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ABSTRACT This interdisciplinary research explores the complex interplay between democratic erosion and migration crises, recognising their profound implications for social cohesion. With universities serving as bastions of knowledge and inclusion, their role in addressing these challenges is paramount. By implementing targeted programs and initiatives, universities actively contribute to mitigating the adverse effects of these crises and promoting social cohesion within their campuses and surrounding communities. The research objectives encompass a comprehensive examination of existing strategies and programs implemented by universities worldwide, focusing on identifying successful approaches and practices. Additionally, the study seeks to uncover the underlying challenges and obstacles faced by universities in effectively addressing democratic and migration crises, ranging from institutional constraints to sociopolitical factors. Universities hold significant sway in shaping policy discourse and influencing decision‐making processes at local, national, and international levels. Through rigorous research methodologies, including mixed‐methods approaches involving qualitative case studies and large‐scale surveys, this study aims to provide nuanced insights into the root causes and consequences of democratic erosion and migration crises. Ultimately, this research contributes to advancing scholarly understanding in the fields of democratic governance, human mobility, and social cohesion. By offering actionable insights and innovative solutions, it strives to empower policymakers, practitioners, and affected communities to effectively navigate and address these complex challenges, fostering resilience and harmony in societies worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), a high‐value halophytic crop, is a promising candidate to ensure food security in the scenario of increasing soil salinization due to climate change. In a 2‐year field study (during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020), 18 quinoa genotypes of different origins (Q‐4, Q‐6, Q‐9, Q‐7, Q11, Q‐15, Q‐22, Q‐24, Q‐27, Q‐45, Q‐50, Q‐51, Q‐52, Q‐76, Q‐81, Q82, Q‐124, and Q‐126) were grown at two different locations (salt‐affected and normal soil having electrical conductivity (EC) of 16.24 and 1.76 dS m−1, respectively). Morphological, physiological, and yield parameters were recorded to assess the impact of salinity on different genotypes of quinoa. All the tested genotypes performed better in normal soil (37% more yield) than salt‐affected soils. Under salt‐affected conditions, differential salt tolerance responses of quinoa genotypes were observed. Among tested genotypes, Q‐7 achieved the highest chlorophyll content index, biological mass (7905 kg ha−1), and seed yield (1916 kg ha−1) under salt‐affected conditions, it was followed by Q‐81. Salt stress caused up to 94% reduction of seed yield in the salt‐sensitive genotype (Q‐11), while the salt‐tolerant genotype (Q‐81) showed only 15% reduction in seed yield. Morphological characteristics of quinoa genotypes were differently influenced by salt stress. The salt‐tolerant accessions Q‐7 and Q‐81 exhibited similar morphological characteristics. Based on the findings of this study, salt‐tolerant quinoa genotypes can be successfully grown in salt‐degraded soils (with EC ≤ 16.24 dS m−1) in extreme winter seasons with arid climatic conditions. Core Ideas: Salt‐tolerant quinoa genotypes can be successfully grown in strongly salt‐degraded soils (electrical conductivity [EC] ≤ 16.24 dS m−1).Morphological characters (growth habit and main stem shape) of quinoa are associated with salt tolerance potential.Salt‐sensitive genotypes showed significantly higher yield losses (up to 94%) than salt‐tolerant genotypes (15%–45%).Quinoa genotypes show differential salt tolerance responses based on their origin and morphological characters. Plain Language Summary: Quinoa, a high‐value halophytic crop, emerges as a promising candidate to ensure food security amidst increasing soil salinization caused by climate change. In a 2‐year field study, 18 quinoa genotypes of diverse origins were cultivated in both normal and salt‐affected soils to evaluate the impact of salinity on different quinoa genotypes. Under salt‐affected conditions, distinct salt tolerance responses were observed among the quinoa genotypes. Morphological, physiological, and yield parameters of the quinoa genotypes were variably affected by salt stress. The salt‐tolerant accessions Q‐7 and Q‐81 exhibited robust responses, showing minimal yield reduction. Based on the findings of this study, salt‐tolerant quinoa genotypes can be successfully cultivated in salt‐degraded soils (with electrical conductivity ≤ 16.24 dS m−1) during extreme winter seasons characterized by arid climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response of swift heavy ion (100 MeV I9+) irradiation, the irradiation‐induced disordering in nonstoichiometric pyrochlore composition (Nd1.8Zr2.2O7.1) was compared to that of stoichiometric composition Nd2Zr2O7. Both compositions were prepared through auto gel‐combustion followed by sintering under the identical conditions. Systematic analysis of the compositions before and after irradiation was performed with X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and plane‐view high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques. Irradiation caused pyrochlore to amorphous phase transformation was observed in both compositions except the slower rate of amorphization in Nd1.8Zr2.2O7.1. The amorphization was achieved as a consequence of isolated disordered track overlapping at higher ion fluence with the estimated track diameter 2.73 ± 0.05 and 3.46 ± 0.30 nm for Nd1.8Zr2.2O7.1 and Nd2Zr2O7, respectively, employing the framework of single‐ion impact model to XRD results. HRTEM micrographs also revealed the less prevalence of irradiation‐induced amorphization in Nd1.8Zr2.2O7.1 with the observed irradiation‐induced modified track region composed of defect‐rich pyrochlore structure, anion‐deficient fluorite structure, and amorphous domains; with the diameter of 3.0 ± 1.0 nm and 5.0 ± 1.0 nm in Nd1.8Zr2.2O7.1 and Nd2Zr2O7, respectively. The preexisting anion‐deficient fluorite structure in Nd1.8Zr2.2O7.1 helps in its epitaxial growth as recovered structure from melted ion track during irradiation‐induced rapid cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Fe, Co) ferrites were investigated by employing Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package code using density functional theory. LDA+U was used to investigate the structural, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Fe, Co) ferrites at different pressures 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 GPa. The simulated X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Fe, Co) ferrites was investigated and the computed lattice parameters decreased 8.62–8.32, 8.68–8.35, and 8.567–8.267 Å at 0–20 GPa, respectively. XRD revealed that the unit cell's volumes (640.50–575.93, 653.97–582.182, 627.22–563.550), X‐ray densities (4.86–5.40, 4.70–5.28, 3.97–4.43), and interatomic distance (2.6099–2.5180, 2.6221–2.4260, 2.5831–2.4928) of MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Fe, Co) ferrites were also decreased with the increasing pressure 0–20 GPa, respectively. The LDA+U calculations predicted that the NiFe2O4, Fe3O4, and CoFe2O4 ferrite followed the properties of a semiconductor exhibiting a direct band gap of 1.2, 1.13, and 0.710 eV at 0 GPa which were decreased to 0.846, 0.710, and 0.461 eV at 20 GPa, respectively. The computed density of states revealed that MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Fe, Co) ferrites exhibited good spin polarization behavior, and Ni–O, Fe–O, and Co–O bonds were covalent. The Mullikens investigated the ted decrease in bong length of MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Fe, Co) ferrites versus 0–20 GPa as well as according to Hirschfeld analysis the magnetic moment (3.348–3.335, 4.12–4.10, 3.737–3.735) and saturation magnetization (79.06–78.7, 99.33–98.9, 88.93–88.352) of MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Fe, Co) ferrites were decreased with increased pressure 0–20 GPa, respectively. The reflectivity and absorption specialize in visible and ultraviolet regions showing their stability for optoelectronics, photocatalysis, and solar cell applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to assess the geostatistical spatial distribution of anemia and determinant factors among the women of reproductive age group (RAG) in Gilgit district, Pakistan. The Hb levels for 15–25 RAG, 26–35 RAG, and 36–45 group showed 10.22 g/dL, 10.41 g/dL, and 9.90 g/dL levels, respectively, while the Hb level showed a nugget/sill ratio of 0.21 inferring strong for the 15–25 group, weak for the 26–36, and moderate for 36–45 spatial dependence. Furthermore, 15–25 RAG showed 8% severe and 33.34% sufficient cases and 26–35 showed 12% severe and 29.33% sufficient results in their Hb level, whereas 36–45 had 9.34% severe and 29.33% sufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This research primarily aims at the development of a new estimation scheme exploiting the argument of dual use of auxiliary information. The objectives are obtained by materializing the new family of estimators, where the dual use of Supplementary Information is substantiated with the launch of the empirical distribution function of the auxiliary variable. The comparative performance evaluation of the newly devised formation is enumerated with respect to the most efficient method, to the best of our knowledge till to date, of Haq et al. along with other promising families of Hussain and Haq and Grover and Kaur. The elaborative account of contemporary advents of the newly proposed family are documented throughout the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Peelu (Salvadora oleoides Decne.) fruit is well known for its nutritional and medicinal values. The current study analyzed the chemical composition of Salvadora oleoides fruit. Fresh Peelu fruits were harvested, and physicochemical properties, proximate composition, macro- and micronutrients, and phytochemical properties were determined. Moreover, ethanol and methanol fruit extract was analyzed for physicochemical properties. The Peelu fruit seemed to be a potential source of essential macro- ((nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)) and micronutrients (zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu)). The fruit had significant biochemical properties (total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), and TSS : TA ratio) with appreciable moisture, crude fiber, and ash contents. The fruit extracts demonstrated significantly higher antioxidants and phenolics, ascorbic acid contents, and carotenoids. Phytochemical screening of fruit revealed the presence of coumarins, flavonoids, phlobatannins, tannins, and terpenoids. Physicochemical and sensory evaluation of extracts indicated its potential for further in vivo study trials. The Peelu fruit was found to be a good source of mineral nutrients, proximate contents, vitamins (ascorbic acid and carotenoid), phytochemicals (total phenolic sand antioxidant contents), and pharmaceutically important metabolites that can be used as functional drink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The present study investigates some physical properties of KGaH3 and LiGaH3 whose lattice parameters and band gap match well with a previous study involving Ga‐based hydride‐perovskites. Both the compounds are found to be stable in cubic form and have a metallic character with zero band gap. The TDOS and PDOS confirm the metallic behavior by showing maximum conductivity at the Fermi level. Both materials are found antiferromagnetic, anisotropic and hard in nature. KGaH3 is found brittle and LiGaH3 is found ductile according to Poisson's ratio v. The brittleness in KGaH3 and the ductility in LiGaH3 is also verified by the B/G ratio. The high value of Bulk modulus, young modulus, and mean shear modulus for LiGaH3 show that it is harder than KGaH3. A high optical conductivity and absorption is found in both materials in the lower energy regime. At 0 eV, LiGaH3 possesses high value of reflectivity and refractive index than KGaH3. The hydrogen storage properties show that both materials are capable for storing hydrogen, however, LiGaH3 is found a preferred material for hydrogen storage applications. Novelty Statement: The structural, electronics, magnetic, optical, mechanical and hydrogen storage properties of Ga‐based hydride‐perovskites XGaH3 (X = K, Li) are studied for the first time in the present study. There is no theoretical or experimental literature available for these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River systems originating from the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) are dominated by runoff from snow and glacier melt and summer monsoonal rainfall. These water resources are highly stressed as huge populations of people living in this region depend on them, including for agriculture, domestic use, and energy production. Projections suggest that the UIB region will be affected by considerable (yet poorly quantified) changes to the seasonality and composition of runoff in the future, which are likely to have considerable impacts on these supplies. Given how directly and indirectly communities and ecosystems are dependent on these resources and the growing pressure on them due to ever‐increasing demands, the impacts of climate change pose considerable adaptation challenges. The strong linkages between hydroclimate, cryosphere, water resources, and human activities within the UIB suggest that a multi‐ and inter‐disciplinary research approach integrating the social and natural/environmental sciences is critical for successful adaptation to ongoing and future hydrological and climate change. Here we use a horizon scanning technique to identify the Top 100 questions related to the most pressing knowledge gaps and research priorities in social and natural sciences on climate change and water in the UIB. These questions are on the margins of current thinking and investigation and are clustered into 14 themes, covering three overarching topics of "governance, policy, and sustainable solutions", "socioeconomic processes and livelihoods", and "integrated Earth System processes". Raising awareness of these cutting‐edge knowledge gaps and opportunities will hopefully encourage researchers, funding bodies, practitioners, and policy makers to address them. Plain Language Summary: Huge populations of people across Pakistan, India, China, and Afghanistan depend on river systems originating from the mountainous Upper Indus Basin (UIB) region. These river systems are fed by snow and glacier melt and rainfall. However, demand for freshwater is growing due to population growth, industrialization, urban development, etc, and climate change also poses a serious threat to the water supply. These two pressures pose considerable adaptation changes. The strong connections between water resources, climate change, and human activities within this region, therefore, suggest that a multi‐disciplinary research approach combining social and natural/environmental sciences is required for successful adaptation to ongoing and future climate change. Here we use a 'horizon scanning' technique to identify the Top 100 questions related to the most pressing knowledge gaps and research priorities in social and natural sciences on climate change and water in the UIB. Raising awareness of these cutting‐edge knowledge gaps and opportunities will hopefully encourage researchers, funding bodies, practitioners, and policy makers to address them and help inform future water management, climate plans, and development policy in the UIB. Key Points: The Top 100 research questions on climate change and water in the Upper Indus Basin in the social and natural sciences are identifiedMany questions are cross‐disciplinary given the strong linkages between climate, water, and human activities in the Upper Indus BasinQuestions are identified using horizon scanning, which is a technique used to identify knowledge gaps relevant to emerging challenges [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Makran accretionary wedge developed as a result of subduction of the Arabian Plate beneath the southern margin of Eurasia since the Eocene. Interpretation of 2D seismic profiles calibrated to offshore well data in a study area to the south of Gwadar Bay (SW Pakistan) indicates a major period of accretion from the mid‐Miocene, as evidenced by the occurrence of thick growth strata associated with large‐scale imbricate thrusts. The thrust faults originate from a deep detachment within the mud‐rich Oligocene interval, and well‐developed piggy‐back basin successions occur in thrust hanging walls. In the study area, the thrust structures are sealed by a thick, progradational Pliocene to Recent interval in which the presence of submarine canyons, up to 2.5 km across, indicate that sedimentary transport was from the north. Fluid escape pipes and associated amplitude anomalies are observed in the seismic profiles studied and may be related to upward migration of thermogenic hydrocarbons from depth, as heavy hydrocarbon fractions

Objectives: Widespread acceptance of the COVID‐19 vaccine will be the next important step in fighting the novel coronavirus disease. Though the Pakistani government has successfully implemented robust policies to overcome the COVID‐19 pandemic; however, studies assessing public intention to get COVID‐19 vaccination (IGCV) are limited. The aim of this study is to deal with this literature gap and has also expanded the conceptual framework of planned behaviour theory. We have introduced three new considerations (risk perceptions of the pandemic, perceived benefits of the vaccine, and unavailability of vaccine) to have a better understanding of the influencing factors that encourage or discourage public IGCV. Methods: Results are based on a sample collected from 754 households using an inclusive questionnaire survey. Hypotheses are tested by utilizing the structural equation modelling approach. Results: The results disclose that the intention factors, that is, attitude, risk perceptions of the pandemic, and perceived benefits of the vaccine, impart positive effects on public IGCV. In contrast, the cost of the vaccine and the unavailability of the vaccine have negative effects. Notably, environmental concern has an insignificant effect. Conclusions: Research findings emphasize the importance of publicizing the devastating impacts of COVID‐19 on society and the environment, ensuring vaccination availability at an accessible price while simultaneously improving public healthcare practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus WFA1 (KU877440), WFA2 (KU877441), and WFA3 (KU877442) were isolated from indigenous Dahi (yogurt), screened, and selected based on acid and bile tolerance along with the antimicrobial activity. These selected strains were further assessed for their probiotic and functional attributes. Results for simulated gastric and intestinal tolerance/ resistance revealed that all three strains can resist and survive under the following mentioned conditions. To access cell surface hydrophobicity, bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbons (BATH), cellular auto‐aggregation, and salt aggregation were performed. In BATH, adhesion of strains against three hydrocarbons namely xylene, dichloromethane, and hexadecane was conducted. The results show that strains showed the least adhesion to xylene (54.25%) as compared to dichloromethane (55.25%) and hexadecane (56.65%). WFA1 showed maximum adherence percentage (55.48%) followed WFA2 (55.48%) and WFA3 (51.38%). Cellular auto‐aggregation varied from 21.72% to 30.73% for WFA3 and WFA1, respectively. In the salt aggregation test (SAT), WFA1, WFA2, and WFA3 aggregated at 0.6, 1.0, and 2.0 molar concentrations of ammonium sulfate, respectively. PCR amplification of bile salt hydrolase gene (bsh) was performed and sequences were submitted to the public database of NCBI and Gene bank under accession numbers, KY689139, KY689140, and KY689141. Additionally, a cholesterol‐lowering assay was conducted and up to 26% reduction in cholesterol was observed by the strains. Regarding functional properties, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, and antioxidant potential, strain WFA1 showed promising results EPS (1.027mg/ml), DPPH (80.66%), ABTS (81.97%), and reducing power (1.787). It can be concluded from the present study that the mentioned strains of L. acidophilus (WFA1, WFA2, and WFA3) are strongly hydrophobic; thus having an ability to survive and colonize under the gastrointestinal tract which confirms their probiotic nature. Regarding their functional properties, L. acidophilus WFA1 (KU877440) showed excellent properties of antioxidants and EPS production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nelumbinis semen is commonly known as lotus seeds that have been used as a vegetable, functional food, and medicine for 7,000 years. These are low caloric, a rich source of multiple nutrients and bioactive constituents, which make it a unique therapeutic food. N. semen plays an important part in the physiological functions of the body. Nowadays, people are more conscious about their health and desire to treat disease naturally with minimal side effects. So, functional foods are getting popularity due to a wide range of essential constituents, which are associated to decrease the risk of chronic diseases. These bioactive compounds from seeds are involved in anti‐adipogenic, antioxidant, antitumor, cardiovascular, hepato‐protective, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐fertility, anti‐microbial, anti‐viral, hypoglycemic, etc. Moreover, the relationship between functional compounds along with their mechanism of action in the body, their extraction from the seeds for further research would be of great interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we present the general expressions for the variance of the ruin time of the classic two‐player gambler's ruin problem with successive and nonoverlapping trials. The rationale of this game plan is motivated by its exhibition in the game of tennis, where a player is required to win two consecutive serves to win the point after achieving deuce. This strategy (i.e., decision is based on successive and nonoverlapping trials) is in favor of the player, who plays with a better skill set and reduces the chances of decision based only on luck. We explicitly derive the general expressions of variance up to m successive and non‐overlapping trials for the case of symmetric and asymmetric games. It is proved that the expressions given in literature for the symmetric and asymmetric cases are the sub cases of our proposed expressions. Finally, some special games (i.e., m = 2) are simulated and the results are verified with the proposed formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Hyperuricemia has a strong association with diabetes mellitus. Hyperuricemia can lead to cardiovascular and renal complications in patients with diabetes. The goal of this study was to compare the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors dapagliflozin and empagliflozin on serum uric acid (SUA) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes against traditional oral antihyperglycemic drugs (OADs). Methods. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 70 patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated SUA levels were assigned to two treatment groups. Patients in group A received SGLT-2 inhibitors tablet dapagliflozin 5 mg to 10 mg and empagliflozin 10 mg to 25 mg. Group B patients received OADs such as glimepiride, metformin, sitagliptin, gliclazide, and glibenclamide as monotherapy or combination therapy. The changes in SUA level were primary end points while changes in body weight and body mass index (BMI) from baseline to end point were secondary end points. Results. After four weeks of treatment, we noted a significant reduction of mean SUA levels in the SGLT-2 inhibitor group from 7.5 ± 2.5 to 6.3 ± 0.8 mg/dl versus comparator group from 7.1 ± 1.8 to 6.8 ± 2.2 mg/dl (p = 0.001). Mean body weight was significantly reduced in the SGLT-2 group from 82 ± 10.4 to 78 ± 12.5 kg versus comparator group from 78 ± 13.2 to 79.2 ± 9.7 kg (p = 0.001). Similarly, the mean BMI of patients in the SGLT-2 group was significantly reduced from 25.7 ± 3.2 to 24.2 ± 3.2 kg/m2 versus comparator group from 27.5 ± 4.2 to 28 ± 3.6 kg/m2 (p = 0.002). Conclusion. SGLT-2 inhibitors have a strong potential to decrease SUA levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to optimize the process for ready‐to‐eat extruded fish powder preparation and to ascertain the impact of two methods on fatty acid profiles. For the investigation, Labeo rohita (Rohu) fish was first minced, extruded, and microwave vacuum‐dried. The results show that the yield for extruded fish powder (EFP) fluctuated from 22.32% to 29.07%. The maximum retention for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (AA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was 3.24 ± 0.08 g/100 g lipids, 2.74 ± 0.05 g/100 g lipids, and 1.24 ± 0.09 g/100 g lipids, by using different extrusion parameters. Moreover, nonsignificant changes were observed during 0 days, and 1 and 3 months of storage (at 4°C and 25°C) for DHA, AA, and EPA, whereas significant results were recorded for the samples stored for 6 months at 25°C. Also, the maximum peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values (TBARS) were 1.72 ± 0.04 meq/kg fat and 0.135 ± 0.008 mg malondialdehyde/kg fat. It is anticipated from the outcomes that the study will be helpful to prepare value‐added food products in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current investigation was performed to explore the nutritional and functional composition of four landlines of barley denoted as LB1 (Gilgit), LB2 (Nagar), LB3 (Skardu), and LB4 (Shigar) from different regions of Gilgit‐Baltistan. The samples were examined for nutritional profile and antioxidant attributes. Total phenolic values and total flavonoid results were in the range of 1.2 to 3.1 mg/g and 0.41 to 0.55 mg/g, respectively. Nutritional profile as crude starch, fiber, protein, ash, and fat ranged from 56.3%–50.80%, 16.50%–11.73%, 16.20%–11.53%, 2.8%–2.1%, and 2.63%–1.63%, respectively. The mineral composition in terms of Mg (527–616 mg/kg) was higher in the landlines followed by Ca (312–368 mg/kg), Na (122.6–146.6 mg/kg), Fe (43.3–65.6 mg/kg), and Zn (22.5–26.6 mg/kg). It was concluded that the indigenous barley landlines had immense nutritional potential and functional attributes. Thus, it can be used for value‐added food products and the development of cottage industry in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder associated with short term as well as long‐term undesirable complications caused by persistent hyperglycemia. Recently, there has been emerging evidence that natural foods and their bioactive compounds are the key contributors to the treatment of diabetes and associated complications. This study was designed to explore the therapeutic efficacy of a fish protein‐rich diet for managing diabetes and associated complications in the diabetic Wistar rat model. A high‐protein (HP) diet (45% and 55% fish protein rich in ω3 fatty acids) was given to alloxan‐induced diabetic rats for 28 days. Blood samples were collected for monitoring serum glucose, oxidative stress markers, lipid profile, kidney function markers, serum proteins, and liver function markers. Results indicated that there was a noteworthy control (p <.05) of serum glucose, oxidative stress, and lipid profile in HP diet treated diabetic rats. Treatment with 45% and 55% fish diet appreciably improved the concentration of serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and exhibited a vibrant improvement in renal functions. Our results confirmed that the HP diet restored total protein and albumin concentration in blood. The HP diet treatment also restored the normal serum aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an intelligent search technique, genetic algorithm (GA) is a key member of optimization research methods. Motivated by the ability of GA in resolving complex and nondeterministic polynomial problems, this research proposes a new operator, namely, completely mapped crossover operator to facilitates the search of optimal solutions. Under a very general setting of the state‐of‐the‐art parameters, the performance of newly proposed method is explored with respect to five vibrant and most commonly used techniques existent in the literature. Furthermore, the generality of the applicability of contemporary techniques is maintained by considering eighteen benchmarks from the library of traveling salesman problem, possessing different levels of complexity. Based on diverse performance assessment criteria, we observe that propose method outperforms the contemporary alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, peels of citrus mandarin cultivars, that is, Kinnow and Feutrell's Early were studied and compared for their nutritional composition. The impact of microwave treatment was investigated on selected minerals, vitamins, sugars, and amino acids of the citrus peels. The results showed a great variation in the nutrients of both citrus mandarin cultivar peels. With few exceptions, the mineral content of citrus peels was increased after microwave heating. Calcium was increased by 5.9% and 24.2% of its original content in the peels of Kinnow and Feutrell's Early, respectively. Sodium was increased in Kinnow peels, but it decreased by about 25.4% in Feutrell's Early peels after microwave treatment. With few exemptions, in general, the vitamin, sugar, and amino acid contents were decreased in microwave-treated samples. The exploration of the exact mechanism of nutrient changes in citrus peels on microwave heating can serve the basis for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ecological studies show association between antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and inappropriate oral antibiotics use. Moderating antibiotic prescribing requires an understanding of all drivers of local prescribing. The aim was to quantify how much is determined by external factors compared with discretionary clinical choices.Methods: Oral antibiotic usage taken from England General Practitioner/Family Doctor practice prescribing data was aggregated using WHO/ATC defined daily doses (DDDs). The average annual antibiotic daily prescribing rate (AAADPR) in each practice was the total DDD of oral antibiotics divided by registered population and 365. The AAADPR of English practices in 2017_18 was linked by regression to factors including demographics, geography, medical comorbidities, clinical performance, patient satisfaction, medical workforce characteristics and prescribing selection. The regression coefficients for modifiable prescribing selection factors were applied to the difference between the median and top decile practice values to establish overall reduction opportunities through changing prescribing behaviour.Results: Twenty five factors accounted for 58% of the AAADPR variation in 5889 practices supporting 49.8 million patients. Non-modifiable factors linked increased AAADPR to more northerly location, higher prevalence of diabetes, COPD, CHD, and asthma; higher white ethnicity; higher patient satisfaction and lower population density. Modifiable behaviour accounted for 11% of the variation in AAADPR, with increases associated with a wider range of antibiotics, higher proportion taken as liquids, higher doses in each prescription, lower guideline compliance, lower targeted antibiotics, lower spend/dose, and less seasonal variation. If all practices achieved the level of modifiable factors of the top decile, this model suggests that overall AAADPR could reduce by 31%.Conclusion: Such analysis is associative and does not infer causation. However, demographics, location, medical condition of the population, and prescribing selection are drivers of overall antibiotic prescribing. This analysis provides benchmarks for both non-modifiable and modifiable factors against which practices could evaluate their opportunities to reduce antibiotic prescribing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenolic constituents usually exist in free and covalently bound forms in the plant materials. This study reports the impact of microwave heating on certain phenolic compounds and antioxidant potential assessed by free radical‐scavenging and reducing power of citrus peels. Different levels of microwave power (125, 250, 500 W) and heating times (5, 10, 15 min) were applied. The phenolic acids were fractionated into three forms namely; free, glycoside‐bound, and ester‐bound. Microwave power and heating time significantly increased the content of free phenolic fraction while the content of bound fractions decreased. Increasing microwave power significantly increased the antioxidant activity of heated samples. The microwave heating up to 10 min at 250 W increased the antioxidant activity of the samples but further heating to 15 min exerted an adverse effect. A moderate microwave power and heating time was helpful for improving the antioxidant potential of citrus peels. Practical applications: A very simple method is used in this study to release the bound phenolics and to improve the antioxidant potential of citrus peels, thereby, maximizing the use of fruit byproducts in general and citrus peels in particular. By this way, it can be helpful to decrease the environmental pollution caused by citrus fruit waste products. The use of microwave heating might be helpful for the citrus processing industry to minimize the loss in terms of effluent management. It might be an economical processing technique for the pharmaceutical and functional food sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we provide the general expressions for the classic two-player gambler's ruin problem when the decision process relies on the occurrence of m successive and nonoverlapping events. The rationale of the proposed strategy is motivated by its exhibition in various sports events. For example, in tennis, a player is required to win two successive serves to win a game after achieving deuce. Similarly, in cricket, a bowler needs three wickets in three successive balls to secure the prestigious hallmark of a hat trick. The advantage of the proposed scheme is two-folded. It provides ample opportunity for the competitors to come back in the game. Second, the decision process favours the player with a better skill set and reduces the chances of win or loss based only on luck. We provide expressions of ruin probability and expected and conditional durations of the game. The results are generalized for any number of successive events, say m. The devised portfolio is then verified through rigorous simulation studies by considering more practical values of m, that is, m = 2 and m = 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic algorithms (GAs) are stochastic-based heuristic search techniques that incorporate three primary operators: selection, crossover, and mutation. These operators are supportive in obtaining the optimal solution for constrained optimization problems. Each operator has its own benefits, but selection of chromosomes is one of the most essential operators for optimal performance of the algorithms. In this paper, an improved genetic algorithm-based novel selection scheme, i.e., stairwise selection (SWS) is presented to handle the problems of exploration (population diversity) and exploitation (selection pressure). For its global performance, we compared with several other selection schemes by using ten well-known benchmark functions under various dimensions. For a close comparison, we also examined the significance of SWS based on the statistical results. Chi-square goodness of fit test is also used to evaluate the overall performance of the selection process, i.e., mean difference between observed and expected number of offspring. Hence, the overall empirical results along with graphical representation endorse that the SWS outperformed in terms of robustness, stability, and effectiveness other competitors through authentication of performance index (PI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The status of food and nutrition security and its underlying factors in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is investigated. In this region, one third to a half of children (<5 years of age) suffer from stunting, with the incidence of wasting and under-weight also being very high. The prevalence of stunting, wasting and under-weight in children is particularly high in some mountain areas such as Meghalaya state in India, the western mountains and far-western hills of Nepal, Balochistan province in Pakistan, eastern Afghanistan, and Chin state in Myanmar. Food habits in the HKH region are changing. This has led to a deterioration in traditional mountain food systems with a decline in agrobiodiversity. Factors such as high poverty and low dietary energy intakes, a lack of hygienic environments, inadequate nutritional knowledge, and climate change and environmental degradation are also influencing food and nutrition security in the HKH region. To achieve sustainable food and nutrition security in the mountains, this study suggests a multi-sectoral integrated approach with consideration of nutritional aspects in all development processes dealing with economic, social, agricultural and public health issues. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic algorithms are evolutionary techniques used for optimization purposes according to survival of the fittest idea. These methods do not ensure optimal solutions; however, they give good approximation usually in time. The genetic algorithms are useful for NP-hard problems, especially the traveling salesman problem. The genetic algorithm depends on selection criteria, crossover, and mutation operators. To tackle the traveling salesman problem using genetic algorithms, there are various representations such as binary, path, adjacency, ordinal, and matrix representations. In this article, we propose a new crossover operator for traveling salesman problem to minimize the total distance. This approach has been linked with path representation, which is the most natural way to represent a legal tour. Computational results are also reported with some traditional path representation methods like partially mapped and order crossovers along with new cycle crossover operator for some benchmark TSPLIB instances and found improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cooperative assembly of biopolymers and small molecules can yield functional materials with precisely tunable properties. Here, the fabrication, characterization, and use of multicomponent hybrid gels as selective gas sensors are reported. The gels are composed of liquid crystal droplets self-assembled in the presence of ionic liquids, which further coassemble with biopolymers to form stable matrices. Each individual component can be varied and acts cooperatively to tune gels' structure and function. The unique molecular environment in hybrid gels is explored for supramolecular recognition of volatile compounds. Gels with distinct compositions are used as optical and electrical gas sensors, yielding a combinatorial response conceptually mimicking olfactory biological systems, and tested to distinguish volatile organic compounds and to quantify ethanol in automotive fuel. The gel response is rapid, reversible, and reproducible. These robust, versatile, modular, pliant electro-optical soft materials possess new possibilities in sensing triggered by chemical and physical stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large single crystals of the promising molecular organic ferroelectric diisopropylammonium bromide (DIPAB) have been grown by the solution technique. A structural study was performed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The twin element of a selected DIPAB crystal was identified by a morphological study. Intermolecular interactions present in the grown crystal were explored by Hirshfeld surface (three-dimensional) and fingerprint plot (two-dimensional) studies. In UV-vis spectroscopy, the DIPAB crystal has shown high transparency with a wide direct band gap of 5.65 eV. In the photoluminescence spectrum, sharp UV and blue emissions were observed at 370, 392, 417 and 432 nm. The electrical properties were investigated by measuring the dielectric constant (ϵ) and loss (tanδ) of the grown crystal. The DIPAB crystal exhibits a promising piezoelectric charge coefficient ( d33) value of 18 pC N−1, which makes it suitable for transducer applications. A high ferroelectric Curie temperature ( Tc ≃ 425 K) with high remnant polarization (20.52 µC cm−2) and high coercive field (12.25 kV cm−1) were observed in the as-grown crystal. Vickers microhardness analysis shows that the value of Meyer's index ( n = 7.27) belongs to the soft material range, which was also confirmed by void analysis along three crystallographic axes. It is shown that the DIPAB crystal has potential for optical, ferroelectric and piezoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Palm trees around the world are prone to notorious Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, which causes heavy losses of palm plantations. In Middle Eastern countries, this pest is a major threat to date palm orchards. Conventional pest control measures with the major share of synthetic insecticides have resulted in insect resistance and environmental issues. Therefore, in order to explore better alternatives, the RNAi approach was employed to knock down the catalase gene in fifth and tenth larval instars with different dsRNA application methods, and their insecticidal potency was studied. RESULTS dsRNA of 444 bp was prepared to knock down catalase in R. ferrugineus. Out of the three dsRNA application methods, dsRNA injection into larvae was the most effective, followed by dsRNA application by artificial feeding. Both methods resulted in significant catalase knockdown in various tissues, especially the midgut. As a result, the highest growth inhibition of 123.49 and 103.47% and larval mortality of 80 and 40% were observed in fifth-instar larvae, whereas larval growth inhibition remained at 86.83 and 69.08% with larval mortality at 30 and 10% in tenth-instar larvae after dsRNA injection and artificial diet treatment. The topical application method was the least efficient, with the lowest larval growth inhibition of 57.23 and 45.61% and 0% mortality in fifth- and tenth-instar larvae. Generally, better results were noted at the high dsRNA dose of 5 µL. CONCLUSION Catalase enzyme is found in most insect body tissues, and thus its dsRNA can cause broad-scale gene knockdown within the insect body, depending upon the application method. Significant larval mortality and growth inhibition after catalase knockdown in R. ferrugineus confirms its insecticidal potency and suggests a bright future for RNAi-based bioinsecticides in pest control. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Electricity production in single-anode/cathode MFCs fed with simulated synthesis gas (syngas) as the sole electron donor has recently been demonstrated. This study evaluated the ability of a multi-anode/cathode MFC fed with syngas to achieve improved volumetric efficiency at several operating temperatures and electrode arrangements. RESULTS A maximum power density of 33 mW [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • To determine short-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) outcomes after robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) using the Bladder Cancer Index (BCI) and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Body Image Scale (BIS). Patients and Methods • All patients undergoing RARC were enrolled in a quality assurance database. • The patients completed two validated questionnaires, BCI and BIS, preoperatively and at standardised postoperative intervals. • The primary outcome measure was difference in interval and baseline BCI and BIS scores. • Complications were identified and classified by Clavien grade. Results • In all, 43 patients completed pre- and postoperative questionnaires • There was a decline in the urinary domain at 0-1 month after RARC (P = 0.006), but this returned to baseline by 1-2 months. • There was a decline in the bowel domain at 0-1 month (P < 0.001) and 1-2 months (P = 0.024) after RARC, but this returned to baseline by 2-4 months. • The decline in BCI scores was greatest for the sexual function domain, but this returned to baseline by 16-24 months after RARC. • Body image perception using BIS showed no significant change after RARC except at the 4-10 months period (P = 0.018). Conclusions • Based on BCI and BIS scores HRQL outcomes after RARC show recovery of urinary and bowel domains ≤6 months. Longer follow-up with a larger cohort of patients will help refine HRQL outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Type - Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? There is suggestion in the literature that patient outcomes are linked to surgeon volume and/or experience. This has become particularly relevant in the examination of robot- assisted radical prostatectomy in the treatment of men with localized prostate cancer, where some have advocated a "minimum" number of cases necessary to become proficient. The current study demonstrates that, in the treatment of locally advanced bladder cancer, sequential robot-assisted radical cystectomy case number was not associated with an increased incidence of complications, blood loss, positive surgical margins, or survival in a single high-volume institution. OBJECTIVE • Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) remains controversial in terms of oncologic outcomes, especially during the initial experience. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of initial experience of robotic cystectomy programs on oncologic outcomes and overall survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS • Utilizing a prospectively maintained, single institution robotic cystectomy database, we identified 164 consecutive patients who underwent RARC since November 2005. • After stratification by age group, gender, pathologic T stage, lymph node status, surgical margin status, and sequential case number; we used chi-squared analyses to correlate sequential case number to operative time, surgical blood loss, lymph node yield, and surgical margin status. • We also addressed the relationship between complications and sequential case number. We then utilized Cox proportional hazard modeling and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses to correlate variables to overall mortality. RESULTS • Sequential case number was not significantly associated with increased incidence of complications, surgical blood loss, or positive surgical margins ( P= 0.780, P= 0.548, P= 0.545). Case number was, however, significantly associated with shorter operative time and mean number of lymph nodes retrieved ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001). • Sequential case number was not significantly associated with survival; however, tumour stage, the presence of lymph node metastases, and positive surgical margins were significantly associated with death. • Although being the largest of its kind, this was a small study with short follow-up when compared to open cystectomy series. CONCLUSION • Initial experience with RARC did not affect the incidence of positive surgical margins, operative/postoperative complications, or overall survival in a single-institution series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence of, and predictors for, lymphadenectomy in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Utilizing the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC) database, 527 patients were identified who underwent RARC at 15 institutions from 2003 to 2009. After stratification by age group, sex, pathological T stage, nodal status, sequential case number, institutional volume and surgeon volume, logistic regression was used to correlate variables to the likelihood of undergoing lymphadenectomy (defined as = 10 nodes removed). RESULTS Of the 527 patients, 437 (82.9%) underwent lymphadenectomy. A mean of 17.8 (range 0-68) lymph nodes were examined. Tumour stage, sequential case number, institution volume and surgeon volume were significantly associated with the likelihood of undergoing lymphadenectomy. Surgeon volume was most significantly associated with lymphadenectomy on multivariate analysis. High-volume surgeons ( > 20 cases) were almost three times more likely to perform lymphadenectomy than lowervolume surgeons, all other variables being constant [odds ratio (OR) = 2.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.39-4.05; P = 0.002]. CONCLUSION The rates of lymphadenectomy at RARC for advanced bladder cancer are similar to those of open cystectomy series using a large, multi-institutional cohort. There does, however, appear to be a learning curve associated with the performance of lymphadenectomy at RARC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel magnetic support based on gum Arabic (GA) coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) has been endowed with affinity properties towards immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules. The success of the in situ triazine ligand synthesis was confirmed by fluorescence assays. Two synthetic ligands previously developed for binding to IgG, named as ligand 22/8 (artificial Protein A) and ligand 8/7 (artificial Protein L) were immobilized on to MNPs coated with GA (MNP_GA). The dimension of the particles core was not affected by the surface functionalization with GA and triazine ligands. The hydrodynamic diameters of the magnetic supports indicate that the coupling of GA leads to the formation of larger agglomerates of particles with about 1 µm, but the introduction of the triazine ligands leads to a decrease on MNPs size. The non-functionalized MNP_GA bound 28 mg IgG/g, two times less than bare MNP (60 mg IgG/g). MNP_GA modified with ligand 22/8 bound 133 mg IgG/g support, twice higher than the value obtained for ligand 8/7 magnetic adsorbents (65 mg/g). Supports modified with ligand 22/8 were selected to study the adsorption and the elution of IgG. The adsorption of human IgG on this support followed a Langmuir behavior with a Qmáx of 344 mg IgG/g support and Ka of 1.5 × 105 M. The studies on different elution conditions indicated that although the 0.05 M citrate buffer (pH 3) presented good recovery yields (elution 64% of bound protein), there was occurrence of iron leaching at this acidic pH. Therefore, a potential alternative would be to elute bound protein with a 0.05 M glycine-NaOH (pH 11) buffer. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding experiments using three strains of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea were conducted with newly moulted 3rd–5th instar Ocinara varians Walker larvae in the laboratory. The mortality of larvae immersed individually in spore suspension (1 × 107 spores/mL) of all the strains was ≥ 80% except 5th instar larvae treated with M. anisopliae which transformed into pupae, but did not result in adult emergence. The growth (total body mass), consumption, relative consumption rate and relative growth rate, were reduced at all three larval stages, while developmental time was extended in infected larvae with concurrent significant increase in approximate digestibility in infected larvae. Conversion of digested food (ECD) and ingested food (ECI) values declined in infected larvae as compared to the healthy larvae (control). The 5th instar larvae treated with M. anisopliae showed higher ECD and ECI values than control. Based on mortality and growth inhibition it can be suggested that all the studied fungal strains have a high potential for biocontrol and could be developed into biocontrol agents against O. varians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jonas Gruber, Ana C. A. Roque, and co‐workers report a tunable gas‐sensing gel in article number 1700803. The gel is generated by cooperative self‐assembly of liquid crystals, biopolymers, and ionic liquid. Thin films react to stimuli by generating optical and electrical signals. Compared to metal oxide semiconductor based gas sensors, the system is more stable, operates at low temperatures and can be prepared without toxic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The name of one of the authors in the paper by Hussain et al. [Acta Cryst. (2010), E66, o1881] is corrected.[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1107/S1600536810025341.].

In the title compound, C(18)H(21)NO(3), the C=N bond has a trans conformation and the benzene rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 61.32 (6)°. The C atoms of the three meth-oxy groups are all roughly coplanar with their attached ring [deviations = 0.219 (2), -0.097 (2) and -0.137 (2) Å]. In the crystal, a weak C-H⋯π inter-action may help to establish the packing.

In the title compound, C(13)H(13)N(3)O, the phenyl and pyrrole rings are inclined at 47.45 (8)°. In the crystal, inter-molecular N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds form R(2) (1)(6) ring motifs. Mol-ecules connected through these hydrogen bonds are arranged into polymeric chains extending along the c axis.

In the title compound, C(14)H(12)ClN(3)O(2)·H(2)O, the benzene ring and the pyridine rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 57.73 (12)° and an intra-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring. In the crystal, the water mol-ecule forms O-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds to the organic mol-ecule, leading to chains containing R(4) (4)(16) loops. In addition, weak aromatic π-π stacking inter-actions between the centroids of pyridine rings [at distance of 3.864 (2) and 4.013 (2) Å] and C-H⋯π inter-actions occur.

In the title compound, C(15)H(14)N(2)O(3), the phenyl ring is disordered over two set of sites with an occupancy ratio of 0.810 (3):0.190 (3); the dihedral angle between the two components is 72.3 (4)°. The benzene and phenyl rings are oriented at dihedral angles of 69.18 (8) and 26.0 (5)° (major and minor orientations, respectively), and an intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond occurs. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O, O-H⋯O and C-H⋯O inter-actions, generating a three-dimensional network.

In title compound, C(11)H(8)BrN(3)OS, the dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings is 27.61 (14)° and the Br atom is disordered over two sites with an occupancy ratio of 0.804 (2):0.196 (2). In the crystal, the mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N inter-actions, resulting in chains.

The title compound, C(12)H(9)BrN(2)OS·0.06H(2)O, is a hydrated Schiff base derived from benzoic hydrazide and 4-bromo-thio-phene-2-carboxaldehide. The two Schiff base mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit differ crystallographically: in one mol-ecule the dihedral angle between the benzene ring and thio-phene ring is 49.88 (11)°, whereas the other mol-ecule the rings are almost coplanar with an r.m.s. deviation for the non-H atoms of 0.025 Å. In the crystal, mol-ecules form polymeric sheets linked by N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The water mol-ecule of crystallization is partially occupied and its H atoms could not be located.

The title compound, C(17)H(16)N(2)O(5)S, crystallized in the chiral monoclinic space group P2(1), with two enanti-omeric mol-ecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. It is composed of a methyl-imidazolidine-2,4-dione unit substituted with a phenyl group and a 4-methoxy-phenyl-sulfonyl group. The benzene ring mean planes are inclined to one another by 22.20 (14)° in mol-ecule A and by 15.82 (13)° in mol-ecule B. In the crystal structure, the A and B mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming centrosymmetric dimers. A number of C-H⋯O inter-actions are also present in the crystal structure, leading to the formation of a three-dimensinoal network.