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Cutaneous wounds pose a significant health burden, affecting millions of individuals annually and placing strain on healthcare systems and society. Nanofilm biomaterials have emerged as promising interfaces between materials and biology, offering potential for various biomedical applications. To explore this potential, our study aimed to assess the wound healing efficacy of amniotic fluid and Moringa olifera-loaded nanoclay films by using in vivo models. Additionally, we investigated the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of these films. Using a burn wound healing model on rabbits, both infected and non-infected wounds were treated with the nanoclay films for a duration of twenty-one days on by following protocols approved by the Animal Ethics Committee. We evaluated wound contraction, proinflammatory mediators, and growth factors levels by analyzing blood samples. Histopathological changes and skin integrity were assessed through H&E staining. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 2; Chicago, IL, USA) with significance set at p < 0.05. Our findings demonstrated a significant dose-dependent increase in wound contraction in the 2%, 4%, and 8% AMF-Me.mo treatment groups throughout the study (p < 0.001). Moreover, macroscopic analysis revealed comparable effects (p > 0.05) between the 8% AMF-Me.mo treatment group and the standard treatment. Histopathological examination confirmed the preservation of skin architecture and complete epidermal closure in both infected and non-infected wounds treated with AMF-Me.mo-loaded nanofilms. RT-PCR analysis revealed elevated concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), along with decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in AMF-Me.mo-loaded nanofilm treatment groups. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of AMF-Me.mo-loaded nanofilms contributed to the decontamination of the wound site, positioning them as potential candidates for effective wound healing. However, further extensive clinical trials-based studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Theoretical calculations and numerical simulations play a crucial role in analyzing material properties and devising effective research strategies. In this study, the photonic band gap (PBG) of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) photonic crystals was successfully predicted using theoretical calculations and numerical simulations. The agreement between the predicted results and the actual reflection peaks reached an impressive level of 99%. Utilizing SEM images, the prediction of reflection peaks in acrylamide (AM)—based photonic hydrogels was conducted using theoretical formulas and Rsoft 2019–Bandsolve software v2019.09. The relationship between the actual reflection peaks and compressive strains in AM-based photonic hydrogels featuring 251 nm PMMA PCs exhibited a remarkable similarity of over 96% with the theoretical and simulated results. In conclusion, an exploration was conducted into the relationship between reflection peaks and compressive strains for AM-based 270 nm PMMA photonic hydrogels, allowing the prediction of the actual reflection peaks under compression. The consistency observed between theoretical/simulated reflection peaks and actual reflection peaks validates the efficacy of this approach in evaluating the optical properties of photonic materials and predicting their responsive effects. This method offers a straightforward and expeditious solution for the design and fabrication of photonic materials.

Pinyari (old Phulleli) canal off-takes from left bank of Kotribarrage is last Hydraulic structure on Indus river. This canal is passing from periphery of Hyderabad city and its design discharge is 13,636 cusecs which supplies fresh water not only for agricultural, industrial purpose and drinking purpose for the several towns and villages because groundwater in its command area is highly saline and not drinkable. The cottage factories and Hyderabad industrial area are located on nearby banks of canal. Hence, effluents from city and industrial SITE area are directly disposed off into the canal. The disposal of untreated wastewater created health and environmental safety problem. This paper presents that the analyzed results of water quality parameter ie pH, TDS, EC, Na, hardness, K, Mg, Mn, DO and BOD of collacted samples exhibit TDS 6%, K 20%, DO 67% and BOD 54%, respectively exceeded permissible limit. While pH, Na, hardness and Mn found within prescribed limits. Total coliform /E.coli (MPN/100ml) were found positive. Furthermore, the result of Water Quality Index (WQI) model reveals that water quality of canal of collected samples varies from excellent to very poor that reveals canal water is unsuitable for drinking purpose and aquatic life and also causes various waterborne diseases.Therefore, the local people are facing serious health problem by consuming water canal. With an attempt to ensure enforcement of environmental water laws in Sindh province of Pakistan for preventing degrading clean water. These environmental water laws have already been framed, but due to lake of enforcement, water pollution problems are increasing day by day. The enforcement of environmental water laws are very essential to control water pollution for safety of human health, and ecology in Sindh,Pakistan.

In efforts to record fungal biodiversity of Pakistan, specimens of genus Bolbitius Fr., namely B. coprophilus (Peck) Hongo, collected from two different localities with arid to semi-arid climate of Punjab province, have been described and identified based on morphological and ITS-nrDNA sequence data. The genus is not quite common in Pakistan since only one species of Bolbitius has been reported so far. In current study, B. coprophilus is presented as a new record and second report of the genus from the country after 40 years. Distribution records of B. coprophilus and a morphological comparison with closely related taxa are also provided.

In this manuscript, we prove several common fixed point theorems for generalized rational-type contraction mappings under several conditions in the context of double-controlled metric spaces. Further, we utilize a double-controlled metric space equipped with a graph to prove rational-type common fixed point theorems. Furthermore, we establish non-trivial examples to show the validity of the main results. These results improve and generalize already known results. At the end, we solve the Fredholm-type integral equation by utilizing the main results.

The objective of the current research was to study the effects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun nanofibers loaded with different concentrations of leaf extract of Moringa oleifera (MO) on butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) enzymes. The MO-loaded PVA nanofibers were investigated for their inhibitory effect on BuChE and MAO A & B enzymes. The characterization of the fabricated nanofibers was performed by using SEM, FTIR and XRD. The results showed that increasing the concentration of MO, the enzyme inhibition capability of electrospun nanofibers was greatly (p

In this paper, we prove some new Simpson's type inequalities for partial (p,q)-differentiable convex functions of two variables in the context of (p,q)-calculus. We also show that the findings in this paper are generalizations of comparable findings in the literature.

In this paper, we prove Hermite-Hadamard inequality for convex functions in the framework of h-calculus. We also use the notions of h-derivative and h-integral to prove Ostrowski's and trapezoidal type inequalities for bounded functions. It is also shown that the newly established inequalities are the generalization of the comparable inequalities in the literature. Finally, using some examples, we demonstrate the validity of newly formed inequalities and show how they can be used to special means of real numbers.

Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) are the most severe form of asthenozoospermia due to impaired axoneme structure in sperm flagella. Dynein arms are necessary components of the sperm flagellar axoneme. In this study, we recruited 3 unrelated consanguineous Pakistani families with multiple MMAF-affected individuals, who had no overt ciliary symptoms. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing identified 2 cilia and flagella associated protein 57 (CFAP57) loss-of-function mutations (c.2872C>T, p. R958*; and c.2737C>T, p. R913*) recessively segregating with male infertility. A mouse model mimicking the mutation (c.2872C>T) was generated and recapitulated the typical MMAF phenotype of CFAP57-mutated individuals. Both CFAP57 mutations caused loss of the long transcript-encoded CFAP57 protein in spermatozoa from MMAF-affected individuals or from the Cfap57-mutant mouse model while the short transcript was not affected. Subsequent examinations of the spermatozoa from Cfap57-mutant mice revealed that CFAP57 deficiency disrupted the inner dynein arm (IDA) assembly in sperm flagella and that single-headed IDAs were more likely to be affected. Thus, our study identified 2 pathogenic mutations in CFAP57 in MMAF-affected individuals and reported a conserved and pivotal role for the long transcript-encoded CFAP57 in IDAs’ assembly and male fertility.

Biochars provide several agricultural and environmental benefits, such as soil health improvement, better crop growth and yield, carbon sequestration, decreasing greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions, and regulation of nutrient dynamics. This review highlights the role of biochar in transforming the soil’s physiochemical and biological properties, and their impact on improving seed germination and seedling growth, altering crop physiological attributes, enhancing crop resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses, improving crop productivity, curtailing GHGs, and controlling nutrient leaching losses. However, the type of feedstock used, pyrolysis temperature, application rate and method, soil type and crop species largely influence the biochar performance under different environmental conditions. Application of biochars at low rates help to promote seed germination and seedling growth. Biochar modified the abiotic and microbial processes in the rhizosphere and increased nutrient mineralization and enhanced the nutrient availability for plant uptake. Hence, biochar enhanced the plant resistance against diseases, reduced the availability of heavy metals and improved the plant resilience against environmental stressors. By providing a comprehensive analysis about the variable impacts of biochars on soil physicochemical properties, plant growth, development and productivity and mitigating environmental problems, this review is quite valuable for developing an efficient soil and crop specific biochar with desired functionalities. It could be helpful in improving crop productivity, ensuring food security and better management of environment. Furthermore, this review identifies the knowledge gaps and suggests future outlooks for the commercialization of biochar applications on large-scale.

Male infertility is a widely debated issue that affects males globally. There are several mechanisms involved. Oxidative stress is accepted to be the main contributing factor, with sperm quality and quantity affected by the overproduction of free radicals. Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) cannot be controlled by the antioxidant system and, thus, potentially impact male fertility and hamper sperm quality parameters. Mitochondria are the driving force of sperm motility; irregularities in their function may lead to apoptosis, alterations to signaling pathway function, and, ultimately, compromised fertility. Moreover, it has been observed that the prevalence of inflammation may arrest sperm function and the production of cytokines triggered by the overproduction of ROS. Further, oxidative stress interacts with seminal plasma proteomes that influence male fertility. Enhanced ROS production disturbs the cellular constituents, particularly DNA, and sperms are unable to impregnate the ovum. Here, we review the latest information to better understand the relationship between oxidative stress and male infertility, the role of mitochondria, the cellular response, inflammation and fertility, and the interaction of seminal plasma proteomes with oxidative stress, as well as highlight the influence of oxidative stress on hormones; collectively, all of these factors are assumed to be important for the regulation of male infertility. This article may help improve our understanding of male infertility and the strategies to prevent it.

The main focus of this article is to derive some new counterparts to Simpson’s and Newton’s type inequalities involve a class of generalized coordinated convex mappings. This class contains several new and known classes of convexity as special cases. For further demonstration, we deploy the concept of right quantum derivatives to develop two new identities involving Raina’s function. Moreover, by implementing these auxiliary results together with generalized convexity, we acquire a Holder-type inequality. We also acquire some applications of our main findings by making use of suitable substitutions in Raina’s function.

The aim of this paper is to investigate different definitions of soft points in the existing literature on soft set theory and its extensions in different directions. Then limitations of these definitions are illustrated with the help of examples. Moreover, the definition of soft point in the setup of fuzzy soft set, intervalvalued fuzzy soft set, hesitant fuzzy soft set and intuitionistic soft set are also discussed. We also suggest an approach to unify the definitions of soft point which is more applicable than the existing notions.

In the present study, the germanium (Ge) sample has been studied by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy which leads to the formation of plasma plume in the air. This research work comprises on pure Ge sample, and it has been studied using laser irradiance 1.831011 watt.cm-2 and Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser pulse (λ ~ 1064 nm wavelength and  ~ 5 ns pulse width). The spatially resolved plasma plume parameters are investigated, such as variation of electron temperature Te and electron number density ne as a function of detector position. These parameters show variation in the plasma plume and yield electron temperature Te from 12340 to 7640 ± 1200 K. Whereas electron number density ne varies from 3.61017 to 1.601017 cm-3 with the change in detector position is moving away from plasma plume from 0 to 3 mm. The results show that electron temperature Te and electron number density ne are estimated from the Boltzmann plot method and by using Lorentzian function at spectral line using FWHM full width at half maximum at 265.11 nm (4p5s 3p2 → 4p2 3p2) wavelength of Ge (I) line, respectively.

The individual citizen’s preparedness for the impact and mitigation of potentially catastrophic future earthquakes in Ziarat district will depend on their level of understanding of seismic hazards in the region and the collateral damages. It is based on an adequate program of civil defence which includes the measures that must be taken for the protection of people. Present study aims at suggesting mitigation measures to suggest that the respondents’ age, education and occupation are statistically significant with the vulnerability reduction, that is tested on Pearson’s Chi-Square test. For this purpose, a sample of 193 households was surveyed from the four union councils of district Ziarat, with a semi-structured questionnaire using the proportional allocation method. It was found that earthquake hazard mitigation measures were significantly affected by people’s education level and occupation. A number of measures include the need of taking necessary measures in the study area for all age groups of population. Apart from launching essential education and training, awareness dissemination regarding highly hazardous and vulnerable areas/conditions of households at risk is indispensable.

Lie Symmetry analysis is often used to exploit the conservative laws of nature and solve or at least reduce the order of differential equation. One dimension internal waves are best described by Benjamin-Ono equation which is a nonlinear partial integro-differential equation. Present article focuses on the Lie symmetry analysis of this equation because of its importance. Lie symmetry analysis of this equation has been done but there are still some gaps and errors in the recent work. We claim that the symmetry algebra is of five dimensional. We reduce the model and solve it. We give its solution and analyze them graphically.

Water contamination by aquatic pollutants (antibiotics, heavy metals, nutrients, and organic pollutants) has become the most serious issue of recent times due to associated human health risks. Biochar (BC) has been deemed an effective and promising green material for the remediation of a wide range of environmental pollutants. Due to its limited properties (small pore size and low surface functionality), pristine BC has encountered bottlenecks in decontamination applications. These limitations can be rectified by modifying the pristine BC into engineered BC via multiple modification methods (physical, chemical, and mechanical), thus improving its decontamination functionalities. Recently, these engineered BCs/BC-based composites or BC composites have gathered pronounced attention for water decontamination due to fewer chemical requirements, high energy efficiency, and pollutant removal capacity. BC-based composites are synthesized by mixing BC with various modifiers, including carbonaceous material, clay minerals, metals, and metal oxides. They considerably modify the physiochemical attributes of BC and increase its adsorption ability against various types of aquatic pollutants. BC-based composites are efficient in eliminating target pollutants. The efficiency and type of a specific mechanism depend on various factors, mainly on the physicochemical characteristics and composition of the BC-based composites and the target pollutants. Among the different engineered BCs, the efficiency of clay-BC composites in removing the antibiotics, dyes, metals, and nutrients was good. This review could help develop a comprehensive understanding of using engineered BCs as effective materials for the remediation of contaminated water. Finally, gaps and challenges in research are identified, and future research needs are proposed.

This research aims to fabricate and characterize chemically crosslinked CMC/PVP-co-poly (AMPS) based hydrogel for the sustained release of model drug metoprolol tartrate through the free radical polymerization technique. Box-Behnken Design was used to optimize CMC/PVP-co-poly (AMPS) hydrogel by varying the content of reactants such as; polymers (CMC and PVP), monomer (AMPS), and crosslinker (EGDMA). Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was crosslinked chemically with AMPS with a constant ratio of PVP by the ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the crosslinker in the presence of sodium hydrogen sulfite (SHS)/ammonium peroxodisulfate (APS) as initiators. After developing CMC-based hydrogels using different polymers, monomer, and crosslinker concentrations, this study encompassed dynamic swelling, sol–gel fraction, drug release and chemical characterizations such as FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM. In vitro drug release and swelling were performed at 1.2 and 6.8 pH to determine the sustained release pattern and pH-responsive behavior. These parameters depended on the crosslinker, polymer, and monomer ratios used in the formulation development. XRD, SEM, and FTIR showed the successful grafting of constituents resulting in the formation of a stable hydrogel. DSC and TGA confirmed the thermodynamic stability of the hydrogel. Hydrogel swelling was increased with an increase in the ratio of monomer; however, an increase in the ratio of polymer and crosslinker decreased the hydrogel swelling. In vitro gel fraction and drug release also depended on polymer, monomer, and crosslinker ratios. The fabricated CMC/PVP-co-poly (AMPS) hydrogels constituted a potential system for sustained drug delivery.

Extensive studies on evaluation of effectiveness/toxicity of different oral doses of iodine have not been explored yet. An open-labeled phase I clinical studies were conducted using iodine complex based research compound called Renessans. Study groups were observed for development of any adverse/serious adverse events and alteration in laboratory values of vital organs, TSH and T4 hormones before and after the administration of the products. Out of 31 consented individuals, 24 healthy individuals participated in the study. Rate of occurrence of mild Adverse Events (AEs) in group A was 8.3% while in Group B it was 33.33% but these Adverse Events were self-resolving. After completion of study treatment blood serum iodine was reported to 3522.88 µg/l while mean urine iodine concentration (MUIC) was greater than 2000 µg/l. Hormonal and vital organ’s testing revealed that all parameters of TSH and T4, LFT, CBC, RFT remained unaltered except from ALT-SGPT ( P-value = .006) and AST-SGOT ( P-value = .02). From all of these findings, it can be inferred that the use of Renessans formulations did not pose any sort of risk to human body and can be considered safe through this pilot study.

Introduction Selective neck dissection in clinically node-negative neck is considered the standard of care for oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Controversy still prevails in node-positive disease regarding the extent of neck dissection. In our part of the world, comprehensive neck dissection is mostly considered to be the minimal optimal treatment for palpable neck disease. Objective To compare regional control and disease-specific survival between clinically node-positive and node-negative patients undergoing selective neck dissection for oral SCC. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in the department of ENT, Head and Neck surgery at a tertiary care hospital. All patients with biopsy-proven oral and lip SCC, with or without nodal disease, who underwent selective neck dissection between April 2006 and July 2015 were included in the study. Results During the study period, 111 patients with oral SCC underwent selective neck dissection, of whom 71 (62%) were clinically node-negative and 40 (38%) patients had clinically positive nodes in the neck. The mean follow-up was 16.62 months (standard deviation [SD]: 17.03). The overall regional control rates were 95 versus 96% for clinical negative versus positive nodes, respectively (p = 0.589). The disease-specific survival was 84.5% in the node negative group versus 82.5% in the node-positive group (p = 0.703). Conclusion Selective neck dissection in node-positive neck oral SCC has similar regional control rates when compared with node-negative neck SCC. The difference in disease-specific survival between the two groups is also not significant.

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a severe factor of male infertility; it affects approximately 1% of the global male population and accounts for 40% of male infertility cases. However, the majority of NOA cases remain idiopathic. This is the first study using whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify a novel missense mutation in the DND1 gene (c.212A>C, p. E71A) from a Pakistani family, that includes three males with NOA. This mutation is predicted to cause DND1 protein misfolding and weaken the DND1 interaction with NANOS2, a significant regulator in primordial germ cell development. Our study identified a DND1 pathogenic mutation in NOA patients and highlighted its critical role in male fertility in humans.

This paper empirically investigates the impact of cognitive board diversity in education, expertise, and tenure facets on financial distress likelihood in the emerging economy of China. This study examines how this relationship varies across State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Non-State-Owned Enterprises (NSOEs). Paper argues that the Chinese stock market, as a typical emerging market, is an excellent laboratory for studying the impact of board diversity on the probability of financial distress. Its underdeveloped financial system and inadequate investor protection leave firms unprotected from financial hardship. A sample of 12,366 observations from 1,374 firms from 2010 to 2018 shows that cognitive diversity qualities are positively linked with Z-score, implying that directors with different educational backgrounds, financial skills, and tenures can assist in reducing the probability of financial distress. Cognitive board diversity reduces the likelihood of financial distress in SOEs and NSOEs. However, tenure diversity is insignificant in all cases. Furthermore, the robustness model “two-step system Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM)” demonstrated a positive association between educational diversity, financial expertise, and financial distress scores. The results have significant implications for researchers, managers, investors, regulators, and policymakers.

Global drylands, covering about 41% of Earth’s surface and inhabited by 38% of the world’s population, are facing the stark challenges of water scarcity, low water productivity, and food insecurity. This paper highlights the major constraints to agricultural productivity, traditional irrigation scheduling methods, and associated challenges, efforts, and progress to enhance water use efficiency (WUE), conserve water, and guarantee food security by overviewing different smart irrigation approaches. Widely used traditional irrigation scheduling methods (based on weather, plant, and soil moisture conditions) usually lack important information needed for precise irrigation, which leads to over- or under-irrigation of fields. On the other hand, by using several factors, including soil and climate variation, soil properties, plant responses to water deficits, and changes in weather factors, smart irrigation can drive better irrigation decisions that can help save water and increase yields. Various smart irrigation approaches, such as artificial intelligence and deep learning (artificial neural network, fuzzy logic, expert system, hybrid intelligent system, and deep learning), model predictive irrigation systems, variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could ensure high water use efficiency in water-scarce regions. These smart irrigation technologies can improve water management and accelerate the progress in achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where no one gets left behind.

In this paper, the effects of various fluid properties on two-dimensional unsteady biomagnetic fluid flow (blood) and heat transfer over a stretching sheet under the appearance of a magnetic dipole is investigated. The governing boundary layer equations are simplified via suitable transformation which are then solved using the bvp4c function approach in MATLAB software. The results indicate that fluid velocity and temperature are greatly influenced by the ferromagnetic interaction parameter. With increasing ferromagnetic number, fluid velocity drops but temperature increases. It is also found that the coefficient of skin friction and Nusselt number increase with an increase in values of thermal conductivity parameter. For certain parameter values, the results are also compared with previously published studies and they are found to be in acceptable agreement.

Background: Warfarin is traditionally the drug of choice for stroke prophylaxis or treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis as data on apixaban use is scarce. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of Apixaban in patients with ESRD on hemodialysis when compared with warfarin. Methods: A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases from inception until Nov 25, 2019, was performed. Studies reporting clinical outcomes comparing Apixaban (2.5 mg BID or 5 mg BID) versus Warfarin in ESRD patients on hemodialysis were included. Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio (RR) random-effects model was used to summarize data. Results: Four studies (three retrospective and one randomized) with a total of 9862 patients (apixaban = 2,547, warfarin = 7315) met inclusion criteria. The overall mean age was 66.6 ± 3.9 years and mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 4.56 ± 0.58. Apixaban was associated with lower rates of major bleeding (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.45–0.64, p

Abstract Background Nanomaterials of curcumin with hyaluronic acid have gained a lot of attention for potential therapeutic applications of curcumin and hyaluronic acid with or without other additional drugs. Overall studies of curcumin and hyaluronic acid show that nanomaterials of curcumin with hyaluronic acid accelerate the efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of various disorders like arthritis, cancer, hepatic fibrosis, neural disorders, wound healing, and skin regeneration, it is largely due to the combined effect of hyaluronic acid and curcumin. However, due to limited clinical trials and experiments on humans and animals, there is a substantial gap in research for the safety and efficacy of nanomaterials of curcumin-hyaluronic acid in the treatment of curcumin and hyaluronic acid targeted diseases and disorders. Main body of the abstract In this current review, we have first described various reported synthetic nanomaterials of curcumin-hyaluronic acid, then in the next section, we have described various fields, disorders, and diseases where these are being applied and in the final section of this review, we discussed the research gap, and future research directions needed to propose the fabricated nanocurcumin-hyaluronic acid biomaterials. Short conclusion There are substantial gaps in research for the safety and efficacy of nanomaterials of curcumin with hyaluronic acid due to limited available data of clinical trials and experiments of nanocurcumin-hyaluronic acid biomaterials on humans and animals. So, it entirely requires serious and committed efforts through the well-organized system of practical and clinical trials which provide results, data, and detections that lead to the formulation of the best drug from curcumin with hyaluronic acid for the treatment of curcumin and hyaluronic acid targeted diseases and disorders.

Intellectual Capital (IC) is a driving force behind the financial performance of non-financial firms. Investing in intellectual and physical capital allows companies to optimize their financial performance by maximizing resource utilization. This study aims to determine whether IC efficiency impacts the financial performance of listed Pakistani and Indian companies between 2010 and 2020. Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) are used to calculate financial performance, and IC is calculated using the modified Value-Added Intellectual Coefficient (MVAIC) model. Regression analysis is performed using the STATA software developed by the South Texas Art Therapy Association. Human Capital (HC), Structural Capital (SC), and Capital Employed (CE) have a significant impact on Pakistani and Indian firms’ financial performance. Resource-based theory (RBT) supports these findings. The findings should provide management with a prompt to improve financial performance and emphasize the importance of IC. A rare study has addressed the impact of IC on firm financial performance using the MVAIC model, rather than the VAIC model, in Pakistan and India.

Background: Inflammation is a strong reaction of the non-specific natural immune system that helps to start protective responses against encroaching pathogens and develop typical immunity against intruding factors. However, prolonged inflammation may lead to chronic autoimmune diseases. For thousands of years, medicinal plants have served as an excellent source of treatment for chronic pathologies such as metabolic diseases.Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic potential of Moringa olifera Lam. extract (MO) and Moringa-loaded nanoclay films.Methods: The extract preparation was done through the maceration technique using absolute methanol (99.7%) and labelled as Mo. Me. Mo. Me-loaded nanoclay-based films were prepared by using pectin and sericin (Table 1). The in vitro studies characterized the film thickness, moisture, and phytochemical contents. The in vivo anti-inflammatory tests involved using a cotton pellet-induced granuloma model assay. In addition, the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was employed for angiogenesis activity.Results: The phytochemical analysis of the extract confirmed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and phytosterol. This extract contained quercetin in a large quantity. Cotton-pellet induced granuloma model study revealed a comparable (p > 0.05) effect of a high dose of Mo. Me (500 mg/kg) as compared with standard drug. Noteworthy, data obtained through the RT-PCR technique manifested the dose-dependent anti-oedematous effect of Moringa olifera via downregulation of TNF-α and interleukin-1ß. The findings of the CAM assay exhibited a remarkable anti-angiogenic activity of Mo. Me loaded nanoclay films, showing diffused vasculature network in the macroscopic snapshot.Conclusion:Moringa olifera and its nanocomposite films have therapeutic potential against inflammation.

In Pakistan, oilseed cultivations belonging to Brassica genus (Rapeseed, Mustard and Canola) are the most essential crops with respect to eatable oil production. In Indo-Pak, such cultivations have considered as chief oil origins over centuries. This trail was executed at the Ghazi University, D. G. Khan, and Air-Port Campus farming area. The outcomes revealed that insecticidal based treatments significantly reduced the aphid population by the application Bifenthrin and Acetamaprid. In case of botanical extracts, Allium cepa and Moringa oleifera induced mortality of aphid. Moreover, insecticide based treatments reduced percent predator population increasingly than botanical extracts.

The authenticity proof of the Hadith Traditions depends on the chain of transmission. A Hadith will be graded as "Ṣaḥiḥ" or authentic if its chain of transmission qualifies five conditions. One of the conditions is the in person connectivity of the narrator with the person who is describing Hadith. There are some words that do not indicate a hearing or a meeting such as "Un" and "Qa’al" etc. If the narrator uses such a word while narrating the Hadith then according to Imam Bukhari, the ruling on attachment to this chain of transmission will apply only when the hearing or meeting between them is confirmed. On the other hand according to Imam Muslims to be in the same era of time and the possibility of the meeting is enough. It is very important to understand the methodology of Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslims used in their classic collection of Ahādith books. The following study focuses on the same. Key Words: Listening & Meeting in person regarding Hadith Collection, Contemporaneity, Chain of Transmission, Clue-based evidence in Bukhari & Muslim.

Abstract In this research, we introduce the notions of ( p , q ) $(p,q)$ -derivative and integral for interval-valued functions and discuss their fundamental properties. After that, we prove some new inequalities of Hermite–Hadamard type for interval-valued convex functions employing the newly defined integral and derivative. Moreover, we find the estimates for the newly proved inequalities of Hermite–Hadamard type. It is also shown that the results proved in this study are the generalization of some already proved research in the field of Hermite–Hadamard inequalities.

The objective of this study was to produce a Carbopol 940 based gel formula containing an Azadirachta indica leaf extract and evaluate its wound healing potential. The ethanolic extract was derived from the dried leaves of Azadirachta indica and was subjected to a phytochemical evaluation. Three gel formulations of Carbopol 940 containing an Azadirachta indica extract in three different concentrations, i.e., 1, 2, and 3% w/w were prepared. These gels were evaluated for their physical appearance, stability, antimicrobial activity, extrudability, skin irritability, pH, spreadability, and viscosity. The prepared formulas were stable, greenish and homogeneous. None of them showed irritation to the skin. The spreadability (g.cm/sec), viscosity (cps), and pH of all three formulations was 34.68, 53 270-65 400, and 6-7, respectively. Gel-III exhibited the highest antimicrobial potential against E. coli and P. aeruginosa with a zone of inhibition of 16.2 ± 0.6 mm and 15.6 ± 0.6 mm, respectively. It was revealed from the wound healing studies that the epithelialisation time for the Albino rabbits treated with Gel-III was 23 days. The Albino rabbits treated with Gel-I, Gel-II, a standard gel, and those with the untreated one (control), epithelialised in 27, 25, 26, and 34 days, respectively. A formulation containing 3% w/w extract showed better antimicrobial activity, physicochemical characteristics, and pharmacological parameters than the other formulations. It can be concluded that the wound healing process was faster with the gel formulation containing 3% w/w of the Azadirachta indica extract, proposing that this formulation is a promising candidate for wound healing.

It has been well recognized that interactions between the gut microbiota and host-metabolism have a proven effect on health. The gut lumen is known for harboring different bacterial communities. Microbial by-products and structural components, which are derived through the gut microbiota, generate a signaling response to maintain homeostasis. Gut microbiota is not only involved in metabolic disorders, but also participates in the regulation of reproductive hormonal function. Bacterial phyla, which are localized in the gut, allow for the metabolization of steroid hormones through the stimulation of different enzymes. Reproductive hormones such as progesterone, estrogen and testosterone play a pivotal role in the successful completion of reproductive events. Disruption in this mechanism may lead to reproductive disorders. Environmental bacteria can affect the metabolism, and degrade steroid hormones and their relevant compounds. This behavior of the bacteria can safely be implemented to eliminate steroidal compounds from a polluted environment. In this review, we summarize the metabolism of steroid hormones on the regulation of gut microbiota and vice-versa, and also examined the significant influence this process has on various events of reproductive function. Altogether, the evidence suggests that steroid hormones and gut microbiota exert a central role in the modification of host bacterial action and impact the reproductive efficiency of animals and humans.

Biochar can be applied in various fields, such as carbon sequestration, pollution control, and soil restoration. Biochar unveiled a newly boulevard for sequestration of carbon has presented potential to enhance the productivity of agriculture. Biochar aging process changes its chemical and physical properties, with the formation of a variety of biochar derived organic materials. These changes have important effects for transport and bioavailability of contaminants and nutrients. In this review, render an overview on biochar aging, centering on its structural and chemical properties, and its impact on agriculture productivity and environment. After aging, biochar underwent chemical and structural alteration, such as the introduced functional groups, increased negative charge on surface, higher O: C ratio and enhanced cation exchange capacity. These alterations particularly formation of functional groups and high specific surface area substantially improve nutrient retention and soil fertility by increasing the amount of exchangeable cations in the soil. Therefore, a clear understanding of biochar aging process and their potential impacts on physiochemical and molecular properties of biochar as well as on soil can help to manage soil health in a better way without significantly affecting the surrounding environment.

Abstract The highly successful PBE functional and the modified Becke–Johnson exchange potential were used to calculate the structural, electronic, and optical properties of the vacancy-ordered double perovskites A2BX6 (A = Rb, Cs; B = Sn, Pd, Pt; X = Cl, Br, and I) using the density functional theory, a first principles approach. The convex hull approach was used to check the thermodynamic stability of the compounds. The calculated parameters (lattice constants, band gap, and bond lengths) are in tune with the available experimental and theoretical results. The compounds, Rb2PdBr6 and Cs2PtI6, exhibit band gaps within the optimal range of 0.9–1.6 eV, required for the single-junction photovoltaic applications. The photovoltaic efficiency of the studied materials was assessed using the spectroscopic-limited-maximum-efficiency (SLME) metric as well as the optical properties. The ideal band gap, high dielectric constants, and optimum light absorption of these perovskites make them suitable for high performance single and multi-junction perovskite solar cells.

In this paper, we study the laminar, incompressible, and steady flow of a biomagnetic fluid, such as blood, containing gold nanoparticles through a shrinking sheet in the presence of a magnetic dipole. This model is consistent with both the principles of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and ferro-hydrodynamics (FHD). An effective numerical method that is based on an iterative process, tridiagonal matrix manipulation, and a common finite difference method with central differencing is used to generate the numerical solution of obtained ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The major numerical results show that the fluid velocity decreases as the ferromagnetic number increases whereas the skin friction coefficient shows the opposite behavior. As the ferromagnetic number increases, the rate of heat transfer with ferromagnetic interaction parameter is likewise observed and shown to be decreasing.

To determine urea accurately in clinical samples, food samples, dairy products, and agricultural samples, a new analytical method is required, and non-enzymatic methods are preferred due to their low cost and ease of use. In this study, bitter gourd peel biomass waste is utilized to modify and structurally transform nickel oxide (NiO) nanostructures during the low-temperature aqueous chemical growth method. As a result of the high concentration of phytochemicals, the surface was highly sensitive to urea oxidation under alkaline conditions of 0.1 M NaOH. We investigated the structure and shape of NiO nanostructures using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In spite of their flake-like morphology and excellent crystal quality, NiO nanostructures exhibited cubic phases. An investigation of the effects of bitter gourd juice demonstrated that a large volume of juice produced thin flakes measuring 100 to 200 nanometers in diameter. We are able to detect urea concentrations between 1–9 mM with a detection limit of 0.02 mM using our urea sensor. Additionally, the stability, reproducibility, repeatability, and selectivity of the sensor were examined. A variety of real samples, including milk, blood, urine, wheat flour, and curd, were used to test the non-enzymatic urea sensors. These real samples demonstrated the potential of the electrode device for measuring urea in a routine manner. It is noteworthy that bitter gourd contains phytochemicals that are capable of altering surfaces and activating catalytic reactions. In this way, new materials can be developed for a wide range of applications, including biomedicine, energy production, and environmental protection.

Soil contamination with organic contaminants and various heavy metals has become a global environmental concern. Biochar application for the remediation of polluted soils may render a novel solution to soil contamination issues. However, the complexity of the decontaminating mechanisms and the real environment significantly influences the preparation and large-scale application of biochar for soil ramification. This review paper highlights the utilization of biochar in immobilizing and eliminating the heavy metals and organic pollutants from contaminated soils and factors affecting the remediation efficacy of biochar. Furthermore, the risks related to biochar application in unpolluted agricultural soils are also debated. Biochar production conditions (pyrolysis temperature, feedstock type, and residence time) and the application rate greatly influence the biochar performance in remediating the contaminated soils. Biochars prepared at high temperatures (800 °C) contained more porosity and specific surface area, thus offering more adsorption potential. The redox and electrostatic adsorption contributed more to the adsorption of oxyanions, whereas ion exchange, complexation, and precipitation were mainly involved in the adsorption of cations. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produced during biochar pyrolysis induce negative impacts on soil alga, microbes, and plants. A careful selection of unpolluted feedstock and its compatibility with carbonization technology having suitable operating conditions is essential to avoid these impurities. It would help to prepare a specific biochar with desired features to target a particular pollutant at a specific site. This review provided explicit knowledge for developing a cost-effective, environment-friendly specific biochar, which could be used to decontaminate targeted polluted soils at a large scale. Furthermore, future study directions are also described to ensure a sustainable and safe application of biochar as a soil improver for the reclamation of polluted soils.

Abstract In this research, we derive two generalized integral identities involving the q ϰ 2 $q^{\varkappa _{2}}$ -quantum integrals and quantum numbers, the results are then used to establish some new quantum boundaries for quantum Simpson’s and quantum Newton’s inequalities for q-differentiable preinvex functions. Moreover, we obtain some new and known Simpson’s and Newton’s type inequalities by considering the limit q → 1 − $q\rightarrow 1^{-}$ in the key results of this paper.

Green cloud computing gains popularity over the last decade due to the extensive use of cloud computing. The trend towards cloud computing is spreading at a fast rate. Cloud computing providers extend their data centers at regular intervals. However, cloud providers face severe issues about sustaining the environment because big data centers are responsible for consuming a vast amount of energy and producing a carbon footprint. The solution to address such an issue is green cloud computing. In the literature, a considerable amount of research has been done to determine the challenges and practices in adopting green cloud computing. Still, the field is immature and needs further research to identify the challenges and practices faced and addressed by various stakeholders. This research focuses on identifying the challenges faced by client organizations in adopting the green cloud and the associated practices for addressing the challenges. The challenges and patterns were identified via a systematic literature review from the relevant literature. After thorough conduction of the systematic literature review (SLR), we have identified 9 challenges and 63 practices from 68 papers in the cloud domain. In the future, we plan to develop a comprehensive framework by using some robust soft computing techniques like Fuzzy logic or AHP, etc., to assist the clients in adopting the green cloud environment.

Objective: Encephalopathy is increasingly threatening human health. It is correspondingly one of the concerns of society and medical community. As a natural source, traditional Chinese medicine has tremendous beneficial outcomes in various diseases including encephalopathy. Gentianine, a Chinese herbal compound, shows effectiveness in many diseases exclusively in inflammation. Therefore, this in vitro research was carried out to find its effectiveness in encephalopathy. Methodology: Ligand and proteins were searched and downloaded from ChemDraw and protein database, respectively. Sybyl-X2.0 docking software and its various functions were used to prepare ligand and proteins. Finally, gentianine was docked with proteins using Sybyl-X2.0 docking software. Results: Gentianine was docked with 20 protein targets. Compounds with C-score of 5 were selected. A total of three kinds of protein docked with gentianine (ABCC1, C-reactive protein [CRP], and NKX5-2) were selected. ABCC1 was expressed in the brain and was related to seizures and stroke. CRP was an inflammatory biomarker and related to seizures, epilepsy, stroke, and Parkinson's disease. NKX2–5 was also known as cardiac transcription and related to cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke. All these targets were related to encephalopathy. Conclusion: Molecular docking findings in this study lead to the suggestion that gentianine might be helpful in treating encephalopathy. This study is expected to provide a solution to find potential anti-encephalopathy compounds.

This work presents some recent solutions that exploit the wireless power transfer (WPT) technology for energizing moving vehicles and machinery tools. Such technology is currently experiencing unprecedented interests in non-traditional RF/microwave sectors fields, such the industrial automation and the railway transportation safety. Near-field electromagnetic coupling solutions are presented showing that, in order to obtain efficient performances for broad ranges of operating conditions, the nonlinear electromagnetic co-design of the entire WPT system, from the energy source to the receiver load, needs to be carried out. This technology can be combined with wireless data transfer, thus realizing integrated systems able to simultaneously control the energy transfer and the transmission of data. The adopted operating frequencies are in the MHz range, which is only recently considered for this kind of applications. In particular this work focuses on three different systems: the first one demonstrates the constant powering of “on the move” industrial charts at 6.78 MHz, regardless of the relative position of the transmitter and the receiver sub-systems; the second one presents a novel design of a balise transportation system adopting a high efficiency GaN-based transmitter designed to keep its performance over a wide range of loading conditions; the last one consists of the simultaneous wireless power and data transfer, to a rotating machinery tool, automatically controlled by the powering system based on the coexistence of frequency-diverse inductive and capacitive couplings.

The main purpose of this research is to examine the role of psychological resources in predicting the engagement of night shift employees. Specifically, it tests how resources like supportive organizational climate, family support, and self-efficacy could help employees stay engaged during night shift work. Additionally, this study explores the mediating role of positive affect and ego-resilience. The cross-sectional data collected from night shift employees ( n = 208) working full-time in Canada, the UK, and the US were collected over a period of 3 months. Results of the statistical analysis confirm the significant direct role of self-efficacy and supportive organizational climate in predicting employee engagement. Furthermore, the indirect role of such resources through the mediation of positive affect and ego-resilience was also found. The impact of family support on employee engagement appears significant only through mediators. The current study extends the existing understanding about the role of psychological resources in determining the engagement of night shift employees. It further adds to the literature by explaining mechanisms using positive affect and ego-resilience as mediators.

Real earning management (REM) enhances the control of managers on the financial reporting of firms. However, its influence on financial decisions in the coming years is not well documented, especially in developing countries. This study investigates the influence of three REM activities on subsequent years’ dividend payout decisions (DPDs) and annual corporate returns of firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The study employed panel data from 2011 to 2020 of 120 large manufacturing firms to 1) measure the extent of REM activities and 2) investigate the impact on future financial decisions of dividends and reported returns. This study used multiple proxies of return for robustness. Consistent with empirical studies, the REM negatively impacts the following years’ returns. However, its effect on dividend payout policy is insignificant. This indicates that Pakistani firms are more concerned with a smooth dividend payout to investors than reporting coherent returns. The study provides significant evidence from a developing economy and has implications for investors, analysts, and policymakers.

The peachfruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) is a polyphagous pest in nature, belonging to order, Diptera and their respective family is Tephritidae. It mostly feeds on different crops, vegetables and fruits. Different traditional chemical insecticides have been used to control this notorious pest. Excessive consumption of pesticides has become a major threat to the fresh fruits trade since many importing countries refused to accept the shipments due to public health and environmental concerns. There is a growing trend to control these pests using the most effective biological control methods and other preventive measures have been adopted for reducing their attacks. Fungal agents have been used as biological agents to manage the attack of different insects pest through biological means. The present study was conducted to assess the virulence of three entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Verticillium lecanii, against Bactrocera zonata stages under different laboratory conditions. The results showed that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae were more effective in pathogenicity and potentially kill at all stages of B. zonata as compared to V. lecanii. The highest mortality rate for the third larval instar and the pupal stage were recorded after exposure to the 1 × 1010 conidia/ml concentrations, B. bassiana, with 68.67% and 89.67%, respectively. Adult B. zonata flies were the most susceptible to all entomopathogenic fungi. However, M. anisopliae was more virulent against B. zonata adult flies than B. bassiana and V. lecanii at 1 × 1010 conidial concentration. Therefore, the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana and M. anisopliae can be used as an cost effective bio-insecticide in the integrated pest management programs to control B. zonata. This study will be helpful to overcome this pest through biological control means.

Verrucous Cancer of the esophagus is basically a type of squamous cell carcinoma and is associated with a chronic inflammatory process in the lower esophagus usually secondary to gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Mostly it is a local disease process but sometimes it can invade distant structures also. We report a case is a 62-year-old female patient who presented with marked weight loss, anorexia, and difficulty to take solid food. On Upper GI endoscopy there was a warty appearing irregular mass at the mid to distal esophagus. Superficial multiple biopsies were taken but turned negative for malignancy and re-endoscopy after a few days with deep multiple biopsies revealed the diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma on histopathology. The patient was having multiple co-morbid conditions like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and early nephropathy along with infiltration of malignancy in surrounding structures on CT scan chest. Therefore a decision was taken to place an esophageal stent by upper GI endoscopy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy by the oncology department. Patient symptoms were much relieved after 4 months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and the patient is still on regular follow-up in medical OPD. Chronic inflammation due to gastritis and esophagitis is the main risk factor for verrucous carcinoma of the esophagus. Although surgery is the treatment of the choice for the local and early disease but as in our case disease was already spread palliative stenting followed by chemo-radiation is the best possible option that can be offered.

Nanobiotechnology is the intersection of nanotechnology and biology, where nano systems are applied to help study biological systems. There is a growing interest of researchers in the application of nanotechnology in improving the efficacy of photodynamic therapy. In this study, the antioxidant, photodynamic, anticancer, and antibacterial potential of plant extracts and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were investigated. In order to synthesize AgNPs, 10 g of dried powder of Tecoma stans and Narcissus tazetta was boiled in deionized water (100 ml) and mixed with aqueous solution of silver metals, resulting in the formation of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs were spherical having size in a range of 15–100 nm. The application of extract (50 µl) and AgNPs to rhabdomyosarcoma cell line showed a decreased cell viability (%). Photodynamic study revealed an improvement in photosensitizer efficacy on introducing AgNPs. Both plant extracts and AgNPs had significant effect against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as well as sensitive Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of AgNPs lower (32–256 µg/ml) than the plant extracts. According to the current findings, these AgNPs have an enhancing effect on the photodynamic cytotoxic potential of plant extracts. Because of biological efficacy, these AgNPs may play a crucial role in determining therapeutic potential of Tecoma stans and Narcissus tazetta.

Abstract In this work, we introduce the notion of interval-valued coordinated convexity and demonstrate Hermite–Hadamard type inequalities for interval-valued convex functions on the co-ordinates in a rectangle from the plane. Moreover, we prove Hermite–Hadamard inequalities for the product of interval-valued convex functions on coordinates. Our results generalize several other well-known inequalities given in the existing literature on this subject.

Of concern in the paper is a theoretical investigation of boundary layer flow of a biomagnetic fluid and heat transfer on a stretching/shrinking sheet in the presence of a magnetic dipole. The problem has been treated mathematically by using Lie group transformation. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are thereby reduced to a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations subject to associated boundary conditions. The resulting equations subject to boundary conditions are solved numerically by using bvp4c function available in MATLAB software. The plots for variations of velocity, temperature, skin friction and heat transfer rate have been drawn and adequate discussion has been made. The study reveals that the problem considered admits of dual solutions in particular ranges of values of the suction parameter and nonlinear stretching/shrinking parameter. A stability analysis has also been carried out and presented in the paper. This enables one to determine which solution is stable that can be realized physically, and which is not. The results of the present study have been compared with those reported by previous investigators to ascertain the validity/reliability of the computational results.