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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Unacylated Ghrelin (UAG) at varying doses in the management of acute liver injury in Wistar albino rats. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at Department of Physiology, Isra University, Hyderabad, Pakistan from March to August 2023. Thirty Wistar albino rats (200-250 grams) were randomly divided into five groups (n=6). Group A served as the control, while liver injury was induced in Groups B, C, D, and E via intraperitoneal injection of 0.1% CCl₄. Groups C, D, and E were subsequently treated with low, medium, and high doses of UAG, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were assessed, along with liver histopathology. RESULTS: Pre-experimental body weights (Mean±SD) for groups A, B, C, D, and E were 227.33±7.75 g, 229.80±2.08 g, 228.70±5.34 g, 231.33±8.69 g, and 236.38±10.63 g, respectively. The liver index was 4.36±0.28, 6.65±0.37, 5.80±0.17, 5.70±0.08, and 5.06±0.23, respectively, across the groups. A statistically significant (p

Abstract In order to comprehend the dynamics of disease propagation within a society, mathematical formulations are essential. The purpose of this work is to investigate the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in persons with weakened immune systems by introducing cytokines ( $$ IL_{2} \& IL_{12}$$ I L 2 & I L 12 ) and anti-PD-L1 inhibitors. To find the stable position of a recently built system TCD $$IL_{2} IL_{12}$$ I L 2 I L 12 Z, a qualitative and quantitative analysis are taken under sensitive parameters. Reliable bounded findings are ensured by examining the generated system’s boundedness, positivity, uniqueness, and local stability analysis, which are the crucial characteristics of epidemic models. The positive solutions with linear growth are shown to be verified by the global derivative, and the rate of impact across every sub-compartment is determined using Lipschitz criteria. Using Lyapunov functions with first derivative, the system’s global stability is examined in order to evaluate the combined effects of cytokines and anti-PD-L1 inhibitors on people with weakened immune systems. Reliability is achieved by employing the Mittag-Leffler kernel in conjunction with a fractal-fractional operator because FFO provide continuous monitoring of lung cancer in multidimensional way. The symptomatic and asymptomatic effects of lung cancer sickness are investigated using simulations in order to validate the relationship between anti-PD-L1 inhibitors, cytokines, and the immune system. Also, identify the actual state of lung cancer control with early diagnosis and therapy by introducing cytokines and anti-PD-L1 inhibitors, which aid in the patients’ production of anti-cancer cells. Investigating the transmission of illness and creating control methods based on our validated results will both benefit from this kind of research.

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.

This comprehensive review paper examines the most updated state of research on glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor with limited treatment options. By analyzing 76 recent studies, from translational and basic sciences, to clinical trials, we highlight various aspects of glioblastoma and shed light on potential therapeutic strategies. The interplay between tumor cells, neural progenitor cells, and the tumor microenvironment is explored. Targeting the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway through extracellular-vesicle (EV)-mediated signaling emerges as a potential therapeutic strategy. Personalized modeling approaches utilizing patient-specific MRI data offer promise for optimizing treatment strategies. The response of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) to different treatment modalities is examined, emphasizing the need to inhibit the transformation of proneural (PN) GSCs into resistant mesenchymal (MES) GSCs. Metabolic therapy and combination therapies show potential in reversing treatment resistance and inhibiting both PN and MES GSCs. Immunotherapy, targeted approaches, and molecular dynamics in gliomas are discussed, providing insights into early-stage diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, the potential use of Zika virus as an oncolytic agent is explored. Analysis of phase 0 to 3 clinical trials reveal promising outcomes for various experimental treatments, highlighting the importance of combination therapies, predictive signatures, and patient selection strategies. Specific compounds demonstrate potential therapeutic benefits and tolerability. Phase 3 trials indicate the efficacy of DCVax-L in improving survival rates and depatux-m in prolonging progression-free survival. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized treatment approaches and continued exploration of targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and tumor biology understanding in shaping the future of glioblastoma treatment.

Objectives: Alveolar echinococcosis is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, a parasite of zoo¬notic significance with a wide range of intermediate and final hosts, and the parasite survives suc¬cessfully in diversified conditions. Plentiful studies have been done to study the genetic structure of the population of the parasite and the level of intimate kinship using mitochondrial (mt) DNA. The present study was conducted to investigate the population structure, genetic variation, and phylogenetic relationship of various isolates of E. multiocularis submitted to GenBank worldwide. Sequences of mt genes (mt-cytochrome c oxidase (cox1), mt-NADH dehydrogenase (nad1)) of E. multilocularis were analyzed to achieve the set goals. Materials and Methods: A total of 275 and 124 gene sequences of mt-cox1 and mt-nad1 belong¬ing to E. multilocularis, respectively, were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank. The retrieved sequences were subjected to alignment with respective reference sequences using MEGA software. The PopArt software was used to establish medi¬an-joining networks, while DnaSp was used to calculate neutrality and diversity indices. MrBayes software was used to investigate the phylogenetic association between haplotypes based on Bayesian phylogeny. Results: Approximately 13 and 20 distinctive haplotypes of nad1 and cox1 genes, respectively, were observed in the present study. In both of the mt genes, diversity indices indicated low haplo¬type (mt-cox1 = 0.140; mt-nad1 = 0.374) and nucleotide (mt-cox1 = 0.00111; mt-nad1 = 0.00287) diversities. The values of Tajima's D and Fu Fs for a population of both of the genes under study were found to be negative. Conclusion: This study is a maiden attempt to provide insights into the population structure and genetic variation of E. multilocularis on a global scale. However, it is suggested that to better understand the population structure and genetic diversity of E. multilocularis, more geographical locations and amplifications of full-length gene sequences should be considered, which could be helpful in widening the insights into the genetic diversity of E. multilocularis. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(2.000): 264-274]

Abstract Background The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii encodes dozens of phosphatases, among which a plant-like phosphatase absent from mammalian genomes named PPKL, which is involved in regulating brassinosteroid signaling in Arabidopsis, was identified in the genome. Among the Apicomplexa parasites, T. gondii is an important and representative pathogen in humans and animals. PPKL was previously identified to modulate the apical integrity and morphology of the ookinetes and parasite motility and transmission in another important parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. However, the exact function of PPKL in the asexual stages of T. gondii remains unknown. Methods The plant auxin-inducible degron (AID) system was applied to dissect the phenotypes of PPKL in T. gondii. We first analyzed the phenotypes of the AID parasites at an induction time of 24 h, by staining of different organelles using their corresponding markers. These analyses were further conducted for the parasites grown in auxin for 6 and 12 h using a quantitative approach and for the type II strain ME49 of AID parasites. To further understand the phenotypes, the potential protein interactions were analyzed using a proximity biotin labeling approach. The essential role of PPKL in parasite replication was revealed. Results PPKL is localized in the apical region and nucleus and partially distributed in the cytoplasm of the parasite. The phenotyping of PPKL showed its essentiality for parasite replication and morphology. Further dissections demonstrate that PPKL is required for the maturation of daughter parasites in the mother cells, resulting in multiple nuclei in a single parasite. The phenotype of the daughter parasites and parasite morphology were observed in another type of T. gondii strain ME49. The substantial defect in parasite replication and morphology could be rescued by genetic complementation, thus supporting its essential function for PPKL in the formation of parasites. The protein interaction analysis showed the potential interaction of PPKL with diverse proteins, thus explaining the importance of PPKL in the parasite. Conclusions PPKL plays an important role in the formation of daughter parasites, revealing its subtle involvement in the proper maturation of the daughter parasites during division. Our detailed analysis also demonstrated that depletion of PPKL resulted in elongated tubulin fibers in the parasites. The important roles in the parasites are potentially attributed to the protein interaction mediated by kelch domains on the protein. Taken together, these findings contribute to our understanding of a key phosphatase involved in parasite replication, suggesting the potential of this phosphatase as a pharmaceutic target. Graphical Abstract

A novel aspect of this study is the investigation of the impact of temperature-dependent Arrhenius reactions and metabolic heat generation on the overall heat transfer within a knee joint cavity. This is a unique contribution where the interaction between thermal effects and metabolic activity is shown to influence the transport of nutrients and the removal of waste products. For the first time, the study also aims to examine the influence of key non-dimensional numbers on the characteristics of mixed convection flow, providing new insights into the dominant physical mechanisms at play. An innovative feature of the model is the incorporation of a non-linear reaction term to address the balance between protein synthesis and degradation. By integrating both thermal and biochemical dynamics, this approach offers a comprehensive analysis of protein aggregation in the knee joint, with potential implications for understanding and treating joint diseases, particularly those related to the health of synovial fluid and cartilage, such as osteoarthritis. The findings have the potential to inform the development of improved therapeutic strategies for managing these conditions. In the context of knee joint cavity dynamics, a low Cauchy number Ca plays a crucial role in ensuring steady and laminar flow, which reduces inertia and ensures that the continuity equation is satisfied. This laminar nature of the flow is essential for maintaining stable synovial fluid movement within the cavity, which aids in the smooth transport of nutrients and waste products. Additionally, higher Peclet number Pe values indicate an increased dominance of convective transport over diffusion, thereby enhancing the supply of essential nutrients to cartilage and bone, while also facilitating the removal of waste products and inflammatory mediators. This efficient convective transport mechanism is vital for the overall health of the joint and for mitigating inflammation. Furthermore, the Zeldovich number β significantly influences the temperature sensitivity of the Arrhenius reaction term within the cavity, where higher values reflect increased reactivity to temperature changes. This temperature dependence impacts metabolic heat generation and protein dynamics, further influencing the biochemical processes that occur within the joint. Collectively, these non-dimensional parameters highlight key aspects of synovial fluid dynamics, nutrient transport, and biochemical reactions that are essential to the functioning and health of the knee joint.

The study evaluated the efficacy of magnetic mesoporous Malachite nanoparticles (NPs) in eliminating fluoride (F−) from drinking water. Screening experiments were conducted to gauge the F− adsorption capabilities of the synthesized material under different Fe3O4 loading conditions. Among the various nanomaterials examined, 0.25-Fe-M demonstrated optimal performance, exhibiting consistent Fe3O4 distribution with a crystal size of 16.66 nm with revealed irregular morphology exhibiting magnetic properties, a surface area of 13.595 m2/g and a pore size of 1.6574 nm. The optimized reaction conditions determined were: 10 min of contact time, a NC dose of 0.5 mg/mL, and an F− concentration of 10 mg/L. The maximum adsorption capacities recorded were 6.57 mg/g for Fe3O4 NPs and 7.87 mg/g for malachite NPs. Notably, the optimal adsorption capacity for F− removal was achieved with 0.25 Fe-M-NCs, reaching 8.44 mg/g, demonstrating superior performance compared to other NCs. The interplay between surface area, pore volume, and adsorption is intricate and contingent upon the unique properties of the adsorbent and adsorbate, with specific interactions governing the adsorption process. Furthermore, this study unveiled accelerated adsorption with shorter contact time and high adsorption capacity at the working pH.

AbstractThe current study seeks to examine how mentoring functions foster the well-being of employees working in the Pakistani financial sector. In line with this, the model explores the indirect path of career self-efficacy through which mentoring enhances employee well-being. The mentoring functions (traditional and relational) were explored as predictors of employee well-being and career self-efficacy. Four dimensions of employee well-being were investigated, including purpose in life, job wellness, work-life balance and physical health. Data (N = 384) were collected through a survey-based questionnaire from staff employed in all twenty-five domestic private and public sector commercial banks, including Islamic banks. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to analyze the collected data. The findings suggest that mentoring functions not only enhance employee well-being in a direct relationship but also enhance employee well-being via increased career self-efficacy. Additionally, the results suggest that traditional mentoring has a significant and direct impact on employee well-being when compared to relational mentoring. Moreover, in terms of mediation through career self-efficacy, relational mentoring exhibits a stronger influence on employee well-being than traditional mentoring. The present study advances our knowledge of mentoring concepts by investigating both traditional and relational mentoring functions in the Eastern context. The last of the study presented the practical and theoretical implications and recommendations for future studies.

An innovative approach to modeling the conduction of electrical impulses via intricate neuronal structures is introduced in this paper, which offers a theoretical and computational examination of parameter estimation in a coupled FitzHugh–Nagumo model. With this goal in mind, we present a finite volume approach to solving the FitzHugh–Nagumo model and check the numerical method’s accuracy against previous findings. To further assess and contrast the efficacy and precision of the model’s outputs, a finite difference formulation is incorporated. To clarify the basic qualitative properties of the inhibitor–activator mechanism intrinsic to the coupled FitzHugh–Nagumo model, the analysis uses dynamical system approaches and linear stability analysis. The results show that the suggested schemes are very accurate, with conditional stability, reaching fourth-order spatial and second-order temporal precision. The results are given in both tabular and graphical forms. According to numerical results, the suggested finite volume method outperforms the finite difference method in accurately and efficiently solving the nonlinear coupled FitzHugh–Nagumo model. Neuronal activity and electrical communication are complex biological systems with a lot of investigated nonlinear differential equations; this research helps us understand more about these topics.

Abstract Genetic diversity plays a critical role in crop improvement. Radish is one of the important vegetable crops of Rabi season, however, there is a lack of information about radish germplasm resources available in Pakistan. The present research was carried out to characterize radish gene pool on the basis of qualitative and quantitative traits. Twelve genotypes of radish comprised of local and exotic sources were evaluated for genetic variability through morphological, quality, and quantitative traits. Analysis of variance depicted maximum variation among genotypes for all studied straits. High genotypic co-efficient of variance (GCV) value (>20%) in all traits indicates that these traits can be improved through selection. The estimate of genotypic co-efficient of variance (GCV) in present research was closer to phenotypic co-efficient of variance (PCV), suggesting the key role of genotype as compared to the environment. However, high heritability along with genetic advance (as % of mean) among studied genotypes suggests that the selection of studied traits simply on phenotypic basis can also be effective for the breeding program. Cluster analysis based on morphological traits, grouped genotypes into three clusters and cluster I, contained the maximum number of genotypes. In correlation analysis, significant positive correlation among plant fresh weight, root length, root weight, number of leaves and yield can be directly used a selection criteria. Studying of variability in qualitative traits through frequency distribution exhibited maximum variation for root shape and root base. This study showed considerable variability exists in studied genotypes that can further be used for the improvement of radish breeding.

A wide range of industrial applications where effective heat transport, fluid dynamics, and material adaptability are vital and can be addressed by the deployment of ternary hybrid nanofluids across an extensible cylinder. This work deals with entropy optimized flow and heat transport features of partially ionized and magnetically affected Prandtl fluid loaded with three nanomaterials drifting over a convectively heated cylinder. Three distinct nanomaterials (Al2O3,CuO,TiO2) are dispersed in order to enhance the heat performance rate of functional fluid. The ion and Hall slip effects, Joule heating, non-uniform heat source, and frictional heating are among the initial hypotheses in this computational analysis. The problem is presented quantitatively by taking the Tiwari-Das model to the basic equations. The Keller-Box framework is used to solve the nonlinear equations computationally. The findings reveal that enhancement in the Hall and ion slip effects diminish a rapid growth in entropy, while an opposite trend emerges for the Brinkman and magnetic parameter. The fluid motion is depressed by magnetic field intensity. The flow field and thermal transfer rate are enhanced by uplifting Prandtl first and curvature parameters. The system's irreversibility detracts with Brinkman number. A higher curvature parameter β results an elevated shear stresses and skin friction.

Background: To determine the association of non-adherence to the various age groups and related sociodemographic factors, this study was conducted. Materials and Methods: In different departments of Services Hospital Lahore, a cross-sectional survey was conducted. 370 patients voluntarily participated in the study. The data was collected using a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using chi-square. The level of significance was 0.05%. Results: In this study, 33.3% of patients were below the age of 40 years and 46.3% of patients were above the age of 40 years and were not adherents because of the experience that they did not get benefit from the treatment. Similarly, 21.5% of patients below age 40 and 22.3% of patients above age 40 think that they do not need medicine. 38.5% of patients below age 40 and 54.3% of patients aged above 40 stopped medicine after becoming better. Conclusion: None-adherence found more prevalent among elderly patients.

Aims 20 year old patient open to mental health services since the age of 8. Through the years, they have had work-up and diagnoses of ADHD, ASD, Schizoaffective Disorder (with prominent erotomanic delusions) and sexual identity concerns. They spent a number of years in psychiatric in-patient units following an index offence. Initially in an adolescent LSU and subsequently in an adolescent MSU. After 5 years of their stay at the MSU, their transition to an adult rehabilitation ward was planned and completed. Methods 20 year old, oldest of 5 siblings, born with no complications during or after pregnancy and at full-term. First referred to mental health services aged 6 regarding difficulties at school leading to a diagnosis of ADHD. At age 13, re-engaged with mental health services following concerns around self-harm, disappearing from home, alcohol use. Also with difficulties around gender identity and sexual orientation. Shortly after, elements of ASD were identified, including social and communication difficulties and special interests which included single females. Around age 16, patient developed erotomanic delusions. First towards a female friend in dance class – patient wanted to run away with them and have their babies, and carried a knife to hurt anyone who tried to get in their way, eventually leading to the index offence. In addition, there were similar erotomanic delusions with regards to at least 2 famous female music personalities. With a significant mood component accompanying the psychosis, she was diagnosed and managed as having Schizoaffective Disorder. Results The patient presented with a complex, multimodal presentation which took time and a comprehensive holistic approach. They were trialled on 3 different antipsychotics and eventually clozapine which needed stopping due to side effects. Best response was eventually observed with a return to olanzapine. Patient also had 19 treatments of ECT (13 being high dose) with marked transient improvement. Psychology, OT and the MDT largely focussed on building therapeutic relationships with the patient which gradually helped the patient develop insight around their erotomanic delusions and the impact on their life. Conclusion Despite the complexities of this case, it highlighted that a robust, consistent, holistic approach can change lives even though this may take some time. The patient was utilizing leaves off the ward, taking part in the education sessions and activities on the ward and has recently been transferred to an adult rehabilitation ward after years in an adolescent specialist in-patient service.

Strigolactones (SLs) are an emerging class of plant hormones that play important roles in plant growth, development, and response to environmental stresses. This review summarizes recent findings on the roles of SLs in mitigating heat, drought, and salinity stresses in plants. Under high temperatures, SLs help maintain photosynthesis, antioxidant activity, and expression of heat shock proteins to confer thermotolerance. During drought, SLs regulate stomatal closure and promote root growth and mycorrhizal associations to enhance water uptake and retention. SLs also modulate ion homeostasis and antioxidant systems under salinity stress. On the physiological level, exogenous SL can increase chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, proline accumulation, and activity of antioxidant enzymes like SOD, POD, and CAT across plant species. On the molecular level, SLs regulate genes involved in the cell cycle, heat shock proteins, hormone signaling (auxin, ABA, ethylene), and SL biosynthesis and signaling components like MAX1-4, D14, and D53. Overall, SLs are emerging as promising plant growth regulators that can potentially be applied exogenously to improve abiotic stress tolerance in crops through coordinated molecular, biochemical, and physiological responses. More studies are needed to fully elucidate SL signaling cascades in different plant species and environments.

Fluoride (F−) contamination in groundwater is a global concern arising from natural processes and human activities. This study investigates the adsorption of F− using surface-activated magnetic calcite nanocomposites (NCs) synthesized via co-precipitation assisted wet-impregnation (CP-WI). Various Fe3O4 loadings and calcination temperatures (300 °C and 500 °C) were explored to optimize synthesis parameters. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to assess the performance of synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) and nanocomposites (NCs). BET, FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and SEM characterization techniques were employed to analyze the physicochemical properties, including surface functional groups, crystallite size, and morphology. The adsorption process was investigated using RSM statistical design with adsorbent dose (A) and F− concentration (B) as independent variables. 0.5Fe-C-NC-5, calcined at 500 °C, exhibited superior adsorption capacity (7.81 mg/g) compared to Fe3O4 and calcite NPs (6.57 mg/g and 6.81 mg/g, respectively). Maximum F− adsorption occurred within 10 min of contact time. NPs and NCs that were exposed to higher calcination temperatures, reaching up to 500 °C, showed an increase in crystallite development while experiencing a reduction in surface area and an enlargement of pore size compared to those treated at lower temperatures. The BET analysis revealed a narrow, slit-like mix of microporous and mesoporous surface with a type IV isotherm and H3 hysteresis loop, indicating multilayer adsorption followed by capillary condensation. The SEM images displayed columnar shapes of CaCO3 polymorph in the prepared Fe3O4-calcite NP and Fe–C NP, which can be attributed to lower calcination or synthesis temperatures.

Flexible pressure sensors are essential in intelligent skins, healthcare monitoring systems, and soft robotics to bridge mechanical movements and electrical signals. Conventional pressure sensors, however, have a variety of challenges, including a complex fabrication method, increased cost, and biocompatibility issues. This work presents a novel bio-friendly, hierarchically structured porous natural dielectric material based capacitive pressure sensor featuring a maximum sensitivity of 0.0572 kPa−1. The proposed pressure sensor uses a biofilm with a typically arranged honeycomb structure as a dielectric layer sandwiched between the Aluminum (Al) electrodes and incorporates polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) encapsulation. With a 1.44 cm2 sensing area, the device exhibits a response time (Tres) of 250 ms and a recovery time (Trec) of 156 ms, functioning within a capacitive pressure sensing range of 0–110 kPa. This device monitors various human activities and stimuli and accurately detects pressure distribution and gesture recognition.

There is a widespread increase of adoption of e-learning platforms, there is a great need to develop effective methods for assessing students’ cognitive abilities to deal with that environments. Traditional assessment methods need to improve in terms of analyzing the diverse range of skills and knowledge that students acquire during online learning. The current state of research work considers different levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, which are used to evaluate students’ performance based on given text analysis. For this purpose, the Software Engineering course domain is considered. An online test was conducted among graduate university level students, consisting of 12 subjective-type questions, where 2 questions chosen to be tested at each level, concluded as 12 questions per student at accumulated levels of taxonomy. There exists Approx. 300 students’, who attempted the test and hence their textual responses are being used to evaluate the system. The methodology deploys the SVM classifier to predict the level of Bloom’s Taxonomy for exam questions and then, multi-agent system is developed to match and identify each level assigned to an agent. Each instruction based agent is trained on Random Forest Classifier to evaluate students’ cognitive skill on a scale of outcome as Good, Bad and Average. Tools, techniques, technology missing. The outcomes show that the proposed model performs much better than the existing models, provided with 98% accuracy for SVM Classifier and 92% accuracy for Random Forest Classifier to assess students’ textual responses. The novelty of this research work spins around agent prediction of cognitive level for assessment by a use of multi-agent system to recognize students’ strengths and weakness as per six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

In this research, we present two Numerical algorithms for studying the dynamics of spatially extended coupled nonlinear reaction-diffusion model. The difference in this work is to model a system of reacting and diffusing chemicals, and how to predict the dynamics of ecologically relevant behavior, including chaos. The goal can be achieved by applying a proposed staggered grid finite volume method for solving the Reaction model, rigorously validating the numerical method and grid generation techniques against established results. Additionally, we integrate an Alternating Direction Implicit formulation to compare the efficiency and accuracy of the model’s results. Dynamical system analysis, including linear stability analysis, is applied to comprehend the fundamental qualitative features of the inhibitor-activator system inherent in the coupled reaction-diffusion equations. Results, presented in tables and graphical representations, show that the schemes’ high accuracy at fourth-order precision in space and second-order in time, with conditional stability. Numerical results showed that the proposed finite volume approach was exceptionally proficient and accurate for tackling the two-dimensional nonlinear coupled reaction-diffusion model. Overall, the dialog highlights the significance of the proposed staggered grid finite approach and calculations for fathoming coupled reaction-diffusion equations are widely studied in biological and chemical systems of nonlinear differential equations.

In-network traffic classification presents an innovative approach to developing early-stage and accurate traffic classification solutions. However, despite its initial accuracy, the one-size-fits-all Machine Learning (ML) model becomes obsolete as traffic patterns evolve. This evolution in traffic patterns inevitably leads to misclassification, resulting in the erroneous mapping of traffic flows to Quality of Service (QoS) classes. Consequently, misclassification may lead to service quality violations, imposing penalties on Infrastructure Providers (InPs). The impact, however, is not solely tied to misclassification rates, as a multi-path network with paths of varying capacities can redirect traffic from low data rate classes to high data rate paths and vice versa, thereby influencing the overall outcome. Therefore, precisely quantifying the impact of misclassification on network performance, i.e., QoS, is paramount. This research aims to investigate and address the effects of traffic misclassification on Service Level Agreement (SLA) violations within multi-class, multi-path networks. To achieve this, we propose a novel framework to quantify SLA violations caused by misclassification, an economic model to assess its impact on provider profitability, and adaptive ML techniques to enhance traffic classification accuracy continually. The evaluation results reveal that the optimal path allocation for various traffic classes determines the targeted revenue. Meanwhile, the adaptivity of the classifier maintains prediction accuracy, ensuring the integrity of SLA through precise QoS class assignments. Hence, implementing an adaptive traffic classifier can mitigate penalties and sustain profitability. This work provides valuable insights for network operators, enabling effective misclassification management, resource optimization, and the maintenance of SLA integrity.

Abstract Adiponectin, an adipocytokine produced and secreted by adipose tissue, has anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. This case-control study was aimed to assess the expression and serum levels of adiponectin in subject suffereing from atrial fibrillation (AF). The study's subjects (n = 690) were enrolled from the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore and were grouped into control, AF without Metabolic syndrome (MetS), and AF with MetS groups. Along with the collection of demographic data, an analysis of adiponectin and biochemical parameters were performed. A highly significant difference in serum levels of adiponectin was observed among the control, AF without MetS, and AF with MetS groups (61.61 ± 45.30 ng/ml, 37.20 ± 19.46 ng/ml, 63.78 ± 61.69 ng/ml). The expression analysis of adiponectin was decreased (n-fold = ̴ 0.30) in AF without MetS group as compared to control group (n-fold = ~ 1.16) but increased in AF with MetS group (n-fold = ̴ 6.26). The correlation analysis revealed a highly significant positive relationship between the expression of the adiponectin gene with waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in AF without MetS group. Whereas, serum adiponectin was negatively related to serum triglycerides (TG) in AF with MetS group. In multiple regression analysis using adiponectin expression as the dependent variable, WHR was a determinant in AF without MetS. Whereas, when serum adiponectin was used as the dependent variable, serum TG was the determinant in group AF with MetS. The present study implicates that decreased expression and serum levels of adiponectin were associated with the development of AF in which WHR and serum TG also contributed towards the onset of atrial fibrillation.

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major migratory polyphagous insect pest of various crops. The essential nutrient and mineral profile of the host plants determines the feeding fitness of herbivorous insects. As a result, the growth and development of insects is affected. To determine the effect of the nutrient and mineral profile of different host plants (maize, castor bean, cotton, cabbage, okra, and sugarcane) on the growth and development of S. frugiperda, biological parameters like larval weight, pupal weight (male/female), and feeding and growth indices were calculated. The proximate compositions such as crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, and ash and mineral contents of the tested host plants showed significant differences (p < 0.05). The feeding indices on these host plants also differed significantly (p < 0.05). The maximum relative growth rate (RGR), relative consumption rate (RCR), and consumption index (CI) were recorded in S. frugiperda larvae that fed on maize and castor bean leaves. The crude protein, dry matter, and ash contents in maize and castor bean were significantly higher and positively correlated with the RGR and RCR of S. frugiperda larvae. The larval, male and female pupal weights were the maximum in the larvae feeding on the castor bean host plant. These findings provide novel information based on nutritional ecology to develop sustainable integrated pest management strategies using selective crop rotation.

Natural resource depletion and increased mining waste pose significant challenges to global sustainability efforts. This study investigates the processability of mining waste during the metal recovery stage to evaluate its potential contribution to anthropogenic circularity. The mining industry, abundant in valuable metals that are crucial for a carbon-neutral economy, plays a pivotal role in this context. We determine the grades of metals by looking at their chemical makeup, and then we use statistical entropy to model how easy it is to process certain waste materials. This provides us with processability measures that range from 0.19 bit to 1.18 bit. Our findings highlight that while some waste contains “abundant” metals, its complexity may diminish its economic value, raising concerns about its environmental impacts and resource availability at the end-of-life stages. Estimating potential revenue involves multiplying processed amounts by commodity prices, revealing a maximum value of 8.73 USD/metric ton for processed waste. This assessment underscores the importance of integrating circular economy principles, aiming to mitigate environmental damage and promote industrial ecology. By advancing our understanding of mining waste management through rigorous scientific inquiry, this study contributes to sustainable resource utilization strategies that are essential for future industrial practices and environmental stewardship.

Key Clinical Message The presented primary thyroid leiomyosarcoma (TL) case report underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing the diagnostic challenges and management complexities associated with this exceedingly rare malignancy. Given the limited effective therapeutic strategies available, timely intervention, thorough diagnostics, and vigilant follow‐up are paramount in managing such intricate tumors. Further research focusing on molecular‐based treatment modalities is imperative to improve patient outcomes in cases of primary TL.

In this study, we investigate the resilience and bifurcation properties of a discrete-time predator-prey model incorporating an Allee effect, the transfer of prey to predator energy, and a necessary threshold for prey consumption prior to predator reproduction. The discrete-time formulation involves iteratively adjusting the predator and prey populations at distinct time steps. The model encompasses equations that depict the fluctuations in population sizes, considering processes like breeding, predation, death, and the influence of the Allee effects. The investigation results indicate that the system's boundary equilibrium goes through a period-doubling bifurcation. Moreover, when the system is in close proximity to the exclusive positive equilibrium influenced by the prey-predator population, it exhibits Neimark-Sacker bifurcations. It's worth noting that our observations suggest that the predator population might approach extinction or achieve a stable equilibrium when chaotic dynamics appear in the prey population. The validity of this phenomenon is confirmed using the Lyapunov exponents calculation, which verifies the range of diverse dynamic behaviors. The outcomes and analysis of this research offer intriguing insights in both mathematical and biological realms. Implementing methods for chaos control could be beneficial in stabilizing or mitigating the occurrence of chaotic dynamics. Additionally, the theoretical results are supported by numerical simulations, phase portraits, bifurcation diagrams, graphs depicting chaos control, and maximum Lyapunov exponent graphs.

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a contagious and communicable disease while drug resistant tuberculosis is difficult to treat and requires long duration. Various strategies are focused to treat the drug resistant tuberculosis focusing lesser side effects and shorter duration of treatment. Objective: To compare treatment outcomes between short-term and long-term regimens among patients registered at a tertiary care hospital's Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant TB (PMDT) site in Pakistan. Methods: A comparative prospective cohort study was conducted at IMBB, The University of Lahore, in collaboration with the Health Research Institute (HRI) TB Research Centre at King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, Lahore. The study included a sample size of 136 patients, with 68 patients in each treatment regimen (long-term and short-term). Adult pulmonary MDR TB patients seeking treatment from the facility were included based on predefined criteria. Data was collected using a pre-designed questionnaire after obtaining ethical approval and informed consent. The rates of patients' cure, treatment completed, treatment failure and death were calculated. Results: A total of 131 patients were successfully followed up and included in the final analysis. Of these, 66 patients were in the long-term treatment group and 65 patients were in the short-term treatment group. The cure rate was 74.8 %, with 98 patients successfully cured, and 13.8 % of patients completed their treatment successfully. In the long-term treatment group, the cure rate was 75.6 %, with a treatment failure rate of 6.2 %. In the short-term treatment group, the cure rate was 73.8 %, with a treatment failure rate of 6.1 %. The death rate was 4.5 % in the short-term treatment group and 6.2 % in the long-term treatment group. However, these differences in treatment outcomes were statistically insignificant (p-values > 0.05). The newer drugs, bedaquiline and delamanid, did not show significant improvements in the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB patients. Side effects at completion of treatment remained to be significantly lesser (p

Researchers have focused their efforts on investigating the integration of crumb rubber as a substitute for conventional aggregates and cement in concrete. Nevertheless, the manufacture of crumb rubber concrete (CRC) has been linked to the release of noxious pollutants, hence presenting potential environmental hazards. Rather than developing novel CRC formulations, the primary objective of this work is to construct an extensive database by leveraging prior research efforts. The study places particular emphasis on two crucial concrete properties: compressive strength (fc') and tensile strength (fts). The database includes a total of 456 data points for fc' and 358 data points for fts, focusing on nine essential characteristics that have a substantial impact on both attributes. The research employs several machine learning algorithms, including both individual and ensemble methods, to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the created databases for fc' and fts. In order to ascertain the correctness of the models, a comparative analysis of machine learning techniques, namely decision tree (DT) and random forest (RF), is conducted using statistical evaluation. Cross-validation approaches are used in order to address the possible issues of overfitting. Furthermore, the Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) approach is used to investigate the influence of input parameters and their interrelationships. The findings demonstrate that the RF methodology has superior performance compared to other ensemble techniques, as shown by its lower error rates and higher coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.87 and 0.85 for fc' and fts respectively. When comparing ensemble approaches, it can be seen that AdaBoost outperforms bagging by 6 % for both outcome models and individual decision tree learners by 17% and 21% for fc' and fts respectively in terms of performance. The average accuracy of AdaBoost algorithm for both the models is 84%. Significantly, the age and the inclusion of crumb rubber in CRC are identified as the primary criteria that have a substantial influence on the mechanical properties of this particular kind of concrete.

The photocatalytic mineralization of diiospropanolamin (DIPA) in aqueous solution was investigated employing modified TiO2 under visible light. Response surface methodology based central composite design (CCD) was used to explore the effect of different synthesis parameters. The analysis showed substantial impact (p

Abstract For the purpose of understanding, the governing system of partial differential equations for synovial fluid flow velocity and temperature distribution in the knee joint has been successfully solved for the first time. Therefore, such an article is shedding light on the convective diffusion of the viscous flow along the articular surfaces of the joints through the introduction of power-law fluids with different features of permeability, and stagnation point flow along a magnetic field. Henceforth, the frictional energy causes the knee joint’s temperature to increase. By way of filtration, heated synovial fluid reaches the articular cartilage and provides heat to the bone and cartilage. The lubricant in the joint cavity is properly mixed with this cooled fluid. A rectangular region flow and diffusion model is used to define the issue, thermal diffusion and flow inside the intra-articular gap, as well as flow and thermal diffusion within the porous matrix covering the approaching bones at the joint. Using the similarity solution approach, the linked mixed boundary value problem is addressed. The fluid has been shown to resist moving into or out of the cartilage in certain sick and/or aging synovial joints, causing the temperature to increase. By changing the values of the parameters from their usual levels, it is observed that the temperature did increase in aged and sick joints which impact cartilage and/or synovial fluid degradation.

The authors report a scheme for enhancing the photodegradation properties of TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) by controlling their structural phases through cations doping (cobalt and Sulfur). Cobalt-sulfur co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal process, with sulfur content varying at levels of 0.69, 1.37, and 2.06 atomic percent (at. %), while maintaining a constant cobalt content of 0.2 at. %. Our finding shows that the methyl blue dye loaded with pure TiO2 degraded marginally in 120 min (⁓ 10.5%) while in the presence of an optimally doped sample (Co: 0.2 at. %, S 2.06 at. %), it degraded almost 93% for the same duration. The study explores the underlying physical mechanisms that contribute to the varying levels of photoactivity, and these mechanisms are found to be influenced by the valency of the doping agents. The findings of this study demonstrate that precise control over the formation of the anatase phase through doping enables the production of a remarkably efficient TiO2-based photocatalyst. Our results indicate great prospects in enhancing TiO2-based photocatalyst development chemically, a suitable approach for large-scale nanoparticle production for industrial applications.

Soil pollution with cadmium (Cd) poses serious health and environmental consequences. The study investigated the incubation of several soil samples and conducted quantitative soil characterization to assess the influence of biochar (BC) on Cd adsorption. The aim was to develop predictive models for Cd concentrations using statistical and modeling approaches dependent on soil characteristics. The potential risk linked to the transformation and immobilization of Cd adsorption by BC in the soil could be conservatively assessed by pH, clay, cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, and electrical conductivity. In this study, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BiGRU), and 5-layer CNN Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) were applied for risk assessments to establish a framework for evaluating Cd risk in BC amended soils to predict Cd transformation. In the case of control soils (CK), the BiGRU model showed commendable performance, with an R2 value of 0.85, indicating an approximate 85.37% variance in the actual Cd. The LSTM model, which incorporates sequence data, produced less accurate results (R2=0.84), while the 5-layer CNN model had an R2 value of 0.91, indicating that the CNN model could account for over 91% of the variation in actual Cd levels. In the case of BC-applied soils, the BiGRU model demonstrated a strong correlation between predicted and actual values with R2 (0.93), indicating that the model explained 93.21% of the variance in Cd concentrations. Similarly, the LSTM model showed a notable increase in performance with BC-treated soil data. The R2 value for this model stands at a robust R2 (0.94), reflecting its enhanced ability to predict Cd levels with BC incorporation. Outperforming both recurrent models, the 5-layer CNN model attained the highest precision with an R2 value of 0.95, suggesting that 95.58% of the variance in the actual Cd data can be explained by the CNN model’s predictions in BC-amended soils. Consequently, this study suggests developing ecological soil remediation strategies that can effectively manage heavy metal pollution in soils for environmental sustainability.

Energetic materials, essential for rocket propulsion, play a crucial role in aerospace systems. These materials lack sufficient safety assessments and pose significant risks to life and infrastructure. The slow progress in this field is hindered by prohibitively high experimental costs and the inherently destructive nature of these experiments. This study aimed to evaluate modeling-based safety assessments, primarily utilizing the Lee–Tarver model. It specifically addressed the threat posed by shaped charges during transportation. Experimental analyses employed 50 mm JH-2 shaped charges, targeting RDX-based JH-2 formulation, since RDX is widely used in various rocket motor propellant formulations. TNT was also used to enhance the validation of the Lee–Tarver model findings. Various logistical configurations were explored, testing steel container walls ranging from 10 mm thickness to reinforced walls of 50 mm, 60 mm, and 65 mm steel. Comparative analysis with experiments reinforced the accuracy of the Lee–Tarver model’s numerical predictions. Both simulations and experiments affirmed that a 65 mm steel protection suffices for the safe transportation of RDX-based JH-2 formulations and TNT within a 10 mm storage box in logistical setups. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the Lee–Tarver model’s reliability for most energetic materials safety assessments, while acknowledging certain limitations.

Abstract Drought is a most prevalent environmental stress affecting the productivity of rainfed wheat and maize in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China. Sustainable agricultural practices such as intercropping are important for enhancing crop performance in terms of better physiological and biochemical characteristics under drought conditions. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant enzyme activities are associated with improved abiotic tolerance in crop plants, however, its molecular mechanism remains obscure. A 2-year field study was conducted to evaluate the influence of intercropping treatment viz. wheat mono-crop (WMC), maize mono-crop (MMC), intercropping maize (IM) and wheat (IW) crops, and nitrogen (N) application rates viz. control and full-dose of N (basal application at 150 and 235 kg ha−1 for wheat and maize, respectively) on chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange traits, lipid peroxidation, antioxidative properties and expression patterns of six tolerance genes in both crops under rainfed conditions. As compared with their respective monocropping treatments, IW and IM increased the Fo/Fm by 18.35 and 14.33%, PS-11 efficiency by 7.90 and 13.44%, photosynthesis by 14.31 and 23.97%, C-capacity by 32.05 and 12.92%, and stomatal conductance by 41.40 and 89.95% under without- and with-N application, respectively. The reductions in instantaneous- and intrinsic-water use efficiency and MDA content in the range of 8.76–26.30% were recorded for IW and IM treatments compared with WMC and MMC, respectively. Compared with the WMC and MMC, IW and IM also triggered better antioxidant activities under both N rates. Moreover, we also noted that intercropping and N addition regulated the transcript levels of six genes encoding non-enzymatic antioxidants cycle enzymes. The better performance of intercropping treatments i.e., IW and IM were also associated with improved osmolytes accumulation under rainfed conditions. As compared with control, N addition significantly improved the chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange traits, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities under all intercropping treatments. Our results increase our understanding of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms of intercropping-induced water stress tolerance in wheat and maize crops.

A few mostly underpowered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been used to study the impact of blood pressure (BP) targets in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. We aimed to perform an updated meta-analysis to compare the outcomes between the higher BP target and the lower BP target groups following OHCA. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library until December 2022. We pooled odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using RevMan 5.4. Our search yielded four RCTs with a total of 1114 patients. Regarding our primary outcome of all-cause mortality, there was no significant difference between higher versus lower BP target goals in post-OHCA patients (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 0.86 to 1.45). Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the two groups in good neurological outcome, the incidence of arrhythmia, need for renal replacement therapy, and the levels of neuron-specific enolase at 48 h. The length of ICU stay of patients treated with the higher BP target was significantly lower but by a small margin. These findings do not support the use of a higher BP target but are subject to confirmation by large-scale RCTs investigating homogenous BP goals.

Abstract Overview Dengue fever, a viral illness transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, is capable of causing a range of serious complications, including fulminant hepatic failure, renal dysfunction, encephalitis, encephalopathy, neuromuscular and ophthalmic disorders, seizures, and cardiomyopathy. Case description This report details the case of a 30-year-old lactating woman with no notable medical history who presented to the emergency department with symptoms of high-grade fever, altered mental status, and seizures. Upon imaging, bilateral infarcts in the thalami and cerebellar hemispheres were observed, consistent with cerebellitis and dengue encephalitis. Patient treatment and outcome The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and received appropriate treatment. Following a critical phase and successful patient stabilization, she was transferred to a high dependency unit for a week before being discharged with recommendations for follow-up care. Conclusion This case illustrates the broad spectrum of complications that can arise as a result of dengue infection and the importance of timely diagnosis and management in improving patient outcomes. Further investigation is required to better understand the mechanisms underlying these complications and to formulate specific guidelines for the prevention and treatment of dengue shock syndrome.

In the fields of numerical analysis and applied science, approximating the roots of nonlinear equations is a fundamental and intriguing challenge. With the rapid advancement of computing power, solving nonlinear equations using numerical techniques has become increasingly important.Numerical methods for nonlinear equations play a critical role in many areas of research and industry, enabling scientists and engineers to model and understand complex systems and make accurate predictions about their behavior. This paper aims to propose novel fourth- and fifth-order iterative schemes for approximating solutions to nonlinear equations in coupled systems using Adomian decomposition methods. The proposed method’s convergence is examined and numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new schemes. We compare these iterative techniques with some previous schemes in the literature, and our results show that the new schemes are more efficient. Our findings represent a significant improvement over previously reported results. Polynomiography is an important tool for visualizing the roots of complex polynomials. It is widely used by researchers, mathematicians and engineers, as it provides a way to visualize complex equations understand their behavior. Our proposed method is capable of generating polynomiographs of complex polynomials, revealing interesting patterns that provide clear visual representations of the roots of complex polynomials.

Continuous exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) poses potential hazards to human health and animal life, necessitating thorough monitoring and investigation of environmental contaminants to mitigate their adverse effects. Therefore, this study investigates the histopathological alterations, serum biochemistry, oxidative stress biomarkers, and genotoxicity endpoints induced by crystalline silica (C-SiO2) NPs, sliver-silica (Ag-SiO2) and zinc-oxide silica (ZnO-SiO2) NPs in Rattus Norvegicus. Twenty-five rats were blindly distributed into groups (A, B, C, & D), with B, C, and D administered 500 µg/kg of ZnO-SiO2, Ag-SiO2, and C-SiO2 NPs intravenously (IV), while A served as the control. Severe histopathological alterations, including widening of urinary spaces, edema, necrosis of neurons, atrophy of neurons, myofibrillolysis, inflammatory exudate, disorganization of splenic cells, and pyknotic nuclei, were observed in C-SiO2 NPs-exposed rats across study organs. Compared to controls, C-SiO2 NPs significantly altered 95 % of serological, DNA damage, histopathological, and oxidative stress parameters. Ag-SiO2 and ZnO-SiO2 NPs affected 75 % and 60 % of these parameters, respectively. Among the NPs, C-SiO2 exhibited the most adverse effects. The study concludes that SiO2 coating on metal (Ag) and metal oxide (ZnO) rendered these substances biocompatible, suggesting potential applications for reducing adverse effects in living organisms. These findings also contribute to the genotoxic profiling of NPs and their potential health hazards upon exposure to humans.

Monieziasis is a parasite-borne production-limiting disease of livestock. Moniezia expansa is the most important species having cosmopolitan distribution. Despite of numerous prevalence reports, very little information is available about the evolutionary biology and population genetics of M. expansa. To close this research gap, this study was undertaken to recognize and inspect the genetic variation of M. expansa populations around the world using the cox1 and nad1 genes and deduce phylogenetic relationships with M. expansa populations. The cox1 and nad1 gene sequences were downloaded from the NCBI GenBank database. Followed by sequence alignment, median-joining networks were constructed using PopArt software. Diversity and neutrality indices were computed through DnaSp software while MEGA software was used to draw the maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree. Thirty-two cox1 sequences, from five different countries, and 9 nad1 sequences from three different countries, were among the sequences used in this study. The cox1 and nad1 gene sequences had mutations in 97 and 36 different places, respectively. Twenty and 7 unique haplotypes were discovered for the cox1 and nad1 gene sequences, respectively. Comparable haplotype diversities were observed for both the genes under study (cox1 = 0.950; nad1 = 0.944). Negative Tajima's D and Fu Fs were found for the cox1 gene while these indices were positive for the nad1 gene. Phylogenetic analysis also showed the existence of unique haplotypes for both the cox1 and nad1 genes. The results of this study indicate that there is the existence of a huge genetic diversity in M. expansa isolates. For future studies, it is recommended that longer gene sequences should be used to describe genetic variation among M. expansa isolates as the length of the gene under study affects the genetic variation. Moreover, additional mitochondrial markers should also be investigated because the assertive strength of a group of gene targets is superior to defining genetic diversity.

In recent times, there have been calls from within the developing nations for increased ownership by governmental research bodies and universities of the priority research setting and research that aligns with national health strategies. This is a review paper of the studies that have been published on clinical trials in developing countries, with a focus mainly on Pakistan. The literature review used online databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and ClinicalTrials.gov trial registries to search for clinical trials conducted in Pakistan between January 2000 and December 2022 and analyzed. The results revealed that clinical research in Pakistan is hindered by a number of barriers, including a lack of funding, skilled personnel, and regulatory issues. Lack of funding is a common obstacle, and the majority of funding for clinical trials originates from Western countries or pharmaceutical companies established in the West. In conclusion, clinical studies in developing countries, especially in Pakistan, are hindered by a plethora of barriers, and to improve the current state, increasing funding, streamlining ethical approval procedures, simplifying regulatory systems, addressing cultural and religious concerns, and participating in global efforts to bridge the gap in health-based research are crucial.

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease that affects humans and is endemic in various West African nations. In this study, a fractional-order model is constructed using the Caputo operator for SEIR-type Lassa fever transmission, including the control strategy. The proposed model examines the dynamics of Lassa fever transmission from rodents to humans and from person to person and in territories with infection in society. The model is analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. We examine the positively invariant area and demonstrate positive, bounded solutions to the model. We also show the equilibrium states for the occurrence and extinction of infection. The proposed nonlinear system is verified to be present, and a unique solution is shown to exist using fixed point theorems. Using the Volterra-type Lyapunov function, we investigate the global stability of the suggested system with a fractional Caputo derivative. To study the impact of the fractional operator through computational simulations, results are generated employing a two-step Lagrange polynomial in the generalized version of the power law kernel. A graphical evaluation is provided to show the simplicity and dependability of the model, and all rodents that could be source viruses are important in ecological research. The findings with a value equal to 1 are stronger, according to the comparison of outcomes with different fractional orders. The adverse effect of Lassa fever increases when all modes of transmission are taken into account, according to the study, with fractional-order findings indicating less detrimental effects on specific transmission routes.

Objective: The present research evaluated and compared effectiveness between nitrofurantoin and double antibiotic paste in alleviating post-operative pain in patients suffering from symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Methods: There were 60 subjects enrolled who were allotted among three groups: Group 1 – Nitrofurantoin, Group 2 – double antibiotic paste, and Group 3 – Control. Succeeding access opening and chemo mechanical preparation, intracanal medicament was placed in the root canals. Using a numerical pain scale, pain scores were measured at the following time intervals: preoperative, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. One-way ANOVA and post hoc statistical analysis were conducted, with a p -value of ⩽ considered as statistically significant. Results: Preoperatively, most patients experienced moderate to severe pain. The patients in groups 1 and 2 reported considerable reduction in their pain scores ( p ⩽ 0.001) on each time interval. However, patients in group 3 experienced a higher level of pain even at 72 h. No considerable distinction was found among participant’s pain scores of groups 1 and 2 ( p = 0.193). Conclusion: For effective pain-relieving, both nitrofurantoin and double antibiotic paste can be successfully used in patients suffering from symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. However, when calcium hydroxide was used, patients experience high levels of pain.

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of (Inferior mandibular nerve block) IANB with Lidocaine infiltration versus with articaine infiltration in patients with irreversible pulpitis. METHODOLOGY An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics at Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, Karachi. The study was initiated in January-April 2022. A total of 150 patients’ positive history of irreversible pulpitis, confirmed with cold pulp testing, were randomly allocated into two groups: 75 cases were treated with standard Inferior mandibular nerve block with Lidocaine buccal infiltration, and 75 were treated with buccal infiltration of 1.8 ml of 4% articaine. Before administering the anaesthetic injection, each subject was shown the visual analogue scale (VAS). After 15 minutes of administration, subjects were asked to rate the pain. The data was recorded on a designed proforma. RESULTS The average age of the patients was 35.52±10.09 years. Efficacy of the inferior alveolar nerve block with buccal infiltration of 1.8 ml of 4% articaine was significantly high as compared to Inferior mandibular nerve block with Lidocaine buccal infiltration [73.3% vs 50.67% p=0.004]. CONCLUSION Buccal infiltration of 4% Articaine for mandibular teeth during IANB can have a high success rate and is considered a good alternative.

With an increasing need for enormous amount of computing power, different approaches for building inexpensive supercomputers have emerged. Decreasing costs and continuous technology scaling has led to the emergence of computers with ARM processors which are considered as a possible alternative to traditional x86 processors for creating High Performance Computing (HPC) systems. The aim of this research is to carry out a detailed performance evaluation of a cluster of ARM-based computers against a comparable low-cost cluster of x86-based computers and investigates whether these ARM processors are capable to substitute x86 processors for creating HPC clusters. Our methodology is based on experimental evaluation by setting up two cluster architectures. To compare the performances of both clusters, two complex applications were implemented: approximation of mathematical constant PI (3.14), a matrix multiplication program. Our analysis focused on execution time and speedup as performance metrics. From the results we observed that maximum performance achieved by both clusters is when the number of MPI processes are equal to the number of processing nodes on the cluster thereby allowing a one-to-one mapping of the tasks with minimal overhead. If we compare the maximum performances of both clusters in terms of execution time, the x86-Cluster performed 1.16× and 2.42× faster than the ARM-Cluster for pi_calculation and matrix_mul benchmarks. However, we noted that the ARM-based cluster exhibited superior speedup compared to the x86-based cluster, potentially attributed to the greater number of cores per node used in the ARM cluster. From the comparative performance evaluation, we conclude that ARM processors substantially lag behind x86 processors not only because of their limited resources but due to major difference between their instruction sets and architecture especially when it comes to memory-bound operations. This research underscores the challenges and opportunities associated with ARM processors in the context of HPC clusters, offering valuable insights to the scientific community looking for cost-effective computing solutions.

Abstract Background The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the Omicron variant presents a formidable challenge for control and prevention worldwide, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Hence, taking Kazakhstan and Pakistan as examples, this study aims to explore COVID-19 transmission with the Omicron variant at different contact, quarantine and test rates. Methods A disease dynamic model was applied, the population was segmented, and three time stages for Omicron transmission were established: the initial outbreak, a period of stabilization, and a second outbreak. The impact of population contact, quarantine and testing on the disease are analyzed in five scenarios to analysis their impacts on the disease. Four statistical metrics are employed to quantify the model’s performance, including the correlation coefficient (CC), normalized absolute error, normalized root mean square error and distance between indices of simulation and observation (DISO). Results Our model has high performance in simulating COVID-19 transmission in Kazakhstan and Pakistan with high CC values greater than 0.9 and DISO values less than 0.5. Compared with the present measures (baseline), decreasing (increasing) the contact rates or increasing (decreasing) the quarantined rates can reduce (increase) the peak values of daily new cases and forward (delay) the peak value times (decreasing 842 and forward 2 days for Kazakhstan). The impact of the test rates on the disease are weak. When the start time of stage II is 6 days, the daily new cases are more than 8 and 5 times the rate for Kazakhstan and Pakistan, respectively (29,573 vs. 3259; 7398 vs. 1108). The impact of the start times of stage III on the disease are contradictory to those of stage II. Conclusions For the two LMICs, Kazakhstan and Pakistan, stronger control and prevention measures can be more effective in combating COVID-19. Therefore, to reduce Omicron transmission, strict management of population movement should be employed. Moreover, the timely application of these strategies also plays a key role in disease control. Graphical abstract

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), caused by the phloem-inhibiting bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), is the most devastating citrus disease, intimidating citrus production worldwide. Although commercially cultivated citrus cultivars are vulnerable to CLas infection, HLB-tolerant attributes have, however, been observed in certain citrus varieties, suggesting a possible pathway for identifying innate defense regulators that mitigate HLB. By adopting transcriptome and small RNAome analysis, the current study compares the responses of HLB-tolerant lemon (Citrus limon L.) with HLB-susceptible Shatangju mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Shatangju) against CLas infection. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant differences in gene expression between lemon and Shatangju. A total of 1751 and 3076 significantly differentially expressed genes were identified in Shatangju and lemon, respectively. Specifically, CLas infected lemon tissues demonstrated higher expressions of genes involved in antioxidant enzyme activity, protein phosphorylation, carbohydrate, cell wall, and lipid metabolism than Shatangju. Wet-lab experiments further validated these findings, demonstrating increased antioxidant enzyme activity in lemon: APX (35%), SOD (30%), and CAT (64%) than Shatangju. Conversely, Shatangju plants exhibited higher levels of oxidative stress markers like H2O2 (44.5%) and MDA content (65.2%), alongside pronounced ion leakage (11.85%), than lemon. Moreover, microscopic investigations revealed that CLas infected Shatangju phloem exhibits significantly more starch and callose accumulation than lemon. Furthermore, comparative sRNA profiles revealed the potential defensive regulators for HLB tolerance. In Shatangju, increased expression of csi-miR166 suppresses the expression of disease-resistant proteins, leading to inadequate defense against CLas. Conversely, reduced expression of csi-miR166 in lemon plants enables them to combat HLB by activating disease-resistance proteins. The above findings indicate that when infected with CLas, lemon exhibits stronger antioxidative activity and higher expression of disease-resistant genes, contributing to its enhanced tolerance to HLB. In contrast, Shatangju shows lower antioxidative activity, reduced expression of disease-resistant genes, significant ion leakage, and extensive callose deposition, possibly related to damage to plant cell structure and blockage of phloem sieve tubes, thereby promoting the development of HLB symptoms.

Fermentation parameters, especially the duration, are important in imparting a peculiar taste and flavor to soy sauce. The main purpose of this research was to monitor metabolic changes occurring during the various time intervals of the fermentation process. NMR-based metabolomics was used to monitor the compositional changes in soy sauce during fermentation. The 1H-NMR spectra of the soy sauce samples taken from the fermentation tanks at 0 to 8 months were analyzed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and the obtained spectra were analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Square Discriminate analysis (PLSDA) revealed the separation of samples fermented for various time durations under identical conditions. Key metabolites shown by corresponding loading plots exhibited variations in amino acids (lysine, threonine, isoleucine, etc.), acetate, glucose, fructose, sucrose, ethanol, glycerol, and others. The levels of ethanol in soy sauce increased with longer fermentation durations, which can be influenced by both natural fermentation and the intentional addition of ethanol as a preservative. The study shows that the variation in metabolite can be very efficiently monitored using 1H-NMR-based metabolomics, thus suggestion to optimize the time duration to get the soy sauce product with the desired taste and flavor.