Deubiquitination of NLRP6 inflammasome by Cyld critically regulates intestinal inflammation.

The inflammasome NLRP6 plays a crucial role in regulating inflammation and host defense against microorganisms in the intestine. However, the molecular mechanisms by which NLRP6 function is inhibited to prevent excessive inflammation remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the deubiquitinase Cyld prevents excessive interleukin 18 (IL-18) production in the colonic mucosa by deubiquitinating NLRP6. We show that deubiquitination inhibited the NLRP6-ASC inflammasome complex and regulated the maturation of IL-18. Cyld deficiency in mice resulted in elevated levels of active IL-18 and severe colonic inflammation following Citrobacter rodentium infection. Further, in patients with ulcerative colitis, the concentration of active IL-18 was inversely correlated with CYLD expression. Thus, we have identified a novel regulatory mechanism that inhibits the NLRP6-IL-18 pathway in intestinal inflammation.

Diverse values of nature for sustainability.

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being1,2, addressing the global biodiversity crisis3 still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature's diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever4. Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature's values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)5 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals6, predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature7. Arguably, a 'values crisis' underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change8, pandemic emergence9 and socio-environmental injustices10. On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature's diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions7,11. Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures.

PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway alterations in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in the PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway are commonly seen in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), however their role in outcomes is unknown. We aim to evaluate the prognostic significance as well as the genetic landscape of PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway alteration in mCSPC. METHODS: Fourhundred and seventy-two patients with mCSPC were included who underwent next generation sequencing. PIK3/Akt/mTor pathway alterations were defined as mutations in Akt1, mTOR, PIK3CA, PIK3CB, PIK3R1, PTEN, TSC1, and TSC2. Endpoints of interests were radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS), time to development of castration resistant prostate cancer (tdCRPC), and overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed and Cox regression hazard ratios (HR) were calculated. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-two (31.9%) patients harbored a PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway alteration. Median rPFS and tdCRPC were 23.7 and 21.0 months in PIK3/Akt/mTOR altered compared to 32.8 (p = 0.08) and 32.1 months (p = 0.002) in wildtype tumors. On multivariable analysis PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway alterations were associated with tdCRPC (HR 1.43, 95% CI, 1.05-1.94, p = 0.02), but not rPFS [Hazard ratio (HR) 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.90-1.60, p = 0.21]. PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway alterations were more likely to be associated with concurrent mutations in TP53 (40% vs. 28%, p = 0.01) and TMPRSS2-ERG (37% vs. 26%, p = 0.02) than tumors without PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway alterations. Concurrent mutations were typically associated with shorter median times to rPFS and tdCRPC. DAVID analysis showed p53 signaling and angiogenesis pathways were enriched in PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway altered tumors while beta-catenin binding and altered BRCA pathway were enriched in PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway wildtype tumors. CONCLUSIONS: PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway alterations were common in mCSPC and associated with poorer prognosis. The genetic landscape of PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway altered tumors differed from wildtype tumors. Additional studies are needed to better understand and target the PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway in mCSPC.

Modulation of the extracellular matrix by Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus and importance in cell proliferation.

Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies gallolyticus (Sgg) has a strong clinical association with colorectal cancer (CRC) and actively promotes the development of colon tumors. Previous work showed that this organism stimulates CRC cells proliferation and tumor growth. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these activities are not well understood. Here, we found that Sgg upregulates the expression of several type of collagens in HT29 and HCT116 cells, with type VI collagen (ColVI) being the highest upregulated type. Knockdown of ColVI abolished the ability of Sgg to induce cell proliferation and reduced the adherence of Sgg to CRC cells. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important regulator of cell proliferation. Therefore, we further examined the role of decellularized matrix (dc-matrix), which is free of live bacteria or cells, in Sgg-induced cell proliferation. Dc-matrix prepared from Sgg-treated cells showed a significantly higher pro-proliferative activity than that from untreated cells or cells treated with control bacteria. On the other hand, dc-matrix from Sgg-treated ColVI knockdown cells showed no difference in the capacity to support cell proliferation compared to that from untreated ColVI knockdown cells, suggesting that the ECM by itself is a mediator of Sgg-induced cell proliferation. Furthermore, Sgg treatment of CRC cells but not ColVI knockdown CRC cells resulted in significantly larger tumors in vivo, suggesting that ColVI is important for Sgg to promote tumor growth in vivo. These results highlight a dynamic bidirectional interplay between Sgg and the ECM, where Sgg upregulates collagen expression. The Sgg-modified ECM in turn affects the ability of Sgg to adhere to host cells and more importantly, acts as a mediator for Sgg-induced CRC cell proliferation. Taken together, our results reveal a novel mechanism in which Sgg stimulates CRC proliferation through modulation of the ECM.

C-Type LECTIN receptor-like kinase 1 and ACTIN DEPOLYMERIZING FACTOR 3 are key components of plasmodesmata callose modulation.

Plasmodesmata (PDs) are intercellular organelles carrying multiple membranous nanochannels that allow the trafficking of cellular signalling molecules. The channel regulation of PDs occurs dynamically and is required in various developmental and physiological processes. It is well known that callose is a critical component in regulating PD permeability or symplasmic connectivity, but the understanding of the signalling pathways and mechanisms of its regulation is limited. Here, we used the reverse genetic approach to investigate the role of C-type lectin receptor-like kinase 1 (CLRLK1) in the aspect of PD callose-modulated symplasmic continuity. Here, we found that loss-of-function mutations in CLRLK1 resulted in excessive PD callose deposits and reduced symplasmic continuity, resulting in an accelerated gravitropic response. The protein interactome study also found that CLRLK1 interacted with actin depolymerizing factor 3 (ADF3) in vitro and in plants. Moreover, mutations in ADF3 result in elevated PD callose deposits and faster gravitropic response. Our results indicate that CLRLK1 and ADF3 negatively regulate PD callose accumulation, contributing to fine-tuning symplasmic opening apertures. Overall, our studies identified two key components involved in the deposits of PD callose and provided new insights into how symplasmic connectivity is maintained by the control of PD callose homoeostasis.

RORγt protein modifications and IL-17-mediated inflammation.

RORγt, the master transcription factor for cytokine interleukin (IL)-17, is expressed explicitly in Th17 cells, γδT cells, and type 3 innate lymphoid cells in mice and humans. Since dysregulated IL-17 expression is strongly linked to several human inflammatory diseases, the RORγt-IL-17 axis has been the focus of intense research. Recently, several studies have shown that RORγt is modified by multiple post-translational mechanisms, including ubiquitination, acetylation, SUMOylation, and phosphorylation. This review discusses how post-translational modifications modulate RORγt function and its turnover to regulate IL-17-driven inflammation. Broad knowledge of these pathways is crucial for a clear understanding of the pathogenic role of RORγt+IL-17+ cells and for the development of putative therapeutic strategies to target IL-17-driven diseases such as multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Aerosol-PM2.5 Dynamics: In-situ and satellite observations under the influence of regional crop residue burning in post-monsoon over Delhi-NCR, India.

The increasing air pollution in the urban atmosphere is adversely impacts the environment, climate and human health. The alarming degradation of air quality, atmospheric conditions, economy and human life due to air pollution needs significant in-depth studies to ascertain causes, contributions and impacts for developing and implementing an effective policy to combat these issues. This work lies in its multifaceted approach towards comprehensive understanding and mitigating severe pollution episodes in Delhi and its surrounding areas. We investigated the aerosol dynamics in the post-monsoon season (PMS) from 2019 to 2022 under the influence of both crop residue burning and meteorological conditions. The study involves a broad spectrum of factors, including PM2.5 concentrations, active fire events, and meteorological parameters, shedding light on previously unexplored studies. The average AOD550 (0.79) and PM2.5 concentration (140.12 µg/m³) were the highest in 2019. PM2.5 was higher from mid-October to mid-November each year, exceeding the WHO guideline of 15 µg/m³ (24 h) by 27-34 times, signifying a public health emergency. A moderate to strong correlation between PM2.5 and AOD was found (r = 0.65) in 2021. The hotspot region accounts for almost 50% (2019), 47.51% (2020), 57.91% (2021) and 36.61% (2022) of the total fire events. A statistically significant negative non-linear correlation (r) was observed between wind speed (WS) and both AOD and PM2.5 concentration, influencing air quality over the region. HYSPLIT model and Windrose result show the movement of air masses predominated from the North and North-West direction during PMS. This study suggest to promotes strategies such as alternative waste management, encouraging modern agricultural practices in hot-spot regions, and enforcing strict emission norms for industries and vehicles to reducing air pollution and its detrimental effects on public health in the region and also highlights the need for future possibilities of research to attract the global attention.

α1-COP modulates plasmodesmata function through sphingolipid enzyme regulation.

Callose, a ß-1,3-glucan plant cell wall polymer, regulates symplasmic channel size at plasmodesmata (PD) and plays a crucial role in a variety of plant processes. However, elucidating the molecular mechanism of PD callose homeostasis is limited. We screened and identified an Arabidopsis mutant plant with excessive callose deposition at PD and found that the mutated gene was α1-COP, a member of the coat protein I (COPI) coatomer complex. We report that loss of function of α1-COP elevates the callose accumulation at PD by affecting subcellular protein localization of callose degradation enzyme PdBG2. This process is linked to the functions of ERH1, an inositol phosphoryl ceramide synthase, and glucosylceramide synthase through physical interactions with the α1-COP protein. Additionally, the loss of function of α1-COP alters the subcellular localization of ERH1 and GCS proteins, resulting in a reduction of GlcCers and GlcHCers molecules, which are key sphingolipid (SL) species for lipid raft formation. Our findings suggest that α1-COP protein, together with SL modifiers controlling lipid raft compositions, regulates the subcellular localization of GPI-anchored PDBG2 proteins, and hence the callose turnover at PD and symplasmic movement of biomolecules. Our findings provide the first key clue to link the COPI-mediated intracellular trafficking pathway to the callose-mediated intercellular signaling pathway through PD.

Biological wastewater treatment: a comprehensive sustainability analysis using life cycle assessment.

The research conducts a life cycle assessment (LCA) on wastewater treatment (WWT) methods-membrane bioreactor (MBR), soil biotechnology (SBT), and bio-electrochemical constructed wetlands (BCW)-in comparison with the conventional activated sludge process (ASP). Employing SimaPro v9.5 with a cradle-to-gate system boundary, the analysis utilizes the IMPACT 2002 + method, employing per cubic meter of treated wastewater as the functional unit. The analysis shows that SBT exhibits the lowest environmental impacts among the considered WWT methods. The global warming potential was 0.0996 kg CO2 eq. for SBT, 1.33 kg CO2 eq. for MBR, 0.131 kg CO2 eq. for BCW, and 0.544 kg CO2 eq. for ASP. BCW demonstrates a 75.91% decrease, while MBR exhibits a 144.48% increase compared to ASP. Notably, electricity consumption emerges as the primary contributor to environmental impact in MBR and ASP. The resource impact category varies with a 138.15% increase in MBR and an 83.41% decrease in SBT compared to ASP. Additionally, the research indicates that the high human health impact observed in MBR results mainly from increased carcinogens (0.00176 kg C2H3Cl eq.), non-carcinogens (0.01 kg C2H3Cl eq.), and ionizing radiation (3.34 Bq C-14 eq.). The findings underscore the importance of considering treatment efficiency and broader environmental implications in selecting WWT methods. As the world emphasizes sustainability, such LCA studies provide valuable insights for making informed decisions in wastewater management.

Genome-wide identification and molecular characterization of CRK gene family in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under cold stress and sclerotium rolfsii infection.

BACKGROUND: The plant cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases (CRKs) are a large family having multiple roles, including defense responses under both biotic and abiotic stress. However, the CRK family in cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) has been explored to a limited extent. In this study, a genome-wide characterization of the CRK family has been performed to investigate the structural and functional attributes of the cucumber CRKs under cold and fungal pathogen stress. RESULTS: A total of 15 C. sativus CRKs (CsCRKs) have been characterized in the cucumber genome. Chromosome mapping of the CsCRKs revealed that 15 genes are distributed in cucumber chromosomes. Additionally, the gene duplication analysis of the CsCRKs yielded information on their divergence and expansion in cucumbers. Phylogenetic analysis divided the CsCRKs into two clades along with other plant CRKs. Functional predictions of the CsCRKs suggested their role in signaling and defense response in cucumbers. The expression analysis of the CsCRKs by using transcriptome data and via qRT-PCR indicated their involvement in both biotic and abiotic stress responses. Under the cucumber neck rot pathogen, Sclerotium rolfsii infection, multiple CsCRKs exhibited induced expressions at early, late, and both stages. Finally, the protein interaction network prediction results identified some key possible interacting partners of the CsCRKs in regulating cucumber physiological processes. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study identified and characterized the CRK gene family in cucumbers. Functional predictions and validation via expression analysis confirmed the involvement of the CsCRKs in cucumber defense response, especially against S. rolfsii. Moreover, current findings provide better insights into the cucumber CRKs and their involvement in defense responses.

Insights into genomic variations in rice Hsp100 genes across diverse rice accessions.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The Hsp101 gene is present across all sequenced rice genomes. However, as against Japonica rice, Hsp101 protein of most indica and aus rice contain insertion of glutamic acid at 907th position. The understanding of the heat stress response of rice plants is important for worldwide food security. We examined the presence/absence variations (PAVs) of heat shock proteins (Hsps)/heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) genes in cultivated rice accessions. While 53 Hsps/Hsfs genes showed variable extent of PAVs, 194 genes were the core genes present in all the rice accessions. ClpB1/Hsp101 gene, which is critically important for thermotolerance in plants, showed 100% distribution across the rice types. Within the ClpB1 gene sequence, 40 variation sites consisting of nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short insertion/deletions (InDels) were discerned. An InDel in ClpB1 leading to an in-frame insertion of 3 nucleotides (TCC) thereby an additional amino acid (glutamic acid) at 907th amino acid position was noted in most of the indica and aus as against japonica rice types. Three rice types namely Moroberekan (japonica), IR64 (indica) and N22 (aus) were further analyzed to address the question of ClpB1 genomic variations and its protein levels with the heat tolerance phenotype. The growth profiling analysis in the post heat stress (HS) period showed that N22 seedlings were most tolerant, IR64 moderately tolerant and Moroberekan highly sensitive. Importantly, the ClpB1 protein sequences of these three rice types showed distinct differences in terms of SNPs. As the ClpB1 protein levels accumulated post HS were generally higher in Moroberekan than N22 seedlings in our study, it is proposed that some additional gene loci in conjunction with ClpB1 regulate the overall rice heat stress response.

A type VII secretion system of Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus contributes to gut colonization and the development of colon tumors.

Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies gallolyticus (Sgg) has a strong clinical association with colorectal cancer (CRC) and actively promotes the development of colon tumors. However, the molecular determinants involved in Sgg pathogenicity in the gut are unknown. Bacterial type VII secretion systems (T7SS) mediate pathogen interactions with their host and are important for virulence in pathogenic mycobacteria and Staphylococcus aureus. Through genome analysis, we identified a locus in Sgg strain TX20005 that encodes a putative type VII secretion system (designated as SggT7SST05). We showed that core genes within the SggT7SST05 locus are expressed in vitro and in the colon of mice. Western blot analysis showed that SggEsxA, a protein predicted to be a T7SS secretion substrate, is detected in the bacterial culture supernatant, indicating that this SggT7SST05 is functional. Deletion of SggT7SST05 (TX20005Δesx) resulted in impaired bacterial adherence to HT29 cells and abolished the ability of Sgg to stimulate HT29 cell proliferation. Analysis of bacterial culture supernatants suggest that SggT7SST05-secreted factors are responsible for the pro-proliferative activity of Sgg, whereas Sgg adherence to host cells requires both SggT7SST05-secreted and bacterial surface-associated factors. In a murine gut colonization model, TX20005Δesx showed significantly reduced colonization compared to the parent strain. Furthermore, in a mouse model of CRC, mice exposed to TX20005 had a significantly higher tumor burden compared to saline-treated mice, whereas those exposed to TX20005Δesx did not. Examination of the Sgg load in the colon in the CRC model suggests that SggT7SST05-mediated activities are directly involved in the promotion of colon tumors. Taken together, these results reveal SggT7SST05 as a previously unrecognized pathogenicity determinant for Sgg colonization of the colon and promotion of colon tumors.

Disparities in brachytherapy utilization in cervical cancer in the United States: A comprehensive literature review.

Brachytherapy (BT) is an integral component of treatment for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer, significantly improving local control and overall survival. There is an overall trend of decreased utilization of BT in United States (US) in the last few decades with around 50% of patients being treated without BT. The cause of decreased utilization is multifactorial including physician comfort, facility volume, low reimbursements rates and costs of starting and maintaining a brachytherapy program. This decrease coincides with an increase in the use of newer advanced techniques like intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) boost resulting in inferior oncological outcomes and increased toxicity. Moreover, racial and socioeconomic disparities in BT utilization have been widely reported in the US. Various factors including age, race, socio-economic status, location, facility type, facility volume and insurance status result in limited access to brachytherapy, which jeopardizes oncologic outcomes. This comprehensive review discusses the BT utilization in the US, examines the impact of race and socioeconomic factors on BT utilization, and highlights its impact on outcomes.

Fruit peel bioactives, valorisation into nanoparticles and potential applications: A review.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing field with profound applications in different domains, particularly in food science and technology. Nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis, an integral part of nanotechnology-based applications, is broadly classified into chemical, physical and biosynthesis methods. Chemically sensitive and energy-intensive procedures employed for NPs synthesis are some of the limits of traditional chemical approaches. Recent research has focused on developing easy, nontoxic, cost-effective, and environment-friendly NPs synthesis during the last decade. Biosynthesis approaches have been developed to achieve this goal as it is a viable alternative to existing chemical techniques for the synthesis of metallic nanomaterials. Fruit peels contain abundant bioactive compounds including phenols, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids, steroids, glycosides, carotenoids, anthocyanins, ellagitannins, vitamin C, and essential oils with substantial health benefits, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties, generally discarded as byproduct or waste by the fruit processing industry. NPs synthesized using bioactive compounds from fruit peel has futuristic applications for an unrealized market potential for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical delivery. Numerous studies have been conducted for the biosynthesis of metallic NPs such as silver (AgNPs), gold (AuNPs), zinc oxide, iron, copper, palladium and titanium using fruit peel extract, and their synthesis mechanism have been reported in the present review. Additionally, NPs synthesis methods and applications of fruit peel NPs have been discussed.

Cutting Edge: Hypoxia-Induced Ubc9 Promoter Hypermethylation Regulates IL-17 Expression in Ulcerative Colitis.

Dysregulated IL-17 expression is central to the pathogenesis of several inflammatory disorders, including ulcerative colitis. We have shown earlier that SUMOylation of ROR-γt, the transcription factor for IL-17, regulates colonic inflammation. In this study, we show that the expression of Ubc9, the E2 enzyme that targets ROR-γt for SUMOylation, is significantly reduced in the colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis patients. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) binds to a CpG island within the Ubc9 gene promoter, resulting in its hypermethylation and reduced Ubc9 expression. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated inhibition of HIF-1α normalized Ubc9 and attenuated IL-17 expression in Th17 cells and reduced diseases severity in Rag1 -/- mice upon adoptive transfer. Collectively, our study reveals a novel epigenetic mechanism of regulation of ROR-γt that could be exploited in inflammatory diseases.

Artificial intelligence-based prediction of lycopene content in raw tomatoes using physicochemical attributes.

INTRODUCTION: Lycopene consumption reduces risk and incidence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Tomatoes are a rich source of phytochemical compounds including lycopene as a major constituent. Lycopene estimation using high-performance liquid chromatography is time-consuming and expensive. OBJECTIVE: To develop artificial intelligence models for prediction of lycopene in raw tomatoes using 14 different physicochemical parameters including salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), firmness, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), colour values on Hunter scale (L, a, b), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity (AOA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The post-harvest data acquisition was collected through investigation for more than 100 raw tomatoes stored for 15 days. Linear multivariate regression (LMVR), principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were developed by splitting data set into train and test datasets. The training of models was performed using 10-fold cross validation (CV). RESULTS: Principal component analysis showed strong positive association between lycopene, colour value 'a', TPC, TFC and AOA. The R2 (CV), root mean square error (RMSE) (CV) and RMSE (Test) for best LMVR model was observed to be at 0.70, 8.48 and 9.69 respectively. The PCR model revealed R2 (CV) at 0.59, RMSE (CV) at 8.91 and RMSE (Test) at 10.17 while PLSR model revealed R2 (CV) at 0.60, RMSE (CV) at 9.10 and RMSE (Test) at 10.11. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study show that epidemiological studies suggest fully ripened tomatoes are most beneficial for consumption to ensure recommended daily intake of lycopene content.

Mysterious Late Presentation of Congenital H-type Tracheoesophageal Fistula in Teenage - Teamwork and Operative Planning.

Congenital tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a result of the failed fusion of tracheoesophageal ridges during the 3rd week of gestation. Commonly, TEF is associated with esophageal atresia, which is detected and treated in newborns. Isolated TEF is rare with an overall incidence of 1 in 80,000 live births. Very rarely, they can present in adulthood. This report is adding one such patient at the age of 17 years who presented with the first episode of aspiration pneumonia and a history of retrosternal discomfort and regurgitation since childhood to the limited world experience.

The Many Faces of Grief: A Systematic Literature Review of Grief During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has halted life all around the world. The disease, along with quarantine, social distancing, unemployment, and displacement, has led to myriad losses. There is a rising concern for the epidemic of grief that can result from these multiple losses. The present study aimed to investigate how grief is understood and discussed in the extant literature during the COVID pandemic. A systematic literature review was conducted using PsycArticles, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The qualitative synthesis of 33 articles indicates that grief can be manifested at various levels such as grief for self, relational grief, collective grief, and ecological grief. Another theme emphasizes some of the factors that could intensify the grief process leading to prolonged grief disorder. A third theme relates to the focus of grief processes as experienced by individuals in different developmental periods from childhood to senescence. The study contributes theoretically by expanding our perception and understanding of varied forms of grief.

Genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying root architecture and function under heat stress-A hidden story.

Heat stress events are resulting in a significant negative impact on global food production. The dynamics of cellular, molecular and physiological homoeostasis in aboveground parts under heat stress are extensively deciphered. However, root responses to higher soil/air temperature or stress signalling from shoot to root are limited. Therefore, this review presents a holistic view of root physio-morphological and molecular responses to adapt under hotter environments. Heat stress reprogrammes root cellular machinery, including crosstalk between genes, phytohormones, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. Spatio-temporal regulation and long-distance transport of phytohormones, such as auxin, cytokinin and abscisic acid (ABA) determine the root growth and development under heat stress. ABA cardinally integrates a signalling pathway involving heat shock factors, heat shock proteins and ROS to govern heat stress responses. Additionally, epigenetic modifications by transposable elements, DNA methylation and acetylation also regulate root growth under heat stress. Exogenous application of chemical compounds or biological agents such as ascorbic acid, metal ion chelators, fungi and bacteria can alleviate heat stress-induced reduction in root biomass. Future research should focus on the systemic effect of heat stress from shoot to root with more detailed investigations to decipher the molecular cues underlying the roots architecture and function.

Walking through crossroads-rice responses to heat and biotic stress interactions.

Rice, the most important source of calories for humans is prone to severe yield loss due to changing climate including heat stress. Additionally, rice encounters biotic stresses in conjunction with heat stress, which exacerbates the adverse effects, and exponentially increase such losses. Several investigations have identified biotic and heat stress-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that may contribute to improved tolerance to these stresses. However, a significant knowledge gap exists in identifying the genomic regions imparting tolerance against combined biotic and heat stress. Hereby, we are presenting a conceptual meta-analysis identifying genomic regions that may be promising candidates for enhancing combined biotic and heat stress tolerance in rice. Fourteen common genomic regions were identified along chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10 and 12, which harbored 1265 genes related to heat stress and defense responses in rice. Further, the meta expression analysis revealed 24 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in calcium-mediated stress signaling including transcription factors Myb, bHLH, ROS signaling, molecular chaperones HSP110 and pathogenesis related proteins. Additionally, we also proposed a hypothetical model based on GO and MapMan analysis representing the pathways intersecting heat and biotic stresses. These DEGs can be potential candidate genes for improving tolerance to combined biotic and heat stress in rice. We present a framework highlighting plausible connecting links (QTLs/genes) between rice response to heat stress and different biotic factors associated with yield, that can be extended to other crops.