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The complex engineering problems (CEPs) are characterized by challenges such as: a) involving extensive or inconsistent, incompatible data from engineering and other offshoots, b) unable to be solved in the absence of in-depth engineering knowledge. The engineering teachers are not found successful in the design of a CEP because it does not touch the real issues from industry and / or environment. Therefore, the expertise of applicable skill cannot be evaluated and the reason behind this failure is the lack of or poor intellectual perception of the attributes of CEPs among the teachers. In order to help teachers, the relation between attributes, knowledge profiles and CEPs is elucidated in this work by giving examples. The main objective of this article is to establish an understanding of the student’s level of perceiving a complex engineering problem with respect to the learning domain. The Survey was conducted among 70 participants and the quantitative approach employed, utilizing a questionnaire survey and interviewing teachers to gather data from respondents selected through random probability sampling. It is concluded that Industrial training (like apprenticeships), laboratory practices and final year design project are good tools for the complex engineering activities/ exercises. The results obtained in the case study were found promising, therefore, it is recommended to extend this study by using various engineering institutions to ascertain a framework on CEP solving. skills.

Abstract The plant-available soil phosphorus rate and methods for applying phosphatic fertilizer and soil P-fixation capacity are critical factors for lower cotton productivity in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Hence, a two-year study was conducted in Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI), Multan, Pakistan, to examine the effects of various P rates and application methods on cotton crop output during the growing seasons of 2014 and 2015. Phosphorus was applied in four rates (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha−1 P2O5) using broadcast, band application, and fertigation methods. Results indicated that the impact of P rates was statistically significant on plant height, the number of nodes, monopodial and sympodial branches, leaf area index, harvest index, and seed cotton yield. The greater P application (120 kg P2O5 ha−1) had a better effect on cotton productivity than the lower application rates (0, 40, and 80 kg P2O5 ha−1). The band application responded better on nodes plant−1, sympodial branches plant−1, boll weight, leaf area index, lint yield, and harvest during the growing season 2015. Therefore, by adopting the band application coupled with 120 kg P2O5 ha−1 rather than the conventional method of broadcast, productivity of cotton crops could be increased.

Abstract To improve the efficacy of organic solar cells (OSCs), novel small acceptor molecules (CTD1–CTD7) were designed by modification at the terminal acceptors of reference compound CTR. The optoelectronic properties of the investigated compounds (CTD1–CTD7) were accomplished by employing density functional theory (DFT) in combination with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The M06 functional along with a 6-311G(d,p) basis set was utilized for calculating various parameters such as: frontier molecular orbitals (FMO), absorption maxima (λ max), binding energy (E b), transition density matrix (TDM), density of states (DOS), and open circuit voltage (V oc ) of entitled chromophores. A red shift in the absorption spectra of all designed chromophores (CTD1–CTD7) was observed as compared to CTR, accompanied by low excitation energy. Particularly, CTD4 was characterized by the highest λ max value of 685.791 nm and the lowest transition energy value of 1.801 eV which might be ascribed to the robust electron-withdrawing end-capped acceptor group. The observed reduced binding energy (Eb) was linked to an elevated rate of exciton dissociation and substantial charge transfer from central core in HOMO towards terminal acceptors in LUMO. These results were further supported by the outcomes from TDM and DOS analyses. Among all entitled chromophores, CTD4 exhibited bathochromic shift (685.791 nm), minimum HOMO/LUMO band gap of 2.347 eV with greater CT. Thus, it can be concluded that by employing molecular engineering with efficient acceptor moieties, the efficiency of photovoltaic materials could be improved.

Abstract Due to the high solubility of Cd in water, it is considered a potential toxin which can cause cancer in humans. In plants, it is associated with the development of oxidative stress due to the generation of reactive oxygen species. To overcome this issue, the roles of different plant hormones are vital. Strigolactones, one of such natural plant hormones, show promise in alleviating cadmium toxicity by mitigating its harmful effects. Acidified biochar (AB) can also effectively mitigate cadmium toxicity via ion adsorption and pH buffering. However, the combined effects of strigolactone and AB still need in-depth investigations in the context of existing literature. This study aimed to assess the individual and combined impacts of SLs (0 and 25 µM) and AB (0 and 0.75% w/w) on radish growth under Cd toxicity, i.e., 0 and 20 mg Cd/kg soil. Using a fully randomized design (CRD), each treatment was administered in four replicates. In comparison to the control under 20 mg Cd/kg soil contamination, the results showed that 25 µM strigolactone + 0.75% AB significantly improved the following: radish shoot length (~ 17%), root length (~ 47%), plant fresh weight (~ 28%), plant dry weight (~ 96%), chlorophyll a (~ 43%), chlorophyll b (~ 31%), and total chlorophyll (~ 37%). It was also noted that 0.75% AB was more pronounced in decreasing antioxidant activities than 25 µM strigolactone under 20 mg Cd/ kg soil toxicity. However, performing 25 µM strigolactone + 0.75% AB was far better than the sole application of 25 µM strigolactone and 0.75% AB in decreasing antioxidant activities in radish plants. In conclusion, by regulating antioxidant activities, 25 µM strigolactone + 0.75% AB can increase radish growth in cadmium-contaminated soils.

An eco-friendly synthetic route was developed for the formation of nickel oxide (NiOaq and NiOet) nanoparticles (NPs) by treating Ni(NO3)2.6H2O with aqueous/ethanolic extracts of Elettaria cardamomum leaves; the same reaction was performed in the presence of graphene oxide (GO) to produce NiOaq@GO and NiOet@GO nanocomposites (NCs), respectively. The NMs were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, EDX, UV–visible spectroscopy, and TGA-DSC analysis. They were also subjected to electrochemical investigations and photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet (CV) dye. XRD analysis revealed the average crystallite sizes of 8.84–14.07 nm with a face-centered cubic form of NiO NPs and a hexagonal structure of their nanocomposites with GO. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Ni-O vibrations at 443-436 cm−1. SEM images confirmed the spherical morphology of NiO NPs while NiOaq@GO NCs contained randomly aggregated, thin, and wrinkled graphene sheets. NiOaq and NiOet have shown particle sizes of 27.7–30.63 nm which were decreased to 19.33–26.39 nm in their respective NiOaq@GO and NiOet@GO NCs. EDX spectra verified the homogeneous distribution of elements (Ni, O, C) on the surface of the particles. The synthesized NCs have shown smaller band gaps (NiOaq@GO = 3.74 eV; NiOet@GO = 3.34 eV) as compared to their respective NPs (NiOaq = 5.0 eV; NiOet = 3.89 eV). TGA/DSC data was used to find the thermal stabilities, glass transition temperatures, and enthalpies. Cyclic voltammetry measurements exhibited distinct oxidation and reduction peaks. NCs exhibited better potential as electrode materials for supercapacitor applications as compared to their respective NPs. NiOet@GO exhibited the best electrochemical performance and photocatalytic degradation efficiency of CV dye. After 120 min exposure to sunlight, the degradation coefficient of CV was observed to be 82.93, 86.34, 89.99, 90.27 and 81.65 % in the presence of NiOaq, NiOet, NiOaq@GO, NiOet@GO and GO, respectively.

Objective: The present research was conducted to evaluate the negative effects of nicotine powder on the blood physiology, and biochemical and histological alterations of Labeo rohita. Materials and Methods: Fish were divided into four groups (1–4). Fish groups 2, 3, and 4 were exposed to different concentrations of nicotine, such as 0.75, 1.25, and 1.75 mg/l, while group 1 acted as a control. To find out the long-term impact of nicotine on body physiology, we conducted a 42-day experiment. After the completion of the experiment, hematology, biochemical assays, and histology were done. Results: Results revealed a considerable increase in HGB, red blood cells, WBCs, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width -SD, procalcitonin, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, globulin, thyroid stimulating hormone, BUN, creatinine, and blood glucose levels, whereas mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, RDW, platelet, high-density lipoprotein, albumin, total proteins, and T3 levels were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased in exposed fish as compared to control group fish. Histological alterations showed that exposure to smokeless nicotine causes deleterious and degenerative effects in the liver, kidney, and gills of exposed fish. Conclusion: Nicotine administration in fish results in adverse effects on different biochemical and hematological parameters and causes histological alterations in some vital organs of exposed fish. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(2.000): 463-473]

Saccharomyces cervisceae mutants lacking the major potassium trasnporters trk1 and trk2 show hypersensitivity to aminoglycoside antibiotic hygromycin (hyg). This study demonstrates that expression of the inward K+ transporter LfHKT2;1 can suppress this hygromycin sensitivity in the trk1, trk2 double mutant strain. Growth complementation was performed on solid yeast peptone dextrose (YPD) media supplemented with hygromycin B. Both, wild type and trk1 trk2 yeast strains exhibited growth inhibition in the presence of hygromycin. However the potassium uptake-deficient trk1 trk2 strain (control) showed complete growth arrest when exposed to hygromycin, while expression of LfHKT2;1 resulted in growth recovery. Increased sodium concentrations caused cellular toxicity in the trk1 trk2 strain, which was exacerbated by the addition of hygromycin to the media. The hypersensitivity of trk1 trk2 mutant yeast cells expressing LfHKT2;1 to sodium suggested the presence of an additional sodium uptake system on the membrane, which was further confirmed by transient GFP expression assays. These results provide conclusive evidence that heterologous expression of LfHKT2;1 confers both sodium and K+ uptake capabilities in hygromycin supplemented YPD media, thereby rescuing the growth of K+ transport-deficient S. cerevisiae mutants. This highlights the potential of plant gene expression in yeast as a valuable tool for studying ion transport mechanisms and gene function under stress conditions.

ABSTRACTThe acceleration of materials discovery has gained paramount importance due to its potential to overcome constraints in emerging technologies. Extensive exploration has been undertaken into three pivotal approaches: combinatorial synthesis, high-throughput characterization, and computational techniques, all aimed at unveiling new materials. This review article delves into recent progress in these domains. Combinatorial synthesis, especially in the development of thin-film materials libraries, emerges as a potent method for efficiently generating comprehensive multinary materials systems and composition gradients spanning the entire spectrum of required compositions. High-throughput characterization techniques play a pivotal role in assessing the compositional, structural, and functional attributes of materials within these libraries, yielding multidimensional datasets. Concurrently, recent advancements in computational materials science have notably expedited the discovery process by enabling high-throughput calculations and simulations of potential materials systems. These collective endeavors foster a more robust correlation between composition, processing, structure, and properties, facilitating the forecast and design of future materials through data-driven materials discovery. This approach allows for efficient optimization of newly identified materials. Furthermore, materials informatics, an integral element of this process, plays a crucial role in managing and extracting valuable insights from the vast data generated during materials discovery.

AbstractMunicipal organic waste (MOW) compost is considered a sustainable and environmental friendly fertilizer management system throughout the world for hybrid maize production. It can enhance the production of maize by using MOW compost as a soil amendment. Therefore, two field trials were executed during November 2021–March 2022 and November 2022–March 2023 to study the consequences of compost treatments derived from MOW, MOW added with vermiculite, MOW added with cow manure, and combination of 150 kg/ha NPK fertilizer and MOW compost on maize yield and yield components. The MOW compost was applied at three levels (5, 10 and 15 t ha−1) in the maize field. The statistical design was a split plot with three replications. Compost levels were in the main plots, and sub-plots were four treatments (MOW, vermiculite + MOW, cow manure + MOW and a combination of 150 kg/ha NPK fertilizer with MOW compost). Each plot was 6 m2, with 50 cm line to line and 30 cm plant to plant distance. MOW compost with NPK fertilizer significantly affected the yield and yield-contributing characters, followed by vermiculite and cow manure-added composts. These effects were more pronounced at the rate of 15 t ha−1 compost than 10 t ha−1. In conclusion, MOW mixed with NPK at the rate of 15 t ha−1 was found to be the best for all studied traits of maize. This qualitative and quantitative assessment will not only provide new information about the MOW conversion methods to compost in the arid land agriculture but also will open new avenues for maize production in a significant and worthwhile way.

This research reported the utilization of novel adsorbent from the de-oiled waste material of orange seeds for preparing simple charcoal (SC) and iron oxide/activated charcoal (Fe2O3/AC) nanocomposites. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to evaluate the optimized conditions of the experiment. The results obtained indicated that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model best fitted the adsorption data (R2 > 0.99) and that the Freundlich isotherm model best explained the adsorption of dye on Fe2O3/AC. The adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic in the temperature range of 293–333°K, as explained by calculated thermodynamic parameters, e.g., ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results publicized that carboxyl and amine functional groups are present on the surface of adsorbents, which are responsible for the attachment of dye. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that Fe2O3/AC has a porous surface and textual structure, which can efficiently adsorb dye molecules. A zetasizer was utilized for determining the size of the composites, and the thermal stability was determined by performing a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The findings of the comparative experiment indicated that Fe2O3/AC are more promising than raw activated carbon for the adsorption of Congo red (CR). The impregnation of iron oxide nanocomposites on an adsorbent resulted in an increased surface area-to-volume ratio, magnetic properties, and excellent reusable capacity. Overall, it can be reported as an innovative procedure promoting the recycling of waste products, which aids in protecting environmental and human health and in the development of the economy.

The pursuit of renewable fuels for the transportation sector, particularly for combustion engines like diesel, is crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study introduces an innovative strategy for biodiesel production utilizing marine macroalgae Ulva lactuca as the primary feedstock, emphasizing sustainability and resource efficiency. Lipids were extracted from the macroalgae via a Soxhlet process and characterized using GC–MS and FTIR to ascertain fatty acid composition and functional groups. The Cu–BTC@AC catalyst, synthesized from the lipid-extracted algae residue via pyrolysis and hydrothermal treatment, underwent characterization using SEM–EDS, XRD, and FTIR techniques. Subsequently, the Cu–BTC@AC catalyst was employed in the transesterification process to efficiently convert the extracted algal lipids into biodiesel, achieving a high yield of 92.56 % under RSM-optimized conditions: 65 °C temperature, 3.96 wt% catalyst amount, 15:1 methanol-to-lipid ratio, and 140 min reaction time. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for biodiesel production were calculated as follows: Ea = 33.20 kJ mol−1, ΔH# = 30.39 kJ mol−1, ΔS# = –165.86 J mol−1 K−1, and ΔG# = 86.48 kJ mol−1. GC–MS analysis identified a significant FAME content in the biodiesel, comprising 98.12 % of its composition. Notably, the Cu–BTC@AC catalyst exhibited excellent reusability, maintaining 80.21 % biodiesel yield after the third cycle. Moreover, physicochemical analysis of the biodiesel confirmed its compliance with ASTM D6751 specifications, underscoring its potential as a viable alternative fuel for the transportation sector.

Purpose: Despite growing access to e-government services, people must learn how to use them. Previous studies have engrossed mainly on the motivations for using e-government but the reasons why such services may not be used, have not been researched much. Therefore, this study aims at identifying the impediments to e-government services’ adoption in Pakistan. Design/Methodology/Approach: Semi-structured interviews with the Pakistani citizens were conducted to develop an understanding of how individuals appraise e-government and what inhibits its acceptance. Findings: The research identifies eleven main hurdles to e-government’s adoption, the most significant of which are a lack of need for occasional use of government services, a lack of a personal adviser, and a lack of trust. The findings imply that the quality of service is vital in the decision to utilize e-government. In contrast, technical problems such as data security or a lack of usability have little influence. Implications/Originality/Value: The uniqueness of this study lies in the exploration of how people in Pakistan perceive the barriers they face while utilizing e-government services.

We investigate the Palaeocene succession of the Hazara Basin (Northern Pakistan) to better understand the impact of climate change on marine carbonate-producing organisms. These shallow-water carbonates, deposited during the Late Palaeocene, before the onset of the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, were studied using a quantitative approach to highlight changes in the skeletal assemblage. We recognise a decrease in the abundance of colonial corals and green calcareous algae and an increase in larger benthic foraminifera and red calcareous algae from the early Thanetian to the late Thanetian. Increasing temperatures may represent a plausible cause for the decline of the more sensitive colonial corals in favor of the more tolerant larger benthic foraminifera. A similar pattern is observed in most successions deposited along the margins of the Neotethys Ocean, suggesting a connection with the Late Palaeocene environmental changes that heralded the PETM hyperthermal event. Our stratigraphic analysis of the Hazara Basin strata suggests that the biotic turnovers occurred during the Palaeocene – Eocene transition started already before the onset of the Palaeocene Eocene Thermal Maximum as recorded by the geochemical proxies.

This study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis and science mapping of the publications emerging from the COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Pakistan. Bibliometrics and visualization techniques were used in this study. The data were collected from the Web of Science database with the "COMSATS University Islamabad" query in the affiliation category.A total of 26,841 documents were retrieved. VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, ScientoPy, and MS Excel software were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the number of publications, particularly articles, has progressively increased. COMSATS had the most national collaborations with Quaid-e-Azam University, and China was identified as the top-ranked country for international collaborations. Furthermore, Engineering was the most attractive area for the CUI authors. This study would guide the researchers regarding important research areas while conducting, collaborating, and submitting their research in international databases.

Abstract The deleterious impact of osmotic stress, induced by water deficit in arid and semi-arid regions, poses a formidable challenge to cotton production. To protect cotton farming in dry areas, it’s crucial to create strong plans to increase soil water and reduce stress on plants. The carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gibberellic acid (GA3) and biochar (BC) are individually found effective in mitigating osmotic stress. However, combine effect of CMC and GA3 with biochar on drought mitigation is still not studied in depth. The present study was carried out using a combination of GA3 and CMC with BC as amendments on cotton plants subjected to osmotic stress levels of 70 (70 OS) and 40 (40 OS). There were five treatment groups, namely: control (0% CMC-BC and 0% GA3-BC), 0.4%CMC-BC, 0.4%GA3-BC, 0.8%CMC-BC, and 0.8%GA3-BC. Each treatment was replicated five times with a completely randomized design (CRD). The results revealed that 0.8 GA3-BC led to increase in cotton shoot fresh weight (99.95%), shoot dry weight (95.70%), root fresh weight (73.13%), and root dry weight (95.74%) compared to the control group under osmotic stress. There was a significant enhancement in cotton chlorophyll a (23.77%), chlorophyll b (70.44%), and total chlorophyll (35.44%), the photosynthetic rate (90.77%), transpiration rate (174.44%), and internal CO2 concentration (57.99%) compared to the control group under the 40 OS stress. Thus 0.8GA3-BC can be potential amendment for reducing osmotic stress in cotton cultivation, enhancing agricultural resilience and productivity.

The rapid evaluation of smart cities has revolutionized the research and development field to a very extensive level which presents challenges in handling massive amounts of data. However, the integration of IoT into various aspects of life has introduced various challenges related to the security and privacy of IoT systems. IoT sensors capture large volumes of sensitive customer data, which can potentially make them a target and pose serious threats, including financial loss and identity theft. Strong intrusion detection systems are essential for protecting networked, data-driven ecosystems from potential cyber threats. In this paper, we propose a novel deep learning-based approach that focuses on emerging zero-touch networks that autonomously manage network resources to ensure network security, the proposed approach identifies various network intrusions such as DDoS, Botnet, Brute force, and Infiltration. Our proposed approach presents a major improvement in IoT security. We have used the CICIDS-2018 benchmark dataset and propose a deep learning-based network intrusion detection System for Zero Touch Networks (DL-NIDS-ZTN). The proposed study utilizes convolutional neural networks that correctly identify benign and malicious traffic and achieve 99.80% accuracy with the CICIDS-2018 dataset. By implementing the DL-NIDS-ZTN methodology, we aim to strengthen the security framework of smart cities and ensure the secure and seamless integration of IoT.

Previously, activated carbon was used as adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals at batch scale and the reported removal efficiency was up to 25 % (while in our technique the efficiency is up to 75%). The large industries operate with continuous processes and discharge large amount of wastewater containing heavy metals. No research was published for continuous operation using fluidized bed adsorption column till now. The novelty of this study is on the mode of operation (continuous operation at large scale under fixed and fluidized bed conditions), Biosorbent activated carbon (AC), and maximum efficiency of arsenic removal (i.e. 75 %). The Biosorbent activated carbon prepared from waste agriculture material. Industrial wastewater consists of many inorganic and organic pollutants which are discharged into water bodies resulting the serious health problems. Now a days, concentration of arsenic has much increased as compared to the permissive concentration level (25mg/L). Therefore, there is need to reduce this concentration up to threshold value (10μg/L). The use of biosorbents for arsenic removal from wastewater has global significance due to its widespread availability and low cost. Biosorption of Arsenic strongly depends on the initial metal concentration, contact time, speed of stirring, pH and temperature. The maximum arsenic as (III) removed at pH-7.5 is 70%, it was improved to 83% by agitation in batch experiments. While in continuous mode experiments (Fixed bed) the bed height and flow rates were varied. At the Fluidized bed experiments, the maximum As (III) removed was 75%. The effects of several factors such as pH, initial solute concentration, biosorbents dose, has been revaluated in this paper. The low cost, easily available biosorbent AC is recommended for removal of arsenic from contaminated wastewaters to bring them in compliance.

The tropical dry forests (TDF) have an enormously rich flora and fauna that offer various ecological services to the surrounding human societies. Biodiversity assessment is mandatory for implementing any sustainable forest management policy, which is why it is one of the important criteria and indicators currently used. Threats to TDF biodiversity are the primary challenges arising from environmental concerns caused by anthropogenic activity leading to global warming issues. The study aimed to investigate the vegetation assessment and several environmental and anthropogenic variables influencing forest biodiversity from 5 threatened forest sites of District Sialkot (Ghalotian, Kishan Garh, Daburgi Chanda Singh, Pir Kot, and Ghulab Garh), Pakistan. We collected 170 distinct plant species, including 135 dicots, 27 monocots, seven pteridophytes, and one bryophyte, categorized into 138 genera and 62 families, divided into 114 herbs, 32 trees, and 24 shrubs. The phytosociological analysis described the quantitative characteristics, including % frequency, % density, % cover, and importance Value Index (IVI) of all forest areas. Gulab Garh forest has the richest biodiversity forest area, and herbs are the dominant species that have been documented. Environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, organic matter, soil pH, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, Cl−, and electric conductivity (EC) strongly affect forest vegetation investigated by principal coordinate analysis. Shannon and Simpson’s diversity indexes reveal that all sites contain loamy and sandy soil and display a significant relationship between alpha diversity and richness. Increasing trends in temperature and decreasing trends in rainfall suggested that climate significantly affects the Sialkot region’s plant biodiversity. SWOT analysis highlighted that population growth leads to increasing anthropogenic activities such as constructing housing societies and roads, inadequate farming, and excessive grazing, impacting the forest vegetation and altering TDF ecosystem properties/services and functioning. Our findings reinforce the vegetational assessment and importance of local forest biodiversity and significant environmental drivers that influence the plant species diversity in TDF areas. Future conservation strategies are suggested to reduce unlawful resource consumption, restore plant biodiversity in designated protected areas, and conserve rare species locally.

Phenological traits, such as leaf and flowering dates, are proven to be phylogenetically conserved. The relationship between phylogenetic conservation, plant phenology, and climatic factors remains unknown. Here, we assessed phenological features among flowering plants as evidence for phylogenetic conservatism, the tendency for closely related species to share similar ecological and biological attributes. We use spring phenological traits data from 1968-2018 of 65 trees and 49 shrubs in Xi’an (temperate climate) and Guiyang (subtropical climate) to understand plant phenological traits’ relationship with phylogeny. Molecular datasets are employed in evolutionary models to test the phylogenetic conservatism in spring phenological characteristics in response to climate-sensitive phenological features. Significant phylogenetic conservation was found in the Xi’an plant’s phenological traits, while there was a non-significant conservation in the Guiyang plant species. Phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) models correlate with phenological features significantly in Xi’an while non-significantly in Guiyang. Based on the findings of molecular dating, it was suggested that the Guiyang species split off from their relatives around 46.0 mya during the middle Eocene of the Tertiary Cenozoic Era, while Xi’an species showed a long evolutionary history and diverged from their relatives around 95 mya during the late Cretaceous Mesozoic Era. First leaf dates (FLD) indicative of spring phenology, show that Xi’an adjourned the case later than Guiyang. Unlike FLD, first flower dates (FFD) yield different results as Guiyang flowers appear later than Xi’an’s. Our research revealed that various factors, including phylogeny, growth form, and functional features, influenced the diversity of flowering phenology within species in conjunction with local climate circumstances. These results are conducive to understanding evolutionary conservation mechanisms in plant phenology concerning evolutionary processes in different geographical and climate zones.

Abstract In alkaline soil conditions, the availability of essential nutrients for plant growth becomes limited, posing a significant challenge for achieving optimal maize growth and yield. Exploring the impact of biochar and waste irrigation on soil alkalinity and maize production in arid regions has received limited attention. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three levels of acidified biochar (0, 5, and 10 Mg ha−1) in two growing seasons of maize—spring and autumn. The treatments were applied following a randomized complete block design with three replications. Biochar was applied only in the autumn season, and its residual effects were evaluated in the spring season. The study found that using acidifying biochar at a rate of 10 Mg ha−1 significantly increased maize yield by 35.8% compared to no application and by 16.4% compared to a rate of 5 Mg ha−1. In the autumn, applying acidified biochar at 10 Mg ha−1 reduced soil pH by 3.65% and 6.41% compared to 0 and 5 Mg ha−1. In the spring, the same application led to a decrease in soil pH by 5.84% and 7.37% compared to the lower rates. Additionally, using 10 Mg ha−1 of acidifying biochar increased soil phosphorus concentration by 87.6% and soil potassium concentration by 38.0% compared to not using biochar, and by 46.2% and 35.0% compared to the 5 Mg ha−1 application. These findings suggest that the reduction of soil pH by applying biochar at a rate of 10 Mg ha−1 facilitated an increase in nutrient availability in the soil, consequently leading to higher maize yield. Notably, no significant differences were observed in maize productivity and soil properties between the spring and autumn seasons. Therefore, this study paves the way for further exploration into the long-term effects of acidifying biochar on maize productivity and soil properties in similar agroecological contexts.

Adopting suitable energy policies that consider the existence of main obstacles could make the development of solar energy systems much smoother. Several obstacles have been placed in the way of solar energy development in Pakistan, which has prevented its growth from reaching a satisfactory level. In order to tackle these issues, it is necessary first to recognize the obstacles that stand in the way of implementing solar energy. So, this research aims to find and rank the obstacles to the expansion of solar power in Pakistan using a novel spherical fuzzy analytical hierarchy process. The results revealed that the economic obstacles category (21.46%) ranks highest among major categories. In contrast, the overall global ranking of sub-obstacles showed that budget constraints (4.68%), lack of access to credit/capital (4.52%), political instability (4.51%), high investment risk and operation cost (4.42%), and partnership issues (4.37%) are the more critical five sub-obstacles than the rest of the twenty-one obstacles within different categories. In addition, recommendations are made for the elimination of the obstacles. The current study has policy implications for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners involved in the solar sector in the country. Furthermore, it may help develop strategies for the smooth deployment of solar energy in Pakistan.

Objective: The study investigated the gut content and recorded morphometric and hematological parameters in the Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto). Materials and Methods: 24 samples of healthy birds (12 from each sex) were collected from different wetlands in Punjab, Pakistan, from December 2022 until February 2023. Birds were cap¬tured live for blood samples, morphometric, and gut analyses. Results: The current study revealed that mensural measurements showed no significant differences in all parameters except tail length, which was significantly longer in males (14.59 ± 0.30) compared to females (12.88 ± 0.43). Hematological parameters were hemoglobin, 23.95 gm/dl; red blood cells, 3.97 × 106/μl; white blood cells, 429.9.67 × 103/μl; hematocrit, 72.14%; mean cor¬puscular volume, 183.24 FL; mean corpuscular hemoglobin, 61.70 pg; mean corpuscular hemo¬globin concentration, 32.37 pg; platelets, 7.01/μl; and red cell distribution width, 110.86/μl. The percentages of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils were 71.33%, 23.03%, 3.30%, and 1.43%, respectively. The gut content of the Eurasian collared dove mainly consisted of rice, wheat, corn, and millet seeds. Some stony materials were also present. Conclusion: Our study concluded that male and female Eurasian collared doves are alike in biometrics (except tail length) and hematological profiles. Gut content and weight were also similar. Males were slightly larger than females. The gut content showed that the Eurasian collared dove mainly feeds on rice, wheat, corn, and millet seeds. In this study, hematological parameters were also studied. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2023; 10(2.000): 244-248]

Background: Sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) is a disinfectant and preservative agent which is commonly used in food industry and polluted water bodies through industrial wastes. Objective: Current study was conducted to observe the impact of widely used salt on the gills, kidney and liver of Labeo rohita. Methods: Fish were divided into three groups. One group treated as control. Two groups were exposed to sodium metabisulfite in different concentrations (29 mg/L and 68 mg/L) for 28 days. Results: The 96h LC50 value for sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) was found to be 130 mg/L. Histological changes revealed moderate to severe damage in time and concentration dependent manners. Photomicrograph of gills of exposed fish showed different histological alterations such as hyperplasia, marginal gill lamellae, blood congestion, gills lamellae aneurysm and distortion of the gill cells. Results indicated that exposure to sodium metabisulfite caused severe progressive alterations such as melanomacrophage, cytoplasmic vacuolization, hepatocytes and cluster nuclei in liver tissues of exposed fish. Kidney tissues of treated L. rohita revealed different histological changes including, wide hypertrophied nucleus, sinusoidal spaces, cloudy swelling degeneration, glomerular expansion and tubules starting the degeneration process as compared with control fish. Conclusion: Our results represent the pioneering report demonstrating that sodium metabisulfite can act as a potent toxic agent for Labeo rohita.

Bisphenol F (BPF) is an emerging contaminant extensively used in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries, exerting deleterious effects on human and wildlife health. Therefore, the current study was conducted to assess the toxicity induced by BPF in rohu Labeo rohita using multiple biomarkers such as oxidative stress, activity of antioxidant enzymes, biochemical parameters, histology, and genotoxicity. Fish were separated into four groups (T1–T4). Group T1 served as a control (0 μg/L), while Groups T2, T3, and T4 were exposed to BPF concentrations of 600 μg/L, 1200 μg/L, and 1800 μg/L, respectively, for 21 days. Results showed a significant (p

Parabens are being used as preservatives due to their antifungal and antimicrobial effects. They are emerging as aquatic pollutants due to their excessive use in many products. The purpose of this study was to determine the toxic effect of ethyl paraben (C9H10O3) on the hematobiochemical, histological, oxidative, and anti-oxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic activity; the study also evaluates the potential of ethyl paraben to cause genotoxicity in Rohu Labeo rohita. A number of 15 fish with an average weight of 35.45±1.34g were placed in each group and exposed to ethyl paraben for 21 days. Three different concentrations of ethyl paraben, i.e., T1 (2000μg/L), T2 (4000 μg/L), andT3 (6000 μg/L) on which fish were exposed as compared to the control T0 (0.00 μg/L). Blood was used for hematobiochemical and comet assay. Gills, kidneys, and liver were removed for histological alterations. The results showed a significant rise in all hemato-biochemical parameters such as RBCs, WBCs, PLT count, blood sugar, albumin, globulin, and cholesterol. An increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels directed the hepatocytic damage. Histological alterations in the liver, gills and kidneys of fish were found. Ethylparaben induces oxidative stress by suppressing antioxidant enzyme activity such as SOD, GSH, CAT and POD. Based on the comet assay, DNA damage was also observed in blood cells, resulting in genotoxicity. Findings from the present study indicate that ethyl paraben induces hemato-biochemical alterations, tissue damage, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity.

Globally, drought has emerged as one of the most serious threats to oil seed crops including Camelina production, which necessitates screening of drought resistant cultivars that are more responsive to mitigation treatments. Effect of microbes and Selenium (Se) is associated with the upregulation of available nutrients. Therefore, present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Se interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Rhizophagus intraradices at four different treatments (T1: CK), T2: inoculation of R. intraradices), T3: Se-priming (2 mM), T4: inoculation of R. intraradices+ Se-priming (2 mM) on two Camelina genotypes (Australian and Canadian) under varied water levels (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% field capacity, FC). Se with Seed priming and microbes were applied through inoculation of Camelina seed. The experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications at MNS- University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan. The results exhibited that inoculation of R. intraradices + Se-priming (2 mM) application significantly improved the physiological and growth parameters of Camelina under water stress. The application of inoculation of R. intraradices + Se-priming (2 mM) increased crop growth, physiology, and antioxidants as compared to other treatments (T1: (Control), T2: Microbes (R. intraradices), T3: Se-priming (2 mM). The application of Microbes + Se-priming (2 mM) increased the total soluble sugars by 69.6%, 23.4%, and 10.8% as compared to other treatments (T1: (Control), T2: inoculation of R. intraradices), T3: Se-priming (2 mM)., respectively, irrespective of field capacity levels. Among varied water levels, 100% FC showed unmatched results regarding crop growth traits, physiological aspects, and antioxidants activities as compared to water stressed levels of 75%, 50%, and 25% FCs. Proline contents were also increased by 93.9%, 52.5%, and 10.2% at 100% FC as compared to 25%, 50%, and 75% FCs. The response of Canadian Camelina was found better than Australian Camelina in most of the growth, physiological, and antioxidant parameters. Canadian Camelina also showed a 2.14% increase in superoxide dismutase activity as compared to Australian Camelina. The combination of Canadian Camelina inoculation of R. intraradices + Se-priming (2 mM) is recommended to achieve higher productivity under water-stressed conditions. However, long-term studies must be conducted to screen out drought resistant and inoculation of R. intraradices + Se-priming responsive genotypes for increasing Camelina yield in low input farming systems. Further, Se-mediated physiological and biochemical associated with drought tolerance in Camelina plants and future research prospects have been elucidated.

Abstract Now a days, researchers are constantly doing efforts to upgrade the performance of solar based devices with the aim of increasing the role of photovoltaic materials in modern hi-tech optoelectronic applications. Realizing the recent energy conditions across the globe, research is diverted from fullerene to non-fullerene electron acceptor moieties in this era, considering their remarkable contribution in organic solar cells (OSCs). Therefore, we designed seven novel non-fullerene fused ring electron acceptor chromophores (MD2–MD8) from DOC2C6-2F by structural tailoring with different acceptors at end-capped units. DFT study was performed at B3LYP functional to discover the opto-electronic characteristics of the newly tailored chromophores. Various analysis such as frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), transition density matrix (TDM), density of states (DOS), binding energy (Eb), reorganization energy, open circuit voltage (Voc) was carried out to comprehend the photovoltaic response of MD2–MD8. Decrease in band gaps (1.940–1.571 eV) with wider absorption spectrum (725.690–939.844 nm in chloroform) along with greater charge transfer rate from HOMO towards LUMO were examined in derivatives as compared to MR1 (Egap = 1.976 eV, λmax = 738.221 nm) except MD7. Further, in all derivatives, smaller values of Eb (0.252–0.279 eV) were examined than that of reference (0.296 eV). These lower binding energy values of MD2–MD8 indicated the higher rate of excitation dissociation with lager charger transfer rate than MR1, which further supported by DOS and TDM analyses. Additionally, least reorganization energy in the aforesaid compounds for hole with electron was also inspected. Moreover, V oc a good photovoltaic response was noted for all studied compounds which indicated that these compounds are suitable to synthesize OSCs in future.

The sowing date is very crucial among agronomic techniques for ensuring productivity and controlling insect pest. In 2018 and 2019, sowings were carried out 15 days intervals, starting on March 1 and ending on June 16. The dates were: March 1, March 16, April 1, May 1, May 16, and June 1. On advanced cultivars of Bt cotton, namely MNH-1026, MNH-1050, and IUB-13, the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera), and beneficial/predatory fauna were researched (control). The statistical analysis was multivariate. The relationship between the predatory fauna and the prey (whiteflies) in the correlogram was favourable. Predators showed a positive association with whitefly (0.592), boll weight (0.681), boll number (0.872), and seed cotton production (0.886) per acre, in that order. It was determined through Principal Components Analysis (PCA) that PC1 had an Eigen value >1 and accounted for 79.3% of the overall variation due to the greatest positive loading vectors. It was determined that because late planting had a short growing period, whiteflies attacked it less frequently. It was determined that short-season crop cultivation and the breeding of resistant germplasm are advantageous in the face of climate change.

In an agricultural country like Pakistan, producing affordable and clean energy can be a challenging task. However, Pakistan has the potential to utilize various biomass feedstocks to generate renewable energy and tackle climate change while promoting sustainable development. Wheat, rice, sugarcane, and corn are the four main crops that yield a significant amount of residue, totaling 112.1 million tons per year. These residues have the potential to produce 3,050 kWh/ton of energy, which can meet 14% of the energy demand in Pakistan, equivalent to 9.85TW, starting in 2022. Gasification technology is a versatile option that efficiently converts biomass into energy while reducing negative environmental impacts. The current research explores the feasibility of generating clean energy from crop residues with low emissions, addressing the country’s energy needs, and supporting policymakers in promoting the use of biomass for energy production. According to this study, rice husk, corn cobs, wheat straw, and sugar bagasse all produce hydrogen at rates of 6.9 wt.%, 6.4 wt.%, 5.69 wt.%, and 5.35 wt.%, respectively. Therefore, our study demonstrates that corn cobs have a significant potential for energy production.

β-carotene is an enriched source of vitamin A and is frequently present in vegetables. The vegetables rich in β-carotene should be used on the daily menu due to their dietary importance. The deficiency of vitamin A may cause severe health issues like premature deaths of children. So, the present study was conducted for the evaluation of vegetables containing high amounts of β-carotene. Six vegetables were selected from the local market of Lahore, Pakistan, and beta carotene was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. It was concluded that carrot was rich in beta carotene contents, i.e., 12950±5.0 µg/100g. The sequence of beta carotene amount in the selected vegetables was carrot>spinach>brinjal>tomato>bitter gourd>cabbage. It is suggested that vegetables like carrot, and spinach should be used on a daily basis for good health maintenance.

Dobutamine stress echocardiogram (DSE) is generally a safe and reliable test for detection of myocardial ischaemia. We report the case of a 43-year-old male with end-stage liver disease (ESLD), who underwent DSE as part of workup for liver transplantation. Although the patient had an uneventful negative DSE, within 45 minutes he developed inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). His coronary angiography showed severe 2-vessel coronary artery disease, which was treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES). Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after a normal DSE has previously been reported in the literature. We describe one such case, with added complexity of managing an ACS in a patient with high bleeding risk. Our case is unique in reporting a STEMI after a negative DSE in a liver transplant recipient. Increased physician awareness of potential complications of DSE is essential to allow timely recognition and management.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Tm2(C7H6NO2)6(H2O)4]·2H2O, contains three 4-aminobenzoate (4ABA) ligands, two coordinated water molecules, a thulium metal ion, and a water molecule of crystallization. The overall structure of the complex (4ABA-Tm) is in the form of a dimer. In the dinuclear thulium complex, symmetry-relevant TmO8 coordination polyhedra are formed by the O atoms of two chelating 4-aminobenzoate ligands, the O atoms of two non-chelating 4-aminobenzoate ligands, and two water molecules. The Tm—O bond lengths range from 2.216 (3) to 2.471 (3) Å with the Tm...Tm separation in the dinuclear complex being 4.7863 (5) Å. The crystal structure features O—H...N, N—H...O, and O—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions. Further stabilization of the crystal packing is due to C—H...π and off-set π–π stacking interactions. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that H...H contacts are the most significant contributors to the crystal packing (45.9%). In addition, a void analysis was performed to check the strength of the crystal packing.

The architecture of the turbidity current sediment waves exhibits intricate morphologies and patterns on the Indus Fan channel levee backslope. The sediment waves are present on the channel levee of Plio-Pleistocene age and are absent in the deeper sections of the study area. The architecture of channel levee backslope on the Indus Fan is poorly understood. We used seismic interpretation techniques and modelling by utilizing high-resolution seismic data to approach this problem. The morphological variations in wavelength, crest dimensions and potential wave formation patterns suggest the autogenic and allogenic processes associated with wave development. Wavelengths reach up to 1473 m with an average of 486.84 m and the height of the levee ranges between 10 m and 60 m (average 30 m). The angle of the channel levee and dimension of the sediment wave here are independent of each other. Low angle levees have accommodated high dimension sediment waves and vice versa at multiple points downslope. Characteristically, the waves have formed on the outer levee (usually left) of the channels marked by steep margins suggesting that flow overspill caused the development of the waves. Generally, the younger sediment waves followed the patterns of older sediment waves, but the varying trends are often observed in the study area. The patterns of the sediment waves towards the younger sections of the levee indicate the modified and varying architectural style of growth. Sediment waves are generated by downslope turbidity currents. However, the deformation features have also possibly triggered the development of sediment waves.

The study aims to measure the librarians’ opinions about different professional development activities, and investigates the attitude towards learning outcomes of Professional Development Courses PDCs. Quantitative research approach followed by survey design was adopted to meet set objectives of the study. The population of study was consisting upon university library professionals working in public sector HEC recognized universities of Lahore. Census sampling technique was applied. Professional librarians from 15 different universities participated in the study. Questionnaire was shaped to assess attitude of the participants towards PDCs. A total of 67 participants responded the questionnaire. Gathered data was analyzed through Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Software. Findings of the study reveal that respondents had positive attitude towards HEC digital library resources, information retrieval techniques, training on research methods and information literacy programs Results showed that the PDCs developed new skills enhanced IT skills; satisfied users’ needs), and increased expertise in management. Significant differences were found in attitude of the respondents related to different statements of professional development based upon gender, designation, professional qualification and experience. This study is a valuable addition in body of literature and a benchmark for the university authorities to adopt PDCs for the implementation of user centered services.

COVID-19 has imposed unprecedented restrictions on society which has compelled organizations to work ambidextrously. Consequently, organizations need to continuously monitor the performance of their business process and improve them. To facilitate that, this study has put forth the idea of augmenting business process models with end-user feedback and proposed a machine learning based approach (AugProMo) to automatically identify correspondences between end-user feedback and elements of process models. Furthermore, we have generated three valuable resources, process models, feedback corpus and gold standard benchmark correspondences. Also, 2880 experiments are performed to identify the most effective combination of word embeddings, data balancing techniques, feature vectors and machine learning techniques. The study concludes that the proposed approach is effective for augmenting business process models with end-user feedback by identifying correspondences between them.

Both biotic and abiotic factors restrict changes in autumn phenology, yet their effects remain ambiguous, which hinders the accurate prediction of phenology under future climate change. In this study, based on the phenological records of 135 tree species at ten sites in China during 1979–2018, we first investigated the effects of climatic factors (temperature, precipitation, insolation and wind speed) and spring phenology on interannual changes in leaf coloring date (LCD) with the partial correlation analysis, and assessed the relative importance of phylogeny and native climate to LCD differences among species by using multivariate regression and phylogenetic eigenvector regression approach. The results showed that the effects of climate factors on interannual changes in LCD were more significant than spring phenology. In general, temperature played a more important role in cold regions (e.g. the northeast region), while the control of insolation on LCD was stronger in the warmer and wetter regions (e.g. the north, east and southwest regions). In addition, the effects of precipitation and wind speed were more evident in arid regions (e.g. the northwest region). We also found considerable effects of both native climate and phylogeny on the LCD differences among species, despite the contribution of native climate being almost 2~5 times greater than that of the phylogeny. Our findings confirmed and quantified the combined effects of climate, spring phenology and phylogeny on the autumn phenology of plants, which could help better understand the driving factors and influencing mechanism of plant phenology and provide a reference for the calibration and optimization of phenological models.

Abstract Background People from South Asia are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). There is an urgent need to develop approaches for the prevention of T2D in South Asians that are cost-effective, generalisable and scalable across settings. Hypothesis Compared to usual care, the risk of T2D can be reduced amongst South Asians with central obesity or raised HbA1c, through a 12-month lifestyle modification programme delivered by community health workers. Design Cluster randomised clinical trial (1:1 allocation to intervention or usual care), carried out in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the UK, with 30 sites per country (120 sites total). Target recruitment 3600 (30 participants per site) with annual follow-up for 3 years. Entry criteria South Asian, men or women, age 40–70 years with (i) central obesity (waist circumference ≥ 100 cm in India and Pakistan; ≥90 cm in Sri Lanka) and/or (ii) prediabetes (HbA1c 6.0–6.4% inclusive). Exclusion criteria: known type 1 or 2 diabetes, normal or underweight (body mass index

Major objective of the study was to identify the technology adoption attitude of library professionals performing services in the public & private sector universities of Lahore, Pakistan. Quantitative method followed by survey research design was applied. Questionnaire was developed to gather data from the target population. All professional librarians of the public and private sector universities of Lahore having at least Masters qualification were the population of the study. The census sampling technique was used to collect data from the population in the quantitative phase. Due to the personal efforts of the researchers, the response rate was 76%. Collected data were analyzed through SPSS Software and descriptive statistics were applied. Results of the research show that most of the respondents want to implement the latest technological tools in their libraries. Factors of personal interest, competitive environment, creative mindset, availability of sufficient funds, and leadership play a vital role to implement emerging technologies in the university libraries. The study has practical implications for the authorities of the universities and policy-makers for taking practical measures to encourage and support library professionals to adopt the latest technological tools in the libraries to provide smart services.

Organizational sustainability in the form of environmental management and sustainable production is becoming more important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout the world. This research evaluates the factors affecting the understanding of the CEO's and managers' intention to adopt practices of green supply chain management (GSCM) and clean innovation technology (CIT) in the manufacturing SMEs of Pakistan. This empirical research identifies key determinants influencing the adoption of GSCM practices. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we selected a sample size of 350 different manufacturing firms in Pakistan. The results of the study revealed that six factors, namely, environmental, government, organization, suppliers, market, and operational factors, significantly influence the intention to adopt GSCM and positively impact sustainable production. The study's findings reveal that market and operational factors are highly significant for adopting GSCM practices at a p-value of 0.05. Environmental and organizational factors are equally significant to adopt GSCM practices at a p-value of 0.10. This research also analyzed CIT as a moderator between environmental, government, organization, customer, supplier, economic, market, and operational factors in the context of Pakistan. Hypotheses H9a, H9b, H9f, and H9g were validated and support the use of CIT to boost enterprise production and consumption. The research findings would help policymakers understand how to implement GSCM practices and guide enterprises to implement GSCM and CIT practices for enhancing enterprise performance and environmental sustainability.

The effects of climate change on plant phenology have been widely recognized around the world. However, the effect of plant internal factors (such as phylogeny) on the variations in phenology among plant species remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the phylogenetic conservatism in spring phenological traits using phylogenetic signal and evolutionary models, including Brownian motion (BM) model, Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) model and white noise (WN) model, based on the phenological data of 48 temperate plant species in Northeast China. We also explored the relative contributions of phylogeny and adaptation to native climate (i.e., the climate in native range of species) to the variations in the phenological traits among species using phylogenetic eigenvector regression and variance partitioning analysis. The results showed thatspring phenological traits conformed to the OU model, indicating thatspring traits were phylogenetically conserved. The effect of phylogeny on flowering traits was stronger than that on leaf-out traits. Additionally, the adaptation to native climate contributed more to the variations in spring phenological traits among species than phylogeny, and adaptation to native climate explained more variations in leaf-out traits than in flowering traits. Our results suggested that the spring phenological traits were constrained by both phylogeny and adaptation to native climate. However, the adaptation to native climate had a stronger effect on the variations in phenological traits than phylogeny. Therefore, the degree of similarity in spring phenological traits across closely related species depends on the degree of similarity in the environmental conditions where these close relatives are distributed.

Objective: To determine the frequency of unidentified Diabetes Mellitus in Acute Myocardial Infarction. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Army Cardiac Centre Lahore, Lahore, from Jan 2020 to Feb 2020. Methodology: Patients (male and females) with acute myocardial infarction both ST Elevation MI and non-ST Elevation MI presenting to cardiac centre were included through consecutive non probability sampling technique. Patients with gestation diabetes mellitus and diabetes type I were excluded. Data was collected through detailed questionnaire covering the necessary variables. Distribution of unrecognized diabetes in these patients were determined through Blood Sugar Fasting and HBA1c levels undersigned by the classified Pathologist. Results: Over the study period, a total of 150 patients were included. 68.6% were males with 40.6% patients suffering from STEMI and 28% with NSTEMI. Among 31.2% females, 12.6% patients had STEMI and 18.6% had NSTEMI. Out of total patients, 40% were known case of diabetes, 26.6% were newly diagnosed diabetics, normoglycemic were 23.3% and impaired fasting blood glucose levels was present in 10% patients. Total 40 (26.6%) patients were those who were first diagnosed diabetes during admission for acute MI management. In unidentified diabetic group STEMI was more common than NSTEMI with male predominance. Conclusion: There is a high frequency of unrecognized diabetes mellitus in patients with acute Myocardial infarction in our population. Therefore, in high risk patients for ischemic heart disease, screening for diabetes is routinely suggested to take timely preventive efforts and avoid complications.

Biodegradable plastic mulch is potentially a suitable alternative to conventional polyethylene mulch because of the limited disposal options of the latter. However, biodegradable plastic mulch must perform better or comparably to polyethylene mulch to be widely adopted. Gas exchange and soil microclimate are important factors impacted by the use of plastic mulch, which in turn have implications on crop productivity. A controlled-environment study was established in a greenhouse to assess gas exchange and soil microclimate dynamics under biodegradable plastic, polyethylene, and paper mulches with and without planting holes, as well as the impact of the mulches on the growth of sweet corn (Zea mays). A no-mulch condition was included as control. In addition, we monitored CO2 concentrations in the vicinity of planting holes (chimney effect) in a greenhouse and agricultural field conditions under sweet corn production. The plastic mulches (both biodegradable plastic and polyethylene mulches) decreased the soil O2concentration to a minimum of 181–183 mmol mol-1, and when compared to the no-mulch, the plastic mulches reduced water loss within 50 days by 35–68 mm. The paper mulch inhibited light penetration more than did the plastic mulches. There was an increase in the CO2 concentration at 2.5 cm above the planting holes in the plastic mulches compared to that under the no-mulch. However, the differences were not discernible at 15 cm above the ground. Consequently, we did not observe significant impacts on the growth of sweet corn, possibly, because the canopy height of sweet corn was more than 15 cm within a few days after planting. Overall, the plastic mulches did not reduce O2 concentration below 100 mmol mol-1, the minimum level in which plant growth becomes impaired. Also, the often reported improved growth of sweet corn from plastic mulching could be attributable to other factors, such as weed control, reduced water loss, and early season soil warming, rather than elevated CO2 concentrations and fluxes in the vicinity of planting holes. Highlights - Gas exchange and soil microclimate dynamics under biodegradable plastic, polyethylene, and paper mulches were assessed - Elevated CO2 levels were observed near planting holes of plastic mulches (both biodegradable and polyethylene) - The plastic mulches inhibited O2 exchange, but not to a level that could impair plant growth - Polyethylene mulch conserved soil water better than biodegradable plastic and paper mulches - Paper mulch inhibited light penetration better than plastic mulches