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Pythium sensu lato (s.l.) is a pathogenic oomycete. The present study was conducted to isolate and identify Pythium s.l. species associated with the rhizosphere and roots of greenhouse-growing cucumbers showing damping-off symptoms in 10 Omani governorates (provinces). A total of 166 isolates were recovered from 276 rhizosphere soil and root samples and were identified based on the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX I) gene region. Pythium aphanidermatum, P. myriotylum, Globisporangium spinosum, Globisporangium sp.1 (isolates Kb003/PySyCu-1 and Kb004/PySyCu-2), and Globisporangium sp.2 (isolate Ib002R) were identified. Among these species, P. aphanidermatum was the most abundant species, represented by 143 isolates (86.1%), followed by G. spinosum with 18 isolates (10.8%), Globisporangium sp.1 and P. myriotylum each with 2 isolates (2.4%), and Globisporangium sp.2 with 1 isolate (0.6%). Pathogenicity tests were also conducted for 38 isolates, including P. aphanidermatum (25), P. myriotylum (2), Globisporangium sp.2 (1), G. spinosum (8), and Globisporangium sp.1 (2). Among the tested isolates, only Globisporangium sp.2 isolate was avirulent, and none of the seeds were rotted at the end of the treatment. However, the other species induced the symptoms of seed decay with the incidence ranged from 86.7 to 100%. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted based on 222 ITS and 53 COX I sequences, and confirmed morphological identification. In addition, the genetic diversity of 93 P. aphanidermatum isolates was assessed via the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method. The analysis produced 93 genotypes and 449 polymorphic loci. Pythium aphanidermatum populations were found to have moderate levels of genetic diversity (H = 0.2) and a moderate Shannon information index (I = 0.3793). Analysis of molecular variance (FST = 0.1, P = 0.0) revealed a moderate level of genetic differentiation among P. aphanidermatum isolates between Oman governorates. The sensitivity of 15 P. aphanidermatum isolates was evaluated against hymexazol at different concentrations (10, 100, and 1000 ppm). The results revealed that P. aphanidermatum could grow well at concentrations of up to 100 ppm hymexazol. However, hymexazol at 1000 ppm retarded the growth of P. aphanidermatum. This study showed that P. aphanidermatum is the most prevalent species in greenhouses in Oman and exhibited a moderate level of genetic diversity. Most of the isolates exhibited differences in tolerance to hymexazol but showed no resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the critical role of balanced nutrition in crop productivity, the use of potash (K) and zinc (Zn) is not much practiced by Pakistani farmers. The reduced nutrient uptake and crop productivity together increase the costs associated with fertilization and revisit farmers' confidence in the efficacy and profitability of fertilizers. To address this problem, a field study was conducted in the research area of the MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, in collaboration with Engro Fertilizers Limited. The research plan consisted of five treatments, including T1 = control (without N, P, K, and Zn fertilizers), T2 = NP in practice (NP at 32-23-0 kg acre-1), T3 = recommended NP (NP at 48-34.5 kg acre-1), T4 = balanced NPK (NP +K at 48-34.5-30 kg acre-1), and T5 = balanced NPK + Zn (NPK+Zn at 48-34.5- 30 + 7.5 kg acre-1). Wheat was used as a test crop, and its growth, yield, and physiological and nutritional parameters were studied. The results indicated that NPK+Zn balanced nutrition increased plant height, spike length, photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and grain yield by 13%, 15%, 44%, 60%, 63%, 39%, and 78%, respectively, compared with the control. It was found that the combined application of NP, K, and Zn improved the recovery efficiency of applied nutrients, i.e., nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE) by 230%, phosphorus recovery efficiency (PRE) by 136%, potassium recovery efficiency (KRE) by 135%, and zinc recovery efficiency (ZnRE) by 136% compared to NP-alone application. Agronomic use efficiency of applied fertilizers, such as potassium agronomic use efficiency (KAUE) by 71%, phosphorus agronomic use efficiency (PAUE) by 72%, nitrogen agronomic use efficiency (NAUE) by 70%, and zinc agronomic use efficiency (ZnAUE) by 72%, was observed compared to NP-alone application. The results showed that NPUE, PPUE, NPUE, and ZnPUE were reduced by 5%, 3%, 3%, and 5%, respectively, compared to NP-alone application. Our findings suggest that K and Zn should be made an essential part of wheat nutrition management for higher yield and better quality of produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agaricus is a genus with more than 500 species. Most of the new species reported since 2000 are tropical or subtropical. The study area, the Malakand region, located in the north of Pakistan, has a subtropical climate. In this study, nine species, including three new species, of Agaricus subgenus Pseudochitonia, are reported from this region. Description of the new species are based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses using three DNA regions: nuc ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS), fragments of the large subunit of nuc ribosomal DNA (28S), and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF1). One new species, Agaricus lanosus, with wooly squamules on its cap, forms a lineage within Agaricus sect. Bivelares and cannot be classified with certainty in one of the two subsections (Cupressorum and Hortenses) of this section. Agaricus rhizoideus with rhizoid-like structure at the base of the stipe forms a basal clade in Agaricus sect. Hondenses. Specimens of the third new species, Agaricus malakandensis, form a species-level clade within Agaricus sect. Catenulati and exhibits the morphological characteristics of this section. Due to their similar ITS sequences, two previously unnamed specimens from Thailand (A. sp. LD2012162 and CA799) are considered conspecific with A. malakandensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transdermal route is an important delivery system for the delivery of both systemic and local effects. The effectiveness of therapy is based on adherence of transdermal dosage form to the skin and physiochemical properties of the drug during therapy. Transdermal Film-Forming Gels when applied to the skin after adherence form a thin film and provide the delivery of drug to the body tissues. Novel 5-Fluorouracil loaded Film-Forming Gels was prepared by utilizing natural polymer (chitosan) with variable concentration of penetration enhancers i.e. oleic acid and tween 80 which further affects the drug release. Prepared Film-Forming Gels were subjected to pH determination, viscosity measurement, homogeneity determination and FTIR analysis. Drying test showed film-forming gel was dried within 15 min after application. Moreover, in-vitro release study confirmed the 83% release over 180 min and the ex-vivo release of FFG9 displayed 81.45% release. This novel system would be an effective dosage form for the delivery of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to find a link between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) caled rs20417 in the cyclooxygenase-2 gene and Aspirin resistance in Pakistani patients with heart disease. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pharmacology Department, National University of Medical Sciences, in colaboration with the National Institute of Heart Diseases and the Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering in Islamabad Pakistan, from Oct 2018 to Dec 2021. Methodology: The study was carried out on 384 patients (272 males and 112 females) with ischemic heart disease. Patients who had been on Aspirin for at least seven days were selected using non-probability convenience sampling. Platelet aggregation was performed using a Transmission Aggregometer, with arachidonic acid as an agonist. DNA extraction was done using the kit method (Invitrogen, Thermofisher). Then, Polymerase chain Reaction, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, and gel electrophoresis were used to identify SNP rs20417. Results: In this study, 14.0% (n=54) of ischemic heart disease patients were found to be Aspirin resistant, while 86.0% (n=330) were Aspirin responders. The genotyping of COX2 SNP rs20417 showed that 55.46% (n=213) of patients were homozygous with the GG genotype, 34.11%(n=131) had CG (heterozygous), and 10.41% (n=40) of patients were carriers of homogeneous (CC). Statistical analysis did not demonstrate a significant association of any of the aleles of the evaluated SNP with Aspirin resistance (p>0.05). Conclusion: In the Pakistani population, Aspirin resistance is not associated with any specific polymorphic form of Cyclooxygenase-2 at SNP rs20417. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hymenagaricus has small to medium-sized mushrooms and the cap surface with squamulose pellicles, consisting of hymeniform or pseudoparenchymatous cells and yellowish-brown basidiospores. The species of Hymenagaricus are very similar to those of Xanthagaricus and it is extremely difficult to differentiate the species of both genera in the field. However, phylogenetically, both the genera are clearly distinct. In this study, we describe two new species of Hymenagaricus, i.e. H. wadijarzeezicus and H. parvulus from the southern part of Oman. Species descriptions are based on a combination of morphological characteristics of basidiomata and phylogenetic analyses of three gene regions: internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal DNA (28S) and translation elongation factor one alpha (EF-1α). Full descriptions, micrographs and illustration of anatomical features, basidiomata photos and phylogenetic analyses results of the new taxa are provided. Morphological comparisons of new taxa with similar species and a key to species included in the phylogenetic analyses are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is an important regulator of plant growth and development and plays a crucial role in both biotic and abiotic stress responses. ABA modulates flowering time, but the precise molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Here we report that ABA INSENSITIVE 2 (ABI2) is the only phosphatase from the ABA-signaling core that positively regulates the transition to flowering in Arabidopsis. Loss-of-function abi2-2 mutant shows significantly delayed flowering both under long day and short day conditions. Expression of floral repressor genes such as FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and CYCLING DOF FACTOR 1 (CDF1) was significantly up-regulated in abi2-2 plants while expression of the flowering promoting genes FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1) was down-regulated. Through genetic interactions we further found that ost1-3 and abi5-1 mutations are epistatic to abi2-2 , as both of them individually rescued the late flowering phenotype of abi2-2. Interestingly, phosphorylation and protein stability of ABA INSENSITIVE 5 (ABI5) were enhanced in abi2-2 plants suggesting that ABI2 dephosphorylates ABI5, thereby reducing protein stability and the capacity to induce FLC expression. Our findings uncovered the unexpected role of ABI2 in promoting flowering by inhibiting ABI5-mediated FLC expression in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pythium-induced damping-off of cucumber is a major constraint to cucumber production in different parts of the world. Although chemical fungicides are used for managing this disease, they have many drawbacks to the environment. The ability of the antagonistic fungi isolated from the rhizosphere and endosphere of Dactyloctenium robecchii and Moraea sisyrinchium in the control of soilborne pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum was inspected. Native Trichoderma isolates, Trichoderma ghanense and Trichoderma citrinoviride, were isolated from plant stem and soil samples collected from Al-Seeb, Oman. Using a dual culture technique, the antagonistic activity of the fungal isolates against P. aphanidermatum was examined in vitro. Among Trichoderma isolates, T. ghanense was more efficient in restraining the mycelial growth of P. aphanidermatum, causing an inhibition percentage of 44.6%. Further, T. citrinoviride induced significantly lower cessation of P. aphanidermatum mycelial growth (31.3%). Microscopic and electrolyte leakage inspection of the pathogen mycelia depicted extreme morphological malformations in their mycelium, which can be attributed to the antifungal metabolites of antagonists. Greenhouse studies demonstrated the effectivity of T. ghanense in controlling Pythium damping-off of cucumber plants, where the number of surviving plants was over 90% when the biocontrol agents were used compared to 0 in the control plants. Furthermore, treatment of the plants with the antagonists promoted growth characteristics of plants compared to uninoculated plants. This included improvements in shoot and root lengths, leaf length and width, and dry weight. These findings suggest that T. ghanense and T. citrinoviride can be developed as alternatives to synthetic chemical fungicides to manage soilborne pathogens of cucumber. This research is also the first to clarify the biocontrol ability of T. citrinoviride and T. ghanense against cucumber damping-off caused by P. aphanidermatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture has adopted numerous alternatives, including plant-based sources, microbial biomass, and animal by-products, to recognize the importance of reducing fishmeal (FM) use for economic and environmental sustainability. Several studies have been conducted to look into the impact of different animal protein sources, such as meat and bone meal (MBM), feather meal (FeM), blood meal (BM), poultry by-product meal (PBM), and insect meal (IM), as substitutes for FM in the diets of various fish species. Numerous studies have revealed different degrees of favorable results and outcomes. Studies of different fish species with various levels of substitution were reviewed. Moreover, many studies have demonstrated that the development of fish is not significantly impacted by the inclusion of animal meals in their diets at low to moderate levels. Although the use of alternatives such as fishery by-products, insects and terrestrial byproducts has some constraints. However, the utilization of animal-based protein sources generally exhibits positive results with regard to numerous factors, including the variable growth rate, feed conversion ratio, survival rate, and final weight of different fish species. Indeed, certain animal diets also enhanced the blood composition and immune response of certain species. Overall, the perception is that IM is the most advantageous and proactive protein source used in aquaculture. Several studies have shown that PBM and MBM reveal improved results. More research is required to further interpret other factors that influence the dietary incorporation of animal protein sources in aquaculture feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the infrastructural needs for the establishment of Non-Formal Schools (NFSs) within the existing setup of mosques and guesthouses of the community, aiming to enrol out-of-school children and alleviate illiteracy in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Employing a case study and qualitative research design, 62 research participants from the education sector and the Hajj and Islamic Affairs sector were purposively selected. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that generally buildings and carpets were the available facilities for the initiative; however, other essential facilities such as furniture, teaching materials, stationery, and qualified teaching staff were needed for the establishment of NFSs in the province. The study suggests that the government need to collaborate with non-governmental organizations and support the initiative by devising comprehensive policies, allocating sufficient funds, and providing the basic infrastructure facilities to open NFSs addressing the issue of illiteracy in the province and the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: The coronavirus pandemic followed a succession of COVID-19 waves globally, and had a varying pattern of frequency of cases and disease spectrum as each wave came with its distinct viral characteristics. The objective of this study was to compare clinical characteristics, treatments and outcomes of patients admitted with severe COVID -19 pneumonia in all four waves at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital (RTEH). Methods: A cross sectional retrospective study was conducted at the COVID unit of Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital (RTEH), Muzaffargarh, from April 2020 to December 2021. Retrospective data was taken from Electronic Medical Records of patients of Covid pneumonia and divided into four groups according to four waves of Covid pandemic. The main objective was to compare disease spectrum, treatments and outcomes of patients admitted with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in all four waves at RTEH. Demographic characteristics, inflammatory markers such as C reactive protein (CRP), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum ferratin and absolute lymphocyte counts, mortality, length of hospital and ICU stay and event of mechanical ventilation were compared between groups. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to check the normality. P-value <0.05 was considered significance. Results: Of a total of 903 patients with covid pneumonia, 521(57.7%) were males and 382 (42.3%) females. Their mean age was 55.56±15.06 years. The mean length of stay (LOS) at the hospital was higher in first wave and least in fourth wave, 9.06±6.46 days and 6.56±5.34 days, respectively, (p<0.010). In first wave, LOS was generally >10 days with 21 (22.6%) while 33(26.8%) patients were shifted to ICU in first and second waves, respectively. Whereas, 35(8.2%) patients shifted to ICU in fourth wave (p<0.010). The use of mechanical ventilation was most common in first and second wave, 14 (15.1%) and 18 (14.6%), respectively. Mortality rate was highest in the third wave, 102 (38.9%, p<0.010) compared to the rest of the waves. Conclusion: Comparison of COVID-19 pneumonia patients across pandemic waves has revealed dynamic trends in patient outcomes. The initial waves had higher ICU admissions and mortality rate, suggesting a need for improved early response and resource allocation. Continuous adaptability in healthcare strategies was paramount for enhancing patient care during the ever-changing pandemic landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An insight has been provided into the eutectic formation and cutaneous wound healing potential of a binary allantoin/β-D-fructose system (AF). The system was blended with folic acid for light-aided wound therapy. Solid–liquid binary phase diagram showed a differential melting depression of 88°C from the ideal line and the existence of eutectic at X1 = X2 = 0.5. Simulations of molecular mechanics showed the involvement of hydantoin C = O and ureido –NH in hydrogen bonding with hydroxyl or hydroxymethyl groups of fructose. In the eutectic-folic acid blend (AFF), H-bonds were present between = N of pterin ring A and hydantoin –NH. Additionally, pi-sigma interactions involving pterin rings and pyranose moiety were revealed. The bulk density variations showed the disruption of the allantoin template after eutectic formation. An in-depth attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopic analysis endorsed the findings of other investigations and vibrational frequencies of interacting functionalities were shifted to different extents. The thermal stability of the eutectic mixture was markedly compromised after the addition of folic acid. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated the presence of cocrystal in addition to eutectic. Eutectic and its blend produced nearly the same healing effects in non-infected cutaneous wounds in rabbit models under normal and photodynamic wound therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the investor-herding index (IHRB) and manager-herding index (MHRB), the emergence of investors' and managers' herding behavior at the corporate-level and its potential impact on firm financial performance (FFP) is analyzed in the entire study. The study utilizes the micro-level data of 296 listed firms of Pakistan stock exchange (PSX) from 2013 to 2017. Empirical findings show that the investors' and managers' herding significantly affect FFP. The results are robust under alternative measurements of FFP. This study has a unique contribution to the literature on behavioral finance by addressing the astonishingly overlooked phenomena of firm-level biases and their potential impact on FFP. For prospective investor's decision, the findings are significant in such way that the market index is irrelevant than the firm-level financial evidence. Explicitly, the study concludes that positive herding behavior is elucidated by the bullish trend and inverse herding behavior of investors with respective to firm value leads toward bearish trend of stock market index. The likelihood of market crash may become more stringent in circumstances once managers and investors interactively exhibit negative herding behavior. Thus, the study offers useful policy and strategy implications for the associated stakeholders to the device the policies accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have not only detrimental impacts on air quality but also acts as a source for a range of heavy metals that worsen the potential risks to public health. Notably, previous studies on PM2.5-bound heavy metals in Pakistan have primarily focused on individual cities. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of pollution characteristics related to PM2.5-bound heavy metals, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni), in ten cities of Pakistan. Data was collected from a wide range of reliable sources spanning from 2013 to 2023. Additionally, the human health risk assessment methodology endorsed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was employed to evaluate both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for adults (males and females) and children. Findings of the present study revealed that children faced a greater risk associated with PM2.5-bound heavy metals as compared to adults. Cadmium, zinc, and nickel were found as the top three contributors to the average non-carcinogenic risk, while lead, cadmium, and nickel showed the highest carcinogenic risks. Based on these findings, this study strongly recommend that the government should strengthen the management of industrial and vehicular emissions. Furthermore, there is an imperative need to establish a real-time monitoring system capable of tracking toxic heavy metal pollutants transported through the atmosphere. Additionally, policymakers should seriously contemplate regional collaborations with the goal of creating metropolitan initiatives for pollution control, thereby effectively addressing these paramount environmental and public health concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work considers the analytical analysis of silver-water, silver-blood base nanofluid flow over fluctuating disk with the influence of viscous dissipation over fluctuating disk. The primary goal of this study is an effort to improve the heat transfer ratio, which is a core part of the engineering and industrial sectors. Following a continuity check, the problem is modeled using the conservation rules of momentum and energy. Nonlinear PDEs are produced through modeling, which are then transformed into ODEs using a similarity transformation and thermophysical characteristics. The resultant ODEs are resolved using the Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method (HAM). The outcomes of this method are compared to authenticate the outcomes of the obtained results. The Mathematica software is used to run HAM methods, and graphical interpretations are given to highlight the influence of dissimilar contributing factors on the velocity profile and temperature distribution. Nusselt's number, and the skin friction are examined through graphical representation. Convergence of the problem is checked with the help of graphs and tables by using dual solution of the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenanthrene fluorescence quenching in anionic micellar system of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) was explored for the development of a sensitive and selective method for a group of selected aldehydes (2,6-dichlorobenzaldehyde, 4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde, 4-aminobenzaldehyde, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-chlorobenzaldehyde, benzaldehyde and 2-methoxybenzaldehyde). Experiments were performed in 0.02 mol L− 1 SDS. All the studied aldehydes quenched the fluorescence intensity of the probe (phenanthrene). Stern-Volmer equation was useful in explaining the phenanthrene quenching by the studied aldehydes. Stern-Volmer constants () were obtained as a result of using the Stern-Volmer equation that gives the information in respect of sensitivity of the method for the studied aldehydes. Greater the higher will be the sensitivity and vice versa. , detection limit (DL) and quantification limit (QL) were observed in the order 2,6-dichlorobenzaldehyde > 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde > 4-aminobenzaldehyde > 4-nitrobenzaldehyde > 2-chlorobenzaldehyde > benzaldehyde > 2-methoxybenzaldehyde. Phenanthrene fluorescence quenching by the studied aldehydes is useful for their determination in environmental samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the antagonistic potential of endophytic and rhizospheric bacterial isolates obtained from Citrullus colocynthis in suppressing Fusarium solani and Pythium aphanidermatum and promoting the growth of cucumber. Molecular identification of bacterial strains associated with C. colocynthis confirmed that these strains belong to the Achromobacter, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Sphingobacterium, Bacillus, Sinorhizobium, Staphylococcus, Cupriavidus, and Exiguobacterium genera. A dual culture assay showed that nine of the bacterial strains exhibited antifungal activity, four of which were effective against both pathogens. Strains B27 (Pantoea dispersa) and B28 (Exiguobacterium indicum) caused the highest percentage of inhibition towards F. solani (48.5% and 48.1%, respectively). P. aphanidermatum growth was impeded by the B21 (Bacillus cereus, 44.7%) and B28 (Exiguobacterium indicum, 51.1%) strains. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the strains caused abnormality in phytopathogens' mycelia. All of the selected bacterial strains showed good IAA production (>500 ppm). A paper towel experiment demonstrated that these strains improved the seed germination, root/shoot growth, and vigor index of cucumber seedlings. Our findings suggest that the bacterial strains from C. colocynthis are suppressive to F. solani and P. aphanidermatum and can promote cucumber growth. This appears to be the first study to report the efficacy of these bacterial strains from C. colocynthis against F. solani and P. aphanidermatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural hazard threats have grown as a result of climate change, fast demographic development, and major urbanization. Devastating floods have occurred in several areas of the world recently, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is located in a region with a dry environment. In arid or semi-arid regions, rapidly forming flash floods associated with debris flowing down over dry water courses leading to a potential threat to both lives and property. Being located at the coastal plain of western Saudi Arabia, Jeddah City has witnessed an unexpected amount of rainfall events in recent years. Such extreme rainfall events, integrated with other factors, namely topography, land use, surface runoff, etc., have led to flood generation, which is alarming indeed. Herein, this paper addresses the varying climatic classifications of the Kingdom, its risk and vulnerability, followed by reasoning about the impact of flash flood events and the associated casualties and property losses. Further, it reports about the existing strategies of the government and proposes a systematic way forward on how to alleviate such events in future. Thus, risk variables have been discovered and integrated in the context of climate change and rising anthropogenic strain on coastal communities to give planners and decision makers tools to assure effective and appropriate flood risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current study aimed to develop a topical herbal emulgel containing Carthamus tinctorius L. (CT) oil extract, which has been scientifically proven for its antibacterial and antioxidant activities for the ailment of bacterial skin infections. Method: The CT emulgel was formulated by response surface methodology (RSM) and was evaluated by various parameters like extrudability, spreadability, pH, viscosity, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Molecular docking was also performed using AutoDock. Results: Among all formulated CT emulgels, F9 and F8 were optimized. Optimized formulations had shown good spreadability and extrudability characteristics. Sample F8 had % inhibition of 42.131 ± 0.335, 56.720 ± 0.222, and 72.440 ± 0.335 at different concentrations. Sample F9 had % inhibition of 26.312 ± 0.280, 32.461 ± 0.328, and 42.762 ± 0.398 at concentrations of 250 µg/ml, 500 µg/ml, and 1,000 µg/ml, respectively, which shows that both samples F8 and F9 have significant antioxidant potential. Optimized CT emulgels F8 and F9 had significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at p-value = 0.00, the Emulgel-F8 shows zone of inhibition of 24 mm for E-coli and 19 mm for S-aureus. Emulgel-F9 shows zone of inhibition of 22 mm for E-coli and 15 mm for S-aureus while pure CT-Oil extract shows zone of inhibition of 25 mm for E-coli and 20 mm for S-aureus and ciprofloxacin used as standard shows 36mm zone of inhibition against both E-coli and Saureus. The comparative investigation through molecular docking binding affinities and interactions of ligands with various target proteins provides insights into the molecular processes behind ligand binding and may have significance for drug discovery and design for the current study. Conclusion: The current study suggests that C. tinctorius L.-based emulgel has good antioxidant and antibacterial activities against E. coli for the treatment of bacterial skin infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of Hyperhomocysteinemia in patients of essential hypertension presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Internal Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Quetta Pakistan, from Feb 2018 to Jan 2019. Methodology: The patients of essential hypertension presenting with acute ischemic stroke between 20-70 years of age of either gender were evaluated for the serum homocysteine level. Results: A total 195 patients of essential hypertension presenting with acute ischemic stroke for ≥24 hours duration, of age between 20-70 years, of both genders were included in the study by non-probability consecutive sampling. Majority of patients were between 50-59 year of age (34.3%) with majority of them were male (66.4%). Out of 195, 70.3% were smokers, 56.4% were diabetics, 60.5% were obese and 71.7% had hyperhomocysteinemia respectively. The statistical significance was also observed for hyperhomocysteinemia in accordance with age (p=0.04), gender (p=0.02), obesity (p=0.03) smoking (p=0.01) and diabetes mellitus (p=0.03). Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinemia is more prevalent in patients of essential hypertension with acute ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review article discusses the potential applications of graphene oxide-silver nanoparticles (GO-Ag NPs) in various fields, including biomedical, catalytic, electrochemical detection, and wastewater treatment technologies. GO-Ag NPs have gained significant attention due to their unique properties, such as excellent electrical, mechanical, and thermal conductivity, as well as their protective capabilities. The review summarizes the different starting materials and reducing agents that have been used to produce GO-Ag NPs with particle sizes ranging from 2 to 90 nm. Furthermore, the article highlights the various applications of GO-Ag NPs, such as their use in drug delivery, bioimaging, and cancer therapy. Additionally, the review discusses the potential of GO-Ag NPs in catalysis, electrochemical detection, and wastewater treatment. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the potential uses of GO-Ag NPs and emphasizes the need for further research to develop more straightforward methods for their production and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achillea millefolium L. is one of the most known medicinal plants with a broad spectrum of applications in the treatment of inflammation, pain, microbial infections and gastrointestinal disorders. In recent years, the extracts from A. millefolium have also been applied in cosmetics with cleansing, moisturizing, shooting, conditioning and skin-lightening properties. The growing demand for naturally derived active substances, worsening environmental pollution and excessive use of natural resources are causing increased interest in the development of alternative methods for the production of plant-based ingredients. In vitro plant cultures are an eco-friendly tool for continuous production of desired plant metabolites, with increasing applicability in cosmetics and dietary supplements. The purpose of the study was to compare phytochemical composition and antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory properties of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts from A. millefolium obtained from field conditions (AmL and AmH extracts) and in vitro cultures (AmIV extracts). In vitro microshoot cultures of A. millefolium were obtained directly from seeds and harvested following 3 weeks of culture. Extracts prepared in water, 50% ethanol and 96% ethanol were compared for the total polyphenolic content, phytochemical content using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-hr-qTOF/MS), antioxidant activity by DPPH scavenging assay and the influence on the activity of mushroom and murine tyrosinases. The phytochemical content of AmIV extracts was significantly different from AmL and AmH extracts. Most of the polyphenolic compounds identified in AmL and AmH extracts were present in AmIV extracts only in trace amounts and the major constituents presented in AmIV extracts were fatty acids. The total content of polyphenols in AmIV exceeded 0.25 mg GAE/g of dried extract, whereas AmL and AmH extracts contained from 0.46 ± 0.01 to 2.63 ± 0.11 mg GAE/g of dried extract, depending on the solvent used. The low content of polyphenols was most likely responsible for the low antioxidant activity of AmIV extracts (IC50 values in DPPH scavenging assay >400 µg/mL) and the lack of tyrosinase inhibitory properties. AmIV extracts increased the activity of mushroom tyrosinase and tyrosinase present in B16F10 murine melanoma cells, whereas AmL and AmH extracts showed significant inhibitory potential. The presented data indicated that microshoot cultures of A. millefolium require further experimental research before they can be implemented as a valuable raw material for the cosmetics industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, composite nanostructures (CNs) of SnO2–ZnO–g–C3N4 have been prepared by a soft chemical method and investigated for their potential application in photocatalytic remediation of organics in water and antibacterial agents. Structural study revealed the presence of three phases related to hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO, tetragonal phase of SnO2 and monoclinic phase of g–C3N4 having nanocrystalline nature which confirms the formation of CNs. Formation of nanoscale morphology along with elemental composition of the CNs have been validated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The presence of only A1g mode of SnO2 in Raman spectrum of ternary CNs suggested that SnO2 nanoparticles have been coated on the surfaces of ZnO and g–C3N4 which is also evident from SEM results. SnO2–ZnO–g–C3N4 CNs have shown much higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency and produced 7 mm greater zone of inhibition (ZOI) against Gram-positive S. Aureus bacteria as compared to pure ZnO which is quite significant result when compared to previously reported results for SnO2–ZnO CNs. These synthesized CNs may have potential uses in healthcare technology and treatment of organics in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using sun-mediated aqueous extract of the stem, flower and leaf of the plant Thymus linearis. The effect of sunlight on extract absorbance is measured using UV–Vis spectroscopy. The resultant nanoparticle F-Ag–NPs, L-Ag–NPs, S-Ag–NPs were characterized using modern techniques including UV–Vis spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR, Zeta potential, Zeta size analyzer, XRD and SEM. The reaction takes place in presence of sunlight and the color changes from light yellow to red finally, dark brown was observed indicating the completion of the reaction. In the case of Flower extract, F-Ag–NPs produced maximum absorbance at a higher concentration of AgN O 3 with lambda max 403, and 405 nm at 5 mM and 10 mM respectively. In the case of stem and leaves extract, maximum absorbance was seen at a low concentration of AgN O 3 with lambda max range from 391 nm to 402 nm and 409–425 nm respectively. The ATR-FTIR spectrum confirms the presence of capping agents which are complemented by a negative zeta potential value. The Zeta sizer revealed the diameter (d-nm) of F-Ag–NPs, L-Ag–NPs, S-Ag–NPs, 73.26, 59.26 and 51.32 respectively. The Ag–NPs also showed anti-bacterial, DDPH, and ABTS activity. The aqueous extract of Thymus linearis (flower, leaves, and stem) was prepared using sunlight. The resultant extract was used as capping, reducing, and stabilizing agent to prepare silver nanoparticles. The Ag–NPs were characterized by using modern characterizing techniques including UV–Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, zeta-potential, zeta-seizer, SEM, and XRD. The biological studies of Ag–NPs were also performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facebook mentions to scholarly papers have provided a novel way for reflecting and measuring the process of informal scientific communication. To uncover the underlying mechanism of Facebook Altmetrics, it is essential to investigate characteristics of its contextual data. Take library and information science papers for empirical study, three categories of contextual data were gathered, namely data of mentioned LIS papers, data of Facebook users and data of Facebook post. Hybrid methods including statistical analysis, content analysis and visualization analysis were adopted to analyze the data. Results show that: (1) Positive open access status and active Facebook account would help get scholarly paper mentioned but would not boost the number of Facebook mentions. Number of citations, number of collaborative institutions, and number of collaborative countries showed a significantly positive correlation with the number of Facebook mentions. Health information management was identified to be the most mentioned research topic while bibliometrics and scientific evaluation has received on average the highest number of Facebook mentions. (2) Scientific Facebook users that mention LIS papers were widely scattered geographically but dominated by USA, Spain, Germany, Brazil and Australia. Institutional users (89%) and academic users (84%) are prevailing, especially universities (14%), research institutes (12%), libraries (11%), academic associations (9%) and commercial organizations (8%). (3) Most scientific Facebook posts were relatively short, while the language distribution was less skewed than that of scientific tweets. The post content is mostly a combination of text, links, and pictures and with neutral sentiment. Different types of users have demonstrated significantly different style of content and concerned topics. These findings indicate that Facebook mentions to LIS papers mainly reflect the institutional level advocacy and attention, with low level of engagement, and could be influenced by several features including collaborative patterns and research topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology-assisted diagnosis is increasingly important in healthcare systems. Brain tumors are a leading cause of death worldwide, and treatment plans rely heavily on accurate survival predictions. Gliomas, a type of brain tumor, have particularly high mortality rates and can be further classified as low- or high-grade, making survival prediction challenging. Existing literature provides several survival prediction models that use different parameters, such as patient age, gross total resection status, tumor size, or tumor grade. However, accuracy is often lacking in these models. The use of tumor volume instead of size may improve the accuracy of survival prediction. In response to this need, we propose a novel model, the enhanced brain tumor identification and survival time prediction (ETISTP), which computes tumor volume, classifies it into low- or high-grade glioma, and predicts survival time with greater accuracy. The ETISTP model integrates four parameters: patient age, survival days, gross total resection (GTR) status, and tumor volume. Notably, ETISTP is the first model to employ tumor volume for prediction. Furthermore, our model minimizes the computation time by allowing for parallel execution of tumor volume computation and classification. The simulation results demonstrate that ETISTP outperforms prominent survival prediction models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, is devastatingly impacting human health. A prominent component of COVID-19 is the infection and destruction of the ciliated respiratory cells, which perpetuates dissemination and disrupts protective mucociliary transport (MCT) function, an innate defense of the respiratory tract. Thus, drugs that augment MCT could improve the barrier function of the airway epithelium and reduce viral replication and, ultimately, COVID-19 outcomes. We tested five agents known to increase MCT through distinct mechanisms for activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection using a model of human respiratory epithelial cells terminally differentiated in an air/liquid interphase. Three of the five mucoactive compounds tested showed significant inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 replication. An archetype mucoactive agent, ARINA-1, blocked viral replication and therefore epithelial cell injury; thus, it was further studied using biochemical, genetic, and biophysical methods to ascertain the mechanism of action via the improvement of MCT. ARINA-1 antiviral activity was dependent on enhancing the MCT cellular response, since terminal differentiation, intact ciliary expression, and motion were required for ARINA-1-mediated anti-SARS-CoV2 protection. Ultimately, we showed that the improvement of cilia movement was caused by ARINA-1-mediated regulation of the redox state of the intracellular environment, which benefited MCT. Our study indicates that intact MCT reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection, and its pharmacologic activation may be effective as an anti-COVID-19 treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insect infestation can cause severe loss to the production of agricultural crops in two ways. The first is direct injury to the plant by the feeding insect, which eats the tissues of leaves, stems, fruits, or roots. The second type is indirect damage, in which the insect itself does little or no harm but transmits or influences the infection of bacteria, viruses, or fungi into a crop. We examined the development of fungal infection in date palm leaves following dubas bug infestation. The study provided evidence that dubas bug infestation in date palm leaves facilitated the infection of several fungal species, such as Alternaria destruens, Cladosporium pseudochalastosporoides, C. endophyticum, Fusarium fujikuroi species complex, F. humuli, F. microconidium, Quambalaria cyanescens, Phaeoacremonium krajdenii, and P. venezuelense. This was the first study to report this kind of association between dubas bugs and these fungi in date palms. Future studies should focus on the management of dubas bug infestations to limit the development of other diseases in the host plants. The dubas bug (Ommatissus lybicus) (Hemiptera: Tropiduchidae) is a serious pest in date palms in several date-producing countries, including Oman. Infestation results in a severe reduction in yield and a weakening of date palm growth. In addition, egg laying, which causes injuries to date palm leaves, results in the development of necrotic lesions on the leaves. This study aimed at investigating the role of fungi in the development of necrotic leaf spots following dubas bug infestation. Leaf samples developing leaf spot symptoms were collected from dubas-bug-infested leaves, as the leaf spot symptoms were not observed on the non-infested leaves. Isolation from date palm leaves collected from 52 different farms yielded 74 fungal isolates. Molecular identification of the isolates revealed that they belonged to 31 fungal species, 16 genera, and 10 families. Among the isolated fungi, there were five Alternaria species, four species each of Penicillium and Fusarium, three species each of Cladosporium and Phaeoacremonium, and two species each of Quambalaria and Trichoderma. Out of the thirty-one fungal species, nine were pathogenic on date palm leaves and induced varying levels of leaf spot symptoms. The pathogenic species were Alternaria destruens, Fusarium fujikuroi species complex, F. humuli, F. microconidium, Cladosporium pseudochalastosporoides, C. endophyticum, Quambalaria cyanescens, Phaeoacremonium krajdenii, and P. venezuelense, which were reported for the first time as leaf spot causal agents in date palms. The study provided novel information on the effect of dubas bug infestation in date palms on the development of fungal infection and associated leaf spot symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fish meat is highly perishable. So, it is necessary to seek viable alternatives that help to preserve meat freshness and quality and to increase its shelf life. One of these alternatives is the chitosan which is natural preservative having antimicrobial properties. In present study, the effectiveness of chitosan coatings as natural preservative was assessed on rancidity development and quality changes in mori fillets during 28 days of storage. The control and chitosan coated samples were analyzed periodically at intervals of 7 days, for determination of pH, water holding capacity, water extractable proteins, salt extractable proteins, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and sensory quality of mori fillets. The results indicated that chitosan coatings were effective in controlling pH, water loss, TBARS production, retention of water extractable proteins and salt extractable proteins in fish fillets. The sensory attributes texture, color, taste and odor were significantly improved in chitosan treated samples as compared to untreated samples. Furthermore, among chitosan treatment groups, 1% chitosan treatment showed best preservative effect on mori fillets. Therefore, it can be concluded that 1% chitosan treatment is most effective for maintaining the storage quality of mori fillets during this experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the Co3O4/NiO nanocomposite has been synthesized as a catalyst for thermal degradation and photodegradation of the malachite green dye. Its morphology showed small spherical particles with an average particle size of 52.82 ± 17.73 nm. The XRD pattern and XPS analysis proved the formation of Co3O4/NiO nanocomposite with the growth of both Co3O4 and NiO at crystal contents proportions of 67.7 ± 17% and 32.3 ± 16%, respectively. The TGA results indicated that the Co3O4/NiO nanocomposite is nearly thermally stable up to 1000 °C. The synthesized Co3O4/NiO nanocomposite recorded an optical energy band gap of 4.27 eV and a surface area of 27.4933 m2/g. Besides, its photocatalytic activity was compared with the photolysis and thermocatalytic activity. The velocity constant (kapp) value for photocatalysis was higher than that for photolysis by ten folds. Besides, various effects like dye concentration, pH, catalyst amount, and different scavengers were also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study details the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using clove oil as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Cationic, anionic, nonionic and zwitterionic surfactants were introduced to study the change in size, shape, and morphology of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized using different techniques. The nanoparticles had shown specific surface Plasmon resonance band with absorbance between 380 and 385 nm. The X-ray diffraction study revealed that the nanoparticles are composed of spherical cubic crystals with average size between 136 and 180 nm while Dynamic Laser scattering (DLS) studies revealed an effective diameter of 82 nm and polydispersity index of 0.005. Thermogravimetric analysis suggested that the particles are stable even at 600 °C. All the samples presented good antibacterial and antifungal efficacies against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Candida albicans and good catalytic activities for the degradation of fast green and Allura red dyes. Further, thin edible films of the nanoparticles were prepared using sodium alginate for food preservation. The films were coated on fruits and vegetables for extending their shelf life to cope with demand and supply gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Caragana ambigua has been the part of the dietary routines of the regional people in south‐west Pakistan and has traditionally been used for the treatment of diabetes there. There is an increased production of reactive oxygen species in diabetics, leading to gastrointestinal disorders. Natural antioxidants exhibit gastroprotective effects owing to their free‐radical scavenging action. C. ambigua possesses appreciable phenolic and flavonoid content; thus, it has the potential to protect against gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. gastric ulcer). RESULTS: This study reports the anti‐ulcer potential of C. ambigua. Four different fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and aqueous) of plant were compared against omeprazole. Ulcer index, ulcer inhibition percentage, gastric pH and volume, total acidity, gastric protein, gastric wall mucus, and histopathology of gastric walls of rats were assessed. All fractions exhibited a reduction in ulcer index and promotion of percentage of ulcer inhibition compared with the ulcer control group. Furthermore, the fractions revealed a significant (P < 0.001) diminution in gastric volume and total acidity with an increase in pH. Among the fractions investigated, the chloroform fraction unveiled the most promising anti‐ulcer activity, which is comparable to omeprazole. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry screening of fractions revealed the presence of formononetin and biochanin A (isoflavones reported to have anti‐ulcer properties) in the chloroform fraction. CONCLUSION: This study establishes that C. ambigua possesses significant potential in reducing gastric ulcer progression. Formononetin and biochanin A are chiefly responsible for the stated bioactivity due to the fact that these compounds were solely present in the chloroform fraction. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was carried out at Cotton Research Station, Vehari, Punjab during 2020-21. The objectives of this experiment were to assess the effect of cotton genotypes and sowing dates on yield and fibre quality parameters. Three upland cotton genotypes Viz., VH-402, VH-351 and VH-305 (check) were configured in a sub-plot using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) havinga split-plot arrangement with three replications. Eight sowing dates were arranged in the main plot starting from 1st March to 16th June with a uniform interval of two weeks. Data analysis depicted that sowing dates influenced all study traits significantly except for staple length. Similarly, genotypes and interactive effects were found significant. Genotype VH-351 yielded the highest (2523.3 kg ha-1) when sown in 1st March, while VH-402 gave the lowest seed cotton yield (209 kg ha-1) on the planting date of 16th June. The finest lint-bearing micronaire value (3.9656) was obtained by normal season sowing in 1st May. Late sowing on 16th June resulted in coarse lint with (4.8189) micronaire value. Tough staple was found (33.511 g tex-1) at 1st March sowing, while frail staple (28.856 g tex-1) resulted in 16th May planting. In prevailing climatic conditions sowing of cotton on the earliest dates gave optimum seed cotton yield in South Punjab, while June sowing was proved uneconomical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the whole world is facing agricultural challenges; excess heavy metal (Cd) stress is one of them. In this study, the efficacy of biochar and doped biochar (Silicon & Iron) was investigated on Soil to mitigate the stress of Cd in Brassica rapa L. Total eight treatments were used, Control (T1), NaCl+Cd(NO3)2 (T2), NaCl+Cd(NO3)2 + Biochar (T3), SiNPs (T4), SiNPs+Biochar(T5), SiNPs+NaCl+Cd(NO3)2 (T6), SiNPs+NaCl+Cd(NO3)2 + Biochar (T7), Biochar (T8) while, the morphology study of soil was done with SEM. The results revealed that Electric conductivity was highest in T3 and T5, total protein T4 (11.25%), and phenolic content in T5 and T8 (13.69% & 7.19%) is greatly influenced, Likewise, malondialdehyde contents and H2O2 activity in T2 & T3, Chlorophyll a (T3 and T4) and Chlorophyll b (T3, T7, and T8) was influenced up to a certain value when we compared with control respectively. It is concluded that the biochar and Si NPs enriched biochar are excellent choices for the mitigation of heavy metal (Cd) stress in B. rapa L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease with poor treatment options. However, most mouse models of COPD produce a primarily emphysematous disease not recapitulating clinically meaningful COPD features like chronic bronchitis.Methods: Wild-type ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) were divided randomly into two groups: whole body cigarette smoke exposure and air controls. Ferrets were exposed to smoke from 1R6F research cigarettes, twice daily for six months. RNA-sequencing was performed on RNA isolated from lung tissue. Comparative transcriptomics analyses of COPD in ferrets, mice, and humans were done to find the uniquely expressed genes. Further, Real-time PCR was performed to confirmed RNA-Seq data on multiple selected genes.Results: RNA-sequence analysis identified 420 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were associated with the development of COPD in ferrets. By comparative analysis, we identified 25 DEGs that are uniquely expressed in ferrets and humans, but not mice. Among DEGs, a number were related to mucociliary clearance (NEK-6, HAS1, and KL), while others have been correlated with abnormal lung function (IL-18), inflammation (TREM1, CTSB), or oxidative stress (SRX1, AHRR). Multiple cellular pathways were aberrantly altered in the COPD ferret model, including pathways associated with COPD pathogenesis in humans. Validation of these selected unique DEGs using real-time PCR demonstrated > absolute 2-fold changes in mRNA versus air controls, consistent with RNA-seq analysis.Conclusion: Cigarette smoke-induced COPD in ferrets modulates gene expression consistent with human COPD and suggests that the ferret model may be uniquely well suited for the study of aspects of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines a novel SIR epidemic model that takes into account the impact of environmental white noise. According to the study, white noise has a significant impact on the disease. First, we establish the solution's existence and uniqueness. Following that, we explain that the stochastic basic production R 0 is a threshold that determines the extinction or persistence of the disease. When noise levels are high, we acquire R 0 < 1 , which causes the sickness to disappear. A sufficient condition for the existence of a stationary distribution is archived when the noise intensity is high, which suggests the infection is prevalent when R 0 > 1. Finally, numerical simulations are used to explain the key findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agaricus is an important mushroom genus with some most common edible and medicinal species, but some members are also poisonous. Taxonomically, the genus is divided into seven subgenera including the subgenus Pseudochitonia. In this study, we analyzed some collections of Agaricus from southern Oman, belonging to A. subgenus Pseudochitonia. Agaricus subg. Pseudochitonia is the largest subgenus in terms of sections, with 13 sections by applying the modern taxonomic system in which supraspecific taxa are ranked according to their divergence times. We applied the same procedure using BEAST (Bayesian evolutionary analysis sampling tree) to evaluate the taxonomic position of our specimens. Our specimens formed a strong monophyletic clade with unclassified Agaricus species (A. lannaensis and A. sp. CA820), based on multigene sequence data (ITS, 28S and TEF1) and ITS alignment. The divergence time is estimated around 20–30 million years for this clade. We proposed a new section Catenulati following the basic principles of modern taxonomic system of Agaricus, which are (i) strong phylogenetic support, (ii) divergence times younger than 30 Ma, and (iii) specific morphological characters where possible. The new section Catenulati is represented by a new species Agaricus arabiensis. Moreover, the new section resolved the pending issue of A. lannaensis, previously as unclassified taxon in A. subg. Pseudochitonia and is now in A. sect. Catenulati. The new section is characterized by a phenolic odor of basidiomata and catenoid cheilocystidia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture being the major user of water resources, accounts for 70% of global freshwater demand. With the rise in demand of clean water, the need to implement more efficient strategies for water management in irrigated agriculture increases. A field study was carried out to produce maize crop at the Water Management Research Center, Postgraduate Agricultural Research Station, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Total forty-two (42) indigenized soil moisture sensors (15.24 cm & 30.48 cm long) of copper, brass, and steel were installed for monitoring irrigation efficiency of seven maize production treatments. The indigenized sensors and irrigation system were integrated with Arduino Microcontroller and Raspberry Pi3 for irrigating maize crop. Arduino Mega was coupled with Arduino Ethernet Shield for transformation of soil moisture data on cloud. Drip irrigation treatments (T6 = 390.8 mm and T7 = 387.2 mm) required significantly lower mean amount of water than all the other treatments and the flood irrigation treatments (T1 = 659.6 mm and T2 = 644.5 mm) required the greatest (α = 0.05) amount of mean irrigation depth. Drip irrigation treatments (T6 and T7) produced higher mean water productivity values (19.55 and 19.2) than those under flood irrigation treatments (T1 = 9.2 and T2 = 9.72) and perforated pipe irrigation treatments (T3 = 17.3, T4 = 17.11 and T5 = 16.38). The mean yield of maize grain over two years was greater under drip irrigation treatments (T6 = 7634.0 kg/ha and T7 = 7430.5 kg/ha) than those under flood (T1 = 6072.8 kg/ha, T2 = 6263.1 kg/ha) and perforated pipe irrigation treatments (T3 = 7209.3 kg/ha, T4 = 7097.6 kg/ha, T5 = 6793.1 kg/ha). Perforated pipe irrigation treatments had significantly greater (α = 0.5) maize grain yield than those under flood irrigation treatments. The indigenized sensors proved to be a viable tool to monitor real time soil moisture at 15.24 cm, 30.48 cm, 60.96 cm and 91.44 cm depth in the root zone for promoting precision irrigation to improve water productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical imaging is the process of visual representation of different tissues and organs of the human body to monitor the normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology of the body. There are many medical imaging techniques used for this purpose such as X-ray, computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), digital mammography, and diagnostic sonography. These advanced medical imaging techniques have many applications in the diagnosis of myocardial diseases, cancer of different tissues, neurological disorders, congenital heart disease, abdominal illnesses, complex bone fractures, and other serious medical conditions. There are benefits as well as some risks to every imaging technique. There are some steps for minimizing the radiation exposure risks from imaging techniques. Advance medical imaging modalities such as PET/CT hybrid, three-dimensional ultrasound computed tomography (3D USCT), and simultaneous PET/MRI give high resolution, better reliability, and safety to diagnose, treat, and manage complex patient abnormalities. These techniques ensure the production of new accurate imaging tools with improving resolution, sensitivity, and specificity. In the future, with mounting innovations and advancements in technology systems, the medical diagnostic field will become a field of regular measurement of various complex diseases and will provide healthcare solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the working knowledge of health care workers (HCW) regarding the appropriate use of disinfectants against Coronavirus in hospital care settings using a questionnaire. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, from Apr 2020. Methodology: Two hundred health care workers were consecutively selected and divided into two groups, irrespective of gender. Each participant had to fill a structured proforma containing twenty-five close-ended questions. Result: Group-1 participants were 126 (63%) and group 2 participants were 74 (37%). 117 (92.8%) group-1 participants were 20-30 years of age and degree holders while 40 (54%) group-2 participants were 31-40 years old and diploma holders. Significant awareness (p<0.001) regarding disinfectants was observed in group-1 (102 81%); all the degree holders were well aware of disinfectants and required less training. In contrast, in group-2, 44 (59%) were fully aware of disinfectants; the rest did not qualify and needed proper training. Participants with a good educational status and work experience of >10 years were the high achievers in both groups. Conclusion: This study revealed that majority of the participants knew about the correct usage of disinfectants and they were fully prepared to handle the ongoing pandemic. Another finding was that awareness was directly related to relevant education, prolonged work experience and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human lung differs substantially from its mouse counterpart, resulting in a distinct distal airway architecture affected by disease pathology in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In humans, the distal branches of the airway interweave with the alveolar gas-exchange niche, forming an anatomical structure known as the respiratory bronchioles. Owing to the lack of a counterpart in mouse, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern respiratory bronchioles in the human lung remain uncharacterized. Here we show that human respiratory bronchioles contain a unique secretory cell population that is distinct from cells in larger proximal airways. Organoid modelling reveals that these respiratory airway secretory (RAS) cells act as unidirectional progenitors for alveolar type 2 cells, which are essential for maintaining and regenerating the alveolar niche. RAS cell lineage differentiation into alveolar type 2 cells is regulated by Notch and Wnt signalling. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, RAS cells are altered transcriptionally, corresponding to abnormal alveolar type 2 cell states, which are associated with smoking exposure in both humans and ferrets. These data identify a distinct progenitor in a region of the human lung that is not found in mouse that has a critical role in maintaining the gas-exchange compartment and is altered in chronic lung disease.Human respiratory bronchioles contain a unique population of secretory cells called respiratory airway secretory cells that are distinct from the cells in the larger proximal airways, and act as unidirectional progenitors for alveolar type 2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused emotional loss to people around the world and provides an unusual test for public welfare, educational framework, food frameworks, and the world of work. The economic and social turmoil caused by this epidemic is increasing, and many people are at risk of falling into oppressive poverty. In this article, we describe the pandemic of infectious illness with the help of stochastic mathematical modeling. Based on the environmental white noise and by building appropriate Lyapunov functions and by applying Ito's formula, a few subjective properties are gotten. We provide a new mathematical model for the COVID-19 spread. The novel stochastic model is used to analyze the existence and prevalence of the disease, as well as its extinction. A numerical approach is developed for computing approximate solutions of the model. We show numerical simulations of deterministic and stochastic models of COVID-19 by utilizing the MATLAB software. In this direction, three graphs are included in the paper for the numerical interpretation of the stochastic model with the help of existing parametric and initial values for the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CorSalud is the property of Cardiocentro Ernesto Che Guevara and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Real time soil moisture monitoring using sensors has potential to save irrigation water and improve water productivity. Field experiments were carried out for two successive years (2016-17 and 2017-18) to produce wheat crop at the Water Management Research Center, Postgraduate Agricultural Research Station, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Field irrigation methods included flood irrigation (canvas pipe), perforated pipe irrigation, and drip irrigation under different planting geometries and irrigation designs. The sensor-based irrigation systems were developed using locally available material to minimize the cost of equipment development and energy consumption for crop irrigation. Seven wheat crop treatments used in this experiment were T1-flood irrigation flat sowing by rabi-drill, T2-flood irrigation bed furrow planting with 0.254 m furrow, T3-perforated pipe irrigation bed furrow planting with 0.254 m furrow, T4-perforated pipe irrigation bed furrow planting with 0.203 m furrow, T5-perforated pipe irrigation bed furrow planting with 0.152 m furrow, T6-drip irrigation flat with 0.914 m lateral spacing and T7-drip irrigation on beds with 0.914 m lateral spacing. An IT-based web server was developed for monitoring soil moisture status to serve as decision support system for applying irrigation to the crops. The developed sensors sent soil moisture signals on cloud for data storage, reuse and sharing purpose using coding. The irrigation was applied based on soil moisture status. The system based on micro-controller was tested for irrigating wheat crop. Raspberry Pi-3 (Model B) controlled hardware in distribution box (DB) made excellent use of indigenized soil moisture sensors for calibration and irrigation water management. Type-I (Single probe) and Type-II (Double probe) steel sensors performed best due to high R² values of about 0.99 and RMSE in the range of 3.30% - 3.50% during calibration. The calibration further improved the accuracy of both steel and copper sensors. Since the sensors were designed, developed, and calibrated during the 1st year (2016-17) and properly installed in 2nd year (2017-18), therefore, have affected crop and soil parameters positively. Drip irrigation treatments (T6 = 359.56 mm and T7 = 358.65 mm) required significantly lowest mean amount of water than those by all the other treatments and the flood irrigation treatments (T1 = 431.55 mm and T2 = 424.95 mm) required significantly greatest (α = 0.05) amount of mean irrigation depth. Drip irrigation treatments (T6 and T7) produced high mean water productivity values (14.30 and 14.20) than those under flood irrigation treatments (T1 = 9.6 and T2 = 10.30) and perforated pipe irrigation treatments (T3 = 12.66, T4 = 12.43 and T5 = 12.30). The mean yield of wheat grain over two years was greater under drip irrigation treatments (T6 = 5145.1 kg/ha and T7 = 5091 kg/ha) than those under flood (T1 = 4139 kg/ha, T2 = 4371 kg/ha) and perforated pipe irrigation treatments (T3 = 4969 kg/ha, T4 = 4872 kg/ha, T5 = 4775.7 kg/ha). Perforated pipe irrigation treatments had significantly greater (α = 0.5) wheat grain yield than those under flood irrigation treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The communal problem remained the main hurdle in constitutional developments in India. The Simon Commission had come to help, but failed to deliver. The Nehru Report did not fare well either. It failed to satisfy the Muslims of both side, those who opposed the Simon Commission and those, like the one led by Shafi, cooperated with it. This research paper analyzes Shafi’s perspective on the Nehru Report, and his efforts subsequently to salvage the Muslim position through the All-India Muslim Conference and the Round Table Conference in London are analyzed. In this context, his efforts at the re-unification of the AllIndia Muslim League and better understanding and rapprochement with Jinnah are also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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