Potassium augments growth, yield, nutrient content, and drought tolerance in mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek.).

Uneven rainfall and high temperature cause drought in tropical and subtropical regions which is a major challenge to cultivating summer mung bean. Potassium (K), a major essential nutrient of plants can alleviate water stress (WS) tolerance in plants. A field trial was executed under a rainout shelter with additional K fertilization including recommended K fertilizer (RKF) for relieving the harmful impact of drought in response to water use efficiency (WUE), growth, yield attributes, nutrient content, and yield of mung bean at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, BARI, Ishwardi, Pabna in two successive summer season of 2018 and 2019. Drought-tolerant genotype BMX-08010-2 (G1) and drought-susceptible cultivar BARI Mung-1 (G2) were grown by applying seven K fertilizer levels (KL) using a split-plot design with three replications, where mung bean genotypes were allotted in the main plots, and KL were assigned randomly in the sub-plots. A considerable variation was observed in the measured variables. Depending on the different applied KL and seed yield of mung bean, the water use efficiency (WUE) varied from 4.73 to 8.14 kg ha-1 mm-1. The treatment applying 125% more K with RKF (KL7) under WS gave the maximum WUE (8.14 kg ha-1 mm-1) obtaining a seed yield of 1093.60 kg ha-1. The treatment receiving only RKF under WS (KL2) provided the minimum WUE (4.73 kg ha-1 mm-1) attaining a seed yield of 825.17 kg ha-1. Results showed that various characteristics including nutrients (N, P, K, and S) content in stover and seed, total dry matter (TDM) in different growth stages, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), root volume (RV), root density (RD), plant height, pod plant-1, pod length, seeds pod-1, seed weight, and seed yield in all pickings increased with increasing K levels, particularly noted with KL7. The highest grain yield (32.52%) was also obtained from KL7 compared to lower K with RKF. Overall, yield varied from 1410.37 kg ha-1 using 281 mm water (KL1; well-watered condition with RKF) to 825.17 kg ha-1 using 175 mm water (KL2). The results exhibited that the application of additional K improves the performance of all traits under WS conditions. Therefore, mung beans cultivating under WS requires additional K to diminish the negative effect of drought, and adequate use of K contributes to accomplishing sustainable productivity.

Clustering of health risk behaviors among school-going adolescents in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents frequently engage in risky behaviors that negatively influence their health and pose a serious public health concern. This study aimed to examine the clustering pattern of health risk behaviors among school-going adolescents in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 15 April to 27 June 2022 among 412 school-going adolescents in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh through a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a modified Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2021 questionnaire. Cluster membership was identified using the k-means clustering algorithm. The chi-square test was adopted to explore the association between sociodemographic variables and each cluster membership. The ordinal logistic regression model was employed to examine the predictors associated with cluster membership. RESULTS: Most of the respondents were female (55.3%) and belonged to the 16-19 years (74.5%) age group. Three behavioral clusters were identified, including Cluster 1: Low-risk taker (50.2%), Cluster 2: Moderate risk taker (39.6%), and Cluster 3: High-risk taker (10.2%). Influential factors of high-risk behavior among adolescents were significantly associated with their age (p = 0.03), father's education who were illiterate (p = 0.02), monthly family income >30000 BDT (p = 0.04), parent's those were understanding their child's problems in most of the time (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that high-risk behaviors are significantly higher among late adolescents, those whose fathers are illiterate, whose monthly income is higher, those whose parents or guardians never realize their child's complications and worries, and those whose parents or guardians never recognize what they did in their leisure time. These findings will help to develop intervention programs, policies, strategies, and curricula in school by the experts following the necessity to adopt the adolescent toward healthy behavior and help to reduce the prevalence of health risk behavior.

Exogenous stimulation with Eclipta alba promotes hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation and downregulates TGF-ß1 expression in nude mice.

Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk (E. alba) is a traditionally acclaimed medicinal herb used for the promotion of hair growth. However, to the best of our knowledge, no report has been issued to date on its effects on genetically distorted hair follicles (HFs). In this study, we aimed to identify an agent (stimuli) that may be beneficial for the restoration of human hair loss and which may be used as an alternative to synthetic drugs. We investigated the effects of petroleum ether extract (PEE) and different solvent fractions of E. alba on HFs of nude mice. Treatment was performed by topical application on the backs of nude mice and the changes in hair growth patterns were evaluated. Histological analysis was carried out to evaluate the HF morphology and the structural differences. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to visualize follicular keratinocyte proliferation. The histological assessments revealed that the PEE-treated skin specimens exhibited prominent follicular hypertrophy. Subsequently, IHC staining revealed a significant increase (p<0.001) in the number of follicular keratinocytes in basal epidermal and matrix cells. Our results also demonstrated that PEE significantly (p<0.001) reduced the levels of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) expression during early anagen and anagen-catagen transition. Our results suggest that PEE of E. alba acts as an important exogenous mediator that stimulates follicular keratinocyte proliferation and delays terminal differentiation by downregulating TGF-ß1 expression. Thus, this study highlights the potential use of PEE of E. alba in the treatment of certain types of alopecia.

Identification of two independent SUMO-interacting motifs in Daxx: evolutionary conservation from Drosophila to humans and their biochemical functions.

Daxx is essential for embryonic development and implicated in apoptosis and transcriptional regulation. It is found only in the animal kingdom and appears to arise first in insects. In the Drosophila genus, the Daxx orthologs are much larger than those in other species. Here we show that in addition to a conserved core of approximately 200 residues, Daxx possesses several conserved domains and two essentially invariable short SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs), each located at one or the other terminus of the protein. Both can independently interact with SUMO. The Daxx I7/733K double mutant with one mutation in each of the two SIMs no longer interacts with SUMO. Daxx interacts with Ubc9 and this interaction strictly requires at least one SIM. Interestingly, the Ubc9 H20D mutation that abolishes non-covalent Ubc9-SUMO interaction also interrupts Daxx-Ubc9 interaction. Thus, SUMO serves as the intermediate for Daxx-Ubc9 interaction. Surprisingly, Daxx I7/733K double mutant could still colocalize with PML. Furthermore, wt Daxx also strongly colocalizes with PMLDeltaS mutant, in which all three sumoylation sites are mutated, whereas PMLDeltaS only weakly colocalizes with Daxx I7/733K mutant, suggesting that SIM-SUMO interaction is not essential for but enhances PML-Daxx interaction. Remarkably, Daxx strongly stimulates c-Jun-mediated transcription and both SIMs are required for this stimulation. PML also activates c-Jun, which requires all three sumoylation sites. Coexpression of Daxx and PML revealed that they independently regulate c-Jun, with Daxx exerting a dominant role. These results suggest that the conserved SIMs are involved in mediating protein-protein interactions that underlie Daxx's diverse cellular functions.

Subjective fatigue and subjective sleepiness: two independent consequences of sleep disorders?

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate subjective fatigue versus subjective sleepiness as independent consequences of sleep disorders. Furthermore, we tried to explore how these symptoms relate to alertness, depressive symptoms and illness intrusiveness. In a prospective observational study, 283 sleep-disordered patients referred to a hospital-based sleep laboratory for various indications over a 1-year period were evaluated vis-à-vis fatigue and sleepiness. All patients completed five subjective questionnaires, underwent objective sleep recording and attended a clinical interview with a sleep specialist. The subjective questionnaires included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Fatigue Severity Scale, the Toronto Hospital Alertness Test, the Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. Only 4% of the total sample was referred to the sleep clinic due to a complaint of excessive fatigue compared with 17% for excessive daytime sleepiness. However, during the assessment, 64% of referred patients reported pathological fatigue without overlap of sleepiness and only 4% reported pathological sleepiness without overlap of fatigue. Pearson's correlation analysis indicated a weak association (r=0.18) between subjective fatigue and sleepiness in the total sample. Analysis of variance testing showed strong association between those patients with prominent fatigue and depressive symptoms (P<0.01) and illness intrusiveness (P<0.001). The findings support the notion that subjective fatigue and sleepiness can be independent manifestations of sleep disorders. Furthermore, predominantly fatigued individuals with sleep disorders seem vulnerable to additional negative consequences due to possible interplay between amplified fatigue and psychological distress.

Subjective and objective evaluation of sleep and performance in daytime versus nighttime sleep in extended-hours shift-workers at an underground mine.

Extended hours of shift work has the potential for adverse consequences for workers, particularly during the nightshift, such as poorer sleep quality during the day, increased worker fatigue, and fatigue-related accidents and decreased work performance. This study examined subjective and objective measurements of sleep and performance in a group of underground miners before and after the change from a backward-rotating 8-hour to a forward-rotating 10-hour shift schedule. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term impact of a shift schedule change on sleep and performance. The results demonstrated improved subjective and objective measures of sleep and performance on the new 10-hour nightshift schedule. The 10-hour nightshift workers subjectively reported more refreshing sleep, fewer performance impairments and driving difficulties than 8-hour nightshift workers. The results of the objective measures of sleep and performance on the 10-hour nightshifts were overall similar or possibly better than those measured on the 10-hour dayshifts. These are some of the first data to suggest that a nightshift that does not encompass the entire night period could have significant benefits to shift-workers. We suggest that these benefits are mostly the result of the timing of the new nightshift start and end times rather than other shift-schedule factors.

The prevalence, cost implications, and management of sleep disorders: an overview.

The International Classification of Sleep Disorders distinguishes more than 80 different disorders, which can be effectively treated. Problems with falling asleep or daytime sleepiness affect approximately 35 to 40% of the U.S. adult population annually and are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. However, the prevalence, burden, and management of sleep disorders are often ignored or overlooked by individuals and society in general. This leads to an underappreciation and undertreatment of sleep disorders, making this group of illnesses a serious health concern. Sleep medicine is a young discipline, and as such the full implications of treating sleep disorders and the extent of sleep-related problems are not well delineated. As a result of high prevalence, severe complications, and concomitant illnesses in untreated cases, the cost implications are immense. The costs can be direct, indirect, related, and intangible. However, relatively little has been published on the economic implications of sleep disorders. Economic analysis can help evaluate available resources to set priorities and maximize management strategies for cost control without sacrificing safety, efficacy, or effectiveness. There has been considerable evidence of the cost-effectiveness of treating patients with obstructive sleep apnea, especially considering its high prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and concomitant health care consumption. We review the economic balance sheet of sleep disorders and conclude that sleep medicine education (among general population and health care professionals) and the availability of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities to treat sleep disorders will reduce the profound socioeconomic implications of untreated sleep disorders.