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Purpose – Many students are found facing difficulties in learning English due to plenty of reasons: known and unknown ones. In order to overcome such an issue, the instructors have to explore for effective techniques of teaching English to motivate learners by any means. Technology in general and informatics in particular can be thought of as innovative tool of pedagogy in the current teaching-learning environment. The present proposal of research aims at creating innovative approaches, which attract learners' interest and catch their attention for better outputs. Design/methodology/approach – Following subsections have been discussed keeping the significance in view. Setting of the study: The present study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah-Saudi Arabia, which is one of the Saudi Arabian universities; however, it has opened up new avenues for the pedagogues, teachers of English and researchers to conduct studies in various allied fields. In order to have a representative sample of students' population, the participants were chosen from the “preparatory year”. Material and tools: This study used a questionnaire (Appendix) and a test to evaluate performances of the two groups: controlled and experimental. In order to further strengthen the findings, semi structured interview was conducted for a few select students from the student-sample. Since the questionnaire was adapted, the statistical validity and reliability was not considered to be essential; however, content/face validity was ensured by consulting 10 experts in the field of education/methods of teaching. Findings – Based on the analysis of data gathered from the test performances of the two groups of students, it was found that there existed a significant difference in the test scores. The questionnaire responses also proved that infographics can be proved to be an interesting tool of education in general and English language teaching in particular. However, it has been noticed from the gathered data that not many teachers are comfortable using multimedia or infographics for different reasons. The results of the present study are in line with the study by Rezaei and Sayadian (2015) that support the idea of infographics that would help English teachers to develop understanding and insights to design among the learners. They further contend that the infographic instruction offers choices for the utilization of collaborative activities. In addition, the infographics enhance students' performance as a whole as also supported by Alrwele (2017). Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted on a small sample which might affect the generalization of the outcomes. It was carried out with special reference to teaching of vocabulary and reading. Practical implications – There can be many recommendations for different stakeholders. For teachers, it is recommended that they should know about the significance of infographs for catching the attention of students. They should know how to design interesting and colorful infographs. The administration/management should facilitate the teachers with the required software or platform to create infographics and integrate in an English language class. In addition, teachers should attend workshops and training courses organized for topics related to the infographs. Originality/value – The author checked the study for plagiarism (excluding references) and found it to be 93% plagiarism free.

Abstract Background Bilateral ocular surface disease resulting from Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and chemical injuries are visually debilitating and difficult to treat. Ocular surface reconstruction by various means has been reported with variable results. This study addresses an unmet need for a prospective clinical trial comparing the outcomes of transplanting autologous oral and conjunctival epithelial cell constructs on human amniotic membrane by ex vivo tissue engineering. Methods A prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial was prospectively applied for registration, with the clinical trial registry of India (CTRI), with the approval of the Institute Ethics Committee number IEC/NP-99/11.04.2014 and CTRI No. REF/2018/10/021791, the study also registered with the WHO-recognized trial registry, International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registration reference number 45780. The study was conducted to compare clinical outcomes of two different tissue-engineered cell grafts, Cultivated Oral Mucosal Epithelial Transplantation (COMET) and Conjunctival Cultivated Epithelial Transplantation (CCET) for ocular surface reconstruction in patients with bilateral ocular surface disease due to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or chemical injuries. Fifty patients were enrolled and randomized to either the COMET or CCET group. A uniform pre-op and post-op protocol using standard medications was followed for all patients Parameters assessed at baseline, day 1, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively included patient comfort, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular surface status and corneal clarity. The efficacy was measured in terms of improvement of vision, reduction in vascularization, symblepharon and corneal clarity. Results In the study, 50 patients (50 eyes; mean ages of 29 ± 15.86 years and 26.36 ± 10.85 years, respectively; range, 12–65 years) were enrolled, with 25 patients each in the COMET and CCET groups. Out of them, 36% were female and 64% were male; the causes were Steven Johnson syndrome (48), and chemical injury (2). Mean pre-operative BCVA was log MAR 1.73 ± 0.57 for COMET and 1.99 ± 0.33 for the CCET group. Pre-operatively all 50 enrolled patients had opaque corneas pre-operatively, symblepharon that extended to the cornea categorised as grade 3 and corneal vascularization that went beyond the pupil’s boundary into the central zone encluaching on the visual axis. The minimal follow-up time was six months. Following surgery postoperatively, the BCVA considerably improved in the COMET group by 1.51 ± 0.58 compared to the CCET group by 1.91 ± 0.33 at 3 months. BCVA at 6 months was 1.73 ± 0.56 in the COMET group and 1.99 ± 0.31 in the CCET group, which is not statistically significant and comparable to the BCVA before surgery. The corneal clarity was significantly improved in COMET group 25 eye (100%) at 2 month, 3month and 19 eye (76%), 6eye (24%) at 6 months when compared to CCET group 15 eye improved (60%), 9 eyes (36%) not improved and one eye with opaque cornea (4%) at 2 months. 22 eye (88%) had not improved, 2 eye (8%) opaque cornea and 1 eye (4%) improved at 3 months. At 6 months 21 eye (84%) were not improved, 4 eye (16%) eye became opaqued at 6 months. Compared to preoperative conditions, both groups had improved corneal clarity significantly (p > 0.005). Of the 50 patients with grade 3 symblepharon extended to the cornea, were completely resolved 19 (76%) in COMET group when compared to CCET group 22 eye (88%) not improved. Similarly, 19 eye (76%) had a improvement in corneal vascularization when compared to the CCET group not improved 25 eye (100%) at 6months. No adverse event was observed in any of either group during the follow up periods. Conclusion Both cell types are effective to restore the ocular surface integrity in bilateral ocular surface disease. Whereas COMET is safe and efficacious in terms of improvement of clinical parameters including, BCVA, corneal clarity, reduction in vascularization and preventing the recurrence of symblepharon postoperatively 3months and 6 months. In addition, the CCET group maintained the stability of the ocular surface and had improvement in corneal clarity and a decrease in vascularization at 3 months compared to their pre-operative characteristics.

The research was conducted at the Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, Rajshahi University, from December 2021 to April 2022. The objective was to develop a fuzzy expert system for site-specific N fertilisation using leaf colour code (RGB) and irrigation frequencies for maize yield. The experiment encompassed two primary factors: nitrogen fertiliser application rates (N1: 100%, N2: 75%, N3: 50% of conventional rates) and irrigation frequencies (I1: 100%, I2: 75%, I3: 50% of pan evaporation). A completely randomised design (CRD) with three replications was used to arrange the experimental pots, each receiving recommended doses of phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur, with urea applied per treatment instructions. Results revealed significant chlorophyll content and grain yield differences among the various nitrogen fertiliser rates. The highest grain yield (219.27 g.pot-1) was observed with N1, whereas the lowest (186.6 g.pot-1) was with N3. Similarly, irrigation frequencies significantly influenced chlorophyll content and cob characteristics, with I1 resulting in the highest grain yield (211.27 g.pot-1) and I3 the lowest (184.6 g.pot-1). Furthermore, the interaction between fertiliser application rates and irrigation frequencies had notable effects on various parameters, leading to the highest grain yield of 227.62 g.pot-1 with the combination of N1 and I1 and the lowest (168.00 g.pot-1) with N3 I3. The agricultural experiments were facilitated using the Matlab fuzzy toolbox, employing the Mamdani inference method. Fuzzy rules were delineated for nitrogen application rates and irrigation frequencies, with three fuzzy sets each. Membership functions were developed utilising Matlab's fuzzy interface system (FIS) editor and membership function editor, optimising leaf chlorophyll content, evaporation rate as input tiger N fertilisation, and irrigation frequencies as output for precise maize production in Bangladesh.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a rare, highly contagious and a deadly disease with a variable fatality rate ranging from 30% to 90%. Over the past two decades, Ebola pandemic has severely affected the sub-Sahara region including Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Uganda. The causative agents of the most EVD cases are three distinct species out of six Ebolaviruses namely Zaire Ebolavirus (ZEBOV), Sudan Ebolavirus (SUDV) and Bundibugyo Ebolavirus (BDBV). In recent years, significant strides have been made in therapeutic interventions. Notably, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved two monoclonal antibodies: InmazebTM (REGN-EB3) and Ansuvimab or Ebanga™. Additionally, many small molecules are currently in the developmental stage, promising further progress in medical treatment. Addressing the critical need for preventive measures, this review provides an in-depth analysis of the licensed Ebola vaccines-Ervebo and the combination of Zabdeno (Ad26.ZEBOV) and Mvabea (MVA-BN-Filo) as well as the vaccines which are currently being tested for their efficacy and safety in clinical studies. These vaccines might play an important role in curbing the spread and mitigating the impact of this lethal disease. The current treatment landscape for EVD encompasses both nutritional (supportive) and drug therapies. The review comprehensively details the origin, pathogenesis, and epidemiology of EVD, shedding light on the ongoing efforts to combat this devastating disease. It explores small molecules in various stages of the development, discusses patents filed or granted, and delves into the clinical and supportive therapies that form the cornerstone of EVD management. This review aims to provide the recent developments made in the design and synthesis of small molecules for scientific community to facilitate a deeper understanding of the disease and fostering the development of effective strategies for prevention, treatment, and control of EVD.

Abstract Background Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting around 2% of children and young adults worldwide, characterized by deficits in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. Genetic factors contribute to the development of ID phenotypes, including mutations and structural changes in chromosomes. Pathogenic variants in the HCFC1 gene cause X-linked mental retardation syndrome, also known as Siderius type X-linked mental retardation. The MN1 gene is necessary for palate development, and mutations in this gene result in a genetic condition called CEBALID syndrome. Methods Exome sequencing was used to identify the disease-causing variants in two affected families, A and B, from various regions of Pakistan. Affected individuals in these two families presented ID, developmental delay, and behavioral abnormalities. The validation and co-segregation analysis of the filtered variant was carried out using Sanger sequencing. Results In an X-linked family A, a novel hemizygous missense variant (c.5705G > A; p.Ser1902Asn) in the HCFC1 gene (NM_005334.3) was identified, while in family B exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous nonsense variant (c.3680 G > A; p. Trp1227Ter) in exon-1 of the MN1 gene (NM_032581.4). Sanger sequencing confirmed the segregation of these variants with ID in each family. Conclusions The investigation of two Pakistani families revealed pathogenic genetic variants in the HCFC1 and MN1 genes, which cause ID and expand the mutational spectrum of these genes.

Background: The proximal humerus is a common site for primary malignant and benign aggressive bone tumors, necessitating wide resection and subsequent skeletal defect reconstruction. Various reconstruction options include osteoarticular allografts, autografts, endoprosthesis, nail-cement spacer, reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and allograft-prosthesis composites. However, there is no consensus on the optimal reconstruction method. This study aims to compare functional outcomes and complications between these two methods. Methods: A total of 40 patients with proximal humerus tumors who underwent endoprosthesis or nail-cement spacer reconstruction between March 2012 and December 2020 were included. The mean follow-up in the study was 31.37 +/− 12 months. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and functional outcomes were assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 93 scoring system and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. Complications and oncological outcomes were recorded. Results: Both groups were similar in terms of demographic and clinical variables. Endoprosthesis reconstruction demonstrated significantly better active shoulder forward flexion compared to nail-cement spacer (45.8 vs. 25.2 degrees) (P = .015). Endoprosthesis group also exhibited greater active shoulder internal rotation (68.25 vs. 63.25 degrees) (P = .004). No statistically significant differences were observed in overall functional outcomes. Complications, including radial nerve palsy and infection, were comparable between groups, with one case of spacer loosening. Conclusion: Both endoprosthesis and nail-cement spacer reconstruction provide comparable functional outcomes and complication rates following proximal humerus tumor resection. Nail-cement spacer offers a cost-effective alternative for patients in resource-constrained settings.

The escalation of environmental pathogenic microorganisms and disregard of public hygiene practices have resulted in the emergence of various skin infections within communities. Recent investigations have proposed that diverse snail mucus compositions may possess antimicrobial properties. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct further research to elucidate specific antibacterial characteristics inherent in the mucus of White Garden snail (Theba pisana). This study aimed to evaluate antibacterial activity of Theba pisana mucus extract against selected ATCC bacterial strains being Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and MRSA. The assessment involved comparing antimicrobial activity of the mucus extract to various broad-spectrum antibiotics. The susceptibility of bacterial isolates to snail mucus secretions was assessed using agar well diffusion method on Muller Hilton Agar plates. After incubation at 37°C for 24 hours, various concentrations of snail slime including 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% were applied. The findings reported that E. faecalis exhibited highest activity, with zone of inhibition measuring 24 mm, followed by K. pneumonia and S. aureus (16 mm), MRSA (14 mm), and E. coli (12 mm). However, at concentration of 25%, mucus extract exhibited effect only against E. faecalis. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of several tested antibiotics demonstrated similarity to that of the mucus extract. Therefore, it revealed that secretions of T. pisana mucus may possess the potential to act as a source of antibacterial agents. This may become as an alternative agent to costly synthetic antibacterial compounds. However, further studies are required to exploit the mucus secretion in addressing the issue of antibiotic resistance.

In the current investigation, the combination of selenium (Se) and epibrassinolide (EBL) exhibited a promising alleviative response against the concurrent stress of heat and drought in wheat plants. The compromised growth and photosynthetic performance of wheat plants under the combined stress of heat and drought were substantially improved with the treatment involving Se and EBL. This improvement was facilitated through the expression of Q9FIE3 and O04939 proteins, along with enhanced antioxidant activities. The heightened levels of antioxidant enzymes and the accumulation of osmoprotectant proline helped mitigate the overaccumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including electrolyte leakage, H2O2 accumulation, and lipid peroxidation, thus conferring tolerance against the combined stress of heat and drought. Studies have demonstrated that Se and EBL can assist wheat plants in recuperating from the adverse effects of heat and drought. As such, they are essential components of sustainable farming methods that aim to increase crop productivity.

BackgroundThe medical management of DT comprises tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), hormonal agents, anti-inflammatory drugs with the recently approved gamma secretase inhibitor nirogacestat being the current standard of care. Real-world data on evolving treatment landscapes of DT remains scarce.MethodsThis is a retrospective study of patients with DT registered between 1995 and 2020 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and Tata Medical Center, Kolkata. Baseline characteristics were analyzed in form of median values and interquartile range. Categorical and continuous variables were compared by chi square and independent samples T- tests respectively. Anxiety, depression and QoL were prospectively measured among 30 patients using Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scales respectively between 2022 to 2023.Results200 patients were included with a male-predominant (n=111, 55.5%) population and median age 26.5 (2.5-75) years. Extremity (n=100, 50%) and abdomen (n=65, 32.5%) were commonest primary sites and median of 2 (1–4) lines of treatment were received. First-line included surgery (n=116, 58%), systemic therapy (n=67, 33.5%), radiotherapy (10, n=5%) and active surveillance (n=7, 3.5%). First-line systemic agents included tamoxifen (n=55, 27.5%), imatinib (n=7, 3.5%), sorafenib (n=1, 0.5%) and chemotherapy (n=4, 2%). 2019 onward, 3% and 63% underwent active surveillance and surgery respectively. Best radiological response obtained with tamoxifen was stable disease (SD) (n=76, 59%) and partial response (PR) (n=31, 24.2%). Best radiological response obtained with sorafenib was PR (n=17, 60.7%) and SD (n=9, 32.1%). Thirty patients underwent HADS and FACT-G scale assessment. Mean HADS-Anxiety subscale score was 3.6 (+/-3.9 SD) and HADS-Depression sub-scale score was 2.6 (+/-3.5 SD) with clinically significant anxiety and depression in 2 (6.7%) patients each. The overall mean FACT-G score was 87.5 (+/-12.6 SD) and lower mean physical well-being (p=0.006) and emotional well-being (0.017) scores were significantly associated with higher HADS-anxiety (>/=8) scores.ConclusionsAssessment of anxiety, depression and QoL are paramount to gauge the psychological impact of DT. This study gives an overview of clinical and management profile of patients with DT in India, with limitations of selection bias, heterogeneous population and small sample size for QoL assessment.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the B-Lynch compression suture for primary post-partum hemorrhage control. METHODOLOGY It is a prospective cross-sectional study performed for two years, i.e., 1 November 2021 to 31 October 2023, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care hospital. This study included 65 study cases out of 23,964 with primary post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) due to uterine atony during cesarean delivery not responding to pharmacological treatment and was managed by applying B-Lynch compression sutures. The amount of blood loss, demographic characteristics, birth weight of babies, causative factors, and other related complications were studied in such selected cases. RESULTS B-Lynch compression suture presented a success rate of 97% in the present study. 52% had blood loss of 1000-1500ml, 29% had loss between 1501-2000ml and 18% had 2001-2500ml blood loss. 6% had wound gaping, 10.7% had a fever, and 8% had more than seven days stay in hospital, and wound infections were noted. CONCLUSION Our study concluded that the B-Lynch compression suture had a success rate of 97% in the management of primary post-partum hemorrhage, with few post-operative complications. The current research demonstrates the efficacy of B-Lynch as a lifesaving, easy, effectual technique that avoids hysterectomy and thus avoids heavy blood loss.

Abstract Objective Child marriage remains a significant concern in Bangladesh, where 38 million girls are married before reaching the age of 18. Child marriage contributes adversely to the health and nutritional status of their offspring. The current analysis investigated the association between maternal child marriage and nutritional outcomes including stunting, wasting and underweight of their under‐five children. Method This study analyzed data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) conducted in 2011, 2014 and 2017–2018. The researchers used descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses, controlling for potential socioeconomic and demographic variables, and adjusted the sample weight in all analyses using Stata. Result The analyses included pooled data of 25 323 ever‐married women and their under‐five children. Results showed that 73% of women were married before the age of 18. Children born to mothers married as children themselves were 19% more likely to be stunted and 13% was underweight but wasting wasn't directly linked to maternal child marriage. Adjusted analysis showed that child marriage was significantly associated with stunting [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.33], underweight (aOR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.26), wasting (aOR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.13). Conclusion This study observed a high prevalence of child marriage. Maternal child marriage was significantly associated with stunting, and underweight of their under‐five children. Mechanisms underlying these associations need to be explored to develop effective interventions to address these issues.

A little genomic literacy like “G to C” and “A to T” with orthodox “U” RNA signature is the future ABC for everyone. Since the kick start, Watson and Crick's model of DNA and Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jenifer Doudna’s invention of CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology thus confirmed our lead to novel molecular and genomic sciences.1 While the genomic tracks are being beaten in labs, there is an even exigence to expand the broadcast to early learners. There is a feeling of absolute resoluteness in developing a trickle-down tsunami-like ripple effect for policy-level document creation with governmental oversight to prevail “genomic literacy” in early learning. A non-biologist learner must decipher at least their “Genome” and the tremendous powers it shelters for them for guardianship, ethical use and medical

In this study, we developed an operational matrix method of integration using Haar wavelets to solve both linear and nonlinear pantograph fractional differential equations by taking Atangana's beta derivative. The proposed method utilizes an operational matrix and truncated Haar wavelet series to transform linear and nonlinear problems into objective functions. These objective functions are then minimized using differential evolution optimization. Illustrative examples demonstrate convergence and validation of the proposed method. The proposed method yields exceptional numerical outcomes in terms of competitiveness and accuracy when compared to exact solutions. In addition, performance metrics, including the mean absolute deviation, root mean squared error, P2norm, P∞ norm, Theil's inequality coefficient, variance account for, coefficient of determination, and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, were calculated for a varying number of collocation points. The results indicate that the Haar wavelet operational matrix method is a straightforward and efficient method for solving pantograph fractional differential equations.

The current research contributes to sustainable development and world ecology by identifying key areas, current dynamics, and key organizations' contributors and providing significant directions toward future research on the relationship between Green Governance (GG) and Firm Performance (FP). This study carried out bibliometric systematized research using the keywords ''Green Governance'' AND ''Firm Performance'' from the Scopus database, of which 238 scientific papers were retrieved between 2002 and 2022. The assessment was conducted using inclusion and exclusion eligibility criteria adopted from the PRISMA 2022 flow diagram, which illustrates the sequential progression of information throughout various stages of a systematic review. Therefore, 209 research were analyzed using the Biblioshiny (Bibliometrix R package) for the science mapping workflow. The study found that the major research focus in this area is around firm performance, environmental management, environmental performance, and ''sustainability followed sequentially are the prominent research topics in this field. The findings further revealed that there had been a 21% drop in publication in recent years. Undoubtedly, there is growing research, especially by renowned authors on exploring the impact on firm performance. The major studies are conducted in China and the United States, engaged in the most significant collaboration. At the same time, the impact on most countries in Africa, South America, and a few in Asia is minute. Lastly, this study has also proposed five reasonable research directions based on the identified research gaps and the research framework for future analysis.

Abstract The spatial movement of the human population from one region to another and the existence of super-spreaders are the main factors that enhanced the disease incidence. Super-spreaders refer to the individuals having transmitting ability to multiple pathogens. In this article, an epidemic model with spatial and temporal effects is formulated to analyze the impact of some preventing measures of COVID-19. The model is developed using six nonlinear partial differential equations. The infectious individuals are sub-divided into symptomatic, asymptomatic and super-spreader classes. In this study, we focused on the rigorous qualitative analysis of the reaction-diffusion model. The fundamental mathematical properties of the proposed COVID-19 epidemic model such as boundedness, positivity, and invariant region of the problem solution are derived, which ensure the validity of the proposed model. The model equilibria and its stability analysis for both local and global cases have been presented. The normalized sensitivity analysis of the model is carried out in order to observe the crucial factors in the transmission of infection. Furthermore, an efficient numerical scheme is applied to solve the proposed model and detailed simulation are performed. Based on the graphical observation, diffusion in the context of confined public gatherings is observed to significantly inhibit the spread of infection when compared to the absence of diffusion. This is especially important in scenarios where super-spreaders may play a major role in transmission. The impact of some non-pharmaceutical interventions are illustrated graphically with and without diffusion. We believe that the present investigation will be beneficial in understanding the complex dynamics and control of COVID-19 under various non-pharmaceutical interventions.

This study examines the banking sector’s performance by conducting a two-step analysis using balanced panel data from 46 commercial banks operating in India between 2011 and 2023. Initially, we utilized the Data Envelopment Window Analysis and Malmquist Productivity Index measures to analyze the efficiency and total factor productivity index. Second, applying panel regression, we used the CAMELS framework to regress various bank and country-specific factors against Indian banks’ performance indicators. The results show that the banking industry in India witnessed a consistent pattern throughout the study period. Despite this, an examination of each bank’s performance at the individual level reveals that public banks consistently display the highest average efficiency score, whereas foreign banks are more productivity-advanced. The regression results suggest that Indian Banks have been significantly affected by bank, country-specific and market structure factors. Government initiatives to consolidate banks, positively affect the profitability, productivity, and efficiency of banks, and smooth resource mobilization might cushion an emerging economy such as India.

Background: Although vaccines are an effective tool for tackling COVID-19, hesitancy exists in Pakistan. The objectives were to find the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and the causes of vaccine hesitancy among non-medical undergraduate students of Peshawar University. Methods: This cross-sectional study, was conducted from March 2021 to July 2022, using a validated closed-ended structured questionnaire. A pilot study was done on 32 students (10% of the sample) at Agriculture University with Cronbach's alpha 0.7. By non-probability convenient sampling, 315 undergraduate students from the Psychology Department, Economics, and Institute of Management Studies of Peshawar University were included. The data was analyzed using SPSS v.23. Categorical variables were presented in the form of frequency and percentages. The chi-square test was applied with a p

To achieve sustainability, the waste produced by various sources must be transformed into economically viable materials. Herein the honeycomb incorporated with polypyrrole (DWHC@Ppy) was used as a waste material and converted into an adsorbent to remove toxic Pb2+ and Cd2+ from aqueous media. The material was thoroughly characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, and TEM. The process parameters were appraised via batch mode and the optimized parameters were found to be 0.5 g L-1; 50 min; 50 mg/L; pH 6. The non-linear isotherm and kinetic modeling were confirmed well by pseudo-second order and Freundlich models respectively suggesting heterogeneous adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity Qm was found to be 731.08 and 642.59 mgg−1 for Pb2+ and Cd2+ and it decreased with an increase in temperature (298–313 K) implying the process to be exothermic. The DWHC@PpyNC exhibited better reusability up to 4 cycles indicating its practical ability. Notably, the removal efficacy of DWHC@PpyNC for Pb2+ and Cd2+ in all the spiked samples was >78 % which also addresses its practical performance. The results obtained authenticate DWHC@Ppy as a low-cost sustainable adsorbent for mitigating heavy metals from the aquatic phase.

Introduction: Indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a diverse category of malignancies characterized by a chronic relapsing-remitting disease course. In the modern era, patients usually receive a combination of Bendamustine plus rituximab as the initial therapy, otherwise known as an R-Benda regimen. While clinical trials have demonstrated R-Benda to be superior to other regimens, our study aims to provide insight into real-world outcomes of R-Benda therapy. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study for the period of January 2015 to July 2022 among patients receiving R-Benda for indolent NHLs at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. All patients underwent pre- and post-treatment assessment via positron emission tomography (PET) scan and computed tomography (CT) imaging. The response to treatment was assessed, and the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: We enrolled 118 patients, out of which the majority were elderly males (64%). The 2-year follow-up rate was 76.3% (n=90), and the median follow-up time was 29 months. The most common histopathology encountered was Follicular lymphoma (52%) presenting with stage IV disease (56%). Approximately 73% experienced a complete metabolic response to the treatment. Of these, 31.4% subsequently experienced a relapse. Additionally, 17.7% of patients underwent a partial response, while 7% had refractory disease. The mean OS was 140 months (95% CI: 120-160), while the lower quartile value was 50 months. On the other hand, the median PFS was 80 months (95% CI: 43-N/A). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that patients on R-Benda had good clinical outcomes, with the vast majority living beyond 50 months. Moreover, 76.1% had no disease progression for the first two years. It adds to the existing body of literature that demonstrates that in real-world experience, the outcomes of R-Benda treatment are better than those reported by earlier randomized-control trials.

Abstract Salinity stress has detrimental effects on various aspects of plant development. However, our understanding of strategies to mitigate these effects in crop plants remains limited. Recent research has shed light on the potential of sodium acetate as a mitigating component against salinity stress in several plant species. Here, we show the role of acetate sodium in counteracting the adverse effects on oat (Avena sativa) plants subjected to NaCl-induced salinity stress, including its impact on plant morphology, photosynthetic parameters, and gene expression related to photosynthesis and antioxidant capacity, ultimately leading to osmoprotection. The five-week experiment involved subjecting oat plants to four different conditions: water, salt (NaCl), sodium acetate, and a combination of salt and sodium acetate. The presence of NaCl significantly inhibited plant growth and root elongation, disrupted chlorophylls and carotenoids content, impaired chlorophyll fluorescence, and down-regulated genes associated with the plant antioxidant defense system. Furthermore, our findings reveal that when stressed plants were treated with sodium acetate, it partially reversed these adverse effects across all analyzed parameters. This reversal was particularly evident in the increased content of proline, thereby ensuring osmoprotection for oat plants, even under stressful conditions. These results provide compelling evidence regarding the positive impact of sodium acetate on various plant development parameters, with a particular focus on the enhancement of photosynthetic activity.

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is an emergency and a potentially life-threatening condition. Automated segmentation of ICH from head CT images can provide clinicians with volumetric measures that can be used for diagnosis and decision support for treatment procedures. Existing solutions typically involve training deep learning models to perform segmentation directly on the whole CT image. However, datasets with segmentation masks are typically very small in comparison with datasets with bounding boxes. Thus, we propose a two-stage approach that utilizes both bounding boxes and segmentation masks to help improve segmentation performance. In the first stage, ICH regions are detected and localized with bounding boxes surrounding the lesion by using a supervised YOLOv5 object detector. In the second stage, the localized ICH foreground is automatically segmented using TransDeepLab, an attention-based transformer network. Although we utilize both ground-truth bounding boxes and segmentation masks, different datasets can be used to train each stage. There is no requirement for pairing up bounding boxes and segmentation masks to train the model. Since bounding box annotations are available in larger quantities than segmentation masks, our approach allows these large datasets of bounding boxes to be used to improve ICH segmentation performance. On our dataset of segmentation masks, we demonstrated that our proposed two-stage YOLOv5+ TransDeepLab model outperformed segmentation methods such as SegResNet by 8% in terms of Dice score. Given ground truth bounding boxes, a Dice score of 0.769 is achieved, outperforming state-of-the-art methods such as nnU-Net. In sum, our proposed two-stage approach produces more accurate binary segmentation of ICH for neuroradiologists and these improved measurements could potentially aid their clinical decision-making process.

AbstractPhthalocyanine is a safe and better biocompatible compound, and it has been used in diagnostic and cancer imaging. But the application in the treatment of colon and cervical cancer is elusive. In the present study, we have synthesized Iron (II) phthalocyanine and Zinc phthalocyanine respectively. The bonding, structure, and physical characteristics of the prepared products were analyzed and confirmed by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDX methods. We have also examined the anti-cancer properties of the compounds on two different cancer cells (colon cancer HCT-116 and cervical cancer HeLa) by MTT assay. The cell viability assay results showed that a noteworthy reduction in the cell viability post-treatments of Iron (II) phthalocyanine. However, treatment of Zinc phthalocyanine did not show any inhibitory action on both HCT-116 and HeLa cancer cells. We have also calculated the inhibitory concentration (IC50) post treatment of Zinc phthalocyanine and Iron (II) phthalocyanine on HCT-116 and HeLa cells. The IC50 was 30 µg/ml for HCT-116 cells treated with Iron (II) phthalocyanine, whereas it was 33 µg/ml for the HeLa cells. We have also examined the impact of Zinc phthalocyanine and Iron (II) phthalocyanine on non-cancerous cells (HEK-293), and MTT results showed that Iron (II) phthalocyanine and Zinc phthalocyanine induced no significant inhibitory action on HEK-293 cells. In addition, we have also examined the anti-fungal action of Zinc phthalocyanine and Iron (II) phthalocyanine. We have also examined the impact of Iron (II) phthalocyanine on cancer cells using DAPI staining, we have found that was a major reduction in cancer cells population, but there is no reduction in the Iron (II) phthalocyanine -treated cells. We have found that Iron (II) phthalocyanine induced significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans, whereas no significant antifungal activity was observed with Zinc phthalocyanine.

Background: Herbal medicine or phytotherapy is the science of using herbal remedies for the treatment of diseases. Nowadays increasing number of people are using herbal medicines because of lower level of side effects and toxicity associated with them. Pharmacologists must be knowledgeable about their safety. Present study was carried out to evaluate the cardiovascular safety of herbal cough syrup. The syrup contains Glycerrhiza glabra, Piper longum, Adhatoda vasica, Viola odorata, Hyssopus officinalis, and Alpinia galanga. All these ingredients are said to have antitussive properties without any cardiovascular toxic effects. Objective: To evaluate cardiovascular safety of herbal cough syrup Methods: Twenty eight rabbits of either sex, weighing 670g–1200g were divided into four groups, with 7 rabbits in each group. Group I was the control group & received 0.3 ml of water, group II, III & IV received herbal syrup normal dose (0.57ml/kg), moderate dose (5ml/kg),and high dose (10ml/kg) respectively once daily, orally for a period of 45 days following which blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture, centrifuged & serum was analyzed on Vitalab eclipse automatic analyzer for cardiac & lipid profile. Results: In comparison to control group there were no significant changes in cardiac and lipid profile of all groups. Overall results did not reveal any significant toxicity. Conclusion: The Herbal Syrup is safe as an antitussive and reveals no significant cardiovascular toxicity. Key Words: Herbal, Cough, Cardiovascular Safety

The increasing frequency of zoonotic spillover events and viral mutations in low and middle-income countries presents a critical global health challenge. Contributing factors encompass cultural practices like bushmeat consumption, wildlife trade for traditional medicine, habitat disruption, and the encroachment of impoverished settlements onto natural habitats. The existing “vaccine gap” in many developing countries exacerbates the situation by allowing unchecked viral replication and the emergence of novel mutant viruses. Despite global health policies addressing the root causes of zoonotic disease emergence, there is a significant absence of concrete prevention-oriented initiatives, posing a potential risk to vulnerable populations. This article is targeted at policymakers, public health professionals, researchers, and global health stakeholders, particularly those engaged in zoonotic disease prevention and control in low and middle-income countries. The article underscores the importance of assessing potential zoonotic diseases at the animal-human interface and comprehending historical factors contributing to spillover events. To bridge policy gaps, comprehensive strategies are proposed that include education, collaborations, specialized task forces, environmental sampling, and the establishment of integrated diagnostic laboratories. These strategies advocate simplicity and unity, breaking down barriers, and placing humanity at the forefront of addressing global health challenges. Such a strategic and mental shift is crucial for constructing a more resilient and equitable world in the face of emerging zoonotic threats.

This study aims to develop an integrated agricultural drought index (IADI) that incorporates multiple remote sensing-based agricultural drought indices, considering variations in climate and land use at a local scale in ten different agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Pakistan from 2000 to 2020. The IADI focuses on soil moisture stress to vegetation, utilizing the soil moisture condition index (SMCI) derived from various soil moisture datasets. The correlation between SMCI and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) is assessed at different time scales (1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month) using Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Results indicate that SMCIERA5-Land is superior to others and is selected to develop the IADI. To account for local variations in climate and land use, agricultural drought indices (ADIs) are calculated on a 0.25°×0.25° grids. These ADIs are then averaged over a 3×3 window and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to understand the causal relationship between SMCIERA5-Land and ADIs. Temperature condition index (TCI) and vegetation health index (VHI) demonstrate a significant causal relationship with SMCIERA5-Land in most AEZs, while the relationship between temperature-vegetation dryness index (TVDI) and vegetation condition index (VCI) with SMCIERA5-Land is insignificant across the AEZs except in northern Pakistan. The dominance of land surface temperature (LST)-derived indices in most AEZs highlights the role of temperature in drought onset and propagation. To develop the IADI, Bayesian principal component analysis (BPCA) is employed to calculate dynamic weights between the selected ADIs and SMCIERA5-Land. The distribution of BPCA weights exhibits extreme variability across different AEZs, with some windows being sensitive to LST-derived ADIs and others to NDVI-derived ADIs. The average BPCA weights for VCI, TCI, VHI, and TVDI range from 9.42%–23.05%, 23.20–49.83%, 13.00–31.08%, and 16.38–25.50%, respectively. The IADI demonstrates the best fit with TCI and VHI, while showing good agreement with SPEI, VCI, and TVDI. The correlation between IADI and TCI/VHI ranges from 0.62/0.72–0.94/0.97. Furthermore, ordinary least square regression (OLSR) is used to assess the accuracy of IADI, ADIs, and SPEI in analyzing the impact of drought on wheat/maize yield at the district level in Punjab province, Pakistan. OLSR analysis reveals the dominance of IADI, followed by VHI, in analyzing the role of drought on crop yield. For example, in Rajanpur district, one unit increase in drought severity results in an 11.94 t/ha decrease in maize yield, with IADI explaining 59% of the variations in maize yield. Similarly, one unit increase in drought severity leads to a 7.22 t/ha decrease in wheat yield, with IADI explaining 49% of the variations in wheat yield. Overall, results indicate that the developed IADI effectively captures agricultural drought with high spatial and temporal resolutions across different agro-ecological zones, providing valuable insights for monitoring agricultural drought in data-scarce regions.

Optimized management of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a challenge not just because micro and microangiopathies’, chronic kidney disease, and infections related to poor cellular immunity. Methodology to manage T2DM remains in need for evolution to curb disease and help manage economy of diabetes care. Metformin remains the frontline soldier against T2DM. However, optimized and evidence-based use of metform for managing T2DM in clinics needs better molecular analytics to micro-precise medical management. We evaluated 353 manuscripts to finally shortlisted 45 reviews and RCTs using PRISMA guidelines from Google Scholar, PubMed and Cochrane Reviews. This systematic review attempted to identify the role of pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenomic, epigenetic and mitochondrial factors which can lead to sub-optimal diabetes management, metformin resistance and mutations which could lead to poor to no response to medicine. The most common mutations and polymorphisms in solute channels were observed to reduce the therapeutic efficacy/resistance

Recently, metal-based nanoformulations have been explored for targeted cancer therapeutics. In this study, synergistic therapeutic action of silver (Ag)-cisplatin nanoparticles loaded on monodispersed spherical silica (MSS) was investigated to evaluate anti-cancer (HCT-116 and HeLa cells) and antibacterial activity (P.aeruginosa, and S.aureus). Four different wt% of Ag (1, 2, 4 and 6 wt%) was loaded on MSS using a wet impregnation method. Characterization using XRD revealed the cubic phase of Ag nanoparticles with (111), (200) and (220) plane on MSS. The chemical state, dispersion of Ag and synergistic cohabitation with cisplatin (Cpt) was identified using diffuse reflectance UV–visible spectroscopy (DR-UV Vis), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Zeta potential analysis indicated an increase in hydrodynamic diameter with high colloidal stability (–23.3 to −28.5 mV). The percentage cumulative Cpt release was studied using automated Franz cell and dialysis membrane technique. The effect of Cpt release on 4 wt%Ag impregnated on different shaped supports was investigated using cubic SBA-16 (Santa Barbara Amorphous), MFI type Ti-ZSM-5 (Zeolite Socony Mobil #5), hexagonal mesosilicalite, nanotube halloysite, and Ag-silicalite, respectively. Drug release study indicates that Ag loading controls the Cpt release. The kinetics of drug release for the different formulations was examined using Korsmeyers-Peppas model. Release constant (k) and release exponent (n) were utilized for the rate of drug release and diffusion mechanisms, respectively. The in vitro study revealed an efficient interaction of nanoformulations promoting both antibacterial and anticancer activities.