Physiological responses of crop plants against Trichoderma harzianum in saline environment

The physiological response of crop plants against Trichoderma harzianum (Th-6) in a saline habitat was studied. Trichoderma harzianum (Th-6) is an endophytic fungus that shows salt tolerance and establishes a symbiotic relationship with a host plant. To evaluate the role of Trichoderma harzianum (Th-6) in mitigating the consequences of salinity stress on crop plants, seeds of maize and rice were coated with Trichoderma before sowing and salt treatment. Later, after germination, twenty-one day old seedlings were subjected to NaCl concentrations (50, 100 and 150 mM). Salinity negatively affected all investigated physiological parameters in both crops. Treatment of seeds with Trichoderma improved plant growth and Th-treated plants exhibited substantial physiological adjustment in a saline environment compared to Th-untreated plants. The Th-treated plants under salt stress showed higher relative water content and stomatal conductance, better photosynthetic performance and higher pigment concentrations, as well as higher catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. Moreover, proline content in salt stress environment was higher in Th-treated plants, while H2O2 content declined. The physiological role of Trichoderma harzianum in mitigating the salt related consequences of both crop plants is discussed

Protein-Protein Interaction Site Predictions with Three-Dimensional Probability Distributions of Interacting Atoms on Protein Surfaces

Protein-protein interactions are key to many biological processes. Computational methodologies devised to predict protein-protein interaction (PPI) sites on protein surfaces are important tools in providing insights into the biological functions of proteins and in developing therapeutics targeting the protein-protein interaction sites. One of the general features of PPI sites is that the core regions from the two interacting protein surfaces are complementary to each other, similar to the interior of proteins in packing density and in the physicochemical nature of the amino acid composition. In this work, we simulated the physicochemical complementarities by constructing three-dimensional probability density maps of non-covalent interacting atoms on the protein surfaces. The interacting probabilities were derived from the interior of known structures. Machine learning algorithms were applied to learn the characteristic patterns of the probability density maps specific to the PPI sites. The trained predictors for PPI sites were cross-validated with the training cases (consisting of 432 proteins) and were tested on an independent dataset (consisting of 142 proteins). The residue-based Matthews correlation coefficient for the independent test set was 0.423; the accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity were 0.753, 0.519, 0.677, and 0.779 respectively. The benchmark results indicate that the optimized machine learning models are among the best predictors in identifying PPI sites on protein surfaces. In particular, the PPI site prediction accuracy increases with increasing size of the PPI site and with increasing hydrophobicity in amino acid composition of the PPI interface; the core interface regions are more likely to be recognized with high prediction confidence. The results indicate that the physicochemical complementarity patterns on protein surfaces are important determinants in PPIs, and a substantial portion of the PPI sites can be predicted correctly with the physicochemical complementarity features based on the non-covalent interaction data derived from protein interiors

The interaction of body armor, low-intensity exercise, and hot-humid conditions on physiological strain and cognitive function

Objective: This project was aimed at evaluating the impact of combat armor on physiological and cognitive functions during low-intensity exercise in hot-humid conditions (36°C and 60% relative humidity). Methods: Nine males participated in three trials (2.5 hours), walking at two speeds and wearing different protective equipment: control (combat uniform and cloth hat); torso armor with uniform and cloth hat; and full armor (uniform, torso armor, and helmet). Results: As time progressed, core temperatures increased and deviated signifi cantly among trials, rising at 0.37°C h −1 (control), 0.41°C h −1 (torso armor), and 0.51°C h −1 (full armor). Heart rates also progressively diverged, and subjects lost signifi cantly more sweat during the two armored trials. However, cognitive-function tests revealed neither signifi cant main effects nor time by treatment interactions. Conclusion: The combat armor and helmet signifi cantly increased thermal and cardiovascular strain, but these were unlikely to lead to either exertional heat illness or impaired cognitive function during uneventful urban, military patrols in hot-humid conditions

Reference intervals for common carotid intima-medi thickness measured with echotracking: Relation with risk factors

Aims Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCIMT) is widely used as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis, given its predictive association with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The interpretation of CCIMT values has been hampered by the absence of reference values, however. We therefore aimed to establish reference intervals of CCIMT, obtained using the probably most accurate method at present (i.e. echotracking), to help interpretation of these measures. Methods and results We combined CCIMT data obtained by echotracking on 24 871 individuals (53% men; age range 15-101 years) from 24 research centres worldwide. Individuals without CVD, cardiovascular risk factors (CV-RFs), and BP-, lipid-, and/or glucose-lowering medication constituted a healthy sub-population (n 1/4 4234) used to establish sex-specific equations for percentiles of CCIMT across age. With these equations, we generated CCIMT Z-scores in different reference subpopulations, thereby allowing for a standardized comparison between observed and predicted (\u27normal\u27) values from individuals of the same age and sex. In the sub-population without CVD and treatment (n 1/4 14 609), and in men and women, respectively, CCIMT Z-scores were independently associated with systolic blood pressure [standardized bs 0.19 (95% CI: 0.16-0.22) and 0.18 (0.15-0.21)], smoking [0.25 (0.19-0.31) and 0.11 (0.04-0.18)] , diabetes [0.19 (0.05-0.33) and 0.19 (0.02-0.36)], total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio [0.07 (0.04-0.10) and 0.05 (0.02-0.09)] , and body mass index [0.14 (0.12-0.17) and 0.07 (0.04-0.10)]. Conclusion We estimated age- and sex-specific percentiles of CCIMT in a healthy population and assessed the association of CVRFs with CCIMT Z-scores, which enables comparison of IMT values for (patient) groups with different cardiovascular risk profiles, helping i nterpretation of such measures obtained both in research and clinical settings

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels are independently associated with macroalbuminuria, but not with retinopathy and macrovascular disease in type 1 diabetes: the EURODIAB prospective complications study

Background Low circulating levels of total vitamin D [25(OH)D] and 25(OH)D3 have been associated with vascular complications in few studies on individuals with type 1 diabetes. However, these measures are affected by UV light exposure. Circulating 25(OH)D2, however, solely represents dietary intake of vitamin D2, but its association with complications of diabetes is currently unknown. We investigated the associations between 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 and the prevalence of albuminuria, retinopathy and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Methods We measured circulating 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 in 532 individuals (40 ± 10 years old, 51 % men) with type 1 diabetes who participated in the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study. Cross-sectional associations of 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 with albuminuria, retinopathy and CVD were assessed with multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, season, BMI, smoking, HbA1c, total-HDL-cholesterol-ratio, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive medication, eGFR, physical activity, alcohol intake, albuminuria, retinopathy and CVD, as appropriate. Results Fully adjusted models revealed that 1 nmol/L higher 25(OH)D2 and 10 nmol/L higher 25(OH)D3 were associated with lower prevalence of macroalbuminuria with ORs (95 % CI) of 0.56 (0.43;0.74) and 0.82 (0.72;0.94), respectively. These vitamin D species were not independently associated with microalbuminuria, non-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy or CVD. Conclusions In individuals with type 1 diabetes, both higher 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 are associated with a lower prevalence of macroalbuminuria, but not of retinopathy and CVD. Prospective studies are needed to further examine the associations between 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 and the development of microvascular complications and CVD in type 1 diabetes

Exercising in combat armour and helmets in hot-humid conditions: the straw that broke the camel\u27s back

Metabolic and external heat sources are equally capable of elevating body core temperature in individuals working in hot environments. When heat loss avenues are impeded by clothing and protective equipment, the risk of exertional heat stress is further increased. There are various work-rest guidance tables available within the literature, some of these have correction factors for variations in clothing insulation, such that rest periods are lengthened and work periods shortened when clothing insulation is increased (TBMED 507). However, there is a paucity of experimental data upon which such modifications may be based. An absence of such empirical data may result either in an increased risk of exertional heat illness, or compromised operational capability, if physiological strain is over-estimated (Danielsson and Bergh, 2005). Therefore, the aim of this project was to assess the impact of wearing such body armour on physiological and cognitive function in hot-humid conditions