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Plasmodium knowlesi has been reported as an emerging infection throughout the Southeast Asian region, especially in the Malaysian state of Sabah, where it accounts for the majority of the malaria cases reported. We present a case of P. knowlesiinfection in a Danish woman returning from a short trip to Malaysian Borneo. The patient spent 14 days in forested areas of Sabah and fell ill after returning to Denmark in November 2022. Microscopy of blood smears revealed 0.8% infected erythrocytes, but due to the atypical morphological presentation, a conclusive species identification was made by molecular methods. The patient was treated successfully with artemisinin-based combination therapy. Plasmodium knowlesi is a potentially fatal infection, and taking the increasing travel activity into consideration after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, P. knowlesishould be a differential diagnosis in patients with travel-associated illness returning from highly endemic Southeast Asian areas.

In Denmark, a high-income country with no mandatory surveillance system of cryptosporidiosis in place, little is known about the clinical importance and epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infections.Danish Departments of Clinical Microbiology (DCMs) are encouraged to submit samples positive for Cryptosporidium to the national Reference Laboratory at Statens Serum Institut (SSI) for confirmation and typing. Here, samples undergo SSU rRNA and 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene sequencing in order to identify species and subtypes, allowing for assessment of genetic relatedness and transmission dynamics. Even though an ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has restricted travel activity, the number of diagnosed cases and submitted samples has increased rapidly in recent years (2021 and 2022). Zoonotic species and subtypes have been found that have not previously been observed in Denmark. This is likely a reflection of the introduction in DCMs of new highly sensitive diagnostic methods and syndromic testing assays with multiple-pathogen panels, resulting in analysis for Cryptosporidium without specific suspicion or request from clinicians. Among recent samples, the first Danish case of Cryptosporidium erinacei has been identified. This case also represents the first case of a new C. erinacei subtype family, XIIIb.The case was interviewed via telephone by SSI. He provided informed, written consent for publication of information about him and his course of cryptosporidiosis. The case was a middle-aged man who contacted his general practitioner after two weeks with intense stomach aches and three to five daily soft, non-watery stools. He also experienced pronounced exhaustion and intermittent nausea in the absence of fever. Symptoms had begun during his summer holidays and his family members remained asymptomatic throughout the course of his illness. He was requested by his physician to submit a stool sample and was sent home without antimicrobial treatment.The stool sample was received at the DCM in Region Zealand and examined using a multiplex PCR panel, the QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal Panel [1], introduced in this DCM in December 2021. According to the manufacturer, this assay tests for presence of 23 different bacteria, viruses and parasites. The sample was positive only for Cryptosporidium spp. and was sent to SSI where species and subtype determination was performed according to current standards [2,3], uncovering C. erinacei subtype XIIIbA23G1R4 (GenBank acc. no. OQ109275 [SSU rDNA] and OQ128062 [gp60]) as the causative pathogen.The first published case of a human infection with C. erinacei stems from 2014 and presents an immunocompetent man in his twenties from the Czech Republic [4]. A small number of human infections with C. erinacei have since been observed in different countries (Table 1) [3,5,6]. Most of these cases were observed as part of surveillance activities, and little or no clinical data was available for them. In our neighboring country Sweden, cryptosporidiosis has been a notifiable infection since 2004. Between 2013 and 2014, the Public Health Agency of Sweden received 398 samples from local clinical microbiology laboratories and reported two cases of C. erinacei: one domestically acquired and one imported case [3]. Both cases had diarrhea in the week prior to sampling.

Continuous increase in the population of the world along with multiple nutrient deficiencies and poor water use efficiency offers a challenging scenario for agriculture sector to meet the increasing demand of food. Use of organic amendments like biochar and compost has been suggested as a novel approach for restoration of degraded soil further improving crop productivity and water productivity. Thus here, we have reviewed the publications on individual and combined application of biochar and compost to find out the potential role of these amendments in agriculture sector. We have concluded that (1) data on well-designed field studies and long-term effect of biochar and compost is limited; (2) traditional methods have been adopted for production of biochar and compost; and (3) biochar and compost have the potential to enhance soil fertility, crop production and water productivity with reduced environmental impacts. Furthermore, combined application of biochar and compost found to be more effective as compared to sole application of these amendments. This review article will play a dynamic role for scientists to conduct research to evaluate these ecological fertilizers best suited for soils, which will be helpful to reduce the chances of soil degradation caused by application of unsuitable amendments. Application of amendments not suitable for a soil may increase the demand of synthetic fertilizers thus making it uneconomical for farmers. Thus, it is suggested for the scientists and policy makers to make a great collaboration to implement this promising technology worldwide.

Organic amendments of soil have the ability to enhance crop production and influence soil health by altering its physical and chemical properties. However, studies are limited regarding field evalu...

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping is a genome-wide inference of the relationship between genotype at various genomic locations and phenotype for a set of quantitative traits in terms of the number, genomic positions, effects, and interaction of QTL. The Quinones and phenolics are the products of Geranyl diphospohate synthase (GPPS). Thymoquinone (TQ), dithymoquinone (DTQ), thymohydroquinone (THQ), and thymol (THY) are the most important pharmacologically active quinone based constituents in Nigella sativa (Black seed oil). Quantitative trait loci, candidate genes and associated morphological markers for these traits have been identified and located in the N.sativa genome. The breeding and genetic improvement of N. sativa is highly restricted due to unexplored high-density genetic map. The study was planned to map the genes linked to quinonens ane phenolics biosynthesis in N. sativa. Two inbred parental lines W626529 and W626530 differing in some phenotypic characters were selected for the study. To construct genetic linkage map and locate QTLs, F1 population of 150 crossed individuals was grown and subsequently produced 50 recombinant inbred lines (RIL). Chromosomal linkage map was constructed using 719 polymorphic pairs; consisted of 14 morphological markers and 705 SSRs through Join Map ver. 3.0. Chromosomal mapping was done using pseudochromosome assembly using Win QTL Cart Software. Single Marker Analysis was done to link QTLs with the morphological and molecular markers. Only 5 morphological traits out of 16 were found to be linked to the QTL. Chromosomal marker linkage was ensured at a minimum likelihood of odds (LOD) > 1.5 and maximum distance 50 cM. Interval mapping led to the detection of eight QTLs on 12 linkage groups; LG1, LG2, LG5, LG6, LG8, LG9 and LG11. The detection of eight QTLs on 12 linkage groups confirmed the influence of both morphological and molecular markers on linked traits and inheritance. The genetic map and improved pseudo-chromosome scale genome provide crucial foundations for marker-assisted selection (MAS) of QTL governing important agronomic traits as well as the accelerated molecular breeding of N. sativa in a cost-effective pattern.

Nanotechnology now a days recognized and widely accepted technology in industrial sector including therapeutic industry, tissue engineering, micro-electronics, automation, and drugs industry. Spinach contains phytochemicals such as saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, phlobatannins, phenols and glycosides. Spinach extract is beneficial for anti-aging and protection of central nervous systems along with cure from iron deficiency, oxidative stress, diabetes, hepato-toxicity, and many diseases of eyes. Due to biodiversity of plants, green synthesis of iron nanoparticles has great potential. In this experiment phytochemical analysis of Spinach extracts were done. Initial phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of tannins, flavonoids, phlobatannins, terpenoids and saponins at different concentration of spinach extracts. Terpenoids, flavonoids, and phlobatannins were present in aqueous extract while presence of saponins and tannins were observed in ethyl acetate extract. Iron nanoparticles were synthesized from spinach leaves extract in the presence of FeCl3. Characterization of iron nanoparticles was done by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis (FT-IR), UV-visible spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscopic analysis (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Green synthesis of iron nanoparticles was performed to investigate the antibacterial activity against human pathogen Escherichia coli. Thus, it is concluded in this study that biosynthesized iron nanoparticles have potential of biomedical activities that would be a robust benchmark for scientists towards sustainability.

In agriculture, the search for higher net profit is the main challenge in the economy of the producers and nano biochar attracts increasing interest in recent years due to its unique environmental behavior and increasing the productivity of plants by inducing resistance against phytopathogens. The effect of rice straw biochar and fly ash nanoparticles (RSBNPs and FNPs, respectively) in combination with compost soil on bacterial leaf spot of pepper caused by Xanthomonascampestris pv. vesicatoria was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The application of nanoparticles as soil amendment significantly improved the chili pepper plant growth. However, RSBNPs were more effective in enhancing the above and belowground plant biomass production. Moreover, both RSBNPs and FNPs, significantly reduced (30.5 and 22.5%, respectively), while RSBNPs had shown in vitro growth inhibition of X.campestris pv. vesicatoria by more than 50%. The X-ray diffractometry of RSBNPs and FNPs highlighted the unique composition of nano forms which possibly contributed in enhancing the plant defence against invading X.campestris pv. vesicatoria. Based on our findings, it is suggested that biochar and fly ash nanoparticles can be used for reclaiming the problem soil and enhance crop productivity depending upon the nature of the soil and the pathosystem under investigation.

In agriculture, the search for higher net profit is the main challenge in the economy of the producers and nano biochar attracts increasing interest in recent years due to its unique environmental behaviour and increasing the productivity of plants by inducing resistance against phyto-pathogens. The effect of rice straw biochar and fly ash nanoparticles (RSBNPs and FNPs, respectively) in combination with compost soil on bacterial leaf spot of pepper caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The application of nanoparticles as soil amendment significantly improved the chili pepper plant growth. However, RSBNPs were more effective in enhancing the above and belowground plant biomass production. Moreover, both RSBNPs and FNPs, significantly reduced (30.5 and 22.5 %, respectively), while RSBNPs had shown in vitro growth inhibition of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria by more than 50%. The X-ray diffractometry of RSBNPs and FNPs highlighted the unique composition of nano forms which possibly contributed in enhancing the plant defence against invading X. campestris pv. vesicatoria. On the basis of our findings, it is suggested that biochar and fly ash nanoparticles can be used for reclaiming the problem soil and enhance the crop productivity depending upon the nature of soil and the pathosystem under investigation.

Social media applications offer multimedia content to enrich the user experience in pocket-sized mobile phones. The highly diverse features of social media applications put pressure on the battery life of smartphones. Moreover, accessing social content from cloud-based infrastructure involves greater access latency because of the high geographical distance between the cloud and mobile users. To meet the increasing demands of lower energy and latency applications, caching in mobile edge computing plays a vital role by pushing processing and storage resources at the edge of the network. Mobile edge computing offers minimum delays as it provides data content near to the end-user in a ubiquitous environment. However, not all the content can be cached at the edge node. We propose a community-based clustering framework that is used to identify the users having similar interests. For community detection, we propose a hybrid framework with a combination of minibatch K-means and DBSCAN. The framework scales well in terms of the size of the data set. We determine a set of popular social content from each community and cache them at the edge of the network. In comparison to traditional cloud and popularity based content delivery schemes, our proposed edge-based framework provides lower access latency and higher smartphone battery lifetime.

Nigella sativa is an extensively utilized herbal medicinal plant. Medicinal utilization of seeds and oil of N. sativa was common among all the ancient medicinal systems. Previously, the vegetative part of the plant was not utilized for pharmaceutical purposes. Therefore, the current study was aimed at determining the potential of the vegetative parts (leaves, branches and stem) of the plant to reduce the pressure on the reproductive part (seeds/oil) and to get a potential alternate source of pharmaceutical materials. The experiment was carried out in split block RCD design. The dried plant was extracted through partitioning method in a series of concentrations ranging from 200-1.562mg/ml in different solvents. Phyto-chemical screening, antibacterial and anti-oxidant assays and GC-MS analysis of the potent extracts were done. The green parts of N. sativa were shown to contain saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and flavonoids, whereas phloba-tannins were absent. Evaluation of anti-aging properties through antioxidant assays yielded significant results in all the assays. Linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and glyceryl linoleate were profiled through GC-MS analysis. Based on these results, it was concluded that the vegetative parts of N. sativa are effective alternatives to the reproductive part/seed for anti-aging and other phytochemicals needed to meet the present day requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.

Aim To compare HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose assessment, with the 2-h oral glucose tolerance test as reference, in screening for diabetes in people with turberculosis. Methods Individuals (N=268) with newly diagnosed smear-positive tuberculosis were screened for diabetes at a tertiary hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Diabetes diagnosis was based on WHO criteria: thresholds were ≥ 48 mmol/mol (≥6.5%) for HbA1c and ≥7.0mmol/l for fasting plasma glucose. Results The proportion of participants diagnosed with diabetes was 4.9% (n =13) by oral glucose tolerance test, while 11.9% (n =32) and 14.6% (n =39) were diagnosed with diabetes using HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose criteria, respectively. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.79 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.94) for HbA1c and 0.61 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.73) for fasting plasma glucose, with a borderline significant difference between the two tests (P=0.07). Conclusions HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose performed equally in terms of diagnosing new diabetes cases in individuals with tuberculosis, but the proportion of participants falsely classified as positive was higher for fasting plasma glucose. This may be explained by acute blood glucose fluctuations when using fasting plasma glucose. HbA1c may be a more reliable test in individuals with transient hyperglycaemia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

As there is a huge pressure on the cultivated medicinal plants and due to this pressure a large number of plants are being eradicated yearly. So to reduce this pressure on the cultivated plants an effort is being done to use the wild plants as a good medicinal agent and a cheaper source as well. The present study was undertaken to find out the Antimicrobial activity, Antioxidant activity and Pharmacological Analysis of Centella asiatica. It is a wild plant and mostly found on the damp places of plains and foothills. It was collected, dried and extracted by maceration method in different polar and non-polar solvents i.e. petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and distilled water. These extracts were further used to find out the antimicrobial, antioxidant and anthelmintic activities. Centella asiatica showed remarkable values comparable with the standard antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Well defined zones of inhibition were recorded indicating that the plants were potent against pathogenic microbes, such as i.e. Bcteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphyllococcus saprophyticus, E. coli) and fungi (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus parasiticus and Rhizopus oryzae). The antioxidant activity of all the plant extracts was studied by DPPH Assay, Total Antioxidant Assay and Total phenolic Assay and the remarkable values comparable with the standard antioxidants were recorded. For pharmacological analysis different secondary metabolites indicated positive results whereas some others gave negative results.

Individuals with newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) were screened for diabetes (DM) with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in Pakistan. A significant decrease in FPG was observed when TB was treated. Of those with newly diagnosed DM, 46% and 62% no longer had hyperglycemia after 3 and 6 months, respectively. Individuals with known DM also showed a significant decrease in fasting plasma levels when treated for TB, but after 3 months none had normoglycemia, and after 6 months 9.2% were normoglycemic. Thus, TB-related DM may abate when the stress terminates, as is the case in gestational DM. However, because stress hyperglycemia may be associated with subsequent risk of developing DM, follow-up is recommended.

The research paper aims at studying the attitudes of the students of Islamic Learning and Education Faculty towards English at the University of Karachi. It is based on testing the hypothesis that the students of Islamic Learning Faculty have less positive attitudes towards English as compared to the students of Education faculty through a survey on first year students of both faculties. A five-point Likert scale was used to conduct a survey on 151 students of the Islamic Learning faculty and 135 students of the Education faculty. The results were calculated using an independent t-testand standard deviation which reveals that there is a minor difference in the attitudes of thestudent of both faculties. The students of the Education faculty showed more positive attitudes when asked about the importance of English as compared to the attitudes of the students of Islamic Learning Faculty. However, the difference in their attitude is negligible. As the results reveal a minor association between the attitudes of the learners and their faculty, the study; therefore, proves the null hypothesiswhich says that there is no significant difference between the attitudes of the students of both the faculties. Keywords: attitudes; English language; t-test; standard deviation; Islamic learning faculty; education faculty; likert-scales

Background In Pakistan the prevalence of diabetes (DM) among adults is 6.9% and expected to double by 2040. DM may facilitate transmission and halter the elimination of tuberculosis (TB). We aimed to determine the prevalence of DM among TB patients in Pakistan and to investigate anthropometric biochemical, and haemodynamic associations between TB patients with and without DM. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study at Gulab Devi Chest Hospital in Lahore, Punjab. A total of 3,027 newly diagnosed smear positive TB patients ≥ 25 years of age were screened for DM by HbA1c regardless of previous DM history. Results The prevalence of screen-detected DM and known DM among the TB participants was 13.5% and 26.1% respectively, resulting in a combined DM prevalence of 39.6%. Most participants were male (64.4%). Using bivariate analyses, participants with DM were significantly older (49.8 vs. 40.6 years) with higher haemoglobin (men, 12.1 vs. 11.8 g/dL, women 11.5 vs. 10.7 g/dL), body mass index (21.0 vs. 17.6 kg/m2) and waist-hip ratio (men, 0.87 vs. 0.81, women, 0.87 vs. 0.79) (all p

This is the second contribution on the taxonomic status of the Indian Eulophidae. It deals with the types of 26 species belonging to the Eulophinae (8 species), Entedoninae (15 species) and Euderinae (3 species). Apart from several new combinations, the following synonymies are proposed (senior synonyms in parenthesis): Allocerastichus afrimbiatus Shafee, Rizvi & Khan, and A. longicorpus Khan & Shafee (Euderus agromyzae); Chrysonotomyia kerrichi Khan & Shafee (Chrysonotomyia postmarginaloides); C. latipennis Khan & Shafee (Chrysonotomyia pulcherrima); Hemiptarsenus agraensis Shafee & Rizvi (Stenomesius japonicus); H. aligarhensis Shafee & Rizvi (Notanisomorphella flaviventris); H. brevipedicellus Shafee & Rizvi (Hemiptarsenus varicornis); Omphale epilachni Singh & Khan (Chrysonotomyia appannai). A new name, Chrysonotomyia younusi, Hayat & Perveen, is proposed for Neochrysocharis metallicus Khan & Shafee as it is preoccupied by metallica (Ashmead).

A polymerase chain reaction was used to identify Brucella species isolated from humans in Denmark. Consecutive analysis of referred bacteria and re-examination of historical isolates identified all as Brucella melitensis. Multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) placed the isolates in the previously defined ‘East Mediterranean’ B. melitensis group.

Background Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is a chronic and progressive granulomatous disease affecting mainly the skin and the peripheral nervous system. If left unrecognized, the infection can lead to permanent nerve damage and disability. The clinical presentation depends on the immune response of the patient and can result in a wide spectrum of symptoms. Leprosy is a rare encounter in Scandinavia but remains endemic in some parts of the world, with some areas reporting an increasing incidence. We performed a retrospective record review of leprosy cases in Denmark from 1980 to 2010 with the purpose of presenting the most common geographical, demographic and clinical findings and to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of patients with leprosy. Case presentation In total 15 cases were reviewed. The majority (87 %) of leprosy patients in Denmark were born in South- and Southeast Asia, and were presumed to have contracted the infection in their countries of origin. Patients were predominately young males (mean age: 28.6 years). Anaesthetic skin lesion with or without nerve enlargement were the most common clinical presentations (73 %). Immunological leprosy reactions were seen in 40 % of the cases. Diagnoses were based on clinical findings and skin biopsies. Treatment length varied but all patients received multidrug regimens. Conclusion Leprosy should be kept in mind when encountering patients with suspicious skin lesions originating from leprosy endemic areas or with history of travel or work in the tropics. Due to the long incubation period with symptoms presenting long after immigration or return, clinicians often do not have the diagnosis in mind. The wide spectrum of symptoms and immunological reactions further complicates the diagnostic process. Treatment of leprosy and the complicated immunological reactions, which frequently accompanies the infection, should be performed in collaboration with a specialist. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1768-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.