Disease Management Techniques Research Articles

Major Insect Pests of Sweet Potatoes in Brazil and the United States, with Information on Crop Production and Regulatory Pest Management.

The sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] is considered one of the most important crops in the world as food, fodder, and raw material for starch and alcohol production. Sweet potato consumption and demand for its value-added products have increased significantly over the past two decades, leading to new cultivars, expansion in acreage, and increased demand in the United States and its export markets. Due to its health benefits, sweet potato production has multiplied over the past decade in Brazil, promoting food security and economic development in rural areas. Their adaptability and nutritional value make them a food of great importance for Brazil. As pest attacks and disease infection are the main limiting aspects that often cause yield loss and quality degradation in sweet potatoes, there is a great demand to develop effective defense strategies to maintain productivity. There is a critical need for research into non-pesticide control approaches that can provide safe, cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly pest and disease management techniques. Pests which feed on roots have trade implications worldwide. For example, sweet potato tuber shipments infested with the sweet potato weevil are generally not allowed for trade in North and South America.

Sex differences and testosterone interfere with the structure of the gut microbiota through the bile acid signaling pathway

BackgroundThe gut microbiome has a significant impact on human wellness, contributing to the emergence and progression of a range of health issues including inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems, and psychiatric disorders. Notably, clinical observations have revealed that these illnesses can display differences in incidence and presentation between genders. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the composition of gut microbiota is associated with sex-specific differences and to elucidate the mechanism.Methods16S-rRNA-sequencing technology, hormone analysis, gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone treatment were employed to investigate the correlation between the gut microbiome and sex or sex hormones. Meanwhile, genes and proteins involved bile acid signaling pathway were analyzed both in the liver and ileum tissues.ResultsThe composition and diversity of the microbiota from the jejunum and feces and the level of sex hormones in the serum differed between the sexes in young and middle-aged Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. However, no similar phenomenon was found in geriatric rats. Interestingly, whether in young, middle-aged, or old rats, the composition of the microbiota and bacterial diversity differed between the jejunum and feces in rats. Gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone replacement also suggested that hormones, particularly testosterone (T), influenced the composition of the gut microbiota in rats. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein level of genes involved bile acid signaling pathway (specifically SHP, FXR, CYP7A1, and ASBT) exhibited gender-specific differences, and T may play a significant role in mediating the expression of this pathway.ConclusionSex-specific differences in the structure of the gut microbiota are mediated by T through the bile acid signaling pathway, pointing to potential targets for disease prevention and management techniques by indicating that sex differences and T levels may alter the composition of the gut microbiota via the bile acid signaling pathway.

A comprehensive review of integrated management strategies for damping-off disease in chili

Damping-off disease in chili (Capsicum annum L.) cultivation is a significant global issue, severely affecting seeds, seedlings, and young plants, regardless of the location of cultivation, whether in greenhouses or open fields. Despite chili being a widely popular vegetable used in various cuisines globally, farmers face challenges in meeting the growing demand due to the extensive damage caused by this disease, ranging from 20 to 85%. The shelf life and quality of mature pods are also severely affected. Damping-off disease is mainly caused by soil-borne fungus from the Pythium species, with additional contributions from Phytophthora, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia species. These pathogens’ adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and resistance to synthetic fungicides make controlling damping-off on a commercial scale challenging. However, integrated disease management has shown promising results as a remedial approach. In this review, we discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. In this review, we broadly discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight the importance and efficacy of integrated disease management techniques, along with future prospects in unexplored areas, such as host–pathogen interaction and sustainable disease control measures. The information in this review aims to assist chili growers in understanding the epidemiology and management of damping-off in chili cultivation.

Unveiling the Ocean's Arsenal: Successful Integration of Marine Metabolites into Disease Management

The growing problem of antibiotic resistance calls for a paradigm shift in medication discovery. Fortunately, the enormous oceans, home to an incredible diversity of life, provide a viable solution: marine metabolites. These unusual chemicals have enormous potential for treating a wide range of diseases. This present study investigates the great potential for using these marine-derived gems in disease management techniques. Despite the difficulty of procuring and isolating marine organisms, discovering the most effective metabolites, and traversing lengthy research pipelines, the potential rewards are apparent. To demonstrate the power of these marine resources, the paper examines successful case studies. Each case study delves deeply into a single marine metabolite, including its source organism, the disease it targets, and the precise mechanism by which the metabolite disrupts the disease process. We'll look at the results of clinical trials that examined the efficacy and safety of these marine-derived medications, eventually exposing the real-world influence on patient outcomes after incorporating them into treatment plans. Examining these successful cases provides useful insights into the enormous potential of marine resources for producing novel and effective medications, opening the path for further discovery and innovation in the battle against a wide range of diseases.

The Beneficial Impact of Iron-Fortified Complementary Feeding in the Burden of Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) in Children of Bangladesh

Fortifying food with iron is the most cost-effective way to avoid iron deficiency anemia, a global public health crisis. In addition to choosing the appropriate dietary context for ingestion, it is critical to choose the appropriate iron form and food carrier. Among the increased hazards include low birth weight and preterm delivery. Children with IDA have slower development, worse cognitive performance, and lower levels of physical activity. In women, it also raises the risk of morbidity and death. The amount of iron required in the diet, one's socioeconomic status, and overall health are all crucial factors to take into account. To combat IDA, a variety of dietary approaches, iron-fortified foods, supplements, and disease management techniques have all been employed. Nowadays, food fortification with iron is seen to be a long-term, sustainable solution. To be effective, the iron fortification program's food transporters and fortificants must be deemed safe, pleasant, and acceptable by the target population. It also shouldn't have a detrimental effect on the stability and acceptance of the finished product. This article provides a thorough summary of the current state of iron deficiency in women and children in Bangladesh. This study addresses current issues as well as the efficacy of current therapeutic strategies. Prevention-focused treatments ought to take precedence over treatment-focused ones in high-risk populations. Unknown are the long-term benefits, and unfavorable outcomes are possible. Despite the tremendous progress made, several plans and initiatives are still being supported. These issues are to coverage, quality, and compliance. The findings suggest that iron deficiency and anemia are still major problems in Bangladesh, despite the fact that certain severe deficiencies have been addressed by current intervention efforts. There is a need for more integrated solutions to assist current intervention efforts. Furthermore, new approaches to the management of certain types of iron deficiency anemia are proposed.

Emerging Trends of Nanomedicines in the Management of Prostate Cancer: Perspectives and Potential Applications.

Prostate cancer is one of the most life-threatening disorders that occur in males. It has now become the third most common disease all over the world, and emerging cases and spiking mortality rates are becoming more challenging day by day. Several approaches have been used to treat prostate cancer, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, etc. These are painful and invasive ways of treatment. Primarily, chemotherapy has been associated with numerous drawbacks restricting its further application. The majority of prostate cancers have the potential to become castration-resistant. Prostate cancer cells exhibit resistance to chemotherapy, resistance to radiation, ADT (androgen-deprivation therapy) resistance, and immune stiffness as a result of activating tumor-promoting signaling pathways and developing resistance to various treatment modalities. Nanomedicines such as liposomes, nanoparticles, branched dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, and quantum dots are promising disease management techniques in this context. Nanomedicines can target the drugs to the target site and enhance the drug's action for a prolonged period. They may also increase the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. This review summarizes the current data on nanomedicines for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. Thus, nanomedicine is pioneering in disease management.

Advancing disease identification in fava bean crops: A novel deep learning solution integrating YOLO-NAS for precise rust

A significant concern is the economic impact of agricultural diseases on the world’s crop production. The disease significantly reduces agricultural production across the world. Loss of nutrients caused by parasite infection of leaves, pods, and roots–the pathogenic agent that causes fava bean rust disease–decreases crop health. This work addresses this requirement by offering an innovative deep-learning model approach for early identification and classification of fava bean rust disease. The suggested method uses the effectiveness of modern YOLO-based object detection architectures like You Only Look Once –Neural Architecture Search (YOLO-NAS) L, YOLO-NASM, and YOLO-NASS, Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN), and RetinaNet. An inclusive dataset of 3296 images of various lighting and background situations was selected for extensive model training. Each model underwent thorough training and adjusted parameters through careful experimentation. The models’ comparative studies found significant performance differences. The precision for YOLO-NASL was 82.10%; for YOLO-NASM, it was 84.80%; for YOLO-NASS, it was 83.90%; for Faster R-CNN, it was 75.51%; and for RetinaNet, it was 73.74%. According to the evaluation, model complexity and detection accuracy are directly correlated. YOLO-NASL, YOLO-NASM, and YOLO-NASS showed remarkable mean average precision values of 90.90%, 94.10%, and 92.60%, respectively, and became highly functional models. The fastest model was YOLO-NASS. Its satisfying recognition speed made real-time detection possible in particular applications. The YOLO-NASM model, which shows an extraordinary state-of-the-art performance, represents the pinnacle of our work. Its mean average precision (mAP@0.5) was 94.10%, with notable values of 90.84%, 96.96%, and 84.80% for the F1-score, Recall, and precision, respectively. This investigation addresses a critical need in agricultural disease management, aligning with broader global efforts toward sustainable agriculture. Our studies add to the knowledge about precision agriculture and inspire practical, long-lasting disease management techniques in the agricultural industry. The real-time performance of the system will need to be improved, and satellite imagery integration may be considered in the future to provide more comprehensive coverage.

Antivirulence effects of cell-free culture supernatant of endophytic bacteria against grapevine crown gall agent, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and induction of defense responses in plantlets via intact bacterial cells

BackgroundCrown gall disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a very destructive affliction that affects grapevines. Endophytic bacteria have been discovered to control plant diseases via the use of several mechanisms. This research examined the potential for controlling crown gall by three endophytic bacteria that were previously isolated from healthy cultivated and wild grapevines including Pseudomonas kilonensis Ba35, Pseudomonas chlororaphis Ba47, and Serratia liquefaciens Ou55.ResultAt various degrees, three endophytic bacteria suppressed the populations of A. tumefaciens Gh1 and greatly decreased the symptoms of crown gall. Furthermore, biofilm production and motility behaviors of A. tumefaciens Gh1were greatly inhibited by the Cell-free Culture Supernatant (CFCS) of endophytic bacteria. According to our findings, CFCS may reduce the adhesion of A. tumefaciens Gh1 cells to grapevine cv. Rashe root tissues as well as their chemotaxis motility toward the extract of the roots. When compared to the untreated control, statistical analysis showed that CFCS significantly reduced the swimming, twitching, and swarming motility of A. tumefaciens Gh1. The findings demonstrated that the endophytic bacteria effectively stimulated the production of plant defensive enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and total soluble phenols at different time intervals in grapevine inoculated with A. tumefaciens Gh1. The Ba47 strain markedly increased the expression levels of defense genes associated with plant resistance. The up-regulation of PR1, PR2, VvACO1, and GAD1 genes in grapevine leaves indicates the activation of SA and JA pathways, which play a role in enhancing resistance to pathogen invasion. The results showed that treating grapevine with Ba47 increased antioxidant defense activities and defense-related gene expression, which reduced oxidative damage caused by A. tumefaciens and decreased the incidence of crown gall disease.ConclusionThis is the first study on how A. tumefaciens, the grapevine crown gall agent, is affected by CFCS generated by endophytic bacteria in terms of growth and virulence features. To create safer plant disease management techniques, knowledge of the biocontrol processes mediated by CFCS during microbial interactions is crucial.

Sustainable sweetpotato production in the United States: Current status, challenges, and opportunities

AbstractSweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is an important staple crop cultivated in over 100 countries, and the storage roots and vines provide food for humans and livestock. Sweetpotato consumption and demand for its value‐added products have increased significantly in the last two decades and have led to new cultivar development, expansion in acreage, and increased demand in the United States and its export markets. Despite the known nutritional components and other health benefits, further research is needed to characterize the genetic diversity and chemical composition related to their storage root qualities, essential in developing consumer‐preferred cultivars that offer host plant resistance against pests and pathogens. There is a critical need for research on non‐pesticidal control approaches that can provide safe, effective, economical, sustainable, and environmentally sound pest and disease management techniques, especially for socially disadvantaged small farmers in the United States. Moreover, climate change can significantly impact future production practices and yield and may directly or indirectly affect crop pests, weeds, and diseases. In this review, we discuss the current status, challenges, and future approaches associated with sweetpotato production practices; health‐promoting properties of sweetpotato cultivars; value‐added products; genetic diversity and germplasm; pest and disease management; weed and water management; pollination ecology; and other agronomic and cultural practices that may impact sustainable sweetpotato production by small‐scale, organic, and large‐scale growers.

Therapeutic patient education for severe mental disorders: A systematic review.

This systematic review aimed to review therapeutic patient education (TPE) programmes in managing psychiatric disorders, considering the diversity in delivering agents, intervention formats, targeted skills, and therapeutic outcomes. Comprehensive database searches, including Web of Science, PubMed, and COCHRANE, were conducted from September 2019 to January 2023, yielding 514 unique records, with 33 making it through rigorous evaluation for full-text review. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, focusing on various psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and multiple serious mental illnesses. A total of 38 studies were included from our previous review to supplement the current database search. TPE programmes exhibited diversity in delivering agents and intervention formats, with a notable presence of multidisciplinary teams and various professionals. The interventions prioritized coping strategies and disease management techniques, though the extent varied based on the disorder. Effectiveness was heterogeneous across studies; some interventions showed significant benefits in areas such as symptom management, coping, and functional improvement, while others reported no significant outcomes. The findings underscore the potential of TPE in psychiatric care, revealing its multifaceted nature and varied impact. TPE not only addresses deficits but also leverages patients' existing strengths and capabilities. Despite the reported benefits, a portion of the interventions lacked statistical significance, indicating the necessity for continuous refinement and evaluation.

Weather Based Prediction Models for Disease and Pest Using Machine Learning: A Review

Critical review of weather based prediction models of disease and pest attack on crops using machine learning (ML) algorithms are performed in the study. Since suitable weather conditions are the accelerators for the growth and spreading of disease or pest, the prediction models based on weather condition achieves high degree of accuracy. Due to the advancement of technology ML algorithms remarks successful application in prediction of diseases and pest on crops. The scope of the review work lies in the fact that the accurate forewarning system helps for the timely application of pest and disease management techniques which have greater significance in controlling and solving the damages due to diseases or pest infestation in plants. Stages in prediction models are analysed and the applied techniques are compared in detail in this review. Consequently, importance of weather parameters in perdition and, performance metrics used for evaluating the prediction models are compared and presented. The review presents the detailed discussion on machine learning algorithms used in the prediction models. The review reveals that new models with high degree of accuracy need to be developed for the prediction of diseases or pest outbreak of various crops.

Hydrometrocolpos: a Contemporary Review of the Last 5 Years.

The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of hydrometrocolpos, covering disease etiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic and management techniques, and known outcomes. This narrative review presents the literature on hydrometrocolpos in the pediatric population from the past 5years. We highlight the 69 reported cases of hydrometrocolpos and classify them based on type of obstruction or associated anomaly, discuss new diagnostic algorithms based on imaging, and present novel and underutilized surgical techniques for definitive management. Hydrometrocolpos, a condition characterized by retained fluid causing a distended vagina and uterus in the setting of a distal vaginal outflow obstruction, has a wide range of presentation severity based on the type of obstruction. Whether hydrometrocolpos is due to an isolated condition like imperforate hymen, a complex abnormality like cloacal malformation, or a part of a large congenital syndrome, the mainstay of treatment is decompression of the dilated vagina and surgical correction of the outflow obstruction. Imaging-based diagnostic algorithms and new treatment techniques reported in the literature, as well as longitudinal and patient-reported outcome research, can improve the lives of children affected by this condition.

Inhibitory effects of Bacillus velezensis ID-A01 supernatant against Streptococcus mutans

BackgroundDental caries is a chronic oral disease caused by microbial infections, which result in erosion of the dental enamel and cause irreversible damage. Therefore, proper disease management techniques and the creation of an environment that prevents intraoral growth and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans in the early stages, are crucial to prevent the potential progression of dental plaque to disease. Here, we aimed to investigate antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of the Bacillus velezensis ID-A01 supernatant (ID23029) against S. mutans, and its inhibitory effects on acidogenesis.ResultsA killing kinetics assay showed a peak lethality percentage of 94.5% after 6 h of exposure to ID23029. In sucrose-exposed conditions, ID23029 inhibited lactic acid formation, preventing the pH from falling below the threshold for enamel demineralization, and inhibited up to 96.6% of biofilm formation. This effect was maintained in the presence of lysozyme. Furthermore, ID23029 retained up to 92% lethality, even at an intraoral concentration at which lysozyme is ineffective against S. mutans.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the potential of the B. velezensis ID-A01 supernatant for the prevention and treatment of dental caries. Its eventual use in dental practice is encouraged, although further studies are required to confirm its beneficial effects.

Using Patient-Reported Outcome Measures to Identify Factors Associated with Impaired Physical Function in Younger and Older Adults Living with Sickle Cell Disease

Background Improvements in disease management techniques have led to increases in the life expectancy of individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite the increasing number of older adults with SCD (defined as age ≥ 40 years), there is limited data on how symptoms experienced by this population such as pain, sleep, depression, and fatigue impact how they function day-to-day. In this study, we sought to determine which modifiable patient-reported factors most strongly correlate with patient reported physical function in adults with SCD. Understanding factors associated with impaired physical function will provide targets for future interventional studies to improve function. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study at a single academic sickle cell center. Participants completed the Adult Sickle Cell Quality of Life Measurement Information System (ASCQ-Me) Stiffness Impact and Sleep Impact surveys and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function, Pain Intensity, Pain Interference, Fatigue, Cognitive Function, and Emotional Distress measures. For ASCQ-Me, higher scores imply better self-reported health. For PROMIS, higher scores mean higher levels of the concept being measured. Relationships between the variables thought to influence SCD experience were explored using analytical networks and centrality measures (INSIGHTS, Nanbar Health's data analysis and 3D visualization tool) that built upon calculated pairwise Spearman correlations of the non-normal variable set. Results Surveys were administered to 92 participants with 97% of participants completing all surveys. The mean score for each item was obtained across all participants. Scores were then stratified by age group and t-tests were performed to compare scores on results between groups for each ASCQ-Me and PROMIS measure. Across those who completed both surveys, the mean age was 43 (SD 13.7). The mean age for older adults was 54 (SD 8.6) and the mean age for younger adults was 30 (SD 5.5). More participants were female (58%) than male (42%). Genotypes included HbSS (58%), HbSβ 0-thalassemia (5%), HbSC, (24%), and HbSβ +-thalassemia (13%). The mean score on PROMIS Physical Function for all participants was 48.7 with 18% of responders reporting impaired physical function (score ≤ 40). Older adults had lower mean scores on PROMIS Physical Function (46.4) vs. for younger adults (51.6, p <0.05). The strongest correlations were between PROMIS Physical Function and ASQME Stiffness Impact (r s= 0.66; p<0.001), PROMIS Pain Intensity (r s= -0.61; p<0.001), PROMIS Pain Interference, (r s= -0.61; p<0.001), and ASCQ-Me Fatigue (r s = -0.55; p<0.001). There was a moderate positive correlation between PROMIS Physical Function and ASCQ-Me Sleep Impact (r s= 0.40; p<0.001) and PROMIS Cognitive Function (r s=0.36 p < 0.001) implying better sleep and better cognitive function were associated with better patient reported physical function. Lastly, better physical function had a low-moderate association with PROMIS Emotional Distress (r s= - 0.24; p < 0.05). We assessed relationships between all of the patient-reported outcome measures and found that the strongest relationships were between Pain Intensity and Pain Interference (r s= 0.69), Pain Intensity and Stiffness (r s= -0.67), and Fatigue and Cognitive Function (r s= -0.69). There was no central node identified (Figure). Conclusion Each factor evaluated in this study showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful relationship to patient reported physical function. One of our major findings was that when mapped against each other, there was no central node explaining the identified correlations between the variables assessed. These results suggest that physical functioning is multifactorial and that there exist multiple modifiable factors that may influence function in people with SCD. Factors associated with physical function will serve as targets for future interventional studies to maintain and improve function in adults with SCD.

Constraints Perceived by Farmers in Fish Farming: A Review Analysis

The adoption of scientific fish farming faces multiple constraints encompassing economic, infrastructural, technological, marketing, societal, and extension-related challenges. Economically, the substantial upfront investment required for infrastructure and operational costs deters potential fish farmers, especially small-scale operators. Inadequate access to financing further exacerbates this issue. Insufficient infrastructure, including poor transportation networks and processing facilities, hampers the efficient distribution and marketing of fish products. Limited access to scientific farming technology and disease management techniques hinders the adoption of advanced practices, while price fluctuations and a lack of organised markets pose marketing-related challenges. Cultural norms and societal dynamics can influence fish farming practices, sometimes hindering the adoption of sustainable farming. To overcome these constraints, collaborative efforts among the government departments, institutes, banks, NGOs etc. are essential. Strategies include providing financial support mechanisms, infrastructure development, dissemination of latest technical known how and training, establishing market chain, and respecting local social norms. Addressing these issues collectively could unlock the full potential of fish farming, promoting food security, livelihood enhancement and sustainable development.

Review on Technologies Applied to Classification of Tomato Leaf Virus Diseases

Tomato leaf virus diseases present a significant risk to tomato cultivation, leading to substantial financial losses worldwide. Implementing appropriate control measures depends on these diseases being accurately and quickly identified and classified. This article provides an insight into the analysis of the various technologies used to classify tomato leaf virus diseases as well as some similar plant leaf virus disease. The review encompasses both traditional and modern techniques, including image processing, machine learning, and deep learning methods. It explores the use of different imaging techniques, such as visible light RGB, infrared, and hyperspectral imaging, for capturing leaf disease symptoms. Additionally, it emphasizes the growing significance of deep learning models, such as convolutional neural networks, in identifying diseases with extreme precision. Overall, this study offers insightful information on the technological developments for the categorization of tomato leaf viral illnesses, promoting the creation of efficient disease management techniques.

Integrating Virtual Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Into Inflammatory Bowel Disease Care: Mixed Methods Feasibility Trial.

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience cycles of aggressive physical symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue. These acute symptoms regress and return, and chronic symptoms and complications often linger. The nature of the disease can also cause individuals to experience psychological distress including symptoms of anxiety and depression; however, unlike the physical symptoms of IBD, these psychological symptoms often remain untreated. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of virtual mindfulness-based stress reduction (v-MBSR) for adults with IBD. IBD patients with self-reported anxiety or depression were recruited from clinics in Alberta, Canada to participate in an 8-week v-MSBR intervention. Eligible patients participated in v-MBSR delivered by psychiatrists using a videoconferencing platform. Primary feasibility outcomes included trial uptake, adherence, attendance, and attrition rates. Secondary effectiveness outcomes included measures of anxiety, depression, quality of life (QoL), and mindfulness. Effectiveness data were collected at 3 time points: baseline, at intervention completion, and 6 months after completion. To further assess feasibility and acceptability, participants were invited to participate in a semistructured interview after completing v-MBSR. A total of 16 of the 64 (25%) referred patients agreed to participate in v-MBSR with the most common reason for decline being a lack of time while 7 of the 16 (43.8%) participants completed the program and experienced encouraging effects including decreased anxiety and depression symptoms and increased health-related QoL with both improvements persisting at 6-month follow-up. Participants described improved coping strategies and disease management techniques as benefits of v-MBSR. Patients with IBD were interested in a psychiatrist-led virtual anxiety management intervention, but results demonstrate v-MBSR may be too time intensive for some patients with IBD patients. v-MBSR was acceptable to those who completed the intervention, and improvements to anxiety, depression, and QoL were promising and sustainable. Future studies should attempt to characterize the patients with IBD who may benefit most from interventions like v-MBSR.

An In-depth Investigation of the Pertinent Challenges Inherent in Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Aquaponics, and the Efficacy of Bioponics-based Organic Solutions in Mitigating Them

This study looks at current issues with hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics and explores if organic bioponics-based solutions are a viable alternative that is also sustainable. The study's findings emphasize the need of maintaining root health and nutrient delivery in aeroponic systems, monitoring water quality and striking a balance between the health of fish and plants in aquaponic systems, and maximizing resource utilization in both systems. The utilization of natural pest and disease management techniques and the sustainable use of resources are just two advantages of bioponics, according to comparative studies. The absence of organic food sources, inefficient insect control, and expensive upfront costs are cited as challenges. The development of various organic nutrient sources, optimisation of biological control agents, analysis of commercial feasibility and scalability, automation of processes, integration of technology, and environmental impact analysis are some future research objectives. This study demonstrates how bioponics may help progress environmentally friendly farming methods. By pursuing the suggested future research lines, scientists can further support organic farming methods, improve the effectiveness of food production, and lessen the influence of agriculture on the environment. By identifying low-cost organic material for Agri input development like that done in the year long trials done by VIRENXIA with IIT-Delhi, appropriate solutions for accelerating sustainable crop growth can be achieved. It also aims to create a virtuous cycle between society and an inclusive academic system, by providing knowledge and practices for emerging farmers and upgrading the capabilities of agriculture sectors, in responding to the development needs of rural India.

First Report of Trichoderma crassum Causing Leaf Spot on Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. M82) in Ohio.

Trichoderma is a genus of wood-decaying fungi generally found in soil (Druzhinina and Kubicek 2005). Trichoderma crassum was confirmed to be a sister species to T. virens according to the molecular sequencing results (Chaverri et al. 2003). A foliar disease with ~70% incidence on Solanum lycopersicum was observed in a greenhouse at The Ohio State University (40°0'8'' north latitude, 83°1'36'' west longitude), Columbus, United States, in December 2021. On average up to 60% of the leaves per two-month-old tomato plant were infected. Initially, the dark-grey color and irregular spots appeared at the leaf tips. As the disease progressed, the yellow necrotic lesions were observed surrounding the preformed disease spots. Finally, the infected leaves appeared curled and wilted as a whole. The leaf fragments from three tomato plants 40 inches apart were cut from the diseased lesions and surface sterilized with 75% ethanol (30 seconds) and 1% NaOCl (60 seconds), subsequently rinsed with sterilized deionized water three times. Nine pieces of the sterilized leaf tissues were then placed on the PDA plates at 28℃ in the dark and incubated in one incubator for 4 days. The pure cultures of five isolates were acquired and examined with a light microscope. The fungus from all the isolates changed from white to dark green with the radial pattern and profuse sporulation on the PDA. The produced round conidia were observed under a light microscope (Fig S1). The DNA was extracted from two representative isolates which showed the same morphology. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and a conserved fungal rRNA region were amplified using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (5'-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3' and 5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3') (White et al. 1990) and SR6f/SR7r (5'-TGTTACGACTTTTACTT-3' and 5'-AGTTAAAAAGCTCGTAGTTG-3') (Hirose et al. 2012), respectively. The PCR products were further sequenced by Sanger sequencing (Table S1). Based on the BLAST results through NCBI website, the ITS sequences of the two isolates were 99% (566/572) and 98% (558/572) identical to Trichoderma crassum DAOM 164916 (EU280067). Their SR sequences both showed 99% (290/293; 289/293) identity to the same strain. The phylogenetic tree was also created with the sequences of ITS region by MEGA software (version 11) (Fig S2). Therefore, the fungus was identified as Trichoderma crassum based on its morphological characteristics (green conidia), Sanger sequencing results, and phylogenetic tree. To complete Koch's postulates, the 5-mm-diameter fungal agar discs of 7-day-old pure cultures were used for the inoculation on 18 healthy leaves of six tomato cv. M82 plants with two-month-old. The sterile pure PDA discs of the equal size were used for the mock inoculation as a comparison. Fungal plug method was chosen in this study because it had been widely applied to characterization of the fungal pathogens causing leaf spot disease (Pornsuriya et al. 2020; Yang et al. 2021). Five days later, the same symptom as those that occurred on the previously naturally infected tomato plants were observed on all the inoculated leaves (Fig S3A). However, there were no symptoms on the leaves with the mock inoculation. The fungus re-isolated from the symptomatic leaves showed the consistent morphology (dark-green color with radial sporulation) with the original isolates (Fig S3B). Thus, Trichoderma crassum was verified as the causal agent of the foliar disease on Solanum lycopersicum cv. M82 in our greenhouse. To our knowledge, it is the first report of Trichoderma crassum leading to the leaf spot and wilt on tomato in Ohio. The identification of the causal agent lays the groundwork for the development of necessary disease management techniques. We acknowledge the funding support from CFAES Internal Grants Program 2021009.

Indigenous Knowledge Applications in small-scale Shrimp Farming, Profitability Analysis and Challenges in Achieving SDGs: A Study on South-western Part of Bangladesh

This study attempts to identify the application of indigenous knowledge of shrimp farmers that has passed through generations. In each step of the shrimp production process, such as pond preparation, seed selection, water management, disease management, feeding practices, and harvesting techniques, farmers use indigenous knowledge from one generation to another to gain sustainability. Knowledge is orally transmitted through imitation and demonstration. This study also examines the profitability of small-scale (land size less than 250 decimals or 7.5 bighas) shrimp farming in the Tala subdistrict of Satkhira district. Farmers try to minimize the cost of production and maximize profits. The primary data were collected through interviews with shrimp farmers and focus group discussions. The total number of respondents in the interviews was 35, with 10 farmers in a group discussion. The study found that shrimp farming is financially profitable (per bigha) in the study area. We obtain the mean net revenue per bigha as 1162.71 tk. The challenges in achieving the SDGs for the local community of shrimp farmers were also identified in our study. The challenges include poverty eradication, lack of quality education, gender inequality, and substantial environmental damage.