Does biochar accelerate the mitigation of greenhouse gaseous emissions from agricultural soil? - A global meta-analysis.

Greenhouse gaseous (GHGs) emissions from cropland soils are one of the major contributors to global warming. However, the extent and pattern of these climatic breakdowns are usally determined by the management practices in-place. The use of biochar on cropland soils holds a great promise for increasing the overall crop productivity. Nevertheless, biochar application to agricultural soils has grown in popularity as a strategy to off-set the negative feedback associated with agriculture GHGs emissions, i.e., CO2 (carbon dioxide), CH4 (methane), and N2O (nitrous oxide). Despite increasing efforts to uncover the potential of biochar to mitigate the farmland GHGs effects, there has been little synthesis of how different types of biochar affect GHGs fluxes from cropland soils under varied experimental conditions. Here, we presented a meta-analysis of the interactions between biochar and GHGs emissions across global cropland soils, with field experiments showing the strongest GHG mitigation potential, i.e. CO2 (RR = -0.108) and CH4 (RR = -0.399). The biochar pyrolysis temperature, feedstock, C: N ratio, and pH were also found to be important factors influencing GHGs emissions. A prominent reduction in N2O (RR = -0.13) and CH4 (RR = -1.035) emissions was observed in neutral soils (pH = 6.6-7.3), whereas acidic soils (pH ≤ 6.5) accounted for the strongest mitigation effect on CO2 compared to N2O and CH4 emissions. We also found that a biochar application rate of 30 t ha-1 was best for mitigating GHGs emissions while achieving optimal crop yield. According to our meta-analysis, maize crop receiving biochar amendment showed a significant mitigation potential for CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions. On the other hand, the use of biochar had shown significant impact on the global warming potential (GWP) of total GHGs emissions. The current data synthesis takes the lead in analyzing emissions status and mitigation potential for three of the most common GHGs from cropland soils and demonstrates that biochar application can significantly reduce the emissions budget from agriculture.

Aggrandizement of fermented cucumber through the action of autochthonous probiotic cum starter strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus.

PURPOSE: Cucumber fermentation is traditionally done using lactic acid bacteria. The involvement of probiotic cultures in food fermentation guarantees enhanced organoleptic properties and protects food from spoilage. METHODS: Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria were isolated from spontaneously fermented cucumber and identified to species level. Only strains adjudged as safe for human consumption were examined for their technological and functional characteristics. Strain efficiency was based on maintaining high numbers of viable cells during simulated GIT conditions and fermentation, significant antioxidant activity, EPS production, nitrite degradation, and antimicrobial ability against Gram-positive and Gram-negative foodborne pathogens. RESULT: Two strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NPL 1258 and Pediococcus pentosaceus NPL 1264, showing a suite of promising functional and technological attributes, were selected as a mixed-species starter for carrying out a controlled lactic acid fermentations of a native cucumber variety. This consortium showed a faster lactic acid-based acidification with more viable cells, at 4% NaCl and 0.2% inulin (w/v) relative to its constituent strains when tested individually. Sensory evaluation rated the lactofermented cucumber acceptable based on texture, taste, aroma, and aftertaste. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the autochthonous LAB starter cultures can shorten the fermentation cycle and reduce pathogenic organism' population, thus improving the shelf life and quality of fermented cucumber. The development of these new industrial starters would increase the competitiveness of production and open the country's frontiers in the fermented vegetable market.

Development and Assessment of a Point-of-Care Application (Genomic Medicine Guidance) for Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease.

Background: Genetic testing can determine familial and personal risks for heritable thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAD). The 2022 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for TAD recommend management decisions based on the specific gene mutation. However, many clinicians lack sufficient comfort or insight to integrate genetic information into clinical practice. Objective: We therefore developed the Genomic Medicine Guidance (GMG) application, an interactive point-of-care tool to inform clinicians and patients about TAD diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance. GMG is a REDCap-based application that combines publicly available genetic data and clinical recommendations based on the TAD guidelines into one translational education tool. Methods: TAD genetic information in GMG was sourced from the Montalcino Aortic Consortium, a worldwide collaboration of TAD centers of excellence, and the National Institutes of Health genetic repositories ClinVar and ClinGen. Results: The application streamlines data on the 13 most frequently mutated TAD genes with 2286 unique pathogenic mutations that cause TAD so that users receive comprehensive recommendations for diagnostic testing, imaging, surveillance, medical therapy, and preventative surgical repair, as well as guidance for exercise safety and management during pregnancy. The application output can be displayed in a clinician view or exported as an informative pamphlet in a patient-friendly format. Conclusions: The overall goal of the GMG application is to make genomic medicine more accessible to clinicians and patients while serving as a unifying platform for research. We anticipate that these features will be catalysts for collaborative projects aiming to understand the spectrum of genetic variants contributing to TAD.

Genomic Medicine Guidance: A Point-of-Care App for Heritable Thoracic Aortic Diseases.

Genetic testing can determine familial and personal risks for heritable thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAD). The 2022 ACC/AHA guidelines for TAD recommend management decisions based on the specific gene mutation. However, many clinicians lack sufficient comfort or insight to integrate genetic information into clinical practice. We therefore developed the Genomic Medicine Guidance (GMG) app, an interactive point-of care tool to inform clinicians and patients about TAD diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance. GMG is a REDCap-based app that combines publicly available genetic data and clinical recommendations based on the TAD guidelines into one translational education tool. TAD genetic information in GMG was sourced from the Montalcino Aortic Consortium, a worldwide collaboration of TAD centers of excellence, and the NIH genetic repositories ClinVar and ClinGen. The app streamlines data on the 13 most frequently mutated TAD genes with 2,286 unique pathogenic mutations that cause TAD so that users receive comprehensive recommendations for diagnostic testing, imaging, surveillance, medical therapy, preventative surgical repair, as well as guidance for exercise safety and management during pregnancy. The app output can be displayed in a clinician view or exported as an informative pamphlet in a patient-friendly format. The overall goal of the GMG app is to make genomic medicine more accessible to clinicians and patients, while serving as a unifying platform for research. We anticipate that these features will be catalysts for collaborative projects that aim to understand the spectrum of genetic variants that contribute to TAD.

The nexus between meteorological parameters and COVID-19 pandemic: case of Islamabad, Pakistan.

The study aimed to investigate the correlation between meteorological parameters and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Islamabad, Pakistan. The meteorological parameters include temperature minimum (°C), temperature maximum (°C), temperature average (°C), humidity minimum (%), humidity maximum (%), humidity average (%), and rainfall (mm). The data of COVID-19, such as the number of new confirmed cases and deaths was obtained from the Ministry of Health, Pakistan. The correlations of various types, i.e., Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall correlations between meteorological parameters and COVID-19, were employed for data analyses. The results exhibited a highly significant relationship between COVID-19 and temperature minimum and temperature average among all meteorological parameters. The study findings may help competitive authorities to combat this disease in Pakistan.

Whole exome sequencing revealed novel variants in consanguineous Pakistani families with intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: Intellectual disability (ID) is a heterogeneous disorder affecting 1-3% of the population. Elucidation of monogenic variants for ID is a current challenge. These variants can be better demonstrated in consanguineous affected families. OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to find the genetic variants of ID in consanguineous families. METHODS: We analyzed five unrelated consanguineous Pakistani families affected with ID using whole exome sequencing (WES). Data was analyzed using different bioinformatics tools and software. RESULTS: We mapped four variants including three novels in four different ID known genes. Each variant is found in a different family, co-segregating with a recessive pattern of inheritance. The novel variants found are; c. 2_4del (p.?) mapped in ROS1 and c. 718G>A (p.Gly240Arg) in GRM1. Another novel causative variant, c.2673del (p.Gly892Aspfs*17) identified in COL18A1 in a recessive form, a gene reported for Knobloch syndrome that manifests ID along with typical retinal abnormalities, and this phenotype was confirmed on reverse phenotyping. A mutation c.2134C>T (p.Arg712*) in TRAPPC9 has been found first time in the homozygous recessive form in our enrolled three affected siblings while it was previously reported in compound heterozygous form in a Caucasian descent. While fifth family remained unsolved. CONCLUSION: These mutations in four different genes with a recessive inheritance would be a contribution to the disease variant database of this devastating disorder.

Biogeochemical transformation of greenhouse gas emissions from terrestrial to atmospheric environment and potential feedback to climate forcing.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is mainly universal greenhouse gas associated with climate change. However, beyond CO2, some other greenhouse gases (GHGs) like methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), being two notable gases, contribute to global warming. Since 1900, the concentrations of CO2 and non-CO2 GHG emissions have been elevating, and due to the effects of the previous industrial revolution which is responsible for climate forcing. Globally, emissions of CO2, CH4, and N2O from agricultural sectors are increasing as around 1% annually. Moreover, deforestation also contributes 12-17% of total global GHGs. Perhaps, the average temperature is likely to increase globally, at least 2 °C by 2100-by mid-century. These circumstances are responsible for climate forcing, which is the source of various human health diseases and environmental risks. From agricultural soils, rhizospheric microbial communities have a significant role in the emissions of greenhouse gases. Every year, microbial communities release approximately 1.5-3 billion tons of carbon into the atmospheric environment. Microbial nitrification, denitrification, and respiration are the essential processes that affect the nitrogen cycle in the terrestrial environment. In the twenty-first century, climate change is the major threat faced by human beings. Climate change adversely influences human health to cause numerous diseases due to their direct association with climate change. This review highlights the different anthropogenic GHG emission sources, the response of microbial communities to climate change, climate forcing potential, and mitigation strategies through different agricultural management approaches and microbial communities.

Fluctuations in environmental pollutants and air quality during the lockdown in the USA and China: two sides of COVID-19 pandemic.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Due to the global threat, many countries impose immediate lockdown. The impact of lockdown on the environmental pollutants and climate indicators gained considerable attention in the literature. This study aims to describe the variations in the environmental pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2, PM2.5 and PM10) with and without the lockdown period in the majorly hit states and provinces of the USA and China, respectively. Data during the first quarter year of 2019 and 2020 (lockdown period) was used in this study. Moreover, the effect of these pollutants on the pandemic spread was also studied. The results illustrated that the overall concentrations of CO, NO2 and PM2.5 were decreased by 19.28%, 36.7% and 1.10%, respectively, while PM10 and SO2 were increased by 27.81% and 3.81% respectively in five selected states of the USA during the lockdown period. However, in the case of chosen provinces of China, overall, the concentrations of all selected pollutants, i.e., CO, NO2, SO2, PM2.5 and PM10, were reduced by 26.53%, 38.98%, 18.36%, 17.78% and 37.85%, respectively. The COVID-19 reported cases and deaths were significantly correlated with NO2, PM2.5 and PM10 in both China and the USA. The findings of this study concluded that the limited anthropogenic activities in the lockdown situation due to this novel pandemic disease result in a significant improvement of air quality by reducing the concentrations of environmental pollutants. As the trend goes on, the reduction of most pollutant concentrations is expected as long as partial or complete lockdown goes on.Graphical abstract.