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Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles found considerable interest from the researcher because of their versatile biocompatible properties and the plethora of applications including anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, drug delivery, and tissue engineering etc. The growing applications of the MgO nanoparticles necessitate exploring new synthesis routes with faster production rates. Method: In this study, MgO nanoparticles were synthesized by ultrasonication-assisted co-precipitation method and calcined at 800°. MgO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. XRD results showed that the particles have a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure with a crystallite size of about 19.07 nm. SEM results displayed the spherical morphology of MgO nanoparticles. The impurity elements were absent as determined through EDX analysis and showed the high purity of the synthesized MgO. These particles are tested for in-vitro biological applications. The antibacterial activity of MgO nanoparticles on different bacteria was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. MIC test revealed that antibacterial activity increases by increasing the concentration of MgO nanoparticles. The synthesized nano-MgO showed high purity and spherical morphology and characterization analysis revealed that nano-MgO and biocompatible and can be applied in biomedical applications as verified by their bacterial activity test.

Herein, we present a quick and cost-effective electrodeposition method to synthesize binder-free cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanostructures. The structural crystallinity of the prepared electrodes was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to study the stretching and bending vibrations of metal–oxygen bonds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that as the concentration increased from 1 mM, nanoparticles transitioned from agglomeration to sheet formation. The supercapacitor properties of these Co3O4 nanostructure electrodes were investigated in a 6 M KOH solution. Among the electrodes, Co3O4@FNF-1 exhibited the highest capacitance of 1444 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. Additionally, the optimized Co3O4@FNF-1 electrode demonstrated 96% stability after 8000 cycles and showed excellent glucose sensing capabilities. These findings suggest that the binder-free Co3O4 electrode is a promising candidate for high-performance supercapacitor and biosensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining the interconnected dynamics of urbanization and climate change is crucial due to their implications for environmental, social, and public health systems. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of these dynamics in the Peshawar Valley, a rapidly urbanizing region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, over a 30-year period (1990–2020). A novel methodological framework integrating remote sensing, GIS techniques, and Google Earth Engine (GEE) was developed to analyze land use/land cover (LULC) changes, particularly the expansion of the built-up environment, along with the land surface temperature (LST) and heat index (HI). This framework intricately links these elements, providing a unique perspective on the environmental transformations occurring in the Peshawar Valley. Unlike previous studies that focused on individual aspects, this research offers a holistic understanding of the complex interplay between urbanization, land use changes, temperature dynamics, and heat index variations. Over three decades, urbanization expanded significantly, with built-up areas increasing from 6.35% to 14.13%. The population surged from 5.3 million to 12.6 million, coupled with significant increases in registered vehicles (from 0.171 million to 1.364 million) and operational industries (from 327 to 1155). These transitions influenced air quality and temperature dynamics, as evidenced by a highest mean LST of 30.30 °C and a maximum HI of 55.48 °C, marking a notable increase from 50.54 °C. These changes show strong positive correlations with built-up areas, population size, registered vehicles, and industrial activity. The findings highlight the urgent need for adaptive strategies, public health interventions, and sustainable practices to mitigate the environmental impacts of urbanization and climate change in the Peshawar Valley. Sustainable urban development strategies and climate change mitigation measures are crucial for ensuring a livable and resilient future for the region. This long-term analysis provides a robust foundation for future projections and policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the problem of rapid depletion of natural energy reserves and consequent pollution caused by them, this work explored the possibility of utilizing sewage sludge biomass to produce biooil using hydrothermal liquefaction pathway. In this study, effect of different reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, residence time, and sludge-to-water ratio on solid biomass conversion and bioyield and its higher heating value were investigated. Although maximum conversion of (99.7%) and highest biooil yield (22.01 wt.%) was achieved at 330 °C, however optimum temperature was chosen as 300 °C which produced conversion efficiency and yield of biooil very close (98.07% and 21.5 wt.%, respectively) to what was obtained at 330 °C as lower temperature is beneficial for overall economy of the process. Similarly, a residence time of 60 minutes and sludge-to-water ratio of 1:6 was screened to be producing optimized yield of biooil. The higher heating valu of different fractions biooil was much improved (30.18 MJ/kg of acetone phase and 38.04 MJ/kg of dichloromethane phase) as compared to that of raw feedstock (12.74 MJ/kg). Carbon balance performed on the products indicated that maximum amount of carbon went to biooil phase (53.4 wt.%). However, a significant portion of carbon was lost (33.9 wt.%) due to the limitation of experiments at lab scale which involves evaporation and drying to reach final products. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectral analysis of different biooil phases showed that it was mainly made up of alcohols, alkane, ketones, aldehydes and carboxylic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Due to current selection practices for increased egg production and peak persistency, the production profile, age at maturity, and body weight criteria for commercial layers are constantly changing. Body weight and age at the time of photostimulation will thus always be the factors that need to be adequately addressed among various production systems. The current study was carried out to determine the effects of pullets' body weight (low, medium, and heavy) on their performance, welfare, physiological response, and hormonal profile. Methods: With regard to live weight, 150 16-week-old pullets were divided into three groups using a completely randomized design (CRD) and held until the 50th week. One-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the data under the CRD, and the least significant difference test was used to distinguish between treatment means. Results: In comparison to the medium and light birds, the heavy birds had higher body weight at maturity, an earlier age at maturity, and higher egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, egg yolk index, breaking strength, egg surface area, egg shape index, egg volume, and hormonal profile except corticosterone. However, the medium and light birds had lower feed consumption rates per dozen eggs and per kilogram of egg mass than the heavy birds. Light birds showed greater body weight gain, egg production, and egg specific gravity than the other categories. At 20 weeks of age, physiological response, welfare aspects, and catalase were non-significant; however, at 50 weeks of age, all these factors—aside from catalase—were extremely significant. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that layers can function at lower body weights during photostimulation; hence, dietary regimens that result in lighter pullets may be preferable. Additionally, the welfare of the birds was not compromised by the lighter weight group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is one of the growing countries that relies a lot on debt because of less tax revenue and more spending. Government debt is a significant economic issue in Pakistan. To solve this situation, we must look at the reasons behind Pakistan's huge government debt. Studies in the past have mostly looked at the connections between government debt and economic growth, the debt-to-GDP ratio and economic growth, and a few other general debt-related problems. Time series data techniques are used in this paper to look at how macroeconomic factors affect government debt from 1980 to 2021. The ARDL approach results show that fiscal deficit, balance of trade, government spending, debt service, and currency exchange rate all have a strong positive link with government debt. However, the relationship between fiscal deficit, debt service, and currency exchange rate to government debt is positive and significant in both long and short terms, whenever government spending has only a short-term effect and balance of trade has a long-term on the government debt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensification of municipal-solid-waste (MSW) production, energy usage, and the curb of the landfill have developed the need for our society to use MSW under the vision of a waste-to-energy (WTE) approach to eradicating MSW as well as to address the energy issues across the world. The WTE alteration is an environment-friendly way of disposing of MSW. This study examines the usage of plastic, wood, and paper for refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production. The RDF is solitary of MSW energy yields, whose dependability and superiority are analysed in the current work. Two different RDF have been obtained from diverse waste streams at the plant site to find the finest RDF based on energy efficiency. Plastics, wood, and paper are the principal constituents in the method of occupied RDF. The results exhibited that the RDF-PA holds a high amount of carbon as-well-as hydrogen content and a decent calorific value, which leads to better fuel quality. The retention time under combustion and pyrolysis, the volatile matter portion of RDF, has increased accordingly. As per obtained results, RDF-PA is a good option for energy applications and fuel for combustion and pyrolysis reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the incidence of subclinical mastitis (SCM), associated risk factors, involvement and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus in the development of SCM in District Faisalabad of Pakistan. For this purpose, a total of 384 goat milk samples were screened for SCM through surf field mastitis test (SFMT) and mastitis-positives cases were further investigated for isolation of S. aureus using standard procedures. Coagulase gene was PCR amplified from the clinical isolates to categorize them into Coagulase positive Staphylococci (CPS) and coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS). A questionnaire was used to record risk factors associated with occurrence of SCM and results were analyzed using non-probability statistical analysis. Results indicated that an overall 63.28% (243/384) of goats were found positive for SCM, of which 58.85% (143/243) revealed Staphylococcal growth among them 69.93% (100/143) were CPS, while 30.07% (43/143) were found as CNS. Drug susceptibility against penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides and other drugs showed that 50% of CPS and 30% of CNS were found multi-drug resistant-exhibiting resistance against more than two or more than two classes of drugs. None of the CPS while 20 % from CNS isolates were 100% susceptible to all kinds of drugs tested. Finally, age, grazing system, use of beta-lactam antibiotics, parity, and poor hygiene were potential risk factors. Altogether, the study concluded high incidence of SCM and isolation rate of staphylococci that were found resistant against most of the commonly used antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a highly contagious and economically devastating disease, is caused by Mycoplasma mycoides (MM) - a cluster of six member species. However, literature is not available regarding the causative agents of CCPP in sheep and goats in Northern Pakistan. The current study was thus aimed to identify relative abundance of members of MM in small ruminants suspected of CCPP in Northern region of Pakistan. A total of 300 samples, (150 sheep and 150 goats) were randomly collected from nasal discharge, pleural fluid and lung tissues, and streaked into Pleuropneumonia like organism (PPLO) medium for isolation and identification of Mycoplasma species. Confirmed mycoplasma isolates were subjected to species specific PCR to identify members of MM cluster. Results revealed that 79/300 (26.3%) samples were found positive for the growth of Mycoplasma. MM cluster specific PCR showed 49 (16.3%) samples were found positive, of which 34 (11.3%) were found positive for Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc) and 15 (5%) were identified as Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) by species specific PCR. Three samples were found positive both for Mmc and Mccp suggesting mixed infection. To the best of our knowledge, we report for the first time on the molecular identification of Mccp and Mmc, and on predominance of Mccp as etiological agent of CCPP in sheep and goats of Northern Pakistan. The results have implications in the epidemiology and vaccine strategy against CCPP infection in small ruminants in the Northern region of Pakistan and therefore, a comprehensive country wide surveillance should further investigate the overall prevalence of members of MM cluster in suspected cases of CCPP in small ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sonochemical method has been employed for the synthesis of palladium oxide (PdO) nanoparticles deposited on silica nanoparticle. By sonochemical process, the PdO nanoparticles were doped on the surface of silica at room temperature and atmospheric pressure with short reaction time. Silica nanoparticles were used as a supporting material to suppress aggregation and thereby to increase surface area of PdO nanoparticles. Fabricated PdO-doped silica nanoparticle (PdO@SNP) was applied as a nanocatalyst for selective alcohol oxidation reaction in the presence of molecular oxygen. The PdO@SNP composite showed higher catalytic activity and selectivity than unsupported PdO nanoparticle for aerobic alcohol oxidation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyze the results of fibrinolysis in a large single-center group of patients with prosthetic heart valve thrombosis. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted at Rehman Medical Institute Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 72 consecutive patients presenting with Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis received Fibrinolysis treatment between 2003 and 2008. The diagnosis of Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis was established mainly by echocardiography. The fibrinolytic agent used was streptokinase. The outcome of Fibrinolysis treatment was assessed through hemodynamic parameters via echocardiography and also on clinical grounds. Results: Complete success of hemodynamic abnormalities was noted in 61 of 72 patients, partial resolution in 6/72 patients, and failure in 5/72 patients after one or more consecutive fibrinolytic regimens. Only streptokinase was used as a fibrinolytic as previous studies have clearly established its supremacy. One death was reported. Major bleed, requiring transfusion occurred in just one patient. Three documented Cerebrovascular accidents with two embolic events and one cerebral haemorrhage occurred during Fibrinolysis treatment. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that Fibrinolysis treatment is effective in Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis, regardless of prosthetic site involved. It also failed to show any significant difference between outcomes of success in different New York Heart Association classes and thus supports FT in New York Heart Association classes I and II as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]