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Abstract Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is the deadliest form of hemorrhagic stroke; however, effective therapies are still lacking. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are lipid emulsion particles with great flexibility and their much smaller size as compared to red blood cells (RBCs) allows them to flow more efficiently within the blood circulation. Due to their ability to carry oxygen, a specific PFC-based emulsion, PFC-Oxygent, has been used as a blood substitute; however, its role in cerebral blood flow regulation is unknown. Adult C57BL/6 wildtype male mice were subjected to an endovascular perforation model of SAH followed by an intravenous (i.v.) injection of 9 ml/kg PFC-Oxygent or no treatment at 5 h after SAH. At 48 h after SAH, functional and anatomical outcomes were assessed. We found that SAH resulted in significant neurologic and motor deficits which were prevented by PFC-Oxygent treatment. We found that SAH-induced vasospasm, reduced RBC deformability, and augmented endothelial dysfunction were also restricted by PFC-Oxygent treatment. Moreover, mitochondrial activity and fusion proteins were also markedly decreased as assessed by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) after SAH. Interestingly, PFC-Oxygent treatment brought the mitochondrial activity close to the basal level. Moreover, SAH attenuated the level of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK), whereas PFC treatment improved pAMPK levels. These data show the beneficial effects of PFC-Oxygent in limiting the severity of SAH. Further studies are needed to fully understand the mechanism through which PFC-Oxygent exerts its beneficial effects in limiting SAH severity.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is the second most widely grown premium oilseed crop globally, mainly for its vegetable oil and protein meal. One of the main goals of breeders is producing high-yield rapeseed cultivars with sustainable production to meet the requirements of the fast-growing population. Besides the pod number, seeds per silique (SS), and thousand-seed weight (TSW), the ovule number (ON) is a decisive yield determining factor of individual plants and the final seed yield. In recent years, tremendous efforts have been made to dissect the genetic and molecular basis of these complex traits, but relatively few genes or loci controlling these traits have been reported thus far. This review highlights the updated information on the hormonal and molecular basis of ON and development in model plants (Arabidopsis thaliana). It also presents what is known about the hormonal, molecular, and genetic mechanism of ovule development and number, and bridges our understanding between the model plant species (A. thaliana) and cultivated species (B. napus). This report will open new pathways for primary and applied research in plant biology and benefit rapeseed breeding programs. This synopsis will stimulate research interest to further understand ovule number determination, its role in yield improvement, and its possible utilization in breeding programs.

Abstract Physical activity or structured exercise is beneficial in a wide range of circumstances. Nevertheless, individual-level data on differential responses to various types of activity are not yet sufficient in scale, duration or level of annotation to understand the mechanisms of discrete outcomes nor to support personalized recommendations. The Apple Heart & Movement Study was designed to passively collect the dense physiologic data accessible on Apple Watch and iPhone from a large real-world cohort distributed across the US in order to address these knowledge gaps.

Abstract Background Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) causes acute infantile diarrhea accounting for significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. EPEC uses a type three secretion system to translocate more than twenty effectors into the host intestinal cells. At least four of these effectors, namely EspF, Map, EspG1/G2 and NleA, are reported to disrupt the intestinal tight junction barrier. We have reported earlier that the expression of EspF and Map in MDCK cells causes the depletion of the TJ membrane proteins and compromises the integrity of the intestinal barrier. In the present study, we have examined the role of the proline-rich repeats (PRRs) within the C-terminus of EspF in the depletion of the tight junction membrane proteins and identified key endocytosis markers that interact with EspF via these repeats. Results We generated mutant EspF proteins which lacked one or more proline-rich repeats (PRRs) from the N-terminus of EspF and examined the effect of their expression on the cellular localization of tight junction membrane proteins. In lysates derived from cells expressing the mutant EspF proteins, we found that the C-terminal PRRs of EspF are sufficient to cause the depletion of TJ membrane proteins. Pull-down assays revealed that the PRRs mediate interactions with the TJ adaptor proteins ZO-1 and ZO-2 as well as with the proteins involved in endocytosis such as caveolin-1, Rab5A and Rab11. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the direct role of the proline-rich repeats of EspF in the depletion of the TJ membrane proteins and a possible involvement of the PRRs in the endocytosis of host proteins. New therapeutic strategies can target these PRR domains to prevent intestinal barrier dysfunction in EPEC infections.

This present study reports the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) using bark extract of plant Tamarix aphylla (T.A). The bark extract contained total polyphenolic compounds and total flavonoids as 0.0362 mg/mg and 0.2928 mg/mg of the dried bark extract respectively. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) and hydrogen tetra chloroaurate trihydrate (HAuCl4.3H2O) were used as precursors while deionised water and methanol (CH3OH) were used as solvents. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized through UV–visible spectroscopy, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) for their morphology, structure, and identification of different functional groups. The UV–visible spectra of AgNPs, AuNPs and Ag/Au BNPs showed peaks at 436, 532 and 527 nm respectively due to the excitation of Surface Plasmon Resonance. SEM and TEM images showed spherical and well distributed nanoparticles (NPs) with particle size as 29 nm (AgNPs), 13 nm (AuNPs) and 26 nm (Ag/Au BNPs). The synthesized NPs are significantly active against inhibition of free radicals, α-amylase, α-glucosidase and have anti inflammatory potential with AgNPs having the highest percent activity at 400 μg/ml, followed by Ag/Au BNPs. The same trend (AgNPs > Ag/AuBNPs > AuNPs) has been observed at all concentrations i.e. 100 μg/ml, 200 μg/ml and 400 μg/ml. AuNPs have shown lowest activity at all concentrations. So the current study strongly confirms use of T.A bark extract as reducing agent for synthesis of metal NPs and opens up a new possibility of using these green synthesized NPs as biomedicines. We also suggest further in vivo investigation to report any side effects if present.

Background: Backward running (BR) and forward running (FR) activate distinct neuromuscular pathways and utilize differing biomechanical principles. Although FR is a well-established training modality, the potential advantages of BR for enhancing athletic performance and mitigating injury risk necessitate further exploration. Moreover, there exists a paucity of experimental data comparing these modalities in collegiate athlete populations. Purpose: This study sought to quantify the differential effects of BR intervention, FR intervention, and no intervention on agility, power, and speed performance in collegiate athletes. Methods: Thirty collegiate athletes (Aged 18–28 years) were randomly allocated to the BR group (n = 10), FR group (n = 10), and an absolute control (CON) group (n = 10). The BR and FR groups performed running sessions on a treadmill for matched time and intensity biweekly for eight weeks. All athletes were assessed for agility, speed, and power performance before and after the intervention. Results: Results revealed a significant main effect of time (p 0.05). Conclusions: BR intervention led to greater gains in CMJ performance and improved 10-m sprint performance compared to the control group, with little improvement compared to the FR group based on the mean difference data.

To this day, there exists skepticism about the reliability and clinical utility of the diagnostic criteria and classification of schizoaffective disorder. In addition, the treatment of schizoaffective disorder, especially of treatment-resistant cases, has been minimally investigated. As a result, formulating official treatment guidelines for schizoaffective disorder has been challenging. We present a case of a 27-year-old female, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, for whom, for over 5 years, trials of traditional treatments, to include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy, were either partially effective or discontinued due to intolerable side effects. The subsequent off-label use of lumateperone led to an adequate response. Lumateperone is an atypical antipsychotic, approved by the Food and Drug Administration for schizophrenia and bipolar depression in adults. Interestingly, it has a similar structure and mechanism of action to paliperidone, the only Food and Drug Administration-approved medication for schizoaffective disorder. Through this case report, as an example of lumateperone’s effectiveness and tolerability, as well as a literature review of its pharmacodynamics, we make the case that lumateperone emerges as a promising option for schizoaffective disorder, especially treatment-resistant cases.

Excessive number of dyes in water is becoming the main cause of water pollution, which is very important to remove because it is harmful. Dye contaminated water is being treated by various methods. Adsorption method can be considered best for the study of dye removal due to several technological reasons. The adsorption method has also been emphasized in this study. In the present work, a nano-bio-composite was fabricated by growing manganese oxide nanoparticles on abundant cellulosic guava leaf powder. This allows nanocomposite to be prepared in large quantities at nominal cost. The characterization technique confirmed the irregular growth of manganese oxide nanoparticles onto the guava leaf powder. The electrostatic and non-electrostatic interactions was confirmed in between manganese oxide nanoparticles and the carbon structure of guava leaf powder. The massive functional groups were found to be in the prepared nano-bio-composite. The grain size of prepared material was in nano range. The developed nano-bio-composite was used to remove methylene blue from water. This showed a very good adsorptive capacity for methylene blue. The analyzed adsorption data was modelled through isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics models. The nature of the adsorption process was determined to be spontaneous and exothermic. The reusability test was carried out for five adsorption-desorption cycles. The reusability results suggested the better removal efficiency (%) in the first two cycles with only 20 % reduction in removal efficiency (%). The leaching test result revealed the good stability of MnO2/GL at neutral pH. It was a unique and cheap adsorbent of its kind, which had not been noticed anywhere before.

Abstract Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a complication of arthroplasty that results in significant morbidity. The presence of biofilm makes treatment difficult, and removal of the prosthesis is frequently required. We have developed a non-invasive approach for biofilm eradication from metal implants using intermittent alternating magnetic fields (iAMF) to generate targeted heating at the implant surface. The goal of this study was to determine whether iAMF demonstrated efficacy in an in vivo implant biofilm infection model. iAMF combined with antibiotics led to enhanced reduction of biofilm on metallic implants in vivo compared to antibiotics or untreated control. iAMF-antibiotic combinations resulted in a > 1 − log further reduction in biofilm burden compared to antibiotics or iAMF alone. This combination effect was seen in both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa and seen with multiple antibiotics used to treat infections with these pathogens. In addition, efficacy was temperature dependent with increasing temperatures resulting in a greater reduction of biofilm. Tissue damage was limited (

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and severity of depression and anxiety, social support and demographic characteristics that could be associated with their disease. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study with TD-BTM patients was conducted from four different thalassemia centres (Kashif Iqbal, HELP, Saylani, and Omair Sana Foundation) located in Karachi from December 2018 to May 2019, 197 young (8-18 years) males and 203 (50.8%) young females requiring at least one unit of packed red cells in a month were included with the convenient sampling technique. Psychometrically standardized tests were used. RESULTS: Eleven percent patients suffered severe depression, and a majority (44.2%) had high anxiety. Male patients, patients with comorbid conditions, and patients not satisfied with their treatment had significantly more significant depression; and male patients, patients with no schooling and patients not satisfied with their treatment had significantly greater anxiety. Patients who were schooled belonged to lower socioeconomic status and were not satisfied with their treatment had significantly more significant support from family. Patients who were schooled and had no comorbid conditions were significantly supported by friends. Finally, patients with comorbid conditions were significantly supported by others. CONCLUSION: In the TD-BTM patients we sampled, most suffered from anxiety and less so with depression. Most patients had strong family support, followed by friends and others. Assessment of depression, anxiety and social support are discussed in the context of psychotherapeutic interventions, which could attenuate full-blown mental disorders in these patients

Background: Substance use is common among vulnerable populations including prisoners. The study aimed to assess the incidence of chewable tobacco and its association with dental caries and periodontal health status among incarcerated women (prisoners). Methods: A cross-sectional study (December 2021 to February 2022) was conducted on prisoners (Central Jail for Women, Karachi). Approval from the Institutional Review Board, JSMU (JSMU/IRB/2021/579) and permission from the Home Department, Government of Sindh (HD/SO(PRS-I)/11-235/2021), was sought before the study. All females (n=131), aged 18-65 years, serving various jail terms, were selected. The data on chewable tobacco, betel quid, paan, and gutka was recorded. Indices, like D (Decayed), M (Missing), F (Filled) teeth (DMFT) and Community Periodontal Index (CPI), were used to assess dental health status. To assess the association between dental caries and periodontal disease severity, ANOVA, Student t-test, and Chi-square was used. A p-value of

Spontaneous infarction of the uterus is an extremely rare condition with unknown etiology. Uterine fibroids are benign mesenchymal tumors and sometimes infarction can occur after uterine artery embolization or torsion in the fibroid. We report a delayed and neglected case of uterine fibroid, which caused spontaneous infarction of the whole uterus and its appendages in a 39-year-old unmarried woman. She was presented with severe pallor and dyspnea for which she was kept in the intensive care unit to stabilize her condition. The patient had a history of an abdominal mass for 10 years which was first diagnosed as fibroid of 7cm. The patient was planned for laparotomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, total abdominal hysterectomy and omentectomy. The intra-operative finding showed a huge infarcted uterine mass with congested and massively necrosed ovaries and tubes. Histopathological examination reported polyp presence in hemorrhagic infarction. Sections from mass, tubes and ovaries showed extensive hemorrhagic infarction with congested vessels. The patient was discharged satisfactorily with no post-operative complications. Keywords: Infarction; Uterus; Leiomyoma.

Background: Association of anxiety disorders in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome Association of Clinical and metabolic features of PCOD with anxiety Methods: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted for a one year period from October 2013-October 2014.200 control subjects were compared with 200 patients with PCODs aged 18-35using Rotterdam Criteria. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the HADS questionnaire. Results: Anxiety and depression disorders were significantly higher in PCODs as compared to control p value (

This study reports the production of a heterojunction copper oxide-zinc oxide nano-photocatalyst based on lemon leaf extract, which acted as both a stabilizer and a capping and reducing agent. The fabricated photocatalyst had a smooth surface with numerous functional groups, and its energy band gap was measured to be 3.14 eV, which is suitable for photocatalytic applications. Toxic Congo Red dye was used as a model pollutant to investigate the photocatalytic degradation performance of the proposed CuO-ZnO nano-photocatalyst. The photocatalyst exhibited a rapid degradation rate under sunlight irradiation, reducing the concentration of the dye by almost 70 % within 50 min and exhibited pseudo-first-order kinetics. The performance of the photocatalyst was also evaluated based on its quantum yield and figure of merit, which were found to be 6.63 x 10−9 molecules photon−1and 3.31 x 10−4, respectively. In addition, the proposed catalyst displayed good stability for up to 5 cycles. Based on these results, the fabricated CuO-ZnO nano-photocatalyst outperformed previously reported photocatalysts. The mechanisms associated with the dye degradation were also explained by an interfacial charge transfer reaction.

Background and objectives: As microbes are developing resistance to antibiotics, natural, botanical drugs or traditional herbal medicine are presently being studied with an eye of great curiosity and hope. Hence, complementary and alternative treatments for uncomplicated pelvic inflammatory disease (uPID) are explored for their efficacy. Therefore, this study determined the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Sesamum indicum Linn seeds with Rosa damascena Mill Oil in uPID with standard control. Additionally, we analyzed the data with machine learning.Materials and methods: We included 60 participants in a double-blind, double-dummy, randomized standard-controlled study. Participants in the Sesame and Rose oil group (SR group) (n = 30) received 14 days course of black sesame powder (5 gm) mixed with rose oil (10 mL) per vaginum at bedtime once daily plus placebo capsules orally. The standard group (SC), received doxycycline 100 mg twice and metronidazole 400 mg thrice orally plus placebo per vaginum for the same duration. The primary outcome was a clinical cure at post-intervention for visual analogue scale (VAS) for lower abdominal pain (LAP), and McCormack pain scale (McPS) for abdominal-pelvic tenderness. The secondary outcome included white blood cells (WBC) cells in the vaginal wet mount test, safety profile, and health-related quality of life assessed by SF-12. In addition, we used AdaBoost (AB), Naïve Bayes (NB), and Decision Tree (DT) classifiers in this study to analyze the experimental data.Results: The clinical cure for LAP and McPS in the SR vs SC group was 82.85% vs 81.48% and 83.85% vs 81.60% on Day 15 respectively. On Day 15, pus cells less than 10 in the SR vs SC group were 86.6% vs 76.6% respectively. No adverse effects were reported in both groups. The improvement in total SF-12 score on Day 30 for the SR vs SC group was 82.79% vs 80.04% respectively. In addition, our Naive Bayes classifier based on the leave-one-out model achieved the maximum accuracy (68.30%) for the classification of both groups of uPID.Conclusion: We concluded that the SR group is cost-effective, safer, and efficacious for curing uPID. Proposed alternative treatment (test drug) could be a substitute of standard drug used for Female genital tract infections.

Abstract Liver’s contribution to innate immunity is eminent. However, uncontrolled inflammatory conditions predispose the liver to immune-mediated injury. Nigella sativa L. is traditionally implicated in infectious, inflammatory, metabolic and hepatorenal complications. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of N. sativa seed extract (NSE) against concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute immunological liver injury in mice. In vitro, NSE was subjected to quantitative phytochemical characterization and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) analysis. In vivo, male Balb/c mice were pretreated with NSE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and pioglitazone (5 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for seven consecutive days. A single dose of ConA (12 mg/kg, i.v.) was injected and samples were collected for biochemical, histopathological and qRT-PCR analyses after 8 h of ConA injection. In vitro analysis showed considerable quantities of polyphenols and significant DPPH scavenging ability of NSE. In mice, ConA resulted in a significant (p

IntroductionThe mulberry industry has thrived in China for millennia, offering significant ecological and economic benefits. However, the prevalence of mulberry ring rot disease poses a serious threat to the quality and yield of mulberry leaves.MethodsIn this study, we employed a combination of transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to elucidate the changes occurring at the transcriptional and metabolic levels in Morus notabilis in response to this disease infestation. Key metabolites identified were further validated through in vitro inhibition experiments.ResultsThe findings revealed significant enrichment in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, particularly those related to flavonoid biosynthesis. Notably, naringenin, kaempferol, and quercetin emerged as pivotal players in M. notabilis’ defense mechanism against this disease pathogen. The upregulation of synthase genes, including chalcone synthase, flavanone-3-hydroxylase, and flavonol synthase, suggested their crucial roles as structural genes in this process. In vitro inhibition experiments demonstrated that kaempferol and quercetin exhibited broad inhibitory properties, while salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate demonstrated efficient inhibitory effects.DiscussionThis study underscores the significance of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in M. notabilis’ defense response against mulberry ring rot disease, offering a theoretical foundation for disease control measures.

In this paper, we are introducing for the first time a generalized class named the class of $(\alpha,\beta,\gamma,\delta)-$convex functions of mixed kind. This generalized class contains many subclasses including the class of $(\alpha,\beta)-$convex functions of the first and second kind, $(s,r)-$convex functions of mixed kind, $s-$convex functions of the first and second kind, $P-$convex functions, quasi-convex functions and the class of ordinary convex functions. In addition, we would like to state the generalization of the classical Ostrowski inequality via fractional integrals, which is obtained for functions whose first derivative in absolute values is $(\alpha,\beta,\gamma,\delta)-$ convex function of mixed kind. Moreover, we establish some Ostrowski-type inequalities via fractional integrals and their particular cases for the class of functions whose absolute values at certain powers of derivatives are $(\alpha,\beta,\gamma,\delta)-$ convex functions of mixed kind using different techniques including H\"older's inequality and power mean inequality. Also, various established results would be captured as special cases. Moreover, the applications of special means will also be discussed.

This study demonstrated the synthesis of Fe2MnO4 modified by citric acid, a biodegradable acid, using a simple co-precipitation method. Characterization was performed using qualitative analysis techniques such as Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, selected-area electron diffraction, N2 adsorption–desorption, and zero-point charge. The prepared nanoparticles had a rough and porous surface, and contained oxygenous (-OH, -COOH, etc.) functional groups. The specific surface area and average pore size distribution were 83 m2/g and 5.17 nm, respectively. Net zero charge on the surface of the prepared nanoparticles was observed at pH 7.5. The prepared nanoparticles were used as an adsorbent to remove methylene blue dye from water under various conditions. Using small amounts of the adsorbent (2.0 g/L), even a high concentration of MB dye (60 mg/L) could be reduced by about ~58%. Exothermic, spontaneous, feasible, and monolayer adsorption was identified based on thermodynamics and isotherm analysis. Reusability testing verified the stability of the adsorbent and found that the reused adsorbent performed well for up to three thermal cycles. Comparative analysis revealed that the modified adsorbent outperformed previously reported adsorbents and unmodified Fe2MnO4 in terms of its partition coefficient and equilibrium adsorption capacity under different experimental conditions.

Traditional cities were social, economic, political, cultural and structural units that grew and developed dynamically within specific spatial spaces under the influence of the contemporary architectural currents. These currents which, frequently, accompanied by uncertainty, caused the positive or negative transformations of the architectural character of those cities in order to be immunized from influential intellectual currents, and to understand the state of development and change in traditional cities according to the principles of sustainability, many concepts have emerged to confront the evolving urban problems among which is the concept of Hybridization. Hybridization is used to control and develop the transformation process taking place in cities and to create a state of balance between tradition and modernity in the development of future cities. Hybridization connects people and activities at common points and stems from these points and other connected pathways in other places.The research aims to build a theoretical framework on the types of hybridization and its applications on the texture of the Citadel of Erbil, one of the northern governorates of Iraq, measuring the interventions of the types of hybridization through the shape of the open spaces, the pattern of movement axes, and the functional hybridization resulting from the restoration and rehabilitation operations of the Erbil Citadel. The importance of the set research objective to build a holistic model of the concept of Hybridization becomes clear. A model that covers types, levels and extents in which Hybridization interventions work in historical urban fabric. The research assumes that crossbreeding interventions in urban areas are associated with a set of factors that determine the type of crossbreeding to be consistent with the urban fabric and sustainable with the current time.The research relied on the description and statistical analysis related to the types of sustainable hybridization and its homogeneity with the ancient urban fabric of the Erbil Citadel and direct recording, measuring the rates of change. Through using computer programs to draw the plans of the Citadel of Erbil.

Objective: To determine the association body mass index and the status of dental decay and gum health in women serving prison sentences. Methods: A cross-sectional investigation took place at the Central Jail for Women, Pakistan, spanning from January 2021 to February 2022. The study included all incarcerated women and those awaiting trial aged between 18 and 65 years, while individuals who declined participation were excluded. Con- venience sampling was employed, and each participant underwent examinations for dental caries and periodontal status. Sample size was calculated by considering the total number of women in prison to be 205, keeping the margin of error as 5%, and a confidence level of 95%, a sample size of 134 was calculated. Oral health was measured through DMFT index. Body mass indexes were re- corded by measuring the height and weight of the participants. Furthermore, nutritional habits includ- ing height, weight, source of food and frequency of food were also documented. Oral health conditions were evaluated in 131 women currently serving prison sentences. Results: About 23.7 % (n=31) were overweight and 6.1% were obese. Total 71.7% (n=94) of women had at least one decayed tooth, 63 (48.1%) had at least one missing tooth, and 7 (5.3%) had at least one filled tooth. The logistic regression analysis indicated a significant association between being overweight and the DMFT score, with an Exponentiation of B of 1.19 and a 95% confidence interval ranging from 1.03 to 1.38. The associated p-value was 0.021. Conclusion: It was found that high BMI was significantly associated with higher DMFT score. The re- sults of this study drives the attention of clinicians and researchers towards the unidentified health needs of incarcerated women. Among other medical conditions, sensitization to oral hygiene and oral health must also be prioritized. Further efforts should be directed towards making oral health acces- sible to the incarcerated population.

Efficient use of Energy and the usage of renewable forms of energy are considered to be key concepts of sustainable architectural design. Our country, Iraq, including the city of Kirkuk, is one of the developing cities that witnessed an increase in the population and thus the expansion of the city, and due to the lack of local studies in the field of sustainability and energy efficiency, the need for research in the field of applying these concepts in designing buildings to save local energy has emerged.This study examines the potential for sustainable architectural design in the city of Kirkuk, Iraq. The research specifically focuses on analysing the environmental performance of a ten-story multi-storey building to determine the optimal form and orientation that would minimise energy consumption and yield environmental and economic benefits. Building Information Modelling (BIM) and simulation were used to evaluate the energy consumption of six different building models over a 12-month period. Results indicate that the T-shaped model had the lowest energy consumption at a rotation angle of 285˚, providing valuable insights for the design and construction of energy-efficient buildings in Kirkuk.

Objectives: To determine the correlation of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and to assess its impact on the clinical, biochemical and hormonal features in polycystic ovarian syndrome. Background: PCOS is one of the most common endocrinopathies seen in women of the reproductive age group with a prevalence ranging from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] globally (Joshi et al., 2014) and [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] (Malik et al., 2014) in the Indian population. Thyroid disorders are quite commonly seen in PCOS patients, SCH are seen in up to [Formula: see text] of this population (de Medeiros et al., 2018). Its association with PCOS has been insufficiently explored and therefore this study was designed to better understand the correlation. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from November 2019 to 2021 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Aligarh, India, on 150 PCOS women in the age bracket of 18–35 years. They were divided in two groups: one with normal thyroid levels and the other with SCH. Measurement of clinical, anthropometrical, biochemical and hormonal profile was made in both groups and comparison was made using appropriately matched tests of significance and coefficient of correlations. Results: Notable findings included a positive and statistically significant correlation between SCH and menstrual cycle irregularities ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), infertility ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), body mass index ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), waist to hip ratio ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), testosterone([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), total cholesterol ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), triglyceride values ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), fasting insulin ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) and HOMA-IR ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). A positive but statistically insignificant correlation was found with hirsutism ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), luteinizing hormone ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), follicle-stimulating hormone ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), prolactin levels ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), high-density lipoprotein ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), low-density lipoprotein ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) and fasting blood sugar values ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). No statistical significance with systolic blood pressure ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) and diastolic blood pressure ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) was found. Conclusion: The study showed a significant correlation between SCH and multiple variables in PCOS and thereby necessitating thyroid screen in PCOS population.

Background: Nigeria is among the top five countries that have the highest gap between people reported as diagnosed and estimated to have developed tuberculosis (TB). To bridge this gap, there is a need for innovative approaches to identify geographical areas at high risk of TB transmission and targeted active case finding (ACF) interventions. Leveraging community-level data together with granular sociodemographic contextual information can unmask local hotspots that could be otherwise missed. This work evaluated whether this approach helps to reach communities with higher numbers of undiagnosed TB. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of the data generated from an ACF intervention program in four southwestern states in Nigeria was conducted. Wards (the smallest administrative level in Nigeria) were further subdivided into smaller population clusters. ACF sites and their respective TB screening outputs were mapped to these population clusters. This data were then combined with open-source high-resolution contextual data to train a Bayesian inference model. The model predicted TB positivity rates on the community level (population cluster level), and these were visualised on a customised geoportal for use by the local teams to identify communities at high risk of TB transmission and plan ACF interventions. The TB positivity yield (proportion) observed at model-predicted hotspots was compared with the yield obtained at other sites identified based on aggregated notification data. Results: The yield in population clusters that were predicted to have high TB positivity rates by the model was at least 1.75 times higher (p-value < 0.001) than the yield in other locations in all four states. Conclusions: The community-level Bayesian predictive model has the potential to guide ACF implementers to high-TB-positivity areas for finding undiagnosed TB in the communities, thus improving the efficiency of interventions.

Objectives There is limited in-depth research exploring persistent symptoms and conditions among children and adolescents who contracted COVID-19 illness that required hospitalisation. The main objective of this study was to conduct qualitative interviews among families who had a child hospitalised with COVID-19 illness to elucidate their child’s physical, mental and social health outcomes months after initial acute infection.Design, setting and participants A qualitative study that composed of in-depth interviews among families with a child hospitalised with COVID-19 illness in one large urban US paediatric healthcare system. Parents (N=25) were recruited from an ongoing quantitative study to estimate the prevalence of long COVID in children hospitalised with COVID-19 illness. During in-depth interviews, parents were invited to describe their child’s post-COVID-19 symptoms and experiences. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and coded in NVivo.Results Seven themes were identified concerning the child’s prolonged COVID-19 experiences: (1) post-traumatic stress disorder, (2) social anxiety, (3) severe symptoms on reinfection, (4) worsened pre-existing conditions, (5) lack of insurance coverage for costly treatments, (6) access and utilisation of support systems and (7) overall resilience and recovery. Four parent-specific themes were identified: (1) fear of COVID-19 unknowns, (2) mixed messaging from health information sources, (3) schools being both a support system and a hindrance and (4) desire for and access to support systems.Conclusions A subset of children who were hospitalised with COVID-19 illness are experiencing a range of serious mental health impacts related to persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Clinical and public health support strategies should be developed to support these children and their families as they reintegrate in school, social and community activities.

Madam, Mental health is defined as a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their potential, learn and work well, and contribute to their community as a whole. (1) A recently published study in the journal Aging (2), revealed that mental health can be more deteriorating than smoking. The researchers used an ageing clock to measure how it impacted the pace of aging in 12,000 Chinese adults. Researchers found that smoking speeds up the rate of ageing by 1.25 years whereas mental health factors accelerated it by 1.65 years. The aging clock used blood, DNA and genetic test of individuals to measure their biological aging pace. The mental health variables tested included Depression, Sleep Issues, Hopelessness, Feeling unhappy, Loneliness, Married, Widowed, and Living in a Rural area. (2) Ageing directly predisposes individuals to diseases like Diabetes Type 2, Cancer, Cardiovascular and Neurological disorders which significantly affect the lifestyle and lifespan of individuals.(3) Talking about mental health is still seen as Taboo in Pakistan, and that’s why people don’t consider consulting about their mental health issues. Statistics have revealed that more than 14 million Pakistanis suffer from some sort of psychiatric illness and the majority of these believe that these are caused by supernatural forces such as spirit possession etc. This is mainly due to lack of awareness about mental disorders and shortage of mental health professionals. (4) The modern study showing mental health factors accelerated ageing faster than smoking (2), is an eye-opener and alarm for our society where we now do stress upon the hazardous effects of smoking, we also need to equally emphasize about working on Mental Health awareness on mass scales utilising media, health policies, and community health care programmes. Family is the primary source of your nurturing, and it is necessary to make Parents also realise that they should establish such a relation with their children that they can easily talk about any of their issues comfortably with them. An emphasis on considering mental health issues need serious professional consultation. Along with keeping a balanced life, spending quality time with family and friends, ease of interaction is needed to ensure that our population doesn’t fall prey to these issues and cost them their whole life.

Aim Metal implant infections are a devastating problem due to the formation of biofilm which impairs the effectiveness of antibiotics and leads to surgical replacement as definitive treatment. Biofilm on metal implants can be reduced using heat generated by alternating magnetic fields (AMF). In this study, the relationship between implant surface biofilm reduction and surrounding tissue thermal damage during AMF exposure is investigated through numerical simulations.Methods Mathematical models of biofilm reduction with heat were created based on in vitro experiments. Simulations were performed to predict the spatial and temporal heating on the implant surface and surrounding tissue when exposed to AMF.Results The modeling results show that intermittent and slow heating can achieve biofilm reduction with a narrow zone of tissue damage around an implant of less than 3 mm. The results also emphasize that uniformity of implant heating is an extremely important factor impacting the effectiveness of biofilm reduction. For a knee implant, using a target temperature of 75 °C, an intermittent treatment strategy of 15 exposures (10 s to target temperature followed by cooldown) achieved a bacterial CFU reduction of 6-log10 across 25% of the implant surface with less than 3 mm of tissue damage. Alternatively, a single 60 s heating exposure to same temperature achieved a bacterial reduction of 6-log10 across 85% of the implant surface, but with 4 mm of tissue damage.Conclusion Overall, this study demonstrates that with uniform heating to temperatures above 70 °C, an implant surface can be largely reduced of biofilm, with only a few mm of surrounding tissue damage.

Drug-induced Alveolar Hemorrhage is a rare cause of Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage (DAH). It requires to be considered in the differential diagnosis among patients presenting with DAH and prompt management, including the need for mechanical ventilation in severe cases. Here we present a case of severe DAH following percutaneous coronary intervention and Ticagrelor therapy that responded well to discontinuation of Ticagrelor

Abstract Selenium in wastewater is of particular concern due to its increasing concentration, high mobility in water, and toxicity to organisms; therefore, this study was carried out to determine the removal efficiency of selenium using iron and manganese-based bimetallic micro-composite adsorbents. The bimetallic micro-composite adsorbent was synthesized by using the chemical reduction method. Micro-particles were characterized by using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for elemental analysis after adsorption, which confirms the adsorption of selenium on the surface of the micro-composite adsorbent, scanning electron microscopy, which shows particles are circular in shape and irregular in size, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller which results from the total surface area of particles were 59.345m2/g, Zeta particle size, which results from average particles size were 39.8 nm. Then it was applied to remove selenium ions in an aqueous system. The data revealed that the optimum conditions for the highest removal (95.6%) of selenium were observed at pH 8.5, adsorbent dosage of 25 mg, and contact time of 60 min, respectively, with the initial concentration of 1 ppm. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models match the experimental data very well. The results proved that bimetallic micro-composite could be used as an effective selenium adsorbent due to the high adsorption capacity and the short adsorption time needed to achieve equilibrium. Regarding the reusability of bimetallic absorbent, the adsorption and desorption percentages decreased from 50 to 45% and from 56 to 53%, respectively, from the 1st to the 3rd cycle.

Objective: To assess the association of smoking with dental caries and periodontal health status among incarcerated women in Karachi facility, Sindh, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of study: Department of Community, Sindh Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Karachi Pakistan, from Dec 2021 to Feb 2022. Methodology: All female inmates between the ages of 18-65 years, serving various jail terms, including those sentenced to life, prisoners condemned to death and awaiting trial, were included in the study. For each participant, dental caries and periodontal status examinations were performed. Dental caries was scored using the DMFT index, while periodontal status was scored using the CPI index. Smoking status (yes or no) and duration of smoking were observed. Results: Out of 131 women, 76(58%), 42(32.1%), and 13(9.9%) had a DMFT score between 0-5, 6-10, and 11 or higher, respectively. 14(63.6%) and 2(9.1%) women smokers had moderate to severe periodontitis. The association between smoking and severe periodontitis was statistically significant (p=0.023). Employment status prior to incarceration was significantly associated with smoking (p=0.02). Conclusion: We concluded that the rate of severe periodontitis was higher among incarcerated women who were smokers. Women in prison require regular oral health assessment and increased awareness about oral health management. Smoking was not a significant factor associated with dental caries or periodontal disease. Keywords: CPI index, Dental caries, DMFT, Oral health, Periodontitis, Smoking, tobacco.

Public health challenges rapidly escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to a severe lack of resources and support in the near western suburbs of Chicago, the COVID Equity Response Collaborative: Loyola (CERCL) was established by an interprofessional team of Loyola University Chicago students, staff, and faculty. CERCL sought to minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities, those that are largely Black, Hispanic, or low-income. From April 2020 to the present, the collaborative utilized community-academic partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations to conduct programming. CERCL’s programming included free community-based testing, screening for and assistance with social determinants of health, dissemination of relevant and reliable COVID-related information, provision of personal protective equipment, and facilitation of access to vaccines. With partners, the collaborative conducted 1,500 COVID-19 tests, trained 80 individuals in contact tracing, provided over 100 individuals with specifically tailored resources to address social and legal needs, distributed 5,000 resource bags, held 20 community conversations, canvassed 3,735 homes, and hosted 19 vaccine clinics. Community-academic partnerships with the health system, community and governmental agencies, and the local public health department have been critical to CERCL efforts. The interdisciplinary and interprofessional successes demonstrated in this case study lends the example of a relevant, sustainable, and practical intervention to address nuanced public health issues.

Abstract Background Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles secreted by various cells into the intra and extracellular space and hence is an integral part of biological fluids including milk. In the last few decades, many research groups have proved the potential of milk exosomes as a sustainable, economical and non-immunogenic drug delivery and therapeutic agent against different pathological conditions. However, its anti-viral properties still remain to be unearthed. Methods Here, we have been able to isolate, purify and characterize the milk derived exosomes from Cow (CME) and Goat (GME) and further studied its antiviral properties against Dengue virus (DENV), Newcastle Disease Virus strain Komarov (NDV-K) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) using an in-vitro infection system. Results TEM, NTA and DLS analysis validated the appropriate size of the isolated cow and goat milk exosomes (30–150 nm). Real-time PCR and immunoblotting results confirmed the presence of several milk exosomal miRNAs and protein markers. Our findings suggest that GME significantly decreased the infectivity of DENV. In addition, we confirmed that GME significantly reduces DENV replication and reduced the secretion of mature virions. Furthermore, heat inactivation of GME did not show any inhibition on DENV infection, replication, and secretion of mature virions. RNase treatment of GME abrogates the anti-viral properties indicating direct role of exosomes in DENV inhibition. In addition GME inhibited the infectivity of NDV-K, but not HIV-1, suggesting that the GME mediated antiviral activity might be virus specific. Conclusion This study demonstrates the anti-viral properties of milk exosomes and opens new avenues for the development of exosome-based therapies to treat viral diseases. Graphical Abstract

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has presented Nifty 50 Shariah and Nifty 500 Shariah indices to provide unconventional indices for Sharia-compliant companies. These indices follow Sharia laws and can be used in portfolios that are culturally dependable commodities for investors who do not wish to put their money into the undesired business. NSE witnessed big movements in the indices during the Covid-19 period. This study seeks to understand the association between Nifty 500 Sharia and Nifty 50 Sharia and their respective selected indexes, Nifty 500 and Nifty 50, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The period from 27/01/2020 to 31/05/2022 has been taken for this study. The techniques applied, like correlation, co-integration, GMM, etc. based on the objectives of this paper. We conclude that the return of Sharia indices is better compared to the other indices. Also, stocks compliant with Sharia Indices are less risky and a better alternative for the portfolio during pandemic times.

Summary: P53 is a master transcriptional regulator and effector of the DNA damage response (DDR) that localizes to DNA damage sites, in part, via an interaction with PARP1. However, the mechanisms that regulate p53 abundance and activity at PARP1-decorated DNA damage sites remain undefined. The PARP9 (BAL1) macrodomain-containing protein and its partner DTX3L (BBAP) E3 ligase are rapidly recruited to PARP1-PARylated DNA damage sites. During an initial DDR, we found that DTX3L rapidly colocalized with p53, polyubiquitylated its lysine-rich C-terminal domain, and targeted p53 for proteasomal degradation. DTX3L knockout significantly increased and prolonged p53 retention at PARP-decorated DNA damage sites. These findings reveal a non-redundant, PARP- and PARylation-dependent role for DTX3L in the spatiotemporal regulation of p53 during an initial DDR. Our studies suggest that targeted inhibition of DTX3L may augment the efficacy of certain DNA-damaging agents by increasing p53 abundance and activity.

Background: Understanding and investigating the causes of birth defects is a critical approach toward the findings and development of helpful treatments and diagnostic strategies to overcome the issue of birth defects. We aim to investigate birth defects' causes by identifying the most common abnormal genes found in an inheritance pattern. Collecting genetic causes of the most common birth defects found in Pakistan and searching the link between birth defects and other harmful diseases. Methodology: The birth defects data is systematically gathered and critically analyzed to assess the role of insertions and deletions as the causative agents. Analysis was conducted on genomic data to investigate the genetic causes of congenital abnormalities. Results: The most common birth defects, namely neural tube defect (spina bifida), Facial palate (cleft/lip palate), heart defects (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot), deletion syndrome, and laryngomalacia caused by the main problematic genes namely MTHFR, MEIS2, TBX1, and NKX2-5. The results show that about eighty-six percent (86%) of gene variants overlap completely with the defective genes transcript, including both insertions/gain and deletions/loss. Conclusion: Identification of the main genes which are involved in most of the common birth defects highlights the major twelve genes, namely LMNA, MTHFR, POMC, TTN, SLC25A13, FGFR3, GCH1, TBX1, MEIS2, NKX2-5, GATA4, and GATA6.

Endemic anurans are particularly vulnerable to environmental changes, and are susceptible to population declines because of their restricted distribution ranges. The Murree Hills Frog Nanorana vicina and Hazara Torrent Frog Allopaa hazarensis are associated with the torrential streams and nearby clear water pools in subtropical chir pine forest and other forest types, at elevations higher than 1000 m in Pakistan. In this study, we have provided data on the extent of movement of these frog species for the first time. We installed radio transmitters on a total of 13 Murree Hills Frogs and 13 Hazara Torrent Frogs during eight consecutive days in September 2017 and 2018. Our results showed that these frogs did not move long distances along the stream or away from the stream into the forest. All the radio-tracked frogs showed movement of < 3 m. We found a significant differences only in the distance moved by Murree Hills Frogs between the two years studied. Based on our findings, we propose a movement paradigm that focuses on conservation implications for these endemic frogs.

IntroductionT cells are crucial for pathogenesis as well as control for tuberculosis (TB). Although much is known about the signaling pathways which are required for the activation of T cells during acute infection but the way these cells respond during persistent of infection still remained elusive. Therefore, it is rationale to understand T cell activation during tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE), which is similar to bacterial persistency system.MethodsHerein, we will employ T cell receptor (TCR) based approaches for studying events of T cell activation pathways in cells of blood and pleural fluid among patients with TPE. We performed spectrofluorimetric analysis to study effect of M. tuberculosis antigens, ESAT-6 and Ag85A stimulation on intracellular calcium levels, Phosphorylation levels of ZAP-70 (Zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70), PKC-θ (Protein kinase C theta), Erk1/2 (Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2) and p-38 two important members of MAPKs (Mitogen activated Protein kinases) in CD3 and CD28 induced cells of blood and pleural fluid of same patients with TPE by western blotting. Patients with non-TPE were also included as matching disease controls in this study.ResultsWe observed significantly higher intracellular calcium levels, Phosphorylation levels of ZAP-70, Erk1/2 and p-38 in CD3 and CD28 induced cells of pleural fluid as compared to the blood cells of same patients with TPE. Alteration in the activation of these events has also been noted after stimulation of ESAT-6 and Ag85A.DiscussionPresent study demonstrated up-regulated activation of TCR mediated T cell signaling events at local disease site (Pleural fluid) as compared to the blood sample of TB pleurisy patients which could be involved in T-cell dysfunctioning during the progression of the disease and also could be responsible for Th 1 dominance at local disease site in patients with TPE.

Over the past few years, COVID-19 has caused widespread suffering worldwide. There is great research potential in this domain and it is also necessary. The main objective of this study was to identify potential inhibitors against acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) in order to prevent coronavirus infection. Experimental studies revealed that SARS-CoV-2 causes activation of the acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide pathway, which in turn facilitates the viral entry into the cells. The objective was to inhibit acid sphingomyelinase activity in order to prevent the cells from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previous studies have reported functional inhibitors against ASM (FIASMAs). These inhibitors can be exploited to block the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the cells. To achieve our objective, a drug library containing 257 functional inhibitors of ASM was constructed. Computational molecular docking was applied to dock the library against the target protein (PDB: 5I81). The potential binding site of the target protein was identified through structural alignment with the known binding pocket of a protein with a similar function. AutoDock Vina was used to carry out the docking steps. The docking results were analyzed and the inhibitors were screened based on their binding affinity scores and ADME properties. Among the 257 functional inhibitors, Dutasteride, Cepharanthine, and Zafirlukast presented the lowest binding affinity scores of −9.7, −9.6, and −9.5 kcal/mol, respectively. Furthermore, computational ADME analysis of these results revealed Cepharanthine and Zafirlukast to have non-toxic properties. To further validate these findings, the top two inhibitors in complex with the target protein were subjected to molecular dynamic simulations at 100 ns. The molecular interactions and stability of these compounds revealed that these inhibitors could be a promising tool for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Sap-sucking insects cause severe damage to cotton production. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital regulatory roles in various development processes and stress response, however, the function of lncRNAs during sap-sucking insect infection in cotton is largely unknown. In this study, the transcriptome profiles between resistant (HR) and susceptible (ZS) cotton cultivars under whitefly infestation at different time points (0, 4, 12, 24, and 48 h) were compared. A total of 6,651 lncRNAs transcript and 606 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified from the RNA-seq data. A co-expression network indicated that lncA07 and lncD09 were potential hub genes that play a regulatory role in cotton defense against aphid infestation. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out mutant of lncD09 and lncA07 showed a decrease of jasmonic acid (JA) content, which potentially lead to increased susceptibility toward insect infestation. Differentially expressed genes between wild type and lncRNA knock-out plants are enriched in modulating development and resistance to stimulus. Additionally, some candidate genes such as Ghir_A01G022270, Ghir_D04G014430, and Ghir_A01G022270 are involved in the regulation of the JA-mediated signaling pathway. This result provides a novel insight of the lncRNA role in the cotton defense system against pests.

We developed a method to investigate impacts of temperature (elevated) on breeding, growth and development in endemic frogs under laboratory conditions. The method provides details on housing and rearing of larvae, taking various important measurements and observing developmental deformities. The method could also be applied to rescue approach or head-start program for amphibian species experiencing climate change elsewhere in the world.• Rearing of larvae to investigate effects of temperature on larvae• Measurement of data on growth and development• Rescue/ head-start program

Background COVID-19 has posed unique challenges for adolescents in different dimensions of their life including education, home and social life, mental and physical health. Whether the impact is positive or negative, its significance on the overall shaping of adolescents’ lives cannot be overlooked. The aim of the present study was to explore impacts of the pandemic on the adolescents’ everyday lives in Pakistan. Methods Following ethical approval, this cross-sectional study was conducted through September to December, 2020 via an online survey on 842 adolescents with the mean age of 17.14 ± SD 1.48. Socio-demographic data and Epidemic Pandemic Impact Inventory-Adolescent Adaptation (EPII-A) was used to assess the multi-dimensional effects of the pandemic. Results Among the 842 participants, 84% were girls. Education emerged as the most negatively affected Pandemic domain (41.6–64.3%). Most of the adolescents (62.0–65.8%) had reported changes in responsibilities at home including increased time spent in helping family members. Besides, increase in workload of participants and their parents was prominent (41.8% & 47.6%). Social activities were mostly halted for approximately half (41–51%) of the participants. Increased screen time, decreased physical activity and sedentary lifestyle were reported by 52.7%, 46.3% and 40.7% respectively. 22.2–62.4% of the adolescents had a direct experience with quarantine, while 15.7% experienced death of a close friend or relative. Positive changes in their lives were endorsed by 30.5–62.4% respondents. Being male and older adolescents had significant association with negative impact across most domains (pConclusions Results have shown that COVID-19 exert significant multidimensional impacts on the physical, psycho-social, and home related domains of adolescents that are certainly more than what the previous researches has suggested.

Recently food shortage has become the major flagging scenario around the globe. To resolve this challenge, there is dire need to significantly increase crop productivity per unit area. In the present study, 24 genotypes of rice were grown in pots to assess their tillering number, number of primary and secondary branches per panicle, number of grains per panicle, number of grains per plant, and grain yield, respectively. In addition, the potential function of miR156 was analyzed, regulating seed sequence in rice. Furthermore, OsSPL14 gene for miR156 was sequenced to identify additional mutations within studied region. The results demonstrated Bas-370 and L-77 showed highest and lowest tillers, respectively. Bas-370, Rachna basmati, Bas-2000, and Kashmir Basmati showed high panicle branches whereas, L-77, L-46, Dilrosh, L-48, and L-20 displayed lowest panicle branches. Bas-370 and four other studied accessions contained C allele whereas, L-77 and 18 other investigated accessions had heterozygous (C and T) alleles in their promoter region. C-T allelic mutation was found in 3rd exon of the OsSPL14 gene. The sequence analysis of 12 accessions revealed a novel mutation (C-T) present ~2bp upstream and substitution of C-A allele. However, no significant correlation for novel mutation was found for tillering and panicle branches in studied rice accessions. Taken together present results suggested novel insight into the binding of miR156 to detected mutation found in 3rd exon of the OsSPL14 gene. Nevertheless, L-77, L-46, Dilrosh, L-48, and L-20 could be used as potential breeding resource for improving panicle architecture contributing yield improvement of rice crop.

Wild medicinal herbs have been used as folk and traditional medicines all across the world since well before recorded history. This present study was designed to test the antimicrobial activities of five different solvent extracted samples (n-hexane, n-butanol, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water) of Peganum harmala using stems and seeds. Two different strains of Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia), two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilus and Staphylococcus aureus), and one fungal strain (Candida albicans) were used. The antimicrobial activities were measured using a disc diffusion assay. Two concentrations of the extracts (1 and 2mgDisc-1) were used. Ethyl acetate fraction was found more affective among the tested solvents and showed maximum activity (zone of inhibition) against S. aureus (65.53 and 81.10%), E. coli (46.22 and 61.29%) while n-butanol and water fractions gave maximum activity against S. aureus (78.86 and 70.00%) and K. pneumonia (57.00 and 61.39%) respectively. Water fraction showed maximum activity against C. albicans (60.00 and 81.88%). In the case of the stem, Ethyl acetate again showed more activity against B. subtilus (38.57 and 42.10%) and S. aureus (36.66 and 46.66%) while n-butanol showed maximum activity against K. pneumonia (24.55 and 32.44%) and E. coli (27.93 and 37.61%). Methanol was found more effective against C. albicans (25.71 and 43.80%). Seed extracted samples were found more effective compared to the stem. Ethyl acetate, butanol, and aqueous extracted samples showed good activity against the tested microbes, so these fractions are recommended for study their mechanism of actions and isolation of bioactive metabolites responsible for antimicrobial activities. The P. harmala should be evaluated for their bioactive compounds to be used in future studies. Our objective is to provide the framework for future study on the roles of P. harmala as traditional medicines.

Objective: This study aimed to isolate human umbilical cord blood derived endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) followed by their integration free reprogramming towards induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and molecular characterization of both cell types using multicolor flowcytometery and immunofluorescence respectively. Methods: The cord blood was collected from 37-39 weeks of gestational ages after C-section ex-utero from Dow University Hospital. The ECFCs isolated after ficoll based separation of cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNCs) which on emergence characterized through flow cytometry and reprogrammed towards induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using episomal vectors, the iPSCs were characterized using immunofluorescence. The study was conducted at Stem Cells and Regenerative lab, Dow Research Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Dow University of health sciences OJHA campus. The study time duration was about one year (October 2017-October 2018), study design was in vitro experimental. The sample size of the study was n=3. Results: The isolated ECFCs were evaluated using Flowcytometery which showed positive expression for CD31, CD34, CD146 cell surface markers and negative for CD90. The successful reprogramming of ECFCs towards iPSCs was confirmed by immunofluorescence using OCT-4 which is considered to be a master regulator of pluripotency. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this study was the first attempt to integration free reprogramming of cord blood derived endothelial colony forming cells towards induced pluripotent stem using Episomal plasmids. Cells that have been isolated from cord blood and those that have been reprogrammed both have potential therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine. Continuous...

Objective To evaluate the association of a prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and its association with in-patient mortality. Methods A cohort of 745 patients were recruited from a single center between 1 March 2020 and 31 May 2020. We analyzed the factors associated with a prolonged QTc and mortality. Results A prolonged QTc interval >450 ms was found in 27% of patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection. These patients were predominantly older, on a ventilator, and had hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or ischemic heart disease. They also had high troponin and D-dimer concentrations. A prolonged QTc interval had a significant association with the requirement of ventilator support and was associated with an increased odds of mortality. Patients who died were older than 55 years, and had high troponin, D-dimer, creatinine, procalcitonin, and ferritin concentrations, a high white blood cell count, and abnormal potassium concentrations (hypo- or hyperkalemia). Conclusions A prolonged QTc interval is common in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and it is associated with worse outcomes. Older individuals and those with comorbidities should have an electrocardiogram performed, which is noninvasive and easily available, on admission to hospital to identify high-risk patients.

Herbal medicine and nutritional supplements are suggested to treat premenstrual somatic and psycho-behavioural symptoms in clinical guidelines; nonetheless, this is at present based on poor-quality trial evidence. Hence, we aimed to design a systematic review and meta-analysis for their effectiveness in alleviating premenstrual symptoms. The published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were extracted from Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus and PROSPERO databases. The risk of bias in randomized trials was assessed by Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The main outcome parameters were analysed separately based on the Premenstrual Symptom Screening Tool and PMTS and DRSP scores. Secondary parameters of somatic, psychological, and behavioural subscale symptoms of PSST were also analysed. Data synthesis was performed assuming a random-effects model, and standardized mean difference (SMDs) was analysed using SPSS version 28.0.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). A total of 754 articles were screened, and 15 RCTs were included (n = 1211 patients). Primary results for participants randomized to an intervention reported reduced PSST (n = 9), PMTS (n = 2), and DSR (n = 4) scores with (SMD = −1.44; 95% CI: −1.72 to −1.17), (SMD = −1.69; 95% CI: −3.80 to 0.42) and (SMD = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.02 to 4.69) verses comparator with substantial heterogeneity. Physical (SMD = −1.61; 95% CI = −2.56 to −0.66), behavioural (SMD = −0.60; 95% CI = −1.55 to 0.35) and mood (SMD = 0.57; 95% CI = −0.96 to 2.11) subscale symptom groupings of PSST displayed similar findings. Fifty-three studies (n = 8) were considered at low risk of bias with high quality. Mild adverse events were reported by four RCTs. Based on the existing evidence, herbal medicine and nutritional supplements may be effective and safe for PMS.

Recently, Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary field, providing a great opportunity in shaping modern crop breeding, and is extensively used indoors for plant science. Advances in crop phenomics, enviromics, together with the other “omics” approaches are paving ways for elucidating the detailed complex biological mechanisms that motivate crop functions in response to environmental trepidations. These “omics” approaches have provided plant researchers with precise tools to evaluate the important agronomic traits for larger-sized germplasm at a reduced time interval in the early growth stages. However, the big data and the complex relationships within impede the understanding of the complex mechanisms behind genes driving the agronomic-trait formations. AI brings huge computational power and many new tools and strategies for future breeding. The present review will encompass how applications of AI technology, utilized for current breeding practice, assist to solve the problem in high-throughput phenotyping and gene functional analysis, and how advances in AI technologies bring new opportunities for future breeding, to make envirotyping data widely utilized in breeding. Furthermore, in the current breeding methods, linking genotype to phenotype remains a massive challenge and impedes the optimal application of high-throughput field phenotyping, genomics, and enviromics. In this review, we elaborate on how AI will be the preferred tool to increase the accuracy in high-throughput crop phenotyping, genotyping, and envirotyping data; moreover, we explore the developing approaches and challenges for multiomics big computing data integration. Therefore, the integration of AI with “omics” tools can allow rapid gene identification and eventually accelerate crop-improvement programs.