Search

This study delves into the intricate aspects surrounding individuals with a black identity in Hamid's novel, "The Last White Man," utilizing Frantz Fanon's "Black Skin, White Masks" as a theoretical framework for textual analysis. The novel is situated within the context of the psychosocial challenges faced by black individuals, delving deeply into issues connected to the conscious and unconscious minds of these individuals. Multiple facets of black identity are explored, leading to inaction, passivity, confusion, self-denial, and an inferiority complex, among various other similar issues. These themes are examined through the transformation of various characters within the novel, revealing the impact of traumatic experiences and the complex nature of black identity. The actions and decisions of these characters are shaped by a multitude of thoughts that factor into the broader social context of society. The truths concerning black individuals presented by the author are universally applicable. This research challenges the often-self-proclaimed idea of post-racial societies as it intersects with this discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease with prevalence all over the world. Several therapeutics with different modes of action are available to deal with the disease but have failed to produce universal response leaving a large proportion of patients untreated. This is due to complex pathogenesis comprising a network of signaling pathways. By controlling one pathway, the pathogenesis continues through complementary pathways. Janus kinase and bruton's tyrosine kinase regulates a number of T-cell and B-cell mediated signaling pathways ranging from cytokine expression and antibody production to the bone resorption and cartilage destruction. We propose a dual trap to control this pathogenesis in the form of dual JAK3/BTK inhibitor. Using the computer-aided drug designing techniques, we developed dual JAK3 and BTK inhibitors based on quinoxaline derivatives which show appreciable dual inhibition in enzyme assays. To our knowledge, this is the first-ever report on dual JAK3/BTK inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.), known as "Shakarqandi" in Pakistan, is an imperative root vegetable with large size, traditionally used as aphrodisiac, antiprostatic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cardiotonic, and anticancer agent. Present study was conducted to gauge aphrodisiac potential of Ipomoea batatas ethyl acetate (IPT-EA, IPA-EA) and methanol (IPT-M, IPA-M) extracts from tuber and aerial part, respectively, via behavioral and biochemical tests and their possible protective role in BPA-induced gonadotoxicity at the dose 300 mg/kg in male Sprague Dawley rats. Phytochemical analysis was done qualitatively and quantitatively through total phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC) and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC-DAD) fingerprinting while antioxidant profiling used multimode in vitro assays. To calculate sexual excitement mount latency, intromission latency, mount frequency, intromission frequency, ejaculatory latency, and postejaculatory interval were examined while for biochemical ratification semen characteristics, levels of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol were measured. Gonadoprotective ability was assessed through comet assay and histomorphological examination of testes. Qualitative analysis ensured the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanin, saponins, coumarins, terpenoids, and betacyanin. Quantitatively maximal TPC (304.32±7.20 μg GAE/mg dry extract) and TFC (214.77±4.09 μg QE/mg DE) were estimated in IPA-EA extract. IPT-EA yielded maximum rutin (7.3±0.12) and myricetin (2.7±0.14 μg/mg DE) while IPA-EA and IPA-M yielded maximum caffeic acid (4.05±0.22 and 1.92±0.17 μg/mg DE, respectively) in HPLC-DAD analysis. Extracts enhanced sexual excitement, improved semen quality, levels of testosterone, FSH, LH, and estradiol, and successfully attenuated toxic effects of BPA. Levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, POD, and GSH) were restored and NO abundance was minimized. Significant stimulation in sexual behavior, amelioration of toxicity symptoms, elevated spermatic production, raised viability, vitalized levels of gonadal hormones, maintained endogenous enzymes, genoprotection, and reformed testicular histology endorsed I. batatas as a better aphrodisiac alternative and gonadoprotective agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Derivatives of ninhydrin are extensively used in the field of forensic sciences as important latent fingerprint reagents. Many works have been performed upon their synthesis and reactivity, but there are many spaces to work on the compounds of quinoline‐2,3,4(1H)‐triones—analogues of ninhydrin, in both dimensions: synthesis and reactivity, and according to the best of our knowledge, not a single detailed or short compiled article has been published for these compounds. This review briefly summarizes the chemistry of quinoline‐2,3,4(1H)‐triones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient, convenient green approach for the synthesis of indole-based 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles by multicomponent reaction of substituted 2-arylindole-3-carbaldehydes, benzil, substituted anilines, and ammonium acetate using catalytic amino acid (glycine) in ethanol is described. Several amino acids have also been evaluated as organic catalysts for these reactions. The structures of the compounds have been established on the basis of infrared, mass, and1H NMR spectral data. The mild reaction conditions, inexpensive/economical reagents, and good yield show the usefulness of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This newly designed route assembled a pyrazole ring with an aldehydic functionality over another pyrazole moiety. Further, formyl group was exploited in different routes such as condensation reactions, imidazole and pyrimidone/thione synthesis. The present reactions were performed with glycine, a facile catalyst, and the results were compared well with those of conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier approaches which have tried to assess market structure in banking industry have relied upon using assets or deposits or even loans to calculate market shares, however using profit-after-tax as the relevant variable dramatically changes the results. This paper aims to use this approach and produce conclusive evidence about Pakistan's banking industries market structure, which so far has been classified as monopolistically competitive and is thought to be moving towards healthy levels of competition. Further analysis is built upon a simple model of market power in the market for loans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematic review aimed to determine demographic characteristics, clinical features, lab evaluation, management and complications of the studies focusing on Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) as a sequele of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. After protocol registration, PubMed, Web of Science and Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINHAL) databases were searched for relevant articles using MeSH key-words and imported into referencing/review softwares. The data, regarding demographic and clinical characteristics, diagnostic workup and management, was analyzed in International Business Machines (IBM) Statistics SPSS 21. Many statistical tests, such as t -test and the Mann–Whitney U test, were used. P < 0.05 was considered significant. We identified 64 relevant articles. The mean age of the patients was 56 ± 16 years; the majority were males (64.9%). Among the neurological findings, paresthesia was the most typical symptom (48.9%). Most of the patients had been diagnosed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (69.2%). Two-third of the patients received immunoglobulins (IVIg) (77.7%). Although functions recovered in most patients, there were four patients with facial diplegia during follow-up (4.26%). Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) was more likely to be associated with paresis of the lower extremity (p < 0.05) and higher levels of glucose on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis (p < 0.05). These patients were more likely to receive IVIg (p < 0.05) and develop respiratory insufficiency, subsequently (p < 0.05). GBS is being recognized as one of the many presentations of the COVID-19 infection. Although the common form is AIDP that might lead to complications, other variants are possible as well, and more studies are needed to focus on those subvariants. • AIDP is the common form that can occur concomitant with COVID-19 infection. • Clinical features of GBS with COVID-19 were similar to classical GBS. • Up to date systematic review of 94 cases of GBS with COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]