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Integrated Aquaculture Wastewater Bioremediation Systems (IAWBSs) are crucial for treating nutrient-rich mariculture water. However, there is a lack of detailed information about the functional mechanisms between nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) functional genes and the bacterioplankton community in the presence of photosynthetic bacteria (PSB). This study evaluated the connections between N and P functional genes in IAWBSs under the influence of PSB. The results showed significant improvements in effluent quality, with removal efficiencies of 79, 74, 83, 90, and 71% for NO2−−N, NO3−−N, PO43−-P, NH4+−N, and CODMn, respectively. Adding PSB enhanced and altered microbial diversity within the system, promoting the abundance of functional genes related to N and P cycling. Notably, genes associated in denitrification (nirK and nirS), ammonification (ureC) and amoB, involved in nitrification, were significantly increased after PSB was added. Furthermore, genes such as phnK, phoD, and phoX, which are involved in P transformation, also showed increased abundance levels. These genes were closely linked to the microbial community distribution, species diversity, and nutrient cycling. Microbial community changes can result in changes in functional gene abundance. This study provides important and novel insights for developing bioremediation strategies for polluted sites. This demonstrates the fundamental relationships between the IAWBSs’ functional units and the distribution of microbial communities under the influence of PSB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Developing an efficient, robust, and noble metal-free electrocatalyst that can catalyse oxygen evolution reactions (OER) remains a significant challenge. CoS 2 , a representative of pyrite form transition metal dichalcogenides, has recently been identified as an economical catalyst. Here, an incredibly quick and scalable technique for novel catalysts synthesized with the use of the microwave method was introduced. Manganese-doped cobalt sulphide (Mn-CoS 2) showed outstanding OER with a very low overpotential of 227 mV at 10 mA cm−2. Exposure of surface atoms resulted in high electrochemical activity, where the defects facilitated charge and mass transfer along the nanostructure, allowing surface dependent electrochemical reactions to be performed more efficiently. The electronic properties of pristine and transition-metal-doped CoS 2 structures were also investigated using density functional theory (DFT). To better understand transition metal's dependent impact on crystal structure, orbital electronic participation, charge density, and charge transformation in both pristine and Mn-doped CoS 2 frameworks were calculated and analysized. Our synthesis approach is primarily commercial and extensible, overcoming synthesis challenge of transition metal sulphide nanostructures with prime quality and implying a potential for commercial uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen production through water electrolysis is a promising pathway to advance green energy technologies. The efficiency of cost-effective nanoscale electrocatalysts has been extensively studied over the past three decades, leading to significant advancements in catalytic nanostructure materials. Oxyhydroxide (OxH) electrocatalysts have gained attention for their robust performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline conditions. This review explores recent developments in transition-metal-based HER and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts, including alloys, phosphates, oxides, hydroxides, and oxyhydroxides. Emphasis is placed on structural design, controlled synthesis, and performance enhancement strategies, providing insights into the mechanisms of water splitting. The study also discusses advancements in self-supported electrodes and highlights the applications, challenges, and potential of OxH-based materials for efficient energy production. By addressing global energy demands and environmental concerns, this work contributes to the development of hierarchical OxH nanostructures, offering a foundation for future water-splitting technologies. • Metal-oxides and metal-oxy-hydroxides utilized for water electrolysis. • OER and HER mechanism of various MONPs during water electrolysis. • Function of Transition metal oxide and metal-hydroxides in H 2 production. • Bimetallic and trimetallic nanomaterials for OER and HER. • Green fuel production in field of energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical stability, band gap enhancement, optical response and impact of pressure on thermoelectric figure of merit are considered vital parameters from thermoelectric device's perspective based on SrZrO3 (SZO). The knowledge of elastic constant expressed structural stability of SZO (cubic symmetry) even at elevated pressures. Cauchy's pressure and Poisson's ratios demonstrated brittle behavior of SZO till 10 GPa, and it transformed to ductile material for higher pressures. The topology of electronic band structure and its pressure effects are discussed with the help of density of states. Optical properties expressed significant shifting to higher energy values as a function of pressure. Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity showed an increasing trend with the application of external pressure, with no significant change in their graphical behavior from its ambient conditions. The lowest value of ZT is obtained at 40 GPa. The structural stability and sustained thermoelectric behavior at higher pressure declares SZO as ideal candidate for energy applications at extreme conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Moringa oleifera , known as a miracle tree, possesses a rich repository of bioactive metabolites and nutraceuticals. • In vitro derived callus cultures of M. oleifera were subjected to different UV-C exposure durations and various melatonin concentrations to assess their combined impacts on biomass, secondary metabolite synthesis, and antioxidant ability. • Melatonin significantly raised biomass accumulation. • Optimum phenolic and flavonoid contents were produced by UV-C treatment. • HPLC analysis showed maximum accumulation of major phytochemicals in melatonin. Moringa oleifera, widely recognized as a miracle tree, boasts a rich repository of bioactive metabolites and nutraceuticals. This study explores a biotechnological approach utilizing UV-C and melatonin elicitation for enhancing pharmaceutically significant secondary metabolites in M. oleifera callus cultures. callus cultures were exposed to different UV-C exposure durations and various melatonin concentrations to assess their combined impacts on biomass, secondary metabolite synthesis, and antioxidant ability. Biomass yields for fresh weight (F.W) were measured for 10 μM melatonin (176. 18 g/L) and UV-C 60 min (172.17 g/L). Total phenolic production (TPP: 25.83 mg/L D.W) and total flavonoids production (TFP: 157.07 mg/L D.W) peaked at 15 μM melatonin. High-performance liquid chromatography facilitated metabolite quantification. Significant increases in total phytochemical production were observed, reaching 12.98 mg g-1 D.W with 15 μM melatonin—an approximately 2.5-fold rise. UV-C exposure for 60 min yielded a two-fold increase (10.847 mg g-1 D.W) compared to the control (5.155 mg g-1 D.W). Metabolic profiling identified four phytochemicals (p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and apigenin) through HPLC. Melatonin at 15 μM demonstrated superior DPPH free radical scavenging activity (93.32 %) compared to the control (82.05 %). Additionally, FRAP (382.52 TAEC μM) and ABTS (535.8 TAEC μM) exhibited maximum values under 15 μM melatonin concentration. This study provides a comprehensive approach for enhanced phytochemical production, offering insights into the comparative impacts of UV-C and melatonin elicitation on secondary metabolite pathways in M. oleifera callus cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IoT devices with limited resources, and in the absence of gateways, become vulnerable to various attacks, such as denial of service (DoS) and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) are designed to detect and respond to these threats in IoT environments. While machine learning-based IDS have typically been deployed at the edge (gateways) or in the cloud, in the absence of gateways, the IDS must be embedded within the sensor nodes themselves. Available datasets mainly contain features extracted from network traffic at the edge (e.g., Raspberry Pi/computer) or cloud servers. We developed a unique dataset, named as Intrusion Detection in the Smart Homes (IDSH) dataset, which is based on features retrievable from microcontroller-based IoT devices. In this work, a Tree-based IDS is embedded into a smart thermostat for real-time intrusion detection. The results demonstrated that the IDS achieved an accuracy of 98.71% for binary classification with an inference time of 276 microseconds, and an accuracy of 97.51% for multi-classification with an inference time of 273 microseconds. Real-time testing showed that the smart thermostat is capable of detecting DoS and MITM attacks without relying on a gateway or cloud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local buckling (wrinkling) is very common in metal-faced insulating sandwich panels (MFISPs) due to the small thickness of their face sheets. In some cases, wrinkling leads to sudden failures, while in others it leads to degradation of the overall stiffness and can decrease the failure load. A simplified finite-element modelling approach is presented to estimate the local buckling pressure of such panels. In the proposed approach, only the face sheet under compression is modelled, thus avoiding the need to perform a full three-dimensional (3D) structural analysis. The working assumption is that the relative deflection of the buckled face against the face under tension (unbuckled face) can be modelled using a two-parameter elastic foundation approach. The elastic foundation is simulated by closely spaced horizontal and vertical springs that model the rigidities of the foam core. Two models are used to determine the elastic foundation properties. The simplified approach was validated through comparisons with 3D analyses of full sandwich panels and available experimental results. It was found that the proposed approach can be applied to various types of MFISPs (flat or heavily profiled) with a variety of foam cores and face sheet thicknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver, 1970) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) is the most devastating insect-pest of palm trees worldwide. Synthetic insecticides are the most preferred tool for the management of RPW. Alternatively, RNA interference (RNAi) mediated silencing of crucial genes provides reasonable control of insect pests. Recently, we have targeted four important genes; ecdysone receptor (EcR), serine carboxypeptidase (SCP), actin and chitin-binding peritrophin (CBP) in the 3rd and 5th instar larvae RPW. The results from 20 days trial showed that the survival rate of 3rd instar larvae fed on SCP and actin dsRNAs exhibited the lowest survival (12–68%). While, in the 5th instar larvae, the lowest survival rate (24%) was recorded for SCP after 20 days of incubation. Similarly, the weight of the 3rd and 5th instar larvae treated with SCP and actin was significantly reduced to 2.30–2.36 g and 4.64–4.78 g after 6 days of dsRNA exposure. The larval duration was also decreased significantly in the larvae treated with all the dsRNA treatments. The qRT-PCR results confirmed a significant suppression of the targeted genes as 90–97% and 85–93% in the 3rd and 5th instar larvae, respectively. The results suggest that the SCP and the actin genes can be promising targets to mediate RNAi-based control of RPW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The title compound, C17H25N3O3S2, hereafter 1, has been prepared and fully characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. Its crystal structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The crystal packing is stabilized by weak CH···O and CH···π interactions. The CLP‐Pixel method was used to quantify the energetically significant molecular dimers. The intermolecular contacts were identified and quantified using Hirshfeld surfaces (HS) and the corresponding fingerprint plots. The main contributions to the HS of 1 come from HH, OH/HO and CH/HC contacts, which cover about 93% of the total HS surface. The enrichment ratios showed that the favorable contacts accountable for the crystal packing are consistent with their contributions to the HS. Interaction region indicator (IRI) analysis was used to visualize the location and type of intermolecular contacts, allowing identify the CH···O contacts as van der Waals interactions. To visualize the 3D topology of interactions in the crystal structure, interaction energy values were used to construct energy framework diagrams, which showed that the dispersion energy dominates over other interaction energies, as expected for crystal packing governed by weak interactions. Finally, a combination of MEP surface, QTAIM and NCIplot analysis energetically confirmed the existence of CH···O and O···O dichalcogen interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of waste pollution to solve electromagnetic waves pollution is a good strategy towards a green future. In this study, we have used two different biowastes, wheat stubble and peanut hulls, as biocarbon sources to obtain two diverse inherited morphologies, i.e., sheet-like morphology from wheat stubble and distorted/ripped biocarbon morphology from peanut hulls. Detailed microwave absorption characterization analysis shows that the distorted/ripped morphology has better reflection loss and effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) as compared to the sheet-like morphology. Furthermore, MnFe 2 O 4 particles are also used to get composites with both types of biocarbon. The minimum reflection loss (RLmini) value achieved by the ripped biocarbon/ MnFe 2 O 4 is − 40.6 dB, with EAB being 5.6 GHz (13.2–7.6 GHz). Our findings show that better microwave absorption performance is attributed to the distorted/ripped morphology and by biocarbon– MnFe 2 O 4 synergetic influence. These findings open a route for biowaste and magnetic waste to be used in controllable microwave absorption applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a fluorescence-based study to examine the interaction between L-tryptophan and a selection of aldehydes, namely furfural (furan-2-carbaldehyde), 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde, salicylaldehyde (2-hydroxybenzaldehyde), 3-nitrobenzaldehyde, and 4-bromobenzaldehyde. The investigation took place in an aqueous environment, revealing that all five aldehydes induced quenching of the fluorescence intensity of L-tryptophan. By employing the Stern-Volmer equation to describe the quenching process, we constructed Stern-Volmer plots and derived Stern-Volmer constants. These constants (KSV) ranged from 2.87 × 104 mol L− 1 to 5.75 × 104 mol L− 1. Notably, the values of the Stern-Volmer constants varied among the different aldehydes, with the following order: 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde(3-HBA) > 4-bromobenzaldehyde (4-BBA) > 3-nitrobenzaldehyde > furan-2-carbaldehyde > salicylaldehyde. Consequently, our findings highlighted 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde as the most potent quencher, while 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde displayed the least sensitivity to quenching. Additionally, we determined the detection and quantification limits for the investigated aldehydes, resulting in ranges of 3.87 × 10− 12 to 8.25 × 10− 6 and 1.29 × 10− 11 to 2.75 × 10− 5, respectively. This research paves the way for the development of novel fluorescence probe-based sensors and offers valuable techniques for analyzing aldehydes within environmental and biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) broadly influences different aspects of human life, especially human communication. One of the main concerns of the broad use of AI in daily interactions among different people could be whether it helps them interact easily or complicates their interactions. To answer the mentioned question, this study assessed the impacts of AI on intercultural communication among postgraduate students in a multicultural university environment. A newly developed survey instrument was used to conduct this study. The participants of this study were 115 postgraduate students from nine different countries. The descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and Bivariate correlation tests of the 29th version of IBM-SPSS software were used to analyze the quantitative data, and inductive coding and conceptual content analysis were used to code and analyze the qualitative data. Based on descriptive results, the vast majority (93%) of the participants already used and experienced AI in their daily lives, and the majority of them believed that AI and AI technologies connect different cultures, reduce language and cultural barriers, and help people of different cultures to interact and be connected. Based on the results from the correlation test, there were strong positive correlations between AI attitudes and AI benefits, and also between AI regulation and AI benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The durability of profiled metal-faced insulating sandwich panels (MFISPs) in terms of exposure to high temperatures and thermal cycles is critical for their use in civil engineering applications. In this paper, a total of 20 full-scale panels made with two different thicknesses were tested under instantaneous lateral pressure loading at ambient conditions as well as under various combinations of high temperatures, thermal cycles, and lateral pressure. The pressure was applied through a vacuum chamber whereas thermal blankets were used for sustained and cyclic thermal exposure of the panels. Each thermal cycle entailed 24 h of time duration with a temperature range of 20–80°C. The results show a consistent reduction in the initial stiffness, local buckling pressure, and strength of the panels when they were loaded at high temperatures. These reductions were more substantial (up to 24%) under the combined effects of high temperature (80°C), thermal cycles, and pressure loading. The study also shows that the thickness of the foam core can play an important role in controlling the local buckling capacity and strength of the MFISPs. A nonlinear finite-element analysis was also conducted with a relatively good correlation with the test results. The numerical results provide further insights into the structural response and explain certain aspects that could not be obtained from the tests. Given that MFISPs are typically used for roof panels, where the combination of high temperatures and wind load is inevitable at certain regions, the results presented in this work are recommended for consideration in their design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding, regulatory RNAs that are produced naturally by cells. Consisting of 18-26 nucleotides (nt), they perform significant functions when it comes to the post-transcriptional phase of gene regulation. These remain found to be evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotic organisms. The conserved nature of these small RNAs not only implies their conserved function but also makes them an important tool for hunting conserved miRNAs among various species through homologous analysis by means of different computational methods. Family Asteraceae is the largest angiospermic dicot family comprising of 1600 genera and 24000 species. Taraxacum is an important genus of family Asteraceae comprising of 60-500 species. This work focuses two species of this important genus viz Taraxacum officinale (T. officinale) and Taraxacum kok-saghyz (T. kok-saghyz). A comparative transcriptomic strategy was applied to identify new conserved miRNAs in both species which led to the prediction of 34 newly conserved miRNAs (precursor miRNAs) pertaining to 33 different families of miRNAs. Out of the 34 conserved miRNAs 26 come from T. officinale and 8 from T. kok-saghyz. Among these two of the T. kok-saghyz miRNAs (tkn-MIR165 and tkn-MIR166) were found as cluster. Another T. officinale miRNA (tof-MIR5032) was also found to be transcribed from the same genomic location in the opposite direction. Annotation and prediction of overall 35 targets for these newly profiled miRNAs was also done. The targets are found to be involved in major processes and 35 enriched gene ontology (GO) terms. Significant targets include copper-dependent protein binding, nucleic acid binding, RNA binding, regulation of DNA damage checkpoint and RNA-dependent DNA replication. The recently discovered pre-miRNAs were annotated for their length of precursor, mature sequence arm, minimum free energy, mature sequence length, sense/ antisense orientation and organ of expression. Additionally, ten (10) miRNAs were chosen at random for RT-PCR expressional validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of Chenopodium quinoa seeds has increased in recent years due to health benefits with superfood qualities. Studies to date on the health benefits of quinoa have restricted to animal models, and the results provide weak to moderate evidence to support improved plasma lipid profiles. The present research aimed to examine the health-promoting potential of Chenopodium quinoa seed extract against cigarette smoke-induced acute lung injury in Wistar rat. Results showed that body weight was significantly increased while hematology analysis showed non-significant differences in RBC count. The results revealed the serum analysis for leptin, thyroid profiling, cholesterol, vLDL and triglycerides levels were significantly raised in control positive in comparison to all the other treatment groups. While a significant decline in serum GCK level was observed in the control positive. Histopathology of the lung tissue revealed low infiltration of leukocytes and reduced thickening of the hyaline membrane was observed in treatment groups as compared to the control positive. The expression level of Bcl-2, Foxa1 and IGF-1 was significantly down regulated in the treatment groups relative to the control positive. Overall, the results indicated that Chenopodium quinoa seeds extract restores the damaged lung tissue, reduces oxidative stress-dependent inflammatory response, regulates and promotes cell growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gastrointestinal tract is the prime organ for digestion while exposing to outer environmental toxins and pathogens. A breach in the epithelial barrier of the gastrointestinal tract will lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, growth retardation, ulcers, and extra intestinal manifestation. The current therapeutic approach causes dysbiosis and worsens the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases, ultimately leading to colorectal cancer. Herbal medicine is the key to resolving the issue without or least side effects. Current experimental study was executed to evaluate the anti-oxidative and therapeutic potential of both Helianthus annuus seeds and Spinacia oleracea leaves extract against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced acute colitis in Wistar rat and to support the clinical use of herbal medicine with scientific evidence. Results revealed that H. annuus seeds (500 mg/kg) have significantly (P<0.05) higher amount of total phenolic and flavonoid content with higher 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reducing power in comparison to S. oleracea leaves (500 mg/kg) extract. The serum total antioxidative capacity was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Helianthuus annuus seeds and Spinacia oleracea leaves as compared to positive control group, while total oxidative stress was significantly lower in both treatment groups as compared to positive control group. Gene expression analysis revealed that JAK/STAT signaling pathways (Cell stress pathways) were significantly (P<0.05) down regulated, and NRF-2 transcriptional pathways (antioxidant pathways) were significantly (P<0.05) upregulated in H. annuus seeds and S. oleracea leaves groups compared to control positive group. The obtained results after analyzing biological samples revealed that Helianthus annuus seeds and Spinacia oleracea leaves possess a significant antioxidant dependent anti-inflammatory potential. Histopathology of gut revealed that positive control group showed irregular epithelial lining with shortening of villi and damaged mucosal surface while treatment group showed recovery with normal epithelial parenchyma. The overall results of this experimental study determined that both herbal interventions elicited an antiinflammatory effect dependent on antioxidative mechanisms in response to experimentally induced acute colitis in Wistar rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size of a resolving set R of a non-trivial connected graph Γ of order n ≥ 2 is the number of edges in the induced subgraph < R >. The minimum cardinality of a resolving set of size k of graph Γ is called the metric dimension of size k, denoted by β(k) (Γ). We study the existence of resolving sets of size k in some families of graphs and investigate their properties. We find bounds on the metric dimension of size k of a graph Γ. We give the necessary condition for the metric dimension of size k and size (k + 1) of a graph Γ, to satisfy the inequality β(k+1)(Γ)-β(k) (Γ) ≤ 1. We will disprove a conjecture on bounds of the metric dimension of size k. For every positive integers k, l, and n such that k + 1 ≤ l ≤ n, we give a realizable result of a graph Γ of order n and l = β(k) (Γ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new 1,3,4-oxadiazoles (1–3) have been synthesized. The crystal structure of two of them were solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and a detailed quantitative analysis of the weak noncovalent interactions have been performed by using DFT calculations. In both compounds, the formation of recurrent H-bonded motifs involving the 1,3,4-oxadiazole is observed. In addition, a variety of CH⋯π interactions are established, involving both aliphatic and aromatic C–H bonds and the π-system of the electron rich tert-butylphenyl ring. QTAIM analysis and NCI plots were used to study the nature and the extent of different intermolecular interactions observed in these structures, which were rationalized using MEP surface plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deposition of hydroxyapatite (HA) or alkaline phosphate crystals on soft tissues causes the pathological calcification diseases comprising of end-stage osteoarthritis (OA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), medial artery calcification and tumour calcification. The pathological calcification is symbolised by increased concentration of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). An efficient therapeutic strategy to eradicate these diseases is required, and for this the alkaline phosphatase inhibitors can play a potential role. In this context a series of novel quinolinyl iminothiazolines was synthesised and evaluated for alkaline phosphatase inhibition potential. All the compounds were subjected to DFT studies where N-benzamide quinolinyl iminothiazoline (6g), N-dichlorobenzamide quinolinyl iminothiazoline (6i) and N-nitrobenzamide quinolinyl iminothiazoline (6j) were found as the most reactive compounds. Then during the in-vitro testing, the compound N-benzamide quinolinyl iminothiazoline (6g) exhibited the maximum alkaline phosphatase inhibitory effect (IC50 = 0.337 ± 0.015 µM) as compared to other analogues and standard KH2PO4 (IC50 = 5.245 ± 0.477 µM). The results were supported by the molecular docking studies, molecular dynamics simulations and kinetic analysis which also revealed the inhibitory potential of compound N-benzamide quinolinyl iminothiazoline (6g) against alkaline phosphatase. This compound can be act as lead molecule for the synthesis of more effective inhibitors and can be suggested to test at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new compound, C23H20BrN3OS, containing a quinoline-based iminothiazoline with a thiazoline ring, was synthesized and its crystal and molecular structures were analyzed through single crystal X-ray analysis. The compound belongs to the triclinic system P − 1 space group, with dimensions of a = 9.2304 (6) Å, b = 11.1780 (8) Å, c = 11.3006 (6) Å, α = 107.146 (5)°, β = 93.701 (5)°, γ = 110.435 (6)°, Z = 2 and V = 1025.61 (12) Å3. The crystal structure showed that C–H···N and C–H···O hydrogen bond linkages, forming infinite double chains along the b-axis direction, and enclosing R22(14) and R22(16) ring motifs. The Hirshfeld surface analysis revealed that H...H (44.1%) and H...C/C...H (15.3%) interactions made the most significant contribution. The newly synthesized (Z)-4-bromo-N-(4-butyl-3 (quinolin-3-yl)thiazol-2(3H)-ylidene)benzamide, in comparison to oleanolic acid, exhibited more strong potential against elastase with an inhibition value of 1.21 µM. Additionally, the derivative was evaluated using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies, which showed that the quinoline based iminothiazoline derivative has the potential to be a novel inhibitor of elastase enzyme. Both theoretical and experimental findings suggested that this compound could have a number of biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study explains the impact of Islamic symbolism in video commercials, introducing the concept of perceived Islamic value of advertising" to enhance persuasive efforts targeting Muslim consumers. The study focuses on mediating role of advertisement value. Using a quantitative approach, we surveyed 549 participants using a 5-point Likert scale to analyse the role of perceived Islamic value in purchase intention, revealing its significant influence. Interestingly, when considering advertisement value as a mediator, the direct impact of perceived Islamic value of advertisement on purchase intention diminished, indicating full mediation. While among the earliest, our study acknowledges limitations, including a focus solely on Muslim consumers and concerns about stimulus control. Nevertheless, our findings provide practical guidance for marketers in effectively utilizing Islamic symbols in Muslim-majority markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The epithelial lining of the gut expresses intestinal fatty-acid binding proteins (I-FABPs), which increase in circulation and in plasma concentration during intestinal damage. From the perspective of obesity, the consumption of a diet rich in fat causes a disruption in the integrity of the gut barrier and an increase in its permeability. Hypothesis: There is an association between the expression of I-FABP in the gut and various metabolic changes induced by a high-fat (HF) diet. Methods: Wistar albino rats (n = 90) were divided into three groups (n = 30 per group), viz. One control and two HF diet groups (15 and 30%, respectively) were maintained for 6 weeks. Blood samples were thus collected to evaluate the lipid profile, blood glucose level and other biochemical tests. Tissue sampling was conducted to perform fat staining and immunohistochemistry. Results: HF diet-fed rats developed adiposity, insulin resistance, leptin resistance, dyslipidemia, and increased expression of I-FABP in the small intestine compared to the control group. Increased I-FABP expression in the ileal region of the intestine is correlated significantly with higher fat contents in the diet, indicating that higher I-FABP expression occurs due to increased demand of enterocytes to transport lipids, leading to metabolic alterations. Conclusion: In summary, there is an association between the expression of I-FABP and HF diet-induced metabolic alterations, indicating that I-FABP can be used as a biomarker for intestinal barrier dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Rheumatic heart disease remains a significant problem in developing countries, with mitral stenosis (MS) being a frequent manifestation. The objective of this study was to compare transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) findings of mitral valve calcification with fluoroscopy. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the department of adult cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Karachi. All patients were candidates for percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV), aged between 15 to 65 years of either gender. Patients who underwent TTE were subjected to fluoroscopy before PMBV. The Kappa coefficient was calculated to assess the agreement between the two modalities. An appropr iate t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was applied, and a p-value = 0.05 was taken as the criterion for statistical significance. Results: A total of 160 patients were included in this study with a mean age of 34.01± 12.32 years, 119 (74.4%) were between 18 to 40 years of age, and 108 (67.5%) were female. Calcification was observed in 40.6% (65) on echocardiography and 50.6% (81) of the patients on fluoroscopy. A substantial agreement was observed between the two modalities with a Kappa coefficient of 0.75 for the detection of calcification. Conclusion: No significant difference was observed in the detection of calcification on echocardiography and fluoroscopy, along with a substantial agreement between the two modalities for the detection of calcification. Echocardiography can be a less invasive alternative to fluoroscopy for the detection of calcification before PMBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the Bogota bag's efficacy in closing abdominal wounds that are open and have severe peritonitis following laparotomies but cannot be closed well using primary closure and in the absence of alternative closure methods. Material and Methods: Following approval from the hospital's ethical committ ee, a randomized control study involving 100 patients was carried out at the Khyber Medical Hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. Participants had undergone a decompressive laparotomy due to severe peritonitis, and closure was accomplished either using a Bogota bag or an abdominal layer closure in the reverse sequence. Variables were gathered in a Excel sheet along with the pertinent patient data that was retrieved from the medical records in the hospital. Statistics were examined using SPSS 25. Results: This study was conducted on 100 patients divided in two groups. In terms of gender distribution, group A contained 33(66%) male patients, while group B contained 31(62%) male patients. Group A also contained 17(34%) female patients, while group B contained 19(38%) female patients. In comparison to group A [8.84±3.64 days], the mean hospital stay in group B [6.40±3.24 days] was considerably shorter (p = 0.001). The mortality and complication (infection and fistula formation) rates in group B were significantly lower than group A. Conclusion: The use of a Bogota bag to close an open abdominal wound proved successful in avoiding complications associated with open wounds or the ones that were closed under tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the persistent inflammation of Gastrointestinal tract (GIT). IBD mainly divided into ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The Crohn's disease affects the whole gastrointestinal tract, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. The current experimental study elucidates the antioxidative and microbial homeostatic efficacy of monolaurin, monolaurin with butyric acid and propionic acid in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) induced acute colitis in rat model. The results revealed that total antioxidant capacity was significantly raised in all the treatment groups compared to the positive control group. While the results of total oxidative stress and relevant gene expression analysis revealed that mRNA expression of cell stress pathways such as Traf-4, Traf-6 and MAPK-8 genes (Mitogen activated Protein Kinase) pathways and Calm-2, Gerk-2 and Pias-2 genes (Calcium signaling pathways) were significantly higher expressed in the positive control group as compared to all the treatment groups. Total antioxidant capacity and NFR-1, Keap-1 and Nef-212 (Nrf2 signaling cascade) were significantly down expressed in the positive control group as compared to all the treatment groups. Histopathological study revealed that disruption of intestinal mucosa and immune infiltration in the positive control group, while restoration and regeneration of intestinal parenchyma were observed in all the treatment groups. Overall study results concluded that monolaurin, monolaurin with butyric acid and propionic acid can develop innovative, customized remedies against DSS-induced acute colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a non-toxic, cost-effective, and user-friendly indicator for detecting milk freshness and spoilage, with potential applications in smart packaging, presents a significant challenge. In this study, we extracted natural anthocyanins (ACNs) from Jaman (Syzgium cumini) and incorporated it in to filter paper. The presence of ACNs in the extract was confirmed through UPLC-MS/MS analysis. To enhance stability and prevent leaching, the ACNs-loaded filter paper was coated with 1 % chitosan (CH). The sensor strips were thoroughly characterized using FTIR, contact angle measurements, XRD, and FE-SEM. These strips displayed a distinct and quantifiable color change from red to colorless to yellow across different pH levels. Additionally, in real-time milk spoilage detection, the sensor transitioned from light purple to colorless. The strips demonstrated reproducibility and stability, even under high temperatures and extreme pH conditions. These findings suggest that the ACNs-loaded sensor strips hold promise for use as smart packaging materials. [Display omitted] • pH responsive strips were developed based on filter paper and Jaman anthocyanins • Green materials were employed i.e. filter paper, anthocyanins, chitosan. • Visible color change at different pH levels, easily seen by the naked eye. • Indicator strips are stable at extreme pH and wide range of temperature. • Eco-friendly sensor indicates milk freshness/spoilage in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we have conducted the study for the flow and thermal transfer of magneto-hydrodynamic squeezing nanofluid in the middle of two collateral plates extending to infinity using artificial neural network (ANN). The fluid employed in this research is a combination of Ethylene Glycol and water, and we delve into the utilization of a hybrid nanoparticle consisting of Fe 3 O 4 and MoS 2 particles. To solve the governing differential equations, we used unsupervised heuristic based physics informed neural network (H-PINN) based fitness function. In this research, the weights and biases of neural network were optimized using a hybridization of heuristic algorithms to achieve high accuracy. The fitness values obtained from proposed approach ranging from 10 − 05 to 10 − 08. The optimal results were then compared with numerical solutions obtained by using Runge-Kutta order-4 method through BVP4c tool as a reference solution, demonstrating the effectiveness of the unsupervised ANN method. The absolute error between the reference solution and proposed heuristic based physics informed neural networks approaches are ranging from 2.36 × 10 − 04 to 3.46 × 10 − 06 , 2.77 × 10 − 05 to 1.20 × 10 − 05 and 1.10 × 10 − 06 to 6.53 × 10 − 07. Our findings demonstrate a strong agreement with the numerical approach, with the maximum discrepancy in the profiles of flow speed and energy profiles. Notably, we observed that an increase in the squeeze number and the Hartman number resulted in a reduction in the velocity profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the impact of various nanoparticle and thermal transfer properties on the velocity and temperature profiles of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)-influenced nano-fluid flow. A mathematical model based on physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) and the backpropagated Levenberg–Marquardt technique (ANN-BLMT) were used to solve this problem. To optimize the masses and biases of PINNs calculated using a hybrid technique combining the Archimedes optimization algorithm and the water cycle algorithm. Furthermore, the suggested method's efficacy is rigorously evaluated using multiple independent runs and compared to ANN-BLMT, NDsolve, fuzzy homotopy analysis, and collocation methods. When compared to other methodologies, unsupervised PINNs produce better results. Furthermore, this study employs a machine learning framework to investigate the effects of important factors such as Reynolds number, Eckert number, Prandtl number (Pr\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\usepackage{amsmath}\usepackage{wasysym}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{upgreek}\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}\begin{document}$${P}_{\text{r}}$$\end{document}), and angle variations on velocity and temperature values via both convergent and divergent channels. By focusing on these parameters, this study provides critical insights into the behavior of MHD nano-fluid flow, leading to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and paving the way for more accurate predictions and optimized designs in a variety of engineering applications that use machine learning algorithms. In the convergent channel, a rise in Hartmann numbers leads to a higher fluid velocity, but in the divergent channel, the fluid rate falls. The findings have practical applications in the era of artificial intelligence in engineering, medicine, and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moringa oleifera, also called miracle tree, is a pharmaceutically important plant with a multitude of nutritional, medicinal, and therapeutic attributes. In the current study, an in-vitro-based elicitation approach was used to enhance the commercially viable bioactive compounds in an in vitro callus culture of M. oleifera. The callus culture was established and exposed to different monochromatic lights to assess the potentially interactive effects on biomass productions, biosynthesis of pharmaceutically valuable secondary metabolites, and antioxidant activity. Optimum biomass production (16.7 g/L dry weight), total phenolic contents (TPC: 18.03 mg/g), and flavonoid contents (TFC: 15.02 mg/g) were recorded in callus cultures placed under continuous white light (24 h), and of other light treatments. The highest antioxidant activity, i.e., ABTS (550.69 TEAC µM) and FRAP (365.37 TEAC µM), were also noted under white light (24 h). The analysis of phytochemicals confirmed the significant impact of white light exposures on the enhanced biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites. The enhanced levels of secondary metabolites, i.e., kaempferol (1016.04 µg/g DW), neochlorogenic acid (998.38 µg/g DW), quercetin (959.92 µg/g DW), and minor compounds including luteolin, apigenin, and p-coumaric acid were observed as being highest in continuous white light (24 h with respect to the control (photoperiod). Similarly, blue light enhanced the chlorogenic acid accumulation. This study shows that differential spectral lights demonstrate a good approach for the enhancement of nutraceuticals along with novel pharmacologically important metabolites and antioxidants in the in vitro callus culture of M. oleifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancing effects of various alkali and alkaline earth metals (inclusive of K, Ca, and Sr) modified Cu/SiO2 catalysts, prepared with a modified precipitation-gel method, were investigated for the production of ethanol via hydrogenation of methyl acetate. Our results showed that Sr-doped catalysts exhibited the best and most consistent results during catalytic tests. A series of techniques, including X-ray diffraction technique, Raman spectroscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption, N2O titration method, FTIR spectroscopy, and H2 temperature, programmed desorption and reduction (TPD and TPR), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, which was used to check the detailed characterization of Sr modification in the catalyst and its structural impacts on the properties of the catalyst. These results demonstrated that the addition of 5%Sr could strengthen the intrinsic stability of the catalyst by formulating the appropriate ratio of Cu+/(Cu0 + Cu+) to facilitate catalytic outcome improvement. The addition of 5%Sr-30%Cu/SiO2 under the most favorable conditions, resulting in the peak conversion of MA (95%) and ethanol selectivity (96%), indicates its magnificent catalytic stabilizing effects. Furthermore, the best performing catalyst was compared and tested under various conditions (LHSV and temperatures) and a 300 h long life run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a structure simplification framework for planar all-quad meshes with open boundaries. Our simplification framework can handle quad meshes with complex structures (e.g., quad meshes obtained via Catmull–Clark subdivision of the triangle meshes) to produce simpler meshes while preserving the boundary features. To achieve that, we introduce a set of separatrix-based semi-global operations and combine them with existing local operations to develop a new simplification framework. Additionally, we organize and order the individual simplification operations into groups and employ ranking strategies for each group to sort these operations to produce quad meshes with better quality and simpler structure. We provide a comprehensive evaluation of our framework using different input parameters on a number of representative planar quad meshes with various boundary configurations. To demonstrate the advantages of our method, we compare it with a few existing frameworks. Our comparison shows that our simplification framework usually produces simpler structure with faster computation than the state-of-the-art methods. [Display omitted] • Structure simplification used to optimize structural complexity of planar quad meshes. • Existing local and global simplification may produce sub-optimal results. • Semi-global simplification utilizes separatrices to perform simplification. • A new framework combines, organizes, and ranks semi-global and local operations. • Results show that the new framework outperforms existing simplification methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometrics deals with the recognition of humans based on their unique physical characteristics. It can be based on face identification, iris, fingerprint and DNA. In this paper, we have considered the iris as a source of biometric verification as it is the unique part of eye which can never be altered, and it remains the same throughout the life of an individual. We have proposed the improved iris recognition system including image registration as a main step as well as the edge detection method for feature extraction. The PCA-based method is also proposed as an independent iris recognition method based on a similarity score. Experiments conducted using our own developed database demonstrate that the first proposed system reduced the computation time to 6.56 sec, and it improved the accuracy to 99.73, while the PCA-based method has less accuracy than this system does. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To find out the role spiritual and existential wellbeing in health promoting lifestyles that are mediated through perceived health status in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Patients. Methodology: After obtaining approval (reference #331) from Institutional Review Board of the affiliated university as sample of 257 males and 228 females consecutive CHD patients (age range 18-65 years; M = 47.56, SD = 2.30) meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited in the study. Patients who suffered from strokes or other chronic diseases like hypothyroidism, cancer, liver or renal malfunctioning were excluded from the study. Participants were requested to complete three scales (and a demographic form) that included Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (SWBS), Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12HS), and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II). Data was collected from outdoor patients at a public hospi tal in Lahore, Pakistan between November 5 and March 31, 2021-22, and correlations were run across constructs using a macro-process (version 3.3) in SPSS (version 26.0). Results: Results indicated that spiritual (religious and existential) wellbeing had a significant direct effect on health promoting lifestyles significant at p < 0.001. Further, results showed a significant direct and indirect path coefficients of physical and mental health components of perceived health status with spiritual, religious, existential wellbeing, and health promoting lifestyles but not for physical functioning and bodily pain, p >0.05. Conclusion: Spirituality and positive health perceptions for cardiac patients can maintain their health through engaging in healthy lifestyles. Study highlighted the importance of adopting such perceptions to relieve cardiac symptoms to avoid further complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthetic protocol and solid state characterization of two new coumarin‐pyrazolylthiazole hybrids (1‐2) are detailed in this manuscript. Synthesized compounds were characterized applying nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques. A detailed structural analysis of 3‐(2‐(5‐(4‐bromophenyl)‐3‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐4,5‐dihydropyrazol‐1‐yl)thiazol‐4‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (1) and 3‐(2‐(3,5‐bis(4‐bromophenyl)‐4,5‐dihydropyrazol‐1‐yl)thiazol‐4‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (2) is reported along with a detailed description of the noncovalent interactions and their evaluation using Hirshfeld surface analysis, emphasizing the structure‐directing role of C−H⋅⋅⋅O, Br⋅⋅⋅π and π–π interactions. Finally, DFT energetics, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), quantum theory of "atoms‐in‐molecules" (QTAIM) and noncovalent interaction plot (NCIplot) index computations have been used to further investigate the relative importance of two different π‐stacking complexes observed in the solid state of both compounds, which are recurrent binding motifs in their crystal packing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the efficacy of two local anaesthetics drugs Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine were compared when they were administered intrathecally during elective lower limb surgery. Furthermore, the side effects of both drugs were also studied in similar research. Methods: The study was done double-blinded, unbiased and a randomized control trial. One hundred patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists with physical statuses 1 and 2 satisfying all inclusion and exclusion criteria after the informed consent were recruited. Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups i.e., who received intrathecal 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine were allocated to Group B, and the study participants who received 0.5% isobaric ropivacaine fell in Group R. Cardiovascular system parameters such as average heart rate and average systolic blood pressure were monitored after the medication is given. Decreased blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, shivering, and headache were the parameters used to assess the side effects of the patients receiving both drugs. Results: The action of these two drugs on cardiovascular system parameters were monitored and there was no valuable dissimilarity seen. No statistical significance was found in the occurrence of the side effects such as duration of nausea, vomiting, headache, and bradycardia. However, shivering was observed in the patients that were administered Bupivacaine as compared to Ropivacaine. Conclusion: Ropivacaine is comparatively a better drug of choice as compared to Bupivacaine while considering the hemodynamic parameters as well as the different post-operative symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive aquaculture practices often result in nutrient accumulation and progressive eutrophication, affecting both the cultured species and adjacent water bodies. This has prompted interest in adopting more efficient and cost-effective nutrient removal techniques as alternatives to conventional methods. Consequently, an innovative phycoremediation technique is employed to remove the excess nutrients from wastewater. Microalgae are particularly skilled at utilizing the nutrients in rearing water to their advantage. This review summarizes current knowledge about the characteristics of microalgae, their use for nutrient removal and their interactions with bacteria. The use of microalgae-bacteria consortia for improving the water quality has gained popularity because the combined effects of these organisms offer greater environmental stability and adaptability than microalgae alone, thereby enhancing nutrient removal effectiveness. This study aims to enhance understanding of the advantages and constraints of employing microalgae to improve rearing water quality. This review also provides an in-depth examination of the key factors, and limitations of microalgae-based nutrient removal from aquaculture waste. It also analyzes the latest literature on nutrient removal from aquaculture effluent using microalgal-bacterial technology, along with its potential for future applications. • An overview of aquaculture wastewater composition and role of microalgae in nutrient removal. • Key factors affecting the effectiveness of microalgae in aquaculture. • The potential of microalgae-bacterial consortia for nutrient removal, benefits, challenges, and prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two novel 1,4-benzoxazine derivatives synthesized, showcasing distinct π···π, CH···π, and NH···O hydrogen bonding interactions. • Hirshfeld surface analysis and QTAIM/NCI plots delineate the intermolecular interactions. • DFT studies at the PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP level provide insights into the energy landscapes of π-stacking and hydrogen bonding. The synthesis and XRD characterization of two new 1,4-benzoxazine derivatives (3a - 5a) namely ethyl‐6‐nitro‐3a‐(p ‐tolylamino)‐1,2,3,3a‐tetrahydrobenzo[ b ]cyclopenta[e][1,4]oxa-zine‐9a(9 H)‐carboxylate (3a) and methyl-6,10b-dimethyl-5a,6,10b,11-tetrahydrobenzo[ 5 , 6 ][1,4]oxazino[2,3-b]indole-2-carboxylate (5a) are reported herein. In both compounds it is observed the formation of π···π and CH···π interactions and strong NH···O H-bonds, which were studied energetically at the PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP level of theory. The Hisrhfeld surface and QTAIM analyses and NCI plots were used to study the nature and the extent of different intermolecular interactions observed in both structures, revealing the existence of additional R 2 1 (6) and R 2 1 (7) synthons. In addition, using the potential energy density as energy predictor, the QTAIM method is useful to investigate the relative contribution of each interaction to the formation of the assemblies. Synthesis and XRD characterization of two new 1,4-benzoxazine derivatives are reported herein along with Hisrhfeld surface and QTAIM analyses and NCI plots to interpret the intermolecular interactions observed in the solid state. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the conservation of resource (COR) theory principles, this study demonstrates how despotic leadership (DL) negatively impacts employee career success (ECS) in the pharmaceutical industry. Since this is a serious growing concern in emerging research and a threat to the career therefore we aimed to investigate the relationship between (DL) and (ECS). Parallel mediating effects of job insecurity (JI) and emotional exhaustion (EE) are also tested which was overlooked in previous literature. Data were collected from 325 working employees. The target population of this study was managers, middle managers, and administrative staff facing DL. The results revealed a significant negative relationship between DL and ECS. Furthermore, JI and EE partially mediate the relationship between DL and ECS. Present research advances literature theoretically and practically in the field of organization behavior, specifically in the pharmaceutical industry. As it explored the connection between DL and employees'' career success under stressful working conditions. Thus, top management should develop leadership programs that focus on improving their behavior toward employees and leading to positive outcomes in the reduction of JI and EE. Secondly, the industry should formulate and implement clear policies and guidelines to curtail the detrimental effects of DL by inculcating open communication, employee empowerment, a supportive work environment, and shared growth of leaders and followers. Thirdly, include qualitative and quantitative methods (i.e., 360 feedback) to evaluate leaders' behavior, which may give deeper insight into leadership behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed dormancy impacts seed germination success and seedling health. Ethylene plays a crucial role in facilitating the breaking of seed dormancy by initiating essential biochemical and physiological changes that are necessary for successful seed growth and development. It was hypothesized that acetylene (C2H2) from calcium carbide (CaC2) has the potential to induce an ethylene response in seed for breaking seed dormancy and better seedling growth. A study was conducted to evaluate the impacts of C2H2 released from ten CaC2 concentrations, i.e., 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 mg petri-plate-1, on seed dormancy and seedling growth in sweet pepper. Results indicated that CaC2 significantly induced 100% early seed germination, with significant improvements in post-germination variables. CaC2 applied at 14 mg petri-plate-1 was found to be an optimum dose for regulating seed dormancy and post-germination growth positively. However, CaC2 >16 mg petri-plate-1 proved lethal and suppressed the germination or growth of the seedlings. Compared to control treatment, improvements in seed sermination and growth variables, i.e., 8 to 37% in seed germination, 5 to 22% in seedling biomass, 5 to 46% in shoot length, and 3 to 37% in root length, suggest that calcium carbide, easily available on the market, can be used for seed dormancy breakage and better crop stand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study reports the fabrication of co-combination gel using Pregabalin and Withania coagulans fruit extract to validate its effectiveness for neuropathic pain in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat models. Three topical gels were prepared using Carbopol 934 through a pseudo-ternary phase diagram incorporating the Pregabalin (2.5%), Withania coagulans extract (2%), and co-combination of both Pregabalin (2.5%) and Withania coagulans extract (2%). Gels were characterized. FTIR showed a successful polymeric network of the gel without any interaction. The drug distribution at the molecular level was confirmed by XRD. The AFM images topographically indicated the rough surface of gels with a size range from 0.25 to 330 nm. DSC showed the disappearance of sharp peaks of the drug and extract, showing successful incorporation into the polymeric network of gels. The in vitro drug release of co-combination gel was 73% over 48 h. The mechanism of drug release by combination gel was Higuchi+ fickian with values of n (0.282) and R2 (0.947). An in vivo study for pain assessment via four methods: (i) heat hyperalgesia, (ii) cold allodynia, (iii) mechano-hyperalgesia, and (iv) dynamic mechano-allodynia, confirmed that topical treatment with co-combination gel reduced the pain significantly as indicated by the p value: R1 (p < 0.001), R2 (p < 0.001), R3 (p < 0.015), and R4 (p < 0.0344). The significance order was R2 (****) > R1 (***) > R3 (**) > R4 (*) > R5 (ns). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver is a vital metabolic gland responsible for endogenous secretions and detoxification of exogenous compounds. The liver disorder is a significant cause of illness with more than one million deaths reported every year around the globe. Oxidative stress is a key player for liver dysfunctions, triggers inflammation and degenerative processes during several diseases including cancer. The current study (4 weeks) was designed to analyze the antioxidative efficacy of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) fruit extract (600 mg kg-1 ) in high fat diet (HFD; 35%) associated carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 1 mL kg-1 ) induced liver injury in rat model. The experimental rats were divided into four groups as negative control, positive control (HFD + CCl4), treatment I (HFD + CCl4 + Silymarin (20 mg kg-1 )) and treatment II (HFD + CCl4 + extract (600 mg kg-1 ). Phytochemical analysis revealed that ethanolic extract of O. ficus-indica fruit extract possessed highest concentration of total phenolic contents (TPC; 23.69 ± 2.86 mg GAE g-1 ) and total flavonoid contents (TFC; 542.76 ± 0.05 mg CE g-1 ). Efficacy study revealed that the O. ficus-indica fruit extract significantly (P<0.05) decreased the elevated levels of liver enzymes i.e., aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine transaminase (ALT), total oxidative stress (TOS) and increased the levels of total anti-oxidative capacity (TAC). Gene expression analysis results revealed higher expression level of dual oxidases (Duox, Duox-1 and Duox2) and Nrf-2 signaling cascade genes (Nfe-212, Nrf-1 and Keap-1) in positive control group while as significant (P<0.05) down expression was shown in the treatment I group and treatment II group. Overall results concluded that O. ficus-indica fruit extract significantly reduced the CCl4 induced elevated levels of liver enzymes, oxidative stress, and improved the level total antioxidant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Surgical site infections are responsible for increased treatment cost, prolonged hospital stay, and increased morbidity on the surgical floor. Increased level of per-operative contamination and prolonged surgery increases the incidence of surgical site infections. Objective: To know the effect of contamination and duration of surgery on the incidence of surgical site infections in emergency surgical patients so that specific strategies can be developed to decrease the morbidity and mortality caused by these infections. Materials and Methods: All the patients who underwent general surgical operations on an emergency basis at the surgical unit-1 of the Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi from 01-01-2019 to 31-12-2020 were evaluated for surgical site infections. The level of contamination per operatively and duration of surgery were documented. Surgical site infections suspected clinically were confirmed by culture and sensitivity. Results: Among 2202 emergency-operated patients, two hundred and thirty-seven patients (10.76%) had surgical site infection confirmed on culture and sensitivity (C/S) report. About sixty-five percent of patients were male. Of two hundred and thirty-seven positive patients, seventy (29.09%) patients underwent laparotomy for penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma. About fifty-eight percent of SSI patients had contaminated wounds per operatively. Operative time was one to three hours in about sixty-seven percent of SSI-positive patients. Staph aureus was present in one hundred and forty-five (79.67%) patients. E.coli was the most commonest Gram-ve micro-organism (70.95%). Conclusion: Surgical site infection causes a significant rise in morbidity on the surgical floor. Increased levels of contamination per operatively and prolonged operative time increase the incidence of SSI in emergency surgical operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers’ training at primary level always remained an area of great concern and to train the primary teachers, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa initiated a training program in 2017 namely Continuous Professional Development (CPD). This study investigates the effects of CPD on the professional abilities of teachers that include: Lesson Planning; Classroom Management; Pedagogical Skills; Monitoring and Evaluation; and Professional Development. For the study 144 head teachers, 288 government boys’ and girls’ primary school teachers (PSTs), and 112 master trainers were selected from three selected districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as sample through multistage stratified sampling technique. It was quantitative research and data were collected through questionnaires from head teacher, master trainers and PSTs trainees. The data were analyzed by employing one-way ANOVA. The results elicited that CPD trainings did not bring the desired results in the professional development of PSTs, which means that CPD trainings did not promote the aforementioned professional abilities among the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is very important to note that a mathematical model plays a key role in different infectious diseases. Here, we study the dynamical behaviors of both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) with their co-infection. Actually, the purpose of this work is to show how the bi-therapy is effective and include an inhibitor for HCV infection with some treatments, which are frequently used against HBV. Local stability, global stability and its prevention from the community are studied. Mathematical models and optimality system of nonlinear DE are solved numerically by RK4. We use linearization, Lyapunov function and Pontryagin's maximum principle for local stability, global stability and optimal control, respectively. Stability curves and basic reproductive number are plotted with and without control versus different values of parameters. This study shows that the infection will spread without control and can cover with treatment. The intensity of HBV/HCV co-infection is studied before and after optimal treatment. This represents a short drop after treatment. First, we formulate the model then find its equilibrium points for both. The models possess four distinct equilibria: HBV and HCV free, and endemic. For the proposed problem dynamics, we show the local as well as the global stability of the HBV and HCV. With the help of optimal control theory, we increase uninfected individuals and decrease the infected individuals. Three time-dependent variables are also used, namely, vaccination, treatment and isolation. Finally, optimal control is classified into optimality system, which we can solve with Runge–Kutta-order four method for different values of parameters. Finally, we will conclude the results for implementation to minimize the infected individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Covid-19 pandemic has instigated changes in the teaching and assessment practices of institutions in many parts of the world, resulting in not only online teaching but also online assessments. The present study analyzes the perceptions of students regarding the first online assessments conducted at a medical college in Pakistan. Materials & Methods: This Mixed method cross-sectional study was conducted at Wah Medical College (WMC) from July to November 2020. The questionnaire was developed after the collaboration of the authors and a review of the pertinent literature on online examinations. Universal sampling was done and all students of WMC were invited to participate in the study. Data collection was done by google forms and analysis was performed on SPSS. Results: Students from all five years of the MBBS program participated almost equally in the study. Students of 1st (43.8 %), 3rd (44.8 %), and 4th year (47.1 %) were not contented with their performance in online exams whereas students of 2nd (49.3 %) and 5th year (61.4 %) were satisfied. Most students considered technological issues as a basis for their poor performance and proposed technical training before online exams. They also provided suggestions related to the improvement of examination formats and tools. Conclusion: The majority of the students found the online assessment more effective and helpful in improving their performance in exams. Student perceptions provided valuable insights for improving the online examination system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of high temperature and thermal cycles on the mechanical properties of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is critical for its use in sandwich panels. This paper presents an experimental investigation of these effects in typical environmental conditions that exist in construction applications. A total of 117 small specimens were cut from metal-faced sandwich panels with EPS core and were exposed to different numbers of thermal cycles and/or sustained high temperatures. The specimens were then loaded under compression, tension, and four-point bending for evaluating the degradation of the mechanical properties of the foam. The thermal cycles reflect typical surface temperature during daily summer conditions, with a period of 24 h each and with a temperature varying between 24°C to 80°C. The results show that the modulus of elasticity of EPS foam in compression reduced by about 38% after exposure to thermal cycles for 45 days, whereas the tensile and shear moduli reduced by about 5.7% and 13.8%, respectively. Exposure to sustained high temperature after thermal cycles led to larger degradation of the elastic and shear moduli in the range of 38%–50%. These degradations can lead to early failures in applications that rely on the EPS foam as a structural component like in insulating sandwich panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop the theory of fractional order hybrid differential equations involving Riemann–Liouville differential operators of order ℓ ∈ (0 , 1). We study the existence theory to a class of boundary value problems for fractional order hybrid differential equations. The sum of three operators is used to prove the key results for a couple of hybrid fixed point theorems. We obtain sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions. Moreover, examples are also presented to show the significance of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf samples from the symptomatic Solanum nigrum plants showing curling on leaf margins, leaf chlorosis, leaf crumpling and stunting in growth were collected during spring 2018. Subsequently, the standard procedures of total genomic DNA isolation, enrichment via rolling circle amplification, polymerase chain reaction, cloning and complete genome sequencing were performed. Pairwise nucleotide (nt) sequence comparison and phylogenetic studies of the inferred genome sequences confirmed the identity of a bipartite begomovirus Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPalV) in the symptomatic plant samples sharing 97.6 and 95.5% nt identity with ToLCPalV isolates identified from Pakistan and India. In the phylogenetic analysis, ToLCPalV grouped with ToLCPalV isolates previously described from Pakistan and India. Additional attempts to identify any putative DNA-satellites in S. nigrum plant samples revealed an associated betasatellite component, cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMuB). This is the first identification of cotton leaf curl disease-associated betasatellite with ToLCPalV in this region. The nt diversity analysis showed that ToLCPalV populations have a high mutation rate and evolve independently under strong purifying selection, but not via recombination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]