The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of kinetin on growth and yield of rice in the presence and absence of nickel contamination. Rice seedlings were dipped in kinetin solution (10(-3), 10(-4) and 10 M(-5)) for 2 hours and transplanted in pots having soil contaminated with nickel sulfate @ 130 mg kg(-1). Experiment was laid out according to completely randomized design with four replications. Results revealed that kinetin significantly improved growth and yield of rice grown in nickel contamination. Kinetin @ 10(-4) M showed maximum improvement in plant height, paddy yield, 1000 grain weight, number of tillers and panicles up to 9.76, 15.72, 11.77, 11.87, and 10.90%, respectively, as compared to plants grown in contaminated soil without kinetin. Kinetin also improved the uptake of nutrients (NPK) in straw and grain of plants grown in Ni contaminated soil. Plants treated with kinetin had more concentration of Ni in shoot but less in grain compared to plants grown in Ni contaminated soil without application of kinetin. The application of kinetin can reduce stress effect on plants through improvement in the biomass of plant. This strategy could be used to increase the phytoextraction of Ni from the contaminated soil.

No abstract

In plants, development, growth and yield most severely affected through saline soil/water in growth medium, ultimately cause severe threat to global food production for human being. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the most edible crop in Pakistan. Production of this crop can be improved through using marginal areas with the help of growing salt-tolerant varieties. The present investigation is carried out to screen out six local wheat varieties (F.Sarhad, Insaf, Lalma, Tatora, Bathoor and Barsat) with reference to their vegetative and reproductive growth, different physiological parameters [relative water content (RWC), electrolyte-leakage (EL) and leaf water loss (LWL)] and ionic status of plants. Present experiment designed in completely randomized manner (CRD) and 54 pots were arranged in the Botanical Garden, Department of Botany. These pots arranged in 6 lines with 9 pots/line and each line was irrigated with non-saline (control), 50 mM and 150 mM NaCl solution. The data from present research revealed that application of salt cause significant reduction in plant-height, root-length, fresh-biomass, dry-biomass, seed number/plant, seed weight/plant, spike-weight, relative water content, leaf water loss, and different ions of plants. Similarly at same applied doses of salt weight of 100 seeds, spike-length, electrolyte-leakage, Na+ and Cl- ions become increased. It has been concluded from the results of present study that varieties F. Sarhad, Insaf and Lalma exhibited more salt tolerance as compare to other varieties. So, these recommended for growing on moderately salt affected soil/water to achieve more yield of wheat from such affected lands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a small-vessel vasculitis characterized by immune complex deposition in the walls of dermal capillaries and venules. With the COVID-19 pandemic, more adults are receiving the MMR vaccine. We report a case of MMR vaccine-related LCV occurring only on the upper extremities with associated conjunctivitis.

Since late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has differentially impacted geographies and population demographics as it spread. As of June 30, 2020, two hotspots within the United States of America—the states of Georgia and Michigan—exhibited similar numbers of cases while Michigan had over twice the case fatality rate (CFR) of Georgia. Given the similar populations, land areas, and pandemic timelines of these states, such a large difference is unexpected. The primary goal of this paper is to examine why Michigan experienced much higher COVID-19 mortality than Georgia, which may point to at-risk comorbidities and vulnerable populations. We examined publicly available data on demographics, rates of comorbidities, environmental factors, and other population differences at the state and local levels (the cities of Detroit, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; and Albany, Georgia) that have known or identified associations with health outcomes. We also outlined the timeline of the pandemic in each state to determine if the actions of state governments may have contributed to the observed difference in CFR. While the difference in state CFR may imply that Michigan handled the pandemic poorly, the data show that inherent characteristics of Detroit may have led to the higher statewide CFR. Notable differences between the states include elderly populations, agricultural statistics, and drinking habits. Notable differences between the cities included population density, health system quality, per capita income, race, education, media access, and air pollution. Hypertension (among blacks), diabetes (at the city level), chronic kidney disease, asthma, heart disease, and cancer differed in prevalence by location and were associated with increased severity and/or mortality of COVID-19. There were more deaths due to COVID-19 in African American communities and nursing homes in Michigan. A combination of these factors likely explains the differential impact between these two states.