Plasma Membrane Repair Is Mediated by Ca2+-Regulated Exocytosis of Lysosomes

AbstractPlasma membrane wounds are repaired by a mechanism involving Ca2+-regulated exocytosis. Elevation in intracellular [Ca2+] triggers fusion of lysosomes with the plasma membrane, a process regulated by the lysosomal synaptotagmin isoform Syt VII. Here, we show that Ca2+-regulated exocytosis of lysosomes is required for the repair of plasma membrane disruptions. Lysosomal exocytosis and membrane resealing are inhibited by the recombinant Syt VII C2A domain or anti-Syt VII C2A antibodies, or by antibodies against the cytosolic domain of Lamp-1, which specifically aggregate lysosomes. We further demonstrate that lysosomal exocytosis mediates the resealing of primary skin fibroblasts wounded during the contraction of collagen matrices. These findings reveal a fundamental, novel role for lysosomes: as Ca2+-regulated exocytic compartments responsible for plasma membrane repair

Techniques of deep learning and image processing in plant leaf disease detection: a review

Computer vision techniques are an emerging trend today. Digital image processing is gaining popularity because of the significant upsurge in the usage of digital images over the internet. Digital image processing is a practice that can help in designing sophisticated high-end machines, which can hold the ophthalmic functionality of the human eye. In agriculture, leaf examination is important for disease identification and fair warning for any deficiency within the plant. Many prominent plant species are facing extinction because of a lack of knowledge. A proper realization of computer vision techniques aid in extracting a significant amount of information from leaf image. This necessitates the requirement of an automatic leaf disease detection method to diagnose disease occurrences and severity, for timely crop management, by spraying pesticides. This study focuses on techniques of digital image processing and machine learning rendered in plant leaf disease detection, which has great potential in precision agriculture. To support this study, techniques exercised by various researchers in recent years are tabulated

Sustainable agriculture: Influence of macro - and micro - nutrient levels, mixture and humic acid on growth and quality parameters of kharif maize (Zea mays L.)

A field experiment entitled “Sustainable agriculture: Influence of macro- and micro-nutrient levels, mixture and humic acid on growth and quality parameters of kharif maize (Zea mays L.)” was conducted at Agricultural farm, Lovely Professional University, Punjab during the kharif season of 2020-2021. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with ten treatments and three replications each. The treatments were as follows-T0:Control (Recommended dose of fertilizer; RDF), T1: RDF+ soil application of MM 10 kg/ha at 30 DAS, T2: RDF+ foliar application of MM 1% at 30 DAS, T3: RDF+ seed priming with MM 1% before sowing, T4: 75% RDF+ soil application of MM 10 kg/ha at 30 DAS, T5: 75% RDF+ foliar application of MM 1% at 30 DAS, T6: 75% RDF+ seed priming with MM 1% before sowing, T7: T4+ humic acid 1% at 30 DAS, T8: T5+ humic acid 1% at 30 DAS, T9: T6 + humic acid 1% at 30 DAS. Among the various treatments, T8 exhibited higher growth attributes after 30 DAS, including plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, chlorophyll index, CGR, RGR and NAR. Additionally, maize treated with T5+ humic acid 1% at 30 DAS showed improved quality in terms of protein contents in both grain and stover

Effect of nutrient management on physio morphological and yield attributes of field pea (Pisum sativum L.)

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of nitrogen management on the growth and yield of field peas. The experiment took place during the rabi season (October–March of 2022–2023) at Lovely Professional University's Agriculture Research Farm in Phagwara, Punjab, India. Fifteen different treatment combinations were utilized, involving the application of chemical fertilizers (NPK) and micronutrients (boron and zinc). The experimental design followed a randomized complete block approach with three replications. Among the treatment combinations, the application of foliar spray with B at a rate of 0.2%, Zn at a rate of 0.5%, along with 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), resulted in the highest measurements for plant height (70.44 cm), leaf count (70.60), branch count (18.86), leaf area (32.24 cm²), dry matter accumulation (6.12 g), crop growth rate (0.299 g m⁻² day⁻¹), and relative growth rate (0.05933 g g⁻¹ day⁻¹). Furthermore, treatments involving 100% RDF, 0.2% B, and 0.5% Zn exhibited enhanced yield characteristics, including the number of seeds per pod (10.26), pods per plant (12.33), test weight of seeds (15.06 g), seed yield (3537 kg ha⁻¹), and harvest index (47.49%). Furthermore, 100% RDF and the inclusion of 0.2% B and 0.5% Zn outperformed the control. Applying 100% RDF along with the micronutrients B and Zn is recommended to maximize production and net profit in field pea cultivation

MDL 17,043 therapy in severe congestive heart failure: Characterization of the early and late hemodynamic, pharmacokinetic, hormonal and clinical response

MDL 17,043, an agent with both inotropic and vasodilator properties, was evaluated in the treatment of chronic severe heart failure. The early and late hemodynamic, hormonal, pharmacokinetic and clinical responses to oral MDL 17,043 were studied in 20 patients. MDL 17,043 acutely increased cardiac output from 3.6 ± 0.9 to 4.6 ± 1.0 liters/min ( + 28%, p < 0.001) and decreased mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure from 24 ± 8 to 13 ± 8 mm Hg (−46%, p < 0.001), mean right atrial pressure from 10 ± 5 to 4 ± 4 mm Hg (−60%, p < 0.001) and mean arterial pressure from 78 ± 9 to 70 ± 11 mm Hg (−10%, p < 0.001). Hemodynamic improvement was sustained for 8 hours. Plasma renin activity tended to increase (0.10 < p > 0.05), plasma norepinephrine tended to decrease (0.10 < p > 0.05) and arginine vasopressin did not show any directional change. Elimination half-life for MDL 17,043 was approximately 20 hours.Hemodynamic responsiveness was maintained in six patients undergoing restudy at 4 weeks. Initial subjective improvement in the 20 patients occurred in 90%, was present at 4 weeks in 50% and continued longer than 3 months in 25%. Side effects occurred in 75% and required cessation of treatment in 10%. Thirteen (93%) of 14 patients on long-term therapy died (median time after start of MDL 17,043 therapy 39 days). Deaths were sudden in 69%.It is concluded that oral MDL 17,043 produces early and late hemodynamic improvement in patients with severe heart failure. The clinical response suggests caution in its use and controlled trials to ascertain whether MDL 17,043 is safe and efficacious in chronic severe heart failure

Health care payments in the asia pacific: validation of five survey measures of economic burden

Introduction: Many low and middle-income countries rely on out-of-pocket payments to help finance health care. These payments can pose financial hardships for households; valid measurement of this type of economic burden is therefore critical. This study examines the validity of five survey measures of economic burden caused by health care payments. Methods: We analyzed 2002/03 World Health Survey household-level data from four Asia Pacific countries to assess the construct validity of five measures of economic burden due to health care payments: any health expenditure, health expenditure amount, catastrophic health expenditure, indebtedness, and impoverishment. We used generalized linear models to assess the correlations between these measures and other constructs with which they have expected associations, such as health care need, wealth, and risk protection. Results: Measures of impoverishment and indebtedness most often correlated with health care need, wealth, and risk protection as expected. Having any health expenditure, a large health expenditure, or even a catastrophic health expenditure did not consistently predict degree of economic burden. Conclusions: Studies that examine economic burden attributable to health care payments should include measures of impoverishment and indebtedness

Rapamycin Conditioning of Dendritic Cells Differentiated from Human ES Cells Promotes a Tolerogenic Phenotype

While human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) may one day facilitate the treatment of degenerative diseases requiring cell replacement therapy, the success of regenerative medicine is predicated on overcoming the rejection of replacement tissues. Given the role played by dendritic cells (DCs) in the establishment of immunological tolerance, we have proposed that DC, rendered tolerogenic during their differentiation from hESC, might predispose recipients to accept replacement tissues. As a first step towards this goal, we demonstrate that DC differentiated from H1 hESCs (H1-DCs) are particularly responsive to the immunosuppressive agent rapamycin compared to monocyte-derived DC (moDC). While rapamycin had only modest impact on the phenotype and function of moDC, H1-DC failed to upregulate CD40 upon maturation and displayed reduced immunostimulatory capacity. Furthermore, coculture of naïve allogeneic T cells with rapamycin-treated H1-DC promoted an increased appearance of CD25hi Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, compared to moDC. Our findings suggest that conditioning of hESC-derived DC with rapamycin favours a tolerogenic phenotype

Modular Self-Reconfigurable Robotic Systems: A Survey on Hardware Architectures

Modular self-reconfigurable robots present wide and unique solutions for growing demands in the domains of space exploration, automation, consumer products, and so forth. The higher utilization factor and self-healing capabilities are most demanded traits in robotics for real world applications and modular robotics offer better solutions in these perspectives in relation to traditional robotics. The researchers in robotics domain identified various applications and prototyped numerous robotic models while addressing constraints such as homogeneity, reconfigurability, form factor, and power consumption. The diversified nature of various modular robotic solutions proposed for real world applications and utilization of different sensor and actuator interfacing techniques along with physical model optimizations presents implicit challenges to researchers while identifying and visualizing the merits/demerits of various approaches to a solution. This paper attempts to simplify the comparison of various hardware prototypes by providing a brief study on hardware architectures of modular robots capable of self-healing and reconfiguration along with design techniques adopted in modeling robots, interfacing technologies, and so forth over the past 25 years