Search

Cowpea is one of the major legumes cultivated in arid and semiarid regions of the world. Four soil-microbial samples (SS-1 through SS-4) collected from semiarid soils in Punjab, Pakistan were planted with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) crops, which were grown under salinity stress to analyze bacterial composition in the rhizosphere and within nodules using cultivation-dependent and -independent methods. Two varieties, 603 and the salt-tolerant CB 46, were each inoculated with or without the four different native soil samples or grown in medium either N-deficient (_N) or supplemented with N (+N). Plants inoculated with soil samples SS- 2 and SS-4 grew better than plants inoculated with SS-1- and SS-3 and grew comparably with the +N controls. Environmental DNA (eDNA) was isolated from SS-1 and SS-4, and, by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, the soil microbiomes consisted mainly of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and other nonproteobacterial genera. However, analysis of eDNA isolated from cowpea nodules established by the trap plants showed that the nodule microbiome consisted almost exclusively of proteobacterial sequences, particularly species of Bradyrhizobium. Bacteria were isolated from both soils and nodules, and 34 of the 51 isolates tested positive for plant-growthpromoting rhizobacteria traits in plate assays. Many could serve as future inocula for crops in arid soils. The discrepancy between the types of bacteria isolated by culturing bacteria isolated from surface-sterilized cowpea nodules (proteobacteria and nonproteobacteria) versus those detected by sequencing DNA isolated from the nodules (proteobacteria) from cowpea nodules (proteobacteria and nonproteobacteria) versus those detected in the nodule microbiome (proteobacteria) needs further study.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs), crucial mediators in cell-to-cell communication, are implicated in both homeostatic and pathological processes. Their detectability in easily accessible peripheral fluids like saliva positions them as promising candidates for non-invasive biomarker discovery. However, the lack of standardized methods for salivary EVs isolation greatly limits our ability to study them. Therefore, we rigorously compared salivary EVs isolated using two scalable techniques—co-precipitation and immuno-affinity—against the long-established but labor-intensive ultracentrifugation method. Employing Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, Western blots (WB), and proteomics, we identified significant method-dependent variances in the size, concentration, and protein content of EVs. Importantly, our study uniquely demonstrates the ability of EV isolation to detect specific biomarkers that remain undetected in whole saliva by WB. RT-qPCR analysis targeting six miRNAs confirmed a consistent enrichment of these miRNAs in EV-derived cargo across all three isolation methods. We also found that pre-filtering saliva samples with 0.22 or 0.45 µm pores adversely affects subsequent analyses. Our findings highlight the untapped potential of salivary EVs in diagnostics and advocate for the co-precipitation method as an efficient, cost-effective, and clinically relevant approach for small-volume saliva samples. This work not only sheds light on a neglected source of EVs but also paves the way for their application in routine clinical diagnostics.

[Purpose] The relevance of the paper is due to the fact that the introduction of information technology has had an impact on the growth of economic crimes. The purpose of the study is to analyse the effectiveness of existing measures to prevent illegal acts in the field of informatisation and communications. [Methodology/approach/design] In the course of the study, the concept of cybercrime was covered, the signs and principles of implementation inherent in this category of offences were identified. This provided an opportunity to thoroughly analyse the essence and role of cybercrime in the field of informatisation and communications in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Statistical data on crimes for the period from 2018 to 2022 were examined, which allowed analysing the current situation and identifying the main problems in this area. The legal acts regulating the sphere of information technologies and communications in Kazakhstan were also examined. [Findings] Based on the analysis, recommendations to strengthen the system of countering information crimes were developed. The importance of taking preventive measures to prevent criminal offences in the field of informatisation and communications, especially in the context of rapid technological development, is due to the annual increase in the number of cybercrimes. The practical importance of the results obtained consists in the development of recommendations that will increase the effectiveness of combating criminal offences in the field of informatisation and communications in the Republic of Kazakhstan, improve the level of protection of society from cybercrime and have a positive impact on the national security system of the state.

Abstract Background The European Thyroid Association Thyroid Imaging Data and Reporting Systems (EU-TIRADS) is widely used in the risk stratification of thyroid nodule malignancy. However, data on the subject in Sub-Saharan Africa are limited. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical, sonographic and histopathological concordance of thyroid nodules in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Methods This was an analytical cross-sectional study that examined the clinical, ultrasound and pathological data of 61 patients from 4 hospitals in the city province of Kinshasa over a period of 24 months, from June 01, 2020 to May 31, 2022. Results Of the 61 patients, their mean age was 47.38 ± 8.8 years. The mean clinical score of the patients was 3.4 ± 0.84 with the extremes ranging from 1 to 5. The majority of the patients were classified as having an intermediate risk, ie 85.2% of the cases. It was noted that 41% of the nodules had a high risk according to the EU-TIRADS score and 8.2% of the nodules were malignant after histopathological analysis. The ROC curves reported at the diagnosis of malignancy show an area under the curve of 0.709 with 95% CI (0.486–0.931), a Youden index of 0.769 for the clinical score, and an area under the curve of 0.830 with 95% CI (0.605–0.995), a Youden index of 0.772 for the EU-TIRADS score. Conclusion In a low-income country, a well-performed thyroid ultrasound and the well-applied clinical score could be an important tool in the selection of thyroid nodules suspected of malignancy and requiring histopathological examination to avoid excessive acts in the patient.

Abstract Background Cardiac manifestations are infrequently reported in association with celiac disease, but clear link has not been established. The aim of this study was to explore the connection of dilated cardiomyopathy in celiac disease. This systematic review also provides a comprehensive overview of the association between celiac disease and various cardiac manifestations with pathophysiology and management. Main body We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, and Springer nature databases through June 4th 2023 for preferred studies related to our topic using MeSH and Regular keywords. After comprehensive search analysis, data extraction and quality appraisal 19 studies were included in the study. Although results varied across studies, majority of the studies revealed a positive link. Notably, some studies suggested an association between celiac disease and dilated cardiomyopathy, while others did not. These discrepancies could be attributed to differences in methodologies, study populations, and regional variations. Several studies have shown the association of various cardiac manifestations in celiac disease. Conclusion Although dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with celiac disease in majority of the studies, there are also studies that conflict with the association. The complex relationship between celiac disease and cardiovascular manifestations potentiates the need for further research with standardized methodologies, larger sample sizes, and consideration of regional variations. Such insights are vital for improving clinical practice by establishing preventive strategies, active screening, early diagnosis, mitigating risks which helps in optimizing cardiovascular health in individuals with celiac disease.

As an important cereal and feed crop, oat has significant economic value and is widely cultivated throughout the world. However, leaf diseases have become a crucial factor limiting the increase in oat grain yield and the optimization of its nutritional quality. Among these, the bacterial leaf blight disease (LBD) caused by Pantoea agglomerans has been an emerging and prevalent oat disease in Northwest China in recent years and has become a major challenge for oat cultivation in this region. This study was designed to investigate the effects of LBD on grain yield and nutritional quality of two common oat varieties, i.e., Avena nuda “Baiyan 2” (B2) and A. sativa “Baiyan 7” (B7), in greenhouses. The results showed that after infection causing LBD, the growth, grain yield and nutritional indexes (except the fiber content) of B2 and B7 were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), with grains per spike, thousand grain weight, protein, and β-glucan reduced by 14.2%, 5.5%, 12.9% and 21.5%, respectively. In contrast, the average fiber content of the infected oats increased by 8.4%. In addition, both with and without infection, the grain yield of B7 was higher than that of B2, while the nutritional quality of B2 seeds was superior to that of B7 seeds. This study provides a scientific basis for LBD control and the variety selection of oat, promoting the sustainable development of the oat industry.

Salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) have been recently revealed as the next generation of non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnostics of diverse diseases. However, their short and highly homologous sequences make their quantification by RT-qPCR technique highly heterogeneous and study dependent, thus limiting their implementation for clinical applications. In this study, we evaluated the use of a widely used commercial RT-qPCR kit for quantification of salivary miRNAs for clinical diagnostics. Saliva from ten healthy volunteers were sampled four times within a three month time course and submitted for small RNA extraction followed by RT-qPCR analysed. Six miRNAs with different sequence homologies were analysed. Sensitivity and specificity of the tested miRNA assays were corroborated using synthetic miRNAs to evaluate the reliability of all tested assays. Significant variabilities in expression profiles of six miRNAs from ten healthy participants were revealed, yet the poor specificity of the assays offered insufficient performance to associate these differences to biological context. Indeed, as the limit of quantification (LOQ) concentrations are from 2-4 logs higher than that of the limit of detection (LOD) ones, the majority of the analysis for salivary miRNAs felt outside the quantification region. Most importantly, a remarkable number of crosstalk reactions exhibiting considerable OFF target signal intensities was detected, indicating their poor specificity and limited reliability. However, the spike-in of synthetic target miRNA increased the capacity to discriminate endogenous salivary miRNA at the LOQ concentrations from those that were significantly lower. Our results demonstrate that comparative analyses for salivary miRNA expression profiles by this commercial RT-qPCR kit are most likely associated to technical limitations rather than to biological differences. While further technological breakthroughs are still required to overcome discrepancies, standardization of rigorous sample handling and experimental design according to technical parameters of each assay plays a crucial role in reducing data inconsistencies across studies.

[Purpose] To investigate the main provisions of modern legal science regarding criminal offences in the field of informatisation and communications. [Methodology/Approach/Design] The study used general scientific and special legal methods, in particular, analysis, generalisation, statistical, and comparative legal. Classification and modelling methods were actively used during the study. [Findings] The main result of this study was the analysis of statistical data on committed criminal offences in the field of informatisation and communications, identification of general trends, and the development of the original classification of offences in the field under study. The authors conducted a comparative analysis of the experience of other countries in preventing and combating crimes in the field of informatisation and communications, developing practical recommendations for solving urgent problems of combating this category of crimes in Kazakhstan. [Practical Implications] The results of the study, consisting in the developed model of international cooperation in combating criminal offences in the field of informatisation and communications, can be used by the competent authorities in the field of criminal proceedings in Kazakhstan. [Originality/Value] Special attention in the paper was paid to offences in the field of informatisation and communications from the standpoint of violation of human rights and freedoms, especially the right to information.

Purpose To test an online training course for non-ophthalmic diabetic retinopathy (DR) graders for recognition of glaucomatous optic nerves in Vietnam.Methods This was an uncontrolled, experimental, before-and-after study in which 43 non-ophthalmic DR graders underwent baseline testing on a standard image set, completed a self-paced, online training course and were retested using the same photographs presented randomly. Twenty-nine local ophthalmologists completed the same test without the training course. DR graders then underwent additional one–to-one training by a glaucoma specialist and were retested. Test performance (% correct, compared with consensus grades from four fellowship-trained glaucoma experts), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and area under the receiver operating (AUC) curve, were computed.Results Mean age of DR graders (32.6±5.5 years) did not differ from ophthalmologists (32.3±7.3 years, p=0.13). Online training required a mean of 297.9 (SD 144.6) minutes. Graders’ mean baseline score (33.3%±14.3%) improved significantly after training (55.8%±12.6%, p

The devotion of Muslims to Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is not only on the basis that he is a religious figure of Muslims, but Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is a role model for all humanity. In today's social, political, and economic situation, guidance can only be taken from the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) because the study of the Seerah is not just an academic hobby. Still, the salvation of humanity lies in it. One aspect of the Seerah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is Mushkilat ul Seerah (Difficulties of biography). From the time of the companions to the present day, countless authors have written on the biography of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Every aspect of the life of the Prophet (PBUH) and every act have been preserved in the original form by the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH). They conveyed them to their followers through written and verbal communication. In the same way, they gave the message further to their faithful disciples with great honesty. In the beginning, the biographers have recorded the events of the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with utmost sincerity. Still, in some places, the biographers have written and presented the same event in different styles and ways. In this research paper, we will examine the difficulties of the Seerah regarding Maulana Safiullah Mubarak Puri's famous book "Al-Raheeq Al-Maktoum" and present their solution through their priority and application.

Urbanization is giving rise to the number of challenges due to its matchless soaring proportion in scenario of management and public welfare. Difference types of buffers are utilized globally depending upon the area of action and purpose to protect development sites from external harms and to avoid factors resulting inequalities from outer boundaries, for instance population growth and development. Effects of urbanization on urban fringes and the land use changes have been conducted for their inter-relation purposiveness to maintain fringes approaching buffer. In this context, this paper studies the different types of buffers to identify their necessity and implications for exploring the appropriate buffer as a conservation approach. In order to deal with the urban boundaries of Hyderabad (delineation of urban fringes), the conversion of agriculture land into residential area due to urbanization have been analyzed. Sample questionnaire survey and analysis were conducted using ANOVA with the help of SPSS 20.0, Arc GIS 10.1 based maps. Resultantly, our findings open new dimension in understanding the buffers implementations on the basis of ANOVA testing observation. To conclude this analysis, it is observed that riparian tree buffer is strongly suggested in comparison with other employed types of buffers for designing land use plans.

Accurate state estimation of a vehicle is essential for ensuring the effective operation of stability control systems, particularly in dynamic road conditions. The side-slip angle serves as a crucial parameter for vehicle handling and safety control. However, the commercially available sensors for measuring side-slip angle are often expensive, prompting the utilization of estimation methods that rely on vehicle dynamics and the available sensor measurements. This paper introduces a novel observer for side-slip angles that employs a bicycle model and directly incorporates the lateral accelerometer signal through roll angle estimation. Roll angle estimates are obtained using novel complementary filters (NCF). Complementary filter tuning parameters are adjusted automatically using the recursive least square estimation technique. The estimation performance of the mentioned algorithms is verified using standard maneuvers through CarSim®.

Dieulafoy’s lesion is a rare cause of massive digestive hemorrhage that can be fatal. Bleeding occurs from a vascular abnormality defined by the presence in the submucosa of an abnormally large aberrant artery. Gastric localization is the most frequently reported, but rare cases have been confirmed by histology.We report the case of a 32-year-old man operated on an emergency for massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, which is life threatening and not allowing to locate the lesion with the endoscopic examination. A Dieulafoy’s gastric lesion was diagnosed intraoperatively, treated by wide wedge resection and confirmed by histology.

In this paper, a data transmission method called Thing Speak is used to construct a coal mine safety system. The system is used to monitor and regulate a number of characteristics in coal mines, including light detection, gas leak detection, temperature and humidity conditions, and coal mine fire detection. These sensors are all installed in coal mines and are regarded as a single unit. For analysis, all sensor values are continuously uploaded to Thingspeak and buzzer is utilized to notify the staff. The created technology is primarily used to enhance worker safety and the working environment in coal mines.

Microtubules are the prime component of the cytoskeleton along with microfilaments. Being vital for organelle transport and cellular divisions during spermatogenesis and sperm motility process, microtubules ascertain functional capacity of sperm. Also, microtubule based structures such as axoneme and manchette are crucial for sperm head and tail formation. This review (a) presents a concise, yet detailed structural overview of the microtubules, (b) analyses the role of microtubule structures in various male reproductive functions, and (c) presents the association of microtubular dysfunctions with male infertility. Considering the immense importance of microtubule structures in the formation and maintenance of physiological functions of sperm cells, this review serves as a scientific trigger in stimulating further male infertility research in this direction.

It is necessary for the views to differ from the differences of reasoning and understanding from the text. There are different opinions and attitudes among the Muslims in Islamic rules. Sometimes these views seem to contradict each other. There is an excess or less of words due to which the ruling differ in inference issues. If the Mutan of a Hadith or the whole picture of an event doesn't avail for the comparison, then the correct direction and conclusion will not be possible in the derived issues. Attempts have been made in different period of space accumulation to the best of one's ability and compile complete texts for the scholars and the scholars of Ummah which made it easier to extract problems and rules. The following article has been presented a study of different forms of editing texts in four stages.

The physical origin and termination sites of DNA replication in human cells have remained elusive. Here the authors use Okazaki fragment sequencing to reveal global replication patterns and show how chromatin and transcription modulate the process.

Onboard attitude estimation for a ground vehicle is persuaded by its application in active anti-roll bar design. Conventionally, the attitude estimation problem for a ground vehicle is a complex one, and computationally, its solution is very intensive. Lateral load transfer is an important parameter which should be taken in account for all roll stability control systems. This parameter is directly related to vehicle roll angle, which can be measured using devices such as dual antenna global positioning system (GPS) which is a costly technique, and this led to the current work in which we developed a simple and robust attitude estimation technique that is tested on a ground vehicle for roll mitigation. In the first phase Luenberger and Sliding mode observer is implemented using simplest roll dynamics model to measure the roll angle of a vehicle and the validation of results is carried using commercial software, CarSim® (CarSim, Ann Arbor, MI, USA). In the second phase of research, complementary and Kalman filters have been designed for attitude estimation. In the third phase, a low-cost inertial measurement unit (IMU) is mounted on a vehicle, and both the complementary filter (CF) and Kalman filter (KF) are applied independently to measure the data for both smooth and uneven terrains at four different frequencies. We compared the simulated and real-time results of roll and pitch angles obtained using the complementary and Kalman filters. Using the proposed method, the achieved root mean square error (RMSE) is less than 0.73 degree for pitch and 0.68 degree for roll, with a sample time of 2 ms. Thus, a warning signal can be generated to mitigate roll over. Hence, we claim that our proposed method can provide a low-cost solution to the roll-over problem for a road vehicle.

A fiber loop ringdown (FLRD) concrete crack sensor is described for the first time. A bare single mode fiber (SMF), without using other optical components or chemical coatings, etc., was utilized to construct the sensor head, which was driven by a FLRD sensor system. The performance of the sensor was evaluated on concrete bars with dimensions 20 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm, made in our laboratory. Cracks were produced manually and the responses of the sensor were recorded in terms of ringdown times. The sensor demonstrated detection of the surface crack width (SCW) of 0.5 mm, which leads to a theoretical SCW detection limit of 31 μm. The sensor’s response to a cracking event is near real-time (1.5 s). A large dynamic range of crack detection ranging from a few microns (μm) to a few millimeters is expected from this sensor. With the distinct features, such as simplicity, temperature independence, near real-time response, high SCW detection sensitivity, and a large dynamic range, this FLRD crack sensor appears promising for detections of cracks when embedded in concrete.

The three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the mammalian nucleus is now being unraveled thanks to the recent development of chromatin conformation capture (3C) technologies. Here we report the results of a combined multiscale analysis of genome-wide mean replication timing and chromatin conformation data that reveal some intimate relationships between chromatin folding and human DNA replication. We previously described megabase replication N/U-domains as mammalian multiorigin replication units, and showed that their borders are ‘master’ replication initiation zones that likely initiate cascades of origin firing responsible for the stereotypic replication of these domains. Here, we demonstrate that replication N/U-domains correspond to the structural domains of self-interacting chromatin, and that their borders act as insulating regions both in high-throughput 3C (Hi-C) data and high-resolution 3C (4C) experiments. Further analyses of Hi-C data using a graph-theoretical approach reveal that N/U-domain borders are long-distance, interconnected hubs of the chromatin interaction network. Overall, these results and the observation that a well-defined ordering of chromatin states exists from N/U-domain borders to centers suggest that ‘master’ replication initiation zones are at the heart of a high-order, epigenetically controlled 3D organization of the human genome.

Abstract Background Fibroblasts, as connective tissue cells, are able to transform into another cell type including smooth muscle cells. α1A-adrenergic receptor (α1A-AR) stimulation in rat-1 fibroblasts is coupled to cAMP production. However, the significance of an increase in cAMP produced by α1A-AR stimulation on proliferation, hypertrophy and differentiation in these cells is not known. Results Activation of the α1A-AR in rat-1 fibroblasts by phenylephrine (PE) inhibited DNA synthesis by 67% and blocked the re-entry of 81% of the cells into S phase of the cell cycle. This cell cycle blockage was associated with hypertrophy characterized by an increase in protein synthesis (64%) and cell size. Elevation of cAMP levels decreased both DNA and protein synthesis. Inhibition of adenylyl cyclase or protein kinase A reversed the antiproliferative effect of cAMP analogs but not PE; the hypertrophic effect of PE was also not altered. The functional response of rat-1 cells to PE was accompanied by increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors p27kip1 and p21cip1/waf1, which function as negative regulators of the cell cycle. Stimulation of α1A-AR also upregulated the cell cycle regulatory proteins pRb, cyclin D1, Cdk 2, Cdk 4, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The antiproliferative effect of PE was blocked by p27kip1 antisense but not sense oligonucleotide. PE also promoted expression of smooth muscle cell differentiation markers (smooth muscle alpha actin, caldesmon, and myosin heavy chain) as well as the muscle development marker MyoD. Conclusions Stimulation of α1A-AR promotes cell cycle arrest, hypertrophy and differentiation of rat-1 fibroblasts into smooth muscle-like cells and expression of negative cell cycle regulators by a mechanism independent of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway.

Abstract Background Phenylephrine (PHE), an α1 adrenergic receptor agonist, increases phospholipase D (PLD) activity, independent of classical and novel protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, in rat-1 fibroblasts expressing α1A adrenergic receptors. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of atypical PKCζ to PLD activation in response to PHE in these cells. Results PHE stimulated a PLD activity as demonstrated by phosphatidylethanol production. PHE increased PKCζ translocation to the particulate cell fraction in parallel with a time-dependent decrease in its activity. PKCζ activity was reduced at 2 and 5 min and returned to a sub-basal level within 10–15 min. Ectopic expression of kinase-dead PKCζ, but not constitutively active PKCζ, potentiated PLD activation elicited by PHE. A cell-permeable pseudosubstrate inhibitor of PKCζ reduced basal PKCζ activity and abolished PHE-induced PLD activation. Conclusion α1A adrenergic receptor stimulation promotes the activation of a PLD activity by a mechanism dependent on PKCζ; Our data also suggest that catalytic activation of PKCζ is not required for PLD stimulation.

The following study aimed to characterize the biological potential of the purified compounds of Pseudomonas aurantiaca PB-St2. Optimization of temperature and incubation time of 32oC and 72 h yielded the highest crude extract weight and optical density of bacterial culture. HPLC analysis of the crude metabolite extract (purified using gravitational column chromatography) showed three fractions named as PC1, PC2, and PC3. HPLC-purified fractions were subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis and the data was compared using reference library. Fraction PC1 was identified as mupirocin, PC2 as phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), and PC3 as the mixture of three compounds including pyoluteorin, PCA and 2-hydroxyphenazine (2-OH-phz). Fungicidal potential of the purified compounds was assessed against phytopathogens including Fusarium equiseti , Fusarium incarnatum , Alternaria alternata , and Colletotrichum falcatum . Fraction PC3 showed the highest fungicidal activity of ~89%, whereas, the least antifungal activity (~27%) was noted for mupirocin. Antibacterial activity of the purified compounds against Gram-positive pathogen Bacillus cereus , and Gram-negative pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella enterica , and Klebsiella oxytoca was also assessed. Fraction PC3 demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity against B. cereus and P. aeruginosa showing 1.8 cm, and 0.9 cm zones of inhibition, respectively. Against K. oxytoca and S. enterica , the antibacterial activity of PB-St2 crude extract was slightly higher than the fraction PC3. The fraction PC3 also demonstrated the highest IC 50 against HepG-2 and SF767 cancer cell lines at 25 μg and 20 μg concentrations, respectively. The multifaceted attributes of P. aurantiaca PB-St2 make it an ideal candidate for agricultural and pharmacological applications.

Rasmussen aneurysm is a rare complication of tuberculosis, where a pulmonary artery adjacent to a tuberculous cavity aneurysm may lead to life threatening hemoptysis. Sudden or severe hemoptysis is an emergency condition in TB patients who need prompt recognition and intervention, often through endovascular embolization, to prevent fatal outcomes., Competing Interests: None declared., (© 2024 The Author(s). Respirology Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.)

Understanding the resident microbial communities and their above and below ground interactions with plants will provide necessary information for crop disease protection and stress management. In this study, we show how diversity of core microbiome varies with disease susceptibility of a crop. To test this hypothesis, we have focused on identifying the core microbial species of cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) susceptible Gossypium hirsutum and CLCuD resistant Gossypium arboreum under viral infestation. Derivation of core membership is challenging as it depends on an occupancy threshold of microbial species in a sampling pool, whilst accounting for different plant compartments. We have used an abundance-occupancy distribution approach where we dynamically assess the threshold for core membership, whilst marginalizing for occupancy in four compartments of the cotton plant, namely, leaf epiphyte, leaf endophyte, rhizosphere, and root endophyte. Additionally, we also fit a neutral model to the returned core species to split them into three groups, those that are neutral, those that are selected by the plant environment, and finally those that are dispersal limited. We have found strong inverse relationship between diversity of core microbiome and disease susceptibility with the resistant variety, G. arboreum, possessing higher diversity of microbiota. A deeper understanding of this association will aid in the development of biocontrol agents for improving plant immunity against biotrophic pathogens., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Zinc deficiency poses significant health risks, particularly in low-income settings. This study aims to evaluate the impact of agronomically zinc biofortified (fermented and non-fermented) and post-harvest wheat flour flatbread on zinc status and metabolic health in adolescents and adult women in rural Pakistan., Methods: A four-arm triple-blind randomized controlled trial will be conducted in a rural district of Pakistan. Participants (adolescents aged 10-19 and adult women aged 20-40) will be assigned to receive fermented or unfermented high zinc agronomically biofortified wheat flour flatbread, post-harvest zinc-fortified wheat flour flatbread, or low zinc conventional whole wheat flour flatbread. The meal would be served once a day, six days a week for six months. The study aims to enroll 1000 participants and will be analyzed based on the intention-to-treat principle. The trial is registered with number NCT06092515., Outcomes: Primary outcomes will include serum zinc concentration and metabolic markers, while secondary outcomes include anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and dietary intake., Conclusion: This trial will provide valuable insights into the efficacy of agronomically zinc biofortified wheat flour in improving zinc status and metabolic health. Findings may inform public health strategies to combat zinc deficiency in resource-limited settings., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Das et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Biotic stresses, such as plant viruses, e.g., cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV), can alter root-associated and leaf-associated microbial diversities in plants. There are complex ecological dynamics at play, with each microbe contributing to a multitude of biotic and abiotic interactions, thus deciding the stability of the plant's ecosystem in response to the disease. Deciphering these networks of interactions is a challenging task. The inferential research in microbiome is also at a nascent stage, often constrained by the underlying analytical assumptions and the limitations with respect to the depth of sequencing. There is also no real consensus on network-wide statistics to identify the influential microbial players in a network. Guided by the latest developments in network science, including recently published metrics such as Integrated View of Influence (IVI) and some other centrality measures, this study provides an exposé of the most influential nodes in the rhizospheric and phyllospheric microbial networks of the cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) susceptible, partially tolerant, and resistant cotton varieties. It is evident from our results that the CLCuD-resistant Gossypium arboreum possesses an equal share of keystone species, which helps it to withstand ecological pressures. In the resistant variety, the phyllosphere harbors the most influential nodes, whereas in the susceptible variety, they are present in the rhizosphere. Based on hubness score, spreading score, and IVI, the top 10 occurring keystone species in the FDH-228 (resistant) variety include Actinokineospora, Cohnella, Thermobacillus, Clostridium, Desulfofarcimen, and MDD-D21. Elusimicrobia, Clostridium-sensu-stricto&#95;12, Candidatus woesebacteria, and Dyella were identified as the most influential nodes in the PFV-1 (partially tolerant) variety. In the PFV-2 (susceptible) variety, the keystone species were identified as Georginia, Nesterenkonia, Elusimicrobia MVP-88, Acetivibrio, Tepedisphaerales, Chelatococcus, Nitrosospira, and RCP2-54 . This concept deciphers the diseased and healthy plant's response to viral disease, which may be microbially mediated., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Aqueel, Badar, Ijaz and Malik.)

The failure of breeding strategies has caused scientists to shift to other means where the new approach involves exploring the microbiome to modulate plant defense mechanisms against Cotton Leaf Curl Disease (CLCuD). The cotton microbiome of CLCuD-resistant varieties may harbor a multitude of bacterial genera that significantly contribute to disease resistance and provide information on metabolic pathways that differ between the susceptible and resistant varieties. The current study explores the microbiome of CLCuD-susceptible Gossypium hirsutum and CLCuD-resistant Gossypium arboreum using 16 S rRNA gene amplification for the leaf endophyte, leaf epiphyte, rhizosphere, and root endophyte of the two cotton species. This revealed that Pseudomonas inhabited the rhizosphere while Bacillus was predominantly found in the phyllosphere of CLCuV-resistant G. arboreum. Using salicylic acid-producing Serratia spp. and Fictibacillus spp. isolated from CLCuD-resistant G. arboreum, and guided by our analyses, we have successfully suppressed CLCuD in the susceptible G. hirsutum through pot assays. The applied strains exhibited less than 10% CLCuD incidence as compared to control group where it was 40% at 40 days post viral inoculation. Through detailed analytics, we have successfully demonstrated that the applied microbes serve as a biocontrol agent to suppress viral disease in Cotton., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many dentists have opted for Teledentistry as a mechanism for patient consultation, oral lesion evaluation, diagnosis, and monitoring. The current study explores the challenges faced and potential solutions proposed by dentists practicing Teledentistry in a developing country like Pakistan., Methods: A qualitative case study was carried out from January to December 2021. A purposive maximum variation sample of 10 dentists was interviewed in two focus groups. The interview guide was developed using the technology-organization-environment framework. The data was transcribed verbatim using otter.ai. The analysis involved immersion in the data and open coding. The conceptually related codes were synthesized into themes and subthemes., Findings: The study found various Personnel, Technological and Organizational challenges, and potential solutions from those practicing Teledentistry. The challenges included operational cost, minimal financial returns, lack of awareness, hardware and software support, and other challenges related to the availability of specialization, accessibility, and institutional encouragement. They suggested Institutional Based Practice, staff training, hiring, development of government regulations, and supporting infrastructures such as designated space, central registry, internet, and using/building software to provide 3D images as solutions., Conclusion: Teledentists face Personnel, Technological and Organizational challenges and related potential solutions from those practicing Teledentistry in Pakistan. Government should encourage Teledentistry to reduce long-term costs, encourage preventive services and enable rural access to dental care. They should also involve all stakeholders to develop regulations for practicing Teledentistry in Pakistan., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

In the present article we report the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures at room temperature using an ultrasonication technique to study their photoluminescent and photocatalytic behaviour. Synthesized nanomaterial showed a strong near band edge ultraviolet (UV) light emission and red emission, thereby finding its use in photoluminescent materials. We developed a UV/ZnO/O 2 /H 2 O 2 system for the photodegradation of organic pollutants in an aqueous system. We used synthesized nanostructures to photodegrade phenol red (PR) dye to check their photocatalytic activity. The ZnO nanostructures photodegraded more than 90% of the PR dye under UV light irradiation in which photonic energy is converted to chemical energy (photocatalytic energy conversion), thereby exploitable for water purification applications. Synthesized ZnO nanostructures were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-visible light spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to investigate their structural, optical, morphological, and compositional properties, respectively., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Nitrogen (N) is one of the limiting factors for plant growth, and it is mainly supplied exogenously by fertilizer application. It is well documented that diazotrophic rhizobacteria improve plant growth by fixing atmospheric N in the soil. The present study investigates the nitrogen-fixing potential of two Azospirillum spp. strains using the 15 N isotope-dilution method. The two diazotrophic strains (TN03 and TN09) native to the rhizosphere of potato belong to the genus Azospirillum (16S rRNA gene accession numbers LN833443 and LN833448, respectively). Both strains were able to grow on an N-free medium with N-fixation potential (138-143 nmol mg -1 protein h -1 ) and contained the nifH gene. Strain TN03 showed highest indole acetic acid (IAA) production (30.43 μg/mL), while TN09 showed highest phosphate solubilization activity (249.38 μg/mL) while both diazotrophs showed the production of organic acids. A 15 N dilution experiment was conducted with different fertilizer inputs to evaluate the N-fixing potential of both diazotrophs in pots. The results showed that plant growth parameters and N contents increased significantly by the inoculations. Moreover, reduced 15 N enrichment was found compared to uninoculated controls that received similar N fertilizer levels. This validates the occurrence of N-fixation through isotopic dilution. Strain TN09 showed higher N-fixing potential than TN03 and the uninoculated controls. Inoculation with either strain also showed a remarkable increase in plant growth under field conditions. Thus, there were remarkable increases in N use efficiency, N uptake and N utilization levels. Confocal laser scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed that TN03 is an ectophyte, i.e., present outside root cells or within the grooves of root hairs, while TN09 is an endophyte, i.e., present within root cells, forming a strong association withroot it. This study confirms that diazotrophic Azospirillum spp. added to potato systems can improve plant growth and N use efficiency, opening avenues for improvement of potato crop growth with reduced input of N fertilizer., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflictof interest., (Copyright © 2022 Naqqash, Malik, Imran, Hameed, Shahid, Hanif, Majeed, Iqbal, Qaisrani and van Elsas.)

Introduction C-reactive protein (CRP) has been reported as a predictor of the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). However, there is conflicting evidence in the literature. The proposed cut-off values and intervals for best prediction include an absolute value of 150 at 48 hours; an absolute value of 190 at 48 hours; and the interval change in CRP of 90 at 48 hours. The current study assesses the value of CRP at different intervals and cut-offs in predicting complicated acute pancreatitis (CAP) and compares its performance against other available predictors like neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR); Glasgow scoring system and modified CT severity index (MCTSI).  Methods Analysis of prospectively maintained data for index episodes of acute pancreatitis managed in 225 patients over a period of five years (2014-2018) was done. CAP was defined by using revised Atlanta classification and included all the AP patients with local and or systemic complications. It was used as a gold standard. Diagnostic and predictive performance of different biochemical markers and multifactorial scoring systems were determined by analyzing receiving operating curves (ROCs), the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values (positive and negative).  Results Out of 225 patients, 122 were female while 103 patients were male. CAP developed in 47 patients (20.9%) while 178 (79.1%) patients had mild AP. Overall, in-hospital mortality rate was 1.8% (n=4). ROC analysis demonstrated that CRP at admission had low discriminatory value (AUC= 0.54, p-value=0.74). CRP at 48 hours had AUC of 0.70 (p-value=0.007). At a cut-off of 150, the positive predictive value (PPV) of 150 was 30 %. The PPV of CRP at 48 hours at a cut-off of 190 was 28%. Interval change in CRP at 48 hours greater than 90 had a PPV of 26 %. Further comparison of CRP with other scoring systems like Glasgow scoring system (AUC= 0.65), NL ratio (AUC=0.54), and MCTSI was performed. Among the single predictors, although, NL ratio showed good sensitivity at a cut-off value of 4.7 (87.23%), however, its discriminatory power was negligible (AUC=0.542, p-value=0.513). The overall best performance was achieved by the MCTSI scoring system at a cut-off of 3 (AUC=0.90, sensitivity=83.33 %, specificity=100%, diagnostic accuracy=94.49%).  Conclusion CRP measured at admission or at 48 hours has a very limited role in the prediction of CAP. Along with other scoring systems, its negative predictive value should be used to predict cases with mild AP which can help in clinical decision making for early discharge or management of such patients on ambulatory care basis. MCTSI scoring system can be used in cases with high suspicion of CAP., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2021, Ahmad et al.)

Plant-associated bacteria play an important role in the enhancement of plant growth and productivity. Gluconacetobacter azotocaptans is an exceptional bacterium considering that till today it has been isolated and reported only from Mexico and Canada. It is a plant growth-promoting bacterium and can be used as biofertilizer for different crops and vegetables. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the inoculation effect of Gluconacetobacter azotocaptans DS1, Pseudomonas putida CQ179, Azosprillium zeae N7, Azosprillium brasilense N8, and Azosprillium canadense DS2, on the growth of vegetables including cucumber, sweet pepper, radish, and tomato. All strains increased the vegetables' growth; however, G. azotocaptans DS1 showed better results as compared to other inoculated and control plants and significantly increased the plant biomass of all vegetables. Therefore, the whole genome sequence of G. azotocaptans DS1 was analyzed to predict genes involved in plant growth promotion, secondary metabolism, antibiotics resistance, and bioremediation of heavy metals. Results of genome analysis revealed that G. azotocaptans DS1 has a circular chromosome with a size of 4.3 Mbp and total 3898 protein-coding sequences. Based on functional analysis, genes for nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, indole acetic acid, phenazine, siderophore production, antibiotic resistance, and bioremediation of heavy metals including copper, zinc, cobalt, and cadmium were identified. Collectively, our findings indicated that G. azotocaptans DS1 can be used as a biofertilizer and biocontrol agent for growth enhancement of different crops and vegetables., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02996-1., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the publication., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2021.)

Mn doping in SrSnO 3 perovskite material via hydrothermal process under subcritical conditions is reported for the very first time. The present article aims to carry this perovskite suitable for blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and spintronic applications. The influence of various Mn doping percentages on structural, morphological, compositional, optical, photoluminescent, and magnetic properties of SrSnO 3 is demonstrated. The perovskite material is grown in an orthorhombic crystal structure having a space symmetry of Pnma along with point group of mmm as determined from the Rietveld refinement. Doping is an excellent way to modify the properties of wide-band-gap perovskite nanostructures. Incorporation of Mn is the result of exact substitution. Morphological studies indicate formation of rodlike structures with thickness in nanoscale dimensions (180-280 nm), and the thickness is a function of doping concentration. The higher doping concentration resulted in enhanced growth of the nanorods. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) results showed the single-crystal nature of the nanorods. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the high stability of the material at elevated temperatures. Also, the doped perovskite material is transparent in the visible light, active in the ultraviolet region having a band gap of ∼2.78 eV, and is tuned up to 2.25 eV as the Mn doping concentration reaches 10%. The transfer of excitonic energy from the host material to the dopant Mn 2+ ion leads to the formation of spin-forbidden [ 4 T 1 - 6 A 1 ] emission. Later on, photoluminescence study indicates an enhancement in luminescence behavior of Mn doped perovskite nanostructures. The Commission Internationale de l'éclairage (CIE) diagram drawn to find the color coordinates of the nanorods determines their suitability for blue LEDs. In addition, Mn doping results the conversion of diamagnetic SrSnO 3 into a ferromagnetic material, making the nanorods suitable for spintronic applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Microbial communities associated with the rhizosphere and roots of desert halophytes play an important role in plants' growth and development. Very limited information has been available on the microbial diversity of arid environments of Pakistan. Hence in the current study, the microbial diversity of rhizosphere and root endosphere of desert halophytes, Zygophyllum simplex, Haloxylon salicoricum, Aerva javanica , and Capparis decidua was evaluated. The rhizosphere and root endosphere samples of desert halophytes collected from the three geographic sites of Cholistan desert, Punjab, Pakistan were analyzed by using 16S rRNA based Illumina sequencing. The results showed that Proteobacteria were more abundant in the rhizospheric soils while Actinobacteria were more dominant in the root endosphere of halophytes. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Deinococcus-Thermus were identified from all rhizospheric soils and roots across the three sites, with variable percentage. Bacillus, Kocuria, Pseudomonas, Halomonas , and Flavobacterium were commonly identified from the rhizosphere and root endosphere of halophytes across all the three sites. At the genus level, microbial diversity from Haloxylon showed the greatest variations between the rhizosphere and root endosphere from the site 2. This study revealed that microbial diversity analysis can be used to study how changes in abiotic factors such as soil moisture content and salinity affect the microbial communities associated with the rhizospheric soils and root endosphere of halophytes across the three sites. This study will also help in the discovery of potential inoculants for crops growing in arid and semi-arid regions of Pakistan., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Mukhtar, Mehnaz and Malik.)

In this study, nine strains of Pseudomonas au rantiaca and P. chlororaphis , and two isolates of Pseudomonas sp . : At1RP4 and RS-1, were characterized for the in-vitro production of secondary metabolites in LB, DMB, and King's B media, and of the genes responsible for the production of antagonistic metabolites. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, isolates At1RP4 and RS-1 were identified as strains of P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens . Five phenazine derivatives comprising phenazine, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), 2-hydroxyphenazine-1-carboxylic acid (2-OH-Phz-1-COOH), phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylic acid (Phz-1,6-di-COOH), and 2-hydroxyphenazine (2-OH-Phz) were produced by all strains in all three culture media including DMB, King's B and LB. However, 2,8-dihydroxyphenazine, 6-methylphenazine-1-carboxylic acid, pyrrolnitrin, and the ortho -dialkyl - aromatic acids, were produced by the P. aurantiaca and P. chlororaphis strains. In addition, all strains produced 2-acetamidophenol, pyochelin, and diketopiperazine derivatives in variable amounts in all three culture media used. Highest levels of quorum-sensing signal molecules including PQS, 2-Octyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone, and hexahydro-quinoxaline-1,4-dioxide were recorded for P. aeruginosa At1RP4. Moreover, all strains produced volatile hydrogen cyanide (0.95-6.68 µg/L) and the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (0.42-13.9 µM). Production of extracellular lipase and protease was recorded in all pseudomonads, whereas, cellulase production and phosphate solubilization were variable. Genes for hydrogen cyanide and phenazine-1-carboxylic acid were detected in all eleven strains while the gene for pyrrolnitrin biosynthesis was amplified in P. aurantiaca and P. chlororaphis strains. Comparative metabolomic analysis provided detailed insights about the strain-specific metabolites in pseudomonads, and their pseudo-relative quantification in different bacterial growth media to be used as single-strain biofertilizer and biocontrol inoculums., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-020-02585-8., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestAll authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2021.)

Tuberculosis (TB) is the largest infectious disease with 10 million new active-TB patients and1.7 million deaths per year. Active-TB is an inflammatory disease and is increasingly viewed as an imbalance of immune responses to M. tb. infection. The mechanisms of a switch from latent infection to active disease is not well worked out but a shift in the immune responses is thought to be responsible. Increasingly, the role of gut microbiota has been described as a major influencer of the immune system. And because the gut is the largest immune organ, we aimed to analyze the gut microbiome in active-TB patients in a TB-endemic country, Pakistan. The study revealed that Ruminococcacea, Enetrobactericeae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Bifidobacterium, etc. were the major genera associated with active-TB, also associated with chronic inflammatory disease. Plasma antibody profiles against several M. tb. antigens, as specific biomarkers for active-TB, correlated closely with the patient gut microbial profiles. Besides, bcoA gene copy number, indicative of the level of butyrate production by the gut microbiome was five-fold lower in TB patients compared to healthy individuals. These findings suggest that gut health in TB patients is compromised, with implications for disease morbidity (e.g., severe weight loss) as well as immune impairment., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Chalcogenide nanostructures are the materials with diverse applications. Here, we report rapid hydrothermal synthesis of crystalline ZnSe quantum dots (QDs), avoiding the use of toxic chemicals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on very rapid (5 h) hydrothermal synthesis of pristine ZnSe QDs. Elemental selenium is used as a source for selenium. Structural, morphological, compositional, and optical properties of the semiconductor were studied. Structural properties (X-ray diffraction) demonstrate that the particles have grown in a single cubic phase. Morphological studies show formation of agglomerated QDs (4 nm). The material possess stoichiometric ratio of the constituent elements that are uniformly distributed. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) study indicated the material is polycrystalline in nature. Optical properties demonstrated that the QDs are suitable for optoelectronic devices exhibiting room temperature photoluminescence. Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram shows the material exhibits violet emission and hence suitable for violet LEDs that have potential ability in clinical applications.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are known to improve plant performance by developing healthy and productive interactions with the host plants. These associations may be symbiotic or asymbiotic depending upon the genetic potential of the resident microbe and promiscuity of the host. Present study describes the potential of two Serratia spp. strains for promotion of plant growth in homologous as well as non-homologous hosts. The strains KPS-10 and KPS-14; native to potato rhizosphere belong to genus Serratia based on 16S rRNA gene sequences (accession no. LN831934 and LN831937 respectively) and contain multiple plant growth promoting properties along-with the production of quorum sensing acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) molecules. Both Serratia spp. strains showed solubilization of inorganic tri-calcium phosphate while KPS-14 also exhibited phytase activity (1.98 10 -10 kcat). KPS-10 showed higher P-solubilization activity (128.5 μg/mL), IAA production (8.84 μg/mL), antifungal activity and also showed the production of two organic acids i.e., gluconic acid and lactic acid. Both strains produced three common AHLs: C6-HSL, 3oxo-C10-HSL, 3oxo-C12-HSL while some strain-specific AHLs (3OH-C5-HSL, 3OH-C6-HSL, C10-HSL specific to KPS-10 and 3OH-C6-HSL, C8-HSL, 3oxo-C9-HSL, 3OH-C9-HSL specific to KPS-14). Strains showed roots and rhizosphere colonization of potato and other non-homologous hosts up to one month. In planta AHLs-detection confirmed a likely role of AHLs during seedling growth and development where both extracted AHLs or bacteria inoculated roots showed extensive root hair. A significant increase in root/shoot lengths, root/ shoot fresh weights, root/shoot dry weights was observed by inoculation in different hosts. PGP-characteristics along with the AHLs-production signify the potential of both strains as candidate for the development of bio-inoculum for potato crop in specific and other crops in general. This inoculum will not only reduce the input of chemical fertilizer to the environment but also improve soil quality and plant growth., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Rhizobacteria contain various plant-beneficial traits and their inoculation can sustainably increase crop yield and productivity. The present study describes the growth-promoting potential of Brevundimonas spp. isolated from rhizospheric soil of potato from Sahiwal, Pakistan. Four different putative strains TN37, TN39, TN40, and TN44 were isolated by enrichment on nitrogen-free malate medium and identified as Brevundimonas spp. based on their morphology, 16S rRNA gene sequence, and phylogenetic analyses. All strains contained nifH gene except TN39 and exhibited nitrogen fixation potential through acetylene reduction assay (ARA) except TN40. Among all, the Brevundimonas sp. TN37 showed maximum ARA and phosphate solubilization potential but none of them exhibited the ability to produce indole acetic acid. Root colonization studies using transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that Brevundimonas sp. TN37 was resident over the root surface of potato; forming sheets in the grooves in the rhizoplane. TN37, being the best among all was further evaluated in pot experiment using potato cultivar Kuroda in sterilized sand. Results showed that Brevundimonas sp. TN37 increased growth parameters and nitrogen uptake as compared to non-inoculated controls. Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be suggested that Brevundimonas spp. (especially TN37) possess the potential to improve potato growth and stimulate nitrogen uptake. This study is the first report of Brevundimonas spp. as an effective PGPR in potato.

Aims: The main objective of the present work was to evaluate plant growth-promoting abilities of bacterial strains from the rhizosphere of halophytes and their effect on maize growth under salinity stress., Methods and Results: Halophilic bacteria were identified using 16S rRNA sequence analysis and their plant growth-promoting abilities were characterized. Phylogenetic analysis showed that bacterial strains belonging to Bacillus, Halobacillus and Pseudomonas were dominant in the rhizosphere of halophytes. More than 93% strains showed P-solubilization activity and IAA production. About 54% strains were able to produce ACC deaminase, 29% strains showed positive results for nitrogen fixation, 41 and 21% strains showed siderophores and HCN production ability respectively. More than 90% strains showed antifungal activity against more than two fungal pathogens and production of different hydrolytic enzymes. To study the plant growth-promoting effect on maize, five bacterial strains Bacillus safensis HL1HP11 and Bacillus pumilus HL3RS14, Kocuria rosea HL1RP8, Enterobacter aerogenes AT1HP4 and Aeromonas veronii AT1RP10 were used as inoculants; in the form of seed coat and enriched soil-based phosphate biofertilizers. All bacterial strains positively affected the maize growth as compared to non-inoculated control + NaCl plants. Plants inoculated with Bacillus HL3RS14-based soil biofertilizers showed maximum increase in dry weights of root (48-124%) and shoot (52-131%) as compared to control + NaCl (soil + rock phosphate, no inoculum). PGPR inoculations under salinity stress conditions showed high concentrations of proline, glycine betaine and malondialdehyde., Conclusion: These results indicated that under saline soil conditions, halophilic PGPR strains combined with carrier materials are promising candidates as biofertilizers., (© 2019 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Background: Huntington's disease is characterized by three side effects, including motor disturbances, psychiatric elements, and intellectual weakness. The onset for HD has nonlinear converse associations with the number of repeat sequences of the polyglutamine mutations, so that younger patients have a tendency for longer repeats length. This HD variation is because of the development of a polyglutamine (CAG) repeats in the exon 1 of the Huntingtin protein., Methods: In the present study, a few derivatives utilized as a part of the treatment of HD, are used to create the pharmacophore model and based on the features of the pharmacophore model; an attempt is made to design the de-novo drug for the HD protein. HD protein structure was built and docked with the novel ligand, based on shared feature pharmacophore model, through a ligand-based pharmacophore modeling approach., Results: The novel ligand contains 1 HBAs, 2 HBDs, and 2 aromatic rings. It fulfills all the properties of certain drug-likeness rules, non-toxic in nature. In the docked complex, the common interactive amino acids identified are SER 1035, ALA 1062, MET 1068, LEU 1031, and THR 1036, which confirmed the validity and stability of a ligand molecule to be used as a drug in the treatment of Huntington's disease., Conclusion: A novel ligand can be used in clinical trials as a drug molecule against the mutations of HD gene and in laboratory procedures for efficacy analysis., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: Maize is an important crop for fodder, food and feed industry. The present study explores the plant-microbe interactions as alternative eco-friendly sustainable strategies to enhance the crop yield., Methodology: Bacterial diversity was studied in the rhizosphere of maize by culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques by soil sampling, extraction of DNA, amplification of gene of interest, cloning of desired fragment and library construction., Results: Culturable bacteria were identified as Achromobacter, Agrobacterium, Azospirillum , Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Bosea, Enterobacter, Microbacterium, Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus , Stenotrophomonas and Xanthomonas genera. For culture-independent approach, clone library of 16S ribosomal RNA gene was assembled and 100 randomly selected clones were sequenced. Majority of the sequences were related to Firmicutes (17%), Acidobacteria (16%), Actinobacteria (17%), Alpha-Proteobacteria (7%), Delta-proteobacteria (4.2%) and Gemmatimonadetes (4.2%) However, some of the sequences (30%) were novel that showed no homologies to phyla of cultured bacteria in the database. Diversity of diazotrophic bacteria in the rhizosphere investigated by analysis of PCR-amplified nif H gene sequence that revealed abundance of sequences belonging to genera Azoarcus (25%), Aeromonas (10%), Pseudomonas (10%). The diazotrophic genera Azotobacter, Agrobacterium and Zoogloea related nif H sequences were also detected but no sequence related to Azospirillum was found showing biasness of the growth medium rather than relative abundance of diazotrophs in the rhizosphere., Conclusion: The study provides a foundation for future research on focussed isolation of the Azoarcus and other diazotrophs found in higher abundance in the rhizosphere., (© 2019 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.)

Bacterial plasmids carry genes that code for additional traits such as osmoregulation, CO 2 fixation, antibiotic and heavy metal resistance, root nodulation and nitrogen fixation. The main objective of the current study was to identify plasmid-conferring osmoregulatory genes in bacteria isolated from rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soils of halophytes (Salsola stocksii and Atriplex amnicola). More than 55% of halophilic bacteria from the rhizosphere and 70% from non-rhizospheric soils were able to grow at 3 M salt concentrations. All the strains showed optimum growth at 1.5-3.0 M NaCl. Bacterial strains from the Salsola rhizosphere showed maximum (31%) plasmid elimination during curing experiments as compared to bacterial strains from the Atriplex rhizosphere and non-rhizospheric soils. Two plasmid cured strains Bacillus HL2HP6 and Oceanobacillus HL2RP7 lost their ability to grow in halophilic medium, but they grew well on LB medium. The plasmid cured strains also showed a change in sensitivity to specific antibiotics. These plasmids were isolated and transformed into E. coli strains and growth response of wild-type and transformed E. coli strains was compared at 1.5-4 M NaCl concentrations. Chromosomal DNA and plasmids from Bacillus filamentosus HL2HP6 were sequenced by using high throughput sequencing approach. Results of functional analysis of plasmid sequences showed different proteins and enzymes involved in osmoregulation of bacteria, such as trehalose, ectoine synthetase, porins, proline, alanine, inorganic ion transporters, dehydrogenases and peptidases. Our results suggested that plasmid conferring osmoregulatory genes play a vital role to maintain internal osmotic balance of bacterial cells and these genes can be used to develop salt tolerant transgenic crops., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Title: Survey of the functional priorities in patients with disability due to neuromuscular disorders., Objective: This study attempts to determine the functional priorities for patients with neuromuscular disorders., Methods: A survey asking about functional priorities with respect to activities of daily living, ankle foot orthotic design, and assistive device design, was distributed to patients with neuromuscular disorders to assess the needs of patients from their perspectives. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse answers., Results: A total of 171 subjects with neuromuscular disorders responded to the questionnaire. Of the respondents with weakness in both the upper and lower extremities, 45% stated that if they had to choose between correction of one or the other, they would prefer that of their lower extremities. Activities that patients most frequently wanted to gain independence with were mobility and transfers (46%), followed by toilet use and hygiene (32%). The most popular control mechanism of an assistive device was voice activation (35%)., Conclusion: This study assessed the functional priorities of those with neuromuscular disorders. Although such individuals can experience a range of weakness in the upper and/or lower extremities, common functional priorities were reported: independence with mobility, transfers, toilet use and hygiene. Knowledge of these priorities will help guide development of assistive devices that will restore function in the future. Implications for Rehabilitation     Neuromuscular Disorders  • Neuromuscular disorders result in disabling weakness; there are few cures and many are unable to carry out activities of daily living.  • Information that would be helpful in determining functional priorities is limited.  • In a survey of 171 patients with neuromuscular disorders, functional priorities included mobility and transfers (46%), followed by toilet use and hygiene (32%).  • Of the respondents with weakness in both the upper and lower extremities, 45% stated that if they had to choose between correction of one or the other, they would prefer that of their lower extremities.  • If an assistive device were to be created to help those with neuromuscular disorders, the most popular control mechanism would be voice activation (35%).

Microbes from hypersaline environments are useful in biotechnology as sources of novel enzymes and proteins. The current study aimed to characterize halophilic bacteria from the rhizosphere of halophytes (Salsola stocksii and Atriplex amnicola), non-rhizospheric, and brine lake-bank soils collected from Khewra Salt Mine and screening of these bacterial strains for industrially important enzymes. A total of 45 bacterial isolates from the rhizosphere of Salsola, 38 isolates from Atriplex, 24 isolates from non-rhizospheric, and 25 isolates from lake-bank soils were identified by using 16S rRNA gene analysis. Phylogenetic analysis showed that bacterial strains belonging to Bacillus, Halobacillus, and Kocuria were dominant in the rhizosphere of halophytes (Salsola and Atriplex), and Halobacillus and Halomonas were dominating genera from non-rhizospheric and lake-bank soils. Mostly identified strains were moderately halophilic bacteria with optimum growth at 1.5-3.0 M salt concentrations. Most of the bacterial exhibited lipase, protease, cellulase, amylase, gelatinase, and catalase activities. Halophilic and halotolerant Bacilli (AT2RP4, HL1RS13, NRS4HaP9, and LK3HaP7) identified in this study showed optimum lipase, protease, cellulase, and amylase activities at 1.0-1.5 M NaCl concentration, pH 7-8, and temperature 37 °C. These results indicated that halophilic and halotolerant bacteria can be used for bioconversion of organic compounds to useful products under extreme conditions.