Abstract A commercial plant probiotic product was developed employing Bacillus subtilis CW-S in submerged fermentation. The effects of molasses and urea on cell growth were investigated with the goal of low-cost manufacturing. Plackett–Burman and Central-Composite Design (CCD) were utilized to optimize production parameters to maximize productivity. The stability of the formulated product and its efficacy in cultivating minituber in aeroponics and industrial-grade potatoes in the field were assessed. The results showed that the medium BS10 (molasses and urea) produced satisfactory cell density (7.19 × 10 8 CFU/mL) as compared to the control (1.51 × 10 7 CFU/mL) and BS1-BS9 (expensive) media (1.84 × 10 7 –1.37 × 10 9 CFU/mL). According to validated CCD results, optimized parameters fitted well in pilot (300 L; 2.05 × 10 9 CFU/mL) and industrial (3000 L; 2.01 × 10 9 CFU/mL) bioreactors, resulting in a two-fold increase in cell concentration over laboratory (9.84 × 10 8 CFU/mL) bioreactors. In aeroponics, CW-S produced excellent results, with a significant increase in the quantity and weight of minitubers and the survival rate of transplanted plantlets. In a field test, the yield of industrial-grade (&gt; 55 mm) potatoes was increased with a reduction in fertilizer dose. Overall, the findings suggest that CW-S can be produced commercially utilizing the newly developed media and optimized conditions, making plant probiotics more cost-effective and accessible to farmers for crop cultivation, particularly in aeroponic minituber and industrial-grade potato production. 

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Optimization of industrial (3000 L) production of Bacillus subtilis CW-S and its novel application for minituber and industrial-grade potato cultivation

A transcriptomic study reveals salt stress alleviation in cotton plants upon salt tolerant PGPR inoculation

Wheat grain proteomic and protein–metabolite interactions analyses provide insights into plant growth promoting bacteria–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi–wheat interactions

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major source of calorific intake in its various forms and is considered one of the most important staple foods. Improved wheat productivity can contribute substantially to addressing food security in the coming decades. Soil salinity is the most serious limiting factor in crop production and fertilizer use efficiency. In this study, 11 bacteria were isolated from wheat rhizosphere and examined for salt tolerance ability. WGT1, WGT2, WGT3, WGT6, WGT8, and WGT11 were able to tolerate NaCl salinity up to 4%. Bacterial isolates were characterized in vitro for plant growth-promoting properties including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, zinc solubilization, biofilm formation, and cellulase-pectinase production. Six isolates, WGT1, WGT3, WGT4, WGT6, WGT8, and WGT9 showed IAA production ability ranging from 0.7–6 µg m/L. WGT8 displayed the highest IAA production. Five isolates, WGT1, WGT2, WGT5, WGT10, and WGT11, demonstrated phosphate solubilization ranging from 1.4–12.3 µg m/L. WGT2 showed the highest phosphate solubilization. Nitrogen fixation was shown by only two isolates, WGT1 and WGT8. Zinc solubilization was shown by WGT1 and WGT11 on minimal media. All isolates showed biofilm formation ability, where WGT4 exhibited maximum potential. Cellulase production ability was noticed in WGT1, WGT2, WGT4, and WGT5, while pectinase production was observed in WGT2 and WGT3. Phylogenetic identification of potential bacteria isolates confirmed their close relationship with various species of the genus Bacillus. WGT1, WGT2, and WGT3 showed the highest similarity with B. cereus, WGT6 with B. tianshenii, WGT8 with B. subtilis, and WGT11 with B. thuringiensis. Biofertilizer characteristics of salt-tolerant potential rhizospheric bacteria were evaluated by inoculating wheat plants under controlled conditions and field experiments. B. cereus WGT1 and B. thuringiensis WGT11 displayed the maximum potential to increase plant growth parameters and enhance grain yield by 37% and 31%, respectively. Potential bacteria of this study can tolerate salt stress, have the ability to produce plant growth promoting substances under salt stress and contribute significantly to enhance wheat grain yield. These bacterial isolates have the potential to be used as biofertilizers for improved wheat production under salinity conditions and contribute to the sustainable agriculture.

Dominance of Bacillus species in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rhizosphere and their plant growth promoting potential under salt stress conditions

Synthesis and characterization of copper oxide nanoparticles: its influence on corn (Z. mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants by inoculation of Bacillus subtilis

The increased dependence of farmers on chemical fertilizers poses a risk to soil fertility and ecosystem stability. Plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, providing multiple benefits for the enhancement of crop production and soil health. Bacillus subtilis is a common PGPR in soil that plays a key role in conferring biotic and abiotic stress tolerance to plants by induced systemic resistance (ISR), biofilm formation and lipopeptide production. As a part of bioremediating technologies, Bacillus spp. can purify metal contaminated soil. It acts as a potent denitrifying agent in agroecosystems while improving the carbon sequestration process when applied in a regulated concentration. Although it harbours several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), it can reduce the horizontal transfer of ARGs during manure composting by modifying the genetic makeup of existing microbiota. In some instances, it affects the beneficial microbes of the rhizosphere. External inoculation of B. subtilis has both positive and negative impacts on the endophytic and semi‐synthetic microbial community. Soil texture, type, pH and bacterial concentration play a crucial role in the regulation of all these processes. Soil amendments and microbial consortia of Bacillus produced by microbial engineering could be used to lessen the negative effect on soil microbial diversity. The complex plant–microbe interactions could be decoded using transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and epigenomics strategies which would be beneficial for both crop productivity and the well‐being of soil microbiota. Bacillus subtilis has more positive attributes similar to the character of Dr. Jekyll and some negative attributes on plant growth, soil health and the environment akin to the character of Mr. Hyde.

Bacillus subtilis impact on plant growth, soil health and environment: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Digital games have become an important part of leisure activities in the daily lives of adolescents and young adults.[1] There exist several types of games for various age groups and genders.[2] In recent years, increased exposure and access to digital games (e-sports and Wii) have attracted more adolescents and young adults to gaming. Adolescents and young adults are vulnerable to excessive use of digital games when they use gaming as escapism to relieve stress from the real world.[3] The excessive use of these games can also be associated with several physical and psychological health problems.[4] Prolonged sitting with poor posture and fine motor strain associated with digital gaming makes musculoskeletal symptoms as one of the most common physical health hazards.[5–8] These musculoskeletal symptoms of gaming have also been found to be associated directly or indirectly with other health hazards like sleep issues,[9] fatigue and obesity,[10] headaches, anxiety,[4] stress,[4] digital eye strain[11], and epilepsy.[12] However, literature on the association between gaming and physical health hazards among adolescents and young adults is relatively scarce. To provide a broader overview, a generalized search was performed using search terms “health hazard” or “musculoskeletal” and “gaming.”[8] It gave us two broad domains: 1. gaming and musculoskeletal hazard and 2. gaming and other related physical health hazards. GAMING AND MUSCULOSKELETAL HAZARDS Musculoskeletal pain is one of the common musculoskeletal hazards associated with gaming in adolescents and youth.[8] Nintendo gaming system has been found to be associated with a wide pattern of musculoskeletal hazards ranging from tendinitis of the thumb, hand, wrist, and elbow (nintendinitis or nintendonitis) to palmar ulceration (ulcerative nintendinitis) due to repetitive micro-trauma. Further, the motion-sensitive Wii remote was associated with traumatic injuries that were confined mainly to the upper extremities (hand lacerations and bruising), face (periorbital hematomas), and neck.[13] Despite musculoskeletal pain being a significant concern associated with gaming among adolescents and young people, very few studies could be identified to draw meaningful conclusions. Excessive gaming for more than 5 h a day increased musculoskeletal symptoms among adolescents aged 13–18 years. Further, escape motives were associated with the musculoskeletal symptoms, suggesting that those playing for longer hours were more likely to report such symptoms.[13] A cluster analysis among adolescents highlighted more cases of musculoskeletal discomfort among problematic clusters with longer gaming times and higher risk for gaming disorder. Preliminary findings suggested pathological musculoskeletal changes in the hands and wrists of adolescents who played games for more extended periods.[14] In another study, addiction to online games, gender (girls), and education (higher) emerged as important predictors of neck discomfort and pain.[15] Gaming for more than 3 h per day, without rest breaks, was common among office workers, and there was an exacerbation of office work pain in most circumstances through strain superposition.[16] While excessive gaming time has some association with musculoskeletal hazard, no association has been reported with game types (single player vs multiplayer).[13] Mixed evidence emerged from the recent scoping review regarding the musculoskeletal pain associated with gaming.[17] Among the three included studies, one restricted its finding only to descriptive statistics; the other showed a weak association, while no association between gaming and musculoskeletal pain was reported in the other study. Another significant concern associated with gaming is the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in e-sports. According to a recent study, four in every ten e-sports athletes reported pain, with back, neck, and shoulders being the most common pain sites reported.[8] GAMING AND OTHER RELATED PHYSICAL HEALTH HAZARDS Excessive video game use over a prolonged duration poses strain in the visual system resulting in headaches, dizziness, and in some cases, nausea and vomiting.[18] Prolonged near-term adaptation (blurred vision, difficulty in focusing, and headache), issues related to dry eye syndrome (irritation/burning sensation, ocular fatigue, discomfort, photosensitivity), and exacerbation of pre-existing vision problems (hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism, and adaptive disorders) were observed commonly along with symptoms due to poor posture and prolonged immobilization (such as neck pain, tension headache, and other atypical musculoskeletal pain) while gaming.[19] Precipitation of seizures due to rapid change of on-screen patterns (Nintendo epilepsy), auditory hallucinations (Nintendo hallucination), enuresis, and encopresis were observed in Nintendo gaming system.[20] Gaming duration was found to be associated with overweight and increase in food intake (mostly junk)[18] and problematic gaming behavior with fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety symptoms.[21] Contrastingly, a weak association between gaming and body mass index was reported among adolescents from a scoping review.[17] Overall, preliminary evidence suggested a negative association between increasing video game playing hours with general health status.[17] Overall, it identified existing evidence and their limitations to support the link between gaming pattern, gaming type, musculoskeletal, and related health hazards. There are very few studies with mixed evidence limiting our ability to draw conclusions about gaming and musculoskeletal and related health concerns in adolescents and young adults. Different games and gaming consoles have different issues reported, and there was no information on pain intensity. To the best of our knowledge, no investigations have utilized longitudinal design among adolescents. Variations in methodologies, study populations, sample sizes, sampling techniques, assessment, reporting (non-validated tools), and operational definitions could be attributed to this inconclusive evidence. Musculoskeletal hazards are common and multifactorial in adolescence. Future studies should focus on developing standard methodologies and tools and account for other contextual factors like (family history, schoolbag carrying, playing, work tasks, rest position between classes and works) while determining its association with gaming among adolescents and young adults. Given the diversity of interrelated health hazards associated with gaming, a comprehensive and holistic approach is required to collaborate with various health professionals to improve gaming practice. The sedentary nature and repetitive micro-trauma associated with gaming promote musculoskeletal injury along with the obesogenic environment and non-communicable diseases. The utility of prosocial digital games to enhance healthy behaviors and reduce health hazards must be explored. Such strategies should focus on promoting healthy use of technology and enhancing awareness and management of musculoskeletal and related health hazards to enable adolescents and young people to their positive transition to healthier adults. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest. 

Digital gaming, musculoskeletal, and related health hazards among adolescents and young adults

ABSTRACT Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) ligands and their receptors are crucial factors driving chemoresistance in several malignancies, challenging the efficacy of currently available anti-cancer drugs. The Fibroblast growth factor/receptor (FGF/FGFR) signalling malfunctions in tumor cells, resulting in a range of molecular pathways that may impact its drug effectiveness. Deregulation of cell signalling is critical since it can enhance tumor growth and metastasis. Overexpression and mutation of FGF/FGFR induce regulatory changes in the signalling pathways. Chromosomal translocation facilitating FGFR fusion production aggravates drug resistance. Apoptosis is inhibited by FGFR-activated signalling pathways, reducing multiple anti-cancer medications' destructive impacts. Angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are facilitated by FGFRs-dependent signalling, which correlates with drug resistance and enhances metastasis. Further, lysosome-mediated drug sequestration is another prominent method of resistance. Inhibition of FGF/FGFR by following a plethora of therapeutic approaches such as covalent and multitarget inhibitors, ligand traps, monoclonal antibodies, recombinant FGFs, combination therapy, and targeting lysosomes and micro RNAs would be helpful. As a result, FGF/FGFR suppression treatment options are evolving nowadays. To increase positive impacts, the processes underpinning the FGF/FGFR axis' role in developing drug resistance need to be clarified, emphasizing the need for more studies to develop novel therapeutic options to address this significant problem. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The FGF/FGFR signalling mediated anti-cancer drug resistance and therapeutic intervention.

This paperanalyses Toni Morrison's attempts in three of her novels, The Bluest Eye (1970), Sula (1973), and Song of Solomon (1975), to define the activities of the black community (1977). Toni Morrison's works have often portrayed black people from the perspective of a powerful white community and its values. The Bluest Eye incidents occur in Lorain, Ohio, Morrison's birthplace. In this book, the black town of Lorain is kept far away from the upper-class white community of Lake Shore Park, which is likewise regarded as a place where black people are not allowed. Sula takes place in a small Ohio town called Bottom, named for its location at the base of a hill. The captivating black community of Song of Solomon is its own creature, apart from but never far distant from the white society. The novel's opening chapters explain "Not Doctor Street" and "No Mercy Hospital." Both Mains Avenue and Mercy Hospital are commonly utilized by African Americans but are not officially acknowledged by the white city authorities. In a sense, Song of Solomon takes place in a made-up city somewhere in the United States, possibly in Michigan, Pennsylvania, or Virginia. The study shows that white neighbourhoods are constantly situated next to black ones, serving as a benchmark and a tool for oppressing and exploiting the black population.Since Morrison is a black writer, this comparison is essentially a search for self—that occurs repeatedly in her works. 

Xenophobiain morrison's the bluest eye, sula & song of solomon

The Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor1 (FGFR1) kinase wields exquisite control on cell fate, proliferation, differentiation, and homeostasis. An imbalance of FGFR1 signaling leads to several pathogeneses of diseases ranging from multiple cancers to allergic and neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we investigated the phosphorylation-induced conformational dynamics of FGFR1 in apo and ATP-bound states via all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. All simulations were performed for 2 × 2 µs. We have also investigated the energetics of the binding of ATP to FGFR1 using the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann scheme. Our study reveals that the FGFR1 kinase can reach a fully active configuration through phosphorylation and ATP binding. A 3-10 helix formation in the activation loop signifies its rearrangement leading to stability upon ATP binding. The interaction of phosphorylated tyrosine (pTyr654) with positively charged residues forms strong salt-bridge interactions, driving the compactness of the structure. The dynamic cross-correlation map reveals phosphorylation enhances correlated motions and reduces anti-correlated motions between different domains. We believe that the mechanistic understanding of large-conformational changes upon the activation of the FGFR1 kinase will aid the development of novel targeted therapeutics.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Subhasmita Mahapatra

Papers

Bacillus subtilis impact on plant growth, soil health and environment: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Digital gaming, musculoskeletal, and related health hazards among adolescents and young adults

The FGF/FGFR signalling mediated anti-cancer drug resistance and therapeutic intervention.

Xenophobiain morrison's the bluest eye, sula & song of solomon

Molecular dynamics simulations reveal phosphorylation-induced conformational dynamics of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 kinase.