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Maize-based crop systems are promoted in large scale in South Asia because they are more sustainable and efficient than rice-based systems. In the present study, using two combinations of crop residue management practices (CRM) with four precision nitrogen (N) management (PNM) systems, we assessed the impacts on soil physicochemical characteristics [soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density (BD), soil penetration resistance (PR)] and crop yields in 6 years old continuous zero tillage (ZT) practices under maize-wheat-mungbean cropping system in a sandy loam soil of northwestern India. The highest SOC (5.73 g/kg) was observed in Zero Tillage with Residue Retention (ZT + R) plots. Zero-tillage with residue retention (ZT + R) significantly reduced the bulk density over the zero-tillage with no residue retention (ZT-R) across the soil depth. The bulk density in ZT + R was 6.5 and 10.7% lower at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm soil depth, respectively, than under ZT-R. The penetration resistance (PR) was significantly lower in ZT + R than in ZT-R across the soil depth. Soil organic carbon (SOC) in ZT + R was 7.4% higher at 0–15 cm depth and 11.9% higher at 15–30 cm depth than under ZT-R treatment. Among PNM treatments, the sequence of treatments in SOC content was 50%N + Green Seeker (GS) >33%N + GS > RDN > 70%N + GS. The system productivity (maize equivalent yield) under ZT + R in combination with 50%BN + GS was 15.0% higher than crops grown under ZT-R with RDN. The wheat equivalent yield under the ZT + R treatment is found to be higher (5.97) in the 50%BN + GS, which was 18% higher than the recommended dose of nitrogen treatment (5.04) and 28% higher than the 70%BN + GS treatment (4.68). Results demonstrated that plots with residue retention performed better, showing a 10% increase in system productivity. The study concludes that a ZT-based system with maize-based crop rotations (MWMb) with crop residue retention and precision nitrogen management can improve soil properties and system productivity in northwestern India.

The aim of the study. To investigate the peculiarities of changes in hormonal and metabolic markers and their relationships with neurovegetative disorders in patients with coronary artery disease after suffering from the COVID-19 coronavirus disease (in the long-COVID period). Materials and methods. 71 patients with coronary artery disease were examined: stable angina pectoris II–III FC (age 69.0 (64.0; 76.0) years): 1 group (main) – 31 patients with coronary artery disease after suffering from the COVID-19 coronavirus disease (in the long-COVID period); Group 2 (comparison) – 40 patients with coronary artery disease who did not have a history of COVID-19. 15 practically healthy people were included in the control group. The concentration of vasopressin, ghrelin, and insulin in blood serum was estimated using immunoenzymatic analysis. The HOMA index is calculated according to the generally accepted formula. Statistical data processing was carried out in accordance with modern requirements. Results. Significant changes in hormonal and metabolic markers were found in patients with coronary artery disease in the long-COVID period in comparison with the control group and with patients without a history of COVID-19: an increase in the concentration of vasopressin by 70.23 % and 33.38 %, insulin by 52.16 % and 32.76 %, glucose level by 31.20 % and 20.00 %, HOMA index by 60.00 % and 35.77 %, reduction of active ghrelin level by 45.71 % and 49.20 % (p < 0.05) respectively. The number of patients with insulin resistance in the 1st group was significantly higher compared to the 2nd group (χ2 = 0.516, p < 0.001). Inverse correlations were established between the level of ghrelin and vasopressin (r = -0.33, p < 0.05), insulin (r = -0.25, p < 0.05) and the HOMA index (r = -0.24, p < 0.05); direct correlation between the level of vasopressin and the HOMA index (r = +0.26, p < 0.05). In addition, a wide range of reliable correlations between the level of vasopressin, ghrelin and the degree of anxiety-depressive, cognitive and autonomic disorders were found in patients with coronary artery disease in the long-COVID period. Conclusions. The obtained results confirm common mechanisms between the development of hormonal and metabolic disorders and the occurrence of anxiety-depressive, cognitive disorders, vegetative imbalance against the background of overstrain of functional adaptation processes in patients with coronary heart disease in the long-COVID period.

The aim of the study: to investigate the effect of the previous COVID-19 coronavirus disease on the features of cardiac remodeling in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Materials and methods. 71 patients with CHD were involved in the study: stable angina pectoris II–III FC (age 69.0 (64.0; 76.0) years): 1 group (main) – 31 patients with CHD in long COVID-19 period; group 2 (comparison) – 40 patients with CHD without a history of COVID-19. Features of cardiac remodeling and energy work of the left ventricular (LV) myocardium were assessed using the echocardiography method. Results. CHD patients with a history of COVID-19 had greater changes in linear and volumetric parameters of the heart, an increase in the degree of hypertrophy of the LV myocardium, frequency of registration of LV diastolic dysfunction against the background of an increase in the mean pressure in the pulmonary artery, end-systolic pressure, decrease in global LV contractile function (LVF) compared to patients without COVID-19 history (p < 0.05). In CHD patients who suffered from COVID-19, there was an increase in the estimated energy expenditure of the LV myocardium: shock work by 14.77 % (U = 461.5; p < 0.05), potential energy by 34.68 % (U = 316.5; p < 0.05) and the pressure-volume zone by 17.78 % (U = 373.0; p < 0.05), which indicates a decrease in the speed of myocardial recovery in long COVID period. It was established that the presence of COVID-19 in the history of patients with CHD is associated with an increased risk of LV dilatation by 5.6 times (95 % CI 1.71–18.29; p < 0.05), LV myocardial hypertrophy by 3.05 times (95 % CI 1.79–5.91; p < 0.05), LV diastolic dysfunction by 1.44 times (95 % CI 0.91–2.29; p < 0.05), an increase in energy expenditure during heart work by 1.66 times (95 % CI 0.68–4.02; p < 0.05). Conclusions. Patients with coronary heart disease have more significant structural and functional changes and energy expenditure during the work of the heart, which proves the negative impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the state of cardiac remodeling in patients with CHD in long COVID-19 period.

The aim of the study. To examine the frequency and spectrum of cognitive, anxiety-depressive, autonomic disorders and their interrelationship in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after COVID-19 infection. Materials and methods. The study involved 71 patients with CHD, stable angina pectoris FC II–III (age 69.0 [64.0; 76.0] years): group 1 (main) – 31 CHD patients after COVID-19; group 2 (comparison) – 40 CHD patients without COVID-19 history. Spectral and temporal HRV parameters were assessed using 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring, anxiety-depressive disorders (ADD) – using the HADS scale, cognitive status of patients – according to the MoCa scale. Results. CHD patients after COVID-19 had a higher frequency of ADD detection and a greater anxiety level (16 [10; 24] versus 10 [9; 13] points, p < 0.05), depression (14 [8; 20] versus 11 [10; 12] points, p < 0.05) as compared to patients without previous history of COVID-19. At the same time, the predominance of the anxiety component over the depressive one in patients of both groups has been revealed. In CHD patients after COVID-19, a decrease in the total MoCa scale score has been found as compared to patients without COVID-19: 24 [22; 26] versus 28 [26; 30] points, p < 0.05. There was an association between the total level of anxiety and depression and the severity of cognitive impairment (r = -0.36, p < 0.05). CHD patients exposed to COVID-19 showed an increased sympathetic and parasympathetic tone of the central nervous system within 24 hours, an increased LF/HF ratio during the active period, activation of slow-acting humoral regulation mechanisms amid increasing stress index and centralization index. In the group of patients with CHD after COVID-19, a wide range of correlations between the rate of ADD, cognitive disorders and HRV parameters has been found. Conclusions. Patients with coronary heart disease recovered from COVID-19 have shown an increase in the incidence and degree of ADD and cognitive disorder manifestations which was accompanied by autonomic dysfunction resulting in stress on the functional and adaptive state of the cardiovascular system. The association between ADD, autonomic and cognitive disorders in patients with coronary heart disease after COVID-19 has confirmed the common pathogenetic links of the disorders found.

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2019–20 and 2020–21 at research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of various crop establishment methods and microbial consortia (Pusa decomposer) mediated in situ rice straw management options on zinc (Zn) concentration and uptake in rice (Oryza sativa L.) (cv. Pusa Basmati 1509) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (cv. HD 2967). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design (SPD) with 3 replications having 2 main plot (main factor) treatments, viz. aerobic rice (AR); and conventional transplanted (CT) rice in wet season; and 7 sub- plot (sub-factor) treatments, viz. Clean cultivation (removal of paddy straw); Paddy straw incorporation (PSI); Paddy straw mulching (PSM); PSI + Pusa decomposer (PD); PSM + PD; PSI + urea @20 kg/ha; and PSI + PD + urea @10 kg/ha in dry season. Findings showed that, in rice the zinc concentration (18.51 and 20.30 mg/kg in grain; 57.02 and 57.81 mg/kg in straw) and uptake (78.38 and 89.81 g/ha in grain; 427.1 and 434.6 g/ha in straw) were significantly superior in CT rice than AR in main plots during both the years of experiments. However, sub-plot treatments were non-significant in the zinc concentration and uptake. In wheat, among in situ rice straw management options (sub- plots), paddy straw incorporation + Pusa decomposer + Urea @10 kg/ha treatment significantly resulted in higher Zn concentration (38.08 and 39.03 mg/kg in grain; 28.24 and 29.01 mg/kg in straw) and uptake (185.0 and 191.9 g/ha in grain; 234.2 and 242.6 g/ha in straw) compared to other treatments and control (clean cultivation). The principal component analysis revealed that Zn uptake positively correlated with straw and grain yields in rice and wheat. Thus, the same treatment was found to be a better option for higher Zn concentration and uptake in the rice-wheat cropping system.