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This paper designs a novel coordinated control scheme to improve the control performance of voltage source converters (VSC) based multi-terminal high voltage direct current (MTDC) transmission network by merging the benefits of adaptive drooping and voltage margin controllers. In this proposed scheme, the droop coefficient is used to manage the DC voltage and maintain power sharing by shifting the control modes of the rectifiers and inverters in the presence of considerable power disturbances. The droop coefficient is planned based on the stability limit of DC voltage. The performance of the designed control scheme is compared to that of existing coordinated control and voltage margin droop control approaches. A ±400 kV five-terminal VSC-MTDC network is developed in PSCAD to verify the planned control method. The simulation results indicate that the proposed control scheme can achieve good performance for controlling the DC voltage and maintaining active power in the MTDC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to seek the robust and significant determinants of National Innovative Capacity in technologically advanced economies. In this era of knowledge-based economies having rapidly changing technology, innovation and digitization, it is very important to examine what determines innovation. For this purpose, the role of Information and Communication Technology, Exposure to external technology, R&D expenditure, Human capital, Governance and financial deepening in shaping the national innovative capacity is examined empirically. The aim is to reflect the factors that influence innovation and knowledge creation activities at national level. The study uses a panel of 13 technologically advanced countries with the aim to learn from the best practices. The fixed effect with robust standard errors estimation technique is used for estimation of the model over the period 1996–2015. Moreover, the innovative output index (IQ) is estimated to judge and analyze the national innovative capacity of selected countries. The results suggest that the core variables of estimated model remained significant with expected sings and yielded positive impact on dependent variable. Based on the results, it is suggested that the developing economies should make substantial investments in above mentioned factors in order to go along the path similar to OECD advanced economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to industrialization and urbanization, the use of detergents inadvertently led to contamination of aquatic environments, thus posing potential threat to aquatic organisms and human health. One of the main components of detergents is linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), which can cause toxic effects on living organisms, particularly aquatic life in the environment. In this study, floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) mesocosms were developed and augmented with LAS-degrading bacteria. The plant species, Brachiaria mutica (Para grass), was vegetated to establish FTWs and bacterial consortium (1:1:1:1) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PJRS20, Bacillus sp. BRRH60, Acinetobacter sp. strain CYRH21, and Burkholderia phytofirmans Ps.JN was augmented (free or immobilized) in these mesocosms. Results revealed that the FTWs removed LAS from the contaminated water and their augmentation with bacteria slightly increased LAS removal during course of the experiment. Maximum reduction in LAS concentration (94%), chemical oxygen demand (91%), biochemical oxygen demand (93%), and total organic carbon (91%) was observed in the contaminated water having FTWs augmented with bacterial consortium immobilized on polystyrene sheet. This study highlights that the FTWs supported with immobilized bacteria on polystyrene sheets can provide an eco-friendly and sustainable solution for the remediation of LAS-bearing water, especially for developing countries like Pakistan. This pilot-scale study provided insights to resolve the detergent-contaminated wastewater issue, using floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) augmented with bacteria. The FTWs augmented with bacteria immobilized on a polystyrene sheet and vegetated with Brachiaria mutica led to high degradation of LAS, a toxic compound of detergent, from the contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a complex and life-threatening disease. Early recognition of factors predicting morbidity and mortality is crucial. We aimed to develop and validate a pragmatic model to predict the individualized risk of early intensive care unit (ICU) admission for patients with AP. The 2019 Nationwide Readmission Database was used to identify patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of AP without ICU admission. A matched comparison cohort of AP patients with ICU admission within 7 days of hospitalization was identified from the National Inpatient Sample after 1:N propensity score matching. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select predictors and develop an ICU acute pancreatitis risk (IAPR) score validated by 10-fold cross-validation. A total of 1513 patients hospitalized for AP were included. The median age was 50.0 years (interquartile range: 39.0–63.0). The three predictors that were selected included hypoxia (area under the curve [AUC] 0.78), acute kidney injury (AUC 0.72), and cardiac arrhythmia (AUC 0.61). These variables were used to develop a nomogram that displayed excellent discrimination (AUC 0.874) (bootstrap bias-corrected 95% confidence interval 0.824–0.876). There was no evidence of miscalibration (test statistic = 2.88; P = 0.09). For high-risk patients (total score >6 points), the sensitivity was 68.94% and the specificity was 92.66%. This supervised machine learning-based model can help recognize high-risk AP hospitalizations. Clinicians may use the IAPR score to identify patients with AP at high risk of ICU admission within the first week of hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of aquatic ecosystems with organic and inorganic contaminants is a global threat due to their hazardous effects on the environment and human health. Floating treatment wetland (FTW) technology is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to existing treatment approaches. It consists of a buoyant mat in which wetland plants can grow and develop their roots in a suspended manner and can be implemented to treat stormwater, municipal wastewater, and industrial effluents. Here we explored the potential of bacterial-augmented FTWs for the concurrent remediation of phenol and hexavalent chromium (Cr6þ) contaminated water and evaluated treated water toxicity using Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) as a test plant. The FTWs carrying Phragmites australis L. (common reed) were inoculated with a consortium of four bacterial strains (Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN, Acinetobacter lwofii ACRH76, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PJRS20, Bacillus sp. PJRS25) and evaluated for their potential to simultaneously remove phenol and chromium (Cr) from contaminated water. Results revealed that the FTWs efficiently improved water quality by removing phenol (86%) and Cr (80%), with combined use of P. australis and bacterial consortium after 50 days. The phytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the germination of wheat seed (96%) was significantly higher where bacterial-augmented FTWs treated water was used compared to untreated water. This pilot-scale study highlights that the combined application of wetland plants and bacterial consortium in FTWs is a promising approach for concomitant abatement of phenol and Cr from contaminated water, especially for developing countries like Pakistan where the application of advanced and expensive technologies is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to contribute to the body of literature on gender disparities after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We identified all adult patients who had AMI between January 2017, and December 2022 and were in follow-up at our institute. We collected data on PPCI, revascularization strategy, sociodemographic characteristics, and in-hospital complications in the years following the procedure. A total of 5,872 patients who underwent PCI for AMI were included in the study, out of which 2,058 (35%) were women and 3,814 (65%) were men. Regarding the timing of PCI, female patients had a significantly longer median door-to-balloon time compared to male patients (136 minutes vs 108 minutes, P-value = 0.006). Female patients had a significantly higher rate of in-hospital mortality compared to male patients (5.5% vs 1.2%, P-value = 0.011). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female gender, older age, and lower household income were independent predictors of longer door-to-balloon time. This study highlights gender disparities in PPCI in Pakistan, with female patients facing longer door-to-balloon times and higher in-hospital mortality rates. The findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to improve the access and quality of care for female patients with AMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has previously been linked to several disease states with an impact on patient outcomes. However, clinical evidence on the association between NAFLD and acute cholangitis (AC) remains scarce. We aimed to evaluate the potential association between NAFLD and AC. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the US National Inpatient Sample database from 2016 to 2019 to analyze primary AC hospitalizations with NAFLD compared to non-NAFLD in a 1:1 propensity-matched population. A total of 1550 AC patients with NAFLD were matched to 1550 AC patients without NAFLD. NAFLD had a higher association with AC when compared to patients without NAFLD, with an odds ratio of 2.33 (95% CI [1.81–3.0], P < 0.001). The length of stay was higher in NAFLD than in non-NAFLD (4 vs 3 days, P < 0.001). The median inpatient charges in NAFLD were also higher than in the non-NAFLD cohort ($36,182 vs $35,244, P < 0.001). Inpatient mortality was higher in NAFLD compared to non-NAFLD (1.6% vs 0%, P < 0.001). There was an increased prevalence of portal vein thrombosis (3.2% vs 0%), acute kidney injury (24.2% vs 17.7%), sepsis (3.2% vs 1.6%), mechanical ventilation (3.2% vs 0%), and percutaneous cholecystostomy tube insertion (3.2% vs 1.6%) in NAFLD compared to non-NAFLD (P < 0.05). NAFLD also had a higher association with acute cholecystitis, with an odds ratio of 3.70 (95% CI [3.19–4.29], P < 0.001). This study showed an association between NALFD and AC, resulting in increased length of stay, hospital charges, and inpatient mortality. Underlying NAFLD also increases acute complications of AC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) has emerged as an effective endoscopic bariatric procedure over the past decade. Data comparing short-term outcomes of ESG based on operator specialty is scarce. We aimed to assess the impact of operator specialization on patient outcomes using a large bariatric-specific database. We identified a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent ESG by gastroenterologists using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Improvement Program database (2020–2021). A matched comparison cohort of patients who underwent ESG by surgeons was identified and underwent 1:1 propensity score matching based on age, race, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, and preoperative body mass index. After matching, 154 patients were included in the final analysis. Of these, 77 patients underwent ESG by surgeons and 77 by gastroenterologists. In the matched cohort, the median operation time was lower in ESG by surgeons compared to gastroenterologists (P < 0.001). The median percent body mass index decrease was higher in the gastroenterologist cohort compared to the surgeon cohort (4.9% vs 3.8%, P = 0.04). The median percent weight loss after ESG was 4.8% in the surgeon cohort and 5.9% in the gastroenterologist cohort (P = 0.09). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative emergency department visits (P = 0.65), reoperations (P = 0.15), or reinterventions within 30 days (P = 0.87) between the cohorts. There was no difference in major adverse effects between the groups (0% each). Operator choice does not affect ESG-related adverse events or 30-day outcomes in patients undergoing ESG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to explore the nutraceutical potential of orange peel, malted barley, and fenugreek-based value-added/functional health mix. Purposely, orange peel and fenugreek powder have been combined to germinated barley flour with different ratio. The composite flour was subjected to a nutritional and antioxidant assay. The nutritional analysis revealed that orange peel and malted barley are good sources of protein, fiber, fat, potassium (K), and calcium (Ca). Afterward, the health mix-based functional drink was developed and subjected to physicochemical, functional, and sensory evaluation. The TPC (Total phenolic content), DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) activity, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) was found to be increased with the addition of peel flour at various concentrations. The drink (30% peel flour, 60% barley flour and 10% fenugreek flour) is among the other treatments. Sensory scores of formulated value-added drinks decreased with the progression of storage time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, wheat varieties Inqulab-91 and AS-2002 were milled from a roller mill and analyzed for chemical characteristics through Near Infra-Red spectroscopy. Friabilin was extracted with Triton X-114 buffer and evaluated on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis against known molecular weight protein standards. Current results show that the chemical constituents and friabilin revealed significant variation and uneven distribution among flour streams. In both wheat varieties, break streams showed higher protein, moisture, gluten, Zeleny and ash values. Inqualb-91 break streams had a higher lipid content than AS-2002 flour streams, but no clear trend was identified. The 15 kDa band was absent in M3, T2, sizing and low-grade flour of Inqulab-91 while the faint band was present in the remaining streams. Among the remaining AS-2002 mill streams, B2, B4, M3, M5, T1, and sizing showed a prominent 15 kDa band, while the rest showed a faint band. Friabilin depicted a positive correlation with all constituents except fat in AS-2002 while a negative correlation with gluten, Zeleny and fat contents for Inqulab-91. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germination of seeds is a complex process linked to various molecular and biochemical changes that increase the nutritional value. This research has studied the impact of germination on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities of five domestic staple legumes from Pakistan: chickpea, mung bean, soybean, lentil, and peanut. The maximum moisture content was recorded for chickpea, i.e., 11.7 ± 0.05 g 100 g−1 followed by lentil, soybean, peanut, and mung bean as 9.65 ± 0.02, 8.07 ± 0.01, 7.6 ± 0.01, and 7.31 ± 0.01 g 100 g−1, respectively. The overall augmentation in catalase activity during germination (days 1 to 4) was maximum for lentils, i.e., 76.22%, and ascorbate peroxidase activity for peanuts, i.e., 62.09%. The soybean showed a clear difference from the 1st to 4th days of germination for peroxide activity among all selected legumes with a 37.29% increase. A maximum change in superoxide dismutase was noticed in mung bean. The mung bean also had the highest variation in total flavonoid contents, while total phenolic contents were higher in the chickpea. The radical scavenging activity varied higher in peanuts, while the ascorbic acid content was maximum for soybeans. Among all selected legumes, non-germinated chickpeas showed a lower DPPH value, i.e., 1.15 ± 0.03%, whereas the highest DPPH value was observed in lentils (69.84 ± 0.05%). Thus, the incorporation of ready-to-eat (RTE) germinated legumes with high antioxidant activity would be a contemporary addition to the everyday meal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of barley bran and flour-enriched yogurt against hypercholesterolemia in rats. Purposely, barley-enriched yogurts were prepared, and their quality characteristics including physicochemical, viscosity, textural and sensory analysis of functional yogurts were performed. The enrichment of 6% barley flour and barley bran in yogurt improved the viscosity, textural, physicochemical and sensory attributes. The barley bran and flour-enriched yogurt improved the growth of probiotics in T3 and T6. A hypercholesterolemic rats study was conducted and observed that lipid profile improved and glucose significantly decreased in response to functional yogurts. The improvement in functions of ALT (71.83 ± 1.61, 67.03 ± 1.67 and 62.33 ± 2.08 U/L), AST (245.17 ± 1.04, 231.33 ± 3.06 and 223.60 ± 2.79 U/L) and ALP (271.33 ± 1.53, 208.83 ± 1.26 and 189.37 ± 0.78 U/L) was observed G1, G4, and G5 groups, accordingly. It was concluded that barley bran exhibited greater potential than barley flour in the improvement of yogurt quality and hypercholesterolemia management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of circulating cell-free fetal DNA (cff-DNA) in maternal plasma has inspired the noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) approaches for various genetic fetal screening including rhesus D typing, sex determination, aneuploidies, and single-gene disorders. Noninvasive determination of paternally inherited beta-thalassemia mutations in maternal total cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) by using allele-specific amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) real-time PCR (RT-PCR) in concordance with the conventional invasive method. An observational study was conducted at the Armed Forces Institute of Blood Transfusion in collaboration with the genetics resource center from March 2021 to August 2021. A total number of 26 couples were selected having a history of previously affected children with beta-thalassemia. A routine chorionic villus sampling (CVS) invasive procedure was carried out, and the mutation analysis was done using conventional PCR. To assess NIPT, a total cf-DNA was also extracted from maternal plasma and analyzed using allele-specific ARMS RT-PCR. Based on conventional PCR testing, 13 of 26 couples were found having beta-thalassemia carriers with homozygous mutation, and 13 couples were carriers with heterozygous mutations. Further to assess NIPT, the cf-DNA of 13 pregnant females among the couples with different mutational patterns was analyzed by allele-specific ARMS RT-PCR to detect paternally inherited mutations. In comparison with conventional PCR, 11 cases (84.6%) were matched successfully, while two cases (15.4%) had no concordance with conventional invasive prenatal testing (IPT). NIPT using maternal cf-DNA by allele-specific ARMS RT-PCR can be feasible to screen paternal inherited mutant alleles to rule out pregnant women from invasive procedures where the test would be negative for paternal inheritance. However, a low amount of fetal DNA in maternal plasma is a limiting factor and required further improvement to enrich fetal cf-DNA for complete concordance with conventional IPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and substance use disorder (SUD) may have worse clinical outcomes. However, data specific to the hospital admission and mortality rates among IBD patients with SUD are scarce. Our objective was to assess trends in admission, healthcare expenses, and mortality for IBD patients with SUD. We conducted a retrospective study using the National Inpatient Sample database to analyze SUD (alcohol, opioids, cocaine, and cannabis) among IBD hospitalizations from 2009 to 2019. A total of 132,894 hospitalizations for IBD had a secondary diagnosis of SUD. Of these patients, 75,172 (57%) were men and 57,696 (43%) were women. The IBD-SUD cohort had a longer length of stay than the non-SUD cohort (P < 0.001). The mean inpatient charges for IBD hospitalizations with SUD increased from $48,699 ± $1374 in 2009 to $62,672 ± $1528 in 2019 (P < 0.001). We found a 159.5% increase in IBD hospitalizations with SUD. The hospitalization rate increased from 3492 per 100,000 IBD hospitalizations in 2009 to 9063 per 100,000 in 2019 (P < 0.001). In-hospital mortality for IBD hospitalizations with SUD increased by 129.6% (from 250 deaths per 100,000 IBD hospitalizations in 2009 to 574 deaths per 100,000 IBD hospitalizations in 2019) (P < 0.001). Over the last decade, there has been a rise in IBD hospitalizations with SUD. This has resulted in a longer length of stay, higher inpatient charges, and higher mortality rates. Identifying IBD patients potentially at risk for SUD by screening for anxiety, depression, pain, or other factors has become crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chocolate is the most popular food type and flavor in this world. The key ingredient in many chocolate products is cocoa butter due to its unique fatty acid profile. Due to the expensive nature of cocoa butter, it has stimulated extensive research for fats that are cheaper and more easily available and can be used as cocoa butter substitutes. The mango (Mangifera indica) is known as the king of fruit due to its rich nutritive profile. The major parts of mango fruit are peel, pulp, and seed. Mango seed is usually discarded as waste which is a source of edible oil (7–12%). The current study was designed to produce chocolate with mango seed oil as a cocoa butter replacer. Mango seed oil was extracted using the soxhlet apparatus and its physiochemical properties were evaluated. Extracted oil was used in chocolate preparation with different proportions (0%, 30%, 70%, and 100%). Furthermore, chocolate was subjected to explore the effect of storage (21days) on product quality and sensory with 7days interval. Current results show that mango seed oil has a valuable fat profile containing palmitic acid (C16:0) 26%, stearic acid (C18:0) 36%, and oleic acid (C18:2) 33%. Moreover, innovative chocolate showed higher antioxidant activity as compared to control in different storage intervals. In addition, chocolate prepared with different proportions of mango seed oil showed higher sensory scores as compared to the control sample. The findings suggest that mango seed oil can replace cocoa butter in chocolate and reduce/manage mango seed waste to improve its antioxidant activity and nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has become a serious threat all over the world, which creates a negative impact on the growth, physiology and yield attributes of the crops. Drought stress is one of the major causes of climate change that contributes more to the reduction of yield of crops and its physiological aspects (i.e., stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, plant canopy temperature, membrane thermal stability index, total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence). Pod shattering negatively affects the yield of canola under drought stress conditions. The control of shattering, caused by drought, has been difficult due to the lack of resistant cultivars. Drought at any stage of canola, either vegetative or reproductive, badly affects the canola crops in terms of growth, physiology, pod development and its shattering, which results in the reduction of yield. To overcome the pod shattering and its development, the Si plays an important role, which provides the strength to the pod when it was applied with their proper amount and proper time. Si is the beneficial element which helps in improving the growth and physiology of crop under drought stress conditions. Si helps for reducing the pod shattering in canola and improving its yield by mitigating the adverse effect of drought on canola. Molecular approaches also help to provide resistance in canola against pod shattering and improve its yield under drought stress conditions. Current review highlights the role of Si and current molecular developments to deal with constraints in pod development and it's shattering under drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), also known as "Chinese date" or "jujube," belongs to the Rhamnaceae family. The current research was designed to assess the effect of storage temperatures (5°C and 15°C) on ascorbic acid content, reducing sugar content, and titratable acidity of four ber (Z. mauritiana) varieties, i.e. Karela, Aakash, Pak white, and Dil-Bahar. For this purpose, fresh ber (Z. mauritiana) varieties were acquired from the Regional Agriculture Research Institute (RARI), Bahawalpur. In the first phase, these ber (Z. mauritiana) varieties were subjected to proximate analysis of reducing sugar contents, titratable acidity, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic contents. Maximum total phenolic content (144.38 ± 0.03 mgGAE/100 g) and antioxidant activity (39 ± 0.06%) were observed in Dil-Bahar variety. In the second phase, stored ber (Z. mauritiana) varieties were subjected to a storage study at 0, 7th, and 14th days for comparative evaluation based on titratable acidity, reducing sugar content, and ascorbic acid content. The results showed that the fruits stored at 5°C showed a maintained level of ascorbic acid content (31.26 ± 0.02 mg/100 g), reducing sugars (41.25 ± 0.02%), and titratable acidity (3.36 ± 0.01%) in Karela. On the contrary, Karela stored at 15°C showed a reduction in ascorbic acid content (28.12 ± 0.02 mg/100 g) and titratable acidity (1.21 ± 0.01%) and an increase in reduced sugar content (46.48 ± 0.03%). Moreover, Dil-Bahar variety showed higher ascorbic acid content (51.69 ± 0.05 mg/100 g), titratable acidity (3.51 ± 0.02%), and reducing sugar content (33.29 ± 0.01%) at 5°C. It was concluded that cultivars showed the best results at low storage temperatures of 5°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whey and sugarcane juice contain many functional components like immunoglobulins and antioxidants, which are very beneficial for human health. Pakistan is the world's 4th and 5th largest producer of milk and sugarcane, but we are still importing dairy products and sugar from foreign countries. Using whey and sugarcane juice to make value-added functional drinks can enhance its consumption and ultimately be exported to foreign markets. In this research, sugarcane juice was incorporated in whey in five different Blends; 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%. The product was subjected to different physicochemical analyses at 0-day, 7-day, 14 days, 21 days and 28 days of storage. Results were analyzed through two-way factorial under CRD, which indicated that there was a highly significant effect (p <.01) of blends on all the proximate analyses (fat, protein, total solids, and ash) of the product, while the effect of storage (days) was non-significant (p >.05). Moreover, the interaction effect (Blends*storage days) was non-significant (p >.05) on all the test parameters. However, the individual effect of days and Blends on other physiochemical tests; pH, acidity (%), sedimentation (%), viscosity (c.p), and antioxidants (µg/mL) was highly significant (p <.01). While density (g/ml) and total phenolic contents were significantly affected (p <.01) by Blends with a non-significant (p >.05) effect of storage (days). Apart from that, the sensory analysis indicated that all the parameters were affected by both Blends and storage (days) with a highly significant effect (p <.01). Conclusively this whey-based sugar cane beverage is an innovative and newly emerged functional drink with a lot of nutrition and health-promoting effects. However, it needs further research to evaluate the proper storage conditions and the use of different preservatives to enhance its keeping quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with other diploid species (Yao et al. [21]), such as I Arabidopsis thaliana i (364.1 SSR/Mb), I Oryza sativa i (526.1 SSR/Mb), I Cucumis sativus i (536.1 SSR/Mb) and I Corchorus capsularis i (467.2 SSR/Mb), the kenaf has lower SSR density in whole genome. Conclusion This study for the first time identifies and analyzes the SSR characteristics of the kenaf genome and CDS, which greatly enriched the SSR molecular markers in kenaf. Keywords: Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L); Genome; SSR markers; Genetic diversity; Flowering-time; ; ; SSR ; ; EN Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L) Genome SSR markers Genetic diversity Flowering-time ZH SSR 8332 8344 13 11/21/22 20221220 NES 221220 Introduction Kenaf ( I Hibiscus cannabinus i , 2 n = 36) is an annual herbaceous bast fiber crop of the Malvaceae family. Distribution of SSR motifs in the whole genome and CDS The frequencies distributions of kenaf SSR motifs in the entire genome and CDS were shown Figure 3. [Extracted from the article]

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is an important bast fiber crop, and a source of fiber to many industries. This crop is diploid (2n = 2x = 36) in nature, and belongs to Malvaceae family. Kenaf breeding is directed to develop the new cultivars that are better in fiber production, fiber quality, resistant to anthracnose, photo-insensitivity, resistant to salt and drought stresses, and so on. This review describes the various successes in kenaf breeding, and reports the future opportunities. The various classical and advanced breeding approaches have great potential to achieve the goals. However, the recent approaches in plant breeding and biotechnology could have more prospective to accelerate the kenaf breeding. These may include genomic selection, CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system, and other omics-based approaches. We suggest that the integration of recent approaches with classical ones has vital importance in improving the efficiency, speed, and accuracy of kenaf breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide increase of multi-drug resistance has directed the researchers to focus on ecofriendly ways of nanoparticles synthesis with effective antivirulence properties. Here, we report the antibiofilm and quorum quenching (QQ) potential of zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) synthesized from aqueous ginger extract against multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii. The results indicated that ZrO2 NPs were of tetragonal shape with average diameter of 16 nm. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values for A. baumannii were 15.6 and 62.5 µg/ml, respectively, as revealed by broth microdilution assay. Exposure of bacterial cells to ZrO2 NPs resulted in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation which in turn led to cellular membrane disruption as observed by an increase in leakage of cellular contents, such as proteins, sugars, and DNA. The antibiofilm activity was evaluated by microtiter plate assay and the results revealed that the percentage inhibition of biofilm was found to be 14.3–80.6%. ZrO2 NPs also obstructed the chemical composition of biofilms matrix by reducing the proteins and carbohydrate contents. Molecular docking studies of ZrO2 NPs with four proteins (2NAZ, 4HKG, 5D6H, and 5HM6) involved in biofilm formation of A. baumannii revealed the interaction of zirconium with target proteins. These findings suggested the in vitro efficacy of phytosynthesized ZrO2 NPs as antibiofilm and QQ agents that can be exploited in the development of alternative therapeutic options against MDR A. baumannii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of constructed wetlands (CWs) is a promising approach for the remediation of hydrocarbon-polluted wastewater. The amendments of CWs with nutrients, surfactants, and aeration enhances the removal of pollutants from wastewater. The objective of the present study was to explore the effect of external stimulants, i.e., nutrients, surfactant, and aeration on hydrocarbons degradation potential of CWs. The CWs mesocosms were developed by the vegetation of Phragmites australis and amendments with nutrients (20 mg l−1 N, 2.6 mg l−1 P, and 16.4 mg l−1 K), surfactant Tween 20 (0.2%, v/v), and aeration (7 mg l−1) for the remediation of diesel-spiked water (2%, w/v). The comparative analysis showed that the addition of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration individually enhanced total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) reduction, and maximum TPHs reduction (88.4%) was achieved after 60 days in the mesocosms amended with the combination of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration. Among different individual treatments, the aeration (alone) also played a pivotal role in TPHs reduction (61%). The least (12%) reduction in TPHs was achieved in the mesocosms supplied with surfactant only. This study revealed that the combined application of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration in CWs enhanced its hydrocarbons degradation performance. The biodegradability of crude oil-polluted wastewater is not efficient. It is mainly due to the low bioavailability of hydrocarbons, and less amount of nutrients and dissolved oxygen in the wastewater. This study explores the importance of the amendments of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration on the enhanced performance of constructed wetlands (CWs) for the remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated water. The application of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration in CWs not only enhanced hydrocarbon degradation and toxicity reduction but also improved plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is a leading cause of different diseases. Genistein is a valuable bioflavonoid possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity but unfortunately, it suffers from low aqueous solubility, extremely poor bioavailability and first pass effect when used in its pure state. The aim of this work was to formulate and characterize genistein-loaded highly phospholipid-containing lipid nanocarriers to improve oral bioavailability and pharmacodynamic performance. Lipid nanocarriers were prepared by the emulsification/sonication technique. The influence of phospholipid percentage (1%–10%) on physicochemical properties, drug release and stability was investigated. The particle size, zeta potential and EE% were in ranges from 211.9 ± 21.6 to 342.3 ± 7.9 nm, −11.6 ± 1.7 to −19.4 ± 3.1 mV and 78.5 ± 4.7% to 92.2 ± 1.9%, respectively. Drug release was less predominant in the case of SLN formulations when compared to corresponding NLC formulations. High phospholipid percentage produced less stable formulations in terms of particle size growth, gelation and heterogeneous particle distributions. DSC, FT-IR and XRD tools revealed that genistein has existed in an amorphous form in NLC4. The bioavailability of NLC4 was approximately 2.6-fold greater than that of conventional suspension. Additionally, lipid peroxidation in liver homogenate and histopathological alterations in liver and kidney sections were particularly improved, providing a promising strategy for oral administration of genistein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current review has been carried out to extract the oil from different plant seed sources, and its food application and bioavailability against various disorders. Plant seeds oil is considered a valuable ingredient in developing functional foods for human welfare. Nowadays, the trend has been changed, the people Worldwide prefer to consume plant-based oil by skipping animal-based fat because animal fat contains high trans fatty acids. However, different plants seed including soybean, palm, sesame, sunflower, safflower, linseed, grape, camelina, chia, garden cress, English walnut & hemp, eucommia ulmoides oliver, avocado, pomegranate, pumpkin, sweet cherry, kangar, sacha inchi, pistachio and cottonseeds are being used to produce the oil. Plant oil is being used in the development of different food products because it contains health beneficial fatty acids. Previous studies proved that PUFAs play an important role in human health against different disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the nutritional and pharmacological aspects of banana, as well as their prospective applications in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Banana is a widely consumed staple food in several countries and is popular for its pharmacological, nutritional and bioactive profile. Banana is ranked as the fifth most cultivated agricultural crop in terms of global trade. It is consumed in both raw and processed form. Banana comprises an immense amount of bioactive compounds including phytosterols, carotenoids, phenols, and biogenic amines that have a very effective role in health-promoting phenomena. Several bioactive compounds show antioxidant activities to reduce the disease risk. Banana has very effective pharmacological activities like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic. Banana has unique health-promoting aspects as well as used in the development of many food products like bread, pasta, confectionaries, and gluten-free products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current review has been considered to extract the bioactive compounds from different fruits and vegetable waste using novel extraction techniques. Among all horticultural crops, fruits and vegetables are the most consumed. Due to a rising population and changing dietary patterns, the production and processing of horticultural commodities, particularly fruits and vegetables, has expanded dramatically in order to meet rising demand. Food waste is the by-product of numerous industrial, agricultural, domestic, and food operations sector that is steadily increasing as these activities rise. Seeds, skin, rind, and pomace make up the majority of the waste, which is rich in bioactive substances such as carotenoids, polyphenols, dietary fibers, vitamins, enzymes, and oils. Waste can be used to make a variety of vital bioactive components, which is an important step toward long-term development. For the extraction of bioactive compounds, various extraction technologies are being used, including supercritical fluid extraction, subcritical water extraction, enzyme assisted extraction, ultrasound and microwave assisted extraction. The sustainable extracts attained using different technologies are valuable in the formation of functional food. Conclusively, new technologies manage waste in a meaningful way that is collected from fruits and vegetables. However, these bioactive compounds that are attained from wastes are valuable in the formation of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current review has measured the effect of kafirins in the development of functional foods and its valuable function against different diseases. Kafirins are usually a protein that is mostly present in sorghum. Chemically, kafirin is divided into different categories including α-kafirin, β-kafirin, and γ-kafirin. Kafirins that are formed in sorghum endosperm and then transferred into the lumen of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The different functional food products are being developed by using kafirins in the form of sorghum flour. These products play a valuable role in human beings. Previous studies suggested that kafirins have pharmacological properties that are an aid in reducing CVD, hyperglycemia and inflammation. The kafirins are present in sorghum flour that protects humans from Celiac Syndrome. The aim of study was to extract kafirin from sorghum and add into different products for the purpose of reduce the risk of diseases especially celiac disease. Conclusively, food products prepared by using sorghum-kafirin is played a valuable role in human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large proportion of clinical S. aureus isolates that carry an inactive Agr system are associated with persistent infection that is difficult to treat. Once S. aureus is inside the bloodstream, it can cross the endothelial barrier and invade almost every organ in the human body. Endothelial cells can either be lysed by this pathogen or they serve as a niche for its intracellular long-term survival. Following phagocytosis, several vesicles such as phagosomes and autophagosomes, target intracellular S. aureus for elimination. S. aureus can escape from these vesicles into the host cytoplasm through the activation of phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) αβ. Thereafter, it replicates and lyses the host cell to disseminate to adjacent tissues. Herein we demonstrate that staphylococcal strains which lack the expression of PSMs employ an alternative pathway to better persist within endothelial cells. The intracellular survival of S. aureus is associated with the co-localization of the autophagy marker LC3. In cell culture infection models, we found that the absence of psmαβ decreased the host cell lysis and increased staphylococcal long-term survival. This study explains the positive selection of agr-negative strains that lack the expression of psmαβ in chronic infection due to their advantage in surviving and evading the clearance system of the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoemulsion-based delivery systems have a considerable potential for the encapsulation, protection and delivery of lipophilic bioactives. In the current study, in-vitro stability of curcumin-loaded single (NEI), double (NEII), and triple-layered nanostructures was investigated against varying environmental stress (temperature, pH, ionic strength) and storage conditions. In addition, their functional performance, as influenced by the number of polymer layers, was also assessed by comparing in-vitro lipid digestibility and curcumin bioaccessibility. Initially, NEI was prepared through ultrasonic homogenisation technique, and stabilised with modified starch. Next, sequential deposition of chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on the NEI droplets resulted into the formation of NEII and nanocapsules, respectively. Nanocapsules showed good stability against aggregation over a wide range of pH (3.0–7.0), salt concentration (50–300 mM NaCl) and temperature (30–90 °C for 30 min). Digestion studies suggested that polymeric coatings interfered with lipolysis as the digestibility (% free fatty acid released) of oil droplets was considerably reduced with increasing the number of layers surrounding the oil droplets. However, curcumin bioaccessibility increased with adding the number of coating layers. Overall, results indicate that the developed nano-system could be helpful in improving the oral delivery of curcumin besides incorporating it into functional foods and beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 infection is associated with many different systemic complications. Among these, cardiovascular system complications are particularly important as these are associated with significant mortality. There are many different subgroups of cardiovascular complications, with Arrhythmias being one of them. Arrhythmias are especially important as there are a substantial percentage of patients who have arrhythmia after a COVID-19 infection, and these patients are seen with an increased mortality rate. The main interest of this review is understanding some of the specific post-COVID-19 arrhythmic complications and their predisposing factors. This paper will highlight the findings of studies on cardiovascular system disease after COVID-19 infection, different specific arrhythmic complications of COVID-19, and changes in electrophysiologic interventions post-COVID-19 outbreak in different centers around the world. An extensive literature search was made to find pertinent articles. Studies show us that a significant percentage of COVID-19 patients have arrhythmia. Many distinct types of arrhythmias are associated with COVID-19 infection, and specific risk factors of these arrhythmias are important as this information can be used to detect and prioritize certain at-risk patients for early treatment, which can mean life or death in some cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitors (SCRMs) provide continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring for surveillance of known and identification of infrequent arrhythmias. SCRMs have proven to be helpful for the evaluation of unexplained symptoms and correlation with intermittent cardiac arrhythmias. Successful functioning of SCRM is dependent on accurate detection and successful transmission of the data to the device clinic. As the use of SCRM is steadily increasing, the amount of data that requires timely adjudication requires substantial resources. Newer algorithms for accurate detection and modified workflow systems have been proposed by physicians and the manufacturers to circumvent the issue of data deluge. Areas covered: This paper provides an overview of the various aspects of ambulatory rhythm monitoring with SCRMs including indications, implantation techniques, programming strategies, troubleshooting for issue of false positive and intermittent connectivity and strategies to circumvent data deluge. Expert opinion: SCRM is an invaluable technology for prolonged rhythm monitoring. The clinical benefits from SCRM hinge on accurate arrhythmia detection, reliable transmission of the data and timely adjudication for possible intervention. Further improvement in SCRM technology is needed to minimize false-positive detection, improve connectivity to the central web-based server, and devise strategies to minimize data deluge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian coccidiosis is an important parasitic disease of birds, caused by genus Eimeria, and having great economic importance. The estimated global economic loss due to coccidiosis is up to US$3 billion annually. Approximately 80% of these losses are associated with performance parameters, including decreased weight gain, heavy mortality, poor feed conversion ratio and the remaining 20% of losses include the cost of prophylaxis and treatment measures. This disease has been controlled by different anticoccidial agents, but synthetic drug-resistance is the major issue due to which researchers are trying to develop modern alternate effective approaches. Moreover, drug residues cause health hazard issues for poultry product consumers, which have led to the cessation of such practices in developed countries. Control through vaccination can be considered as a good practice, but due to the high cost and complexity of Eimeria species, development of a cost-effective vaccine has proved challenging. Among other options, probiotics have shown favourable effects against coccidiosis. Use of probiotics can reduce 70–80% of losses faced by the poultry industry worldwide. They have shown excellent results due to their antioxidant, immunostimulatory and positive effects on intestinal health of infected birds. Furthermore, details about the expression of the host biological responses against poultry coccidiosis and how probiotic supplementation assists in improving these responses in chickens are described in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Small Dams Organization has constructed 55 small dams in the rain-fed region of Pothwar Plateau, Punjab in Pakistan. A study was conducted on the Pothwar Plateau during 2019 to investigate the economic importance of small dams in the region, using Khasala and Jawa dams as the case study. The study tasks included: (i) a broad evaluation based on the performance of small dams in Pothwar Plateau, and to analyze the economic benefits of small dams to farming communities; (ii) a comparative analysis of the Khasala and Jawa dams on the Pothwar Plateau to identify the factors that influence agriculture production on irrigated (I) and non-irrigated (NI) farms in the area; and (iii) identification of key issues in order to identify potential options to improve agriculture production on the Pothwar Plateau. Data was collected through field observations, questionnaires, key informant interviews, and formal and informal discussions with farmers and was collated and reviewed quantitatively and qualitatively. It was found that the minimum water pricing is the basic reason for wastage and excessive water consumption. The cost of collecting water-charges from farmers is greater than the water-charges which are received. This has resulted in delayed maintenance of the irrigation systems which exacerbates water losses. It was also found from the survey of farmers of irrigated land and non-irrigated land that irrigation increases wheat yield by 15%, maize yield by 42%, vegetable yield by 41–44% and fodder yield by 60%. The availability of wells on non-irrigated farms means that these farmers could access timely irrigation, otherwise, their productivity gap would be greater if they were forced to rely on rainfall only. Issues of concern which were identified included: (i) illegal diversion of irrigation water by influential farmers; (ii) inadequate maintenance of irrigations systems and (iii) inefficient on-farm irrigation practices which contributed to a total irrigation efficiency in the irrigated areas of less than 30%; (iv) water rights and a water rotation systems are not implemented in the study area and (v) there is no water user association to deal with the water channels in the region which leads to clashes between users over the water distribution. A number of strategies that should be implemented to enhance agriculture production and efficient use of water resources are also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac electrophysiology (EP) procedures are frequently performed in patients with cardiac arrhythmias, chronic heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Most EP procedures involve fluoroscopy, which results in radiation exposure to physicians, patients, and EP lab staff. Accumulated radiation exposure is a known health detriment to patients and physicians. This review will summarize radiation exposure, dose metrics, complications of radiation exposure, factors affecting radiation exposure, minimizing radiation exposure, zero or near-zero fluoroscopy strategies, and up-to-date research in the area of reducing radiation exposure and best practices. Comprehensive strategies should be implemented in EP laboratories to minimize radiation exposure with standard fluoroscopy. There are routine techniques that can mitigate significant amounts of radiation exposure using standard equipment within the EP lab. The operators need to emphasize that EP practices routinely incorporate non-ionizing radiation sources for cardiac imaging (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging, advanced electroanatomical mapping systems, intracardiac ultrasonography) in addition to other novel technologies to mitigate radiation exposure to patients and physicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants and insects are members of diverse ecological communities. Feeding of herbivore insects may damage the host plants indirectly by altering the photosynthetic activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological changes in citrus plants due to citrus leafminer (CLM) Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Gracillariidae: Lepidoptera) larval feeding under field condition. Plants from four economically important citrus cultivars, Citrus reticulata (Kinnow and seedless Kinnow), Citrus tangerines (Fairchild), and Citrus paradisi Macfad (Grapefruit), were selected randomly and leaf damage was assessed through an image analysis technique. The results showed that percent leaf damage was higher at 44.2% on Fairchild compared to other cultivars at 19th day of post-feeding. The reduction in leaf photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (C), and transpiration rate (E) rates due to larval feeding through 19th day was found consistent in all cultivars except Grapefruit. After 13 days, Pn and gaseous exchange rates in damaged leaves of Grapefruit recovered to some extent but remained significantly lower than in control through 19th day. Reduction in all three physiological parameters in infested leaves was ranged as Fairchild > Kinnow > seedless Kinnow > Grapefruit compared to their level in control. Percent of leaf damage had a strong and negative relation with Pn, C, and E in all citrus cultivars except Grapefruit in which all variables showed a weak relation. Conclusively, P. citrella may cause a serious threat to citrus plants even at lower levels of infestation, and these physiological impairments could be more intense in regions with high P. citrella population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the distributed catchment-scale model, DiCaSM, was applied on five catchments across the UK. Given its importance, river flow was selected to study the uncertainty in streamflow prediction using the Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) methodology at different timescales (daily, monthly, seasonal and annual). The uncertainty analysis showed that the observed river flows were within the predicted bounds/envelope of 5% and 95% percentiles. These predicted river flow bounds contained most of the observed river flows, as expressed by the high containment ratio, CR. In addition to CR, other uncertainty indices – bandwidth B, relative bandwidth RB, degrees of asymmetry S and T, deviation amplitude D, relative deviation amplitude RD and the R factor – also indicated that the predicted river flows have acceptable uncertainty levels. The results show lower uncertainty in predicted river flows when increasing the timescale from daily to monthly to seasonal, with the lowest uncertainty associated with annual flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Subcutaneous defibrillator (S-ICD) is the latest development in the clinically available devices for sudden cardiac death prevention. Experience from pivotal trials and post-marketing studies has proven the feasibility and safety of S-ICD. Extra-cardiac location of S-ICD obviates the need for transvenous leads which translates into lower incidence of lead-related complications and systemic infections. This is a review on peri-procedural interventions to minimize complications associated with S-ICD during implant and follow-up.Areas Covered: This paper will highlight the results of pertinent studies related to perioperative management of S-ICD and review the approaches to minimize the risk of complications such as hematoma at the pulse generator location, unsuccessful defibrillation due to suboptimal S-ICD lead and generator position, postoperative pain, inappropriate shocks due to T wave oversensing and interaction with concomitant cardiac implantable devices. An extensive literature search was performed to identify the relevant articles.Expert Commentary: The use of S-ICD is expanding, and the published results suggest a preferential use of such devices for younger patients and those with a potential risk of infection from intravascular devices. The perioperative management of S-ICD has significantly evolved during a decade of experience. Contemporary experience suggests that these procedures are associated with minimal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to estimate the zinc (Zn) requirement of Labeo rohita juveniles fed practical diet. Treatments used for the study were consisted of six experimental diets supplemented with graded levels of Zn (0, 21, 42, 63, 84 and 104 mg/kg diet) from Zn gluconate. For each experimental diet, two replicates were allocated, and 18 fish were stocked in each replicate. The feeding trial was lasted for 90 days. Results showed that final weight, absolute weight gain, weight gain% and specific growth rate increased with increasing dietary Zn levels up to 42 mg/kg and started to decrease with further increase in dietary Zn level. Quadratic regression analysis of weight gain% data indicated that L. rohita juveniles required 62.58 mg/kg Zn for normal growth. Maximum Zn absorption was observed in fish fed diet supplemented with 42 mg/kg Zn compared with other dietary treatments. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity in kidney and spleen of L. rohita juveniles increased with the increase in dietary Zn levels up to 42 and 63 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusively, supplementation of graded levels of dietary Zn-gluconate improved the growth performance and increased the Zn bioavailability and ALP activity up to a certain limit in L. rohita juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are an innovative product of ecological engineering that can play a promising role in wastewater treatment. It provides low-cost, eco-friendly, and sustainable solutions for the treatment of wastewater, particularly in regions with economic constraints. Generally, FTWs comprise rooted plants that grow on the surface of water with their roots extending down into the pelagic zone rather than being embedded into the sediments. This drooping structure helps develop (1) a hydraulic flow between the root network and the bottom of the treatment system and (2) a large biologically active surface area for the physical entrapment (filtration) of contaminants, as well as their biochemical transformation and degradation. Furthermore, the rooted network allows proliferation of microorganisms that form biofilms and enhance pollutant degradation while promoting plant growth. The augmentation of bacteria in FTWs has been proven to be the most effective approach for reclamation of wastewater. This article discusses the operational parameters of FTWs for maximal remediation of wastewater and highlights the importance of plant-bacteria partnerships in a typical FTW system for enhanced cleanup of wastewater. We propose that this technology is preferable over other methods that require high energy, costs, and area to install or operate machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of constructed wetlands (CWs) is a promising approach for the remediation of wastewater. The present study aims to develop a plant–bacteria system within CWs for the efficient remediation of tannery effluent. In a vertical-flow CW vegetated withLeptochloa fusca(Kallar grass), a consortium of three different endophytic bacteria,Pantoea stewartiiASI11,Microbacterium arborescensHU33, andEnterobactersp. HU38, was used for bioaugmentation. CWs vegetated with onlyL. fuscahad the potential to remediate tannery effluent, but augmentation with endophytic bacteria enhanced the growth ofL. fuscawhile aiding in the removal of both organic and inorganic pollutants from the tannery effluent. Moreover, the bacterial augmentation decreased toxicity in the effluent as well. A higher number of chromium (Cr)-resistant bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere and endosphere ofL. fuscainoculated with the endophytes than from uninoculated plants. Due to promising bioremediation and detoxification potential ofL. fusca, it is reported for the first time as a potential candidate to develop effective CWs for the remediation of polluted effluents in combination with pollutant-degrading endophytic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: Leadless pacemakers (LPs) are the latest advancement in the field of pacing. Experience from pivotal trials and post-marketing studies has proven the feasibility and safety of these devices. The LPs obviate the need of pulse generator pocket and leads, which translates into lower incidence of lead related complications and pocket related infections. This review will summarize the existing literature on the LPs, specifically indications; implant procedure, unique situations and long- term follow up.Areas covered: This review will summarize the results of published pivotal trials. Several multicenter studies where LP was used in the unique situations such as during concomitant AV node ablation and across bioprosthetic valve will also be discussed. An extensive search using PUBMED was performed to identify the relevant articles.Expert commentary: The use of LPs is expanding and the published results a preferential use of such devices for patients who need single ventricle pacing. Additionally, the use of these devices in several unique situations such as patients with inferior vena cava filters, bioprosthetic tricuspid valves and concomitant atrio-ventricular nodal (AV) ablation has also been shown to be safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly integrated nanocomposite of Graphene oxide (GO) and its derivatives with metal oxides is essential for enhanced performance for various applications. Tuning the morphology is an important aspect during nanomaterials synthesis; this has an amplifying influence upon physicochemical properties of advanced functional materials. In this research work, GO/TiO2 nanotube composites have been successfully synthesized via alkaline hydrothermal treatment method by augmenting GO layers with two different phases of TiO2 (anatase and rutile) nanoparticles, followed by the hydrothermal treatment that also have caused reduction of GO to reduced GO (RGO). The morphology of the as-prepared samples appeared to be nanotubes with a large aspect ratio (length to diameter). The synthesized materials have been characterized using various techniques to determine their morphological and functional properties. Large surface area (158 m2/g) nanotube composites found accountable as effective disinfectant for water containing microorganisms. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized composites was examined by disk diffusion method and optical density for bacterial growth using two different bacterial species; Escherichia Coli (E.coli, Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus Aureus (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-positive). The antibacterial study revealed that, the anatase phase RGO/TiO2 nanotube composites manifested appreciable effect on both bacteria as compared to rutile phase RGO/TiO2 nanotubecomposite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HCC has been reported to be immensely occurring carcinoma worldwide. Recent days the mortality occurred due to liver cancer has also been found to be increased at an alarming speed affecting mostly the young patients. The aim of the current study was to decipher the role of calcium and vitamin K3 in the treatment of chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in the male Wistar rats. Liver cancer was induced via a subnecrogenic dose of 160 mg/kg body weight, diethylnitrosamine (DENA) when associated with fasting/refeeding in male Wistar rats. It elevated the serum glutamate oxaloacetate (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total cholesterol (CH), triglycerides (TG), alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Histopathological examination of liver tissue showed marked carcinogenicity of the chemical carcinogen. Food, water intake and animal weights were also assessed, respectively. The animals exposed to DENA showed a significant decrease in the body weight. The elevated levels of serum SGOT, SGPT, ALP, AFP, TC and TG were restored by administration of calcium and Vit K (ad libitum) combination at higher dose than the normal dietary requirement (3 mg/kg) daily for 12 weeks p.o. Physiological and biochemical analysis showed the beneficial effects of calcium and vitamin K3 combination in the animals exposed to DENA. The results deciphered the beneficial effects of calcium and vitamin K3 in combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibition of nitrification as a mitigation tool to abate nitrogen (N) losses and improve N use efficiency (NUE) is a promising technology. Nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide, DCD) was evaluated in two consecutive wheat-maize rotations (2015-2017), with two different N fertilizer levels applied in wheat (160, 220 kg N ha−1) and maize (180, 280 kg N ha−1). More NH4+-N contents (101% and 102% in wheat and 74% and 73% in maize) and less NO3--N contents (37% and 43% in wheat and 46% and 57% in maize) were observed at both N levels treated with DCD compared to without DCD. Higher pH, lower EC and reduced NO3--N accumulation were the other benefits of DCD. The NO3--N accumulation within the 0-200 cm soil profile was significantly less at both N levels with DCD (66 mg kg−1 and 121 mg kg−1) compared to without DCD (96 mg kg−1 and 169 mg kg−1). Application of DCD also improved the growth and yield in both crops. Increase in NUE from 38% to 49% in wheat and 27% to 33% in maize with DCD at higher N level was also observed. Overall, the effectiveness of DCD in retarding the nitrification process was higher in wheat than maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work was carried out to assess the variations in the chemical composition, yield, antibacterial and haemolytic activities of hydro-distilled peel essential oils from unripe and ripened limon [Citrus limon(L.) Osbeck] fruit. The extracted essential oil yield from unripe fruit peel (1.79 %) is slightly lower as compared to the ripened fruit peel oil (1.81 %). By GC/MS analysis, 14 compounds were identified in unripe while 11 components in ripened lemon peel essential oil (LPEO). The major components identified in unripe lemon peel essential oil were caryophyllene oxide (16.791 %) followed by 3-cyclohexene-1-methanol (11.463 %), 2-isoprpenyl-5-metyhlhex-4-enal (10.174 %), limonene (9.649 %) and β-citral (8.323 %) whereas ripened LPEO contained α-Terpineol as major compound (38.497 %) followed by 2,6-octadienal-3,7-dimethyl (9.981 %) and limonene (9.195 %). Both the isolated lemon peel essential oils (LPEOs) exhibited considerable antibacterial activity against E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus with no cytotoxic effects. Overall, a significant variation in the yield, volatiles composition and biological activities of LPEOs were observed that can be linked to lemon fruit ripening stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]