Association of race, ethnicity and insurance status with outcomes for patients with acute pulmonary embolism treated by PERT: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Management of PE has become streamlined with the implementation of PE Response Teams (PERT). Race, ethnicity and insurance status are known to influence the outcomes of patients with acute PE. However, whether the implementation of PERT-based care mitigates these racial and ethnic disparities remains unknown. Our aim was to assess the association of race, ethnicity and insurance with outcomes for patients with acute PE managed by PERT. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 290 patients with acute PE, who were admitted to one of three urban teaching hospitals in the Mount Sinai Health System (New York, NY) from January 2021 to October 2023. A propensity score-weighted analysis was performed to explore the association of race, ethnicity and insurance status with overall outcomes. RESULTS: Median age of included patients was 65.5 years and 149 (51.4%) were female. White, Black and Asian patients constituted 56.2% (163), 39.6% (115) and 3.5% [10] of the cohort respectively. Patients of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity accounted for 8.3% [24] of the sample. The 30-day rates of mortality, major bleeding and 30-day re-admission were 10.3%, 2.1% and 12.8% respectively. Black patients had higher odds of major bleeding (odds ratio [OR]: 1.445; p < 0.0001) when compared to White patients. Patients of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity had lower odds of receiving catheter-directed thrombolysis (OR: 0.966; p = 0.0003) and catheter-directed or surgical embolectomy (OR: 0.906; p < 0.0001) when compared to non-Hispanic/Latino patients. Uninsured patients had higher odds of receiving systemic thrombolysis (OR: 1.034; p = 0.0008) and catheter-directed thrombolysis (OR: 1.059; p < 0.0001), and lower odds of receiving catheter-directed or surgical embolectomy (OR: 0.956; p = 0.015) when compared to insured patients, although the odds of 30-day mortality and 30-day major bleeding were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Within a cohort of PE patients managed by PERT, there were significant associations between race, ethnicity and overall outcomes. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and uninsured status were associated with lower odds of receiving catheter-directed or surgical embolectomy. These results suggest that disparities related to ethnicity and insurance status persist despite PERT-based care of patients with acute PE.

GhiPLATZ17 and GhiPLATZ22, zinc-dependent DNA-binding transcription factors, promote salt tolerance in upland cotton.

KEY MESSAGE: The utilization of transcriptome analysis, functional validation, VIGS, and DAB techniques have provided evidence that GhiPLATZ17 and GhiPLATZ22 play a pivotal role in improving the salt tolerance of upland cotton. PLATZ (Plant AT-rich sequences and zinc-binding proteins) are known to be key regulators in plant growth, development, and response to salt stress. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the PLATZ family in ten cotton species in response to salinity stress. Gossypium herbaceum boasts 25 distinct PLATZ genes, paralleled by 24 in G. raimondii, 25 in G. arboreum, 46 in G. hirsutum, 48 in G. barbadense, 43 in G. tomentosum, 67 in G. mustelinum, 60 in G. darwinii, 46 in G. ekmanianum, and a total of 53 PLATZ genes attributed to G. stephensii. The PLATZ gene family shed light on the hybridization and allopolyploidy events that occurred during the evolutionary history of allotetraploid cotton. Ka/Ks analysis suggested that the PLATZ gene family underwent intense purifying selection during cotton evolution. Analysis of synteny and gene collinearity revealed a complex pattern of segmental and dispersed duplication events to expand PLATZ genes in cotton. Cis-acting elements and gene expressions revealed that GhiPLATZ exhibited salt stress resistance. Transcriptome analysis, functional validation, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), and diaminobenzidine staining (DAB) demonstrated that GhiPLATZ17 and GhiPLATZ22 enhance salt tolerance in upland cotton. The study can potentially advance our understanding of identifying salt-resistant genes in cotton.

Toxicological review of micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic environments: Risks to ecosystems, food web dynamics and human health.

The increase of micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) in aquatic environments has become a significant concern due to their potential toxicological effects on ecosystems, food web dynamics, and human health. These plastic particles emerge from a range of sources, such as the breakdown of larger plastic waste, consumer products, and industrial outputs. This review provides a detailed report of the transmission and dangers of MNPs in aquatic ecosystems, environmental behavior, and interactions within aquatic food webs, emphasizing their toxic impact on marine life. It explores the relationship between particle size and toxicity, their distribution in different tissues, and the process of trophic transfer through the food web. MNPs, once consumed, can be found in various organs, including the digestive system, gills, and liver. Their consumption by lower trophic level organisms facilitates their progression up the food chain, potentially leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification, thereby posing substantial risks to the health, reproduction, and behavior of aquatic species. This work also explores how MNPs, through their persistence and bioaccumulation, pose risks to aquatic biodiversity and disrupt trophic relationships. The review also addresses the implications of MNPs for human health, particularly through the consumption of contaminated seafood, highlighting the direct and indirect pathways through which humans are exposed to these pollutants. Furthermore, the review highlights the recommendations for future research directions, emphasizing the integration of ecological, toxicological, and human health studies to inform risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to address the global challenge of plastic pollution in aquatic environments.

Unveiling the significance of foliar-applied silicon, selenium and phosphorus for the management and remediation of arsenic in two different rice genotypes.

Under paddy soil conditions, rice plants are vulnerable to arsenic (As) accumulation, thus causing potential threat to human health. Here we investigated the influence of foliar-applied phosphorus (P: 10 and 20 mg L-1), silicon (Si: 0.6 and 1.5 g L-1) and selenium (Se: 5 and 10 mg L-1) on As accumulation, morphological and physiological attributes of two contrasting rice genotypes (KSK-133 and Super Basmati) under As stress (25 mg kg-1 as arsenate). Silicon foliar dressing significantly (p < 0.05) reduced grain As uptake (up to 67%) and improved rice growth and chlorophyll content (28-66%) in both rice genotypes over their controls. Phosphorus foliar application resulted in a notable decrease (17%) in grain As uptake of coarse rice genotype (KSK-133), while it slightly increased grain As uptake in the fine one (Super Basmati; 6%) compared to controls. However, foliar-applied Se did not show significant effects on rice plants growth attributes and As uptake in both genotypes. Similarly, biochemical and enzymatic attributes (i.e., lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, peroxidase and catalase) were improved with Si application in rice plants, except for P treatment that was only effective for coarse one. Foliar-applied Si also resulted in reduced cancer risk and hazard quotient (< 0.10) for both rice genotypes. This study advances our understanding on critical role of different foliar-applied nutrients and rice genotypes, which is imperative to develop effective As remediation and management strategies in coarse and fine rice genotypes and protect human health.

This study provided new insights on the significance of foliar-applied phosphorus, silicon and selenium for the management and remediation of arsenic in fine (Super Basmati) and coarse (KSK-133) rice genotypes. Foliar-applied silicon was the most promising strategy to mitigate arsenic uptake and minimizing health risk in rice grain of both genotypes, while phosphorus was effective only for coarse one, thus showing a genotype dependent response. Interestingly, selenium foliar application had no significant effect on arsenic accumulation in both rice genotypes.

Levilactobacillus brevis MZ384011 and Levilactobacillus brevis MW362779 can mitigate lead induced hepato-renal damage by regulating visceral dispersion and fecal excretion.

Heavy metal pollution is a global issue. Current study provides evidence on Pb toxicity ameliorative potential and safe nature of Levilactobacillus brevis MZ384011 (S1) and Levilactobacillus brevis MW362779 (S2), isolated from carnivore gut and human milk, respectively. In a 60-days experiment, the rats were distributed into six groups. G-I, G-V and G-VI were kept on normal diet, while GII-IV were fed on lead nitrate (500 mg/kg) supplemented food, throughout experiment. After confirmation of Pb toxicity in GII-IV at 15th day, S1 was orally administered to G-III and G-V while S2 was given to G-IV and G-VI at a dose of 1 × 109 CFU/animal/day. On day 60 of experiment, positive control (G-II) displayed significant reduction in body weight, total protein, albumin, globulin, mineral profile, erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and hematological indices and elevation in leukocyte count, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, uric acid and creatinine along with alterations in hepato-renal architecture. With reference to G-II, the G-III and G-IV displayed significant improvement in all aforementioned parameters, 40-60% reduction in tissue Pb levels (blood, liver, kidney and adipose tissue) and elevation in fecal Pb contents (p = 0.000). The groups V and VI did not show any sign of toxicity. The findings confirm that strains are safe for biological application and can reverse Pb toxicity by facilitating fecal Pb excretion and reducing its systemic dispersal. To best of our information this is the first report on Pb toxicity ameliorative role of Levilactobacillus brevis from human milk, the safest source.

Comparison of efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin versus docetaxil, cisplatin, plus fluorouracil in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Induction followed by concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) is the standard of care for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). This study evaluated and compared the efficacy of two regimens of neoadjuvant chemotherapy along with CCRT in LANPC. Patients with LANPC were randomly divided in Group I (receiving neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin) and Group II (receiving neoadjuvant docetaxil, cisplatin and fluorouracil). Both groups also received concurrent single agent (i.e., cisplatin) chemotherapy and radiotherapy (70Gy). Treatment response was assessed at 8 weeks after the completion of CCRT using RECIST criteria. A total of 68 LANPC patients were enrolled. Group I comprised of 32 patients, with male to female ratio of 2.2, a mean (range, median) age of 38.6±11.3 (19-58, 36) years. Group II comprised of 36 patients, with male to female ratio of 3.5, mean (range, median) age of 40.9 ±11.6 (17-63, 40) years. The complete response was higher whereas the partial response was lower in Group I as compared to Group II (23/32 versus 16/36 and 06/32 versus 18/36, respectively). LANPC patients receiving gemcitabine plus cisplatin based neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed higher response, as compared with docetaxil, cisplatin and fluorouracil based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

2-{N-[(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) acetyl]-N-methylamino}-3-pyrrolidinepropanamide analogs as potential antagonists of Urotensin II receptor.

THE PURPOSE OF THE ARTICLE: To identify novel small molecule antagonists of Urotensin II receptor with acceptable pharmacological profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Structure-activity-relationship (SAR) studies on 2-{N-[(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) acetyl]-N-methylamino}-3-pyrrolidinepropanamide series were conducted and shortlisted compounds were synthesized and evaluated in in vitro cell-based assays. Human and mouse Urotensin II receptor overexpressing CHO cells were used for calcium release and radioligand binding assays. Initial molecules in this series had solubility and inter-species variability issue in the calcium release assay. We, therefore, conducted SAR to overcome these 2 issues and molecules with accepted in vitro profile were evaluated further in mouse pressor response model to generate the in vivo proof of concept for UII receptor antagonization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We report herewith identification of 2-{N-[(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetyl]-N-methylamino}-3-pyrrolidinepropanamides series to obtain novel small molecule antagonists of Urotensin II receptor with acceptable pharmacological profile.

The role of thermal tolerance in determining elevational distributions of four arthropod taxa in mountain ranges of southern Asia.

Understanding the role of thermal tolerances in determining species distributions is important for assessing species responses to climate change. Two hypotheses linking physiology with species distributions have been put forward-the climatic variability hypothesis and the climatic extreme hypothesis. The climatic variability hypothesis predicts the selection of individuals with broad thermal tolerance in more variable climatic conditions and the climatic extreme hypothesis predicts the selection of individuals with extreme thermal tolerance values under extreme climatic conditions. However, no study has tested the predictions of these hypotheses simultaneously for several taxonomic groups along elevational gradients. Here, we related experimentally measured critical thermal maxima, critical thermal minima and thermal tolerance breadths for 15,187 individuals belonging to 116 species of ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders from mountain ranges in central and northern Pakistan to the limits and breadths of their geographic and temperature range. Across all species and taxonomic groups, we found strong relationships between thermal traits and elevational distributions both in terms of geography and temperature. The relationships were robust when repeating the analyses for ants, grasshoppers, and spiders but not for beetles. These results indicate a strong role of physiology in determining elevational distributions of arthropods in Southern Asia. Overall, we found strong support for the climatic variability hypothesis and the climatic extreme hypothesis. A close association between species' distributional limits and their thermal tolerances suggest that in case of a failure to adapt or acclimate to novel climatic conditions, species may be under pressure to track their preferred climatic conditions, potentially facing serious consequences under current and future climate change.

Burden of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 infection among tuberculosis patients: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Influenza and tuberculosis both cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the burden of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus infection among human tuberculosis patients and the general population. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among a cohort group (TB positive patients) as exposed and a comparison group (general population) as non-exposed. A total of 304 participants were recruited in both groups and followed for a period of 12 weeks. Of the 304 concurrently enrolled individuals, 152 were TB-positive patients (cohort group) and 152 were from the general population (comparison group).To calculate the sample size, the power of study was kept at 80% for detecting a difference at 5% alpha level assuming the 25% prevalence of respiratory viruses in cohort group compared to 12.5% in general population. An oropharyngeal swab was taken from a participant with symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI). Samples were tested by conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the detection of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09. All statistical analyses were conducted using R software. RESULTS: A total of 95 participants developed influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms. Among these, 64 tested positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, of which 39 were from the exposed group and 25 were from the non-exposed group. During the 12-week period of follow-up, the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 incidence rate was 20 per 1000 people. The risk of testing positive for influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 was 1.66 times higher in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group. The cumulative incidence indicated that 25% of the TB cohort and 16% of the comparison group were at risk of getting influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 during the 12 weeks of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Participants from the TB cohort had a higher incidence of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 than the general population suggesting that they should be prioritized for influenza vaccination.

Predictors of pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: High venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates have been described in critically ill patients with COVID-19. We hypothesized that specific clinical characteristics may help differentiate hypoxic COVID-19 patients with and without a diagnosed pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational case-control study of 158 consecutive patients hospitalized in one of four Mount Sinai Hospitals with COVID-19 between March 1 and May 8, 2020, who received a Chest CT Pulmonary Angiogram (CTA) to diagnose a PE. We analyzed demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, treatment characteristics, and outcomes in COVID-19 patients with and without PE. RESULTS: 92 patients were negative (CTA-), and 66 patients were positive for PE (CTA+). CTA + had a longer time from symptom onset to admission (7 days vs. 4 days, p = 0.05), higher admission biomarkers, notably D-dimer (6.87 vs. 1.59, p < 0.0001), troponin (0.015 vs. 0.01, p = 0.01), and peak D-dimer (9.26 vs. 3.8, p = 0.0008). Predictors of PE included time from symptom onset to admission (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.20, p = 0.008), and PESI score at the time of CTA (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04, p = 0.008). Predictors of mortality included age (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.22, p = 0.006), chronic anticoagulation (13.81, 95% CI 1.24-154, p = 0.03), and admission ferritin (1.001, 95% CI 1-1.001, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In 158 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure evaluated for suspected PE, 40.8% patients had a positive CTA. We identified clinical predictors of PE and mortality from PE, which may help with early identification and reduction of PE-related mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Soil nutrient levels regulate the effect of soil microplastic contamination on microbial element metabolism and carbon use efficiency.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants in soil ecosystems that disrupt the soil carbon (C) pool. Therefore, the response of microbial metabolism to MP-contaminated soil is crucial for soil-C stabilization. We undertook factorial experiments in a greenhouse with three types of soil microplastics with three levels of soil nutrients and undertook soil physiochemical analyses after 60 days. The present study revealed how the presence of degradable polylactic acid (PLA) and non-degradable polyethylene (PE) MPs affects soil microbial nutrient limitation and C use efficiency (CUE) at varying nutrient concentrations. The presence of PLA in soil with low nutrient levels led to a significant increase (29%) in the activities of nitrogen (N)-acquiring enzymes. In contrast, the presence of MPs had no effect on C- and N-acquiring enzymes. The occurrence of PE caused a 41% reduction in microbial C limitation in high-nutrient soils, and microbial nutrient metabolism was limited by the occurrence of MPs in soils amended with nutrients. A strong positive correlation between microbial C and nutrient limitation in the soil indicates that addressing C limitation followed by amendment of soil with MPs could potentially intensify microbial N limitation in soils with varying nutrients. In comparison, the microbial CUE increased by 10% with the application of degradable MPs (PLA) to soils with a low nutrient status. These findings highlight the significant influence of both degradable PLA and non-degradable PE MPs on soil microbial processes and C dynamics. In conclusion, PLA enhances metabolic efficiency in nutrient-rich soils, potentially aiding C utilization, whereas PE reduces microbial C limitation, offering promise for soil C sequestration strategies. Our findings underscore the importance of considering MPs in soil ecosystem studies and in broader sustainability efforts.

Effect of eCG dose on ovarian haemodynamics, hormonal profiles and prolificacy rate when oestrus was induced during low-breeding season in Beetal goats.

The objectives of the experiment were to determine the effect of two doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) in a standard synchronization protocol based on a short-term progesterone (P4 ) priming on ovarian structures and haemodynamics, concentrations of steroid hormones and prolificacy rate when oestrus was induced during low-breeding season (LBS) in Beetal dairy goats. We hypothesized that inclusion of eCG in a short-term P4 priming-based synchronization protocol would increase the blood perfusion to ovarian structures leading to enhance oestrous and ovulatory responses and prolificacy rate in goats. Forty-two multiparous acyclic goats were blocked by body condition and, within block, assigned randomly to receive saline as control (CON), low eCG (L-eCG; 300 IU) or high eCG (H-eCG; 600 IU) dose. Initially, a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device was placed in the anterior vagina on d -8, followed by removal of CIDR on d -3, concurrent with the administration of PGF2α and eCG according to their respective treatments. Goats were monitored for oestrous response. B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography was performed with 12-h interval, starting from day -3 until natural breeding (day 0), and then on days 5, 10, 15 and 20 post-breeding to monitor follicular and luteal dynamics and blood flow, respectively. Blood was sampled at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 60 h after CIDR removal to quantify plasma concentrations of estradiol-17ß (E2 ), whereas plasma concentrations of P4 were assayed at days 5, 10, 15 and 20 after breeding. Pregnancy and prolificacy rates were determined at day 30 and 150 after breeding, respectively. Data were analysed with mixed-effects models, and orthogonal contrasts were used to evaluate the effect of treatment [Con vs. (½ L-eCG + ½ H-eCG)] and dose of eCG (L-eCG vs. H-eCG). Data are presented in sequence as CON, L-eCG, H-eCG (LSM ± SEM). The oestrous intensity score (152.9 vs. 182.7 vs. 186.5 ± 15.1; p = .02) was greater in eCG-treated goats as compared to CON. Administration of eCG reduced the intervals to standing oestrus (66.2 vs. 41.8 vs. 48.9 h ± 5.5; p = .05), breeding (70.2 vs. 44.4 vs. 45.4 h ± 4.5; p = .03) and ovulation (84.5 vs. 61.2 vs. 63.4 h ± 6.2; p = .05) compared with CON goats. The mean growth rate of pre-ovulatory follicle was greater (1.11 vs. 1.49 vs. 1.45 mm ± 0.08; p = .01) in eCG-treated goats resulting in an increased diameter of pre-ovulatory follicle (6.27 vs. 7.20 vs. 7.31 mm ± 0.07; p < .01) and corpora lutea (6.75 vs. 8.26 vs. 8.07 mm ± 0.42; p = .04) than CON. The mean follicular blood flow did not differ among treatments; however, the mean luteal blood flow was greater in L-eCG-treated goats (0.81 vs. 1.61 vs. 1.07 cm2 ± 0.12; p = .001). The mean concentrations of E2 (4.03 vs. 5.21 vs. 4.78 pg/ml ± 0.42; p = .04) and P4 (4.85 vs. 6.39 vs. 6.22 ng/ml ± 0.34; p = .04) were greater in eCG-treated goats. The twinning rate did not differ between treatments; nevertheless, prolificacy rate was greater (p = .04) in L-eCG-treated goats. Collectively, our data suggest that the administration of eCG improves the induction of oestrous and ovarian dynamics. Administration of L-eCG enhances prolificacy rate, therefore, a low dose of eCG might be practically beneficial to improve reproduction during LBS in acyclic Beetal dairy goats.

On the Impact of Multiple Access Interference in LTE-V2X and NR-V2X Sidelink Communications.

Developing radio access technologies that enable reliable and low-latency vehicular communications have become of the utmost importance with the rise of interest in autonomous vehicles. The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed Vehicle to Everything (V2X) specifications based on the 5G New Radio Air Interface (NR-V2X) to support connected and automated driving use cases, with strict requirements to fulfill the constantly evolving vehicular applications, communication, and service demands of connected vehicles, such as ultra-low latency and ultra-high reliability. This paper presents an analytical model for evaluating the performance of NR-V2X communications, with particular reference to the sensing-based semi-persistent scheduling operation defined in the NR-V2X Mode 2, in comparison with legacy sidelink V2X over LTE, specified as LTE-V2X Mode 4. We consider a vehicle platooning scenario and evaluate the impact of multiple access interference on the packet success probability, by varying the available resources, the number of interfering vehicles, and their relative positions. The average packet success probability is determined analytically for LTE-V2X and NR-V2X, taking into account the different physical layer specifications, and the Moment Matching Approximation (MMA) is used to approximate the statistics of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) under the assumption of a Nakagami-lognormal composite channel model. The analytical approximation is validated against extensive Matlab simulations that a show good accuracy. The results confirm a boost in performance with NR-V2X against LTE-V2X, particularly for high inter-vehicle distance and a large number of vehicles, providing a concise yet accurate modeling rationale for planning and adaptation of the configuration and parameter setup of vehicle platoons, without having to resort to extensive computer simulation or experimental measurements.

Comprehensive Evaluation and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal the Salt Tolerance Mechanism in Semi-Wild Cotton (Gossypium purpurascens).

Elevated salinity significantly threatens cotton growth, particularly during the germination and seedling stages. The utilization of primitive species of Gossypium hirsutum, specifically Gossypium purpurascens, has the potential to facilitate the restoration of genetic diversity that has been depleted due to selective breeding in modern cultivars. This investigation evaluated 45 G. purpurascens varieties and a salt-tolerant cotton variety based on 34 morphological, physiological, and biochemical indicators and comprehensive salt tolerance index values. This study effectively identified a total of 19 salt-tolerant and two salt-resistant varieties. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing of a salt-tolerant genotype (Nayanmian-2; NY2) and a salt-sensitive genotype (Sanshagaopao-2; GP2) revealed 2776, 6680, 4660, and 4174 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under 0.5, 3, 12, and 24 h of salt stress. Gene ontology enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs exhibited significant enrichment in biological processes like metabolic (GO:0008152) and cellular (GO:0009987) processes. MAPK signaling, plant-pathogen interaction, starch and sucrose metabolism, plant hormone signaling, photosynthesis, and fatty acid metabolism were identified as key KEGG pathways involved in salinity stress. Among the DEGs, including NAC, MYB, WRKY, ERF, bHLH, and bZIP, transcription factors, receptor-like kinases, and carbohydrate-active enzymes were crucial in salinity tolerance. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) unveiled associations of salt-tolerant genotypes with flavonoid metabolism, carbon metabolism, and MAPK signaling pathways. Identifying nine hub genes (MYB4, MYB105, MYB36, bZIP19, bZIP43, FRS2 SMARCAL1, BBX21, F-box) across various intervals offered insights into the transcriptional regulation mechanism of salt tolerance in G. purpurascens. This study lays the groundwork for understanding the important pathways and gene networks in response to salt stress, thereby providing a foundation for enhancing salt tolerance in upland cotton.

Role of biochar-based free radicals in immobilization and speciation of metals in the contaminated soil-plant environment.

The structure of biochar produced at various pyrolysis temperatures influences metal geochemical behavior. Here, the impact of wheat straw-derived biochar (300, 500, and 700 °C) on the immobilization and transformation of metals in the contaminated soil-plant system was assessed. The findings of the sequential extraction revealed that biochar additives had a substantial influence on the speciation of Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the contaminated soil. The lowest F1 (exchangeable and soluble fraction) + F2 (carbonate fraction) accounted for Cr (44%) in WB-300, Ni (43.87%) in WB-500, Pb (43.79%), and Zn (49.78%) in WB-700 with applied amendments of their total amounts. The characterization results indicated that high pyrolysis temperatures (300-700 °C) increased the carbon-containing groups with the potential to adsorb metals from the soil-plant environment. The bioconcentration and translocation factors (BCF and TF) were less than 1, indicating that metal concentration was restricted to maize roots and translocation to shoots. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) intracellularly influence metal interactions with plants. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was performed to determine hydroxyl radical generation (•OH) in plant segments to assess the dominance of free radicals (FRs). Consequently, the formation of •OH significantly depends on the pyrolysis temperature and the interaction with a contaminated soil-plant environment. Thus, metal transformation can be effectively decreased in the soil-plant environment by applying WB amendments.

Evaluation of isolated probiotics on the efficacy of immune system in male and female Wistar rats.

Probiotics were isolated from fruits and vegetables. Microscopic, biochemical, and molecular tests were carried out for the characterization of strains of probiotics. To assess the effects of isolated probiotics on immunity, male and female (15 + 15) Wistar rats (n = 3) were randomly distributed into 5 groups: 0-day, negative control, positive control (commercially available Lactobacillus acidophilus-14), laboratory isolated probiotics with accession numbers; Lactobacillus plantarum (MZ707748) and Lactobacillus plantarum (MZ729681), respectively. After hematological investigations, the amounts of IgA and IgG in male and female groups were significantly different (p < 0.05). At the same time, the values of Alanine-transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) in both genders were average, and there were no differences (p > 0.05). Male probiotic-treated groups had decreased levels of interleukin-6, bilirubin, and creatinine, but female probiotic-treated groups had a slight rise in bilirubin and creatinine values (p = 0.05). Cellular blood count levels of Hematocrit (HCT) and white blood cells (WBC) in male groups showed considerable differences (p < 0.05), while there were no differences (p > 0.05) in female groups. Levels of Red blood cells (RBC) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) showed distinct changes (p < 0.05) in female groups, while these values were insignificant changes (p > 0.05) among male groups. There were considerable differences between the control and groups that were given probiotics. Histopathological results showed no damage to the liver and thymus. A fecal examination of rats was used to examine the viability and survival of Lactobacilli. Based on blood tests, it was observed that the immune system was boosted and improved in probiotic-treated groups compared to control groups.

NFATc1 signaling drives chronic ER stress responses to promote NAFLD progression.

OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can persist in the stage of simple hepatic steatosis or progress to steatohepatitis (NASH) with an increased risk for cirrhosis and cancer. We examined the mechanisms controlling the progression to severe NASH in order to develop future treatment strategies for this disease. DESIGN: NFATc1 activation and regulation was examined in livers from patients with NAFLD, cultured and primary hepatocytes and in transgenic mice with differential hepatocyte-specific expression of the transcription factor (Alb-cre, NFATc1c.a . and NFATc1Δ/Δ ). Animals were fed with high-fat western diet (WD) alone or in combination with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a candidate drug for NAFLD treatment. NFATc1-dependent ER stress-responses, NLRP3 inflammasome activation and disease progression were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: NFATc1 expression was weak in healthy livers but strongly induced in advanced NAFLD stages, where it correlates with liver enzyme values as well as hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Moreover, high-fat WD increased NFATc1 expression, nuclear localisation and activation to promote NAFLD progression, whereas hepatocyte-specific depletion of the transcription factor can prevent mice from disease acceleration. Mechanistically, NFATc1 drives liver cell damage and inflammation through ER stress sensing and activation of the PERK-CHOP unfolded protein response (UPR). Finally, NFATc1-induced disease progression towards NASH can be blocked by TUDCA administration. CONCLUSION: NFATc1 stimulates NAFLD progression through chronic ER stress sensing and subsequent activation of terminal UPR signalling in hepatocytes. Interfering with ER stress-responses, for example, by TUDCA, protects fatty livers from progression towards manifest NASH.

Mapping of dwarfing QTL of Ari1327, a semi-dwarf mutant of upland cotton.

BACKGROUND: Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) has few cotton varieties suitable for mechanical harvesting. The plant height of the cultivar is one of the key features that need to modify. Hence, this study was planned to locate the QTL for plant height in a 60Co γ treated upland cotton semi-dwarf mutant Ari1327. RESULTS: Interestingly, bulk segregant analysis (BSA) and genotyping by sequencing (GBS) methods exhibited that candidate QTL was co-located in the region of 5.80-9.66 Mb at D01 chromosome in two F2 populations. Using three InDel markers to genotype a population of 1241 individuals confirmed that the offspring's phenotype is consistent with the genotype. Comparative analysis of RNA-seq between the mutant and wild variety exhibited that Gh_D01G0592 was identified as the source of dwarfness from 200 genes. In addition, it was also revealed that the appropriate use of partial separation markers in QTL mapping can escalate linkage information. CONCLUSIONS: Overwhelmingly, the results will provide the basis to reveal the function of candidate genes and the utilization of excellent dwarf genetic resources in the future.

Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of Erf gene family in cotton.

BACKGROUND: AP2/ERF transcription factors are important in a variety of biological activities, including plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stressors. However, little study has been done on cotton's AP2/ERF genes, although cotton is an essential fibre crop. We were able to examine the tissue and expression patterns of AP2/ERF genes in cotton on a genome-wide basis because of the recently published whole genome sequence of cotton. Genome-wide analysis of ERF gene family within two diploid species (G. arboreum & G. raimondii) and two tetraploid species (G. barbadense, G. hirsutum) was performed. RESULTS: A total of 118, 120, 213, 220 genes containing the sequence of single AP2 domain were identified in G. arboreum, G. raimondii, G. barbadense and G. hirsutum respectively. The identified genes were unevenly distributed across 13/26 chromosomes of A and D genomes of cotton. Synteny and collinearity analysis revealed that segmental duplications may have played crucial roles in the expansion of the cotton ERF gene family, as well as tandem duplications played a minor role. Cis-acting elements of the promoter sites of Ghi-ERFs genes predict the involvement in multiple hormone responses and abiotic stresses. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that Ghi-ERF-2D.6, Ghi-ERF-12D.13, Ghi-ERF-6D.1, Ghi-ERF-7A.6 and Ghi-ERF-11D.5 are candidate genes against salinity tolerance in upland cotton. CONCLUSION: Overwhelmingly, the present study paves the way to better understand the evolution of cotton ERF genes and lays a foundation for future investigation of ERF genes in improving salinity stress tolerance in cotton.

First Report of Fruit Rot Caused by Diaporthe amygdali on Papaya in Punjab, Pakistan.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is grown widely in tropical and sub-tropical regions (Ahmed et al. 2008). In Pakistan, papaya production and consumption are increasing due to its medicinal, nutritional, pharmacological properties and a rich source of antioxidant, vitamin B, potassium, and magnesium. In November 2021, 26 to 35% incidence of fruit rot was observed in 15 fields of Lahore, a district of Punjab, Pakistan. Affected fruit developed circular, gray-to-brown lesions (8 to 10 mm in diameter) with white mycelia forming on the surface of lesions. In advanced stages of the disease, the lesions enlarged in size and led to the rot of entire fruit. To isolate the causal agent, small tissue segments (1 to 2 cm) were excised from 15 symptomatic fruit, surface disinfected with 1% NaClO for 30 s, rinsed with sterile distilled water three times, air dried in laminar flow hood, aseptically transferred onto petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 25℃ for 5 days with a 12-h photoperiod. Eleven isolates were obtained that produced white mycelia on PDA. Flask-shaped, dark-pigmented pycnidia formed on PDA after 18 days of incubation at 25°C, which produced α-conidia measuring 4.1 to 7.2 × 1.5 to 3.0 µm and ß-conidia measuring 16.4 to 25.5 × 1.0 to 1.6 µm (n = 40). α-conidia were hyaline, fusiform, and single-celled, whereas ß-conidia were one-celled, hyaline, and filiform. The morphological characteristics of the fungus were compatible with a Diaporthe species (Gomes et al. 2013). The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) (OM865414 and OM865415), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) (OM831226 and OM831229), and histone H3 (HIS) (OM831227 and OM831228) of two representative isolates (UO02 and UO03) were amplified and sequenced using primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EF1-728F/EF1-986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), and CYLH3F/H3-1b (Chaisiri et al. 2021), respectively. Blast searches showed 99 to 100% nucleotide identity with reference sequences of several Diaporthe amygdali deposited in NCBI GenBank, including the ex-type strain CBS 126679. A pathogenicity test was also performed on harvested fruit of papaya cv. Bombay using isolates UO02 and UO03. Ten mature and healthy papaya fruit were surface disinfected with 1% NaClO solution for 1 min, rinsed with sterile water and dried. Each fruit was wounded twice with a sterile scalpel (4 to 5 mm incision on the peel) and a 5-mm agar disc with mycelia of each isolate was separately placed in each wound. The wounds were wrapped with Parafilm following inoculation. Sterile PDA plugs were used in separate inoculated controls. All wounds were sealed with parafilm. All fruit were maintained in plastic boxes at 25°C with 80% relative humidity. After 6 days of incubation, rot symptoms similar to those appearing on naturally-infected fruit were observed on inoculated fruits while controls remained asymptomatic. The experiment was repeated twice with similar findings. Diaporthe amygdali was re-isolated (100%) from inoculated fruit and the pathogen identification was confirmed by morphological and molecular analysis, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Previously, the pathogen has been reported as a causal agent of canker and shoot blight disease in other countries (Ko and Sun, 2003; Beluzan et al. 2021). To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. amygdali on papaya in Punjab Province of Pakistan. Papaya is an emerging fruit crop in Punjab Province and it is important to further investigate the presence of this pathogen in other papaya orchards of the province since D. amygdali may cause rapid disease outbreaks resulting in severe losses.