AMMI and GGE biplot analysis of genotype by environment interaction for yield and yield contributing traits in confectionery groundnut.

The global market has a high demand for premium edible grade groundnut, particularly for table use. India, in particular, exhibits significant potential for exporting confectionary grade large seeded groundnut. The environment plays a significant impact in influencing the expression of seed traits, which subsequently affects the confectionary quality of groundnut genotypes. The states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India are prominent producers of high-quality groundnuts specifically used for confectionary purposes. The current study was conducted with 43 confectionery groundnut genotypes at Junagadh, Gujarat, and Bikaner, Rajasthan, with the goals of understanding genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) effects and identifying stable, high yielding confectionery quality groundnut genotypes using AMMI and GGE biplot models. Pod yield per plant (PYP), number of pods per plant (NPP), hundred kernel weight (HKW), and shelling percent (SP) were estimated. The interplay between the environment and genotype has had a notable impact on the manifestation of confectionary grade characteristics in peanuts. The results from the Interaction Principal Component Analysis (IPCA) indicate that HKW contributed 76.68% and 18.95% towards the Global Environmental Index (GEI) through IPCA1 and IPCA2, respectively. Similarly, NPP contributed 87.52% and 8.65%, PYP contributed 95.87% and 2.1%, and SP contributed 77.4% and 16.22% towards GEI through IPCA1 and IPCA2, respectively. Based on the ranking of genotypes, the ideal genotypes were PBS 29079B for HKW, PBS 29230 for NPP. The genotypes PBS 29233 and PBS 29230 exhibited superior performance and stability in terms of pod yield, hundred kernel weight, number of pods per plant, and shelling percentage across various sites. These breeding lines have the potential to be developed for the purpose of producing confectionary grade groundnut with larger seeds, in order to fulfil the growing demand for export.

Accumulation of resveratrol, ferulic acid and iron in seeds confer iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance to a novel genetic stock of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown in calcareous soils.

Peanut is mostly grown in calcareous soils with high pH which are deficient in available iron (Fe2+) for plant uptake causing iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC). The most pertinent solution is to identify efficient genotypes showing tolerance to limited Fe availability in the soil. A field screening of 40 advanced breeding lines of peanut using NRCG 7472 and ICGV 86031 as IDC susceptible and tolerant checks, respectively, was envisaged for four years. PBS 22040 and 29,192 exhibited maximum tolerance while PBS 12215 and 12,185 were most susceptible. PBS 22040 accumulated maximum seed resveratrol (5.8 ± 0.08 ppm), ferulic acid (378.6 ± 0.31 ppm) and Fe (45.59 ± 0.41 ppm) content. Enhanced chlorophyll retention (8.72-9.50 µg ml-1), carotenoid accumulation (1.96-2.08 µg ml-1), and antioxidant enzyme activity (APX: 35.9-103.9%; POX: 51- 145%) reduced the MDA accumulation (5.61-9.11 µM cm-1) in tolerant lines. The overexpression of Fe transporters IRT1, ZIP5, YSL3 was recorded to the tune of 2.3-9.54; 1.45-3.7; 2.20-2.32- folds respectively in PBS 22040 and 29,192, over NRCG 7472. PBS 22040 recorded the maximum pod yield (282 ± 4.6 g/row), hundred kernel weight (55 ± 0.7 g) and number of pods per three plants (54 ± 1.7). The study thus reports new insights into the roles of resveratrol, ferulic acid and differential antioxidant enzyme activities in imparting IDC tolerance. PBS 22040, being the best performing line, can be the potent source of IDC tolerance for introgression in high yielding but susceptible genotypes under similar edaphic conditions. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01321-9.

Nitrate and Nitrite Reductions at Copper(II) Sites: Role of Noncovalent Interactions from Second-Coordination-Sphere.

Reductions of nitrate and nitrite (NOx-) are of prime importance in combatting water pollution arising from the excessive use of N-rich fertilizers. While examples of NOx- reductions are known, this report illustrates hydrazine (N2H4)-mediated transformations of NOx- to nitric oxide (NO)/nitrous oxide (N2O). For nitrate reduction to NO, initial coordination of the weakly coordinating NO3- anion at [(mC)CuII]2+ cryptate has been demonstrated to play a crucial role. A set of complementary analyses (X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis, and NMR spectroscopies) on NO3--bound metal-cryptates [(mC)MII(NO3)](ClO4) (1-M, M = Cu/Zn) demonstrates the binding of NO3- through noncovalent (NH···O, CH···O, and anion···π) and metal-ligand coordinate interactions. Subsequently, reactions of [(mC)CuII(14/15NO3)](ClO4) (1-Cu or 1-Cu/15N) with N2H4·H2O have been illustrated to reduce 14/15NO3- to 14/15NO. Intriguingly, in the absence of the second-coordination-sphere interactions, a closely related coordination motif [(Bz3Tren)CuII]2+ (in 3-Cu) does not bind NO3- and is unable to assist in N2H4·H2O-mediated NO3- reduction. In contrast, nitrite coordinates at the tripodal CuII sites in both [(mC)CuII]2+ and [(Bz3Tren)CuII]2+ irrespective of the additional noncovalent interactions, and hence, the N2H4 reactions of the copper(II)-nitrite complexes [(mC)CuII(O14/15NO)]+ and [(Bz3Tren)CuII(O14/15NO)]+ (in 2-Cu/4-Cu) result in a mixture of 14/15NO and N14/15NO.

Isolation, screening, characterization, and optimization of bacteria isolated from calcareous soils for siderophore production.

The most effective agricultural practice to prevent iron deficiency in calcareous soils is fertilizing with synthetic chelates. These compounds are non-biodegradable, and persistent in the environment; hence, there is a risk of leaching metals into the soil horizon. To tackle iron deficiency-induced chlorosis (IDC) in crops grown on calcareous soils, environmentally friendly solutions are needed rather than chemical application as it affects the soil health further. Hence, the present work focused on isolating and screening calcareous soil-specific bacteria capable of producing iron-chelating siderophores. Siderophore-producing bacteria (SPB) was isolated from the groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) rhizosphere region, collected from Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, of which 17 bacterial isolates were positive for siderophore production assayed by chrome azurol sulphonate. The performance of SPB isolates was compared for siderophore kinetics, level of siderophore production, type of siderophore produced and iron-chelating capacity under 15 mM KHCO3. Four best performing isolates were screened, with average siderophores yield ranging ∼60-80% under pH 8, with sucrose as carbon source and NH2SO4 as nitrogen source at 37 °C. The four efficient SPB were molecularly identified as B. licheniformis, B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, and O. grignonense based on 16S rDNA sequencing. The simultaneous inhibition method showed T.viride has the highest antagonistic effect against S.rolfsii, and M.phaseolina with a reduction of mycelial growth by 69.3 and 65.1%, respectively, compared to control. Our results indicate that the optimized conditions enhanced siderophores chelation by suppressing the stem and root rot fungi, which could help in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner.

Corticosteroids induced avascular necrosis of hip, a "long COVID-19" complication: Case report.

Introduction and importance: Since it first surfaced, the new Coronavirus has multiplied and mutated into different forms, leading to a significant impact on people's lives. COVID-19's long-term impact is not completely known; It can only be hypothesized based on the prior outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Avascular necrosis (AVN) is one of these consequences, which if left untreated can lead to catastrophic events and bone collapse. It's important to remember that individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 infection are still at risk of developing AVN. The pathological findings in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are very similar to those seen in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection. Case presentation: We present cases of 27 and 69-year-old men with no comorbidities admitted with complaints of bilateral hip pain post covid treatment with corticosteroids and antivirals. The diagnosis was established based on history, physical examination, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical discussion: The use of corticosteroids in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection has saved many lives, and it is still advised for moderate to severe cases on a short-term basis. The long-term use of corticosteroids is associated with numerous side effects. One of the most prevalent side effects of steroids is avascular necrosis of the femoral head, which is aggravated by the disease process. Conclusion: Early detection of Avascular necrosis is very crucial in its management due to its high progression rate. Low therapeutic doses of corticosteroids with minimal effective duration remain the key to halting its occurrence.

Redefining critical illness.

Research and practice in critical care medicine have long been defined by syndromes, which, despite being clinically recognizable entities, are, in fact, loose amalgams of heterogeneous states that may respond differently to therapy. Mounting translational evidence-supported by research on respiratory failure due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection-suggests that the current syndrome-based framework of critical illness should be reconsidered. Here we discuss recent findings from basic science and clinical research in critical care and explore how these might inform a new conceptual model of critical illness. De-emphasizing syndromes, we focus on the underlying biological changes that underpin critical illness states and that may be amenable to treatment. We hypothesize that such an approach will accelerate critical care research, leading to a richer understanding of the pathobiology of critical illness and of the key determinants of patient outcomes. This, in turn, will support the design of more effective clinical trials and inform a more precise and more effective practice at the bedside.

Freshwater discharge from the large and coastal peninsular rivers of India: A reassessment for sustainable water management.

This study offers an updated mean annual water discharge of 10 large and 11 coastal basins of the Indian Peninsula and looks into environmental parameters influencing the water flux and discharge trends. The mean annual discharge of large and coastal rivers is estimated to be 221 and 294 km3. Thus, despite draining 25% of the Indian Peninsula, coastal rivers deliver more than half of the annual flux, and west-flowing coastal rivers contribute 85% of it. This study demonstrates temporal changes in the water discharge of various river basins. The presence of dams regulates discharge regimes of large rivers. The construction of large dams resulted in a significant decline in the water discharge of the Krishna, Cauvery, and Narmada. Through this study, we demonstrate the role of rainfall, catchment size, water loss through evapotranspiration and infiltration, and societal use of water in determining the runoff of each basin. We recommend tapping the water resources of the west-flowing rivers for proper planning, development, and management to reduce the water stress in the peninsular region and promoting sustainable management.

Quality improvement initiative to decrease extrauterine growth restriction in preterm neonates.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in preterm neonates is one of the biggest challenges to neonatologists. Lack of uniformity and inconsistency in nutrition practices are the most common causes. We started a quality improvement (QI) initiative with an intention to decrease the proportion of EUGR. METHODS: We performed prospective nonrandomized QI from May 2018 to July 2019. Ninety-six neonates (born at <32 weeks and/or <1.2 kg) were compared with 111 historical controls. A continuous feedback loop was maintained, and changes were analyzed as plan-do-study-actcycle. RESULTS: Although EUGR was lower after the intervention (93.7% vs 87.5%), this change was not statistically significant. However, other measures of in-hospital neonatal growth showed improvement, including median discharge weight percentile from 1% to 3% (P = .003). Median difference in the z-score for weight from birth to discharge also improved significantly from -1.84 to -1.65 (P = .04). Babies in the intervention group regained birth weight earlier (P = .005) and had better growth velocity (P = .0005). The feeding was started early (P < .0001), and these babies reached full feeds (P < .0001) earlier than the control cohort. CONCLUSION: Although our QI initiative failed to achieve a significant reduction in EUGR, it did achieve a significant improvement in discharge weight percentile and difference in the z-score for weight at birth and during discharge from hospital. There was a significant improvement in growth velocity and an early regaining of birth weight. The implementation of written nutrition practice guidelines facilitated improved outcomes.

Transepithelial nasal potential difference in patients with, and at risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Impaired alveolar fluid clearance, determined in part by alveolar sodium transport, is associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Nasal sodium transport may reflect alveolar transport. The primary objective of this prospective, observational study was to determine if reduced nasal sodium transport, as measured by nasal potential difference (NPD), was predictive of the development of and outcome from ARDS. METHODS: NPD was measured in 15 healthy controls and in 88 patients: 40 mechanically ventilated patients defined as 'at-risk' for ARDS, 61 mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS (13 who were previously included in the 'at-risk' group) and 8 ARDS survivors on the ward. RESULTS: In at-risk subjects, maximum NPD (mNPD) was greater in those who developed ARDS (difference -8.4 mV; 95% CI -13.8 to -3.7; p=0.005) and increased mNPD predicted the development of ARDS before its onset (area under the curve (AUC) 0.75; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.89). In the ARDS group, mNPD was not significantly different for survivors and non-survivors (p=0.076), and mNPD was a modest predictor of death (AUC 0.60; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.75). mNPD was greater in subjects with ARDS (-30.8 mV) than in at-risk subjects (-24.2 mV) and controls (-19.9 mV) (p<0.001). NPD values were not significantly different for survivors and controls (p=0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Increased NPD predicts the development of ARDS in at-risk subjects but does not predict mortality. NPD increases before ARDS develops, is greater during ARDS, but is not significantly different for controls and survivors. These results may reflect the upregulated sodium transport necessary for alveolar fluid clearance in ARDS. NPD may be useful as a biomarker of endogenous mechanisms to stimulate sodium transport. Larger studies are now needed to confirm these associations and predictive performance.

Prevalence of phenotypes of acute respiratory distress syndrome in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) unrelated to COVID-19, two phenotypes, based on the severity of systemic inflammation (hyperinflammatory and hypoinflammatory), have been described. The hyperinflammatory phenotype is known to be associated with increased multiorgan failure and mortality. In this study, we aimed to identify these phenotypes in COVID-19-related ARDS. METHODS: In this prospective observational study done at two UK intensive care units, we recruited patients with ARDS due to COVID-19. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected at baseline. Plasma samples were analysed for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1A (TNFR1) using a novel point-of-care assay. A parsimonious regression classifier model was used to calculate the probability for the hyperinflammatory phenotype in COVID-19 using IL-6, soluble TNFR1, and bicarbonate levels. Data from this cohort was compared with patients with ARDS due to causes other than COVID-19 recruited to a previous UK multicentre, randomised controlled trial of simvastatin (HARP-2). FINDINGS: Between March 17 and April 25, 2020, 39 patients were recruited to the study. Median ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fractional concentration of oxygen in inspired air (PaO2/FiO2) was 18 kpa (IQR 15-21) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score was 12 (10-16). 17 (44%) of 39 patients had died by day 28 of the study. Compared with survivors, patients who died were older and had lower PaO2/FiO2. The median probability for the hyperinflammatory phenotype was 0·03 (IQR 0·01-0·2). Depending on the probability cutoff used to assign class, the prevalence of the hyperinflammatory phenotype was between four (10%) and eight (21%) of 39, which is lower than the proportion of patients with the hyperinflammatory phenotype in HARP-2 (186 [35%] of 539). Using the Youden index cutoff (0·274) to classify phenotype, five (63%) of eight patients with the hyperinflammatory phenotype and 12 (39%) of 31 with the hypoinflammatory phenotype died. Compared with matched patients recruited to HARP-2, levels of IL-6 were similar in our cohort, whereas soluble TNFR1 was significantly lower in patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS. INTERPRETATION: In this exploratory analysis of 39 patients, ARDS due to COVID-19 was not associated with higher systemic inflammation and was associated with a lower prevalence of the hyperinflammatory phenotype than that observed in historical ARDS data. This finding suggests that the excess mortality observed in COVID-19-related ARDS is unlikely to be due to the upregulation of inflammatory pathways described by the parsimonious model. FUNDING: US National Institutes of Health, Innovate UK, and Randox.

Subphenotypes in critical care: translation into clinical practice.

Despite progress in the supportive care available for critically ill patients, few advances have been made in the search for effective disease-modifying therapeutic options. The fact that many trials in critical care medicine have not identified a treatment benefit is probably due, in part, to the underlying heterogeneity of critical care syndromes. Numerous approaches have been proposed to divide populations of critically ill patients into more meaningful subgroups (subphenotypes), some of which might be more useful than others. Subclassification systems driven by clinical features and biomarkers have been proposed for acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, acute kidney injury, and pancreatitis. Identifying the systems that are most useful and biologically meaningful could lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of critical care syndromes and the discovery of new treatment targets, and allow recruitment in future therapeutic trials to focus on predicted responders. This Review discusses proposed subphenotypes of critical illness syndromes and highlights the issues that will need to be addressed to translate subphenotypes into clinical practice.

Phenol Reduces Nitrite to NO at Copper(II): Role of a Proton-Responsive Outer Coordination Sphere in Phenol Oxidation.

In the view of physiological significance, the transition-metal-mediated routes for nitrite (NO2-) to nitric oxide (NO) conversion and phenol oxidation are of prime importance. Probing the reactivity of substituted phenols toward the nitritocopper(II) cryptate complex [mC]Cu(κ2-O2N)(ClO4) (1a), this report illustrates NO release from nitrite at copper(II) following a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) pathway. Moreover, a different protonated state of 1a with a proton hosted in the outer coordination sphere, [mCH]Cu(κ2-O2N)(ClO4)2 (3), also reacts with substituted phenols via primary electron transfer from the phenol. Intriguingly, the alternative mechanism operative because of the presence of a proton at the remote site in 3 facilitates an unusual anaerobic pathway for phenol nitration.

Pediatric Esophageal Dilatations: A Cross-Specialty Experience.

Aim of the Study: Esophageal dilatations are commonly performed in pediatric patients who have undergone an esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) repair or following caustic injury. We sought to compare the practice of esophageal dilatation across different specialties. Methods: We analyzed all patients who had an esophageal dilatation at our center between April 2014 and December 2018. Patients were identified via prospectively maintained databases and clinical coding records. Patients had a combination of dilatations under each specialty: interventional radiology (IR), surgery, and gastroenterology. Results: Thirty-five individual patients underwent 226 dilatations, median dilatations per patient was 3 (1-40). The median age at first dilatation was 18 months (1-194 months). Sixty-eight percent of patients had a previous EA/TEF repair. IR performed 59% of dilatations, surgeons 26%, and 15% by gastroenterologists. Surgeons more frequently were performing initial dilatations (P < .05) and performed more dilatations in EA/TEF patients (P < .0001). There was a significant difference between the time from a surgical dilatation until the next dilatation, 3.7 months, compared with an IR dilatation, 1.8 months (ANOVA, P < .05). Surgeons more frequently increased the size of balloon used (57% versus 33% versus 39%, P < .01). There was no significant difference in balloon size between specialties or in the incremental increase in size between subsequent dilatations. There was one postprocedure perforation, managed conservatively (complication rate = 0.4%). Conclusion: We have demonstrated that on average, patients wait longer after a surgical dilatation until their next procedure, and surgical teams are more likely to increase the size of the dilating balloon. Surgeons tend to be more involved in their postoperative patients in the initial phases of stricture management. Our results suggest the feasibility and safety of a multispecialty approach for these patients.

Impact of Advocacy, Communication, Social Mobilization and Active Case Finding on TB Notification in Jharkhand, India.

Community-level benefits of screening for active tuberculosis (TB) disease remain uncertain. Project Axshya (meaning free of TB) conducted advocacy, communication, social mobilization, and active case finding among vulnerable/marginalized populations of India. Among 15 districts of Jharkhand state, the project was initiated in 36 subdistrict level administrative units - tuberculosis units (TUs) in a staggered manner between April 2013 and September 2014, and continued till the end of 2015. Seven TUs did not implement the project. We assessed the relative change in the quarterly TB case finding indicators (n = 4) after inclusion of a TU within the project. By fitting four multilevel models (mixed-effects maximum likelihood regression using random intercept), we adjusted for secular (over previous five quarters) and seasonal trends, baseline differences within Axshya and non-Axshya TUs, and population size and clustering within districts and within TUs. After inclusion of a TU within the project, we found a significant increase [95% confidence interval (CI)] in TU-level presumptive TB sputum examination rate, new sputum-positive TB Case Notification Rate (CNR), sputum-positive TB CNR, and all forms TB CNR by 12 (5.5, 18.5), 1.1 (0.5, 1.7), 1.3 (0.6, 2.0), and 1.2 (0.1, 2.2) per 100,000 population per quarter, respectively. Overall, the project resulted in an increase (95% CI) in sputum examination and detection of new sputum-positive TB, sputum-positive TB and all forms of TB patients by 22,410 (10,203, 34,077), 2066 (923, 3210), 2380 (1162, 3616), and 2122 (203, 4059), respectively. This provides evidence for implementing project Axshya over and above the existing passive case finding.

Diabetes care in public health facilities in India: a situational analysis using a mixed methods approach.

BACKGROUND: Weak public health systems have been identified as major bottlenecks in providing good quality diabetic care in low- and middle-income countries. METHODOLOGY: The present study assessed diabetic care services at public health facilities across six districts in three states of India using a mixed methods approach. The study described diabetes care services available at public health facilities and identified challenges and solutions needed to tackle them. The quantitative component included assessment of availability of services and resources, whilst the qualitative component was comprised of semistructured interviews with health care providers and persons with diabetes to understand the pathway of care. RESULTS: A total of 30 health facilities were visited: five tertiary; eight secondary and 17 primary health facilities. Patient clinical records were not maintained at the facilities; the onus was on patients to keep their own clinical records. All had the facility for blood glucose measurement, but HbA1c estimation was available only at tertiary centers. None of the primary health centers in the three states provided HbA1c estimation, lipid examination, or foot care. Lifestyle modification support was available in only a few tertiary facilities. Antidiabetic drugs (biguanides and sulphonyl ureas) were available in most facilities, and given for 14 days. Insulin and statins were available only at secondary and tertiary care centers. Forty-two physicians were interviewed and poor follow-up, patient overload, and lack of specialized training were the major barriers that emerged from the interview responses. A total of 37 patients were interviewed. Patients had to visit tertiary facilities for drugs and routine follow-up, thereby congesting the facilities. There was no formal referral or follow-up mechanism to link patients to decentralized facilities. CONCLUSION: There is a wide gap between effective diabetes management practices and their implementation. There should be a greater role of secondary care facilities in follow-up investigations and screening for complications. A holistic diabetic care package with a robust recording and cohort monitoring system and adequate referral mechanism is needed.