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The aim of this study was to investigate how metal-tolerant rhizobacteria isolated from the mine area and landfill site influence the phytoremediation efficacy of B. juncea plants in metal-contaminated soils. Out of four cadmium-tolerant rhizobacteria, isolate SMHMZ4 showed the promising phytoextraction efficacy of B. juncea. Isolate SMHMZ4 was identified as Pseudomonas guguanensis and submitted to NCBI GenBank under accession number MZ145097. These rhizobia were reported for the first time to support metal-Cd phytoremediation using B. juncea. Compared with the non-inoculated control, SHMMZ4 treatment significantly improved the germination of B. juncea seeds and increased soluble heavy metals in soil by 7.78 times. Growth and health parameters, pigment and metal accumulation in roots and shoots of isolate SHMMZ4 inoculated B. juncea grown in individual soil contaminated with 94.95 μg g-1 CdCl2 were significantly increased. Pot experiments showed that SHMMZ4 could transfer heavy metals from soil to roots, from roots to shoots and the values of translocation coefficient, bioconcentration coefficient, and bioaccumulation coefficient were 1.28, 1.22, and 1.72, respectively, which were significantly higher than the non-inoculated control. In the present study it is demonstrated that the amendments of rhizobacteria to B. juncea is believed to be a more promising method for green remediation of cadmium.

SUMMARY: Brassica carinata (BBCC) commonly referred to as Ethiopian mustard is a natural allotetraploid containing the genomes of Brassica nigra (BB) and Brassica oleracea (CC). It is an oilseed crop endemic to the northeastern regions of Africa. Although it is under limited cultivation, B. carinata is valuable as it is resistant/highly tolerant to most of the pathogens affecting widely cultivated Brassica species of the U's triangle. We report a chromosome‐scale genome assembly of B. carinata accession HC20 using long‐read Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Bionano optical maps. The assembly has a scaffold N50 of ~39.8 Mb and covers ~1.11 Gb of the genome. We compared the long‐read genome assemblies of the U's triangle species and found extensive gene collinearity between the diploids and allopolyploids with no evidence of major gene losses. Therefore, B. juncea (AABB), B. napus (AACC), and B. carinata can be regarded as strict allopolyploids. We cataloged the nucleotide‐binding and leucine‐rich repeat immune receptor (NLR) repertoire of B. carinata and, identified 465 NLRs, and compared these with the NLRs in the other Brassica species. We investigated the extent and nature of early‐generation genomic interactions between the constituent genomes of B. carinata and B. juncea in interspecific crosses between the two species. Besides the expected recombination between the constituent B genomes, extensive homoeologous exchanges were observed between the A and C genomes. Interspecific crosses, therefore, can be used for transferring disease resistance from B. carinata to B. juncea and broadening the genetic base of the two allotetraploid species. Significance Statement: We report a highly contiguous genome assembly of allotetraploid mustard Brassica carinata HC20 (BBCC) which contains resistance to many diseases affecting the other extensively cultivated Brassica species of the U's triangle. Comparative analyses of the long‐read assemblies of the six Brassica species revealed high gene collinearity between the three diploid and their allotetraploid species. We tracked the early‐generation genomic interactions between the subgenomes of B. carinata (BBCC) and B. juncea (AABB) in their interspecific crosses using molecular karyotyping and proposed strategies to utilize this information for genomic introgressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Platelet collection by apheresis is common nowadays. Many cell separators are available in the market for the same. This study was conducted to study the effect of various donor factors on platelet yield and the effect of different cell separator variables on platelet yield. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done on 600 healthy apheresis platelet donors from April 2016 to March 2017 using three different cell separators. Donor variables, pre, and post-plateletpheresis hematological parameters, machine variables, platelet yield were observed. RESULTS: Postprocedural decline in hematological variables was seen. A positive correlation was seen with pre-apheresis platelet count, blood volume processed, and product volume. Product volume obtained was highest with COM. TEC. Mean platelet yield was maximally seen in Amicus. CONCLUSION: Main predictors of platelet yield are platelet count and volume processed. Donors with lower hemoglobin had better yields. Higher platelet counts lead to better product hence platelet increment in the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anemia among adolescent girls is a worldwide public health problem. Although anemia has several causes, the most common and significant is iron deficiency. Treatment of anemia with iron alone may result in reduced compliance on account of adverse effects. Various studies have revealed that use of vitamin C in addition to iron improves its absorption and reduces the ill effects of the therapy. However, a concrete evidence of adding vitamin C to iron for treating iron deficiency anemia is lacking. Aims: Protocol for current systematic review was prepared and registered with the aim to generate evidence on role of vitamin C in addition to iron for treatment of anemia. Materials and Methods: Present protocol has been prepared based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered with International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. Data extraction will be done by the reviewers independently. Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool will be used for risk of bias assessment. Results: For primary outcome and each of the other outcomes pairwise random effects meta-analysis and network meta-analysis will be performed. Sensitivity analysis will be performed in case of any heterogeneity is detected to find out the difference of the effect estimation between subsets. Conclusions: The evidence for role of vitamin C as an adjunct in iron and folic acid for treatment of anemia in adolescent girls will be generated once the systematic review and meta-analysis is completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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