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Salinity is one of the main environmental stresses, and it affects potato growth and productivity in arid and semiarid regions by disturbing physiological process, such as the photosynthesis rate, the absorption of essential nutrients and water, plant hormonal functions, and vital metabolic pathways. Few studies are available on the application of combined nanomaterials to mitigate salinity stress on potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Diamont). In order to assess the effects of the sole or combined application of silicon (Si) and potassium (K) nanoparticles and biochar (Bc) on the agro-physiological properties and biochemical constituents of potato plants grown in saline soil, two open-field experiments were executed on a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with five replicates. The results show that the biochar application and nanoelements (n-K and n-Si) significantly improved the plant heights, the fresh and dry plant biomasses, the numbers of stems/plant, the leaf relative water content, the leaf chlorophyll content, the photosynthetic rate (Pn), the leaf stomatal conductance (Gc), and the tuber yields, compared to the untreated potato plants (CT). Moreover, the nanoelements and biochar improved the content of the endogenous elements of the plant tissues (N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and B), the leaf proline, and the leaf gibberellic acid (GA3), in addition to reducing the leaf abscisic acid content (ABA), the activity of catalase (CAT), and the peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in the leaves of salt-stressed potato plants. The combined treatment achieved maximum plant growth parameters, physiological parameters, and nutrient concentrations, and minimum transpiration rates (Tr), leaf abscisic acid content (ABA), and activities of the leaf antioxidant enzymes (CAT, POD, and PPO). Furthermore, the combined treatment also showed the highest tuber yield and tuber quality, including the contents of carbohydrates, proteins, and the endogenous nutrients of the tuber tissues (N, P, and K), and the lowest starch content. Moreover, Pearson’s correlation showed that the plant growth and the tuber yields of potato plants significantly and positively correlated with the photosynthesis rate, the internal CO2 concentration, the relative water content, the proline, the chlorophyll content, and the GA3, and that they were negatively correlated with the leaf Na content, PPO, CAT, ABA, MDA, and Tr. It might be concluded that nanoelement (n-K and n-Si) and biochar applications are a promising method to enhance the plant growth and crop productivity of potato plants grown under salinity conditions.

Frequent applications of synthetic insecticides might cause environmental pollution due to the high residue. In addition, increasing insecticide resistance in many insect pests requires novel pest control methods. Nanotechnology could be a promising field of modern agriculture, and is receiving considerable attention in the development of novel nano-agrochemicals, such as nanoinsectticides and nanofertilizers. This study assessed the effects of the lethal and sublethal concentrations of chlorantraniliprole, thiocyclam, and their nano-forms on the development, reproductive activity, oxidative stress enzyme activity, and DNA changes in the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon, at the molecular level. The results revealed that A. ipsilon larvae were more susceptible to the nano-forms than the regular forms of both nano chlorine and sulfur within the chlorantraniliprole and thiocyclam insecticides, respectively, with higher toxicities than the regular forms (ca. 3.86, and ca.2.06-fold, respectively). Significant differences in biological parameters, including developmental time and reproductive activity (fecundity and hatchability percent) were also observed. Correspondingly, increases in oxidative stress enzyme activities were observed, as were mutagenic effects on the genomic DNA of A. ipsilon after application of the LC50 of the nano-forms of both insecticides compared to the control. These promising results could represent a crucial step toward developing efficient nanoinsecticides for sustainable control of A. ipsilon.

In order to assess the effects of green synthesized nanoparticles (GNPs) of Zn and Fe oxides on plant growth traits, photosynthetic capacity and nutritional quality of red radish (cv. Champion), two open field experiments were organised based on RCBD with four replicates. Treatments included: chicken manure, foliar application of ZnO + FeO (GNPs at a rate of 60 and 50 ppm, respectively), chicken manure plus ZnO + FeO (GNPs). This study revealed that growth and yield of radish plants significantly increased by ZnO + FeO nanoparticles application. The maximum vegetative growth, leaf pigments and root quality (diameter and weight) were recorded in plants treated with ZnO + FeO (GNPs) alone or in combination with chicken manure. Furthermore, the combined application of chicken manure with ZnO and FeO significantly improved the concentration of anthocyanins, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, crude protein and carbohydrates contents in radish root than single treatment. Similar trends were noted in photosynthesis rate, water use efficiency and values of Zn and Fe contents. In addition, health risk index for Zn and Fe were less than 1, which indicated to red radish plants supplied with ZnO and FeO GNPs were free of risks on human health. It was concluded that combination between chicken manure and ZnO + FeO GNPs can be considered as appropriate strategy for improving yield and nutritional status of red radish.

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as autoimmune diseases arise owing to failure of immunological self-tolerance. One of the mechanisms employed to control these potentially damaging cells are regulatory T cells (Tregs). The importance of Tregs is underscored by the overwhelming inflammation and autoimmunity that result from their absence. Forkhead box p3 (FoxP3) is an important regulator of Treg function, and the expression of FoxP3 correlates with the expression of other Treg-associated markers such as CD25 and CTLA-4. Aim To investigate the frequency of FoxP3+ CD4+ CD25+high cells (Tregs) in peripheral blood from patients with SLE and those with RA. Patients and methods A total of 25 patients with SLE (15 patients with active SLE and 10 patients with inactive SLE), 25 patients with RA (15 patients with active RA and 10 patients with inactive RA), and 10 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent clinical and laboratory assessment. The frequency of Tregs was determined by flow cytometry. Results The distribution of FoxP3+ CD4+ CD25+high cells (Tregs) revealed a highly significant decrease in the frequency of Treg in patients with SLE compared with healthy controls. Moreover, patients with active SLE showed significantly lower Tregs percent when compared with inactive group. Moreover, the distribution of FoxP3+ CD4+ CD25+high cells (Tregs) revealed a high significantly decrease in the frequency of Treg in patients with RA compared with healthy controls. Conclusion CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3 Tregs (as a percent of total CD4 cells) were significantly lower in patients with SLE and those with RA when compared with healthy controls.

In the present work, copper/chitosan nanocomposites (Cu/CS) were prepared in an aqueous solution in the presence of CS as stabilizer and CuSO4·5H2O precursor. The Cu/CS NPs formation was proved through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and XRD diffraction. Cotton and cotton/polyester fabrics were gamma-radiation grafted by padding to pickup of 100%, in nanocomposites based on Cu/CS NPs loaded in polymer blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and plasticized starch (PLST). The grafted fabrics were characterized in terms of tensile mechanical, crease recovery and water absorption properties. The results showed that cotton fabrics displayed higher water absorption (%) than cotton/polyester fabrics for all PVA/PLST compositions and water absorption was found to decrease with increasing the ratio of PVA in the PVA/PLST blends. Cotton/polyester fabrics displays crease recovery angle (CRA) value of 147.6 upon treated with PVA/PLST (80/20%) and gamma irradiated to 30 kGy compared to CRA value of 125.0 for cotton fabrics treated under the same conditions. For cotton fabrics, the tensile strength was largely depends on the irradiation dose, in which the tensile strength of the treated fabric with the different formulations is higher than the untreated fabric. The antimicrobial activity of the fabrics against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aurous) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) was investigated. In case of gram-positive bacteria cotton fabric showed the highest impact, for both 50/50 and 20/80 PVA/PLST of 14 and 14.5 mm inhibition zone, whilst, cotton/polyester fabric recorded 6 and 5 mm inhibition zone against gram-negative bacteria for 50/50 and 20/80 PVA/PLST, respectively.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the LOTUS Edge system. BACKGROUND The LOTUS Edge system was commercially re-released in April 2019. The authors report the first European experience with this device. METHODS A multicenter, single-arm, retrospective registry was initiated to evaluate short-term clinical outcomes. Included cases are the first experience with this device and new implantation technique in Europe. Clinical, echocardiographic, and computed tomographic data were analyzed. Endpoints were defined according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 and were site reported. RESULTS Between April and November 2019, 286 consecutive patients undergoing TAVR with the LOTUS Edge system at 18 European centers were included. The mean age and Society of Thoracic Surgeons score were 81.2 �� 6.9 years and 5.2 �� 5.4%, respectively. Nearly one-half of all patients (47.9%) were considered to have complex anatomy. Thirty-day major adverse events included death (2.4% [n��=��7]) and stroke (3.5% [n��=��10]). After TAVR, the mean aortic valve area was 1.9 �� 0.9��cm2, and the mean transvalvular gradient was 11.9 �� 5.7��mm��Hg. None or trace paravalvular leak (PVL) occurred in 84.4% and moderate PVL in 2.0%. There were no cases of severe PVL. New permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation was required in 25.9% among all patients and 30.8% among PPM-naive patients. CONCLUSIONS Early experience with the LOTUS Edge system demonstrated satisfactory short-term safety and efficacy, favorable hemodynamic data, and very low rates of PVL in an anatomically complex cohort. New PPM implantation remained high. Further study will evaluate if increasing operator experience with the device and new implantation technique can reduce the incidence of PPM implantation.