Production of polyclonal antibodies against leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV) coat protein expressed in Escherichia coli and its application in serological diagnostics.

Leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV) is one of the most important potyviruses, associated with garlic throughout the world, including India. LYSV causes stunting and yellow streaks in garlic and leek leaves and with other coinfecting viruses leading to severe symptom expression and yield reduction. In this study, we have made the first reported attempt to produce specific polyclonal antibodies to LYSV using expressed recombinant coat protein (CP), which would be useful for screening and routine indexing of the garlic germplasm. The CP gene was cloned, sequenced, and further subcloned in pET-28a(+) expression vector, which yielded ∼35 kDa fusion protein. The fusion protein was obtained in insoluble fraction after purification and its identity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. The purified protein was used as immunogen for production of polyclonal antisera in New Zealand white rabbit. Antisera raised, was able to recognize the corresponding recombinant proteins in western blotting, immunosorbent electron microscopy and dot immunobinding assay (DIBA). Developed antisera to LYSV (titer 1:2000) was used for screening of 21 garlic accessions in antigen coated plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ACP-ELISA) and 16 accessions were found positive for LYSV, indicating its widespread presence within the collection tested. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a polyclonal antiserum against the in-vitro expressed CP of LYSV and its successful application in diagnosis of LYSV in garlic accessions in India.

Innate Immune Mechanism of Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation is Impaired in at-Risk Term Low Birth Weight Newborns.

Low birth weight (LBW) is a leading cause of newborn's mortality however the underlying defects in cellular immunity and immune mechanisms leading to severe neonatal infections in term LBW (tLBW) newborns are not well understood. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), or NETosis, is an innate immune defense mechanism of neutrophils involved in trapping and killing of microbes. The efficiency of NET formation in cord blood derived neutrophils of tLBW and normal birth weight (NBW) newborns in the presence of toll like receptor (TLR) agonist inductions was evaluated. The NET formation was observed to be substantially impaired in tLBW newborns along with NET proteins expression, extracellular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) release and reactive oxygen species generation. The placental tissues from tLBW newborns delivery also showed minimal NETosis. These findings suggest impaired NET formation to be an important factor underlying the deficient immune status of tLBW newborns making them susceptible to life- threatening infections.

Bioclimatic modeling and FACE study forecast a bleak future for wheat production in India.

Since the impact of future climate change on wheat productivity is inconsistent, we studied geographic distribution and yield of wheat using two global General Circulation Models (GCMs) and Free Air CO2/O3 Enrichment (FACE) experiments. The GCMs (IPSL-CM5A-LR and NIMR-HADGEM2-AO) with four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) and 19 bioclimatic variables were used for distribution/ecological niche modeling (ENM). Currently cultivated eight wheat cultivars were exposed to individual treatment of (i) ambient CO2, temperature, and ozone (ACO + AO + AT) representing the present climate scenario, and (ii) elevated CO2 (550 ppm) (ECO), (iii) elevated temperature (+ 2 °C) (ET), (iv) elevated O3 (ambient + 20 ppb) (EO), (v) elevated CO2 + elevated O3 (ECO + EO), and (vi) elevated CO2 + elevated temperature + elevated O3 (ECO + EO + ET) under FACE facility simulating the future climate change scenarios in 2050. The niche models predicted a reduction in climatically suitable areas for wheat, and identified "maximum temperature" as the most influencing factor for area reduction. The elevated CO2, O3, and temperature individually and in combinations had differential impacts on the yield of wheat cultivars. Only two cultivars, viz., DBW 184 and DBW 187 did not exhibit yield decline suggesting their suitability in the future climate change scenario. Since the performance of six out of eight cultivars significantly declined under simulated FACE experiment, and ENM predicted reduction in wheat cultivation area under RCP 8.5 in 2050, it was concluded that future of wheat cultivation in India is bleak. The study further indicates that coupling of bioclimatic modeling and FACE experiment can effectively predict the impact of climate change on different crops.

Response of tropical trees to elevated Ozone: a Free Air Ozone Enrichment study.

Tropospheric ozone (O3) has become one of the main urban air pollutants. In the present study, we assessed impact of ambient and future ground-level O3 on nine commonly growing urban tree species under Free Air Ozone Enrichment (FAOE) condition. During the study period, mean ambient and elevated ozone (EO3) concentrations were 48.59 and 69.62 ppb, respectively. Under EO3 treatment, stomatal density (SD) significantly decreased and guard cell length (GCL) increased in Azadirachta indica, Bougainvillea spectabilis, Plumeria rubra, Saraca asoca and Tabernaemontana divaricata, while SD increased and GCL decreased in Ficus benghalensis and Terminalia arjuna. Proline levels increased in all the nine plant species under EO3 condition. EO3 significantly reduced photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rates (E). Only A. indica and N. indicum showed higher gs and E under EO3 treatment. Water use efficiency (WUE) significantly increased in F. benghalensis and decreased in A. indica and T. divaricata. Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) significantly increased in Ficus religiosa and S. asoca whereas it decreased in B. spectabilis and A. indica. Of all the plant species B. spectabilis and A. indica were the most sensitive to EO3 (high gs and less ascorbic acid content) while S. asoca and F. religiosa were the most tolerant (lowgs and more ascorbic acid content). The sensitivity of urban tree species to EO3 is a cause of concern and should be considered for future urban forestry programmes. Our study should guide more such studies to identify tolerant trees for urban air pollution abatement.

Morpho-physiological and demographic responses of three threatened Ilex species to changing climate aligned with species distribution models in future climate scenarios.

The success of a species in future climate change scenarios depends on its morphological, physiological, and demographic adaptive responses to changing climate. The existence of threatened species against climate adversaries is constrained due to their small population size, narrow genetic base, and narrow niche breadth. We examined if ecological niche model (ENM)-based distribution predictions of species align with their morpho-physiological and demographic responses to future climate change scenarios. We studied three threatened Ilex species, viz., Ilex khasiana Purkay., I. venulosa Hook. f., and I. embelioides Hook. F, with restricted distribution in Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. Demographic analysis of the natural populations of each species in Meghalaya, India revealed an upright pyramid suggesting a stable population under the present climate scenario. I. khasiana was confined to higher elevations only while I. venulosa and I. embelioides had wider altitudinal distribution ranges. The bio-climatic niche of I. khasiana was narrow, while the other two species had relatively broader niches. The ENM-predicted potential distribution areas under the current (2022) and future (2050) climatic scenarios (General Circulation Models (GCMs): IPSL-CM5A-LR and NIMR-HADGEM2-AO) revealed that the distribution of highly suitable areas for the most climate-sensitive I. khasiana got drastically reduced. In I. venulosa and I. embelioides, there was an increase in highly suitable areas under the future scenarios. The eco-physiological studies showed marked variation among the species, sites, and treatments (p < 0.05), indicating the differential responses of the three species to varied climate scenarios, but followed a similar trend in species performance aligning with the model predictions.

Hidden Aspects of the Research ADOS Are Bound to Affect Autism Science.

The research-grade Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule (ADOS) is a broadly used instrument that informs and steers much of the science of autism. Despite its broad use, little is known about the empirical variability inherently present in the scores of the ADOS scale or their appropriateness to define change and its rate, to repeatedly use this test to characterize neurodevelopmental trajectories. Here we examine the empirical distributions of research-grade ADOS scores from 1324 records in a cross-section of the population comprising participants with autism between five and 65 years of age. We find that these empirical distributions violate the theoretical requirements of normality and homogeneous variance, essential for independence between bias and sensitivity. Further, we assess a subset of 52 typical controls versus those with autism and find a lack of proper elements to characterize neurodevelopmental trajectories in a coping nervous system changing at nonuniform, nonlinear rates. Repeating the assessments over four visits in a subset of the participants with autism for whom verbal criteria retained the same appropriate ADOS modules over the time span of the four visits reveals that switching the clinician changes the cutoff scores and consequently influences the diagnosis, despite maintaining fidelity in the same test's modules, room conditions, and tasks' fluidity per visit. Given the changes in probability distribution shape and dispersion of these ADOS scores, the lack of appropriate metric spaces to define similarity measures to characterize change and the impact that these elements have on sensitivity-bias codependencies and on longitudinal tracking of autism, we invite a discussion on readjusting the use of this test for scientific purposes.

Impact of Critical Illness on Quality of Life after Intensive Care Unit Discharge.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life (QoL) following intensive care unit (ICU) discharge using 6 months' prospective follow-up and to analyze the risk factors affecting quality-of-life post-discharge. DESIGN: A prospective observational cohort study. Conducted on adult patients, discharged from ICU after more than 7 days' stay. Study duration is from January 2017 to October 2018. Patients <18 years, nonconsenting, preexisting neurological illness, and lost to follow-up were excluded. Follow-up was done at 1 and 6 months using the SF-36 questionnaire. The pre-ICU functional status, patient demographics, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score, New York Health Evaluation (NYHA) classification, and details of ICU stay were collected. RESULTS: One hundred patients (M = 60, F = 40) with ICU stay (13.64 ± 3.75 days), days of mechanical ventilation (7.93 ± 3.89 days), admission APACHE II (18.88 ± 4.34) and SOFA (7.73 ± 1.54) scores. Comparison showed physical component summary (PCS) score and mental component summary (MCS) score at pre-ICU were 55.12 and 55.09 which decreased to 39.59 and 35.49 (p < 0.05) at 1 month post-discharge and 47.93 and 37.46 at 6 months. Age, APACHE II, and SOFA scores are the significant factors affecting PCS and MCS. Length of ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation did not affect significantly at 6 months. When compared with general population PCS and MCS showed significant deterioration at 1 and 6 months. CONCLUSION: Post-ICU discharge patients have significant functional impairment and compromised health-related QoL (HRQoL). Age and severity of illness significantly affects health quality parameters and decline is below the normal data of general population. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Rai R, Singh R, Azim A, et al. Impact of Critical Illness on Quality of Life after Intensive Care Unit Discharge. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(5):299-306.

Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features Identify Aggressive Prostate Cancer at the Phenotypic and Transcriptomic Level.

PURPOSE: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging is a diagnostic tool for prostate cancer with limited data on prognostic use. We sought to determine whether multiparametric magnetic resonance could predict aggressive prostate cancer features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 206 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2013 and 2017. All patients had available RNA expression data on the final pathology specimen obtained from a location corresponding to a lesion location on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. The association between the PIRADS™ (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System) score and adverse pathology features were analyzed. We also performed differential transcriptomic analysis between the PIRADS groups. Factors associated with adverse pathology were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: Lesion size (p = 0.03), PIRADS score (p = 0.02) and extraprostatic extension (p = 0.01) associated significantly with the Decipher® score. Multivariable analysis showed that the PIRADS score (referent PIRADS 3, OR 8.1, 95% CI 1.2-57.5, p = 0.04), the Gleason Grade Group (referent 3, OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.5-21.1, p = 0.01) and prostate specific antigen (OR 1.103, 95% CI 1.011-1.203) were risk factors for adverse pathology findings. The difference between PIRADS 4 and 5 did not reach significance (OR 1.9, 95% CI 0.8-4.5, p = 0.12). However, the PI3K-AKT-mTOR, WNT-ß and E2F signaling pathways were more active in PIRADS 5 than in PIRADS 4 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The PIRADS score is associated with adverse pathology results, increased metastatic risk and differential genomic pathway activation.

Statistical Platform for Individualized Behavioral Analyses Using Biophysical Micro-Movement Spikes.

Wearable biosensors, such as those embedded in smart phones, can provide data to assess neuro-motor control in mobile settings, at homes, schools, workplaces and clinics. However, because most machine learning algorithms currently used to analyze such data require several steps that depend on human heuristics, the analyses become computationally expensive and rather subjective. Further, there is no standardized scale or set of tasks amenable to take advantage of such technology in ways that permit broad dissemination and reproducibility of results. Indeed, there is a critical need for fully objective automated analytical methods that easily handle the deluge of data these sensors output, while providing standardized scales amenable to apply across large sections of the population, to help promote personalized-mobile medicine. Here we use an open-access data set from Kaggle.com to illustrate the use of a new statistical platform and standardized data types applied to smart phone accelerometer and gyroscope data from 30 participants, performing six different activities. We report full distinction without confusion of the activities from the Kaggle set using a single parameter (linear acceleration or angular speed). We further extend the use of our platform to characterize data from commercially available smart shoes, using gait patterns within a set of experiments that probe nervous systems functioning and levels of motor control.

Application of ethylene diurea (EDU) in assessing the response of a tropical soybean cultivar to ambient O3: nitrogen metabolism, antioxidants, reproductive development and yield.

The present study deals with assessment of response of a tropical soybean cultivar to O3 in relation to photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics, antioxidative capacity, N assimilation enzymes, metabolites, growth and yield using ethylene diurea (EDU) given as a soil drench (400) ppm at an interval of 10 days after germination up to maturity. Mean O3 concentration was 42 ppb and accumulated threshold above 40 ppb (AOT 40) was 9.07 ppm h. Lipid peroxidation and total phenolics reduced, while increases in activities of antioxidative and nitrogen assimilation enzymes, ascorbic acid, protein, photosynthetic pigments, Fv/Fm ratio, number of leaves, flowers, pods, branches and yield attributes were found in EDU treated plants. EDU alleviated the negative effects of O3 by enhancing the first line of defense against ROS and protecting N assimilation enzymes at flowering and maintaining adequate supply of photosynthates to developing pods during pod filling stage. EDU provided maximum protection between flowering to pod filling stage.

Differential microRNA profile and post-transcriptional regulation exist in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with distinct autoantibody specificities.

PURPOSE: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have anti-nuclear autoantibodies directed against dsDNA and RNA-associated antigens (extractable nuclear antigens; ENA). In this study, we investigated the differences in microRNA (miRNA) expression and its biological implications in SLE patients with distinct autoantibody specificities. METHODS: The SLE patients were grouped into three subsets based on the type of autoantibodies present in their sera (anti- ENA+ group with autoantibodies against ENA alone; antidsDNA+ group having autoantibodies against dsDNA only, and anti-ENA+dsDNA+ group having autoantibodies to both dsDNA and ENA). Global miRNA expression profiling was done for each of these three groups using TaqMan® low density miRNA arrays. RESULTS: We report that different sets of miRNAs are dysregulated in SLE patients with different autoantibody specificities. Further, Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software revealed specific biological pathways that were targeted by miRNAs dysregulated in different SLE subsets. Molecules involved in cell cycle and cytoskeleton remodeling were the prime targets of miRNAs dysregulated in anti-ENA+ patients whereas miRNAs dysregulated in anti-dsDNA+ patients were found to be implicated in multiple cytokine signaling pathways. IPA analysis of gene targets of miRNAs commonly dysregulated in all three SLE subsets identified several metabolic-, hormone-, and interferon-related pathways to be affected. CONCLUSION: The differential miRNA expression in patients with distinct autoantibodies is suggestive of different regulatory mechanisms operating among them. Based on these observations, we are hopeful that this 'sub-grouping' approach could be used to identify other defective processes associated with varying disease manifestations in SLE and may be considered when designing therapeutic interventions.

The dichotomy between probiotic lactic acid bacteria and Plasmodium: A promising therapeutic avenue.

Our understanding of gut microbial populations and their immense influence on host immunity, health, and diseases has increased deeply in recent years. Numerous reports have identified the role of mosquito and mammalian gut microbiota in the modulation of host susceptibility to Plasmodium infection. Artemisinin resistance in malaria-endemic regions necessitates the development of new, safer, and more affordable treatments to supplement existing therapies. In this review, we compiled a colossal amount of data from numerous studies that have assessed the roles played by gut microbial communities in Plasmodium infection, progression, transmission, and severity. Most interestingly, our study points to the overwhelming evidence from experimental studies in mural malaria to human trials, suggesting that the presence of lactic acid bacteria in the gut microbiota of mammalian hosts provides a great degree of protection against malaria. Therefore, our study provides a compelling narrative for probiotic administration as an adjunct therapy for combatting malaria.

Understanding Female and Male Insights in Psychology: Who Thinks What?

Evolutionary psychology is the study of human psychological behavior. During childhood, men and women behave similarly; however, as a child approaches puberty, new physical and behavioral changes emerge. Behavioral psychology focuses on understanding the functioning and thought processes of the human mind. The general population lacks knowledge of basic behavioral differences between men and women, leaving them unaware of their role, limitations, societal responsibilities, resulting in an underestimation of their own natural talents and biology. Thus, people tend to follow societal norms rather than exploring and utilizing their natural talents. The current review was designed and conducted to enforce compression on behavioral psychology in both genders as well as to identify variations in hormonal activity and sexual preferences.

Evading Musculoskeletal Conditions Using Qigong as a Rescue Technique.

Classically, Qigong is a Chinese technique that has been practiced in China for the past 3,000 years for healing the inner self. Qigong, wherein "Qi" means body energy and "Gong" denotes cultivation, regulates the energy flow in the body. The Qigong technique comprises a package of deep breathing training, gentle and rhythmic movement, and muscle-strengthening exercises that heal the body to activate one's internal soul energy. It has demonstrated its efficacy by inducing relaxation, building up stamina, strengthening immunity, appreciating muscle conditioning, and minimizing anxiety and depression. Furthermore, it has been beneficial in improving awareness of joint and movement senses. Specifically, Qigong brings healing by regulating energy flow in the whole-body systems. Moreover, it has exhibited a variety of regenerating effects by inducing emotional and mental relaxation. In today's world, Qigong exercises are being used for treating musculoskeletal disorders that are work- and stress-related by nature. Qigong is practiced globally as deep breathing exercises, and meditation is practiced for peace of mind and spirituality, whereas vigorous practice includes martial arts.

Effects of pain education on disability, pain, quality of life, and self-efficacy in chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain stands as a prevalent contributor to pain-related disability on a global scale. In addressing chronic low back pain (CLBP), there is a growing emphasis on incorporating psychological strategies into the management process. Among these, pain education interventions strive to reshape pain beliefs and mitigate the perceived threat of pain. This randomized controlled trial sought to assess the effects of pain education on various aspects, including pain levels, disability, quality of life, self-efficacy, and prognostic characteristics in individuals grappling with CLBP. METHODS: The clinical trial, retrospectively registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2021/08/035963), employed a two-arm parallel randomized design. Ninety-two participants with CLBP were randomly assigned to either the standard physiotherapy care with a pain education program or the control group. Both groups underwent a 6-week intervention. Assessment of pain intensity (using NPRS), disability (using RMDQ), self-efficacy (using the general self-efficacy scale), and well-being (using WHO 5I) occurred both before and after the 6-week study intervention. FINDINGS: Post-intervention score comparisons between the groups revealed that the pain education intervention led to a significant reduction in disability compared to the usual standard care at 6 weeks (mean difference 8.2, p < 0.001, effect size Cohen d = 0.75), a decrease in pain intensity (mean difference 3.5, p < 0.001, effect size Cohen d = 0.82), and an improvement in the well-being index (mean difference 13.7, p < 0.001, effect size Cohen d = 0.58). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that integrating a pain education program enhances the therapeutic benefits of standard physiotherapy care for individuals dealing with chronic LBP. In conclusion, the clinical benefits of pain education become apparent when delivered in conjunction with standard care physiotherapy during the management of chronic low back pain.

Effect of dynamic taping on neck pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain: a randomized sham-control trial.

Background: In 2020, 203 million people experienced neck pain, with a higher prevalence in women. By 2050, it is predicted that neck pain will affect 269 million people, representing a 32.5% increase. Physical rehabilitation is often employed for the treatment of chronic non-specific neck pain (CNSNP) and the associated functional loss. Taping is frequently used as an adjunct treatment alongside primary physical rehabilitation. Unlike kinesio tape (KT), the therapeutic benefits of dynamic tape (DT) have not been thoroughly explored and documented in non-athletic conditions. Therefore, the aim of this trial was to determine the effects of DT on pain, disability, and overall well-being in individuals experiencing CNSNP. Methods: A prospective parallel-group active controlled trial was conducted at a single center, involving 136 patients with CNSNP, randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio. The sham taping group (STC) received standard physiotherapy care (n = 67) alongside DT without tension, while the dynamic taping group (DTC) (n = 69) underwent standard cervical offloading technique with appropriate tension in addition to standard physiotherapy care. Demographic information and three patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), namely the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), were collected for each participant at three time points (baseline, four weeks post-taping, and four weeks follow-up). Results: At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the STC and DTC for any outcome measure. Notably, all three PROMs exhibited a significant improvement from baseline to four weeks post-intervention, with moderate to small effect sizes (NDI ηp2 = 0.21, VAS ηp2 = 0.23, and WHO-55 ηp2 = 0.05). The WHO-5 scores for both groups demonstrated improvement from baseline through follow-up (p < 0.001). The NDI and VAS scores ameliorated from baseline to the four weeks post-taping period, with marginal improvements observed during the four weeks follow-up. Conclusion: The incorporation of DT as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy care yielded enhancements in pain levels, functional disability, and well-being among patients with CNSNP when compared to the sham group. However, the sustainability of these improvements beyond the taping period lacks statistical significance and warrants further validation.

Distinct autoantibody profiles in systemic lupus erythematosus patients are selectively associated with TLR7 and TLR9 upregulation.

PURPOSE: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have a wide array of autoantibodies against nuclear antigens. The two predominant classes of these autoantibodies are directed either against dsDNA or RNA-associated antigens (extractable nuclear antigens; ENA). Nucleic-acid sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that recognize dsDNA and RNA, have been well implicated in some murine models of SLE. We took up this study to identify if unique TLR expression patterns are associated with distinct autoantibody profiles in SLE. METHODS: We segregated the patients into three subsets distinguished on the basis of autoantibody response either against dsDNA or ENA or both. We determined the mRNA expression of TLR3, 7, 8, and 9 by real-time reverse-transcription PCR in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) of the SLE patients of all three subsets. TLR7 and 9 protein expression was determined by western blotting in PBLs and by flow cytometry on B-cells and monocytes. The serum interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and anti-dsDNA/-ENA autoantibodies were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. RESULTS: We report differential and unique TLR expression patterns associated with different autoantibody profiles. The presence of anti-ENA and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies in SLE patients was associated with elevated levels of TLR7 and TLR9 respectively. The TLR9 mRNA expression was further augmented in SLE patients with Glomerulonephritis. Interestingly, anti-dsDNA(+) ENA(+) patients displayed higher serum IFN-α and interferon regulatory factor 7 mRNA expression than patients with either anti-dsDNA or anti-ENA autoantibodies alone. CONCLUSION: Characteristic TLRs expression profile associated with distinct autoantibody repertoire is suggestive of differential immuno-regulatory pathways operative in different subsets of SLE patients.

Individual and interactive effects of elevated carbon dioxide and ozone on tropical wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars with special emphasis on ROS generation and activation of antioxidant defence system.

The effects of elevated CO2 and O3, singly and in combination were investigated on various physiological, biochemical and yield parameters of two locally grown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (HUW-37 and K-9107) in open top chambers (OTCs). Elevated CO2 stimulated photosynthetic rate (Ps) and Fv/Fm ratio and reduced the stomatal conductance (gs). Reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidative enzymes, ascorbic acid and total phenolics were higher, whereas Ps, gs, Fv/Fm, protein and photosynthetic pigments were reduced in elevated O3 exposure, as compared to their controls. Under elevated CO2 + O3, elevated levels of CO2 modified the plant performance against O3 in both the cultivars. Elevated CO2 caused significant increase in economic yield. Exposure to elevated O3 caused significant reduction in yield and the effect was cultivar-specific. The study concluded that elevated CO2 ameliorated the negative impact of elevated O3 and cultivar HUW-37 was more sensitive to elevated O3 than K-9107.

The time is ripe for the renaissance of autism treatments: evidence from clinical practitioners.

Introduction: Recent changes in diagnostics criteria have contributed to the broadening of the autism spectrum disorders and left clinicians ill-equipped to treat the highly heterogeneous spectrum that now includes toddlers and children with sensory and motor issues. Methods: To uncover the clinicians' critical needs in the autism space, we conducted surveys designed collaboratively with the clinicians themselves. Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBAs) and developmental model (DM) clinicians obtained permission from their accrediting boards and designed surveys to assess needs and preferences in their corresponding fields. Results: 92.6% of BCBAs are open to diversified treatment combining aspects of multiple disciplines; 82.7% of DMs also favor this diversification with 21.8% valuing BCBA-input and 40.6% neurologists-input; 85.9% of BCBAs and 85.3% of DMs advocate the use of wearables to objectively track nuanced behaviors in social exchange; 76.9% of BCBAs and 57.0% DMs feel they would benefit from augmenting their knowledge about the nervous systems of Autism (neuroscience research) to enhance treatment and planning programs; 50.0% of BCBAs feel they can benefit for more training to teach parents. Discussion: Two complementary philosophies are converging to a more collaborative, integrative approach favoring scalable digital technologies and neuroscience. Autism practitioners seem ready to embrace the Digital-Neuroscience Revolutions under a new cooperative model.

Exercise Therapy and Electrotherapy as an Intervention for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Primary Dysmenorrhea (PD) is characterized by painful cramps before or during menstruation. It is generally treated with nonpharmacological methods. However, with the advancement of research and the passage of time, physiotherapy plays an increasingly important role in treating patients with PD. Electrotherapy and exercise therapy are conservative methods to treat PD. Alternative methods to minimize reliance on medicinal-based treatments are the need of the hour. This review aims to determine the efficacy of exercise-based therapies and electrotherapy modalities in treating PD. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards have been used in the present systematic review and meta-analysis. Cochrane, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched to facilitate the same. The articles from 2011 to 2021 were included in this review. The quality of the review was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The visual analog scale was taken as a measure of pain intensity in the meta-analysis, and other outcomes have been included in the systematic review discussed. A total of 15 publications have been included, with a meta-analysis of 7. All included studies were of high quality (PEDro ≥ 5), and demonstrated the efficacy of exercise-based therapies and electrotherapy modalities in treating pain in females with PD. This review aims to check the impact of exercise and electrotherapy in females suffering from PD.