With the advanced understanding of N-fixation process, researchers are at a juncture of breeding and engineering this symbiotic relationships in cereals. Different breeding, genetic engineering, omics, gene editing, and synthetic biology approaches will be discussed in this review to make BNF a reality in cereals. It will help to provide a road map to develop/improve the BNF in maize to an advance step for the sustainable production system to achieve the food and nutritional security.

Aerobic rice production (AP) may be a solution to the looming water crisis by utilising less water compared to traditional flooded culture. As such, development of genotypes with narrow root cone angle (RCA) is considered a key AP adaptation trait as it could lead to deeper rooting and ensure water uptake at depth. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes associated with rooting angle have been identified in rice, but usually in conventional transplanted systems or in upland and drought conditions. This study aimed to identify QTL associated with RCA in AP systems using a recombinant inbred line population derived from IRAT109.

Four experiments conducted in glasshouse and aerobic field conditions revealed significant genotypic variation existed for RCA in the population. Single and multiple QTL models identified the presence of eight QTL distributed in chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11. Combined, these QTL explained 36.7-51.2% of the genotypic variance in RCA present in the population. Two QTL, qRCA1.1 and qRations of these QTL, resulted in a narrower RCA phenotype. Allele mining, gene cloning, and physiological dissection should aid in understanding the molecular function and mechanisms underlying RCA and these QTL. Ultimately, our work provides an opportunity for breeding programs to develop genotypes with narrow RCA and deep roots for improved adaptation in an AP system for sustainable rice production.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major morbidity, and its prevalence increases with age. However, there appears to be some confusion about the prognosis of CKD in aged patients, because, it has its own characteristics different from youngers. In this study, we investigated the progression of CKD and related factors in aged patients.

This was a retrospective study including 334 patients over 80years of age that were diagnosed with stage 3-4 CKD at our CKD clinic. CKD progression was assessed as an annual decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Comorbidities were globally categorized with the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), but diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiac morbidities were evaluated separately. Patients were grouped as either 'progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD)’ or 'others’.

During the follow-up period, 191 (57.2%) patients exhibited progression; the annual median eGFR declined by 0.8ml/min/1.73m

. Only 27 (8.1%) of these patients progressed to ESRD. In univariant and multivariate models, respectively, progressing to ESRD was significantly associated with cardiac comorbidities (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), proteinuria (p < 0.001, p = 0.03), and the baseline eGFR value (p < 0.001, p < 0.001).

In aged patients, CKD progressed slowly, but particularly high initial creatinine levels and proteinuria could be indicator of progression. In addition, cardiac comorbidities may facilitate progression to ESRD.

In aged patients, CKD progressed slowly, but particularly high initial creatinine levels and proteinuria could be indicator of progression. In addition, cardiac comorbidities may facilitate progression to ESRD.Navigation is comprised of a variety of strategies which rely on multiple external cues to shape a navigator’s behavioral output. Here, we explored in the ant Veromessor pergandei, the interactions between the information provided by the pheromone trail and the home vector guided by the celestial compass. We found that a cross sensory interaction between the pheromone cue and the path integrator underlies correct orientation during the inbound journey. The celestial compass provides directional information, while the presence of the trail pheromone acts as a critical context cue, triggering distinct behaviors (vector orientation, search, and backtracking). While exposed to the pheromone, foragers orient to the vector direction regardless of vector state, while in the pheromone’s absence, the current remaining vector determines the forager’s navigational behavior. This interaction also occurs in foragers with no remaining path integrator, relying on the activation of a celestial compass-based memory of the previous trip. Such cue interactions maximize the foragers’ return to the nest and inhibit movement off the pheromone trail. Finally, our manipulations continuously rotated foragers away from their desired heading, yet foragers were proficient at counteracting these changes, steering to maintain a correct compass heading even at rotational speeds of ~ 40°/s.

Maximal safe surgical treatment of diffusive glioma without a clear boundary between the tumor and central core is challenging.

We present a case of a large, diffusive, recurrent high-grade glioma with preservation of the central core following an anatomical resection protocol that aimed to maintain quality of life.

Knowing the key anatomical landmarks and following the anatomical resection protocol are fundamental to surgical safety for treatment of glioma.

Knowing the key anatomical landmarks and following the anatomical resection protocol are fundamental to surgical safety for treatment of glioma.

Abolished circadian rhythm is associated with altered cognitive function, delirium, and as a result increased mortality in critically ill patients, especially in those who are mechanically ventilated. The causes are multifactorial, of which changes in circadian rhythmicity may play a role. Melatonin plays a crucial role as part of the circadian and sleep/wake cycle. Whether sedation effects circadian regulation is unknown. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the melatonin concentration in critically ill patients randomized to sedation or non-sedation and to investigate the correlation with delirium.

All patients were included and randomized at the intensive care unit at the hospital of southwest Jutland, Denmark. Seventy-nine patients completed the study (41 sedated and 38 non-sedated). S-melatonin was measured 3 times per day, (03.00, 14.00, and 22.00), for 4 consecutive days in total, starting on the second day upon randomization/intubation. The study was conducted as a sub-study to the Nd, critically ill patients, when compared to non-sedated controls and the frequency of delirium was elevated in sedated patients. Trail registration Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01967680) on October 23, 2013.

Melatonin concentration was suppressed in sedated, critically ill patients, when compared to non-sedated controls and the frequency of delirium was elevated in sedated patients. Trail registration Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01967680) on October 23, 2013.

Aging is associated with increased myocellular stress and loss of muscle mass and function. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are upregulated during periods of stress as part of the cells protective system. Exercise can affect both acute HSP regulation and when repeated regularly counteract unhealthy age-related changes in the muscle. Few studies have investigated effects of exercise on HSP content in elderly. The aim of the study was to compare muscular HSP levels in young and elderly and to investigate how training affects HSP content in muscles from aged males and females.

Thirty-eight elderly were randomized to 12weeks of strength training (STG), functional strength training (FTG) or a control group (C). To compare elderly to young, 13 untrained young performed 11weeks of strength training (Y). Muscle biopsies were collected before and after the intervention and analyzed for HSP27, αB-crystallin and HSP70.

Baseline HSP70 were 35% higher in elderly than in young, whereas there were no differences between young and elderly in HSP27 or αB-crystallin. After the training intervention, HSP70 were reduced in STG (-33 ± 32%; P = 0.001) and FTG (-28 ± 30%; P = 0.012). The decrease in HSP70 was more pronounced in the oldest. In contrast, Y increased HSP27 (134 ± 1%; P < 0.001) and αB-crystallin (84 ± 94%; P = 0.008).

Twelve weeks of STG or FTG decreased the initial high levels of HSP70 in aged muscles. Thus, regular strength training can normalize some of the increases in cellular stress associated with normal aging, and lead to a healthier cellular environment in aged muscle cells.

Twelve weeks of STG or FTG decreased the initial high levels of HSP70 in aged muscles. Thus, regular strength training can normalize some of the increases in cellular stress associated with normal aging, and lead to a healthier cellular environment in aged muscle cells.

The physiological strain index (PSI) was developed to assess individuals’ heat strain, yet evidence supporting its use to identify individuals at potential risk of reaching a thermal tolerance limit (TTL) is limited. The aim of this study was to assess whether PSI can identify individuals at risk of reaching a TTL.

Fifteen females and 21 males undertook a total of 136 trials, each consisting of two 40-60minute periods of treadmill walking separated by ~ 15minutes rest, wearing permeable or impermeable clothing, in a range of climatic conditions. Heart rate (HR), skin temperature (T

), rectal temperature (T

), temperature sensation (TS) and thermal comfort (TC) were measured throughout. Various forms of the PSI-index were assessed including the original PSI, PSI

, adaptive-PSI (aPSI) and a version comprised of a measure of heat storage (PSI

). Final physiological and PSI values and their rate of change (ROC) over a trial and in the last 10minutes of a trial were compared between trials completed (C, 101 trials) and those terminated prematurely (TTL, 35 trials).

Final PSI

, PSI

, aPSI, PSI

did not differ between TTL and C (p > 0.05). However, differences between TTL and C occurred in final T

, T

-T

, TS, TC and ROC in PSI

, T

, T

and HR (p < 0.05).

These results suggest the PSI, in the various forms, does not reliably identify individuals at imminent risk of reaching their TTL and its validity as a physiological safety index is therefore questionable. However, a physiological-perceptual strain index may provide a more valid measure.

These results suggest the PSI, in the various forms, does not reliably identify individuals at imminent risk of reaching their TTL and its validity as a physiological safety index is therefore questionable. However, a physiological-perceptual strain index may provide a more valid measure.

Functional lung mapping from Ga

-ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) PET/CT, which has been shown to correlate with pulmonary function tests (PFTs), may be beneficial in a number of clinical applications where sparing regions of high lung function is of interest. Regions of clumping in the proximal airways in patients with airways disease can result in areas of focal intense activity and artefact in ventilation imaging. These artefacts may even shine through to subsequent perfusion images and create a challenge for quantitative analysis of PET imaging. We aimed to develop an automated algorithm that interprets the uptake histogram of PET images to calculate a peak uptake value more representative of the global lung volume.

Sixty-six patients recruited from a prospective clinical trial underwent both V/Q PET/CT imaging and PFT analysis before treatment. PET images were normalised using an iterative histogram analysis technique to account for tracer hotspots prior to the threshold-based delineation of varying values.