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Oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis could be an important factor leading to post-hemorrhagic consequences after germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH). Previously study have indicated that relaxin 2 receptor activation initiates anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptosis in ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, whether relaxin 2 activation can attenuate oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis after GMH remains unknown. To investigate the beneficial effect of relaxin 2 on oxidative stress injury and neuronal apoptosis by GMH, a total of 150 rat pups were subjected to GMH by an intraparenchymal injection of bacterial collagenase. Recombinant human relaxin-2 (rh-relaxin-2) was administered intraperitoneally injections at 1 h and 13 h after GMH. Lenti-virus with sgRXFP1 and sgCtrl was administered intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) on the left side of the brain to inhibit the RXFP1 at 2d prior to GMH induction, and LY321499, ERK inhibitor, was administered by i.c.v. injection at 1 h on the left side of the brain prior to GMH induction, respectively. Co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, TUNEL, Fluoro-Jade C, DHE staining, western blot, Nitrix Oxide (NO) quantification and side effect experiments were performed to evaluate post-GMH. We found endogenous relaxin-2 interacts with RXFP1 and both protein colocalized in neurons on the first day after GMH. Additionally, RXFP1 activation with rh-relaxin-2 significantly inhibited oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis in GMH + rh-relaxin-2 group compared with GMH + vehicle group. Moreover, rh-relaxin-2 treatment significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and nNOS, as well as upregulated expression of Bcl2 and NO and downregulated expression of Bax and Romo 1. The beneficial effects of rh-relaxin-2 were reversed by i.c.v. injection of lenti-virus with sgRXFP1 and LY321499, respectively. Furthermore, the side effect experiment showed rh-relaxin-2 did not affect neurological behavior and the function of liver and kidney. In conclusion, our finding showed that rh-relaxin-2 attenuated oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis after GMH through RXFP1-ERK-nNOS-NO signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions have varying effectiveness in reducing fecal contamination in the domestic environment; delivering them in combination could yield synergies. We conducted environmental assessments within a randomized controlled trial in Bangladesh that implemented single and combined water treatment, sanitation, handwashing (WSH) and nutrition interventions (WASH Benefits, NCT01590095). After one and two years of intervention, we quantified fecal indicator bacteria in samples of drinking water (from source or storage), child hands, children's food and sentinel objects. In households receiving single water treatment interventions, Escherichia coli prevalence in stored drinking water was reduced by 50% and concentration by 1-log. E. coli prevalence in food was reduced by 30% and concentration by 0.5-log in households receiving single water treatment and handwashing interventions. Combined WSH did not reduce fecal contamination more effectively than its components. Interventions did not reduce E. coli in groundwater, on child hands and on objects. These findings suggest that WSH improvements reduced contamination along the direct transmission pathways of stored water and food but not along indirect upstream pathways. Our findings support implementing water treatment and handwashing to reduce fecal exposure through water and food but provide no evidence that combining interventions further reduces exposure.

This study integrates various remote sensing datasets to analyze environmental changes and their impacts on ecosystems across Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan. Precipitation data from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) dataset, along with vegetation health assessments using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) data from the Landsat dataset, were used to comprehensively analyze the impact of vegetation dynamics on environmental footprints (i.e., temperature, precipitation, and LST). Land use maps, generated through supervised classification of Landsat images from 1985 to 2023, highlight significant changes in different land use classes, including vegetation and forest cover. Bayesian Network Modelling (BNM) and Dummy Variable Regression (DVR) methods were employed to assess the impact of vegetation (using NDVI time series) on environmental footprint and forest cover in particular. The results suggest that the NDVI generally increase the cooling effect across most of the study area, indicating that higher vegetation density is linked to a decrease in temperatures. This inverse relationship is also apparent in the connection between the NDVI and the LST, depicting a negative trend in surface temperature over most of the pixels/districts. The regression coefficients for the NDVI and the LST vary across different pixels, ranging from −5.3839 °C to 5.2697 °C, with standard deviations from 2.057 °C to 5.138 °C, reflecting a variability in the strength of this cooling effect. Similarly, for the relationship between the NDVI and the LST, coefficients range from −7.1513 °C to 6.6322 °C, with standard deviations between 1.612 °C and 4.155 °C. In contrast, NDVI and precipitation show a positive relationship, with regression coefficients ranging from 4.1686 °C to 44.3932 °C and standard deviations between 2.242 °C and 8.224 °C, suggesting greater variability in precipitation corresponding to vegetation dynamics. Additionally, forest cover generally correlates positively with precipitation in most pixels, but the variability across pixels emphasizes the complex nature of these relationships. The study identified substantial fluctuations in land use categories over the decades, indicating environmental shifts driven by both natural and human factors. BNM demonstrated a positive impact of vegetation dynamics on precipitation and a negative impact on both temperature and LST. On the other hand, the increase in forest cover, particularly due to the Billion Tree Tsunami Project, has a significant impact on the environmental footprint identified through DVR. By combining high-resolution datasets with advanced statistical techniques, this study offers key insights into the dynamic interactions between land cover, vegetation, and climate in the study region, providing valuable information for sustainable environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure suppression containment has been adopted extensively in boiling water reactor design due to its remarkable pressure suppression capacity. To study the pressure response characteristics of the containment in the initial stage of the loss-of-coolant accident, it is necessary to build a scaling facility to simulate the prototype. Analysis of the steam mass and energy that are released from the break as well as of the steam condensation that occurs in the suppression pool is conducted, respectively, for the prototype pressurized water reactor. The suppression pipe system resistance is also scaled with a certain ratio. The length and diameter of the main pipe and the branch pipe as well as the orifice diameter are calculated. At last, the prototype and the experimental facility are modeled by MELCOR to analyze the steam mass and energy release. The results show that the containment pressure evolution trends of the prototype and the scaled experimental facility are consistent. The pressure difference exists at some times, with a maximum relative error of 4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification and conservation of endangered plant species are essential for safeguarding the flora of the region. Ajuga bracteosa(A. bracteosa), found in Pakistan's North West, holds immense medicinal potential due to its diverse active ingredients. However, unskilled overharvesting of this plant by uprooting entire herbs has drastically reduced its propagules, worsening its endangered status. The current study was conducted to optimize phytohormone levels in Murashige and Skoog media for micropropagation of A. bracteosa. In vitro micropropagation is an effective conservation technique for A. bracteosa due to its ability to preserve genetic diversity, enable rapid multiplication, produce disease-free plants, and facilitate long-term storage and utility in medicine. The study was divided into two experiments. In the first experiment, shoot organogenesis was studied in callus explants in the media containing 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) alone and combined with Auxins or Gibberellic Acid (GA3). In the second experiment, these shoots were studied for root organogenesis in the media containing auxins Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at two levels (0.5 and 1.0 mg L-1). In the first experiment, the medium containing BAP+NAA (3+1 mg L-1) induced early and 100% shoots and 13.8 shoot explants-1 with 4.1 cm length. In the second experiment, NAA (0.5 mg L-1) induced the roots early and 100% with 7.2 roots shoot-1 and 3.6 cm length. The results of the present study suggest that, for better regeneration of shoots, BAP+NAA (3+1 mg L-1) should be used in the medium, while NAA (0.5 mg L-1) is required to be added to the medium for better root regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

of polygamous marriages in District Battagram of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Qualitative research paradigm was used wherein data was collected from 32 male and female participants having polygamous marriage. The study findings, which were based on a thematic analysis of the data gathered, indicate that polygamous marriages are practiced situations such infertility, love marriages, family pressure, and financial considerations. Numerous participants observed that disputes and strife inside the household, especially between co-wives, frequently resulted in the choice to remarry. Tension was frequently caused by arguments over the husband's resources, affection, and attention. However, sharing household chores was noticed as a possible advantage of polygamous marriages by a few respondents. Respondents reported a decrease in personal workload and a sense of shared responsibility in homes with many spouses who assisted with daily household chores. It is suggested that the government make laws permitting polygamy in specific situations. These laws ought to make sure that polygamous unions are controlled to safeguard the rights of all parties, especially spouses and children. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to educate society on the intricacies and consequences of polygamous marriages to lessen the detrimental effects of polygamy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]