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Objective: To study the role of Hydroxyurea in patients suffering from β-thalassemia major. Study Design: Prospective longitudinal study. Place and Duration of Study: Department Paediatrics, Combined Military Hospital, Malir Cantt, Karachi Pakistan, from Nov 2019 to Oct 2020. Methodology: Data from 73 beta-thalassemia major patients was collected using a structured questionnaire containing inquiries about basic socio-demographic details, disease history, laboratory reports and particulars of former treatment regimens. Hydroxyurea was administered, and its effects were noted among the subjects regarding the frequency of transfusion, haemoglobin levels and severity of clinical symptoms. Results: The mean age of study subjects was 9.15±3.99 years, and most study subjects (56.14%) were boys. The preintervention (before administration of Hydroxyurea) levels of Hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and serum ferritin levels were unremarkable when compared to postintervention levels. However, a significant difference was observed in HbF levels. In addition, an encouraging decrease was reported in the self-rated severity (using VAS) of symptoms such as fatigue (p0.05), and shortness of breath (p>0.05). In addition, the transfusion interval was significantly reduced (p

Objectives: To assess the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 Virus disease in the pediatric population in Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar 2020 to Jan 2021. Methodology: All children presenting to the department with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 disease were tested for the virus. Patients who tested positive on the PCR were included in the study. Patients with non-consistent symptoms of COVID-19 and those who tested negative on the PCR were excluded from the study. All clinical data, including the age of the child, the onset of symptoms, the gap between the onset of symptoms and presentation as well as clinical symptoms, were documented on a predefined proforma. Results: A total of 106 patients were enrolled on the study. The mean age of patients was 5.6±2.5 years. The most frequent symptoms were fever (63, 59.6%) and cough (49, 46.2%). There were 3(2.9%) cases with severe or critical illness. The most frequent abnormal laboratory findings were leukopenia (29, 27.4%) and increased creatine kinase (38, 36.0%). Ground-glass opacities were observed in the HRCT chest of 17(65.3%) cases, out of 26 children diagnosed with pneumonia. The majority (70, 66%), had a positive exposure history. 88(83%) cases did not abide by the precautionary measures against the COVID-19 disease. Conclusions: The current study indicates that children usually present with mild symptoms but can present as severe diseases, as observed in this study.

Bioassay based fractionation of methanolic extract of Berberis baluchistanica (Berberidaceae), used traditionally for internal injuries, led to the isolation of known compounds (1–4). The structure of these compounds was elucidated by different spectroscopic analysis and available literature data. Antidiabetic and antioxidant potentials of B. baluchistanica fractions and isolated compounds were evaluated using in vitro alpha- amylase and DPPH assays. The isolated compounds were identified as obamegine (1), pakistanine (2), 8-oxyberberine (3) and baluchistine (4). Obamegine was reported from many other species of this genus but it is first time isolated from B. baluchistanica in present study. Moreover, in vitro pakistanine (2) was found as bioactive lead molecule for hypoglycemic (IC50:40.26 µg/ml) and antioxidant (IC50:14.15 µg/ml) activities compared to acarbose (IC50:33.68 µg/ml) and ascorbic acid (IC50:0.41 µg/ml). To the best of our knowledge, no previous data were available for these biological activities. Additionally, in silico antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of pakistanine against two proteins, α-amylase (-9.7 kcal/mol) and tyrosinase (-8.7 kcal/mol) are reported here for the first time. The molecular docking binding interactions authenticate and support the above-mentioned activities and are helpful in predicting the mechanism of action of pakistanine (2).

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a serious manifestation of acute lung injury (ALI), is a debilitating inflammatory lung disease that is caused by multiple risk factors. One of the primary causes that can lead to ALI/ARDS is cigarette smoke (CS) and its primary mode of action is via oxidative stress. Despite extensive research, no appropriate therapy is currently available to treat ALI/ARDS, which means there is a dire need for new potential approaches. In our study we explored the protective effects of 70 % methanolic-aqueous extract of Ipomoea nil (Linn.) Roth, named as In.Mcx against CS-induced ALI mice models and RAW 264.7 macrophages because Ipomoea nil has traditionally been used to treat breathing irregularities. Male Swiss albino mice (20–25 ± 2 g) were subjected to CS for 10 uninterrupted days in order to establish CS-induced ALI murine models. Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), In.Mcx (100 200, and 300 mg/kg) and normal saline (10 mL/kg) were given to respective animal groups, 1 h before CS-exposure. 24 h after the last CS exposure, the lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of all euthanized mice were harvested. Altered alveolar integrity and elevated lung weight-coefficient, total inflammatory cells, oxidative stress, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) and chemokines (KC) were significantly decreased by In.Mcx in CS-exposed mice. In.Mcx also revealed significant lowering IL-1β, IL-6 and KC expression in CSE (4 %)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophage. Additionally, In.Mcx showed marked enzyme inhibition activity against Acetylcholinesterase, Butyrylcholinesterase and Lipoxygenase. Importantly, In.Mcx dose-dependently and remarkably suppressed the CS-induced oxidative stress via not only reducing the MPO, TOS and MDA content but also improving TAC production in the lungs. Accordingly, HPLC analysis revealed the presence of many important antioxidant components. Finally, In.Mcx showed a marked decrease in the NF-κB expression both in in vivo and in vitro models. Our findings suggest that In.Mcx has positive therapeutic effects against CS-induced ALI via suppressing uncontrolled inflammatory response, oxidative stress, lipoxygenase and NF-κB p65 pathway.

Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) is a bacterium that causing respiratory problems, growth retardation, high mortality, and drop in egg productions in poultry. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the seroprevalence and potential risk factors associated with the ORT infection in commercial poultry flocks in selected areas of Bangladesh. A total of 1920 serum samples were collected from 270 poultry farms including broiler (n=397), broiler breeder (n=430), layer (n=738), and a local breed namely Sonali (n=355) in Bangladesh were collected during 2017-2018 and the samples were tested for ORT antibodies using indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA). At individual level, the prevalence of ORT antibodies in examined samples was 39.05% (95% CI: 36.87-41.29) and at farm level, it was 50.74% (95% CI: 44.61-56.85). In multivariate Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) analysis, sampling area, farm category, types of chicken biosecurity condition and types of drinker used were identified as positively correlated with potential risk factors (p

Background: Bread is one of the basic food stuffs which have been eaten all over the planet. In recent years, consumers have selected various alternatives of white bread due to high glycemic index and low fiber content. Objective: This study prepares the sourdough bread with microbial strains for improving sensory attributes and enhancing availability of minerals. Materials and methods: Three Lactic acid bacterial strains L. Plantarum Е90, L. Brevis Е12, and L. acidophillus ATCC4356 and specific doses of yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae were used to prepare sourdough bread. The standard solutions of minerals were run for analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Model: AA-6300, Kayoto, Japan). The sourdough was evaluated for pH and minerals and sensory evaluated by different panels of expert judges using nine-point hedonic scales. Results: The results showed that overall sensory characteristics (crust color, acid flavor, acid taste, texture, chewability and acceptability) were obtained significant in culture dose of 2%, culture type C2 (L. Brevis Е120) and fermentation time of 6 h. Fermentation and optimum acidity (lower pH) was obtained in C2 (L. Brevis Е120) and C3 L acidophilus ATCC4356. The mineral bioavailability (Fe and Zn), significant results were obtained from culture type C3 (L. acidophillus ATCC4356), culture dose of 1.5% and 2% and fermentation time of 6 h. Conclusion: The sourdough bread prepares by using culture type C2 (L. Brevis Е120), improves sensory qualities and C3(L. acidophillus ATCC4356) improves nutritional level in sour dough bread.

Restoration of underwater images plays a vital role in underwater target detection and recognition, underwater robots, underwater rescue, sea organism monitoring, marine geological survey, and real-time navigation. Mostly, physics-based optimization methods do not incorporate structural differences between the guidance and transmission maps (TMs) which affect the performance. In this paper, we propose a method for underwater image restoration by utilizing a robust regularization of coherent structures. The proposed method incorporates the potential structural differences between TM and the guidance map. The optimization of TM is modeled through a nonconvex energy function which consists of data and smoothness terms. The initial TM is taken as a data term whereas the smoothness term contains static and dynamic structural priors. Finally, the optimization problem is solved using majorize-minimize (MM) algorithm. The proposed method is tested on benchmark dataset and its performance is compared with the state-of-the-art methods. The results from the experiments indicate that the proposed regularization scheme adequately improves the TM, which results in high-quality restored images.

This study focuses on the seven odes and their Urdu translations in the sub-continent. It also deals with the effects of Quran on the translation, explanation and interpretation of these odes. Seven odes have eminent place in the pre-Islamic Arabic literature. These odes are considered to be the masterpieces in literature. These are translated and explained in different languages and styles. This study also evaluates the translation, explanation and interpretation of these seven odes in Urdu in the sub-continent. The researcher has selected six manuscripts to analyze and evaluate their styles, mechanics, methodology and language critically in the perspective of the Quran. I have judged the pros and cons of Urdu translation and explanation of these odes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze SARS-CoV-2 whole genome reported of Pakistan and compare them with other viral strains collected from other world region to better understand the origin and genetic characterization of the virus. METHODS: All the available genomic information of SARS-CoV-2 including Pakistani strains were collected from various online sources. Phylogenetic analysis of 131 sequences from 11 countries (Brazil, China, India, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, USA and Viet-Nam) were performed and compared with other related coronaviruses to find the evolution of virus and its origin. Individual SARS-CoV-2 gene, spike (S) glycoprotein and the receptor binding domain (RBD) with closely related coronaviruses were compared to further explore genetic variations and the likely RBD properties of the virus. RESULTS: The analysis shows that genome of all analyzed 131 SARS-CoV-2 strains collected from different geographical area were extremely similar, exhibiting >99% sequence identity. Notably, genome of the SARS-CoV-2 has high similarity (89.1% sequence identity) with the two bat-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) like betacoronaviruses, bat-SL-CoVZC45 and bat-SL-CoVZXC21 but was sufficiently divergent from SARS-CoV (82.3% similarity) and MERS-CoV (50% similarity). Phylogenetic analysis shows that the SARS-CoV-2 has relatively similar spike glycoprotein with bat-SL-CoVZC45, however, the RBD was more like that of SARS-CoVGZ02. CONCLUSION: Using different bioinformatics tools, we determined that SARS-CoV-2 has high similarities to bat-derived SARS like betacoronaviruses than SARS-CoV at the whole genome level, however, the RBD was more like that of SARS-CoVGZ02, which shows that they use similar ACE2 as a cell receptor.

The construction industry in Pakistan is experiencing a surge in public sector projects due to major investments in infrastructure projects. Project delays and cost overrun are common features in public sector construction projects in Pakistan. Therefore, an understanding of the causes of time and cost overrun in public projects is essential. This paper investigates delay and cost overrun factors within the context of public sector projects in Pakistan. This study identifies 48 potential factors from existing literature and semi-structured interviews were used to refine the identified factors into ten categories. A questionnaire survey was used to establish a hierarchy of factors using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the major causes of time overruns in public projects were (1) legal issues, such as court stay orders, land acquisition, relocation of public facilities; (2) technical errors leading to low-quality drawings, rework, and errors at bidding stage; and (3) Poor project management. The findings of this research contribute to understanding the causes of project delays in public sector projects in Pakistan.

This paper deals with introducing and investigating a new convex mapping namely, n-polynomial exponentially s-convex. Here, we present some algebraic properties and some logical examples to validate the theory of newly introduced convexity. Some novel adaptations of the well-known Hermite-Hadamard and Ostrowski type inequalities for this convex function have been established. Additionally, some special cases of the newly established results are derived as well. Finally, as applications some new limits for special means of positive real numbers are given. These new outcomes yield a few generalizations of the earlier outcomes already published in the literature.

The main objective of this work is to explore and characterize the idea of s-type preinvex function and related inequalities. Some interesting algebraic properties and logical examples are given to support the newly introduced idea. In addition, we attain the novel version of Hermite-Hadamard type inequality utilizing the introduced preinvexity. Furthermore, we establish two new identities, and employing these, we present some refinements of Hermite-Hadamard-type inequality. Some special cases of the presented results for different preinvex functions are deduced as well. Finally, as applications, some new inequalities for the arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means are established. Results obtained in this paper can be viewed as a significant improvement of previously known results. The awe-inspiring concepts and formidable tools of this paper may invigorate and revitalize for additional research in this worthy and absorbing field.

Abstract Purpose Cucumber fermentation is traditionally done using lactic acid bacteria. The involvement of probiotic cultures in food fermentation guarantees enhanced organoleptic properties and protects food from spoilage. Methods Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria were isolated from spontaneously fermented cucumber and identified to species level. Only strains adjudged as safe for human consumption were examined for their technological and functional characteristics. Strain efficiency was based on maintaining high numbers of viable cells during simulated GIT conditions and fermentation, significant antioxidant activity, EPS production, nitrite degradation, and antimicrobial ability against Gram-positive and Gram-negative foodborne pathogens. Result Two strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NPL 1258 and Pediococcus pentosaceus NPL 1264, showing a suite of promising functional and technological attributes, were selected as a mixed-species starter for carrying out a controlled lactic acid fermentations of a native cucumber variety. This consortium showed a faster lactic acid-based acidification with more viable cells, at 4% NaCl and 0.2% inulin (w/v) relative to its constituent strains when tested individually. Sensory evaluation rated the lactofermented cucumber acceptable based on texture, taste, aroma, and aftertaste. Conclusion The results suggest that the autochthonous LAB starter cultures can shorten the fermentation cycle and reduce pathogenic organism’ population, thus improving the shelf life and quality of fermented cucumber. The development of these new industrial starters would increase the competitiveness of production and open the country’s frontiers in the fermented vegetable market.

Abstract Objective: To determine the superbug infection in a burn centre, its impact on mortality/morbidity and to review all preventive/therapeutic steps taken to fight this menace. Study Design: Retrospective cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, Army Burn Centre, Combined Military Hospital Kharian, from Oct 2018 to Sep 2019. Methodology: A detailed retrospective audit of departmental data was carried out. Parameters like direct admission vs transferred patient, percentage of burns (Total Burn Surface Area-TBSA%), records of all burns related deaths and all culture/sensitivity reports were analysed using SPSS-20. As a standard practice in our unit blood, tracheal secretions and pus culture specimens of all patients are collected at the time of admission and then periodically fresh samples are taken every week or earlier when-ever required. Results: Out of 515 patients, 283 (54.95%) were children under the age of 12 years. The overall survival rate improved by 13.43% as compared to last year. Out of 584 bacteriology reports 396 (67.81%) were positive and 188 (32.19%) were negative. On culture 508 organisms were isolated, majority of which were Carbapenem Resistant Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Enterobacteriaceae and Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: Multi drug resistant superbug infection is a worldwide menace. The best clinical practices, strict contact isolation, enhanced environmental cleaning and judicious use of appropriate antibiotics are the main strategies in this war. Need for newer more effective antibiotics cannot be overemphasized.

Abstract Background Mutation of the m. 8993 T > G ATP6 subunit of ATP synthase causes a maternally inherited Leigh Syndrome (LS), a rapidly fatal encephalomyelopathy in childhood called and related Neuropathy, Ataxia and Retinitis Pigmentosa (NARP) in adults. There is no cure, and relevant animal models are few. Here we describe a novel ATP6 mouse model of LS and preclinical efficacy of a gene therapy approach to neutralize the ATP6 mutation by competition with a mitochondrial targeted adeno‐associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) vector containing wild‐type ATP6. Methods LS transgenic mice with an ATP6 mutation were developed by microinjecting AAV2 modified by a COX8 mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) into mouse blastocysts to deliver the human ATP6 gene with a T > G mutation at position 8993 of the mitochondrial genome, responsible for clinical LS DNA, protein, and metabolic assays confirmed functional gene delivery and in depth physiological/clinical assessments supported germline transmission of an LS phenotype. Rescue of LS in this model was evaluated after intravenous injection of mito‐targeted AAV9 containing wild‐type ATP6 followed by reevaluation of phenotypes. Results LS transgenic mice expressed mutant ATP6 protein in multiple relevant tissues including brain, eye, liver. Mutant ATP6 incorporated into Complex V and conferred decreased ATP synthase efficiency. Mice exhibited hallmarks of the human disease with one or multiple systemic symptoms including early death, paralysis, hunching, vision loss and seizures over six generations. Necropsy revealed spongiform encephalopathy, retinal degeneration, and cardiomegaly. Rescue by mitochondrially directed AAV9 containing wild type ATP6 after disease onset conferred prolonged survival and reduced paralysis. When administered prior to disease onset all treated ATP6 mice survived with evidence of globally improved function. Conclusions The results are consistent with efficient delivery and expression of foreign genes in mitochondria by AAV vectors directed by MTS and support further development of such strategies via intravenous injection of mitochondrial targeted AAV9 to deliver corrective genes.

ObjectivesDuring COVID-19 the re-opening of educational institutes was frequently debated, however with the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases, The Aga Khan University (AKU) in Karachi, Pakistan opened its campus for medical and nursing students after more than 6 months of closure. To ensure gradual resumption of activities on-campus, a combination of interventions was diligently deployed to minimize student infection rates. Scarce literature exists on students' perceptions regarding decisions implemented by university leadership. The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of these interventions.MethodsWe conducted a convergent, parallel, mixed-methods observational study targeting medical and nursing students. An online questionnaire was disseminated to elicit students' degree of (dis)agreement on a four-point Likert scale. Focused group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to comprehend reasons for (dis)agreement.ResultsTotal of 183 students responded to questionnaire (59.0% nursing, 67.8% female), 11 FGDs were conducted with 85 students. Interventions with highest agreement were mandatory face masks policy (94.54%), weekly mandated COVID-testing (92.35%) and students' Academic Bubble (91.26%); highest disagreement was for Sehat Check application (41.53%); and stay strong campaign (40.44%). Four themes emerged from FGDs: Effective safety interventions, Safety interventions with limited effectiveness, Utility of Sehat Check Application and Future recommendations for informing policy.ConclusionIt is paramount to seek student-feedback at forefront of university re-opening strategy. Clear communication channels are as important as an administrative response system's robustness. Bidirectional communication channels are fundamental and requisite during ever-changing policies and regulations. Engaging student representatives in decision making or implementation processes (such as “pilot” before “roll-out”) would allow any potential issues to be managed early on. Gather real-time anonymous feedback and identify key areas that need further promulgation and those that need to be replaced with more effective ones.

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) belongs to pigmentary retinopathies, a generic name for all retinal dystrophies with a major phenotypical and genotypical variation, characterized by progressive reduction of photoreceptor functionality of the rod and cone. Global prevalence of RP is ~ 1/4000 and it can be inherited as autosomal dominant (adRP), autosomal recessive (arRP) or X- linked (xlRP). We designed this study to identify causative mutations in Pakistani families affected with arRP. Methods: In 2019, we recruited two unrelated Pakistani consanguineous families affected with progressive vision loss and night blindness from Punjab region. Clinical diagnosis confirmed the; bone spicule pigmentation of the retina, and an altered electroretinogram (EGR) response. Proband and healthy individual from each family were subjected for whole-exome sequencing (WES). Various computational tools were used to analyze the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data and to predict the pathogenicity of the identified mutations. Results: WES data analysis highlighted two missense homozygous variants at position c.T1405A (p.S469T) in PLCE1 and c.T11C (p.V4A) in HPS1 genes in proband of both families. Healthy individuals of two families were tested negative for p.S469T and p.V4A mutations. The variant analysis study including molecular dynamic simulations predicted mutations as disease causing. Conclusion: Compound effect of mutations in rarely linked PLCE1 and HPS1 genes could also cause RP. This study highlights the potential application of WES for a rapid and precise molecular diagnosis for heterogeneous genetic diseases such as RP.

Sphingomyelin (SM) belongs to a class of lipids termed sphingolipids. The disruption in the sphingomyelin signaling pathway is associated with various neurodegenerative disorders. TNF-α, a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine generated in response to various neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), is an eminent regulator of the sphingomyelin metabolic pathway. The immune-triggered regulation of the sphingomyelin metabolic pathway via TNF-α constitutes the sphingomyelin signaling pathway. In this pathway, sphingomyelin and its downstream sphingolipids activate various signaling cascades like PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways, thus, controlling diverse processes coupled with neuronal viability, survival, and death. The holistic analysis of the immune-triggered sphingomyelin signaling pathway is imperative to make necessary predictions about its pivotal components and for the formulation of disease-related therapeutics. The current work offers a comprehensive in silico systems analysis of TNF-α mediated sphingomyelin and downstream signaling cascades via a model-based quantitative approach. We incorporated the intensity values of genes from the microarray data of control individuals from the AD study in the input entities of the pathway model. Computational modeling and simulation of the inflammatory pathway enabled the comprehensive study of the system dynamics. Network and sensitivity analysis of the model unveiled essential interaction parameters and entities during neuroinflammation. Scanning of the key entities and parameters allowed us to determine their ultimate impact on neuronal apoptosis and survival. Moreover, the efficacy and potency of the FDA-approved drugs, namely Etanercept, Nivocasan, and Scyphostatin allowed us to study the model’s response towards inhibition of the respective proteins/enzymes. The network analysis revealed the pivotal model entities with high betweenness and closeness centrality values including recruit FADD, TNFR_TRADD, act CASP2, actCASP8, actCASP3 and 9, cytochrome C, and RIP_RAIDD which profoundly impacted the neuronal apoptosis. Whereas some of the entities with high betweenness and closeness centrality values like Gi-coupled receptor, actS1PR, Sphingosine, S1P, actAKT, and actERK produced a high influence on neuronal survival. However, the current study inferred the dual role of ceramide, both on neuronal survival and apoptosis. Moreover, the drug Nivocasan effectively reduces neuronal apoptosis via its inhibitory mechanism on the caspases.

Introduction Effective physician–patient communication is directly linked to enhanced patient safety, improved healthcare quality and health outcomes. Numerous studies have been done to implement and reinforce communication skills as core competencies to be acquired during residency training for providing culturally competent care. Pakistan has an ethnically diverse culture with people from varying diasporas. Hence there is a need to develop a curriculum that teaches cultural competency to residents. Thus, the aim of this study is (1) the identification of existing problems of communication skills among residents across various specialties, and (2) to strategise a communication skills curriculum by organising a conference of experts based on the Delphi method/estimate-talk-estimate method.Methods and analysis This study is divided into two phases. The first phase will employ a mixed-methods approach whereby the perceptions of attendings, residents, fellows, nurses, medical students and patients about resident–patient communication will be assessed via validated surveys, focused group discussions and in-depth interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data will be analysed using Stata and NVivo, respectively. The second phase is the development of a communication skills curriculum for residents based on results from phase one and a Delphi consensus involving medical education experts. Both phases will be conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.Ethics and dissemination This study has received ethical approval from the Ethical Review Committee at the Aga Khan University (2021-6041-17126). All participants will be mandated to provide informed consent and their confidentiality will be maintained by using de-identifiers and limiting access of the data to the research team only. The findings from this study will be presented in the form of original research papers.

Capsaicin is a valuable compound found in Capsicum annuum. The present study aimed to explore the efficiency of different solvents and surfactants on its extraction by maceration. Ethyl acetate was found to be the best solvent followed by dichloromethane and acetone, respectively. Overall order of efficiency of the solvents used was this: ethyl acetate > dichloromethane > acetone > glycerol > acetonitrile > methanol > acetic acid > toluene. Extractability of ethyl acetate for capsaicin remained unaffected by the surfactants. Tween-80 had very positive effect on the extraction efficiency of dichloromethane (DCM) and acetone. Kinetics of the extraction with the most efficient solvent ethyl acetate showed extraction of capsaicin to follow a pseudo-second order kinetic model. In conclusion, for extraction of capsaicin from green chili, ethyl acetate was the most powerful amongst the solvents used in the present work and tween-80 had a notable positive effect on the efficiency of DCM and acetone.

As scientific technology and space science progress, remote sensing has emerged as an innovative solution to ease the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. To examine the research characteristics and growth trends in using remote sensing for monitoring and managing the COVID-19 research, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on the scientific documents appearing in the Scopus database. A total of 1,509 documents on this study topic were indexed between 2020 and 2022, covering 165 countries, 577 journals, 5239 institutions, and 8,616 authors. The studies related to remote sensing and COVID-19 have a significant increase of 30% with 464 articles. The United States (429 articles, 28.42% of the global output), China (295 articles, 19.54% of the global output), and the United Kingdom (174 articles, 11.53%) appeared as the top three most contributions to the literature related to remote sensing and COVID-19 research. Sustainability, Science of the Total Environment, and International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health were the three most productive journals in this research field. The utmost predominant themes were COVID-19, remote sensing, spatial analysis, coronavirus, lockdown, and air pollution. The expansion of these topics appears to be associated with cross-sectional research on remote sensing, evidence-based tools, satellite mapping, and geographic information systems (GIS). Global pandemic risks will be monitored and managed much more effectively in the coming years with the use of remote sensing technology.

This study presents the synthesis of activated orange peel, derived from bio-waste (orange peel) and its doping with selenium nano-particles to enhance the adsorption capacity. The synthesized nanocomposite orange peel/Selenium (OP/Se) was applied as adsorbents for the removal of Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr) from synthetic waste water as an economical water cleaning technology. Orange peel/Selenium nanocomposite was characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Scanning electron microscopy results showed the porous structure of OP/Se nanocomposite and distinct peaks observed in XRD and FTIR spectra depicted the successful synthesis of nanocomposite. Batch experiments were conducted to figure out the effect of different parameters on adsorption of Pb and Cr by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The maximum adsorption capacity of 99.9% was achieved for both lead and chromium at acidic pH. While at temperature of 60°C the maximum adsorption of 98.3 and 95.9% was found for Pb and Cr respectively. Furthermore the experimental data was examined with Pseudo-first order, first-order and Pseudo-second order kinetic model, as well as Morris Intraparticle diffusion model where the pseudo second order was best fitted which indicated the chemisorption mechanism in adsorption process. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherm model verified that OP/Se nanocomposite was found to be favorable for the process of adsorption. The adsorption thermodynamics indicate that adsorption of heavy metals ions is spontaneous (ΔG° < 0) and the adsorption increases with increase in temperature which means that reaction was endothermic in nature. This study revealed that the synthesized bio-activated nanocomposite was an efficient adsorbent material for the removal of heavy metals from waste water.

Summary: Background: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p

Breast carcinogenesis is known to be instigated by genetic and epigenetic modifications impacting multiple cellular signaling cascades, thus making its prevention and treatments a challenging endeavor. However, epigenetic modification, particularly DNA methylation-mediated silencing of key TSGs, is a hallmark of cancer progression. One such tumor suppressor gene (TSG) RUNX3 (Runt-related transcription factor 3) has been a new insight in breast cancer known to be suppressed due to local promoter hypermethylation mediated by DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). However, the precise mechanism of epigenetic-influenced silencing of the RUNX3 signaling resulting in cancer invasion and metastasis remains inadequately characterized. In this study, a biological regulatory network (BRN) has been designed to model the dynamics of the DNMT1–RUNX3 network augmented by other regulators such as p21, c-myc, and p53. For this purpose, the René Thomas qualitative modeling was applied to compute the unknown parameters and the subsequent trajectories signified important behaviors of the DNMT1–RUNX3 network (i.e., recovery cycle, homeostasis, and bifurcation state). As a result, the biological system was observed to invade cancer metastasis due to persistent activation of oncogene c-myc accompanied by consistent downregulation of TSG RUNX3. Conversely, homeostasis was achieved in the absence of c-myc and activated TSG RUNX3. Furthermore, DNMT1 was endorsed as a potential epigenetic drug target to be subjected to the implementation of machine-learning techniques for the classification of the active and inactive DNMT1 modulators. The best-performing ML model successfully classified the active and least-active DNMT1 inhibitors exhibiting 97% classification accuracy. Collectively, this study reveals the underlined epigenetic events responsible for RUNX3-implicated breast cancer metastasis along with the classification of DNMT1 modulators that can potentially drive the perception of epigenetic-based tumor therapy.

The poultry industry suffers from various diseases or stresses. In poultry, apart from being antipyretic, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is widely used to cope with different issues including heat stress, and respiratory and digestive orders. This study evaluated the beneficial and toxic effects of ASA at different dose levels in broiler birds. To evaluate these toxic and beneficial effects it is necessary to examine the physical and serum biochemical parameters as well as the histopathological changes with tissue sections taken from broiler birds under experimental trial. This study was conducted on 60 one-day-old broiler chicks purchased from a local market in Faisalabad. Chicks were reared for the first 14 days under similar conditions. On the 15th day, birds were randomly divided into 4 groups (1-4) with 15 birds in each group. Group 4 was kept as control, while groups 1, 2, and 3 were treated with ASA at the dose of 300, 600, and 1200 mg/L of drinking water for 21 days. There were 3 samplings performed at 21, 28, and 35 days post-treatment. The live body weight and carcass weight were noted on each sampling. All the visceral organs were recorded for gross pathological changes. The serum samples were collected for biochemical evaluation. Histopathology of all the visceral organs was performed to observe the microscopic changes. A significant (P

The effect of varying the weight percentage composition (wt.%) of low-cost expandable graphite (EG), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), fibreglass (FG), and vermiculite (VMT) in polyurethane (PU) polymer was studied using a traditional intumescent flame retardant (IFR) system. The synergistic effect between EG, APP, FG, and VMT on the flame retardant properties of the PU composites was investigated using SEM, TGA, tensile strength tests, and cone calorimetry. The IFR that contained PU composites with 40 wt.% EG displayed superior flame retardant performance compared with the composites containing only 20 w.t.% or 10 w.t.% EG. The peak heat release rate, total smoke release, and carbon dioxide production from the 40 wt.% EG sample along with APP, FG, and VMT in the PU composite were 88%, 93%, and 92% less than the PU control sample, respectively. As a result, the synergistic effect was greatly influenced by the compactness of the united protective layer. The PU composite suppressed smoke emission and inhibited air penetrating the composite, thus reducing reactions with the gas volatiles of the material. SEM images and TGA results provided positive evidence for the combustion tests. Further, the mechanical properties of PU composites were also investigated. As expected, compared with control PU, the addition of flame-retardant additives decreased the tensile strength, but this was ameliorated with the addition of FG. These new PU composite materials provide a promising strategy for producing polymer composites with flame retardation and smoke suppression for construction materials.

The present study was conducted to fabricate and characterize mucilage-based polymeric networks of Aloe vera for controlled drug release. Aloe vera mucilage was used to develop a polymeric network via the free-radical polymerization method using potassium persulphate as the initiator, N′ N′-Methylene bisacrylamide as the crosslinker, and acrylamide as the monomer. Using varying concentrations of Aloe vera mucilage, crosslinker, and monomer, we developed different formulations. Swelling studies were conducted at pH 1.2 and 7.4. Concentrations of polymer, monomer, and crosslinker were optimized as a function of swelling. Porosity and gel content were calculated for all samples. FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA, and DSC studies were conducted for the characterization of polymeric networks. Thiocolchicoside was used as a model drug to study the in vitro release in acidic and alkaline pH. Various kinetics models were applied by using a DD solver. Increasing content of monomer and crosslinker swelling, porosity, and drug release decreased while gel content increased. An increase in Aloe vera mucilage concentration promotes swelling, porosity, and drug release of the polymeric network but decreases gel content. The FTIR study confirmed the formation of crosslinked networks. SEM indicated that the polymeric network had a porous structure. DSC and XRD studies indicated the entrapment of drugs inside the polymeric networks in amorphous form. The analytical method was validated according to ICH guidelines in terms of linearity, range, LOD, LOQ, accuracy, precision, and robustness. Analysis of drug release mechanism revealed Fickian behavior of all formulations. All these results indicated that the M1 formulation was considered to be the best polymeric network formulation in terms of sustaining drug release patterns.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) are responsible for significant losses in terms of treatment costs, decreased productivity (such as milk and meat), reduced reproductive ability, and financial crisis to livestock owners. In Pakistan, it is crucial to periodically assess the risk of TTBDs and ecological factors, potential causes of acaricidal resistance in tick fauna, and the intensive increase in the spread of TTBDs. Participatory epidemiological approaches are key to assessing the livestock owners’ and stakeholders’ knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) about TTBDs. The current study determined the KAP about ticks and tick-borne diseases of respondents from Sindh, Pakistan. A total of 240 respondents were interviewed from different ecological zones: among them, 42.5% (n = 102) of the respondents practiced the manual removal of ticks from animals, while acaricide usage was indicated by 137 respondents (57.0%) as occurring sometimes, 50 (20.8%) monthly, 41 (17.0%) fortnightly, and 12 (5%) weekly, during the peak infestation season. Ticks were 2.6 times [OR = 2.5 (95% Cl = 1.47–4.06)] and viruses were 1.89 times [OR = 188 (95% Cl = 1.09–2.9)] more likely to cause the development of disease in animals than any other pathogen. Despite the appropriate usage of acaricides, the knowledge of participants was inadequate. The findings of this study emphasize the need to take into account identified knowledge gaps and to take the initiative in carrying out appropriate education activities and extension programs to enhance the adoption of effective tick prevention and control strategies.

Polymeric rubber and organic semiconductor H2Pc-CNT-composite-based surface- and sandwich-type shockproof deformable infrared radiation (IR) sensors were fabricated using a rubbing-in technique. CNT and CNT-H2Pc (30:70 wt.%) composite layers were deposited on a polymeric rubber substrate as electrodes and active layers, respectively. Under the effect of IR irradiation (0 to 3700 W/m2), the resistance and the impedance of the surface-type sensors decreased up to 1.49 and 1.36 times, respectively. In the same conditions, the resistance and the impedance of the sandwich-type sensors decreased up to 1.46 and 1.35 times, respectively. The temperature coefficients of resistance (TCR) of the surface- and sandwich-type sensors are 1.2 and 1.1, respectively. The novel ratio of the H2Pc-CNT composite ingredients and comparably high value of the TCR make the devices attractive for bolometric applications meant to measure the intensity of infrared radiation. Moreover, given their easy fabrication and low-cost materials, the fabricated devices have great potential for commercialization.

In order to show novel generalizations of mathematical inequality, fractional integral operators are frequently used. Fractional operators are used to simulate a broad range of scientific as well as engineering phenomena such as elasticity, viscous fluid, fracture mechanics, continuous population, equilibrium, visco-elastic deformation, heat conduction problems, and others. In this manuscript, we introduce some novel notions of generalized preinvexity, namely the (m,tgs)-type s-preinvex function, Godunova–Levin (s,m)-preinvex of the 1st and 2nd kind, and a prequasi m-invex. Furthermore, we explore a new variant of the Hermite–Hadamard (H–H), Fejér, and Pachpatte-type inequality via a generalized fractional integral operator, namely, a non-conformable fractional integral operator (NCFIO). In addition, we explore new equalities. With the help of these equalities, we examine and present several extensions of H–H and Fejér-type inequalities involving a newly introduced concept via NCFIO. Finally, we explore some special means as applications in the aspects of NCFIO. The results and the unique situations offered by this research are novel and significant improvements over previously published findings.

With the increasing global population, saving crops from diseases caused by different kinds of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes is essential. Potato is affected by various diseases, destroying many crops in the field and storage. In this study, we developed potato lines resistant to fungi and viruses, Potato Virus X (PVX) and Potato Virus Y (PVY), by inoculating chitinase for fungi and shRNA designed against the mRNA of the coat protein of PVX and PVY, respectively. The construct was developed using the pCAMBIA2301 vector and transformed into AGB-R (red skin) potato cultivar using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The crude protein extract of the transgenic potato plant inhibited the growth of Fusarium oxysporum from ~13 to 63%. The detached leaf assay of the transgenic line (SP-21) showed decreased necrotic spots compared to the non-transgenic control when challenged with Fusarium oxysporum. The transgenic line, SP-21, showed maximum knockdown when challenged with PVX and PVY, i.e., 89 and 86%, while transgenic line SP-148 showed 68 and 70% knockdown in the PVX- and PVY-challenged conditions, respectively. It is concluded from this study that the developed transgenic potato cultivar AGB-R showed resistance against fungi and viruses (PVX and PVY).

The term convexity associated with the theory of inequality in the sense of fractional analysis has a broad range of different and remarkable applications in the domain of applied sciences. The prime objective of this article is to investigate some new variants of Hermite–Hadamard and Pachpatte-type integral inequalities involving the idea of the preinvex function in the frame of a fractional integral operator, namely the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional operator. By employing our approach, a new fractional integral identity that correlates with preinvex functions for first-order differentiable mappings is presented. Moreover, we derive some refinements of the Hermite–Hadamard-type inequality for mappings, whose first-order derivatives are generalized preinvex functions in the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional sense. From an application viewpoint, to represent the usability of the concerning results, we presented several inequalities by using special means of real numbers. Integral inequalities in association with convexity in the frame of fractional calculus have a strong relationship with symmetry. Our investigation provides a better image of convex analysis in the frame of fractional calculus.

The term convexity and theory of inequalities is an enormous and intriguing domain of research in the realm of mathematical comprehension. Due to its applications in multiple areas of science, the theory of convexity and inequalities have recently attracted a lot of attention from historians and modern researchers. This article explores the concept of a new group of modified harmonic exponential s-convex functions. Some of its significant algebraic properties are elegantly elaborated to maintain the newly described idea. A new sort of Hermite–Hadamard-type integral inequality using this new concept of the function is investigated. In addition, several new estimates of Hermite–Hadamard inequality are presented to improve the study. These new results illustrate some generalizations of prior findings in the literature.

The biosynthesis of algal-based zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles has shown several advantages over traditional physico-chemical methods, such as lower cost, less toxicity, and greater sustainability. In the current study, bioactive molecules present in Spirogyra hyalina extract were exploited for the biofabrication and capping of ZnO NPs, using zinc acetate dihydrate and zinc nitrate hexahydrate as precursors. The newly biosynthesized ZnO NPs were characterized for structural and optical changes through UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). A color change in the reaction mixture from light yellow to white indicated the successful biofabrication of ZnO NPs. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum peaks at 358 nm (from zinc acetate) and 363 nm (from zinc nitrate) of ZnO NPs confirmed that optical changes were caused by a blue shift near the band edges. The extremely crystalline and hexagonal Wurtzite structure of ZnO NPs was confirmed by XRD. The involvement of bioactive metabolites from algae in the bioreduction and capping of NPs was demonstrated by FTIR investigation. The SEM results revealed spherical-shaped ZnO NPs. In addition to this, the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the ZnO NPs was investigated. ZnO NPs showed remarkable antibacterial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The DPPH test revealed the strong antioxidant activity of ZnO NPs.

The emergence of immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) headsets, has revolutionized the way we experience the physical world by creating a virtual, interactive environment. In the field of education, this technology has immense potential to provide students with a safe and controlled environment in which to experience real-world scenarios that may be otherwise unfeasible or unsafe. However, limited research exists on the effectiveness of integrating immersive technologies into technical education delivery. This research investigated the potential use of immersive virtual reality (IVR) in university-level construction management courses, with a focus on integrating IVR technology into traditional education for construction project planning and control. The experiment involved comparing the students’ learning and understanding of the subject matter using a set of two-dimensional construction drawings and a critical path method (CPM)-based construction schedule, with and without the use of an immersive environment. The findings suggested that the use of immersive technology significantly improved the students’ ability to understand technical concepts and identify any errors in the construction sequence when compared to traditional teaching methods. This paper presents the details of the experiment and a comparative analysis of both approaches in terms of students’ learning and understanding of project planning, sequencing, and scheduling.

In the frame of fractional calculus, the term convexity is primarily utilized to address several challenges in both pure and applied research. The main focus and objective of this review paper is to present Hermite–Hadamard (H-H)-type inequalities involving a variety of classes of convexities pertaining to fractional integral operators. Included in the various classes of convexities are classical convex functions, m-convex functions, r-convex functions, (α,m)-convex functions, (α,m)-geometrically convex functions, harmonically convex functions, harmonically symmetric functions, harmonically (θ,m)-convex functions, m-harmonic harmonically convex functions, (s,r)-convex functions, arithmetic–geometric convex functions, logarithmically convex functions, (α,m)-logarithmically convex functions, geometric–arithmetically s-convex functions, s-convex functions, Godunova–Levin-convex functions, differentiable ϕ-convex functions, MT-convex functions, (s,m)-convex functions, p-convex functions, h-convex functions, σ-convex functions, exponential-convex functions, exponential-type convex functions, refined exponential-type convex functions, n-polynomial convex functions, σ,s-convex functions, modified (p,h)-convex functions, co-ordinated-convex functions, relative-convex functions, quasi-convex functions, (α,h−m)−p-convex functions, and preinvex functions. Included in the fractional integral operators are Riemann–Liouville (R-L) fractional integral, Katugampola fractional integral, k-R-L fractional integral, (k,s)-R-L fractional integral, Caputo-Fabrizio (C-F) fractional integral, R-L fractional integrals of a function with respect to another function, Hadamard fractional integral, and Raina fractional integral operator.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted substantial interest due to their superparamagnetic features, biocompatibility, and nontoxicity. The latest progress in the biological production of Fe3O4 NPs by green methods has improved their quality and biological applications significantly. In this study, the fabrication of iron oxide NPs from Spirogyra hyalina and Ajuga bracteosa was conducted via an easy, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective process. The fabricated Fe3O4 NPs were characterized using various analytical methods to study their unique properties. UV-Vis absorption peaks were observed in algal and plant-based Fe3O4 NPs at 289 nm and 306 nm, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyzed diverse bioactive phytochemicals present in algal and plant extracts that functioned as stabilizing and capping agents in the fabrication of algal and plant-based Fe3O4 NPs. X-ray diffraction of NPs revealed the crystalline nature of both biofabricated Fe3O4 NPs and their small size. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that algae and plant-based Fe3O4 NPs are spherical and rod-shaped, averaging 52 nm and 75 nm in size. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the green-synthesized Fe3O4 NPs require a high mass percentage of iron and oxygen to ensure their synthesis. The fabricated plant-based Fe3O4 NPs exhibited stronger antioxidant properties than algal-based Fe3O4 NPs. The algal-based NPs showed efficient antibacterial potential against E. coli, while the plant-based Fe3O4 NPs displayed a higher zone of inhibition against S. aureus. Moreover, plant-based Fe3O4 NPs exhibited superior scavenging and antibacterial potential compared to the algal-based Fe3O4 NPs. This might be due to the greater number of phytochemicals in plants that surround the NPs during their green fabrication. Hence, the capping of bioactive agents over iron oxide NPs improves antibacterial applications.

There is significant interaction between the class of symmetric functions and other types of functions. The multiplicative convex function class, which is intimately related to the idea of symmetry, is one of them. In this paper, we obtain some new generalized multiplicative fractional Hermite–Hadamard type inequalities for multiplicative convex functions and for their product. Additionally, we derive a number of inequalities for multiplicative convex functions related to generalized multiplicative fractional integrals utilising a novel identity as an auxiliary result. We provide some examples for the appropriate selections of multiplicative convex functions and their graphical representations to verify the authenticity of our main results.

In this article, we introduce the concept of weak Fℜm,η-contractions on relation-theoretic m-metric spaces and establish related fixed point theorems, where η is a control function and ℜ is a relation. Then, we detail some fixed point results for cyclic-type weak Fℜm,η-contraction mappings. Finally, we demonstrate some illustrative examples and discuss upper and lower solutions of Volterra-type integral equations of the form ξα=∫0αAα,σ,ξσmσ+Ψα,α∈0,1.

In this work, we introduce the idea and concept of $p$--harmonic exponential type convex functions. We elaborate on the newly introduced idea by examples and some interesting algebraic properties. In addition, we attain the novel version of Hermite--Hadamard type inequality in the mode of the newly introduced definition and on the basis of lemmas, some refinements of the Hermite--Hadamard type inequalities in the support of the newly introduced idea are established. Finally, we investigate and explore some integral inequalities in the form of applications for the arithmetic, geometric, harmonic and logarithmic means. The amazing tools and interesting ideas of this work may inspire and motivate further research in this direction furthermore.

Introduction: The increase in sedentary behaviour and decrease in physical activity levels are some of the contributing factors to many of the non-communicable diseases. These non-communicable diseases included obesity, type-II diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Apart from causing financial burden on health care system, these diseases have been reported to cause nearly 1.9 million premature deaths per year. The aim of the study was to measure sedentary behaviour and physical activity levels among employees of Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on employees of Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. The total sample size was 172 and the data was collected through convenience sampling by using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) long form. This questionnaire measures physical activity levels and sedentary behaviour at work. Results: Out of 172 participants, 154 (89.5%) were male and 18 (10.4%) were female with a mean age of 34.4 ± 2 years. According to the levels of physical activity, 49 (28.5%) were less active, 63 (36.6%) were moderately active and 60 (34.9%) were highly active. The average time spent by the participants for sitting was (8.93 ± 2.35) hours per day. A total of 73.8%, 23.3 % and 2.9% participants could be categorised as having high, moderate and low sedentary behaviour, respectively. Conclusion: Majority of the participants (two-thirds of the participants) demonstrated a high sedentary behaviour and therefore, needed modification in their daily routine.

OBJECTIVES: To find out the etiology and outcome in terms of clinical improvement among children having esophageal stricture (ES). METHODS: This prospective study was conducted from July 2019 to March 2020 at Children’s Hospital, Multan, Pakistan on diagnosed patients of ES, ageing

Glomerella leaf spot (GLS) is a severe infectious disease of apple whose infective area is growing gradually and thus poses a huge economic threat to the world. Different species of Colletotrichum including Colletotrichum gloeosporioides are responsible for GLS. For efficient GLS control, it is important to understand the mechanism by which the cruciferous crops and C. gloeosporioides interact. Arginine is among one of the several types of amino acids, which plays crucial role in biochemical and physiological functions of fungi. The arginine biosynthesis pathway involved in virulence among plant pathogenic fungi is poorly understood. In this study, CgCPS1 gene encoding carbamoyl phosphate synthase involved in arginine biosynthesis has been identified and inactivated experimentally. To assess the effects of CgCPS1, we knocked out CgCPS1 in C. gloeosporioides and evaluated its effects on virulence and stress tolerance. The results showed that deletion of CgCPS1 resulted in loss of pathogenicity. The Δcgcps1 mutants showed slow growth rate, defects in appressorium formation and failed to develop lesions on apple leaves and fruits leading to loss of virulence while complementation strain (CgCPS1-C) fully restored its pathogenicity. Furthermore, mutant strains showed extreme sensitivity to high osmotic stress displaying that CgCPS1 plays a vital role in stress response. These findings suggest that CgCPS1 is major factor that mediates pathogenicity in C. gloeosporioides by encoding carbamoyl phosphate that is involved in arginine biosynthesis and conferring virulence in C. gloeosporioides.

This study contributes to the literature by providing an interactive impact of financial development and institutions on poverty for a panel of 35 developed and 79 developing countries over the period 1984-2013 using two-stage least squares, system generalized method of moments, and simultaneous equations approach. The results show that financial development and institutions mitigate poverty, with the latter being more efficient than the former. The institutions strengthen the ability of the financial system to alleviate poverty. Further, the empirics state that both access (outreach) and depth (credit extension) of the financial sector matter for poverty reduction.

Multiple studies and reports have suggested that coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) promotes arterial and venous thrombotic events in multiple organ systems, although the mechanism leading to a hypercoagulable state is still unknown. Few cases of splenic infarction associated with COVID-19 have been reported, of which half were found incidentally upon autopsy. This may be due to a clinically silent presentation or the symptoms being wrongfully attributed to pain caused by the effects of COVID-19. Due to the rarity of the condition and its lack of consistent symptomatology, splenic thromboembolism can be difficult to diagnose. Awareness of the condition and high clinical suspicion will help the clinician identify and manage the problem. Hemorrhage in patients with COVID-19 is uncommon in the hypercoagulable state that threatens thrombus formation in patients with COVID-19 infection. Despite prophylactic treatment with anticoagulation therapies, patients are more prone to developing clots. It is also well-known that therapeutic anticoagulation can place patients at a higher risk of bleeding. Thus, this unique population is at risk of developing both thrombotic and hemorrhagic events. We report a rare case of splenic infarction in a patient with confirmed COVID-19 infection despite prophylactic treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin which was found incidentally during workup for 2 other rare conditions: spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma and microhemorrhage or thrombus of the mesenteric vessels.

Abstract Background The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a noxious pest of cruciferous crops all over the world causing serious economic damage. Management of insect pest generally depends on chemical control; however, due to development of resistance against all types of insecticides, alternative approaches especially utilization of a microbial agent is inevitable. Results Potential of 2 entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), viz., Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, was evaluated against 2nd and 3rd larval instars of P. xylostella by adopting leaf dip and direct spraying methods under laboratory conditions. Significant mortality rate was achieved by each fungus under adopted methodologies. However, B. bassiana was found to be more effective in both conditions than M. anisopliae. Highest mean corrected mortality (77.80%) was recorded, when spores of B. bassiana were sprayed on the 2nd instar larvae (LC50=1.78×104/ml) after the 6th day of treatment. Similarly, incase of M. anisopliae LC50 for the 2nd instar at the same methodology was 2.78×104/ml with a mortality percentage of 70.0%. Offspring sex ratio was non-significantly related to treatment concentration and methodology, except for the control. Conclusion Beauveria bassiana and M. anisopliae had potential to suppress P. xylostella infestations when applied appropriately. Present findings suggested that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae when sprayed on immatures of host insect had more effect as compared to leaf dip procedure. Furthermore, no significant effect of concentrations was observed on sex ratio.

Sol–gel technique is utilized to produce the series of ferrite having chemical formula BaYyFe2-yO4 (y = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10). The cubic structure of all the samples have been revealed through X-ray diffraction data. The inclusion of yttrium content among the ferrites beyond 0.06, it will result into development of YFeO3 secondary phase. The lattice parameter of samples upsurges with the substitution of yttrium ions (Y3+). Jump lengths on A & B sites, bond lengths and ionic radii have direct relation with yttrium concentration. The evaluation of electrical parameters reveal that the resistivity, activation energy and bond length increased with the growth of yttrium. Below the Curie temperature, the movement of electrons and holes is main cause of conduction mechanism. But above this temperature, the polaron hopping handle the conduction process. With the addition of yttrium, the saturation magnetization value decreased. Coercivity of samples enlarged with the substitution of yttrium ions. The involvement of yttrium ion in barium ferrite system makes it appropriate for high frequency appliances.

In this paper, we establish some new Hermite-Hadamard type inequalities for differential exponential type convex functions and discuss several special cases. Moreover, in order to give the efficient of our main results, some applications for special means and error estimations are obtain.

South Asia comprises almost one-quarter of the world’s population. It faces a host of disputes of varying natures, including armed conflicts, proxy wars, and religious and ethnic strife. Despite its deplorable state of human security and impoverished people, South Asia is considered the least integrated region globally. Approximately 1.99 billion people suffer in terms of energy, food, water and health security due to conflicts and hostile interstate relationships. This paper analyses the socio-political and security environment of the region and explores the impediments to regional integration. Focusing on the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, it highlights that the idea of regional integration cannot be realized without resolving core issues. Economic cooperation between regional countries can only be achieved if integration models like the European Union and Association of South East Asian Nations are considered with necessary deviations. Bibliography Entry Niaz, Muhammad Tariq. 2022. "Regional Integration in South Asia: Utopia or Reality?" Margalla Papers 26 (1): 108-120.

High lift devices play a vital role in dictating the accelerated performance of an aircraft for different flight phases such as takeoff, landing, and aerobatic maneuvers. The aerodynamic design of high lift devices for any particular aircraft is an iterative process and is achieved through extensive aerodynamic Analysis of the aircraft for various flap configurations. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Wind tunnel testing are highly effective techniques for performing the required Analysis, yet they have high computational costs and time. To overcome this shortcoming, a robust framework based on potential flow solver (PFS) and geometry parameterization is required without compromising the fidelity of the Analysis. This research aims to develop a highly robust aerodynamic analysis framework based on the Vortex Lattice Method (VLM) coupled with Polhamus Suction Analogy and parametric modeling of high lift devices. The fidelity of the framework is validated through experimental testing and is quantified by developing a fidelity assessment matrix. It is established that the computational cost of CFD has been reduced three times with only a 10% to 20% loss in accuracy when the developed framework is used. The developed PFS framework gives results from 80% to 90%. The framework results for a reference aircraft are thoroughly compared with CFD analyses. The framework provides values that agree with corresponding CFD analyses in a fraction of the time.