Search

Sewage water is causing a potential threat to agriculture sector due to industrial effluents having heavy metals. Present investigation was carried to study the role of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or aqueous extracts of Hyacinth and Hedychium on soil quality and growth of spinach and turnip plants irrigated with sewage water (SW). Treatment of plants with SW resulted in an increment of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities. However, EDTA or plant extracts further enhanced their activities. At both stages of development of the tested crops, a substantial increase was found in the content of proline and total phenols, indicating the strengthening of the antioxidant protection mechanism to boost the oxidative effects of SW stress. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) studies revealed considerable variation in the protein profile among the different treatments, with an expression of some unique proteins obvious with other treatments. SW treatments increased heavy metals (HM) content in soil and plants; however, EDTA or plant extracts greatly decreased the levels of HMs in both shoots and roots and soils. The present study results suggest that the application of EDTA or aqueous plant extracts can be a useful strategy for phytoextraction in areas irrigated with sewage water.

Abstract A major challenge in protein design is to augment existing functional proteins with multiple property enhancements. Altering several properties likely necessitates numerous primary sequence changes, and novel methods are needed to accurately predict combinations of mutations that maintain or enhance function. Models of sequence co-variation (e.g., EVcouplings), which leverage extensive information about various protein properties and activities from homologous protein sequences, have proven effective for many applications including structure determination and mutation effect prediction. We apply EVcouplings to computationally design variants of the model protein TEM-1 β-lactamase. Nearly all the 14 experimentally characterized designs were functional, including one with 84 mutations from the nearest natural homolog. The designs also had large increases in thermostability, increased activity on multiple substrates, and nearly identical structure to the wild type enzyme. This study highlights the efficacy of evolutionary models in guiding large sequence alterations to generate functional diversity for protein design applications.

Abstract Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are exclusive to the retina, critically multifunctional in maintaining the visual functions and health of photoreceptors and the retina. Despite their vital functions throughout lifetime, RPE cells lack regenerative capacity, rendering them vulnerable which can lead to degenerative retinal diseases. With advancements in stem cell technology enabling the differentiation of functional cells from pluripotent stem cells and leveraging the robust autocrine and paracrine functions of RPE cells, extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by RPE cells hold significant therapeutic potential in supplementing RPE cell activity. While previous research has primarily focused on the trophic factors secreted by RPE cells, there is a lack of studies investigating miRNA, which serves as a master regulator of gene expression. Profiling and defining the functional role of miRNA contained within RPE‐secreted EVs is critical as it constitutes a necessary step in identifying the optimal phenotype of the EV‐secreting cell and understanding the biological cargo of EVs to develop EV‐based therapeutics. In this study, we present a comprehensive profile of miRNA in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) secreted during RPE maturation following differentiation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs); early‐stage hESC‐RPE (20–21 days in culture), mid‐stage hESC‐RPE (30–31 days in culture) and late‐stage hESC‐RPE (60–61 days in culture). This exploration is essential for ongoing efforts to develop and optimize EV‐based intraocular therapeutics utilizing RPE‐secreted EVs, which may significantly impact the function of dysfunctional RPE cells in retinal diseases.

The present study investigates the axisymmetric stagnation point radiative flow of a Cu-Al2O3/water hybrid nanofluid over a radially stretched/shrunk disk. In this paper, a new mathematical model has been developed by taking into consideration the concept of different nanoparticles concentration in a hybrid nanofluid, which are Brownian motion and thermophoresis of nanoparticles. A new model for entropy generation has also been provided in the present study. The non-dimensional governing equations of the developed mathematical model are solved using newly developed and efficient overlapping grid spectral collocation method. Numerical stability and residual error test are provided here to show the accuracy of the numerical method in this mathematical model. The outcomes of fluid flow, temperature, and two different types of concentration profiles are depicted, and described in graphical and tabular forms. For the limiting instances, comparison shows excellent agreement among current and results established in the literature. Increasing the strength of magnetic field is seen to increase the radial component of fluid velocity as well as the entropy generated within the system. Two different nanofluid concentration profiles are increasing and decreasing with rising thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameters, respectively, from a particular height above the disk because of the revised nanofluid boundary condition. Temperature profile increases here with increasing Biot number, and increasing Brinkman number causes higher entropy generation number for both stretching and shrinking disks. The enhanced thermal characteristics of the hybrid nanofluid over the single particle nanofluid has been observed.

Owing to their outstanding performance, environmental friendliness and stability, perovskite materials are becoming very important for solar cells, renewable energy sources and thermoelectric generators. This work uses the first-principles approach to explore the structural, electronic, optical and elastic characteristics of K2ScCuF6 and K2YCuF6 double perovskites. The negative formation energy in Birch-Murnaghan confirms the stability of the compounds in Fm3m (225) space group. The analysis of the electronic properties concluded that both K2ScCuF6 and K2YCuF6 are narrow band gap semiconductors materials, having 1.2 and 2.3 eV of bandgap energies, respectively. This was further verified by the density of states. The mechanical stability, ductility and anisotropic nature of the compounds was shown by analyzing their elastic constants. In addition, the optical properties showed transparency at low energy values but showed both transmission and absorption characteristics at higher energy levels. These interesting results imply that K2ScCuF6 and K2YCuF6 have significant potential in solar cells, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), smart windows, displays and sensors.

Abstract The maize (Zea mays L.) is a monocot that is a member of the Poaceae family and a valuable feed for livestock, human food, and raw material for various industries. The halothermal time model determines how plants respond to salt (NaCl) stress under sub-optimal conditions. This model examines the relation between NaClb (g), GR, GP, salinity and temperature stress on germination of seeds dynamics in various crops. Five constant temperatures i.e. 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C and five ψ levels (NaCl concentrations converted to ψ − 0, − 0.2, − 0.4, − 0.6, and − 0.8 MPa) were used in this experiment. In light of the results, the maximum halo-thermal time constant value was recorded at 35 °C temperature, while maximum germination percentage was detected at 30 °C in the controlled condition. Moreover, the lowermost value was recorded at 20 °C at − 0.8 MPa osmotic potential. The highest CAT, APX, and GPX activities were recorded at 15 °C at − 0.8 MPa, while the lowest values were observed for 0 MPa at 30 °C temperature. In conclusion, by employing the halo thermal time model, the germination of maize variety (var.30W52) was accurately predicted for the first time under varying levels of temperature and osmotic potentials.

This investigation is centrally focused on the comprehensive evolution and enhancement of FOODIEBOT(shortened name for food delivery robot, an adaptive service automaton with a wide range of functionalities. Its capabilities encompass sophisticated image processing methods, seamlessly integrated via mobile applications (APP) and web interfaces, tailored specifically for intricate object manipulation in dining hall settings. During its developmental phase, the precise calibration of PID controller coefficients emerged as an essential requirement. The model underwent meticulous scrutiny through detailed simulations using MATLAB software. Following this phase, its operational efficiency navigating through circular, elliptical, spiral, and octagonal trajectories underwent rigorous examination, utilizing optimization methodologies like Beetle Antennae Search (BAS) Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Pelican Optimization Algorithm (POA), and Equilibrium Optimizer (EO). The exposition emphasizes the diverse dispersion of optimized coefficients within each algorithmic framework. The pinnacle of this effort involved a comprehensive evaluation of pathway performance, amalgamating insights from each optimization paradigm. The discussion extensively delineates both simulated and real-time performance metrics of the robot, validating the accuracy and reliability of simulation in deriving PID controller values. In the comprehensive evaluation of methodologies and the robotic system’s effectiveness, the BAS technique excels in operational efficiency. This method consistently outperforms its counterparts in execution time, primarily due to its meticulous optimization of particle count. The comparative analysis across various trajectories reveals intriguing insights. The EO approach showcases outstanding accuracy in Path 1, while the POA method achieves optimal precision in Path 3. Impressively, the BAS technique demonstrates unparalleled accuracy in Path 4. Furthermore, in terms of solution optimization, the BAS method consistently displays the shortest execution times across all traversed pathways. When examining maximum velocity along these routes, the PSO method excels in Paths 1, 3, and 4, consistently achieving the highest speeds. Notably, Path 2 uniquely displays the peak velocity attained by the POA method. This article presents comprehensive insights into the constituent elements of the robotic system’s design. The inquiry delves into the intricate nuances of optimization methodologies, elucidating their profound impact on the service automaton’s performance across diverse orientations. The pragmatic implications underscore the critical role of temporal considerations in the judicious selection of these methodologies. The observed congruence between simulated and practical performance serves as a definitive validation, affirming the precision of simulation computations and the subsequent derivation of PID controller values.

Background: Despite members of dog-owning families being at a higher risk of dog bites owing to their proximity to dogs in their household, there are hardly any studies from India which focus on the burden of dog bites among them and their rabies control and prevention practices. This study aimed to estimate the burden of dog bites among dog owners and their wound management practices to prevent rabies. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pet dog owners in a high-end housing society of National Capital Region of Delhi. A pre-tested and pre-validated schedule was used to collect data by consecutive sampling through community survey. Data were analyzed using R software. The incidence of dog bites and the status of rabies prevention practices adopted by the participants are presented as proportions. Chi-square test was applied to compare proportions. Results: A total of 100 families were studied, which covered 355 family members. The incidence of dog bites in the past 1 year was found to be 44/355, 12.4% (95% confidence interval 9.2–16.3%). Pet dogs were responsible for 31/44 (70.5%) bites. Among 44 dog bite incidents, 30 (68.2%) reported taking any injection after the incident, and 10 (22.7%) reported receiving an anti-rabies vaccine. Only six out of 100 families reported at least one family member covered by rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis. Conclusion: The incidence of dog bites among the dog owners was high. The rabies pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis practices adopted by the participants were found to be inadequate.

This article encounters the use of two wavelet methods, namely the collocation method based on Haar wavelets (CMHW) and the higher-order collocation method based on Haar wavelets (HCMHW), to solve linear and nonlinear fourth-order differential equations with different forms of given data such as two-point boundary conditions and two-point integral boundary conditions. Managing these types of boundary conditions can be challenging in numerical methods. However, in this study, these types of equations are handled in a simple manner using the Haar wavelet expressions, as provided in the given information. In the case of nonlinear problems, the quasi-linearization technique is introduced to linearize the equation. Nonlinear fourth-order differential equations are transformed into a simple linear system of algebraic equations using the quasi-linearization technique and Haar wavelets. These equations are then solved very easily to find the solution of the differential equations. The convergence rate and stability of both the methods are studied in details. The convergence rate of the proposed HCMHW is faster than the CMHW (2+2s>2,s=1,2…). Some of the examples are given to indicate the better performance and accuracy of the proposed HCMHW.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of ice-jam flood forecasting methodologies applicable to rivers during freezing. It emphasizes the importance of understanding river ice processes and fluvial geomorphology for developing a freeze-up ice-jam flood forecasting system. The article showcases a stochastic modelling approach, which involves simulating a deterministic river ice model multiple times with varying parameters and boundary conditions. This approach has been applied to the Exploits River at Badger in Newfoundland, Canada, a river that has experienced several freeze-up ice-jam floods. The forecasting involves two approaches: predicting the extent of the ice cover during river freezing and using an ensemble method to determine backwater flood level elevations. Other examples of current ice-jam flood forecasting systems for the Kokemäenjoki River (Pori, Finland), Saint John River (Edmundston, NB, Canada), and Churchill River (Mud Lake, NL, Canada) that are operational are also presented. The text provides a detailed explanation of the processes involved in river freeze-up and ice-jam formation, as well as the methodologies used for freeze-up ice-jam flood forecasting. Ice-jam flood forecasting systems used for freeze-up were compared to those employed for spring breakup. Spring breakup and freeze-up ice-jam flood forecasting systems differ in their driving factors and methodologies. Spring breakup, driven by snowmelt runoff, typically relies on deterministic and probabilistic approaches to predict peak flows. Freeze-up, driven by cold temperatures, focuses on the complex interactions between atmospheric conditions, river flow, and ice dynamics. Both systems require air temperature forecasts, but snowpack data are more crucial for spring breakup forecasting. To account for uncertainty, both approaches may employ ensemble forecasting techniques, generating multiple forecasts using slightly different initial conditions or model parameters. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art in ice-jam flood forecasting systems and to identify gaps and areas for improvement in existing ice-jam flood forecasting approaches, with a focus on enhancing their accuracy, reliability, and decision-making potential. In conclusion, an effective freeze-up ice-jam flood forecasting system requires real-time data collection and analysis, historical data analysis, ice jam modeling, user interface design, alert systems, and integration with other relevant systems. This combination allows operators to better understand ice jam behavior and make informed decisions about potential risks or mitigation measures to protect people and property along rivers. The key findings of this review are as follows: (i) Ice-jam flood forecasting systems are often based on simple, empirical models that rely heavily on historical data and limited real-time monitoring information. (ii) There is a need for more sophisticated modeling techniques that can better capture the complex interactions between ice cover, water levels, and channel geometry. (iii) Combining data from multiple sources such as satellite imagery, ground-based sensors, numerical models, and machine learning algorithms can significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of ice-jam flood forecasts. (iv) Effective decision-support tools are crucial for integrating ice-jam flood forecasts into emergency response and mitigation strategies.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a move from face-to-face to digital delivery of services by hospitals and primary care. However, little is known about the impact of digital transformation on organizations supporting unpaid caregivers. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of care provided by such informal caregivers is estimated to be £111 billion (US$ 152.7 billion) in England. ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze service uptake patterns (including digital service options) over the pandemic period in an English caregivers’ support organization covering a population of 0.98 million; measure changes in organizational performance, service efficiency, and quality; and identify the views of caregivers on service provision and future digital delivery. MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of the use of digital versus nondigital support services (January 2019 to June 2021) by caregivers in city and rural geographic areas. We compared organizational performance and service quality indicators for 2 financial years (2019-2020 and 2020-2021). A survey was conducted to identify barriers and facilitators to digital service uptake, the computer proficiency of caregivers (the Computer Proficiency Questionnaire, 12-item version), and preferences for future digital service provision. Quantitative data were analyzed using Stata 13 (StataCorp LLC). Thematic analysis was used for open-text survey responses. ResultsThe number of caregivers registered with the organization rose from 14,817 in 2019 to 20,237 in 2021. Monthly contacts rose from 1929 to 6741, with remote contacts increasing from 48.89% (943/1929) to 86.68% (5843/6741); distinctive patterns were observed for city versus rural caregivers. There was an increase in one-to-one contacts (88.8%) and caregiver assessments (20.9%), with no expansion in staffing. Service quality indicators showed an improvement in 5 of 8 variables (all P

Abstract Early seed germination significantly influences crop growth and production, prompting the exploration of seed priming as a pivotal technique. Despite the acknowledged importance of faster germination and emergence for successful seedling establishment, oilseed crops like Sinapis alba have received limited attention concerning seed priming methods, unlike cereal and grain crops. This study aimed to bridge this gap by subjecting S. alba seeds to six priming treatments: T1 = control, T2 = distilled water, T3 = NaCl (0.5%), T4 = KNO3 (0.5%), T5 = CaCl2 (0.5%), and T6 = Moringa leaf extract at a 1:30 ratio (30 times diluted), to assess their impact on various growth and yield parameters. The data analysis revealed significant effects of seed priming on various parameters, with exceptions in plant height unaffected by seed soaking. Seed priming notably enhanced germination percentage, germination rate index, and seedling vigor index, while reducing mean germination time to emergence significantly. Furthermore, primed seeds exhibited significant increases in seedling fresh and dry weights, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, root and shoot lengths, leaf area, chlorophyll content, early flowering, branch numbers, pod counts, and 1000‐seed weight compared to non‐primed seeds. The biological yield was relatively higher in treated seeds. Additionally, seed yield and oil content were found to be higher in primed seeds compared to the control. Among the treatments, KNO3 along with Moringa, displayed the most desirable outcomes across overall seedling parameters, suggesting their recommendation for effective priming treatments to improve the growth and yield of S. alba.

Abstract Objective Differentiation of immortalized Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (iMSCs) into PDGFRα-positive cells under controlled growth conditions has several vital implications in functional studies concerned with the pathogenesis of Diabetic Gastroparesis (DGP). A study published previously by our research group demonstrated the importance of these cells as a novel, in-vitro model for investigating the functional role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase. The currently available methods require fresh differentiation of PDGFRα-positive cells for each round of experimentation. This leads to longer delays, higher usage of reagents, and inconsistency in reproducibility of experiments frequently. We thus aimed to establish through validation that cryopreserving and maintaining the iMSC-derived PDGFRα-positive cells for functional investigations help us to overcome these challenges. Results We demonstrated for the first time that the differentiated PDGFRα-positive cells from iMSCs can be cryopreserved and thawed to be used as per the experimental requirements with prolonged preservation of their characteristics. We assessed the viability of differentiated PDGFRα-positive cells pre- and post-freezing with the subsequent validation of their functional features using flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and western blotting. We have been successful in demonstrating for the first time that the cryopreservation of previously differentiated PDGFRα-positive cells can be used as a feasible and cost-effective model for experimental reproducibility in functional studies of Diabetes Gastroparesis. Graphical Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the available literature on the observation and characterization of river ice using remote sensing technologies. Through an analysis of 200 publications spanning from 1919 to June 2024, we reviewed different observation technologies deployed on in situ, aerial and satellite platforms for their utility in monitoring and characterizing river ice covers. River ice information, captured by 51 terms extracted from the literature, holds significant value in enhancing infrastructure resilience in the face of climate change. Satellite technologies, in particular the multispectral optical and multi-polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR), provide a number of advantages, such as ice features discrimination, better ice characterization, and reliable delineation of open water and ice, with both current and upcoming sensors. The review includes data analysis methods employed for the monitoring and characterization of river ice, including ice information retrieval methods and corresponding accuracies. The need for further research on artificial intelligence and, in particular, deep learning (DL) techniques has been recognized as valuable for enhancing the accuracy of automated systems. The growing availability of freely available and commercial satellites, UAVs, and in situ data with improved characteristics suggests significant operational potential for river ice observation in the near future. Our study also identifies gaps in the current capabilities for river ice observation and provides suggestions for improved data analysis and interpretation.

Abstract Background Bilirubin neurotoxicity (BN) occurs in premature infants at lower total serum bilirubin levels than term infants and causes neurodevelopmental impairment. Usual dose lipid infusions in preterm infants may increase free fatty acids sufficiently to cause bilirubin displacement from albumin, increasing passage of unbound bilirubin (UB) into the brain leading to BN and neurodevelopmental impairment not reliably identifiable in infancy. These risks may be influenced by whether cycled or continuous phototherapy is used to control bilirubin levels. Objective To assess differences in wave V latency measured by brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAER) at 34–36 weeks gestational age in infants born ≤ 750 g or

The primary goal of this study is to increase and improve the precision and order of convergence of the well-known Haar wavelet collocation method (HWCM) that is named as Higher order Haar wavelet collocation method (HHWCM). The HHWCM will then be applied to nonlinear ordinary differential equations with a variety of initial conditions, boundary conditions, periodic conditions, two-point conditions, integral conditions, and multi-point integral boundary conditions. The paper also contains important theorem about the convergence of the HHWCM with computational stability. The convergence of HHWCM is then compared to recently published works including the famous HWCM. In nonlinear case the quasilinearization process has been introduced to linearize the differential equation. Different orders of differential equations including homogeneous and non–homogeneous equations with constant and variable coefficients are also tested by HHWCM. The key advantages of the HHWCM include its easy to use, stability, convergence, high order accuracy, and efficiency under a range of boundary conditions. We have also implemented the HHWCM on nonlinear differential equation having no exact solution.

Abstract Background The Patrak Valley is home to communities, which have been inextricably linked with nature for generations, and local plant knowledge (LPK) represents an important part of their local cultural diversity. In general, globalization has come at the expense of local plant knowledge among several mountain societies, and therefore the current investigation has been undertaken to record the (possibly) last remaining wild food plant/mushroom foraging practices among Pathans, Kohistanis, and Gujjars living in the highlands of the Hindukush, North Pakistan. Methods Data on the uses of wild food plants and mushrooms (WFPs) were collected through 120 semi-structured interviews. The data were cross-culturally compared among the three linguistic groups. Venn diagrams were used to visualize the comparative analysis. To determine the patterns of similarities in plant use among the different ethnic groups, we used the Jaccard similarity index (JI). The recorded data were also compared with the existing Pakistani food ethnobotanical literature. Results A total of 68 WFPs were recorded, the majority of which were used as raw snacks and as cooked vegetables. Fruit was the most frequently reported plant part among the three researched groups. Cross-cultural comparison revealed that 37% of the used plants were commonly shared by the three studied groups. Pathans have retained rich knowledge on WFPs, and they show a comparatively closer affinity with Kohistanis is the use of WFPs compared to Gujjars. While we observed some idiosyncrasies for each of the researched groups, the distinctive plant uses among Gujjars provide insight into their food ecology, their particular human–ecological system centered on mobile pastoralism and their limited exchanges of local food/ecological knowledge due to endogamic patterns. A literature survey revealed some novel or little-known ingredients within Pakistani food ethnobotany/ethnomycology, such as Aesculus indica, Agaricus campestris, Apteranthes tuberculata, Duchesnea indica, Equisetum arvense, Eremurus himalaicus, Isodon rugosus, Morella esculenta, Sophora mollis, and Drimia indica. Conclusion The researched communities have retained important plant knowledge which could be implemented through future development programs considering that most of these traditional foraging practices fulfill environmental and social sustainability standards. Further field studies are required to thoroughly investigate the patterns of foraging among highland pastoral societies in other parts of the Hindukush region and especially their potential for the ongoing ecological transition.

Spring-breakup ice-jam floods are a major hazard for many rivers in cold regions. They can cause severe damage to infrastructure, property, and ecosystems along riverbanks. To reduce the risk and impact of these events, it is essential to develop reliable and timely forecasting systems that can provide early warning and guidance for mitigation actions. In this paper, we highlight the elements and processes required for the successful development of a spring-breakup ice-jam flood forecasting system, using the lower Churchill River in Labrador, Canada as a case study. We review the existing forecasting methodologies and systems for spring-breakup ice-jam floods and discuss their strengths and limitations. We then describe the case study of the lower Churchill River, where a large ice-jam flood occurred in May 2017, triggering an independent review and a series of recommendations for improving the flood preparedness and response. We present the main components and features of the forecasting system that was developed for the lower Churchill River, based on the recommendations from the independent review. We also discuss the improvements that were made to the forecasting system, such as parallelization, adaptation, and determination of ice-jam prone areas. Finally, we provide some conclusions and recommendations for future research and development of spring-breakup ice-jam flood forecasting systems, focusing on the requirements for a technical framework that incorporates community engagement and special considerations for regulated rivers.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of interventions undertaken to manage common causes of halitosis based on organoleptic scoring. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Pano Aqil Pakistan, from Sep 2021 to Aug 2022. Methodology: Three hundred patients with halitosis fulfilling the inclusion criteria were treated as per their root cause of halitosis and evaluated by organoleptic scoring method on a fortnightly basis for one month. Pre-treatment organoleptic scoring was compared with post-treatment organoleptic scores. Results: Among 300 patients, 177(59%) were females and 123(41%) were males. Halitosis due to poor oro-dental hygiene was seen in 92(30.66%) cases, food-related halitosis in 90(30%), periodontal diseases in 47(15%) cases, while 33 patients (11%) have halitosis due to ENT diseases. A comparison of pre-treatment and post-treatment organoleptic scores revealed a marked decrease in the number of patients having persistent halitosis (p-value 0.001). Conclusion: The most common etiological factor is poor oral hygiene. An organoleptic scoring system is a simple and quick method to recognize and grade halitosis without requiring costly gadgetry.

Metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma to the urinary bladder is extremely rare and aggressive. We discuss here the case of an 83-year-old male with history of esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with chemoradiation therapy and esophagectomy who presented with gross hematuria and lower urinary tract symptoms. Pathology of the bladder tumor after transurethral resection demonstrated invasive adenocarcinoma of both the bladder and the prostatic urethra consistent with metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs) may be differentiated into neural lineages. The main aim of the study was to assess the DNA demethylation and histone deacetylation inhibition on the differentiation of HDPSCs into neural progenitor-like cells (NPCs). Methods: HDPSCs were treated with 5-aza2′-deoxycytidine (AZA), DNA methylation inhibitor, and the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) for 3 and 5 days followed by their differentiation into NPCs. The efficiency of the differentiation was evaluated by apoptosis, cellular proliferation, and relative expression of Nestin among the NPCs derived with the different treatments. Results: Five-day treatment of AZA was crucial for the more efficient demethylation of the HDPSCs. Analysis of the proliferation, apoptosis, and relative expression of the Nestin indicated that the AZA and SAHA neither enhance nor inhibit the differentiation of the HDPSCs into NPCs. Howevere, the expression of Nestin decreased at day 7 in NPCs derived with SAHAH treatment compared with NPCs derived with AZA treatmement. However, there was no difference in Nestin expression in any treatment-derived NPCs compared with control NPCs. All of the NPCs derived from all of the groups were able to differentiate into terminal neurons. Conclusion: Neither DNA demethylation nor the histone deacetylation has any main effects on proliferation and apoptosis during the differentiation of HDPSCs into NPCs. The only significant effect of the treatments was on the size of the NPCs at day 7; the SAHAH treatment had the smallest NPCs.

Abstract We explore the possibility of relating extra dimensions with light and heavy Dirac-type neutral leptons and develop a framework for testing them in various laboratory experiments. The Kaluza-Klein modes in the large extra dimension models of the light neutral leptons could mix with the standard model neutrinos and produce observable effects in the oscillation experiments. We show that the chirality flipping up-scattering processes occurring through either neutrino magnetic dipole moment or the weakly coupled scalar interactions can also produce heavy Kaluza-Klein modes of the corresponding right-handed neutral leptons propagating in one or more extra dimensions. However, to conserve the four- dimensional energy-momentum, their masses must be below the maximum energy of the neutrinos in the initial state. The appreciable size of extra dimensions connected with these heavy neutral leptons can thus affect the cross-sections of these processes. This framework applies to any up-scattering process. Our work here focuses only on its application to the coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering process. We derive constraints on the size of extra dimensions using the COHERENT data in oscillation and up-scattering processes. For model with one large extra dimension for the light neutral leptons, we obtain the limits, R ~ 3 μm (NH) and R ~ 2.5 μm (IH), on the size of extra dimension corresponding to the absolute mass limit, m 0 ≤ 3 × 10 −3 eV at 90% C.L. from the short-baseline oscillations. Using the up-scattering process for heavy neutral leptons, we obtain new parameter spaces between the size of extra dimensions and parameters of the dipole or scalar interactions.

Abstract Muscle disuse in the hindlimb unloaded (HU) mice causes significant atrophy and weakness. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving disuse-muscle atrophy remain elusive. We investigated the potential contribution of proteins dysregulation by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), a condition called SR stress, to muscle loss during HU. Male, c57BL/6j mice were assigned to ground-based controls or HU groups treated with vehicle or 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), a potent inhibitor of SR stress, once a day for three weeks. We report that the 4-PBA reduced the SR stress and partly reversed the muscle atrophy and weakness in the HU mice. Transcriptome analysis revealed that several genes were switched on (n = 3688) or differentially expressed (n = 1184) due to HU. GO, and KEGG term analysis revealed alterations in pathways associated with the assembly of cilia and microtubules, extracellular matrix proteins regulation, calcium homeostasis, and immune modulation during HU. The muscle restoration with 4-PBA partly reversed these changes along with differential and unique expression of several genes. The analysis of genes among the two comparisons (HU-v vs. control and HU-t vs. HU-v.) shows 841 genes were overlapped between the two comparisons and they may be regulated by 4-PBA. Altogether, our findings suggest that the pharmacological suppression of SR stress may be an effective strategy to prevent disuse-induced muscle weakness and atrophy.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude & practices of breast self-examination among women residing in the district 'Central' of Karachi and to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of breast self-examination among high risk Ca breast women residing in the district central of Karachi. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based, study was carried out among women attending a charitable hospital in Karachi, in 2018. The data was collected through a convenience sampling technique, and was analyzed by using SPSS version 24.0. Descriptive statistics of socio-demographic variables were presented as mean ± SD for continuous variables and frequency or percentages for categorical variables. The Chi-square test was used to test the association between knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Ca breast and breast self-examination, p-value

Road accident and road safety are the key global concerns and problem for emerging nations like India. It has been attempted to examine the accidents that happened on Major District Road (MDR) 132 (Nuh to Hodal), India in the last five years. The primary objective of this study was to perform the Road Safety Audit for identification of accident-prone areas based on Accident Severity Index (ASI) and provide some improvement measures in order to lower the frequency and severity of accidents. Identified accident prone locations (blackspots) were ranked according to the ASI index. The distribution of accidents based on various parameters were also discussed. Site visit of critical sections of the road to observe road deficiencies were made and safety recommendations, along with the risk associated with them and priority as per IRC: SP: 88-2019, were suggested.

The Mg-based dielectric ceramics of (Bi0.5Na0.5)(1−x)MgxTiO3, 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.04 was successfully synthesized by mixed oxide route at 850 °C for 2 hrs. The XRD result revealed the single phase monoclinic crystal structure without any secondary phases. The SEM image shows the uniform grain size, low porosity and denser microstructure of the samples. The grains size gradually increases from 1.58 µm to 2.70 µm due to mass transportation during the sintering process. The EDX analysis of the spectra of all the samples was investigated and reported the peaks of elemental compositions (i.e. Bi, O, Ti & Mg). The maximum dielectric constant (εr=1291) for the base composition were observed at 200 °C temperature. The abrupt increasing in tangent loss (tanδ) was reported above 200 °C temperature at frequency range (100 Hz–1 MHz). The TGA analysis shows the net loss (∼0.47 % by weight) was observed and the sample was sustained up to 850 °C calcine temperature.

Background: Sleep is a critical factor in maintaining good health, and its impact on various diseases has been recognized by scientists. Understanding sleep patterns and quality is crucial for investigating sleep-related disorders and their potential links to health conditions. The development of non-intrusive and contactless methods for analyzing sleep data is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A novel system called the sleep visual analyzer (VSleep) was designed to analyze sleep movements and generate reports based on changes in body position angles. The system utilized camera data without requiring any physical contact with the body. A Python graphical user interface (GUI) section was developed to analyze body movements during sleep and present the data in an Excel format. To evaluate the effectiveness of the VSleep system, a case study was conducted. The participants’ movements during daytime naps were recorded. The study also examined the impact of different types of news (positive, neutral, and negative) on sleep patterns. Results: The system successfully detected and recorded various angles formed by participants’ bodies, providing detailed information about their sleep patterns. The results revealed distinct effects based on the news category, highlighting the potential impact of external factors on sleep quality and behaviors. Conclusions: The sleep visual analyzer (VSleep) demonstrated its efficacy in analyzing sleep-related data without the need for accessories. The VSleep system holds great potential for diagnosing and investigating sleep-related disorders. The proposed system is affordable, easy to use, portable, and a mobile application can be developed to perform the experiment and prepare the results.

Background: With the impending threat of future COVID-19 waves, it is imperative that teaching hospitals develop, implement, and evaluate a systematic training program to render HCW elastic in delivering COVID-19 related services. We present our experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating a sustainable and scalable COVID-19 patient management training package for healthcare workers. Materials and Methods: A mixed-methods study design was used. Rapid assessment to understand the need of the trainees and identify the available resources was done followed by planning of the training module and its implementation. The program was evaluated for effectiveness and sustainability. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and qualitative data generated from open-ended questions in the feedback forms and the discussions were analyzed using rapid content analysis. Results: A total of 66.8% of the doctors and 18.9% of the nurses were trained by online synchronous mode while 55.0% of the nursing officers and 47.1% of the nursing orderlies and paramedical staff were trained in onsite skill development sessions. Need assessment identified that healthcare workers were ill-prepared to use medical devices such as Bipap machines, ventilators, and oxygen delivery devices. The participants mentioned that the multidisciplinary approach and video-based demonstrations facilitated their online learning while the incremental learning approach, easy-to-understand terminology and hands-on experience facilitated their onsite skill development sessions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 training package developed was multidisciplinary, effective, sustainable, and scalable in a resource-limited setting. We suggest that this model can be adapted by healthcare organizations to develop and implement such training packages for their healthcare workers.

Context: Health care utilization informs us about the utility of services which are available. We have a paucity of studies related to health care utilization among elderly in India. Aims: The aim of this study is to find out utilization of health care services by elderly (≥60 years), pattern, factors associated with, and perception of the elderly population regarding facilitators and barriers for the same. Settings and Design: A community based cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in a resettlement colony of East Delhi. Materials and Methods: A pretested, semi-structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. Duration of data collection was November 2018 to January 2020. Statistical Analysis Used: For quantitative variables, mean, median, proportion, Chi-square test, binary logistic regression using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and for qualitative variables thematic analysis were done. Results: The study included 288 study participants. Although utilization of health care services in last 15 days among elderly is 90%, it was also found that 69% of the elderly consulted a licensed medical practitioner. A private facility was visited by 58% of the study participants. Female gender (OR: 1.97; P = 0.02), religion as Hindu (OR, 2.09; P = 0.04), and marital status “single” (OR, 1.8; P = 0.04) were observed to be significant predictors of health care utilization. The participants expressed less waiting time, cashless facility for visits, availability of an accompanying person, behavior of staffs work as facilitators for utilization of services. Conclusions: Considering the unique characteristics of this age group, a shift from facility to community-based approach may be considered. Efforts may be made to create elderly friendly health facilities.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of tympanometry for diagnosing fluid in the middle ears of children with Otitis Media with Effusion taking myringotomy as a gold standard. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of ENT & Head and Neck Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan, from Oct 2018 to Sep 2020. Methodology: A total of 201 patients who underwent tympanometry followed by myringotomy of aged between 3 to 12 years of either gender were included. All patients underwent tympanometry. After that, myringotomy was carried out through a radial incision in the anteroinferior quadrant using a general inhalational anaesthetic agent. The operative findings at myringotomy were recorded. The presence of fluid on intraoperative findings using myringotomy was considered positive for the presence of fluid in the middle ears of children. Results: The age range of the patients was from 3-12 years, with a mean age of 7.35±2.41 years. Of these 207 patients,133(64.18%) were males, and 74(35.82%) were females. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of tympanometry for diagnosis of fluid in the middle ears of children with Otitis Media with Effusion taking myringotomy as the gold standard was 85.7%, 86.3%, 89.4%, 81.7% and 85.9% respectively. Conclusion: This study concluded that the diagnostic accuracy of tympanometry for the diagnosis of fluid in the middle ears of children with Otitis Media with Effusion is quite high.

We derive new limits on the neutrino electromagnetic interactions and weakly coupled light vector and scalar mediators using the recent XENONnT data of the solar neutrino-electron elastic scattering. XENONnT has already reported the world's best constraint on the flavor-independent effective neutrino magnetic moment with almost twice the exposure and improved systematics. We extend this analysis and derive constraints on all the possible electromagnetic interactions and flavor universal light gauge boson couplings and masses, which could contribute to the neutrino-electron elastic scattering process. We consider both flavor-independent and flavor-dependent interactions of the neutrino magnetic moments, millicharges, charge radii, and anapole moments for the electromagnetic interactions. The new limits on the magnetic moment, millicharge, vector, and scalar interactions are improved by about one order of magnitude. At the same time, there is relatively weaker improvement in the case of neutrino charge radii and anapole moments.

In this study, we report the synthesis of a polymeric composite electrode based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The CNTs were functionalized and opened using the reflux method, followed by filling with CuO NPs to prepare the CNTs/CuO nanocomposite. The prepared CuO NPs-functionalized CNTs were dispersed in polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) to fabricate the polymeric composite electrode. X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the crystallographic and morphological characteristics of the prepared CNTs/CuO nanocomposite, which revealed spherical CuO NPs embedded in the carbon nanotubes. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the electrolytic activity of the prepared polymeric CNTs/CuO nanocomposite. In addition, the performance of the prepared polymeric CNTs/CuO nanocomposite was evaluated using a multimeter setup for the detection of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as acetone, ethanol, and formaldehyde. The voltage generated at the surface of the polymeric CNTs/CuO nanocomposite electrode decreased over time due to the reduction of the VOC concentration at the surface of the electrode. Overall, this study highlights the potential of polymeric composite electrodes for the detection of VOCs and their cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, and eco-friendliness.

We analyze new data from the COHERENT experiment of the coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering to investigate the electromagnetic interactions of neutrinos. With almost double the statistics and precision now, the statistical significance of the observed process has now enhanced to 11.6σ. We derive constraints on the electromagnetic properties of neutrinos using the new COHERENT data. The constraints improve by more than a factor of two compared to the previous bounds. Furthermore, we discuss the unique behavior of the neutrino millicharge at lower energy recoils and show its unique dependence on its interference with the standard model contribution, inverse power of recoil energy and the mass of the target particle in comparison to the other interactions.

All human beings irrespective of their color, race, ethnicity, religion, geography, and gender have equal rights without any discrimination. The framers of every constitution in every state tried to ensure the protection of their citizens according to their socio-cultural milieu and religious teachings. The constitutional experts in Pakistan also incorporated provisions related with the fundamental rights of citizens in the light of their ideological orientation and International Human Rights laws (wherever possible). Keeping in view international obligations, the political leadership passed a law “Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018” which has been subjected to scathing criticism. This paper has three main parts: A) Ideological Basis of the Constitution of Pakistan; B) International Legal Documents regarding fundamental rights and Constitutions of Pakistan; & C) Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 and its critical analysis.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Half-Somersault and Brandt-Daroff exercises on dizziness, fear of fall, and quality of life in patients with posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (PC-BPPV). This study was conducted from July 2020 to November 2020. A total of 20 patients were enrolled in the study, through sealed envelope method, and assigned to two groups, A and B (10 in each). Vestibular activity and participation measure and Fall Efficacy Scale (FES) were used. The mean age of the patients was 36.70±11.58 years. There was a significant (p=0.05) difference between the Vestibular activities and participation measure (VAP) score at post intervention and Fall Efficacy Scale (FES) (p

Objective: To evaluate vertigo control and auditory rescue in patients with Meniere's disease treated with intratympanic Gentamicin and Dexamethasone. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial (Clinical Trials. gov Identifier: NCT05355610). Place and Duration of Study: ENT Departments CMH Quetta and Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan from Apr 2020 to Mar 2022. Methodology: Ninety-three cases of unilateral Meniere's disease meeting the inclusion criteria were treated with intratym-panic Gentamicin and Dexamethasone. Pre and post-treatment vertigo was assessed on Vestibular Deficit Index. Speech discrimination scores for auditory impact were also recorded pre and post-treatment. Results: In the Ninety-three treated cases, there was a statistically significant improvement in the Vestibular Deficit Index (with a p-value of 0.001). Although all patients had a reduced speech discrimination score, it was not statistically significant (p value=0.08). Conclusion: Control of vestibular symptoms can be achieved with intratympanic Gentamicin, and at the same time, the auditory system can be rescued with Dexamethasone.

Aquatic bodies contaminated by heavy metals (HMs) are one of the leading issues due to rapidly growing industries. The remediation of using algae and hydrophytes acts as an environmentally friendly and cost effective. This study was performed to investigate the pollution load, especially HMs, in the wastewater of the Gadoon Industrial Estate and to utilize the hydrophytes (Typha latifolia (TL) and Eicchornia crassipes (EI)) and algae (Zygnema pectiantum (ZP) and Spyrogyra species (SS)) as bioremediators. The wastewater was obtained and assessed for physiochemical parameters before treating with the selected species. The pot experiment was performed for 40 days. Then the wastewater samples and selected species were obtained from each pot to analyze the metal removal efficiency and assess for metal concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The dissolved oxygen (DO; 114 mg/L), total suspended solids (TSS; 89.30 mg/L), electrical conductivity (EC; 6.35 mS/cm), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (236 mg/L), biological oxygen demand (BOD; 143 mg/L), and total dissolved solids (TDS; 559.67 mg/L), pH (6.85) were analyzed. The HMs were noted as Zn (5.73 mg/L) and Cu (7.13 mg/L). The wastewater was then treated with the species, and significant reductions were detected in physicochemical characteristics of the wastewater such as DO (13.15–62.20%), TSS (9.18–67.99%), EC (74.01–91.18%), COD (25.84–73.30%), BOD (21.67–73.42%), and TDS (14.02–95.93%). The hydrophytes and algae removed up to 82.19% of the Zn and 85.13% of the Cu from the wastewater. The study revealed that the hydrophytes and algae significantly decreased the HM levels in the wastewater (p ≤ 0.05). The study found TL, EI, ZP, and SS as the best hyper accumulative species for Zn and Cu removal from wastewater. The HMs were removed in the order of Cu > Zn. The most efficient removal for Cu was found by Typha latifolia and Zn by Zygnema pectiantum. It was concluded that bioremediation is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective technique that can be used for the treatment of wastewater due to the efficiency of algae and hydrophytes species in terms of HM removal.

Pleasant interior conditions within cars, as well as a comfortable feeling, are primary needs of car drivers to perform vital body functions during driving. In a cooler outer environment, a warming system within seats can quite feasibly maintain a realistic thermal balance in the body. An inbuilt heating system in car seats can not only provide adequate heat to the driver but is also relevant to minimizing the energy consumption within the vehicle interior. In order to evenly distribute the heat over the body contact area of the automotive seats, conductive textiles are proposed. In fact, these textiles behave as a semiconductor (as an electrical conductor and also creating resistance, which in turn creates heat). Flexible textile ohmic heaters present great advantages due to their ability to bend, stretch, and stitch. These properties make them valuable to ensure uniform heaters for irregular geometries. The present review highlights the use of different textile-based ohmic heaters, their fabrication methods, range of heating, and durability. Moreover, this review also focuses on the comparative mechanical performance and comfort properties of the presented fabrics (used in car seats). This study is beneficial for future trends of minimizing energy consumption and providing an effective way to reduce the carbon emissions and air pollution produced by vehicles.

Introduction: In haemodialysis patients, mortality from cardiovascular disease is much greater than in the general population. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different types of heparin, low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and high molecular weight heparin (HMWH), on lipid profile in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Material & Methods: A total of 60 patients on haemodialysis were selected from two main hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan and were divided into two major groups based on the type of heparin used. A 5 ml blood sample was taken from the dialysis machine to get the serum and was kept frozen at -20ºC for analysis of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein. Comparison of lipoprotein lipase activity between groups were evaluated by using the student t-test. A P-value of ? 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Gender wise distribution of study population (n=60) was 67% (n=40) males and 33% (n=20) females. The age distribution of individuals varied from 39-43 years. Moreover, use of HMWH was high in males (73%) as compared to female (27%) with an average age of 39 ± 12 years where duration of haemodialysis was 4.44 ± 2.83. A significant difference in LPL activity related to different times in all patients was observed. A clearer difference observed in case of LDL where LPL activity was markedly different in both groups. Our data showed that individuals using LMWH had less chances of dyslipidaemia as compared to those using HMWH. Conclusion: LMWH is a useful and safe anticoagulant during haemodialysis as compared to HMWH.

Objective: To compare the effects of Intranasal Betamethasone and Beclomethasone in patients with Allergic Rhinitis. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Bahawalpur and Shahida Islam Medical and Dental College Lodhran, from Mar 2018 to Feb 2019. Methodology: A total of 200 patients who were between 22-55 years of age were included in this study. Half of them received Intranasal Betamethasone were compared with the other half who received Intranasal Beclomethasone. Clinical success was compared in both groups in terms of patients becoming a symptomatic. Results: Clinical symptoms were markedly reduced in both groups at the end of the study as 94 (94%) and 78 (78%) of patients who were on Intranasal Betamethasone and Intranasal Beclomethasone respectively showing that Intranasal Betamethasone is superior to Intranasal Beclomethasone in controlling Allergic Rhinitis symptoms. Chi square test is applied and p-value calculated (p=0.045) significant. Conclusion: Intranasal Betamethasone is far more effective drug as compare to Intranasal Beclomethasone in controlling allergic symptoms.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have therapeutic potential for spinal cord injury (SCI). We have shown that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) enhances the cellular proliferation and survivability of BMSCs-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) by downregulating miR-22-3p. However, the functional application of BMSCs-derived NPCs has not been investigated fully. In this study, we demonstrate that knockdown of endogenous miR-22-3p in BMSCs-derived NPCs upregulates Akt1 expression, leading to enhanced cellular proliferation. RNASeq analysis reveals 3,513 differentially expressed genes in NPCs. The upregulated genes in NPCs enrich the gene ontology term associated with nervous system development. Terminally differentiated NPCs generate cells with neuronal-like morphology and phenotypes. Transplantation of NPCs in the SCI rat model results in better recovery in locomotor and sensory functions 4 weeks after transplantation. Altogether, the result of this study demonstrate that NPCs derived with IGF-1 supplementation could be differentiated into functional neural lineage cells and are optimal for stem cell therapy in SCI.

Abstract Objective MG-63 cells that have osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation potential were evaluated for internalization, and adipogenic differentiation in the presence and absence of the covalently functionalized aryl gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-C6H4-4-COOH). Results Inductively coupled plasma, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy analyses confirmed that gold nanoparticles were easily internalized by MG-63 cells. The MG-63 cells were differentiated into adipocytes without gold-aryl nanoparticles and with the gold-aryl nanoparticles at 5 µM concentration in both induction and maintenance media. The lipid content assay and the relative expressions of PPAR-γ, ADR1, GLUT1 and GLUT4 genes showed no significant variation with and without the gold nanoparticles treatment. Differential phosphorylation levels of 43 kinases phosphorylation sites were evaluated using the human phospho-kinase array to assess the effect of the gold nanoparticles on the signaling pathways during the differentiation. No kinase phosphorylation site was differentially phosphorylated with two or more folds after the nanoparticles treatment after the first day as well as at the end of MG-63 cells differentiation. The gold-aryl nanoparticles do not affect MG-63 cells differentiation into adipocytes neither do they affect any key signaling pathway. These properties make these gold nanoparticles suitable for future drug delivery and medical applications.

The use of beneficial microbes as biofertilizer has become fundamental in the agricultural sector for their potential role in food safety and sustainable crop production. A field trial was conducted to study the influence of beneficial microbes on the efficiency of organic and inorganic sources. The experiment was conducted in two consecutive years (2008–2009 and 2009–2010) in a farmer’s field at Dargai Malakand Division. A randomized complete block design was used with four replications. The results revealed a significantly higher straw and grain nitrogen concentrations for the treatments receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM, followed by the treatments receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM and 120 kg N ha−1 from urea fertilizer, respectively. Comparing the relevant treatments with and without BM, an increasing trend in N concentrations in straw and grain was observed with BM. The results revealed the highest grain total nitrogen, straw total nitrogen and total nitrogen uptake by wheat crop for the treatments receiving 120 kg N ha−1 from urea, followed by the treatments receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from PM + BM and 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM. Moreover, after comparing the relevant treatments with and without BM, for the parameters mentioned, an increasing trend in nitrogen uptake was observed. Significantly higher total soil nitrogen was obtained for treatment with 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM, followed by the treatment with 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM or 50% N from urea + 50% N from PM + BM, respectively, as compared to the control treatment plot. Markedly higher soil mineral nitrogen was obtained for the 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM treatment, followed by the treatment with 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM and 50% N treatment from urea + 50% N from PM + BM, compared to the control treatment. Comparing the relevant treatments with and without BM, an increasing trend in total soil N (g kg−1 soil) and soil mineral N (mg kg−1 soil) was noted with BM application. From the results, a significant increase in soil organic matter status (g kg−1 soil) due to application of organic and inorganic fertilization was summarized. Significantly higher soil organic matter (g kg−1 soil) was recorded for the treatment receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM compared to untreated control plots. Our study further revealed an increasing trend in soil organic matter status (g kg−1 soil) when comparing the relevant treatments with and without BM.

Freedom of speech and personal freedom are the natural and constitutional rights of every citizen in any society. However, the interpretation of these rights varies from society to society according to their respective socio-cultural, politico-constitutional principles, and religious teachings. Human beings are confronted with paradox of blasphemy and freedom of speech. The misinterpretation of blasphemy and right to freedom of expression of opinion has created great stir in the circles of scholars at different periods and also resulted in the persecution of prominent scholars and other people. This paper highlights the status of freedom of speech, and its critical evaluation in Islamic Law so as to understand its concept of blasphemy, its teachings on freedom of speech, and on personal security.

With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, university teachers are coping with and adjusting to online teaching platforms. In this concurrent mixed-methods study, 10 science and technology universities as the research sites were first chosen, and educational planning in these sites during the pandemic was examined; then, eight selected teacher participants in these sites were interviewed to report how their beliefs and practices changed during the pandemic echoing the examined educational planning. The results show that educational planning and policies assisted teachers in accommodating the new demands and changes during the pandemic; teachers' beliefs and practices generally echoed the educational planning and policies, with certain tensions still existing. The discussion part of the study is centered around emergency remote teaching and planning, tensions between teacher beliefs and practices, and the shift from emergency remote teaching to regular, sustainable online schooling. The study provides administrators and teacher educators with insights on how emergency remote teaching can be planned and implemented during an unprecedented time.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the leading causes of community and hospital acquired infections globally. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence, study the carriage of antibiotic resistance genes and evaluate the molecular typing of S. aureus isolates from a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad. Methods: A total of 1528 staphylococci isolates were included in this study. Standard microbiological procedures were applied to identify S. aureus. Antimicrobial susceptability was evaluated using the disk diffusion method and Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) were determined using microbroth dilution method following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Multiplex PCR was used to detect antibiotic resistance genes, and molecular typing was performed using agr, SCCmec, spa, and Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) and clonal relatedness by Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) methods. Results: Overall 65% were MRSA and 35% were methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Among MRSA isolates, 83% were multi-drug resistant and mecA was found in 54% isolates, mecC was in 3% while 1 MRSA carried both mecA and mecC genes. agrI (22%) was most prevalent group in MRSA, while agrIII (16%) was observed in MSSA. SCCmec types I, II, III, IV, and VI were detected, with high prevalence of type III while type V was absent. The prevelant spa type in MRSA was t657 with SCCmecIII elelments while in MSSA it was t021. One NEW spa type identified in MSSA isolates. In a subset of isolates, ST772 with SCCmecIV, ST1 carrying PVL marker, and ST1535 was reported first time from Pakistan. Conclusions: The study presents a comprehensive analysis of prevalent S. aureus types and their antibiotic resistance profiles. It also reports for the first time SCCmec type VI and clinical MRSA isolates with mecC alone and in combination with mecA from Islamabad, Pakistan. This calls for further detailed investigations in other hospital settings in the region.

Ni-Cr based composites with and without the addition of solid lubricants (MoS2, Ag and CaF2) were prepared by powder metallurgy method. The samples were sintered at different temperatures (1000oC, 1100oC and 1200oC) under controlled atmosphere and various holding times. The physical properties such as sintered density, relative density and porosity were studied. The microstructures and phase studies of the Ni-Cr based composites were conducted using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) while the hardness of the composites was measured by the Vickers Micro Hardness Tester. The results revealed that as the sintering temperature was increased, the sintered density, relative density and hardness also increased while the porosity was reduced. At the sintering temperature of 1200oC, the relative density reached its maximum value. SEM and XRD analysis confirmed the existence of MoS2 and Ag in sintered samples. MoS2 and Ag were not mainly dissolved and/or decomposed even after sintering at 1200oC