A comprehensive review on biochar against plant pathogens: Current state-of-the-art and future research perspectives.

Plant pathogens cause a serious menace to food production. The diseases caused by pathogens are estimated to cause a yield loss of about 14.1 %, whereas, in India, up to 26 %. Several plant pathogens like Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, Fusarium, and Verticillium can cause 50-75 % yield losses in cereals, cotton, and horticultural crops (fruits, vegetables, and flowers) 10-100 % in pulses, 30-60 % loses in oilseed crops and 40-50 % in plantation crops. Biochar as soil amendment is emerging as an effective environment friendly substitute for fungicides to counter plant pathogens. It has also been reported to induce resistance in plants to combat plant pathogens by activating the two important defense pathways such as salicylic acid, jasmonate/ethylene defense, and triggering the plant's antioxidant enzymatic activities. Biochar promotes soil health and consequently improves the plant health, resulting in reduced incidence of disease. This novel amendment also helps in the priming of expression of genes against foliar fungal pathogen infection. This review paper will summarize the effect of biochar incorporation in the plant disease management as well as on their growth parameters.

Investigating Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Etiology of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate in the Polish Population.

Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) are the most common congenital anomalies in the craniofacial region, leading to morphological and functional disruptions in the facial region. Their etiology involves genetic and environmental factors, with genetics playing a crucial role. This study aimed to investigate the association of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)-rs987525, rs590223, rs522616, and rs4714384-with CL/P in the Polish population. We analyzed DNA samples from 209 individuals with CL/P and 418 healthy controls. The impact of SNPs on the presence of CL/P was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Significant associations were found with rs987525. Specifically, the AC genotype was linked to an increased CL/P risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34-2.83, p < 0.001), while the CC genotype was associated with a decreased risk (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.32-0.67, p < 0.001). Rs4714384 was also significant, with the CT genotype correlated with a reduced risk of CL/P (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46-0.94, p = 0.011). SNPs rs590223 and rs522616 did not show statistically significant associations. These results underscore the role of rs987525 and rs4714384 in influencing CL/P risk and suggest the utility of genetic screening in understanding CL/P etiology.

Silicon mediated heavy metal stress amelioration in fruit crops.

Fruit crops are essential for human nutrition and health, yet high level of heavy metal levels in soils can degrade fruit quality. These metals accumulate in plant roots and tissues due to factors like excessive fertilizer and pesticide use, poor waste management, and unscientific agricultural practices. Such accumulation can adversely affect plant growth, physiology, and yield. Consuming fruits contaminated with toxic metals poses significant health risks, including nervous system disorders and cancer. Various strategies, such as organic manuring, biomaterials, and modified cultivation practices have been widely researched to reduce heavy metal accumulation. Recently, silicon (Si) application has emerged as a promising and cost-effective solution for addressing biological and environmental challenges in food crops. Si, which can be applied to the soil, through foliar application or a combination of both, helps reduce toxic metal concentrations in soil and plants. Despite its potential, there is currently no comprehensive review that details Si's role in mitigating heavy metal stress in fruit crops. This review aims to explore the potential of Si in reducing heavy metal-induced damage in fruit crops while enhancing growth by alleviating heavy metal toxicity.

Testing Reported Associations of Gene Variants with Non-Syndromic Orofacial Clefts in the Polish Population.

Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are the second most common birth defect worldwide. The etiology of OFCs involves complex interactions between genetics and environment. Advances in genomic technologies have identified gene variants associated with OFCs. This study aimed to investigate whether selected SNPs in the MYH9, MTHFR, MAFB, and SUMO1 genes influence the occurrence of non-syndromic OFCs in the Polish population. The study included 209 individuals with non-syndromic OFCs and 418 healthy controls. Saliva and umbilical cord blood samples were collected for DNA extraction. Four SNPs in the MYH9, MTHFR, MAFB, and SUMO1 genes were genotyped using real-time PCR-based TaqMan assays. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression to assess the association between SNPs and OFCs. A significant association was found between the rs7078 CC polymorphism and OFCs (OR = 3.22, CI 1.68-6.17, p < 0.001). No significant associations were identified for the rs1081131, rs13041247, and rs3769817 polymorphisms. The research indicates that the rs7078 polymorphism significantly influences the occurrence of orofacial cleft palate in the Polish population, whereas the rs3769817, rs1801131, and rs13041247 SNPs do not show such a correlation.

Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in WNT Genes in Patients with Non-Syndromic Orofacial Clefts in a Polish Population.

Non-syndromic orofacial cleft (OFC) is the most common facial developmental defect in the global population. The etiology of these birth defects is complex and multifactorial, involving both genetic and environmental factors. This study aimed to determine if SNPs in the WNT gene family (rs1533767, rs708111, rs3809857, rs7207916, rs12452064) are associated with OFCs in a Polish population. The study included 627 individuals: 209 children with OFCs and 418 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from saliva for the study group and from umbilical cord blood for the control group. Polymorphism genotyping was conducted using quantitative PCR. No statistically significant association was found between four variants and clefts, with odds ratios for rs708111 being 1.13 (CC genotype) and 0.99 (CT genotype), for rs3809857 being 1.05 (GT genotype) and 0.95 (TT genotype), for rs7207916 being 0.86 (AA genotype) and 1.29 (AG genotype) and for rs12452064 being 0.97 (AA genotype) and 1.24 (AG genotype). However, the rs1533767 polymorphism in WNT showed a statistically significant increase in OFC risk for the GG genotype (OR = 1.76, p < 0.001). This research shows that the rs1533767 polymorphism in the WNT gene is an important risk marker for OFC in the Polish population.

Infusion of active compound into sliced button mushrooms through vacuum impregnation to improve functionality: Comparing response surface methodology and artificial neural network.

The present study explores the infusion of active compounds (ascorbic acid and calcium lactate) into sliced button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) to increase the nutritional value and reduce the browning effect of sliced mushrooms using the vacuum impregnation (VI) technique. The aim was to functionalize the vacuum-infused sliced mushrooms and evaluate the physicochemical properties of button mushrooms for diversifying food use. The central composite design was implemented to determine the optimized condition for the process with four independent factors, that is, immersion time (IT) 30-90 min, solution temperature (ST) 35-55°C, solution concentration (SC) 4%-12%, and vacuum pressure (VP) 50-170 mbar. The optimum VI processes obtained were ST-40°C, SC-8%, VP-140 mbar, and IT-65 min with a desirability function of 0.77. Statistically, two models (response surface methodology [RSM] and artificial neural network [ANN]) were employed to compare the better performance for the prediction of VI operational process parameters. The RSM model showed a better prediction of VI process parameters than the ANN model, with a higher R2 value (0.9228 vs. 0.8160) and lower root mean square error value (1.4004 vs. 2.1751), χ2 (2.4491 vs. 5.2762), mean absolute error (1.1177 vs. 1.1611), and absolute average deviation (4.3532 vs. 5.6746) for water loss. A similar pattern was observed for solute gain, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, color change, firmness, and pH. Therefore, the VI process was found to be an effective method for enhancing the nutritional properties of sliced mushrooms. These findings concluded that the RSM model is more efficient for better prediction with good accuracy of the VI process than the ANN model.

Biometry-Based Technique for Determining the Anterior Scleral Thickness: Validation Using Optical Coherence Tomography Landmarks.

Purpose: Considering the potential role of anterior scleral thickness (AST) in myopia and the ubiquitous use of optical biometers, we applied and validated a biometry-based technique for estimating AST using optical coherence tomography (OCT) landmarks. Methods: The AST was determined across four meridians in 62 participants (aged 20-37 years) with a swept-source OCT and a noncontact optical biometer at a mean ± SD distance of 3.13 ± 0.88 mm from the limbus. The biometer's graticule was focused and aligned with the anterior scleral reflex, which led to the generation of four prominent A-scan peaks: P1 (anterior bulbar conjunctiva), P2 (anterior episclera), P3 (anterior margin of anterior sclera), and P4 (posterior margin of anterior sclera), which were analyzed and compared with the corresponding OCT landmarks to determine tissue thickness. Results: The AST measurements between biometer and OCT correlated for all meridians (r ≥ 0.70, overall r = 0.82; coefficient of variation [CV], 9%-12%; P < 0.01). The mean difference ± SD between two instruments for overall AST measures was 3 ± 2.8 µm (range, -18 to +16 µm; lower limits of agreement, -89 to +83 µm; P = 0.23) across all meridians. The mean ± SE AST with both instruments was found to be thickest at the inferior (562 ± 7 µm and 578 ± 7 µm) and thinnest at the superior (451 ± 7 µm and 433 ± 6 µm) meridian. The biometer demonstrated good intrasession (CV, 8.4%-9.6%) and intersession (CV, 7.9%-13.3%) repeatability for AST measurements across all meridians. Conclusions: The noncontact optical biometer, which is typically used to determine axial length, is capable of accurately estimating AST based on OCT landmarks. Translational Relevance: The high-resolution optical biometers can demonstrate wider application in the field of myopia research and practice to determine AST.

Is There Any Association between Nutrition and Myopia? A Systematic Review.

SIGNIFICANCE: This systematic review highlights the possible role of nutrition in myopia based on qualitative analysis of vast and diverse literature that investigated this association. PURPOSE: We systematically reviewed the outcomes of the studies that previously investigated the association between nutrition and myopia. METHODS: EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed were searched by two independent authors to identify cross-sectional, cohort, retrospective, or interventional studies that assessed the association of nutrition with myopia from inception to the year 2021. Furthermore, the reference list of the included articles was screened. The data from the included studies were extracted, and qualitative analysis was performed. Quality assessment for noninterventional studies and interventional trials was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Cochrane RoB 2, respectively. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles were included in the review. Most of the nutrients and dietary elements investigated in noninterventional studies showed inconsistencies in their association with myopia, with the majority indicating no association. Nine studies showed a significant association of diverse nutrients and dietary elements with either an increase (odds ratio, 1.07) or a decrease (odds ratio, 0.5 to 0.96) in the risk of myopia development. However, a majority of these studies have minimal odds ratios with wider or overlapping confidence intervals, implicating weaker associations. All three nutrients and dietary elements assessed in the interventional trial had implications for myopia control, with two trials indicating a clinically minimal effect. CONCLUSIONS: This review implies that there is some evidence to indicate a potential influence of specific nutrients and dietary elements in myopia development, which are supported by several theories. However, given the vast, diverse, and complex nature of nutrition, more systematic investigation is warranted to comprehend the extent to which these specific nutrients and dietary elements are associated with myopia through longitudinal studies by subduing the limitations in the existing literature.

Exploring antiviral potency of N-1 substituted pyrimidines against HIV-1 and other DNA/RNA viruses: Design, synthesis, characterization, ADMET analysis, docking, molecular dynamics and biological activity.

A novel series of pyrimidine derivatives, bearing modified benzimidazoles at N-1 position, has been designed, synthesized and screened as NNRTIs against HIV and as broad-spectrum antiviral agents. The molecules were screened against different HIV targets using molecular docking experiment. The docking results indicated that the molecules interacted well with the residues Lys101, Tyr181, Tyr188, Trp229, Phe227 and Tyr318 present in NNIBP of HIV-RT protein, formed quite stable complexes and, thus, behaved as probable NNRTIs. Among these compounds, 2b and 4b showed anti-HIV activity with IC50 values as 6.65 µg/mL (SI = 15.50) and 15.82 µg/mL (SI = 14.26), respectively. Similarly, compound 1a showed inhibitory property against coxsackie virus B4 and compound 3b against different viruses. Molecular dynamics simulation results unequivocally demonstrated the higher stability of the complex HIV-RT:2b than the HIV-RT:nevirapine complex. The MM/PBSA-based binding free energy (-) 114.92 kJ/mol of HIV-RT:2b complex in comparison to that of HIV-RT:nevirapine complex (-) 88.33 kJ/mol, further demonstrated the higher binding strength of 2b and thus, established the potential of compound 2b as a lead molecule as an HIV-RT inhibitor.