Search

The subdivision scheme is a valuable tool for designing shapes and representing geometry in computer-aided geometric design. It has excellent geometric properties, such as fractals and adjustable shape. In this research paper, we explore the generation of fractal curves using a novel binary 8-point interpolatory subdivision scheme with two parameters. We analyse different properties of the proposed scheme, including convergence, special cases, and fractals. Additionally, we demonstrate through various examples the relationship between the shape parameters and the fractal behaviour of the resulting curve. Our research also identifies a specific range of shape parameters that can effectively produce fractal curves. The findings of this study provide a fast and efficient method for generating fractals, as demonstrated by numerous examples. Modelling examples show that the 8-point interpolatory scheme can enhance the efficiency of computer design for complex models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we have designed the current experiment to explore the contribution of different sources of phosphorus (P) i.e., single super phosphate (SSP), nitrophoska (NP), and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) at two different levels i.e., 50 and 100 mg kg−1 in mediating growth and eco-physiology by alleviating lead (Pb) stress i.e., (100 mg kg−1) in cereal crop i.e., barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Results from the present study showed that the increasing levels of Pb in soils significantly decreased plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange attributes, and P contents from the roots, stems, leaves and nodules. Conversely, increasing levels of Pb in the soil increased oxidative stress indicators in term of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radicle and electrolyte leakage and enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds and their specific gene expression and proline metabolism including proline, pyrroline-5-carboxylate, pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase and pyrroline-5- carboxylate dehydrogenase, AsA-GSH cycle including glutathione, ascorbate, glutathione disulfide and dehydroascorbic acid, cellular fractionation including pectin methylesterase activity, uronic acid, hemicellulose I, hemicellulose II, cellulose and pectin methylesterase and also increased Pb concentration in H. vulgare. Interestingly, the application of different sources of P counteracted the toxicity of Pb in H. vulgare , leading to greater growth and biomass. This protective effect is facilitated by the P' ability to sequester reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing oxidative stress and lowering As concentrations in both the roots and shoots of the plants. Our research findings indicated that the application of different sources of P has been shown to enhance the resilience of H. vulgare to Pb toxicity, leading to not only improved biomass but also a better physiological state of the plants. [Display omitted] • Different P sources effectively mitigate Pb stress in barley. • DAP, SSP, and NP significantly enhance barley growth under Pb stress. • P application reduces Pb accumulation in barley tissues. • This study suggests innovative strategies for soil Pb remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) plays a pivotal role in the deamination process of monoamines, encompassing crucial neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. The heightened interest in MAO-B inhibitors emerged after the revelation that this enzyme could potentially catalyze the formation of neurotoxic compounds from endogenous and exogenous sources. Computational screening methodologies serve as valuable tools in the quest for novel inhibitors, enhancing the efficiency of this pursuit. In this study, 43 acefylline derivatives were docked against the MAO-B enzyme for their chemotherapeutic potential and binding affinities that yielded GOLD fitness scores ranging from 33.21 to 75.22. Among them, five acefylline derivatives, namely, MAO-B14, MAO-B15, MAO-B16, MAO-B20, and MAO-B21, displayed binding affinities comparable to the both standards istradefylline and safinamide. These derivatives exhibited hydrogen-bonding interactions with key amino acids Phe167 and Ile197/198, suggesting their strong potential as MAO-B inhibitors. Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted to evaluate the stability of the examined acefylline derivatives over time. The simulations demonstrated that among the examined acefylline derivatives and standards, MAO-B21 stands out as the most stable candidate. Density functional theory (DFT) studies were also performed to optimize the geometries of the ligands, and molecular docking was conducted to predict the orientations of the ligands within the binding cavity of the protein and evaluate their molecular interactions. These results were also validated by simulation-based binding free energies via the molecular mechanics energies combined with generalized Born and surface area solvation (MM-GBSA) method. However, it is necessary to conduct in vitro and in vivo experiments to confirm and validate these findings in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a chronic granulomatous vasculitis of medium and large arteries leading to cranial and extracranial manifestations. Temporal artery biopsy is considered the gold standard; however, its sensitivity is low at 47%. We report a unique case of Bing–Neel Syndrome (BNS) presenting as biopsy‐proven GCA. BNS is a rare complication (1%) of Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (WM), which results from infiltration of lymph plasmacytoid cells and plasma cells into the central nervous system. A 77‐year‐old female with a past medical history of glaucoma, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic ocular ischemic syndrome in her right eye presented with progressive left eye vision loss for 5 days. Fundoscopic examination was notable for pseudophakic pseudopallor but no optic disc edema. Intraocular pressure was >40 and normalized after acetazolamide. The patient was started on pulse dose steroids by her neuro‐ophthalmologist. She was discharged home on 60 mg of prednisone. At follow up with her neuro‐ophthalmologist, new dot blot hemorrhages in the left eye were noted and she was readmitted for pulse dose of intravenous methylprednisolone. Temporal artery biopsy was consistent with GCA spectrum. Work up revealed paraproteinemia and subsequent bone marrow biopsy demonstrated WM. The patient was treated for her WM and her ophthalmic complications stabilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a healthy and progressive mind and a nation, the happy family life serves as a first and foremost supporting pillar among the other worldly worries, while this affluence life style has been deteriorating due to the spouses' breakups and wants for materialist approaches. This article highlights the reasons of high ratio of dissolution of marriages in Pakistan on the basis of Khula and Talaq. Furthermore, the article will also present the important and land mark judgements of adjudicated courts in Pakistan and their effects. A detailed arguments regarding the least efforts and role being played by the relevant authorities, departments, social organizations and local government bodies to halt the dismantlement of family life will also be encountered. There are bundle of reasons behind the ever-increasing number of divorce cases on the graph being spreading as a social disease, which is an alarming state of affairs. However, the solutions to stop unwelcomed tendency should need to be address at micro as well as at macro level to save the matrimonial lives for a consolidated, mentally and morally strong society. The loopholes in existing legal system, its implementation, the reforms and advancement in the prevailing infrastructure in consonance with Islamic Sharia law will also be discussed. Moreover, how the use and implementation of advance technology in a positive way can be adapted to make the government structure and governments bodies more efficient and effective with regard to smart and decisive work quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the importance of Migration to another country, which evolves around the process of shifting to another state legally permanently, and the impediments faced by the applicants due to the unlimited processing period. The World Population Review's survey reveals that the United States of America has the highest number of migrations globally is 50.6 million just in 2020 (Review, 2024). This paper will discuss the immigration procedure, complexities, and approval ratio of different visa categories specifically the United States of America's Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) ( U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2019). There is a need to curtail the unnecessary and hectic processing time of immigration petitions for the easement of applicants, due to unpredictable and lengthy processing time, many of the applicants expire or get demotivated to adapt to a new phase of life at later ages, while other opt for illegal migration by adopting a death trap route. Furthermore, in Pakistan, there is an enormous need for a well-equipped and widespread knowledge of migration procedures and inclusion of immigration laws at an academic level that evolves around the paramount changes in national curriculums to make it a subject leading to curtail the illegal emigration flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simmons–Smith cyclopropanation is a widely used reaction in organic synthesis for stereospecific conversion of alkenes into cyclopropane. The utility of this reaction can be realized by the fact that the cyclopropane motif is a privileged synthetic intermediate and a core structural unit of many biologically active natural compounds such as terpenoids, alkaloids, nucleosides, amino acids, fatty acids, polyketides and drugs. The modified form of Simmons–Smith cyclopropanation involves the employment of Et2Zn and CH2I2 (Furukawa reagent) toward the total synthesis of a variety of structurally complex natural products that possess broad range of biological activities including anticancer, antimicrobial and antiviral activities. This review aims to provide an intriguing glimpse of the Furukawa-modified Simmons–Smith cyclopropanation, within the year range of 2005 to 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human tyrosinase (hTYR) is a key and rate-limiting enzyme along with human tyrosinase-related protein-1 (hTYRP1), which are among the most prominent targets of inhibiting hyper pigmentation and melanoma skin cancer. In the current in-silico computer-aided drug design (CADD) study, the structure-based screening of sixteen furan-1,3,4-oxadiazole tethered N-phenylacetamide structural motifs BF1–BF16 was carried out to assess their potential as hTYR and hTYRP1 inhibitors. The results revealed that the structural motifs BF1–BF16 showed higher binding affinities towards hTYR and hTYRP1 than the standard inhibitor kojic acid. The most bioactive lead furan-1,3,4-oxadiazoles BF4 and BF5 displayed stronger binding in affinities (−11.50 kcal/mol and −13.30 kcal/mol) than the standard drug kojic acid against hTYRP1 and hTYR enzymes, respectively. These were further confirmed by MM-GBSA and MM-PBSA binding energy computations. The stability studies involving the molecular dynamics simulations also provided stability insights into the binding of these compounds with the target enzymes, wherein it was found that they remain stable in the active sites during the 100 ns virtual simulation time. Moreover, the ADMET, as well as the medicinal properties of these novel furan-1,3,4-oxadiazole tethered N-phenylacetamide structural hybrids, also showed a good prospect. The excellent in-silico profiling of furan-1,3,4--oxadiazole structural motifs BF4 and BF5 provide a hypothetical gateway to use these compounds as potential hTYRP1 and hTYR inhibitors against melanogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity has a negative impact on the agricultural production of crops. It adversely affects the physiochemical properties of the soil and ecological balance of the area. Plant growth-promoting bacteria play a key role in the biological control of phyto-pathogens and abiotic stress including salinity. Four varieties of wheat crop (V1: Akbar 2019, V2: Dilkash 2021, V3: Faisalabad 2008, and V4: Subhani 2020) were compared for their salinity stress tolerance and response towards Bacillus subtilis NA2. A completely randomized design (4 wheat varieties × 3 salt stress levels × 3 replicate × 2 control and bacterial treatments = 72 pots) was adopted using distilled water as a control. Stress negatively affected the plant growth. However, plants primed with Bacillus subtilis NA2 showed improved growth (plant lengths 29.45% and increased biomass 33.23%). Overall, bacterial strain enhanced the levels of carotenoids (45.53%), anthocyanin (32.51%), ascorbic acid (41.53%), total soluble proteins (59.21%), chlorophyll contents (49.65%), and peroxidase activity (31.76%). Levels of malondialdehyde (27.42%) and hydrogen peroxide (20.37%), catalase (16.48%), and ascorbate peroxidase (19.24%) decreased. With commensurable benefits, it can be inferred from the above study that the Bacillus subtilis NA2 strain is beneficial for the better yield of wheat under salinity stress by improving the plant defense mechanism and may be adopted in future by farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mitsunobu reaction plays a vital part in organic chemistry due to its wide synthetic applications. It is considered as a significant reaction for the interconversion of one functional group (alcohol) to another (ester) in the presence of oxidizing agents (azodicarboxylates) and reducing agents (phosphines). It is a renowned stereoselective reaction which inverts the stereochemical configuration of end products. One of the most important applications of the Mitsunobu reaction is its role in the synthesis of natural products. This review article will focus on the contribution of the Mitsunobu reaction towards the total synthesis of natural products, highlighting their biological potential during recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous production of poultry feathers (PF) is an environmental threat as limited microbes can degrade them Basillus subtilis (BS) is one of those. It was hypothesized that gamma irradiated BS strains may show improved decomposition of poultry feathers. Hence producing good bio-fertilizer from a keratin rich waste material (PF). BS spores (1x107 spores/ml) were treated with gamma irradiation (0.1, 0.5 and 1.5Kgy). Irradiated and wild BS strains were applied to air dried PF for 30 and 60 days. Resultant biodegraded products (BDPs) were analysed for olour, size, NPK, moisture content, pH, EC, organic matter and N:C ratio. Cotton seeds were supplemented with prepared BDPs (3g/kg soil and 4g/kg soil), in different combinations (Soil, soil+PF, soil+ PF +Broth medium). Compost's NPK, N:C and K/Na showed positive correlation with seedling characteristics. In support to our hypothesis, PF was good for plants but with decreased growth rate. Overall all BDPs imply positive effect upon cotton growth. Where better was displayed by 60 days irradiated BDPs. Gamma (0.5Kgy) irradiated BS produced best BDP followed by other irradiated and wild strains. Both rates of BDP supplementation were comparable for results. So making it economic 3g/kg soil can be recommended in future. In future even some lower concentrations may be checked for similar objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillin is a flavorful and aromatic secondary metabolite found in vanilla plants. Natural vanillin, produced through processed vanilla beans accounts for scarcely 0.2% of industrial requirements. Vanillin produced via chemical methods and microbial fermentation fills the remaining gap. Among naturally available precursors for biovanillin synthesis, ferulic acid is widely used because of its structural similarity and abundant availability. Herein, various agricultural lignocellulosic by-products (sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, rice straw, rice bran, and corn cob) were scrutinized for their ferulic acid content, and their biotransformation into biovanillin was examined by solid-state fermentation (SSF). Then, different physicochemical parameters, i.e., moisture content, pH, temperature, inoculum size, and incubation days, were optimized to achieve a high yield of biovanillin using central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Among agricultural by-products tested, sugarcane bagasse produced 0.029 g/100 g of biovanillin using Enterobacter hormaechei through SSF. After optimization, the highest concentration of biovanillin (0.476 g/100 g) was achieved at a moisture content of 70%, temperature of 37.5 °C, pH 7.5, inoculum size of 4 mL and incubation time of 48 h. The F-value of 6.10 and p-value of 0.002 evidenced the ultimate significance of the model. The significance of the constructed model was supported by the 91.73% coefficient of determination (R2), indicating that the effects of moisture, pH, and temperature were significant. HPLC and FTIR confirmed the sample identification and purity (was reported to be 98.3% pure). In conclusion, sugarcane bagasse appears to be a cost-effective substrate choice for large-scale biovanillin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stroke is considered a major problem in Karachi, with a considerable number of people recorded as victims each year. The proposed Internet-of-Things (IoT) based heat stroke shield works under heat stroke conditions, depending on a heat index value (atmospheric temperature and humidity). The system comprises of a wristband, a hardware kit and an alert system which can pre-notify a wearer regarding his body parameter readings. Moreover, the system can also work as a problem solver, in heat stroke condition, by showering water on the victim. In both cases, an alert will also be generated to the wearer’s caretakers with his GPS location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Theophylline, also known as 1,3‐dimethylxanthine, belongs to class of purine‐based drugs, which are used in the treatment of air ways disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Its derivatives play a significant role in the variety of biological applications of medicinal interest as it exhibits numerous activities such as anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, bronchodilator activity, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. This review article summarizes the recent advances in the synthesis of theophylline derivatives, which were reported during 2008–2017, and also describes the detailed biological studies of synthesized analogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-nitrogen containing saturated cyclic amines are an important part of both natural and synthetic bioactive compounds. A number of methodologies have been developed for the synthesis of aziridines, azetidines, pyrrolidines, piperidines, azepanes and azocanes. This review highlights some facile and green synthetic routes for the synthesis of unsubstituted, multisubstituted and highly functionalized saturated cyclic amines including one-pot, microwave assisted, metal-free, solvent-free and in aqueous media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The chief aim of this study was to enlist the ethnobotanical uses of wild plants in district Sheikhupura, province Punjab, Pakistan. Due to extreme geographical and climatic conditions, Pakistan has a great floral diversity. Plants have been used by the indigenous people for treatment of different ailments since long. They are still dependent on the plants for their domestic purposes. Moreover, plants are used as first aid to treat diverse ailments such as cold, cough, influenza, asthma, cancer, antidote, gastric and hepatic disorders. The traditional uses of medicinal plants lead to the discovery of natural drugs. This is first quantitative ethnobotanical documentation of medicinal plants in NavaPind and ShahpurVirkan district Sheikhupura, province Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: This ethnobotanical information was collected from about 400 informants including male and female. Sample size was determined by statistical formula. The informative data was based on semi-structured interviews, group discussions, Questionnaire and field visits. Then the data was analyzed by applying different quantitative indices such as Informant Consent Factor (ICF), Use value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), the Fidelity level (FL) and Jaccard Index (JI). Results: Almost 96 plants belonging to 34 families were reported. Most-frequently cited families were Poaceae (16 species) and Fabaceae (15 species). The most dominant life form was herbs (30.20%). The most-used plant parts were leaves (31.14%), followed by whole plant (24.59%), Most common mode of administration is extraction (81.25%). Generally herbal medicines were acquired from fresh plant material. Among all 54.16% plants were toxic, 31.25% were nontoxic, whereas the remaining 14.58% may be toxic or nontoxic because of their dual attitude. Almost 34 species were reported with their different medicinal uses as has been reported in literature. Conclusions: This ethnobotanical documentation revealed that the plants are still used by natives of rural areas in their day-to-day lives. This study provides basis for the conservation of local flora. Plants with high ICF, UV and FL can be further used for phytochemical and pharmacological studies. This documentation could provide baseline information which can be used to develop new plant-based commercial drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare fungal strains including Aspergillus flavipes GCBL-72, Aspergillus flavus GCBL-60, and Aspergillus niger GCBL-45 and determine whether solid- or liquid-state fermentation (SSF or LSF) is more appropriate for lovastatin production using various inexpensive raw materials. Methods: LSF and SSF techniques were used to produce the drug lovastatin. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed out to quantify lovastatin production. A kinetic growth model was applied to estimate product formation at the expense of substrate utilization. Results: Aspergillus flavus GCBL-60 was a superior lovastatin-producing strain consuming wheat bran as the raw material in SSF. The optimum lovastatin production was 28.36 ± 0.76 mg/100mL at 35 °C, pH 5.5, inoculum size 2 mL, 96 h incubation time, and 60 % moisture content. Evaluation of the kinetic growth parameters for lovastatin production confirmed that product formation was improved after fermentation parameter optimization. Conclusion: Our results indicate that Aspergillus flavus GCBL-60 was best lovastatin-producing strain and that SSF was superior to LSF for maximum production. Careful optimization can enhance product formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amounts of DNA damage and homocysteine (Hcy) in heart patients blood may have strong function in the causation of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The main objective of this work was to know experimentally the role of total oxidants (produced by Reactive Oxygen species (ROS), clinical biochemical indices, their oxidized products and total antioxidant status (TAS) among such patients to find the association of homocysteine, total oxidation status (TOS) and oxidative DNA damage with other clinical parameters in sixty positive CVD patients compared with those of 60 normal subjects. As compared to healthy individuals, CVD patients had significantly higher concentrations of homocysteine (p<0.0001), total oxidants stress (TOS) (p<0.0001), serum total lipids (p<0.04), malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.001), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (p<0.0001), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p<0.01), than those of healthy individuals. Plasma Hcy content, TOS and amount of DNA were positively and significantly associated with cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, urea, and albumin (p values<0.01). TOS, Hcy and oxidative DNA damage were negatively correlated with HDL-c, TAS and proteins. It is suggested that these parameters have pivotal role in diagnostic process of determining severity in CAD patients. Oxidized products of macromolecules in blood of CVD patients impart major functions in causing CVD disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolics are pharmaceutically important molecules. Tyrosine and tryptophan are precursors of phenolic metabolism. It was aimed to investigate the potential of exogenously introduced precursors on the phenolic contents in Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague seedlings. The seeds of two local varieties (Chakwal and Desi) were grown in completely randomized design in a growth chamber at 19 ± 2°C with two amino acids (tyrosine and tryptophan) applied (priming and supplementation in rooting medium) at two treatment levels (0, and 1%). Ten days old seedlings were harvested and subjected for growth (root and shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight) and phenolic estimation was done by HPLC method. Presence of seven phenolic acids including quercitin, chromatotropic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, sinnapic acid, trans 4 hydroxy 3 methoxy cinamic acid and P-courmeric acid was confirmed in both varieties with dissimilar fraction. Poor growth was observed by "Desi" under controlled conditions that were efficiently enhanced by tyrosine and tryptophan treatments. As precursors both amino acids differed for allosteric regulation of the pathway. That varied from application to application and variety to variety too for a pattern of phenolic accumulation. In conclusion, tyrosine and tryptophan application can be useful for farmers for improved growth of T. ammi and for pharmaceutical scientists to modulate metabolites of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Biochemical, environmental, and genetic factors such as oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and homocysteine (Hcy) accumulation in the blood are involved in the development and progression of ovarian cancer. This study measured some biomarkers closely linked to the progression of ovarian cancer and also found their correlates. Materials and methods: Thirty patients were diagnosed with ovarian cancer using pelvic examination, transvaginal ultrasound, and cancer antibody (CA-125) measurement. Total oxidative stress (TOS), DNA damage, Hcy, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), and other biochemical parameters were determined. Results: TOS and DNA damage were positively and significantly correlated between themselves and were involved in causation of tumors as reflected by significantly (P < 0.001) higher CA-125, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), creatinine, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in both young and old patients. Both were significantly correlated with Hcy, LDL-cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, CRP, MDA, and CA-125. However, they were negatively correlated with TAS. Thus, excessive inflammation and oxidative stress caused an increase in DNA damage and enhanced Hcy content, leading to development of ovarian cancer. Conclusion: This study suggests the use of antioxidants as drugs to reduce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and other causes of cancer development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]