Plasma agriculture is an emerging field. In this report, we studied the effect of medium pressure (~ 10 torr) low-frequency (3–5 kHz) glow discharge (LFGD) plasma on various agronomical and ...physiological attributes in wheat. Wheat seeds treated by LFGD plasma generated from Argon–Oxygen (Ar + O
2
) gas mixture and air showed a remarkable enhancement in seed germination by 12.38% and 7.14% respectively. Also, the morpho-physiological features significantly improved due to plasma treatment relative to control. In germinated wheat seedlings, H
2
O
2
concentration markedly increased due to plasma treatments, suggesting that LFGD may be involved in nitrogen signaling in wheat. The SOD activity significantly increased in wheat seedlings subjected to Ar + O
2
plasma, while APX activity showed a significant increase only in the shoot of wheat plants in the same condition. Besides, both plasma treatments (Ar + O
2
and Air) caused a significant increase in CAT activity in the shoot but not in the root compared to non-treated plants. Analysis of wheat plants germinated from plasma treated seeds showed a notable increase in total soluble sugar and protein subjected to Ar + O
2
plasma treatment. Results also revealed a significant increase in TGM, iron, manganese, fat, and ash content while moisture content significantly decreased in wheat grain due to plasma treatments relative to controls. These findings explore the potentialities of LFGD plasma in boosting germination, growth, and nutritional traits of wheat plants.
Caspase-1 activated in inflammasomes triggers a programmed necrosis called pyroptosis, which is mediated by gasdermin D (GSDMD). However, GSDMD-deficient cells are still susceptible to ...caspase-1-mediated cell death. Therefore, here, we investigate the mechanism of caspase-1-initiated cell death in GSDMD-deficient cells. Inflammasome stimuli induce apoptosis accompanied by caspase-3 activation in GSDMD-deficient macrophages, which largely relies on caspase-1. Chemical dimerization of caspase-1 induces pyroptosis in GSDMD-sufficient cells, but apoptosis in GSDMD-deficient cells. Caspase-1-induced apoptosis involves the Bid-caspase-9-caspase-3 axis, which can be followed by GSDME-dependent secondary necrosis/pyroptosis. However, Bid ablation does not completely abolish the cell death, suggesting the existence of an additional mechanism. Furthermore, cortical neurons and mast cells exhibit little or low GSDMD expression and undergo apoptosis after oxygen glucose deprivation and nigericin stimulation, respectively, in a caspase-1- and Bid-dependent manner. This study clarifies the molecular mechanism and biological roles of caspase-1-induced apoptosis in GSDMD-low/null cell types.
Statistical models were developed for downscaling reanalysis data to monthly precipitation at 48 observation stations scattered across the Australian State of Victoria belonging to wet, intermediate ...and dry climate regimes. Downscaling models were calibrated over the period 1950–1991 and validated over the period 1992–2014 for each calendar month, for each station, using 4 machine learning techniques, (1) Genetic Programming (GP), (2) Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), (3) Support Vector Machine (SVM), and (4) Relevance Vector Machine (RVM). It was found that, irrespective of the climate regime and the machine learning technique, downscaling models tend to better simulate the average (compared to other statistics) and under-estimate the standard deviation and the maximum of the observed precipitation. Also, irrespective of the climate regime and the machine learning technique, at the majority of stations downscaling models showed an over-estimating trend of low to mid percentiles (i.e. below the 50th percentile) of precipitation and under-estimating trend of high percentiles of precipitation (i.e. above the 90th percentile). The over-estimating trend of low to mid percentiles of precipitation was more pronounced at stations located in dryer climate, irrespective of the machine learning technique. Based on the results of this investigation the use of RVM or ANN over SVM or GP for developing downscaling models can be recommended for a study such as flood prediction which involves the consideration of high extremes of precipitation. Also, RVM can be recommended over GP, ANN or SVM in developing downscaling models for a study such as drought analysis which involves the consideration of low extremes of precipitation. Furthermore, it was found that irrespective of the climate regime, the SVM and RVM-based precipitation downscaling models showed the best performance with the Polynomial kernel.
•Polynomial kernel is suitable with Support Vector and Relevance Vector Machines.•Relevance Vector Machine is recommended for drought analysis.•Relevance Vector Machine and Neural Networks are recommended for flood analysis.
Ionising radiation (IR) is a recognised carcinogen responsible for cancer development in patients previously treated using radiotherapy, and in individuals exposed as a result of accidents at nuclear ...energy plants. However, the mutational signatures induced by distinct types and doses of radiation are unknown. Here, we analyse the genetic architecture of mammary tumours, lymphomas and sarcomas induced by high (
Fe-ions) or low (gamma) energy radiation in mice carrying Trp53 loss of function alleles. In mammary tumours, high-energy radiation is associated with induction of focal structural variants, leading to genomic instability and Met amplification. Gamma-radiation is linked to large-scale structural variants and a point mutation signature associated with oxidative stress. The genomic architecture of carcinomas, sarcomas and lymphomas arising in the same animals are significantly different. Our study illustrates the complex interactions between radiation quality, germline Trp53 deficiency and tissue/cell of origin in shaping the genomic landscape of IR-induced tumours.
IL-1α serves as a pro-inflammatory cytokine. Although pro-IL-1α has cytokine activity, proteolytic maturation increases its potency and release from cells. IL-1α maturation occurs in a ...caspase-1-dependent manner following inflammasome activation. However, pro-IL-1α is not a substrate of caspase-1, and it remains unclear what mediates the maturation of this cytokine downstream of inflammasomes. Here, we show that gasdermin D (GSDMD), an executor of pyroptosis, is required for the rapid induction of IL-1α maturation by non-particulate inflammasome activators. Ablation of GSDMD abrogates the maturation of IL-1α, but not of IL-1β. Inflammasome-induced maturation of IL-1α relies on extracellular Ca2+ and calpains. Ca2+ influx and calpain activation are induced in a GSDMD-dependent manner. Glycine, which inhibits cell lysis, but not GSDMD pore formation, does not affect IL-1α maturation. These results suggest that during inflammasome activation, GSDMD processed by caspase-1 forms plasma membrane pores that mediate Ca2+ influx, resulting in the calpain-dependent maturation of IL-1α.
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•Maturation of IL-1α increases its release from cells upon inflammasome activation•Inflammasome-induced IL-1α maturation and release depend on GSDMD and calpains•GSDMD pores mediate Ca2+ influx and consequent calpain activation
Tsuchiya et al. demonstrate that rapid processing and release of IL-1α induced by non-particulate activators of canonical and non-canonical inflammasomes depend on GSDMD. They demonstrate that plasma membrane GSDMD pores mediate Ca2+ influx and calpain activation, resulting in IL-1α maturation, which can be mechanistically uncoupled from IL-1β maturation.
While digital technologies provide a robust platform for university students to contact peers, establish virtual social ties, and bring a new learning mode, they also facilitate cyberbullying ...perpetration. The present study explores the extent and nature of cyberbullying victimization and perpetration among university students in Bangladesh. It also examines the impact of victimization and the help-seeking practices of self-identified victims of cyberbullying. The study conducted an online survey with 552 (315 male, 237 female) Bangladeshi university students aged 18-31 years from all academic levels (undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate). The result revealed that cyberbullying is prevalent among university students with substantial negative impacts upon the victims, including anger, fear of attending courses, stress, humiliation, and self-guilt. However, the independent sample t-test revealed no statistically significant gender differences regarding cyberbullying victimization. Furthermore, it showed that victims of cyberbullying mainly seek help from family and friends and barely report it to the police. Finally, this study discusses implications and specific recommendations to support the victims and prevent cyberbullying in universities.
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), in essence, aims at controlling different assistive devices through the utilization of brain waves. It is worth noting that the application of BCI is not only limited ...to medical applications, and hence, the research in this field has gained due attention. Moreover, the significant number of publications over the past two decades, further indicates the consistent improvements, as well as breakthroughs that have been made in this particular field. Nonetheless, it is also worth mentioning that with these improvements, new challenges are constantly discovered. This article provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art of a complete BCI system. First, a brief overview of electroencephalogram (EEG) based BCI system is been deliberated. Secondly, a considerable number of popular BCI applications are reviewed in terms of its electrophysiological control signals, feature extraction, classification algorithms as well as the performance evaluation metrics. Finally, the challenges to the recent BCI system are discussed, and the possible solutions to mitigate the issues are recommended.
Plasma agriculture is an emerging technology, although the application of non-thermal plasma in wheat productivity is still in its early stage. This study deciphers the effect and mechanistic basis ...of non-thermal air-generated LPDBD (low-pressure dielectric barrier discharge) plasma in boosting germination, growth and nutritional properties in wheat. Seeds treated with LPDBD plasma exhibited cracked periphery and discernible expansion during seed germination. LPDBD plasma applied for 6 min showed a 22.11% increase in the germination percentage and a substantial increase in iron content in grains compared to non-treated controls. At the cellular level, the concentration of H
2
O
2
in leaves significantly increased (3.56 µM g
−1
FW) due to LPDBD treatment compared to controls. This increased level of H
2
O
2
may act as a stimulating agent to trigger the physiological functions in wheat plants. In addition, plants sprouted from air-treated seeds exhibited a marked elevation in CAT and SOD activity accompanied by the increased expression of
TaCAT
and
TaSOD
genes in roots of wheat. Interestingly, the grain yield of wheat increased by 27.06% in response to plasma treatment compared to control. Further, grains harvested from plasma-treated plants showed a substantial elevation in iron and fat content as well as decreased moisture content that may contribute to the increased shelf life. The study will open up a new avenue for practical application of plasma in agriculture.
Chemical fertilization in agriculture is threatening to the ecosystem. Therefore, the use of eco-friendly stimulant for crop revolution is highly desirable. This study investigates the effects of ...plasma activated water (PAW) created by treating de-ionized water with high voltage discharge on black gram. Results showed significant improvements in different agronomic traits. Significant changes in H
2
O
2
, a reactive-oxygen-species (ROS) were observed in seeds, leaves, and roots. Increase in catalase (ROS scavenger) was also observed in roots of plants grown from 3 and 6 min PAW treated seeds which was consistent with the upregulation of
VmCAT
gene. This reveals that PAW is associated with elevated H
2
O
2
in black gram in a tightly regulated manner by the upregulation of CAT activity resulted in increased germination, growth, and development. Non-covalent binding pattern of H
2
O
2
with CAT through docking strongly supports this phenomenon. It does suggest that the increase of H
2
O
2
tightly regulated by the upregulation of CAT provides optimum conditions for improved seed germination and growth in black gram. These findings reveal the benefits of PAW for enhanced crop production.
Background
Plasma technology is an emerging sector in agriculture. The effect of low-frequency glow discharge (LFGD) plasma at medium pressure (10 torr) on maize morpho-physiological and agronomical ...behavior was investigated in the current studies. The LFGD plasma act as a secondary messenger to improve maize production. This cutting-edge plasma technology can be used in agriculture to boost agronomic possibilities.
Materials and methods
Maize seeds were treated with LFGD Ar + Air gas plasma for 30 s, 60 s, 90 s, and 120 s. The gas ratio of Ar + Air was 1:99. Plasma was produced with a high voltage (1–6 kV) and low (3–5 kHz) frequency power supply across the electrodes. The internal pressure was maintained at ~ 10 torrs with a vacuum pump in the plasma chamber. Inside the plasma production chamber, the gas flow rate was maintained at 1 L/min.
Results
Effect of LFGD Ar + Air plasma on seed germination, and growth parameters including, shoot length, root length, fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, stem diameter, and chlorophyll were measured and in comparison with the control the parameter scores increased by 4.89%, 3.18%, 1.77%, 5.53%, 1.90%, 5.16%, 1.90%, 1.98%, respectively. The SEM image of the seeds surface demonstrated remarkable changes caused by plasma treatment. In roots, APX and SOD activities improved by only 0.022% and 0.64%, whereas, in shoots their activities showed a 0.014% and 0.25% increment compared to control. Further, H
2
O
2
, soluble protein, and sugar content increased by 0.12%, 0.33%, 2.50% and 1.15%, 1.41%, 2.99%, 1.16% in shoots and roots, respectively, while NO showed no significant changes in plants. Interestingly, notable improvement were found in nutritional properties (protein 0.32%, fat 0.96%, fiber 0.22%, ash 0.31%, grain iron 1.77%, shoots iron 7.61%, and manganese 6.25%), while the moisture content was reduced by 0.93% which might be useful in prolonged seed storage and the long life viability of the seeds. However, zinc (Zn) content in maize seedlings from plasma-treated seeds showed no significant change.
Conclusion
The present study revealed that LFGD Ar + Air gas plasma is associated with the elevation of ROS in leaves and roots, which in turn improves the seed germination rate, agronomic traits, growth, enzymatic activity, and nutritional supplement in maize.
Graphical Abstract
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