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This report is based on the extrapolation to 2020 of data on the economic burden of mental illnesses in Pakistan in 2006. Given the resultant estimated high economic burden of mental illness in the country (£2.97 billion in 2020), we advocate a revised budget allocation to mental healthcare. As a resource-scarce nation that is entangled in natural disasters, Pakistan needs cost-effective psychological interventions such as culturally adapted manual-assisted problem-solving training (C-MAP) for the prevention of self-harm and suicide and to move towards attaining the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although government has taken initiatives to support healthcare services (such as the Sehat Sahulat Program for universal health coverage), there is still a need to implement a cost-effective national digital model for mental healthcare such as the Agha Khan Development Network Digital Health Programme.

Background: Tuberculous arthritis presents a diagnostic difficulty due to its modest clinical indications and vague imaging data, frequently resulting in a delayed or wrong diagnosis. Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS), which might seem like tuberculous arthritis, complicates the diagnosis. Case Report: This case study features a young child whose knee arthritis was first misdiagnosed as PVNS. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed nodular masses and hemosiderin deposits around the knee joint, indicating widespread PVNS. This error caused a delay in accurate diagnosis and treatment. Conclusion: These findings underscore the relevance of investigating TB in patients who appear with PVNS-like characteristics, emphasizing the necessity for a high index of suspicion and quick examination to achieve fast and correct diagnosis for successful care.

This paper attempts to explore Shelley’s poetry as a reflection of Marxist notion of resistance, highlighting how his poetry replicates the concerns of the oppressed and the disquiets of the working class. Repositioning Shelley’s works considering Marxist poetics, the paper argues that both Shelley and Marx bring to the fore anxieties and sufferings of the marginalized common folks, presenting both familiar and diverse patterns of resistance against the hegemonies of their own times. Focusing on the Shelley’s select poetry, the paper posits Marxist perspective of struggle for the rights of the deprived working class.

Excessive rainfall provides a favorable condition for field mold infection of plants, which triggers field mold (FM) stress. If FM stress occurs during the late maturation stage of soybean seed, it negatively affects seed yield and quality. To investigate the responses of soybean seed against FM stress and identify the underlying biochemical pathways involved, a greenhouse was equipped with an artificial rain producing system to allow the induction of mold growth on soybean seed. The induced quality changes and stress responses were revealed on the levels of both transcriptome and metabolome. The results showed that soybean seeds produced under FM stress conditions had an abnormal and inferior appearance, and also contained less storage reserves, such as protein and polysaccharide. Transcriptional analysis demonstrated that genes involved in amino acid metabolism, glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid, β-oxidation of fatty acids, and isoflavone biosynthesis were induced by FM stress. These results were supported by a multiple metabolic analysis which exhibited increases in the concentrations of a variety of amino acids, sugars, organic acids, and isoflavones, as well as reductions of several fatty acids. Reprogramming of these metabolic pathways mobilized and consumed stored protein, sugar and fatty acid reserves in the soybean seed in order to meet the energy and substrate demand on the defense system, but led to deterioration of seed quality. In general, FM stress induced catabolism of storage reserves and diminished the quality of soybean seed in the field. This study provides a more profound insight into seed deterioration caused by FM stress.

Agronomic bio-fortification is one of the main approaches for mitigation of micronutrient shortage in human populations and endorses sustainable production of food and feed. Studies related to agronomic bio-fortification of crops are mainly focused on single or rarely two micronutrients application, and no attempt has made to study the combined effect of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) on forage sorghum. Therefore, this research was accomplished to evaluate the effect of Zn, Fe and Se bio-fortification on diverse sorghum accessions. The field experiments were conducted in a randomised complete block design with a split-plot arrangement. The treatments comprised of Zn (10 mg/L as ZnSO4∙5H2O), Fe (7 mg/L as FeSO4∙7H2O), Se (3 mg/L as SeSO4) and CK (control) were applied to five sorghum accessions: G1 (Y-16), G2 (YSH-166), G3 (YSH-134), G4 (YSS-98) and G5 (YSH-132). According to our results, the sorghum accession G5 showed superiority over all other accessions and produced maximum values of all growth and quality traits except grains number per panicle and 1 000-grain weight. All applied micronutrients (Zn, Fe and Se) enhanced the growth, quality and uptake of nutrients in sorghum accessions. However, Se recorded the highest plant height, stem diameter, 1 000-grain weight and Zn produced the maximum protein, oil and starch contents. Conclusively, it can be concluded that G5 with Se must be used to achieve the optimum values of agronomic traits, while G5 with Zn found more effective to improve the quality traits of sorghum.

Under natural conditions, plants constantly encounter various biotic and abiotic factors, which can potentially restrict plant growth and development and even limit crop productivity. Among various abiotic factors affecting plant photosynthesis, light serves as an important factor that drives carbon metabolism in plants and supports life on earth. The two components of light (light quality and light intensity) greatly affect plant photosynthesis and other plant’s morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters. The response of plants to different spectral radiations and intensities differs in various species and also depends on growing conditions. To date, much research has been conducted regarding how different spectral radiations of varying intensity can affect plant growth and development. This review is an effort to briefly summarize the available information on the effects of light components on various plant parameters such as stem and leaf morphology and anatomy, stomatal development, photosynthetic apparatus, pigment composition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, antioxidants, and hormone production.

A half-root stress is a half portion of the root system exposed to treatment while the remaining half portion kept under normal conditions. A half-root stress including half-root drought stress, half-root nutrient stress, and half-root salinity stress has become a general approach to improve plant performance and adaptability. Plants produce some chemical signals in stressed part of root, and other parts sense these signals to improve the acclimation and adaptive responses to environmental stresses. Plants adapt the compensatory functions and discriminate the systemic and local regulatory mechanisms, but the understanding of these mechanisms is controversial. Chemical signals (Abscisic acid, sap pH, cytokinins, content of malate, amino acid, and ureide) have been involved in root to shoot signaling under half-root stress. Furthermore, naturally appeared half-root stress in intercropping systems could be an additional attribute of half-root stress approach. Therefore, much more study is required to elaborate its acceptability in intercropping. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge and identified some key future researches areas regarding half-root stress approach.

Background: Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of mitral valve (M-TEER) is reasonable consideration in symptomatic patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) who are at high or prohibitive risk of surgical repair or replacement. In symptomatic patients on maximally tolerated medical therapy with severe secondary MR from left ventricular systolic dysfunction, M-TEER is reasonable therapeutic option. Methods: In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the most recent literature and considerations for M-TEER in patients excluded from key trials. These include patients with cardiogenic shock, acute ischemic MR, atrial functional MR, failed surgical mitral valve prosthesis and pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions: M-TEER is feasible and a reasonable alternative option for these patient populations with a significant clinical benefit. However, randomized clinical trials are needed to ascertain findings from these observational studies.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient needed for plant growth, development, and production. A deficiency of P causes a severe impact on plant development and productivity. Several P-based fertilizers are being used in agriculture but limited uptake of P by the plant is still a challenge to be solved. Titanium (Ti) application increases the nutrient uptake by affecting the root growth; however, the role of Ti in plant biology, specifically its application under low light and phosphorus stress, has never been reported. Therefore, a pot study was planned with foliar application of Ti (in a different concentration ranging from 0 to 1,000 mg L–1) under different light and P concentrations. The result indicated that under shade and low P conditions the foliar application of Ti in different concentrations significantly improves the plant growth parameters such as root length, root surface area, root dry matter, and shoot dry matters. The increase was observed to be more than 100% in shade and low P stressed soybean root parameter with 500 mg L–1 of Ti treatment. Ti was observed to improve the plant growth both in high P and low P exposed plants, but the improvement was more obvious in Low P exposed plants. Auxin concentration in stressed and healthy plant roots was observed to be slightly increased with Ti application. Ti application was also observed to decrease rhizosphere soil pH and boosted the antioxidant enzymatic activities with an enhancement in photosynthetic efficiency of soybean plants under shade and P stress. With 500 mg L–1 of Ti treatment, the photosynthetic rate was observed to improve by 45% under shade and P stressed soybean plants. Thus, this work for the first time indicates a good potential of Ti application in the low light and P deficient agricultural fields for the purpose to improve plant growth and development parameters.

Traditional maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L) Merrill) intercropping practice cannot be adapted to modern agriculture due to low light use efficiency, radiation use efficiency, low comparative profits of soybeans and incompatibility with mechanization. However, a new type of maize and soybean intercropping system (MSIS) with high land equivalent ratio (LER) provides substantial benefits for small-land hold farmers worldwide. Our research team has done a wide range of research to suggest the appropriate planting geometry that ensures high yield and LER as high as 2.36, nutrient acquisition and mechanical operations in MSISs. Increase in the distance between soybean and maize rows and decrease in the spacing of maize narrow rows is useful for the high light interception for the short soybean in MSISs. This review concludes that MSIS has multifold and convincing results of LER and compatible with mechanization, while those practiced other than China still require technological advancements, agronomic measures and compatible mechanization to further explore its adaptability.

Shades caused by neighboring tall plants in intercropping systems and weak sunlight are constraints in yield optimization. Shade influences many aspects of plant growth and development, leading to weak stems and susceptibility to lodging. The plant cell wall is composed of certain proteins that allow the walls to stretch out, a process called cell wall loosening. Shade affects anatomical, morphological, and physiological traits of plants, thus reducing the physical strength of the stem in crops by changing the loosening of cell walls. Flexibility of cells facilitates further modifications such as wall loosening. In addition, shade stress causes increased internode length, and reduced xylem synthesis and photosynthesis. In shaded plants, lignin deposition in vascular bundles and sclerenchyma cells of stems is decreased. Lignin is a light sensitive phenolic compound and shading decreases the transcript abundance of several phenolic compound (flavone and lignin) related genes. Shading significantly influences the metabolic activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD), 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL), and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) involved in lignin biosynthesis. Furthermore, suppression of lignin biosynthesis activities by abiotic stresses causes abnormal phenotypes such as collapsed xylem, bent stems, and growth retardation. In this review, the underlying mechanisms illustrate that under shading conditions reduced lignin content results in slender, weak, and unstable stems. The objective of this review is to elaborate lignin biosynthesis and its variability under stressful environmental conditions, especially in shade stress environments. The effects of shade on stem lignin metabolism are discussed on the morphogenetic, physiological, and proteomic levels.

Abstract Selecting optimum planting time (PT) in maize–soybean relay intercropping system (MSRI) is important to obtain higher intercrop yields because planting time decides the co‐growth duration and competitive ability of intercrop species in MSRI. However, little is known on how planting time (co‐growth duration) changes the interspecific interaction resulting in a seed‐yield difference between intercropping and sole cropping system. Therefore, this field study was initiated to determine the effects of changing co‐growth duration on competitive interactions, growth, and yield of intercrop species under MSRI. The sole soybean and relay‐cropped soybean were planted on PT1 (15–20 May, 90 days of co‐growth duration in MSRI); PT2 (5–10 June, 70 days of co‐growth duration in MSRI); and PT3 (25–30 June, 50 days of co‐growth duration in MSRI) to generate different size‐asymmetric competition between component crops in MSRI. Results showed that sole soybean produced the mean highest (2.93 t/ha) seed yield under PT2, and the mean lowest (2.51 t/ha) seed yield under PT1. However, in MSRI, PT3 increased the soybean yield by 29.1% and 13.3% compared to PT1 and PT2, respectively. The PT3 also increased the maize yield by 7.4% and 2.9% than PT1 and PT2, respectively, and it reduced the yield differences of maize and soybean between relay intercropping and sole cropping systems. In MSRI, decreased co‐growth duration promoted the soybean plants to achieve the higher crop growth rate, and biomass accumulation, which ultimately improved the soybean resilience toward size‐asymmetric competition created by maize plants. Furthermore, as compared to PT1 and PT2, planting time PT3 significantly increased the competitive ratio (by 10.1% and 17.3%, respectively) of soybean plants. Overall, the PT3 achieved the average highest land equivalent ratio of 1.63, which is significantly higher than PT1 (by 12.3%) and PT2 (by 10.6%). In conclusion, this study implied that in MSRI, the determination of proper soybean planting time (co‐growth duration) is one of the most critical factors to reduce the competition between the intercrops and to obtain higher crop yields.

Abstract Strip width management is a critical factor for producing higher crop yields in relay intercropping systems. A 2‐year field experiment was carried out during 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the effects of different strip width treatments on dry‐matter production, major‐nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) uptake, and competition parameters of soybean and maize in relay intercropping system. The strip width (SW) treatments were 0.40, 0.40, and 0.40 m (SW1); 0.40, 0.40, and 0.50 m (SW2); 0.40, 0.40, and 0.60 m (SW3); and 0.40, 0.40, and 0.70 m (SW4) for soybean row spacing, maize row spacing, and spacing between soybean and maize rows, respectively. As compared to sole maize (SM) and sole soybean (SS), relay‐intercropped maize and soybean accumulated lower quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in all treatments. However, maize in SW1 accumulated higher nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium than SW4 (9%, 9%, and 8% for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively). Soybean in SW3 accumulated 25% higher nitrogen, 33% higher phosphorus, and 24% higher potassium than in SW1. The improved nutrient accumulation in SW3 significantly increased the soybean dry matter by 19%, but slightly decreased the maize dry matter by 6% compared to SW1. Similarly, SW3 increased the competition ratio value of soybean (by 151%), but it reduced the competition ratio value of maize (by 171%) compared to SW1. On average, in SW3, relay‐cropped soybean produced 84% of SS seed yield and maize produced 98% of SM seed yield and achieved the land equivalent ratio of 1.8, demonstrating the highest level in the world. Overall, these results suggested that by selecting the appropriate strip width (SW3; 0.40 m for soybean row spacing, 0.40 m maize row spacing, and 0.60 m spacing between soybean and maize rows), we can increase the nutrient uptake (especially nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), dry‐matter accumulation, and seed yields of relay‐intercrop species under relay intercropping systems.

Maize-soybean strip intercropping system is an important ecological planting system; the wide development of intercropped soybean has contributed to the soybean industry in China. Soybean growth and seed production were affected by the shading from maize. Previous studies confirmed that relay strip intercropping shading facilitates the accumulation of isoflavone glucosides but does not take advantage of the accumulation of isoflavone aglycone. However, the regulation of isoflavones accumulation under strip intercropping system was unknown; in which soybean and maize were sown at the same time, and soybean was mainly shaded in the reproductive stage. In order to reveal the effects of intercropping shading on the isoflavones accumulation in soybean seed, two independent field experiments were conducted in eastern China. We compared the isoflavones profiles of soybean seeds, which were grown under various maize-soybean intercropping systems with different shade levels. The results showed that the intercropping shading was not benefited to the accumulation of soy-isoflavones, including aglycones and isoflavones glycosides and various forms of isoflavones were decreased with the decline of photosynthetic active radiation. Multivariate statistical analysis and significance analysis showed that acylated isoflavones may be more susceptible to intercropping shading. Abbreviations: HCA: Hierarchical cluster analysis; PAR: photosynthetically active radiation; PCA: Principal component analysis; LC-MS: Liquid chromatography mass spectrometer.

Field mold (FM) can easily deteriorate the preharvest soybean in the field, and Fusarium moniliforme is demonstrated as the dominant pathogenic fungi. Metabolomics is a powerful tool to reveal the resistance mechanism in response to microbial infection. Therefore, in this research, the Design of Experiment (DOE) model was developed to optimize the extraction solvent combinations for metabolomic study of soybean seed and pod based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Combined with the number of extracted peaks and the peak area of common substances, the extraction efficiency of different solvent was analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. The result showed that isopropanol/water/methanol (1:1:1 and 1:1:4, v/v/v) mixture was highly efficient for metabolites extractions of soybean seed and pod, respectively. Additionally, the potential metabolites and pathways concerned in FM resistance were explored by the optimized extraction solvent system based on metabolomics analysis. Amino acid metabolism in soybean seed was disturbed by F. moniliforme and metabolic pathways related to energy conversion in soybean pod strongly responded to fungal infection. This study constructs a GC–MS-based metabonomic method for soybean metabolites; comparative analysis of organ-specific metabolomics for soybean fruit could be further applied in soybean metabolomics researches.

Abstract Planting arrangements affect radiation use efficiency (RUE) and competitiveness of intercrop species in intercropping systems. Here, we reveal that narrow‐wide‐row planting arrangement in maize‐soybean relay‐intercropping system increases the dry matter and competitiveness of soybean, increased the RUE of maize and soybean, and compensates the yield loss of maize by substantially increasing the yield of soybean. In this field study, maize was planted with soybean in different planting arrangements (P1, 20:180, P2, 40:160; P3, 60:140, and P4, 80:120) of relay intercropping, all the relay‐intercropping treatments were compared with sole crops of maize (SM) and soybean (SS). Results showed that P1 improved the total RUE 3.26 g/MJ (maize RUE + soybean RUE) of maize and soybean in relay‐intercropping system. Compared to P4, treatment P1 increased the soybean competition ratio (CR) values (by 55%) but reduced the maize CR values (by 29%), which in turn significantly improved the yield of soybean by maintaining the maize yield. Generally, in P1, soybean produced 82% of SS yield, and maize produced 88% of SM yield, and it achieved the land equivalent ratio of 1.7. These results suggest that by maintaining the appropriate planting distances between maize and soybean we can improve the competitiveness and yield of intercrop species in relay‐intercropping system.

Water deficiency significantly affects photosynthetic characteristics. However, there is little information about variations in antioxidant enzyme activities and photosynthetic characteristics of soybean under imbalanced water deficit conditions (WDC). We therefore investigated the changes in photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, total soluble protein, Rubisco activity (RA), and enzymatic activities of two soybean varieties subjected to four different types of imbalanced WDC under a split-root system. The results indicated that the response of both cultivars was significant for all the measured parameters and the degree of response differed between cultivars under imbalanced WDC. The maximum values of enzymatic activities (SOD, CAT, GR, APX, and POD), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm, qP, ɸPSII, and ETR), proline, RA, and total soluble protein were obtained with a drought-tolerant cultivar (ND-12). Among imbalanced WDC, the enhanced net photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance rates in T2 allowed the production of higher total soluble protein after 5 days of stress, which compensated for the negative effects of imbalanced WDC. Treatment T4 exhibited greater potential for proline accumulation than treatment T1 at 0, 1, 3, and 5 days after treatment, thus showing the severity of the water stress conditions. In addition, the chlorophyll fluorescence values of FvFm, ɸPSII, qP, and ETR decreased as the imbalanced WDC increased, with lower values noted under treatment T4. Soybean plants grown in imbalanced WDC (T2, T3, and T4) exhibited signs of oxidative stress such as decreased chlorophyll content. Nevertheless, soybean plants developed their antioxidative defense-mechanisms, including the accelerated activities of these enzymes. Comparatively, the leaves of soybean plants in T2 displayed lower antioxidative enzymes activities than the leaves of T4 plants showing that soybean plants experienced less WDC in T2 compared to in T4. We therefore suggest that appropriate soybean cultivars and T2 treatments could mitigate abiotic stresses under imbalanced WDC, especially in intercropping.

Background Maize-soybean relay-intercropping (MSR) is a famous system of crop production in developing countries. However, maize shading under this system directly affects the light quality and intensity of soybean canopy. This is a challenging scenario in which to implement the MSR system, in terms of varieties selection, planting pattern, and crop management since the duration of crop resource utilization clearly differs. Methods Therefore, this experiment aimed to elucidate the effect of leaf excising treatments from maize top to fully clarify the needs and balance of light quality and intensity of intercrop-soybean under MSR in field conditions. The effects of different leaf excising treatments (T0, no removal of leaves; T2, removal of two topmost leaves; T4, removal of four topmost leaves; T6, removal of six topmost leaves from maize plants were applied at first-trifoliate stage (V1) of soybean) on photosynthetically active radiation transmittance (PART), red to far-red ratio (R:FR), morphological and photosynthetic characteristics and total biomass production at second-trifoliate stage (V2), fifth-trifoliate stage (V5), and flowering-stage (R1) of soybean were investigated through field experiments for 2-years under MSR. Results As compared to T0, treatment T6 increased the PART and R:FR ratio at soybean canopy by 77% and 37% (V2), 70% and 34% (V5), and 41% and 36% (R1), respectively. This improved light environment in T6 considerably enhanced the leaf area index, SPAD values and photosynthetic rate of soybean plants by 66%, 25% and 49% at R1, respectively than T0. Similarly, relative to control, T6 also increased the stem diameter (by 29%) but decreased the plant height (by 23%) which in turn significantly increased stem breaking strength (by 87%) by reducing the lodging rate (by 59%) of soybean plants. Overall, under T6, relay-cropped soybean produced 78% of sole soybean seed-yield, and relay-cropped maize produced 81% of sole maize seed-yield. Our findings implied that by maintaining the optimum level of PART (from 60% to 80%) and R:FR ratio (0.9 to 1.1), we can improve morphological and photosynthetic characteristics of soybean plants in MSR. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the light environment when considering the sustainability of MSR via appropriate planting pattern selection.

Salinity is a major abiotic stress which limits crop production, especially under rainfed conditions. Selenium (Se), as an important micronutrient, plays a vital role in mitigating detrimental effects of different abiotic stresses. The objective of this research was to examine the effect of Se fertilization on black gram (Vigna mungo) under salt stress. Our results showed that salt stress (100 mM NaCl) in leaves significantly induced oxidative damage and caused a decline in relative water content, chlorophyll (Chl), stomatal conductance (gs), photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), sucrose, and reducing sugars. A low dose of Se (1.5 ppm) significantly reduced hydrogen peroxide content, malondialdehyde formation, cell membrane damage, and also improved antioxidative enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase under salt stress. Se-treated plants exhibited higher Chl, gs, Fv/Fm, sucrose, and reducing sugars than untreated plants in response to salt stress. In addition, Se application enhanced Se uptake and reduced Na+ uptake, but Cl− remained unaffected. Our results indicated that a low dose of Se effectively alleviated salt damage via inhibition of Na+ uptake and enhanced antioxidant defense resulting in a significant decrease in oxidative damage, and maintained gaseous exchange and PS II function for sucrose and reducing sugars accumulation in black gram.

Soybean production under maize⁻soybean relay-intercropping system (MSICS) is vulnerable to shading. A study was initiated to investigate the effects of three sowing-times: ST1, 90; ST2, 70; and ST3, 50 days of co-growth period and two phosphorus-rates: P0, 0; and P60, 60 kg P ha−1 on soybean under MSICS. Results revealed that ST3 significantly increased the photosynthetically active radiations, leaf area index, and photosynthetic rate by 72% and 58%, and 61% and 38%, and 6% and 8%, respectively, at full-flowering and full-pod stage of soybean than ST1. Treatment ST3, increased the total dry-matter (TDM) and the highest TDM was reached at full-seed (R6) stage. Similarly, ST3 considerably increased the dry-matter partitioning to pods and seeds, relative to ST1, soybean under ST3 at R6 had 35% and 30% higher pod and seed dry-matter, respectively. Moreover, ST3 exhibited the maximum seed-yield (mean 1829.5 kg ha−1) for both years of this study. Soybean under ST3 with P60 accumulated 38% higher P, and increased the P content in pods and seeds by 36% and 33%, respectively at R6 than ST1. These results imply that by selecting the appropriate sowing-time and phosphorus-rate for soybean, we can increase the TDM and seed-yield of soybean under MSICS.

Oilseeds yield response to sulphur (S) has been well investigated but the dynamics of total biomass accumulation (TBA) and partitioning by sesame plants in response to S are not well understood. This study was initiated to investigate the effects of S on sesame, in which four sesame varieties V1, SG-27; V2, SG-30; V3, SG-36; V4, SG-51 and four S treatments T1, 20; T2, 30; T3, 40; T4, 50 kg ha−1 were used. Results revealed that the leaf area index and photosynthetic rate of sesame varieties were significantly higher under T3 with V3. Similarly, S fertilization considerably increased the TBA and maximum TBA was reached at late-flowering with V3 in T3. Relative to T1, plants in T3 had 33 and 23% higher capsule and seed biomass, respectively. Furthermore, total S accumulation and distribution in different plant organs changed with growth stage, at pre-flowering and mid-flowering stage maximum S was found in the stem, whereas at late-flowering and full-maturity stage highest S was recorded in reproductive parts. These results implied that S fertilizers should be applied to agricultural fields to improve oilseed production and by selecting the appropriate and area-specific genotype we can increase sesame seed yield under rainfed conditions.

Water imbalance condition (WIC) in a maize-soybean relay intercropping system is the main abiotic stress limiting biomass production and seed yield and, consequently, seed-quality. This experiment was started to study the effects of WIC on soybean, in which two soybean genotypes ND12 and C103 were grown in pots with roots split equally between two soil column and six WIC treatments (%) T1 (100), T2, (100:50), T3 (100:20), T4 (50:50), T5 (50:20), and T6 (20:20) field capacity on both sides of soybean roots were used. Results showed that both genotypes responded significantly to WIC treatments for all the parameters; however, the level of response differed between genotypes. Maximum osmoprotectants (except proline), biomass, yield and yield-related traits and superior seed quality were observed with ND12. Among WIC treatments, T2 and T3 produced 94% and 85%, and 93% and 81% of T1 biomass and yield, respectively. Similarly, treatments T2 and T3 also improved the oil quality by maintaining the content of unsaturated fatty acids and isoflavone content, while opposite trends were observed for protein content. Overall, moderate water reduction (T2 and T3) can improve soybean seed-quality and by selecting drought-resistant genotypes we can increase the soybean yield under intercropping systems.

Ziziphus jujuba plant belongs to Rhamnaceous family and grows mainly in Europe, southern and eastern Asia, and Australia. Recent phytochemical investigation of plants provided some information on their biological effects, such as the hepatoprotective, immunostimulating, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. The current study investigated 34 phytocompounds from Z. jujuba and three anti-cancer drugs against three lung cancer target proteins. Drug likeliness screening revealed that two compounds dodecanoic acid and 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro[4,5]deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione possess zero violation, and compound azelaic acid possesses single violation against five drug rules. Molecular docking study reveals that 34 phytocompounds from Z. jujuba and three anti-cancer drugs showed docking score values in the range of −3.9 to −10.2 kcal/mol and −7.2 to −9.0 kcal/mol against three significant lung cancer target proteins. Furthermore, in silico screening top scored three phytocompounds campesterol, stigmast-5-en-3-ol, 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro[4,5]deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione and three anti-cancer drugs etoposide, paclitaxel, and doxorubicin utilized. Pharmacokinetic profile of three phytocompounds from Z. jujuba showed excellent absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity profile than standard drugs. Furthermore, bioactivity and density functional theory analysis showed that phytocompounds from Z. jujuba possess better bioactivity scores and molecular electrostatic potentials than standard drugs. Molecular dynamics simulation results revealed that campesterol with CDK2 (PDB ID 1GII) and MDM2/P53 (4HFZ) target proteins possess better simulation trajectories and binding affinity than standard drugs. Further clinical trials of compounds (campesterol, stigmast-5-en-3-ol, 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro[4,5]deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione) are needed to check clinical pertinence toward lung cancer target proteins to commercialize these novel drug molecule in the drug industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is to identify polycyclic aromatic bioactive phytocompounds from Eclipta alba against breast cancer target protein through in silico approach. Among 52 phytocompounds ecliptalbine, wedelolactone, ursolic acid and beta amyrin they have exhibited strong binding affinity against all three screened breast cancer target proteins such as matrix metallo protein (PDB ID 1RM8), estrogen receptor (PDB ID 3ERT) and progesterone receptor (PDB ID 4OAR). In drug likeliness 11 phytocompounds showed zero violations against all five drug likeliness rule, whereas all three anticancer drugs showed three minimal violations against the drug likeliness rule. Docking score of all screened compounds lies in the range of −4.3 Kcal/mol to −9.4 Kcal/mol in that ecliptalbine and ursolic acid show maximal binding affinity with all screened target proteins of breast cancer. Phytocompound ecliptalbine, wedelolactone and ursolic acid has shown excellent simulation trajectories with two screened target proteins in MDS analysis. Further compound ecliptalbine shown good phracokinetic and DFT scores which affirm that reason behind the good binding affinity with breast cancer target proteins. MMGBSA analysis also affirms the excellent binding affinity of ecliptalbine with breast cancer target proteins (–51.42 and −72.74 Kcal/mol) than the standard drug score. Finally ethanolic leaf extract of Eclipta alba showed excellent In vitro antioxidant (DPPH-IC50 83.40 µg/ml and ABTS–IC50 48.80 µg/ml) and cytotoxic potential (IC50 97.20 µg/ml) against triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). Further these drug candidates can be validated through in vitro and preclinical studies to discover novel drug for breast cancer therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in silico SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory potential of 19 marine algal polycyclic aromatic compounds plus three commercial anti-viral drug were validated comparatively against three target proteins. Among 19 marine algal compounds apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside,dieckol, luteolin-7-rutinoside, oxoglyantrypine, hydroxypentafuhalol A, and pseudopentafuhalol B exhibited good binding affinity of toward all three screened targets (Mpro, RdRp, and spike protein) of SARS-CoV-2 shortlisted for further In silico virtual screening analysis. Complete docking interaction analysis indicates that apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, dieckol, luteolin-7-rutinoside compounds display very excellent binding and inhibitory potential against the all three screened targets of SAR-CoV-2 among 19 screened marine algal compounds than standard anti-viral drugs. DFT analysis affirms the essential Homo-Lumo orbital energies of apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside to inhibit targets of SARS-CoV-2. Further in silico analysis confirmed three chosen marine algal compounds are showing their excellent pharmacokinetic and molecular electrostatic potentials (MEPs) toward targets of SARS-CoV-2. MD simulation analysis of three chosen marine algal compounds possesses best simulation trajectories toward the binding pocket of target proteins essential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 multiplication comparatively standard anti-viral drugs possess lesser binding affinity. However, further human clinical trials are necessary to justify their clinical pertinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]