the different rice starches , slowly digestible starch (SDS), and resistant starch (RS), as well as the digestion time corresponds to less than 20 min, 20–120 min, and more than 120 min. The digestograms and nutritional properties among different rice starches are shown in time, Ptemp, hardness, and gumminess but showed no correlation with PV and BD. Kong and Noda et al. also demonstrated a positive relationship between HPV, CPV, and SB with the amylose content of rice starches [−1. The amylose could restrain and keep the starch granules swollen, and starches with high RC and the short-range order degree were easier to interact with water [ρ, and B2 chain content and positively related with B1 chain content and PDI. These results demonstrated that physicochemical properties and molecular structure were influenced by the amylose content of starch from different rice. The relationship between molecular structure and physicochemical properties of rice starch was analyzed in this research. Pearson’s correlation coefficients are exhibited in starches ,37. The starches . The amyth water . These rth water . In addi1 chain content while negatively related to B2 chain content. The results showed that the short chain of amylopectin influenced the starch granule swelling and was easier to leach out in the starch solution during the heating process [−1 were negatively correlated with A chain content, while positively correlated to B2 chain content, Mn, and ρ. The A1 chain content was positively relative to SP and negatively relative to WSI. The enrichment of short chains in the starch crystallization zone could reduce the stability of crystallization stacking [The PV was positively linked to A and B process . The lonstacking . The statime, and Ptemp were between starch from waxy rice and japonica rice. Moreover, the Mn and ρ of SRS varied from 1.64 × 108 g/mol to 2.00 × 108 g/mol and 4.09 to 5.71, respectively, which was higher than the JRS and lower than WRS. The SRS had the highest proportion of the B1 chain. Furthermore, the RS content of SRS was superior to that of WRS and JRS. Correlation analysis proved that the molecular structure and physicochemical properties were influenced by the amylose content of different rice starches. The content of the A1 chain and B3 chain had an important effect on the physicochemical properties of rice starch. These results provided a theoretical basis for the processing and application of soft rice starch and the breeding of high-quality rice.This study mainly investigated the structure at the molecular level and physicochemical properties of starch from different rice. Compared with starch from waxy rice and japonica rice, starch from soft rice showed different molecular structure and physicochemical properties. The SRS presented low amylose content, which is classified as a very low amylose type. The granule of SRS was polygonal and spherical, and the SRS achieved the highest percentage of small starch granules. The relative crystallinity of SRS varied from 26.15% to 27.55% with a lower short-range ordered structure than WRS. Additionally, the SP and WSI of starch from soft rice were higher than 26.64 g/g and 24.09%, separately. The SRS presented the highest PV and BD among different rice starches, but the values of HPV, CPV, SB, P


Modern dental implantology is based on a set of more or less related first-order parameters, such as the implant surface and the intrinsic composition of the material. For decades, implant manufacturers have focused on the research and development of the ideal material combined with an optimal surface finish to ensure the success and durability of their product. However, brands do not always communicate transparently about the nature of the products they market. Thus, this study aims to compare the surface finishes and intrinsic composition of three zirconia implants from three major brands. To do so, cross-sections of the apical part of the implants to be analyzed were made with a micro-cutting machine. Samples of each implant of a 4 to 6 mm thickness were obtained. Each was analyzed by a tactile profilometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Compositional measurements were performed by X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The findings revealed a significant use of aluminum as a chemical substitute by manufacturers. In addition, some manufacturers do not mention the presence of this element in their implants. However, by addressing these issues and striving to improve transparency and safety standards, manufacturers have the opportunity to provide even more reliable products to patients. Desulfovibrio fairfieldensis can form biofilm colonies on titanium implant discs [The success of modern dental implantology is based on a set of more or less related first-order parameters, such as the implant surface condition and the intrinsic composition of the material. Indeed, surface conditions have been extensively studied, showing their direct involvement in the osseointegration process. Thus, it is recognized that the surface topography and the chemistry, including the surface energy of a material, condition the biological behavior of the tissues in contact at the bone/implant interface. In addition, the intrinsic composition of the material conditions, to a certain extent, the mechanical and chemical stresses of the material in contact with the physiological environment of a living organism . For thint discs . Many prnt discs . To furtnt discs . This obnt discs  which suChemical inertness is one of the greatest advantages of zirconia implants over titanium implants in that the strong interatomic bonds within this material result in almost no ionic leaching. This aspect explains the absence or low inflammatory infiltrates of cytokine or interleukin observed following contact with zirconia particles . Thus, tAlthough the advantages of zirconia are both multiple and promising according to the literature, and although commercial regulations are obliging the manufacturers to respect the imposed standards, the brands do not always communicate transparently on the nature of the marketed products. In fact, the lack of consistent and transparent communication from dental implant manufacturers regarding their products is a cause for concern. Both patients and healthcare professionals should have access to accurate information to make informed decisions about the materials used in dental implant procedures. This transparency is crucial to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and long-term success of dental implants. In this age of advanced technology and scientific research, it is imperative that manufacturers provide detailed information about the composition and characteristics of their dental implant materials. This includes specifying the type of zirconia used, the concentration of stabilizers, such as yttrium oxide, and any other relevant details about the manufacturing process. Patients, in particular, need to be aware of the materials used in their dental implants, especially if they have allergies or specific sensitivities. Patients allergic to titanium, in particular, can greatly benefit from the availability of zirconia implants. Knowing that zirconia offers a viable and safe alternative can provide peace of mind and open up more treatment options for those who may have been previously limited by their allergic reactions to titanium. Furthermore, healthcare professionals must have access to comprehensive information about implant materials to ensure they can choose the most suitable options for their patients. The ability to choose between titanium and zirconia implants based on individual needs and a patient’s medical history is essential for providing high-quality dental care. In the quest for transparency, regulatory bodies should continue to refine and enforce guidelines for dental implant manufacturers. These guidelines should cover not only the materials used but also the need for clear and precise labeling, patient information, and post-market surveillance to monitor the long-term performance of implant materials. Ensuring that manufacturers provide detailed information about dental implant materials, and that both patients and healthcare professionals have access to this information, is essential for the continued advancement of dental implant technology and the overall well-being of patients. Transparency in the industry will lead to safer and more effective dental implant procedures, benefiting individuals seeking dental care around the world. Thus, this study aims to compare the surface finishes and intrinsic composition of three zirconia implants from three leading brands. The brands and models of implants studied are listed in the table below .® secotom-10, Struers, Copenhagen, Denmark). The samples were obtained by cross-sections of a 4 to 6 mm thickness from the apical area of each implant, and each sample was analyzed by a profilometer and SEM. This allowed the integrity of the implant to be maintained to continue the analyses for other parallel studies with the same implants.The cuts were made with a micro-saw (Struers®). The accuracy of this device is of the order of plus or minus 1 nm.The measurement of the roughness was performed at three different locations on the implant, and then the data were averaged to obtain values representative of the total implant surface. Data was carried out using a contact or tactile profilometer  operating under controlled pressure for a period of 10 min. Once metallization was completed, the zirconia disks were transferred to a Quanta™ FEG 650 SEM , . This scanning electron microscope was configured to operate at a voltage of 10.00 kV, allowing for high-resolution observation of the metallized samples. This detailed analysis was crucial for examining the nanoscale structure and characteristics of the zirconia samples.The average surface roughness of the three measurements on zirconia implants ® reports a specific surface treatment called ZERAFIL™ 6,7 which imparts a hydrophilic property for Nobelpearl. After observation with SEM, in the high magnification ×4000 image , this treatment is also patented by the company. The image in The Z look 3 implant from Z-systemsThis implant was supposed to be designed with alumina-reinforced zirconia. The manufacturer does not disclose the presence of yttrium. The spectrum of the chemical composition, as in ® has a patented zircopore surface treatment. This treatment corresponds to a thermohydrolysis of zirconium salt in solution which allows obtaining a microporous surface. The spectrum of the composition of the Ziraldent implant confirms the manufacturer’s data by the presence of aluminum, yttrium, and zirconium up to more than 99.5% (The Ziraldent implant from Metoxitan 99.5% . Table 4The images obtained, as in ® to 0.8 µm for the Z-Systems® Z look 3. These values are well below the values announced by the manufacturers, which are in the order of 1 to 2 µm of Ra. It should be noted that these results are correlated with the SEM images of the surface obtained. However, it is quite legitimate to wonder why there is such a difference between the data of the parameters announced by the manufacturers and the real parameters of the marketed devices. A commercial ethic must be respected given the requirements of the clinicians who prefer to place either implants with a roughened surface or implants with a machined surface according to their own clinical experience. Indeed, it is known that the surface topography of the implant conditions in sine qua non was in the process of osseointegration [This study provides relevant information on the strategies of designers to propose competitive products according to their respective specifications. Thus, the objective is to compare the surface conditions and the intrinsic compositions of three manufacturers of zirconia implants, and the results of this work put into perspective the legitimate questioning of consumers on the durability of certain medical devices. The Ra values measured on the implants under study range from 0.3 µm for NobelPearlegration . More exegration ,19. Thusegration . Some clegration . In addiegration . More reegration . These c® Z look 3 implants are composed of 14.37% aluminum not declared by the manufacturer. This disturbing finding suggests that manufacturers are not subject to an independent control system of marketed dental implants that could sanction irregularities [®’s Ziraldent FR2 is composed of 42.43% aluminum, and Z-Systems®’s Z look 3 is composed of 43.73% aluminum. These respective manufacturers have announced the presence of aluminum in their implants, but they do not indicate the exact proportions of aluminum. Certain, manufacturers mention the better resistance to aging and increased toughness of zirconia matrix composite ceramics, although in principle, they are meant to be composed of only 20% aluminum which is very far from being the case in this study. It should be noted that these proportions are high compared to the aluminum proportions of 4% for TiAl6V used to improve the mechanical properties of titanium or the 3% or 5% of yttrium oxide necessary to stabilize the zirconia. It is essential to understand that the objective of this type of strategy is often economic, given the costs of raw materials. It is legitimate to think about increasing the mechanical properties of materials by reasonably modulating the content of chemical elements, such as aluminum. However, it is more important to consider the potential health risks in case of systemic release of these aluminum particles into the body of implanted patients. As far as patient health is concerned, TiAl6V is the reference material in dental implantology, but the neutrality of its composition is increasingly being questioned. With clinical hindsight, studies report the dissolution of vanadium and aluminum after implant corrosion in vivo [The results of the intrinsic composition of zirconia implants in this study highlight some disturbing observations. SEM-EDS analysis of the chemical composition spectra of the zirconia implants suggests that the Z-Systemslarities . Similar in vivo . Indeed, in vivo ,25.Aluminum is a prime suspect because of its involvement in a variety of adverse health situations, although no physiological function of this metal is known. The systemic release of aluminum from corroded titanium implants may cause inhibition of peri-implant bone formation and mineralization by increasing osteoclastic activity while reducing osteoblastic activity ,27. In tThe results of this study, which compared the surface finishes and intrinsic compositions of three zirconia implant manufacturers, have brought to light a concerning aspect. The findings revealed a significant use of aluminum as a chemical substitute by manufacturers to optimize production. Furthermore, some manufacturers do not disclose the presence of this element in their implants, while others lack full transparency regarding the proportions of aluminum used, potentially exposing patients to proven health risks.It is important to acknowledge that these observations are indeed concerning. However, it is essential to recognize that these implants can be improved, and from a technical perspective, the brands have room for enhancement. By addressing these issues and striving for better transparency and safety standards, manufacturers have the opportunity to provide even more reliable and advanced products to patients. Furthermore, several research directions are being pursued to enhance aluminum-doped zirconia dental implants. Researchers have the potential to optimize the composition of aluminum-doped zirconia to reduce aluminum release while preserving the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the implant. It is also feasible to develop special surface coatings to seal aluminum-doped zirconia, thereby preventing direct contact between aluminum and biological tissues. Thorough studies on aluminum release from these implants under simulated physiological conditions are crucial to better understand aluminum behavior and develop effective containment solutions. Furthermore, long-term clinical studies are essential to assess the stability of aluminum-doped zirconia implants and monitor any adverse effects on patient health. Research into alternative materials for “metal-free” dental implants can also be undertaken to completely eliminate the use of aluminum. Finally, regulatory bodies and manufacturers must establish monitoring and control mechanisms to ensure that implants comply with safety and reliability standards.


Journal of Virology in 1986. Three eventful years later, Terri was US Editor of Genes & Development, a role she has fulfilled in exemplary style for over a third of a century. Let me recount the events that led to her stewardship of G&D.Terri and I met at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory nearly half a century ago as junior scientists in the James lab. Both of us were studying adenovirus. Our work was complementary and we wrote three papers together, dealing with viral genes that encoded regulatory proteins and RNAs. The last of these papers, coauthored with Elizabeth Moran, Rich Roberts, and Brad Zerler, was on gene expression and cellular transformation induced by products of the virus's E1A gene. It was published in the G&D as a “journal devoted to the molecular analysis of gene expression in eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses.” It was a joint venture with the Genetics Society of Great Britain, and Graham Bulfield was European Editor. True to its principles, the first issue, which came out in March 1987, featured papers and commentaries on plants, animals, and bacteria, as well as viruses infecting all three, from laboratories in Europe and (mainly) the United States. This was a notable launch, and the journal has continued to publish top-drawer science and gain respect in the field ever since.Terri took over the editorship from me in 1989, relieving me of the position I had held for about 2 years following the tragic and singularly untimely death of Steve Prentis. Steve founded When I took on the position, it was in the immediate aftermath of Steve's tragic death in a road accident, made all the more poignant as it befell on the verge of the appearance of the journal's very first issue. Many of us at CSHL became aware of the disaster as we were gathering the next morning for an in-house symposium in Grace Auditorium. I was on the newborn journal's Editorial Board and naturally—perhaps naïvely—offered to do what I could in the wake of this calamity. At the time, I had no real idea what was entailed, but Judy Cuddihy was there to steady the ship.  Judy had worked closely with Steve to bring the journal into being and had a clear sense of what it was intended to be as well as the skills to manage it and keep the monthly production on schedule.Being Editor was an education for me, but to all appearances the journal thrived. This was not without a few hiccups, however. Selection of the cover art was sometimes a source of debate in the journal office upstairs in the Carnegie Library building. One cover with a plant theme drew more discussion than usual and has occasioned amused comments from Terri (though a not dissimilar illustration graces a CSHL Symposium volume that she coedited!). Needless to say, I was indebted to our Editorial Board members and outside referees for outstanding and knowledgeable guidance, but I was also conscious of the journal's announced scope and high aspirations. This led to a few confrontations. One Nobel laureate, whose paper was accepted, grumbled about my insistence on the distinction between the rate of synthesis of a macromolecule and its accumulated level (though he yielded to persuasion in the end). Another luminary complained that I'd had the audacity to reject his paper. The word came back to me from Jim Watson, possibly through Terri, that the journal—or was it me?—couldn't survive more than one incident a year of this type. I hasten to add that Jim took a keen interest in the journal and its progress but made no move to influence its running. It was left to sink or swim.G&D—but not as Editor of the journal. Fortunately, Terri came to the rescue and offered to take on the job of editing G&D. She was eager to do it and no less qualified than I was when I took it on , but still, would she take to it, we wondered? The journal was a going concern, after all. Shouldn't we do something to gain reassurance that it would be in good hands? To Terri's faintly disguised amusement, Judy and I devised a trial run of sorts. Terri was handed a few manuscripts and their reviews to evaluate and make recommendations on: to accept for publication, return for revisions either major or minor, or decline. She did so; we pontificated and, with some relief on my part, we approved. I'll never forget Terri's quizzical response, transmitted nonverbally but unmistakably. To this day, it reminds me of John Lennon's tongue-in-cheek closing remark on the Apple building rooftop: “I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we've passed the audition.” Of course she took to it, and the journal and community it serves are the better for it.The journal swam, of course, but I wanted to get back to the lab full time. John Inglis arrived at CSHL as director of the Press—the position Steve had held while spearheading For Terri, this was the beginning of a remarkable tenure, during which she deftly stewarded the journal, enhanced its reputation, published great science, and saw it flourish. We met over the years, often at conferences where Terri was a focus of bonhomie as well as serious scientific business. Congratulations on a marathon stint as Editor, Terri! May the future be equally successful and fulfilling.


This study aimed to evaluate the effects of N topdressing on starch structure and properties of superior and inferior grains in hybrid indica rice varieties, namely the low-taste Fyou 498 and high-taste Shuangyou 573, were used as experimental materials. Based on 150 kg·N hm-2, three N fertilizer treatments were established: zero N (N0), local farmer practice  (N1), postponing N topdressing  (N2).Two hybrid 1, under N2, low-taste and high-taste varieties large starch granules content were significantly reduced by 6.89%, 0.74% in superior grains and 4.26%, 2.71% in inferior grains, the (B2 + B3) chains was significantly reduced by 1.61%, 0.98% in superior grains, and 1.18%, 0.97% in inferior grains, both reduced the relative crystallinity and 1045/1022 cm-1, thereby decreasing the stability of the starch crystalline region and the orderliness of starch granules. N2 treatment reduced the ΔHgel of two varieties. These changes ultimately contributed to the enhancement of the taste values in superior and inferior grains in both varieties, especially the inferior grains. Correlation analysis showed that the average starch volume diameter  and relative crystallinity were significantly positively correlated with the taste value of superior and inferior sgrains, suggesting their potential use as an evaluation index for the simultaneous enhancement of the taste value of rice with superior and inferior grains.The starch granules of superior grains were more complete, and the decrease in small granules content and the stability of starch crystals were a certain extent less than those of inferior grains. Compared with N-2, postponing N topdressing  promotes the enhancement of the overall taste value and provides theoretical information for the production of rice with high qualityBased on 150 kg·N hm As the The quality of the rice varies depending on its position on the panicle. In general, superior grains that grow in the middle and upper parts of the panicle show early flowering, good grain filling, and high eating quality, whereas inferior grains that grow in the lower part of the panicle show late flowering, slow rate filling, poor filling, and low taste quality . The quaNitrogen (N) fertilizer is a key element for rice yield and quality . The app-2, postponing N topdressing  optimizes the starch granule properties of superior and inferior grains, reduces the values of 1045/1022 cm-1 and relative crystallinity, increases gel consistency, and improves eating quality  could reduce the proportion of amylopectin (A+B1) chains, increase the content of total starch and amylose, increase the peak viscosity and final viscosity of starch, and thus improve the cooking and eating quality of rice. -2 would increase the gel consistency and reduce the amylose content of rice, and ultimately improve taste quality.Low N panicle fertilizer application rate reduced the α-1,6 linkage content and amylopectin short chains content and disrupted the long chain double helix structure of amylopectin, increased breakdown, and decreased the setback, thereby improving rice cooking and eating quality . However quality . Zhou etindica rice with different palatability values in nitrogen fertilizer management, as well as their relationship with eating quality. Consequently, this study aims to fill this research gap by selecting two hybrid indica rice varieties with significant differences in taste value as the experimental materials. The objective is to investigate the effects of N fertilizer management on the starch structure and properties of superior and inferior grains within the panicles of these hybrid indica rice varieties. Additionally, the study aims to elucidate the relationship between the starch structure characteristics of superior and inferior grains and their respective taste qualities. We anticipate that the findings from this research endeavor will contribute to establishing a theoretical and practical basis for the cultivation of high-quality and high-yielding hybrid indica rice varieties.Extensive research has investigated the differences in starch structure characteristics between superior and inferior grains of the same variety under different nitrogen application rates, and the changes in starch structure characteristics of whole spike grains of different varieties under various nitrogen fertilizer management practices. However, it is not clear what the effects of a high proportion of postponing N topdressing  on the starch structure characteristics of superior and inferior grains of hybrid 22.1−1, total nitrogen content of 1.53 g kg−1, alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen content of 102.27 mg kg−1, available phosphorus content of 19.42 mg kg−1, available potassium content of 115.45 mg kg−1, and a pH value of 6.61. Two medium indica late-maturing hybrid indica rice varieties , local farmer practice  (2). The N fertilizer (urea) was managed as follows: The base fertilizer was applied 1 d before transplanting, the tillering fertilizer was applied 7 d after transplanting, and the panicle fertilizer was applied at a 1:1 ratio during the inverse fourth-leaf and second-leaf stages. Calcium superphosphate (P2O5 75 kg hm-2) was applied once as basal fertilizer 1 d before transplanting, and potassium chloride (K2O 150 kg hm-2) was applied at two equal doses 1 d before transplanting and at the inverse fourth-leaf stage. on 9 April, seedlings were raised under dry conditions, and individual plants were manually transplanted on 10 May with a row spacing of 33.3 cm×16.7 cm. There were a total of six treatments, each replicated three times, with a plot area of 4 m×7 m=28.0 m2. A ridge (30 cm high) was constructed between adjacent plots and covered with plastic film to ensure separate irrigation and fertilization. Diseases, pests, and weeds control measures followed the management practices of high-yield fields.The experiment employed a two-factor, completely randomized design, incorporating diverse strategies for managing N fertilizer and different varieties. Based on a stable and efficient reduction of nitrogen application rate of 150 kg N hm-2 , three Nd as N1) , postpon2.32.3.1The taste value, hardness, and stickiness of the cooked rice were measured using a Satake Rice Taste Analyzer  . 30 g of2.3.2The grains born on the top three primary branches of rice panicles, excluding the second grain at the top, were considered superior, and the grains that were born on the three secondary branches at the base of the rice panicle, excluding the first grain at the top, were considered inferior grains .2/KI (0.2%/2%) solution, acetic acid , and distilled water (9 mL) were added. Absorbance was measured at 620 nm. Amylopectin content was obtained by subtracting the apparent amylose content from the total starch content  were thoroughly mixed with KBr at a ratio of 1:150 and pressed into slices. The samples were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer NicoletiZ-10  with 32 scans, an instrument resolution of 4 cm2.3.8The thermal properties of starch were determined following the method described by 2.4Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using the SPSS software . The least significant difference (LSD) was used for multiple comparisons, and Origin 2021  was used for plotting. Person correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between starch structural properties and rice eating quality at significance levels of 0.05 and 0.01.33.1The effects of each cultivar at different grain positions and N fertilizer management on the taste value, hardness, and stickiness of superior and inferior rice grains were found to be significant level. Additionally, there was a significant interaction between these two factors in relation to the hardness of superior and inferior rice grains Table 2.0 treatment, the N1 and N2 treatments significantly reduced the taste value of superior grains of the low-taste variety Fyou 498 by 6.67% and 2.59%, and the high-taste variety Shuangyou 573 by 6.31% and 3.61%, respectively. However, compared to the N1 treatment, the N2 treatment significantly increased the superior grain taste value of the low-taste variety and the high-taste variety by 4.37% and 2.89%, respectively. In contrast to the superior grains, N application treatments significantly increased the taste value of the inferior grains. Compared with N0, the N1 and N2 treatments significantly increased the taste value of inferior grains of the low-taste variety by 2.59% and 7.30%, and the high-taste variety by 2.13% and 7.24%, respectively, and the taste value of inferior grains significantly increased as the N topdressing ratio increased. This shows that the regulation of N fertilizer management on the taste value of inferior grains is greater than that of superior grains. At the same time, N2 treatment is more conducive to improving the taste value of inferior grains.N application significantly reduced the taste value of the superior grains of the two varieties. Compared with the N0, the N1 and N2 treatments significantly increased the hardness of superior grains of the low-taste variety by 11.26% and 40.73%, significantly decreased the stickiness by 32.00%, 12.00%; while the high-taste variety increased by 20.89%, 24.68%, and decreased by 16.33%, 12.24%. The hardness and stickiness of the inferior grains of both varieties were greatest in the N2 treatment. Compared with the N2 treatment, the N0 and N1 treatments significantly reduced the hardness of inferior grains of the low-taste variety by 19.58%, 26.57%, significantly reduced the stickiness by 19.05%, 4.76%; and the high-taste variety reduced by 13.97%, 24.02%, and 13.33%, 6.67%, respectively.3.2The effects of each cultivar at different grain positions on the amylose and amylopectin contents in the superior and inferior grains of rice were extremely significant Figure 10, the N1 and N2 treatments significantly increased the total starch content of superior grains of the low-taste variety by 4.68%, and 11.49%, and significantly increased amylopectin content by 13.00%, and 18.69%, but significantly decreased amylose by 14.58%, 5.15%; while the high-taste variety increased by 5.38%, 13.25% and 8.64%, 18.21%, and decreased by 5.79%,3.84%. In line with the trend of superior grains, N application treatments significantly increased the total starch and amylopectin content and significantly decreased the amylose content of inferior grains in both varieties. Compared with N0, N1 and N2 significantly increased the total starch content of inferior grains of low-taste variety by 13.13%, 17.48%, significantly increased amylopectin content by 30.86%, 34.30%, significantly decreased amylose content by 19.63%, 13.57%; while the high-taste variety increased by 2.21%, 6.51%, and 8.47%,10.94%, and decreased by 23.69%, 11.84%, respectively.N fertilizer management had significant effects on the total starch, amylose, and amylopectin contents of superior and inferior grains. N application treatments significantly increased the total starch and amylopectin contents of the superior grains in both varieties but significantly decreased the amylose content. Compared with N3.3As shown in 0 treatment, there were more holes and pits on the surface of superior grain starch granules and more small granule starch content in the two varieties under N application treatments. In particular, the starch content of small granules was obviously increased under the N2 treatment. The starch granules of the inferior grains under each N fertilizer treatment were more uneven than those of the superior grains, and the surfaces of the starch granules were more uneven and cracked. Compared to the N0 treatment, the N1 and N2 treatments had more complete starch granules and fewer broken starch granules in the inferior grains. The application of nitrogen fertilizer deteriorated the starch granule traits of superior grains but optimized the starch granule traits of inferior grains.Compared with the N3.40, the N1 and N2 treatments significantly increased the proportion of small starch granules in superior grains of the low-taste variety Fyou 498 by 9.40%, 10.65%, and significantly decreased the proportion of larger starch granules and D by 34.14%, 38.68% and 2.40%, 4.40%, and the high-taste variety Shuangyou 573 increased by 5.42%, 5.69%, and decreased by 12.94%, 13.58%, and 3.03%, 4.92%, respectively. Compared with N1, N2 treatment further increased the proportion of small starch granules in the superior grains and reduced the proportion of large starch granules and D of the two varieties. Among them, the increase of superior grains in small starch granules and the decrease in large starch granules in high-taste varieties were lower than those in low-taste varieties. Consistent with the trend in superior grains, both the N1 and N2 treatments significantly increased the proportion of small starch granules and significantly reduced the proportion of large starch granules in inferior grains of both varieties. Compared with the N0 treatment, N1 and N2 treatments significantly increased the proportion of small starch granules in inferior grains of low-taste variety by 1.18% and 2.02%, decreased the proportion of large starch granules by 5.70% and 9.71%; while the high-taste variety increased by 15.95% and 16.75%, and decreased by 35.12% and 36.88%. Meanwhile, the proportion of small starch granules in the inferior grains increased, and the proportion of large starch granules decreased as the proportion of postponed N topdressing. The effects of N management on inferior grain D differed between the two varieties. The low-taste variety Fyou 498 inferior grains D was the lowest under the N1 treatment, significantly lower by 13.69% compared to the N0 treatment and 11.33% compared to the N2 treatment; while the high-taste variety Shuangyou 573 inferior grains D was the highest in the N1 treatment, higher by 2.96% compared to the N0 treatment and 5.70% compared to the N2 treatment. The results showed that the N application treatments increased the percentage of small starch granules and decreased the percentage of large starch granules and D. And the percentage of small starch granules increased significantly, and the percentage of large starch granules and D decreased significantly with the proportion of N postponed topdressing. Besides, the increase of small starch granules and the decrease of large starch granules in superior grains of high-taste variety Shuangyou 573 under N2 treatment were lower than those of low-taste variety Fyou 498. However, the increase of small starch granules and the decrease of large starch granules in inferior grains were higher than those of low-taste variety, which may be an important reason for Shuangyou 573 under N2 treatment to maintain the high taste value of inferior grains.As shown in 3.50, under N1 and N2 treatments, the proportion of A chain in superior grains of the low-taste variety increased by 4.06% and 4.13%, and the B3 chain decreased by 1.10% and 3.67%, while the proportion of A chain of the high-taste variety increased by 0.81% and 4.13%, and the B3 chain decreased by 3.75% and 5.88%, respectively. Meanwhile, the proportion of (B2+B3) in inferior grains of two varieties decreased by 1.69%, 2.84%, and 1.22%, 2.19%. Similarly, compared with N1, the N2 treatment further increased the proportion of A chain and (A+B1) chain of superior grains in two varieties and further significantly reduced the proportion of B3 chain and (B2+B3) chain. Among them, the proportion of the B3 chain was significantly reduced by 2.59% and 2.21%. Significantly, inferior grains trend in line with superior grains. Among them, the proportion of A chain in inferior grains of low-taste and high-taste variety was significantly reduced by 5.84% and 1.86%, and the proportion of B3 chain was significantly reduced by 2.41% and 1.30%.As shown in 3.6-1 peak intensity ratio of starch. Comparing the high-taste variety Shuangyou 573 with the low-taste variety Fyou 498, there was a significant increase of 1.73–7.67% and 3.04–3.62% in the relative crystallinity and 1045/1022 cm-1 value of superior grains.As shown in -1 value of the low-taste variety and high-taste variety of superior grains but increased the 1022/995 cm-1 value. Among them, compared with N0, under N2 treatment, the relative crystallinity and the 1045/1022 cm-1 value of the low-taste variety decreased by 2.00% and 5.44%, and the high-taste variety decreased by 6.80% and 5.44%, respectively. In contrast to the superior grains, N application treatments significantly increased the relative crystallinity and 1045/1022 cm-1 peak intensity ratio of the inferior grains. Compared to N0, the N1 and N2 treatments increased the relative crystallinity of inferior grains of the two varieties, with a significant increase of 10.50% and 3.67% of the high-taste variety. Besides, in the N1 and N2 treatments, the 1045/1022 cm-1 value of the inferior grains in the low-taste variety significantly increased by 4.49% and 3.09%, and the high-taste variety significantly increased by 2.19% and 1.91%, respectively. The effects of N fertilizer treatment on the 1022/995 cm-1 peak intensity ratio of inferior grains differed between the two varieties. The low-taste variety exhibited the highest 1022/995 cm-1 peak intensity ratio under the N0 treatment, significantly increasing by 5.40% and 4.29% compared to the N1 and N2 treatments, respectively. In contrast, the high-taste variety was the highest under the N2 treatment, increasing by 1.01%, compared to the N1 treatments. Compared with N1, the N2 treatment significantly reduced the relative crystallinity and the 1045/1022 cm-1 value and significantly increased the 1022/995 cm-1 value of superior grains and inferior grains in both varieties. In particular, the high-taste variety of superior grains and inferior grains showed the greatest reduction in relative crystallinity, 6.31%, and 6.18%, respectively. This indicates that application of N fertilizer reduced the relative crystallinity and order degree of starch granules in superior grains, whereas the opposite trend was observed in inferior grains. Increasing the proportion of N topdressing ratio moderately reduced the relative crystallinity and ordered structure of starch granules, thereby changing their stability of starch granules.Under each treatment, the X-ray diffraction pattern of the superior and inferior starch grains of the two varieties showed two obvious strong peaks at 15° and 23° and two continuous double peaks near 17° and 18°, which are typical A-type crystallization peaks Figure 53.7The cultivars of different grain positions had significant or extremely significant effects on the onset temperature, peak temperature, termination temperature, retrogradation enthalpy, and retrogradation percentage of starch in the superior and inferior grains. N application management had extremely significant effects on the indicators of starch thermal properties in superior and inferior grains, and the interaction effect of the two factors on each index was extremely significant Table 7.1 treatment increased the gelatinization enthalpy of the superior grains, while the N2 treatment decreased the gelatinization enthalpy of both varieties. Moreover, compared with N0, N application reduced the peak and termination temperatures of the superior grain of the two varieties. Inconsistent with the trend of superior grains, N application treatments reduced the gelatinization enthalpy, and retrogradation enthalpy of inferior grains of the two varieties; reduced the starch peak and termination temperature of inferior grains of the low-taste variety Fyou 498; and increased the starch peak and termination temperature of inferior grains of the high-taste variety Shuangyou 573. Among them, compared with N0, in the N1 and N2 treatments, the gelatinization enthalpy in inferior grains of low-taste variety decreased by 10.58% and 11.58%, and retrogradation enthalpy decreased by 23.73% and 7.28%, while the high-taste variety decreased by 10.24% and 22.90%, 41.59%, and 53.16%, respectively. The results showed that the N application improved the gelatinization and retrogradation properties of inferior grains by reducing the gelatinization enthalpy and retrogradation enthalpy of the inferior grains of the two varieties. Increasing the proportion of postponed N topdressing reduced the gelatinization enthalpy of rice, but increased its retrogradation enthalpy.Under different N application treatments, the N3.8As shown in The taste value of inferior grains was significantly or extremely significantly positively correlated with D, amylopectin content, and relative crystallinity, and significantly negatively correlated with amylose content. Hardness was significantly or extremely significantly positively correlated with the proportion of large-granule starch, D, (B2+B3) chain, amylopectin content, and relative crystallinity, and significantly negatively correlated with the proportion of small-granule starch, (A+B1) chain, and amylose content. Stickiness was significantly positively correlated with the proportion of small granule starch, the proportion of (A+B1) chains, and relative crystallinity and was significantly negatively correlated with the proportion of large granule starch, the proportion of (B2+B3) chains, amylopectin content, and relative crystallinity.44.1The quality of rice starch is regulated by genetic factors and agronomic cultivation practices. Rice varieties with different genetic backgrounds exhibit different starch structures and properties. In this study, the varieties had significant effects on the fine structure and thermal properties of starch in superior and inferior grains. Compared with the low-taste variety Fyou 498, the large proportion of large starch granules and (B2+B3) chains in the superior and inferior grains of the high-taste variety Shuangyou 573 is an important physiological basis for the high relative crystallinity of starch, order degree of starch granules, and range of starch gelatinization temperatures  of the high-taste variety Shuangyou 573, which further complements and improves the results of previous studies . This st-1 value of starch can reflect the stability and order of starch crystals  chain in both varieties, with the largest proportion of A chains and small granule starch and the smallest proportion of the (B2+B3) chain under N2 treatment. A higher proportion of the A chain is not conducive to the formation of a good double helix structure, which leads to starch crystal structure defects. In contrast, a lower proportion of the (B2+B3) chain may reduce the number of double helix structures that can cross the entire crystalline lamellae, resulting in a weakened binding force to maintain the internal structure of starch granules, thereby reducing the stability of the starch crystal structure  chains in the superior and inferior grains of the two varieties, and decreased the relative crystallinity and 1045/1022 cm-1 value, resulting in a decrease in starch crystal stability. Compared with superior grains, inferior grains had smaller starch granules, more uneven surface of starch granules, thereby the crystal structure of inferior grains was more unstable. Based on the reduction of nitrogen application (150 kg N hm-2) using a postponing N topdressing treatment helped to reduce the stability of starch crystal structure, improve starch thermal characteristics, and especially reduce the inferior grains gelatinization enthalpy. These results helped to achieve the improvement of the taste quality of the whole spike of grains through the enhancement of the taste value of inferior grains based on the stabilization of high yields.In summary, compared with N4.2Starch structural properties are closely related to the cooking and eating quality characteristics. At present, there are several studies on the effects of starch structure and physicochemical properties on rice eating quality under N fertilizer management, but the conclusions are inconsistent . Xiong eThis study showed that varieties and nitrogen fertilizer had significant effects on the taste value of superior and inferior grains of the two varieties. Compared with the low-taste variety, the taste value of inferior grains of the high-taste variety significantly increased by 10.34-10.84%. This indicates that the difference in the taste value of inferior grains is an important reason for the overall taste value difference between the high- and low-taste varieties. In this study, N application treatments reduced the taste value of superior grains in both varieties, with the N2 treatment showing the smallest decrease in taste value. However, increased the taste value of inferior grains in both varieties under N application treatments. The taste value of inferior grains was the greatest under the N2 treatment, followed by N1 treatment and N0 treatments. Starch granule size affects the taste of the superior grains. The content of large starch granules and the average diameter of starch granules had a synergistic effect on the taste value of the superior granules Figure 6In this study, the gelatinization and retrogradation enthalpies of superior grains were inversely proportional to the taste value of superior grains, which is inconsistent with the conclusion of The hardness and stickiness of rice are important indicators of its textural properties. Rice hardness is significantly correlated with protein and amylose content . Previou1 and N2 treatments increased the proportion of amylopectin (A+B1) chain and decreased the proportion of (B2+B3) chains in both varieties  chain ratio of superior grains; thus, the small-molecular-weight amylopectin and short-chain amylopectin of rice grains are preferentially leached during cooking, increasing the stickiness of rice  using a postponing N topdressing treatment , which provides theoretical information for high-quality rice production.In this study, the high-taste variety Shuangyou 573 had higher stickiness and low hardness of superior and inferior grains compared to the low-taste variety Fyou 498. The difference in amylose content was the main reason for the difference in rice texture between the two varieties Figure 1 of rice . Subsequ of rice . In addi51, N2 treatment increased the proportion of small granule starch, the ratio of (A+B1) chains, amylose, amylopectin, and total starch content in the superior and inferior grains of the two varieties, decreased the relative crystallinity and the value of 1045/1022 cm-1, which contributed to the decrease in the stability and order of the starch crystal structure, the decrease in the enthalpy of pasting, and finally increased the taste value, hardness, and stickiness of the two varieties of superior and inferior grains. Correlation analysis showed that the relative crystallinity and average diameter of the starch granules were significantly positively correlated with the taste value of the superior and inferior grains and can be used as an evaluation index for the simultaneous improvement of the taste value of the superior and inferior grains.Inferior grains had lower (B2+B3) chains of amylopectin, smaller starch granules, the surface of starch granules was more uneven and more pitting. Compared with NThe original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.XY mapped and wrote the original draft. YL, YY, KC, and YW performed the experiments and collected the data. HYL and BL contributed to the methodology. YM contributed to the formal analysis. CG, ZC, ZY, and YS revised the manuscript. JM and YS administered the project and provided funding acquisition. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.


This year marks the 25 years of publication of EP Europace—European Heart Journal (EHJ) Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology journal. To celebrate this notable achievement with the deserved emphasis, the journal Editorial board commissioned a large group of Editors to contribute a series of state-of-the-art reviews, which presents the historical overview and key scientific contributions of the journal to the world community of cardiac electrophysiologists and to cardiologists and physicians interested in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of various arrhythmia disorders. The state-of-the-art reviews appearing in the journal issue of August and September represent the tribute to the different fields of cardiac pacing and electrophysiology to which Europace, now named EP Europace—EHJ Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, have proudly contributed to shape over 2 decades.1 It represented a major commitment by the European Society of Cardiology to the publication of excellent scientific work from Europe and also from the rest of the world. The journal was the first specialty journal of the Society. The journal mission was to provide the scientific community with high-quality original science, opinion, and education from leading European and international authors covering the growing cardiac pacing and clinical electrophysiology field. The Working Groups on Cardiac Arrhythmias, Pacing, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology committed to supporting the journal. To this end, Editorial Board members were drawn from all three Working Groups, and a very selected number of international experts were requested to contribute.Built on the legacy of the European Journal of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology (1992–97), the Europace journal was founded in 1998 by Prof. Richard Sutton.2 An additional contribution included the study design of a landmark randomized controlled trial—the SAFE PACE 2—investigating the role of cardiac pacing in older patients with falls and carotid sinus hypersensitivity.3The first issue of the journal appeared on January 1999. It included reports from a study group comprising experts in cardiac pacing and electrophysiology on the management of patients with atrial fibrillation, which, at that time, was limited to cardiac pacing and eventually to the ablation of the atrioventricular node.Starting in 2007, the journal editorial activities were managed by Prof. John A. Camm. Under his leadership (until 2018), then Prof. Gerhard Hindricks (from 2018 until 2022) and now Prof. Angelo Auricchio, the international journal readership has witnessed impressive growth in the contribution of the journal to various developments in the field of wearable and implantable cardiac rhythm monitoring devices, catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and most recently of cardioneuroablation, in cardiac devices including cardiac resynchronization therapy and cardiac conduction system pacing, sudden cardiac death, cardiac imaging, and cardiac genetics, just to mention a few.4 An important recent initiative is represented by patient surveys. The findings of a prospective, multi-centre, and multinational European Heart Rhythm Association patient Survey ‘Living with an ICD’ included patients already implanted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) have been recently published.5 An online questionnaire was completed by patients invited from 10 European countries. This represents a novel approach to addressing regional differences in patients’ quality of life and the provision of information; it provides an opportunity to expand the journal readership to patient organizations and national regulatory bodies.Being the official journal of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), EP Europace—EHJ Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology represents the main communication platform for our Association. This year, the journal has already published about eight EHRA scientific documents and EHRA-related scientific initiatives such as EHRA surveys. EHRA scientific documents developed by EHRA Scientific Document Committee alone or in collaboration with other internationally recognized scientific organizations are a very important source of current knowledge in the field; they provide state-of-the-art treatment standards and recommendations. Furthermore, they place upcoming technologies and novel research avenues in the proper scientific framework. An excellent and most recent example of clinical practice-oriented scientific document is represented by the EHRA clinical consensus statement on conduction system pacing implantation: endorsed by the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, Canadian Heart Rhythm Society, and Latin American Heart Rhythm Society with an Altmetric score of 216 and an impressive number of views (over 23 000) in <6 weeks since its publication.Over time, the journal has constantly adapted its publication model, becoming on 1 January 2023 a full Open Access journal. This significant development further expands the international visibility of each accepted article including developing countries or geographies with limited access to science.Each of the four Editorial Boards has progressively re-designed the manuscript handling process, aiming to meaningfully reduce the turnaround time of each submitted manuscript while ensuring a fair and balanced peer-review process. Most recently, to ensure a nearly immediate sharing with the scientific community of the original content of an accepted manuscript, starting on 15 June 2023, the author’s accepted manuscripts have been published as online PDFs within a couple of days after the author signs the publishing licence. A digital object identifier has been given to each manuscript, which allows immediate access to the work, article citation, and eventually a significant chance and opportunity for the transmission of messages and dissemination of article-related data within connected communities. Also, the article categories and manuscripts requirements have been steadily adapted to the changing needs of the scientific community. Most recently, several additional manuscripts categories have been added, e.g. ‘Fast Track’, ‘Controversy’, ‘Research letter’, ‘Trial design’, and finally ‘Practical EP’ articles. Finally, a major novelty of this year has been the non-acceptance of case reports, favouring the submission of highly educational, valuable case reports, images, and quality improvement projects to the ‘European Heart Journal—Case Reports’, another title within the rich ESC family of journals.Figure 1), and the 29th out of 210 journals in the field of cardiac and cardiovascular systems.Over 25 years, the journal enjoyed an impressive, steady increase in its impact factor which is now 6.1 thus, being the third in the specialty field of arrhythmias and electrophysiology (This impressive development would not have been possible without the passion, dedication, and enthusiasm of the many who as authors, editors, reviewers, or readers have supported EP Europace—EHJ Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology, and we profoundly hope they will continue to do so in the future. This is also the right time to express our most heartfelt thanks to all members of the journal Editorial Board for accepting the invitation to devote their time to advising each of the past and present Editors-in-Chief and in performing invaluable editorial activities. The entire OUP editorial team must also be acknowledged for their unrestricted commitment to the progress of the journal.


The low long-term patency of bypass grafts is a major concern for cardiovascular treatments. Unfavourable haemodynamic conditions in the proximity of distal anastomosis are closely related to thrombus creation and lumen lesions. Modern graft designs address this unfavourable haemodynamic environment with the introduction of a helical component in the flow field, either by means of out-of-plane helicity graft geometry or a spiral ridge. While the latter has been found to lack in performance when compared to the out-of-plane helicity designs, recent findings support the idea that the existing spiral ridge grafts can be further improved in performance through optimising relevant design parameters. In the current study, robust multi-objective optimisation techniques are implemented, covering a wide range of possible designs coupled with proven and well validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) algorithms. It is shown that the final set of suggested design parameters could significantly improve haemodynamic performance and therefore could be used to enhance the design of spiral ridge bypass grafts. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) are two of the leading causes of mortality, currently showing an increase of 150% from 1990 to 2013 . Much reCommon factors in the low patency ABGs and AVGs are the formation of lumen lesions, such as Intimal Hyperplasia (IH) and thrombosis, which are closely related to haemodynamic factors ,12. In aA recent approach to improving the haemodynamics around distal anastomosis was based on the finding that normal flow conditions in the circulatory system involve a helical component in the flow field induced by the twisting left ventricle during contraction . These oCFD has shown to be a powerful and cost-effective tool for investigating the haemodynamic performance of such flow problems as well as other cardiovascular diseases and medical devices, which includes some of the recent work by the present authors ,36,37,38Conducting a multi-objective optimisation for a peripheral bypass graft is a complex process requiring advanced computational and mathematical techniques. In this section, the definition of the problem is presented, focusing on the existing spiral ridge graft designs and the haemodynamics associated with the lesions forming in the proximity of the distal anastomosis. Subsequently, the relevant design parameters are explored. Finally, details of the CFD solver and the optimisation techniques implemented in the present study are provided.In the present work, the design optimisation of the flow characteristics around a distal graft anastomosis is examined. As shown in In light of the above findings, in the present study the haemodynamic optimisation criteria of the spiral-inducing graft will be based on the assumption of high WSS values and more specifically on the minimisation of the areas where WSS is below a certain threshold  lower than 1 Pa according to ) and theIn this study, several different parameters are explored with the aim of covering a wide range of design possibilities. All the design variations examined here would involve one or multiple ridges with an elliptical shape. In order to control the shape and size of the elliptical ridges, the following two dimensionless parameters are defined:HoW is used to control the shape of the ridge cross-section, while CSR defines the area covered by the ridges. In Equation (2), L) are examined, since the use of excessive ridge length will increase the resistance of the flow within the graft, therefore reducing the efficiency of the design )To identify the optimal design among the proposed candidate points found by the evolutionary algorithm used in the present study, the performance of each design point is compared with the rest. In To evaluate the scale of improvement of the proposed geometry, a comparison is made between the smooth graft used in T is the time period of the flow cycle. These parameters have been chosen because (i) localised distributions of low-WSS and high-OSI strongly correlate with the locations of atheroma [Having assessed the optimised design of the helical graft against reference cases using common haemodynamic metrics, such as the WSS, WSSG, helicity, and recirculation area, as presented in atheroma , (ii) platheroma ,80,81,82atheroma . ClearlyFrom the above, it is clear that although the introduction of a ridge, as presented in , improveIn the present work, a thorough multi-objective optimisation study has been carried out aiming to optimise the haemodynamics after the introduction of a bypass graft with a helical ridge. Careful consideration of the design space as well as the optimisation criteria, which are based on the widely accepted assumptions of normal values of WSS, low destruction, and disturbance of the flow, have led to a set of candidate design points with optimal characteristics to be proposed. Although minor drawbacks were inevitably found with the introduction of a helical ridge, it was shown that crucial haemodynamic characteristics are improved with the proposed design. The outcomes and the methodology followed in this study can be used to inform bypass graft designs with improved long-term performance and patency.


Many techniques have been described for posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction, but residual laxity remains an ongoing challenge. Suture or tape augmentation during ligament reconstruction has become a popular option to prevent graft elongation but comes at the expense of additional costs due to implants for augment fixation, and concern for stress shielding of the graft if the augment and graft are not equally tensioned. We introduce a technique for postless tape augmentation during allograft PCL reconstruction that allows for equal tensioning of graft and augment through the use of a sheath and screw construct without the need for additional implants for augment fixation. This technique demonstrates a case using postless tape augmentation during posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. The tibial and femoral tunnels are first created with the assistance of an accessory posteromedial portal and drilling under direct arthroscopic and fluoroscopic visualization. An Achilles tendon allograft with a bone plug is used as the allograft. The bone plug and soft tissue are shaped to fit within 10-mm tunnels. A 2.5-mm suture tape  is then passed through a 2.5-mm drill hole in the bone block, which will be used as the postless augment for the graft. High-tensile strength suture  is then passed through the end of the bone block and two additional high-tensile strength sutures  are sutured into the soft tissue portion of the graft, in a Krackow suture pattern, to assist with graft passage. The graft is then passed through the tunnels in a retrograde fashion with the assistance of a shuttling suture. Once the graft has been passed out the femur, and the bone plug is fully seated in the most proximal extent of the tibial tunnel, it is secured in place using a metal interference screw, which is confirmed fluoroscopically. Final fixation of the graft is then performed with the knee placed at 90° of flexion, application of an anterior drawer, and insertion of a screw and sheath into the tunnel. It is essential to maintain tension on the allograft and tape during all steps of tibial screw and sheath placement. No additional fixation is required in the femur, as both the allograft and tape are well secured with the sheath and screw. Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries comprise 1 to 44% of acute knee injuries.,,Several PCL reconstruction techniques have been described, including single- versus double-bundle reconstruction and tibial inlay versus transtibial reconstruction with interference fixation or all-inside suspensory fixation.Suture or tape augmentation provides supplemental strength to the graft construct and may improve laxity. Biomechanical studies have reported less graft elongation and greater ultimate strength with suture or tape augmentation for PCL reconstruction.We then begin tunnel drilling starting with the tibial side. A PCL drill guide is used, set at 50°, and introduced through the AM portal , A and BFemoral tunnel drilling is then performed with a femoral guide, set at 60°, introduced through the AM portal , A-D. CaAn Achilles tendon allograft with a bone plug is then prepared for single-bundle reconstruction with plans for tibial fixation using a metal interference screw and femoral fixation using an interference screw with a sheath. The allograft may be prepared by an assistant concurrently while the surgeon completes the diagnostic arthroscopic and prepares the femoral and tibial tunnels. We begin our graft preparation by starting with the bone block portion, which will be docked within the tibia , A-E. ThAfter graft preparation, the graft will be passed in a retrograde fashion from the tibial side to the femoral side. Graft passage begins by passing a free suture retrograde into the joint from the tibial tunnel and then retrieving it from the femoral tunnel. This suture is used to shuttle both sets of tagging sutures within the soft tissue portion of the allograft and the Dynatape augment that was passed through the bone plug through the tibial tunnel into the joint, and then out the femoral tunnel , A-C. TrThe graft is then ready for final fixation in the femur. The knee is positioned in 90° of flexion, and the anterior drawer is performed by an assistant while the graft is being fixed. Tension is applied to both the Achilles tendon allograft, and the Dynatape suture exiting the femur, in opposite directions, so that the interference screw and sheath fixation can be inserted in the center between the graft and tape augment , A-F. A The excess length from the limbs of the graft and tape are cut flush with the femoral cortex. Wounds are irrigated and closed, sterile dressing are applied, a hinged knee brace is placed, and a standard postoperative rehabilitation program for PCL reconstruction ensues. Advantages and disadvantages , as well,A variety of techniques for posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction exist, including single- and double-bundle reconstruction, as well as inlay and onlay type reconstuctions.In this technique, the 2.5-mm tape suture is secured distally by passing it through a drill hole in the Achilles graft bone block. This allows the suture tape to be linked directly to the graft and avoids the need for independent tibial fixation of the augment. After the graft and augment are passed into the femoral tunnel, both are tensioned and secured simultaneously with a sheath and screw construct. The use of the sheath and screw allows for robust interference fixation and fully eliminates the need for independent tensioning and fixation of the tape augment. By simultaneously tensioning the graft and internal brace, this technique aims to minimize the risk of stress shielding and allows the graft be incorporated under physiological loads, while decreasing the risk for graft elongation. In addition, it reduces operative time and cost by eliminating the need for placement of independent hardware for fixation of the tape.Another technical consideration when performing PCL reconstruction is managing the so-called “killer turn” at the proximal aperture of the tibial tunnel.In this article, we present a surgical technique for single-bundle PCL reconstruction with postless tape augmentation. This technique provides the additional mechanical stability of tape augmentation without the concerns associated with independent tensioning from the graft. In addition, it eliminates the additional cost and steps associated with post-type fixation using additional tape. Finally, this technique makes several modifications to previously described PCL reconstruction techniques in order to minimize the complications associated with the “killer turn”.


And both absolute and normalized knee stiffness were also lower than male athletes (p < 0.05). The low leg stiffness and knee stiffness demonstrated by females in this single-leg drop task compared to male athletes may indicate that females have lower dynamic leg stability than males during the drop, which may lead to hypermobility of the knee joint and may put females at a higher risk of injury in this high-risk maneuver for non-contact cruciate ligament injuries.In general, at the same level of exercise, female athletes are three to six times more likely to injure an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than male athletes. Female athletes also had higher rates of ACL injury than males in a single-leg landing task after a backcourt backhand side overhead stroke in badminton. In many previous studies, stiffness of the musculoskeletal system in the lower limbs has been reported as a potential factor contributing to differences in ACL injury rates between genders. The purpose of this study was to describe the differences between genders in leg and knee stiffness in male and female athletes during a single-leg landing action after the backhand side overhead shot in the backcourt. Eight male athletes and eight female athletes participated in this test. Leg stiffness and knee stiffness were calculated separately for male and female athletes during the landing phase. The results showed that both absolute and normalized leg stiffness were lower in female athletes than in male athletes ( Previous investigations have shown that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries may be the most severe lower limb injuries in badminton ,2. The mPrevious studies have identified both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for the occurrence of cruciate ligament injuries in different genders. Most authors have proposed various factors, including the influence of hormones and menstrual cycles, as well as anatomical, genetic, and neuromuscular differences between male and female athletes ,9,10. HoThe stiffness of the human body reflects its capacity to withstand the deformations caused by the ground reaction force (GRF) ,14. The Therefore, we hypothesized that when badminton players landed on a single leg after a backhand overhead shot in the backcourt, female athletes may exhibit relatively less lower extremity stiffness compared with male athletes.In our study, we recruited 16 experienced badminton players, comprising 8 male and 8 female players . All parThe three-dimensional motion data use a motion capture analysis system  including 13 high-speed infrared cameras, and collects experimental data from each participating subject at a sampling frequency of 120 HZ. Each subject’s anatomical landmarks were equipped with 57 reflective markers. Ground reaction forces were collected by a force plate embedded in the floor  at a sampling frequency of 1200 Hz. The motion analysis system and force plate were set up simultaneously before testing. After each test, the 3D motion data were transferred to Visual3D software  for data analysis of joint angles and other features.We provided clear explanations of the test procedure and purpose to each subject prior to the commencement of the official test. Additionally, we recorded the subjects’ basic information, including gender, age, weight, height, and years of experience playing badminton . Based oTo minimize individual differences and ensure the accuracy of our experimental results, we enlisted the help of an experienced trainer to demonstrate the proper test movements to all participants. To ensure consistency in every movement, we marked lines at a 45-degree angle on the badminton court and instructed each participant to land on the force measuring plate with one leg after hitting the backhand over the ball in the badminton backcourt. They were then required to quickly return to the starting point see . To reduThe spring-mass model consists of a body and linear leg springs supporting the body. Calculations of lower extremity leg stiffness and knee stiffness were performed using a spring-mass model as presented in previous studies . Leg stiJoint stiffness was defined as the ratio of the joint moment changes to joint flexion during the landing phase. Knee joint stiffness is calculated using the formula:In this formula, ΔMjoint represents the change in joint moment between the moment of initial touchdown and the peak knee moment, and Δθjoint is the angular displacement of the knee joint between the moment of initial touchdown and the peak knee moment.t-tests. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.All marker trajectory data were recorded and digitized using 3D motion capture system MotiveBody 2.2.0 software . Sagittal, frontal, and horizontal kinematic and kinetic data of the left hip, left knee, and left ankle were processed using Visual 3D Professional 6.0 software  and presented as mean and standard deviation (SD) of the test. The impact phase of landing was analyzed first, as it is the critical period for non-contact ACL injuries, which commonly occur during the early stages of landing . In thist-test, normality analysis and chi-square tests were performed on the data of the male and female athletes. The two sets of data are from normally distributed populations with flush variance and satisfy independence. Subsequently, independent sample t-tests were performed on the data from the male and female athletes to examine gender differences between initial ground contact and maximum knee flexion. The tests included changes in vertical GRF, vertical COM displacement, leg stiffness, knee moment change, knee flexion angle displacement, and knee stiffness.Absolute leg stiffness and leg stiffness normalized to height and weight, as well as absolute knee stiffness and knee stiffness normalized to height and weight, were separately calculated for each subject, including eight male athletes and eight female athletes. Before conducting an independent sample p < 0.05). There is no significant difference in the vertical displacement of the center of gravity between male and female athletes. However, the calculated absolute leg stiffness in men is significantly higher than that in women, and this difference is statistically significant (p < 0.05).In p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between male and female athletes in terms of normalized vertical displacement of the COM. However, there was also a significant difference in normalized leg stiffness between male and female athletes (p < 0.05).From p < 0.05). In addition, the absolute change in knee flexion angle was significantly smaller in male athletes compared to female athletes, a significant difference (p < 0.05). Additionally, the absolute knee stiffness calculated from these measurements was significantly greater in male athletes than in female athletes, a significant difference (p < 0.05).In p < 0.05). Female athletes had significantly lower knee stiffness than male athletes and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05).In This study aimed to investigate the differences between genders in regard to leg and knee stiffness among male and female athletes during single-leg landing after a backhand overhead shot in the backcourt of badminton. The results of this study support our hypothesis, as we found that female athletes exhibited lower leg and knee stiffness in this landing task compared to males. This could be a potential factor contributing to the higher risk of non-contact ACL injuries among female athletes in this type of landing task compared to males.In our study, we observed that during a single-leg landing after a backhand overhead shot in the backcourt of badminton, male athletes exhibited significantly higher absolute leg stiffness (16.95 KN/m ± 4.17) and normalized leg stiffness (42.56 BW/ht ± 10.66) compared to female athletes, who had lower absolute leg stiffness (9.45 KN/m ± 1.98) and normalized leg stiffness (26.07 BW/ht ± 4.72). Similar results have been seen in previous studies on two-legged landing tasks. Ward, Rachel E et al. compared the stiffness of male and female dancers and male and female athletes during jumping and landing tasks and they also found that female athletes had less leg stiffness than male athletes . A previIn the single-leg landing task, we investigated and we observed that males had a larger absolute vertical GRF variation compared to females. This difference may be attributed to the fact that males generally have significantly higher body weight. However, even after normalizing the data based on weight, males still exhibited a higher vertical GRF compared to females. Additionally, there were no significant differences in both absolute and normalized vertical COM displacement between males and females. However, when examining both absolute and normalized leg stiffness, calculated based on these variables, we found that female athletes had significantly lower values than male athletes. When performing high-intensity functional tasks, the stiffness of muscles and joints plays a critical role in the stability of the functional joint . StifferIn the single-leg landing motion following a backhand overhead shot in the backcourt of badminton, female athletes showed a significant difference in absolute knee joint stiffness (2.57 N.m/° ± 1.099) compared to male athletes (5.17 N.m/° ± 0.789). Additionally, the normalized knee joint stiffness of female athletes (0.0026 BW.ht/° ± 0.0001) was significantly lower than that of male athletes (0.0041 BW.ht/° ± 0.0008). This finding supports our hypothesis that in this single-leg landing task, female athletes exhibit lower leg stiffness and knee joint stiffness compared to male athletes. These findings in our study align with similar results observed in another investigation on volleyball blocking jumps . These rIn this single-leg landing task, we observed a significant difference in the knee flexion angle displacement between female athletes (36.97° ± 7.38) and males (28.88° ± 4.92). This disparity may be attributed to weaker hamstring strength and lower muscle activation, which limits the ability of muscle contraction to protect the ligaments, leading to reduced joint stiffness and lack of stability upon landing. Consequently, female athletes face a higher risk of cruciate ligament injury compared to their male counterparts during landing. Notably, our study also found significantly lower normalized knee stiffness in females compared to males, contradicting some conflicting results in the published literature . This maWhen interpreting the results of this study, it is important to acknowledge and consider certain limitations. Firstly, the average age of the athletes we recruited was 20 years, which is probably younger than the age used in previous studies. As leg stiffness is influenced by the combined effects of hip, knee, and ankle stiffness , we focuIn the single-leg landing motion, after a backhand overhead shot in the backcourt of badminton, compared with male athletes, female athletes showed significantly less absolute and normalized leg stiffness and less absolute and normalized knee stiffness during landing. This suggests that female athletes may be more susceptible to factors than males to non-contact ACL injuries during landing motion, as female athletes exhibit lower leg low dynamic stability and high knee hypermobility during landing than male athletes. In future training, female athletes should appropriately increase the stiffness of their lower limbs. However, further research is needed to determine the “optimal” stiffness level required to achieve functional tasks.