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Hydroponic systems provide a highly advantageous environment for cultivating green leafy vegetables. Among these advantages, there is a significant acceleration in harvest compared to conventional farming methods, the attainment of high yields, enhanced leaf coloring, increased nutritional content, and improved sweetness, all of which are crucial factors. However, a particular issue known as tip burn is encountered when cultivating, especially Yedikule (Romaine) type lettuce in hydroponic systems. This study investigates various calcium dosages applied via foliar spray to mitigate tip burn on Thespian and Suntred lettuce varieties (green and red Romaine mini types). Different calcium dosages were employed for both lettuce varieties. This experiment examined various parameters for both lettuce types, including plant height, root length, stem diameter, plant age, dry weight, root dry and fresh weight, macro and micronutrient content, dry matter, and total yield. The results indicate that combining foliar calcium and adequate ventilation effectively mitigates tipburn. This research emphasizes the significance of such a combined approach in preventing tip burn in hydroponically grown lettuce, specifically Thespian and Suntred varieties.

Optimal brain health is essential to smoothing major global skill-intensive economic transitions, such as the bioeconomy, green, care economy and digital transitions. Good brain health is vital to socio-economic sustainability, productivity and well-being. The care transition focuses on recognizing and investing in care services and care work as essential for economic growth and social well-being. The green transition involves shifting towards environmentally sustainable and fairer societies to combat climate change and environmental degradation. The digital transition aims to unlock digital growth potential and deploy innovative solutions for businesses and citizens, and to improve the accessibility and efficiency of services. The bioeconomy transition refers to the shift towards an economy based on products, services and processes derived from biological resources, such as plants and microorganisms. Brain capital, which encompasses brain health and brain skills, is a critical economic asset for the success of economies of the future. The brain economy transition from a brain-negative (brain-unhealthy) economy, which depletes brain capital, to a brain-positive (brain-healthy) economy, which arrests and reverses the loss of brain capital, will be foundational to these major transitions. Increased brain capital is vital to educational attainment, upskilling and reskilling. In this paper, we provide a detailed roadmap for the brain economy transition., Competing Interests: A.K.N. is an Associate Editor of Brain Communications. He had no involvement in the review process of this submission. No other authors report competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain.)

Backround: The utilization of high-quality water in agriculture is increasingly constrained by climate change, affecting availability, quality, and distribution due to altered precipitation patterns, increased evaporation, extreme weather events, and rising salinity levels. Salinity significantly challenges salt-sensitive vegetables like lettuce, particularly in a greenhouse. Hydroponics water quality ensures nutrient solution stability, enhances nutrient uptake, prevents contamination, regulates pH and electrical conductivity, and maintains system components. This study aimed to mitigate salt-induced damage in lettuce grown via the floating culture method under 50 mM NaCl salinity by applying biostimulants., Results: We examined lettuce's physiological, biochemical, and agronomical responses to salt stress after applying biostimulants such as amino acids, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), fulvic acid, and chitosan. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with a randomized complete block design, and each treatment was replicated four times. Biostimulant applications alleviated salt's detrimental effects on plant weight, height, leaf number, and leaf area. Yield increases under 50 mM NaCl were 75%, 51%, 31%, 34%, and 33% using vermicompost, PGPR, fulvic acid, amino acid, and chitosan, respectively. Biostimulants improved stomatal conductance (58-189%), chlorophyll content (4-10%), nutrient uptake (15-109%), and water status (9-107%). They also reduced MDA content by 26-42%. PGPR (1.0 ml L ‒1 ), vermicompost (2 ml L ‒1 ), and fulvic acid (40 mg L ‒1 ) were particularly effective, enhancing growth, yield, phenol, and mineral content while reducing nitrate levels under saline conditions., Conclusions: Biostimulants activated antioxidative defense systems, offering a sustainable, cost-effective solution for mitigating salt stress in hydroponic lettuce cultivation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This NeuroView assesses the interplay among exposome, One Health, and brain capital in health and disease. Physical and social exposomes affect brain health, and green brain skills are required for environmental health strategies. Ibanez et al. address current gaps and strategies needed in research, policy, and technology, offering a road map for stakeholders., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests S.D. is employed by the Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic organization. Neither the Minderoo Foundation nor its benefactors had any influence over the conduct, the findings, or the recommendations of this work., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In soilless cultivation, plants are grown with nutrient solutions prepared with mineral nutrients. Beneficial microorganisms are very important in plant nutrition. However, they are not present in soilless culture systems. In this study we investigated the impact of introducing Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as an alternative to traditional mineral fertilizer in hydroponic floating lettuce cultivation. By reducing mineral fertilizers at various ratios (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%), and replacing them with PGPR, we observed remarkable improvements in multiple growth parameters. Applying PGPR led to significant enhancements in plant weight, leaf number, leaf area, leaf dry matter, chlorophyll content, yield, and nutrient uptake in soilles grown lettuce. Combining 80% mineral fertilizers with PGPR demonstrated a lettuce yield that did not significantly differ from the control treatment with 100% mineral fertilizers. Moreover, PGPR application improved the essential mineral concentrations and enhanced human nutritional quality, including higher levels of phenols, flavonoids, vitamin C, and total soluble solids. PGPR has potential as a sustainable substitute for synthetic mineral fertilizers in hydroponic floating lettuce cultivation, leading to environmentally friendly and nutritionally enriched farming., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: In the literature, the efficacy of virtual glasses on acute pain and anxiety has been investigated, and no study has been found on its effect on pain and anxiety during episiotomy repair., Aims: To determine the efficacy of virtual glasses application in pain and anxiety during episiotomy repair., Design: Randomized controlled trial design was used., Participants: The study included 120 women who were primiparous and pregnant: 40 in the control group and 80 in the experimental groups (virtual glasses and skin to skin contact)., Methods: Data were collected using Descriptive Information Form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the State Anxiety Inventory. In experimental groups, virtual glasses and skin to skin contact were applied during episio tomy repair by the researcher, and they were not applied to the control group. The VAS and State Anxiety Inventory were used to assess pain and anxiety in all groups before and after application. In the statistical analysis of the data, the SPSS 23.0 packa ge program was used. In all tests, p < .005 wa s considered statistically significant., Results: Immediately post intervention, the women in the experimental groups had significantly decreased anxiety and pain during episiotomy repair. Comparing three methods, the virtual glasses significantly reduced anxiety and pain after application (p < .05)., Conclusions: Virtual glasses are more effective than skin to skin contact and control methods in decreasing pain and reducing anxiety during episiotomy repair. Additionally, virtual glasses may reduce the need for pharmacological medication due to this reduction in pain and anxiety during episiotomy repair., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hydroponics is one of the systems in agriculture which reinforce productivity by controlling environmental and growing conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effect of three bio-fertilizers, namely bacteria, micro-algae, and mycorrhiza, on basil leaf yield and quality (Ocimum basilicum L.) in a floating culture system. Soil has rich amounts of beneficial microorganisms, supporting plant nutrition, producing phytohormones, controlling phytopathogens, and improving soil structure. However, soilless culture usually contains no beneficial microorganisms if we do not include them in the system. This study aims to evaluate the response of three bio-fertilizers where mineral fertilizers are reduced by 50%. Considering the total harvest data, bacteria, mycorrhiza, and micro-algae treatments increased basil yield compared to 50% control by about 18.94%, 13.94%, and 5.72%, respectively. The maximum total yield and leaf area were recorded using bacteria with 2744 g m -2 and 1528 cm 2  plant -1 . Plants with mycorrhiza achieved the highest number of leaves and branches, with 94.3 leaves plant -1 and 24.50 branches plant -1 , respectively. It was observed that this bio-fertilizer increased the formation of lateral branches in the basil plant without thickening its stems. In addition, bacteria and mycorrhiza induced the highest percentage of dry matter and total soluble solids. The effect of bio-fertilizers on basil leaf EC and pH was insignificant for all the treatments at different harvest periods (p < 0.05). Using bio-fertilizers enhanced the intake of nutrients N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus), K (potassium), Ca (calcium), Mg (magnesium), Fe (iron), Mn (manganese), Zn (zinc), and Cu (copper). Using bio-fertilizers represents a promising and environmentally friendly approach to increasing crop yields and ameliorating quality and antioxidant compounds with fewer resources. An application of bio-fertilizers in hydroponic cultivation of basil cv. 'Dino' reduced the need for mineral fertilizers. At the same time, bio-fertilizers affected an increased plant yield and improved product quality. Furthermore, the bacteria had a pronounced enhancing effect on the increase of phenol and flavonoids in the leaves of basil plants., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Cell-to-cell communications are critical determinants of pathophysiological phenotypes, but methodologies for their systematic elucidation are lacking. Herein, we propose an approach for the Systematic Elucidation and Assessment of Regulatory Cell-to-cell Interaction Networks (SEARCHIN) to identify ligand-mediated interactions between distinct cellular compartments. To test this approach, we selected a model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in which astrocytes expressing mutant superoxide dismutase-1 (mutSOD1) kill wild-type motor neurons (MNs) by an unknown mechanism. Our integrative analysis that combines proteomics and regulatory network analysis infers the interaction between astrocyte-released amyloid precursor protein (APP) and death receptor-6 (DR6) on MNs as the top predicted ligand-receptor pair. The inferred deleterious role of APP and DR6 is confirmed in vitro in models of ALS. Moreover, the DR6 knockdown in MNs of transgenic mutSOD1 mice attenuates the ALS-like phenotype. Our results support the usefulness of integrative, systems biology approach to gain insights into complex neurobiological disease processes as in ALS and posit that the proposed methodology is not restricted to this biological context and could be used in a variety of other non-cell-autonomous communication mechanisms.

The expansion of a hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) repeat in C9ORF72 is the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Both the function of C9ORF72 and the mechanism by which the repeat expansion drives neuropathology are unknown. To examine whether C9ORF72 haploinsufficiency induces neurological disease, we created a C9orf72-deficient mouse line. Null mice developed a robust immune phenotype characterized by myeloid expansion, T cell activation, and increased plasma cells. Mice also presented with elevated autoantibodies and evidence of immune-mediated glomerulonephropathy. Collectively, our data suggest that C9orf72 regulates immune homeostasis and an autoimmune response reminiscent of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occurs in its absence. We further imply that haploinsufficiency is unlikely to be the causative factor in C9ALS/FTD pathology.

Neurodegenerative phenotypes reflect complex, time-dependent molecular processes whose elucidation may reveal neuronal class-specific therapeutic targets. The current focus in neurodegeneration has been on individual genes and pathways. In contrast, we assembled a genome-wide regulatory model (henceforth, "interactome"), whose unbiased interrogation revealed 23 candidate causal master regulators of neurodegeneration in an in vitro model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), characterized by a loss of spinal motor neurons (MNs). Of these, eight were confirmed as specific MN death drivers in our model of familial ALS, including NF-κB, which has long been considered a pro-survival factor. Through an extensive array of molecular, pharmacological, and biochemical approaches, we have confirmed that neuronal NF-κB drives the degeneration of MNs in both familial and sporadic models of ALS, thus providing proof of principle that regulatory network analysis is a valuable tool for studying cell-specific mechanisms of neurodegeneration., (Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Most cases of neurodegenerative diseases are sporadic, hindering the use of genetic mouse models to analyze disease mechanisms. Focusing on the motor neuron (MN) disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we therefore devised a fully humanized coculture model composed of human adult primary sporadic ALS (sALS) astrocytes and human embryonic stem-cell-derived MNs. The model reproduces the cardinal features of human ALS: sALS astrocytes, but not those from control patients, trigger selective death of MNs. The mechanisms underlying this non-cell-autonomous toxicity were investigated in both astrocytes and MNs. Although causal in familial ALS (fALS), SOD1 does not contribute to the toxicity of sALS astrocytes. Death of MNs triggered by either sALS or fALS astrocytes occurs through necroptosis, a form of programmed necrosis involving receptor-interacting protein 1 and the mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein. The necroptotic pathway therefore constitutes a potential therapeutic target for this incurable disease., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Indices of neuroinflammation are found in a variety of diseases of the CNS including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Over the years, neuroinflammation, in degenerative disorders of the CNS, has evolved from being regarded as an innocent bystander accomplishing its housekeeping function secondary to neurodegeneration to being considered as a bona fide contributor to the disease process and, in some situations, as a putative initiator of the disease. Herein, we will review neuroinflammation in both ALS and SMA not only from the angle of neuropathology but also from the angle of its potential role in the pathogenesis and treatment of these two dreadful paralytic disorders., (2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

p25/Cdk5 dysregulation may contribute to neurodegeneration. In this issue of Neuron, Kim et al. show that cdk5 inactivates HDAC-1, leading to cell cycle deregulation and DNA damage accumulation. This study provides further insights into the function of p25/Cdk5 in neurons and points to HDAC-1 as a target for therapeutic interventions.