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Introduction: Vascular malignancies are categorized into benign hemangiomas, malignant angiosarcomas, and tumors of intermediate malignancy. Retiform hemangioendothelioma (RH) is one of the rare diagnoses belonging to the class of intermediate malignancies that was initially diagnosed. Case Presentation: In this case report, we have reported a rare case of RH, a locally aggressive, vascular tumor of malignant potential presenting at an unusual site. The most observed locations of this soft tissue tumor are skin and subcutaneous tissues of extremities; however, this case of RH was observed in an unusual site called pleura, which is a rare occurrence related to this tumor. The presence of cell surface markers like CD31 and ERG of vascular and endothelial origin and the presence of hobnail appearance of endothelial channels on the biopsy profile supported the vascular origin of the tumor; the clinical features and imaging studies further confirmed the diagnosis of RH. Conclusion: In this case report, a rare case of RH with an unusual site of origin was highlighted. RH is a vascular neoplasm; commonly observed sites of this vascular tumor were skin and subcutaneous tissue of the extremities; however, in this case, the site was unusually different, which was the pleura of the left lung. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Northwestern Pakistan's rice-based cropping systems, the prevalent reliance on inorganic nitrogen fertilizers (INF) has led to insufficient nitrogen (N) contributions from soil organic manures (OM). This study aims to evaluate the impact of organic sources (OS), including animal manures (AM) and crop residues (CR), on crop growth rates (CGR) in a rice-wheat rotation. A two-year field experiment involving hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L., Pukhraj) was conducted in Batkhela, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Various OS and inorganic-N (urea) combinations were applied, emphasizing their influence on CGR. The findings highlight poultry manure (PM) application as the most impactful on CGR, while wheat straw (WS) application resulted in the lowest CGR among the six OS investigated. Additionally, the use of AM showcased superior CGR compared to CR. In the initial year, the highest CGR occurred, with 75% of N sourced from urea and 25% from OS. In the second year, a balanced 50% N application from each source yielded the highest CGR. Urea and PM demonstrated the most robust CGR among OS combinations, while urea and WS yielded the lowest. Notably, onion leaves, a cost-effective option, delivered promising results comparable to berseem residues, indicating their potential as organic manure, especially in sulfur-deficient soils. These findings underscore the viability of onion residue management as a cost-effective alternative to ammonium sulfate fertilizers with global applicability. The abstract recommends promoting organic sources, particularly poultry manure and onion leaves, alongside inorganic-N fertilizers to enhance CGR and reduce dependence on costly alternatives. However, further research and field trials are necessary to explore the long-term impacts of these organic sources on soil health, nutrient cycling, and the sustainability of rice-based cropping systems in Northwestern Pakistan and beyond. In conclusion, this study investigates the influence of organic sources on CGR in rice-wheat rotations, emphasizing the superiority of poultry manure and onion leaves. The findings highlight cost-effective alternatives to conventional fertilizers, emphasizing the need for further research to validate long-term sustainability and applicability beyond the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a copper-containing polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme was extracted from the selected agricultural food products, i.e., Mangifera indica (L.), Solanum tuberosum (L.), and Luffa cylindrica (L.), which has efficiently degraded the azo dyes (Methylene blue, Reactive Black-5, and Toluidine Blue-O) into less toxic compounds. After preparing the dye solution at various concentrations, the PPO enzymes extracted with phosphate buffer were incubated with it for 2 hours. The percentage of decolorization was estimated by using the unprocessed dye solution. The degraded products were characterized by UV-vis and FT-IR. All sets of experiments followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The highest kinetic degradation rate constant was observed at kt = 0.0213 min-1 (R2 = 0.9258) and kt = 0.0244 min-1 (R² = 0.7627) in reactive black-5 from Mangifera indica (L.) and Solanum tuberosum (L.), respectively. The enzyme extracted from the peel of Solanum tuberosum (L.) decolorized Reactive Black-5 and Toluidine Blue-O dyes to a greater extent, i.e., 83.29 and 70.84% with reaction times of 120 and 90 min, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the recent wave of research advancements, mathematical inequalities and their practical applications play a notably significant role across various domains. In this regard, inequalities offer a captivating arena for scholarly endeavors and investigational pursuits. This research work aims to present new improvements for the integral majorization inequalities using an interesting aproach. Certain previous improvements have been achieved for the Jensen inequality as direct outcomes of the main results. Additionally, estimates for the Csiszár divergence and its cases are provided as applications of the main results. The circumstances under which the principal outcomes offer enhanced estimations for majorization differences are also underscored and emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: A thorough insight into the management of hand injuries can shape the approach of a surgeon in order to achieve optimal outcomes for the patients. The aim of this study was to share our experience in reconstruction of the hand and establishing an algorithm for classification and treatment of hand injuries. Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study and was conducted from January 2020 to August 2022 at Burns and Plastic Surgery center, Peshawar. Data was collected from medical records about the patient demographics, mechanism of injury and type of procedures done. Defect size was classified into small (<5cm), medium (5cm to 10 cm) and large (>10cm). The defect site and size was cross tabulated against the method of soft tissue reconstruction in order to make the algorithm for reconstruction of hand injuries. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: The study population included 41 (75.9%) male and 13 (24.1%) female patients, mean age 31.56±14.1. Machine injuries (33.3%) and electric burns (24.1%) were the most common cause of hand soft tissue defects. The most commonly performed flap was Posterior introsseous artery (PIA) flap, followed by First dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap. Flap necrosis was observed in three cases (5.6%). Conclusion: This treatment algorithm for coverage of soft tissue defects in hand injuries will help with the decision making process of hand reconstruction and has didactic value for novice surgeons. It will also form the foundation for further work on this aspect of hand injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge about genetic composition of a character helps plant breeders to plan their breeding programs. Grain yield and related traits are very important in maize breeding programs. In our experiment four each of parents, F1s, F2s, BC1s and BC2s were evaluated at Cereal Crops Research Institute (CCRI), Pirsabak, Nowshehra and Agriculture University Peshawar. The experimental material at both locations were replicated thrice in randomized complete block design. In all crosses dominance gene action was found to be important in the inheritance of ear diameter, ear length, percent shelling and grain yield. Additive genetic effects were found negative and non-significant in all four crosses for percent shelling. Duplicate type of non-allelic interactions was observed for shelling percentage in all crosses. Duplicate type of epistasis was observed in cross, PS-1 × BD-1 and PS-2 × BD-1 for ear length. For grain yield both complementary and duplicate type of epistasis were observed. Additive genetic effects werefound significant with positive and negative magnitude in two crosses each. It is concluded that crosses, where dominant gene action was found predominant, should be effectively utilized in hybrid maize programs for improved grain yield and related traits.

Aim: The aim of this article is to share our experience of thumb reconstruction based on the defect and irrespective of the aetiology, and to work towards standardising the treatment for thumb defects. Material and method: This study was conducted at the Burns and Plastic Surgery Centre at Hayatabad Medical Complex from 2018 to 2021. Thumb defects were divided into small (<3 cm), medium (4–8 cm) and large defects (>9 cm). Patients were evaluated for complications post-operatively. The data for defect size and defect site was cross-tabulated for reconstructive options with the help of SPSS. Different flaps were performed depending on the site and size of the defect, which were arranged in a schema to develop an algorithm. Results: After scrutinising the data, 35 patients qualified for the study, comprising 71.4% (25) males and 28.6% (10) females. The mean age (and SD) was 31.17 +15.8 years. The right thumb was affected in the majority of the study sample (57.1%), and the majority were affected by machine injury or post-traumatic contractures, affecting 25.7% (n = 9) and 22.9% (n = 8), respectively. Injuries to the first web space and distal to the IPJ of the thumb were the most common, accounting for 28.6% (n = 10) each. A first dorsal metacarpal artery flap was the most common flap, followed by retrograde posterior interosseous artery flap, observed in 11 (31.4%) and 6 (17.1%) cases. The most common complication observed in the study population was flap congestion (n = 2, 5.7%) with a complete flap loss in 1 patient (2.9%). Based on the cross-tabulation of flaps against the size and location of defects, an algorithm was developed to help standardise reconstruction of thumb defects. Conclusion: Thumb reconstruction is critical in restoring the patient’s hand function. This classification-based, structured approach for thumb reconstruction will help hand surgeons in taking decisions and selecting effective coverage options with minimal complications. Most of these defects can be covered with local, simple flaps without the need for a microvascular reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]