Comparative role of calcium oxide nanoparticles and calcium bulk fertilizer to alleviate cadmium toxicity by modulating oxidative stress, photosynthetic performance and antioxidant-defense genes expression in alfalfa.

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity poses a significant threat to soil health and sustainable food production. Its bioaccumulation in plant tissues induces phytotoxicity by affecting physiological and biochemical attributes, leading to a reduction in plant biomass and production. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach for addressing heavy metal toxicity in an eco-friendly manner to enhance crop production. However, the comparative role of foliar applied calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) and bulk calcium fertilizer under Cd stress in alfalfa remains unexplored. Herein, we studied the ameliorative role of CaO-NPs and bulk calcium (50 and 100 mg L-1) to alleviate Cd stress (30 mg kg-1) in alfalfa seedlings. Plants exposed to Cd exhibited significant decreases in morpho-physiological traits, gas exchange attributes, and pigment contents as well as increase in Cd bioaccumulation in plant tissues. Notably, exogenous application of CaO-NPs ameliorates the toxic impact of Cd by enhancing plant biomass (45%), fluorescence efficiency and gaseous exchange attributes. The maximum dose of CaO-NPs induced Cd-tolerance response accompanied by a significant increase in antioxidative enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD; 29%), peroxidase (POD; 41%), catalase (CAT; 36%) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX; 49%), which play positive roles in ROS scavenging. TEM examination further revealed the protective role of these NPs in averting Cd-induced damage to leaf ultrastructure and mesophyll cells. Furthermore, CaO-NPs had a substantial influence on both Cd and Ca2+ accumulation in plant tissues, while qRT‒PCR analysis demonstrated higher expression of antioxidant defense genes viz. Cu/ZnSOD (0.38 fold change (FC)), MtPOD (0.51 FC), MtCAT (0.61 FC) and MtAPX (0.79 FC) under CaO-NPs application, over Cd control. Overall, our findings suggested that exogenous CaO-NPs could be effective in alleviating the adverse effects of Cd on alfalfa seedlings to ensure food safety and support sustainable agriculture.

Restoration of gut dysbiosis through Clostridium butyricum and magnesium possibly balance blood glucose levels: an experimental study.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by an elevated level of blood glucose due to the absence of insulin secretion, ineffectiveness, or lack of uptake of secreted insulin in the body. The improperly diagnosed and poorly managed DM can cause severe damage to organs in the body like the nerves, eyes, heart, and kidneys. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of Clostridium butyricum (probiotic) with magnesium supplementation to evaluate the effect on gut microbial dysbiosis and blood glucose levels. In the laboratory, 6-8 weeks old 24 male albino rats weighing 200-250 g were given free access to water and food. Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) in overnight fasted rats. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6, 6 replicates in each group). Metformin (100 mg/kg/day) with a standard basal diet was provided to control group (G0), Clostridium butyricum (1.5 × 105 CFU/day) with standard basal diet was provided to treatment group (G1), magnesium (500 mg/kg/day) was provided to group (G2). Clostridium butyricum (1.5 × 105 CFU/day) and magnesium (300 mg/kg/day) in combination with a standard basal diet was provided to group (G3). Blood Glucose, Magnesium blood test and microbial assay were done. Random blood glucose levels were monitored twice a week for 21 days and were represented as mean of each week. The results conclude that Clostridium butyricum (1.5 × 105 CFU) is very effective in balancing random blood glucose levels from 206.6 ± 67.7 to 85.1 ± 3.8 (p = 0.006) compared to other groups (p > 0.005). The results of stool analysis showed that Clostridium butyricum as probiotic restores microbial dysbiosis as evident by the 105 CFU Clostridium butyricum load in G1, which was higher than G0, G2 and G3 which were 103 and 104 CFU respectively. The findings of this study conclude that Clostridium butyricum supplementation improved blood glucose levels and intestinal bacterial load in type II diabetes mellitus.

Behavioral and Neurophysiological Implications of Pathological Human Tau Expression in Serotonin Neurons.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disorder that results in a severe loss of brain cells and irreversible cognitive decline. Memory problems are the most recognized symptoms of AD. However, approximately 90% of patients diagnosed with AD suffer from behavioral symptoms, including mood changes and social impairment years before cognitive dysfunction. Recent evidence indicates that the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is among the initial regions that show tau pathology, which is a hallmark feature of AD. The DRN harbors serotonin (5-HT) neurons, which are critically involved in mood, social, and cognitive regulation. Serotonergic impairment early in the disease process may contribute to behavioral symptoms in AD. However, the mechanisms underlying vulnerability and contribution of the 5-HT system to AD progression remain unknown. Here, we performed behavioral and electrophysiological characterizations in mice expressing a phosphorylation-prone form of human tau (hTauP301L) in 5-HT neurons. We found that pathological tau expression in 5-HT neurons induces anxiety-like behavior and alterations in stress-coping strategies in female and male mice. Female mice also exhibited social disinhibition and mild cognitive impairment in response to 5-HT neuron-specific hTauP301L expression. Behavioral alterations were accompanied by disrupted 5-HT neuron physiology in female and male hTauP301L expressing mice with exacerbated excitability disruption in females only. These data provide mechanistic insights into the brain systems and symptoms impaired early in AD progression, which is critical for disease intervention.

Micrometer insights into Nepeta genus: Pollen micromorphology unveiled.

This study provides a comprehensive pollen micromorphology within the Nepeta genus, revealing intricate details about the pollen grains' structure and characteristics. The findings shed light on the evolutionary and taxonomical aspects of this plant genus, offering valuable insights for botanists and researchers studying Nepeta species. The pollen grains of 18 Nepeta species were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM) in Northern Pakistan. At the microscale, pollen quantitative measurements, qualitative traits, and diverse sculpturing patterns were reported and compared. Significant differences in pollen size, shape, ornamentation, and sculpturing patterns were discovered among the Nepeta species. Our data show that exine sculpturing is quite diverse, with most species exhibiting a reticulate perforate pollen pattern. Nepeta connata, Nepeta discolor, Nepeta elliptica, revealed a distinct bireticulate perforate exine stratification. Hexazonocolpate pollen is the most common. Furthermore, the surface membrane attributes of the colpus varied greatly, ranging from rough, scabrate, psilate, to sinuate patterns. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to discover the key factors influencing pollen diversity. PCA results showed that polar and equatorial diameters, colpi size, and exine thickness were the most influential pollen features between Nepeta species. This study adds to our understanding of pollen morphology in the Nepeta genus, offering information on the vast range of characteristics found in this economically important group. The extensive characterization of pollen features provides useful insights for the categorization and differentiation of Nepeta species, adding to the Lamiaceae micromorphology.

Myocarditis and Myocardial Injury in Long COVID Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature.

The repercussions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been devastating on a global scale. Long COVID, which affects patients for weeks or even months after their initial infection, is not limited to individuals with severe symptoms and can affect people of all ages. The condition can impact various physiological systems, leading to chronic health conditions and long-term disabilities that present significant challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. This review explores the link between long COVID and cardiovascular complications such as myocardial injury and myocarditis. It also highlights the prevalence of these complications and identifies risk factors for their development in long COVID patients. Myocardial injury occurs due to direct cellular damage and T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity resulting in elevated cardiac biomarkers. Diagnostic techniques like electrocardiogram, troponin level testing, and magnetic resonance imaging can help identify myocarditis, but endomyocardial biopsy is considered the gold-standard diagnostic technique. Guideline-directed medical therapy is recommended for COVID-19 myocarditis patients for better prognosis while being monitored under comprehensive care management approaches. Therefore, it's critical to develop effective screening techniques specifically for vulnerable populations while conducting further research that addresses the effects of long COVID on society's physical health.

Phytochemical screening and allelopathic potential of phytoextracts of three invasive grass species.

Undoubtedly, it is important to remain vigilant and manage invasive grasses to prevent their spread and mitigate their negative impact on the environment. However, these aggressive plants can also play a beneficial role in certain contexts. For example, several invasive grasses provide valuable forage for livestock and have disease control potential. Therefore, a research experiment was conducted to explore the pros and cons of this approach, not only for surrounding vegetation but also for human and animal disease control. The study is primarily focused on developing livestock feed, plant-derived herbicides, and an understanding of the phytotoxic effects of invasive species. All plant parts of Cenchrus ciliaris L., Polypogon monspeliansis L., and Dicanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf, were tested for their phyto-chemical screening, proximate, and toxicity analysis which was caused by the methanolic extract of these grass species. Qualitative phytochemical screening tests were performed for proximate composition analysis and toxicity assessment essays. The phytochemical analysis revealed the positive results for alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, phenols, saponins, and glycosides, while negative for tannins. Comparison of proximate analysis intimated maximum moisture (10.8%) and crude fat (4.1%) in P. monspeliensis, whereas maximum dry matter (84.1%), crude protein (13.95%), crude fiber (11%), and ash (7.2%) in D. annulatum. Five (10, 100, 500, 100, 10,000 ppm) and three (10, 1000, 10,000 ppm) different concentrations of methanolic extract prepared from C. ciliaris, P. monspeliansis, and D. annulatum were used respectively for root inhibition and seed germination essay. Furthermore, three different concentrations (10, 30, 50 mg) of plant fine powder were used for sandwich method test. There was a significant decline in the growth rate of experimental model radish seeds (P > 0.005), and results from sandwich method tests showed suppressed growth of root hairs, inhibiting the anchoring of the radish seed. In comparison, results manifest that; P. monspeliansis indicated an upsurge of inhibition (66.58% at 10,000 ppm), D. annulatum revealed soar germination (75.86% in controlled conditions), and C. ciliaris exhibited dramatic shoot up of inhibition because of sandwich method test (14.02% at 50 mg). In conclusion, although grasses are toxic, it is important to consider the beneficiary account.

Formal Verification of Deep Brain Stimulation Controllers for Parkinson's Disease Treatment.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a widely accepted treatment for the Parkinson's disease (PD). Traditionally, it is done in an open-loop manner, where stimulation is always ON, irrespective of the patient needs. As a consequence, patients can feel some side effects due to the continuous high-frequency stimulation. Closed-loop DBS can address this problem as it allows adjusting stimulation according to the patient need. The selection of open- or closed-loop DBS and an optimal algorithm for closed-loop DBS are some of the main challenges in DBS controller design, and typically the decision is made through sampling based simulations. In this letter, we used model checking, a formal verification technique used to exhaustively explore the complete state space of a system, for analyzing DBS controllers. We analyze the timed automata of the open-loop and closed-loop DBS controllers in response to the basal ganglia (BG) model. Furthermore, we present a formal verification approach for the closed-loop DBS controllers using timed computation tree logic (TCTL) properties, that is, safety, liveness (the property that under certain conditions, some event will eventually occur), and deadlock freeness. We show that the closed-loop DBS significantly outperforms existing open-loop DBS controllers in terms of energy efficiency. Moreover, we formally analyze the closed-loop DBS for energy efficiency and time behavior with two algorithms, the constant update algorithm and the error prediction update algorithm. Our results demonstrate that the closed-loop DBS running the error prediction update algorithm is efficient in terms of time and energy as compared to the constant update algorithm.

Sustainable Synthesis of Iron-Zinc Nanocomposites by Azadirachta indica Leaves Extract for RSM-Optimized Sono-Adsorptive Removal of Crystal Violet Dye.

Environmental pollution has exacerbated the availability of clean water to mankind. In this study, Azadirachta indica leaf extract was used for sustainable synthesis of Fe-Zn nanocomposites (IZNC). The instrumental techniques of Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to determine the structural and chemical composition. The overall surface was mildly acidic in nature, as the pHPZC was observed to be 6.00. The ultrasonicated adsorption experiments were designed by central composite design (CCD). The best responses, which proposed a contaminants removal of 80.39%, were assessed using the response surface methodology (RSM). By repeating experimental runs at the expected optimum operating parameters (OOP), the method was experimentally affirmed with the %mean error and %RSD9 being 2.695% and 1.648%, respectively. The interaction of CV dye and the nanocomposite showed tremendous adsorption efficiency towards crystal violet (CV) dye, as revealed by isotherm studies. Fitting kinetics and isotherm models were affirmed by root mean square error (RMSE), χ2, and a Pearson regression coefficient. Thermodynamic studies proved spontaneity of the CV dye adsorption over the nanocomposites. The values for ΔGo, ΔHo, and ΔSo were observed to be -1.089 kJ/mol, 28.59 kJ/mol, and -3.546 kJ/mol, respectively. Recovery of CV dye was carried out in a variety of media, including NaOH, NaCl, and CH3COOH. The maximum CV recovery was achieved in an acidic media. The robustness of adsorption was affirmed by the interference of various matrix ions, including KCl, LiCl, NaCl, and MgCl2, which did not significantly affect the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity was obtained at a low concentration of LiCl. The results show that a green synthesis approach for nanocomposite synthesis might be an effective and economical way to remove organic contaminants from wastewater. Moreover, it is also effective for effluent treatment plants (ETP) for waste management purposes, in which it may be coupled with chlorine as a disinfectant to purify water that can be used for domestic and irrigation purposes.

Corrigendum: Disease specific symptoms indices in patients with celiac disease-A hardly recognised entity.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.944449.].

Disease specific symptoms indices in patients with celiac disease-A hardly recognised entity.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) was considered a rare disease before and was perceivably only limited to children but now affects almost 1-2% of the global population. This abrupt increase in prevalence is due to advancements in diagnostic criteria and medical facilities but still many countries lack the basic data that can assess the severity of this health issue. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the common but rarely diagnosed condition with the identification of its underlying secondary ailments. Materials and methods: Patients visiting public sector hospitals were recruited and tested for clinical symptoms secondary to gluten-containing foods (wheat and barley, etc.), followed by serological testing for immunoglobulin A, tissue transglutaminase A, and anti-endomysial antibodies. Only seropositive candidates were included in the endoscopic and biopsy examination for the features of villous atrophy and intestinal cell damage. The secondary ailments including anemia, growth retardation, and gastrointestinal symptoms were also documented for the tested positive patients. The modified European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) criterion was followed throughout the study. Results: From 647 suspected cases from March 2018 to July 2019, 113 were confirmed with CD while 58% were female children and 42% were male children. The majority of them were from a lower class (75%) and 26% of them had a positive family history of CD. A total of 67% of patients with CD were underweight while wasting was observed in 38%, and 80% were stunted as well. Of the positively tested patients with CD, 49% had moderate anemia with 15% having severe anemia. Approximately 33% had hypoalbuminemia as well. The majority of them had a mild to severe range of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatus, eructation, diarrhea, and steatorrhea. Conclusion: The study finding indicates an increased number of patients diagnosed with CD with an excessive sum of secondary ailments, such as anemia, growth failure, growth retardation, malnutrition, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Herd Behaviour, Fundamental, and Macroeconomic Variables - The Driving Forces of Stock Returns: A Panel-Based Pooled Mean Group Approach.

The existing research aims to seek the herding effects on stock returns at the industry level in Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). Moreover, the relationship between stock returns and herding has been studied by taking some macroeconomic (exchange rate, interest rate, and inflation rate) and fundamental (return on equity and earnings per share) control variables. Herding is actually imitating other's behaviour. This phenomenon indicates a situation where the investors follow the crowed and ignores their personal information, despite knowing the correctness of their information. Herd behaviour may drive from fundamental factors leading to efficient markets. However, it may not be associated with fundamental information causing unstable prices. The stock price data of PSX listed companies from 1999 to 2017 have been the point of focus. The underlying herding measure was the cross-sectional absolute deviation (CSAD), proposed by Chang et al. (2000). The significant analysis technique facilitating the current research is pooled mean group (PMG)/panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach. Findings revealed that some sectors are evident for positive effect of herding on stock returns, whereas some others are witnessed for its negative effects on stock returns, in both long run and short run. As far as the control variables are concerned, they demonstrated both significant and insignificant effects on stock returns in different sectors of PSX. The study has important implications for policymakers.

Gjd2b-mediated gap junctions promote glutamatergic synapse formation and dendritic elaboration in Purkinje neurons.

Gap junctions between neurons serve as electrical synapses, in addition to conducting metabolites and signaling molecules. During development, early-appearing gap junctions are thought to prefigure chemical synapses, which appear much later. We present evidence for this idea at a central, glutamatergic synapse and provide some mechanistic insights. Loss or reduction in the levels of the gap junction protein Gjd2b decreased the frequency of glutamatergic miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in cerebellar Purkinje neurons (PNs) in larval zebrafish. Ultrastructural analysis in the molecular layer showed decreased synapse density. Further, mEPSCs had faster kinetics and larger amplitudes in mutant PNs, consistent with their stunted dendritic arbors. Time-lapse microscopy in wild-type and mutant PNs reveals that Gjd2b puncta promote the elongation of branches and that CaMKII may be a critical mediator of this process. These results demonstrate that Gjd2b-mediated gap junctions regulate glutamatergic synapse formation and dendritic elaboration in PNs.

COVID and World Stock Markets: A Comprehensive Discussion.

The COVID-19 outbreak has disturbed the victims' economic conditions and posed a significant threat to economies worldwide and their respective financial markets. The majority of the world stock markets have suffered losses in the trillions of dollars, and international financial institutions were forced to reduce their forecasted growth for 2020 and the years to come. The current research deals with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global stock markets. It has focused on the contingent effects of previous and current pandemics on the financial markets. It has also elaborated on the pandemic impact on diverse pillars of the economy. Irrespective of all these destructive effects of the pandemic, still hopes are there for a sharp rise and speedy improvement in global stock markets' performance.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Frequency and Gender Estimates.

OBJECTIVE: Frequency data on mental disorders is a crucial requirement for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. However, such local data is sparse. The study aimed to estimate frequency and gender differences of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in clinical population. METHOD: Retrospective data of adult patients (18 years and above) reported in Out Patient Departments (OPD) of four teaching hospitals and a private clinic was collected. Successive three years record was consulted using OPD registers. Gender difference in frequency of OCD was estimated. RESULTS: Altogether 90119 patients were registered in five psychiatric settings in major cities of Punjab during three year period. As information was missing for over one third of the registered patients, hence analysis was carried out on valid cases only i.e. 59220 (65.8% of the total number of patients registered). It was revealed that the estimated frequency of OCD is 4.1%. There was no significant gender difference revealed in frequency of OCD (P>.05). CONCLUSION: Frequency of OCD implicate the need for early detection and intervention of the disorder. Further, it elucidates the importance of community based research on other mental disorders. The need for accurate record keeping which is a core element for any research related with medical or psychological issue is also highlighted.

The interplay between electrical and chemical synaptogenesis.

Neurons communicate with each other via electrical or chemical synaptic connections. The pattern and strength of connections between neurons are critical for generating appropriate output. What mechanisms govern the formation of electrical and/or chemical synapses between two neurons? Recent studies indicate that common molecular players could regulate the formation of both of these classes of synapses. In addition, electrical and chemical synapses can mutually coregulate each other's formation. Electrical activity, generated spontaneously by the nervous system or initiated from sensory experience, plays an important role in this process, leading to the selection of appropriate connections and the elimination of inappropriate ones. In this review, we discuss recent studies that shed light on the formation and developmental interactions of chemical and electrical synapses.

Moderated mediation between work life balance and employee job performance: the role of psychological wellbeing and satisfaction with coworkers / La mediación moderada entre el equilibrio vida-trabajo y el desempeño laboral: el papel del bienestar psicológico y de la satisfacción con los compañero

This research examined a moderated mediation model for answering how and why work-life balance affects employee job performance, and how satisfaction with coworkers is contingent upon it by enhancing employee’s psychological wellbeing. Data were collected from subordinates and their supervisors in the banking sector (N= 284). Empirical results indicate that psychological wellbeing mediates the link between work-life balance and job performance, and employees’ satisfaction with coworkers enhances job performance by strengthening the effect of work-life balance on psychological wellbeing. This research contributes to personnel management literature by describing moderated mediation mechanisms through which work-life balance influences employee job performance, and guides practitioners by emphasizing that employees with greater work-life balance perform better when their psychological wellbeing is reinforced by their satisfaction with coworkers

Esta investigación examina un modelo de mediación moderada para responder cómo y por qué el equilibrio entre vida personal y laboral afecta el desempeño del trabajo de los empleados y cómo la satisfacción con los compañeros de trabajo influye en ello al mejorar el bienestar psicológico de los empleados. Se recabaron datos de subordinados y sus supervisores del sector bancario (N= 284). Los resultados empíricos indican que el bienestar psicológico media el vínculo entre el equilibrio de vida personal y laboral y el desempeño del trabajo, y la satisfacción de los empleados con los compañeros de trabajo mejora el desempeño del trabajo, fortaleciendo el efecto de este equilibrio en el bienestar psicológico. La investigación contribuye a los estudios sobre gestión de personal mediante la descripción de mecanismos de mediación moderada, a través de los cuales el equilibrio entre la vida personal y la vida laboral influye en el desempeño laboral de los empleados, y sirve de guía a los gestores de personal al destacar que los empleados con mayor equilibrio entre vida personal y laboral obtienen mejor desempeño cuando su bienestar psicológico se ve reforzado por su satisfacción con los compañeros de trabajo

Distribution of the gap junction protein connexin 35 in the central nervous system of developing zebrafish larvae.

Gap junctions are membrane specializations that allow the passage of ions and small molecules from one cell to another. In vertebrates, connexins are the protein subunits that assemble to form gap junctional plaques. Connexin-35 (Cx35) is the fish ortholog of mammalian Cx36, which is enriched in the retina and the brain and has been shown to form neuronal gap junctions. As a first step toward understanding the role of neuronal gap junctions in central nervous system (CNS) development, we describe here the distribution of Cx35 in the CNS during zebrafish development. Cx35 expression is first seen at 1 day post fertilization (dpf) along cell boundaries throughout the nervous system. At 2 dpf, Cx35 immunoreactivity appears in commissures and fiber tracts throughout the CNS and along the edges of the tectal neuropil. In the rhombencephalon, the Mauthner neurons and fiber tracts show strong Cx35 immunoreactivity. As the larva develops, the commissures and fiber tracts continue to be immunoreactive for Cx35. In addition, the area of the tectal neuropil stained increases vastly and tectal commissures are visible. Furthermore, at 4-5 dpf, Cx35 is seen in the habenulae, cerebellum and in radial glia lining the rhombencephalic ventricle. This pattern of Cx35 immunoreactivity is stable at least until 15 dpf. To test whether the Cx35 immunoreactivity seen corresponds to functional gap junctional coupling, we documented the number of dye-coupled neurons in the hindbrain. We found several dye-coupled neurons within the reticulospinal network indicating functional gap junctional connectivity in the developing zebrafish brain.