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Abstract The current study focuses on Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) peel and peel extract and their use as functional foods, food additives, or physiologically active constituents in nutraceutical formulations. The pomegranate peel extract is a good source of bioactive substances needed for the biological activity of the fruit, including phenolic acids, minerals, flavonoids (anthocyanins), and hydrolyzable tannins (gallic acid). The macromolecules found in pomegranate peel and peel extract have been recommended as substitutes for synthetic nutraceuticals, food additives, and chemo‐preventive agents because of their well‐known ethno‐medical significance and chemical properties. Moreover, considering the promises for both their health‐promoting activities and chemical properties, the dietary and nutraceutical significance of pomegranate peel and pomegranate peel extract appears to be underestimated. The present review article details their nutritional composition, phytochemical profile, food applications, nutraceutical action, and health benefits.

The current study aims to provide insights into the drying of agro products, with a specific focus on Capsicum annum L. (red pepper). Among open sun drying (OSD), polyethylene bag drying (PBD), and polycarbonate sheet drying (PCSD), PCSD was efficient requiring around 24 hours with a maximum yield of 350 g of dried product per 1000 g of supplied fresh peppers. The PCSD dried chili also showed greater retention of antioxidant markers (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin) than OSD and PBD as evidenced by UV-VIS spectroscopy. Additionally, the PCSD dried chili demonstrated highest antioxidant potential via ABTS (2, 2′-Azinobis-3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid). Interestingly, the presence of various aromatic compounds and other chemical groups, indicated the occurrence of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in each drying method used. The study suggests that PCSD sheet drying is an efficient and cost-effective approach that can conserve the antioxidant potential of agro products such as red pepper.

Objective To demonstrate the feasibility of using a ring array ultrasound (US) transducer, guided by ultrasound tomography (UST), for generating and monitoring mild hyperthermia (MHTh).Methods In silico and in vitro experiments were designed to evaluate the efficacy of a ring array US transducer for generating MHTh and monitoring changes in temperature. In a series of in silico studies, we compared the acoustic focal profiles produced by a ring array US transducer transmitting at different frequencies and further investigated the effectiveness of UST-guidance in implementing aberration correction to enhance the focal profile. In vitro experiments evaluated the capability of using a ring array US transducer to generate and maintain MHTh and the accuracy of using UST to monitor temperature changes.Results The simulations demonstrated that a ring array US transducer achieves symmetrical and localized acoustic focusing. In a heterogenous tissue model, a ring array US transducer achieved a superior acoustic focus by implementing aberration correction with guidance from UST. In vitro experiments demonstrated the capability of a ring array US transducer to generate MHTh in a tissue-mimicking phantom in an average of 117 ± 18 s and subsequently maintain MHTh. Lastly, a ring array US transducer utilized UST to track temperature changes in a preheated water-filled inclusion while it passively cooled from 45 °C to 25 °C, with a maximum error of 0.58 °C.Conclusion A ring array US transducer can noninvasively generate and monitor MHTh, overcoming many limitations of current clinical systems. The closed geometry of the transducer is optimal for acoustic focusing and UST-guidance allows for improved aberration correction in a heterogenous medium. Utilizing UST thermometry with the same ring array US transducer will allow for implementing an image-guided, temperature-controlled, all-acoustic MHTh system.

In the rapidly evolving gut and gastroenterological research field, postbiotics, a fermentation byproduct, are emerging as a cutting-edge alternative in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical environment. These functional bioactive components, which include muropeptides, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), teichoic acids, polysaccharides, cell-free supernatants, short-chain fatty acids, enzymes, bactericidal antibiotics, and vitamins, play an important role in immune system development. This review explores the intricate pathways through which gut microorganisms produce metabolites that contribute to the health-promoting properties of postbiotics. Postbiotics have a variety of appealing qualities, including anticancer, antibacterial, and immunological actions. Their multiple effects include influencing immunological responses, decreasing cancer cell growth, and preventing bacterial infections. Their presence in dairy and plant-based meals is noteworthy, as it provides a perfect matrix for fermentation and a varied range of antibacterial chemicals. This article delves into enhancing understanding of the concept of therapeutic properties of postbiotics in promoting human health.

IntroductionHaemonchus contortus (H. contortus) is a blood-feeding nematode causing infectious disease haemonchosis in small ruminants of tropical and subtropical regions around the world. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and phylogeny of H. contortus in small ruminants using the internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) gene. In addition, a comprehensive review of the available literature on the status of H. contortus in Pakistan was conducted.MethodsFecal samples were collected from sheep and goats (n = 180). Microscopically positive samples were subjected to DNA extraction followed by PCR using species-specific primers.ResultsThe overall prevalence of H. contortus was 25.55% in small ruminants. The prevalence of H. contortus was significantly associated with months and area. The highest occurrence of haemonchosis was documented in July (38.70%), whereas the lowest occurred in December (11.11%), with significant difference. The prevalence was highest in the Ghamkol camp (29.4%) and lowest in the arid zone of the Small Ruminant Research Institute (17.5%) (p = 0.01). The results of the systematic review revealed the highest prevalence of haemonchosis (34.4%) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (p = 0.001).DiscussionPhylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between H. contortus and isolates from Asia (China, India, Iran, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Mongolia) and European countries (Italy and the United Kingdom). It has been concluded that H. contortus is prevalent in small ruminants of Kohat district and all over Pakistan, which could be a potential threat to food-producing animals, farmers, dairy, and the meat industry. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that H. contortus isolates share close phylogenetic relationships with species from Asia and Europe.

The widespread use of antibiotics has resulted in the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Therefore, it is essential to explore alternative strategies to effectively combat medically significant resistant pathogens. In recent years, nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a promising alternative source of antimicrobial agents. While nanoscale particles were traditionally synthesized using chemical techniques, the development of metallic NPs using biological methods has garnered attention. This current study focuses on the synthesis of iron NPs (Fe NPs) using metal-tolerant fungal strains, as numerous microorganisms serve as environmentally safe and durable precursors to produce persistent and bi-functional NPs. The study involved the isolation and evaluation of ten fungal strains that are resistant to heavy metals to determine their ability to produce Fe NPs. The biologically synthesized Fe NPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The XRD results indicated the presence of Fe in nanopowder form, displaying a series of reflection angles (2θ) at 65° and 75° indicating the existence of cubic planes. EDX analysis revealed the presence of ferrous and ferric elements, along with zero-valent Fe NPs. Micrographs of the surface topology displayed spherical aggregation of the synthesized NPs. Furthermore, the Fe NPs exhibited promising antibacterial potential against selected bacterial strains, including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Cronobacter sakazakii, Listeria innocua, and Enterococcus fecalis. This study demonstrates that the biological synthesis of metallic NPs is environmentally safe, and Fe NPs produced through mycological means could be utilized to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogenic strains.

Muhammad Fawad Rasool,1 Rimsha Sarwar,1 Muhammad Subhan Arshad,1,2 Imran Imran,3 Hamid Saeed,4 Abdul Majeed,1 Muqarrab Akbar,5 Muhammad Omer Chaudhry,6 Anees Ur Rehman,1 Waseem Ashraf,3 Tanveer Ahmad,7 Waleed Badoghaish,8 Faleh Alqahtani9 1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy, Southern Punjab Institute of Health Sciences, Multan, 60000, Pakistan; 3Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan; 4University College of Pharmacy, Allama Iqbal Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan; 5Department of Political Science, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan; 6School of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan; 7Institute for Advanced Biosciences (Iab), CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Grenoble Alpes University, La Tronche, 38700, France; 8Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, 71411, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Muhammad Fawad Rasool; Faleh Alqahtani, Email fawadrasool@bzu.edu.pk; afaleh@ksu.edu.sa

ABSTRACTThe production of meat using animal stem cell-derived muscle tissue might conceivably do away with the need to sacrifice animals. The creation of “cultured,” “synthetic,” or “in vitro” meat has the potential to produce meat with distinct qualities more quickly and efficiently than normal meat. Although the process of growing muscle tissues in culture from stem cells has been known for a very long time, it has not yet been perfected for the production of cultured meat products for sale. Conditions for applying the technology, which is currently in its infancy, include a phenomenally high level of consumer acceptability and the development of commercially feasible large-scale production techniques. If the meat produced in vitro has physical traits that are identical to those of traditional meat in terms of color, flavor, aroma, consistency, and deliciousness, then it might be realistically viable. Higher the viability of meat production in vitro, the issues including searching for a good stem cell source and talking about the challenges faced throughout the expansion of cultured meat must be resolved. This review highlights the benefits and advancement of cultured meat, highlights its connection problems, and offers prospective solutions for production-related problems.

Medical ultrasound images are reconstructed with simplifying assumptions on wave propagation, with one of the most prominent assumptions being that the imaging medium is composed of a constant sound speed. When the assumption of a constant sound speed are violated, which is true in most in vivoor clinical imaging scenarios, distortion of the transmitted and received ultrasound wavefronts appear and degrade the image quality. This distortion is known as aberration, and the techniques used to correct for the distortion are known as aberration correction techniques. Several models have been proposed to understand and correct for aberration. In this review paper, aberration and aberration correction are explored from the early models and correction techniques, including the near-field phase screen model and its associated correction techniques such as nearest-neighbor cross-correlation, to more recent models and correction techniques that incorporate spatially varying aberration and diffractive effects, such as models and techniques that rely on the estimation of the sound speed distribution in the imaging medium. In addition to historical models, future directions of ultrasound aberration correction are proposed.

Abstract Background Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency that causes susceptibility to recurrent fungal and bacterial infections. The CYBB gene encodes gp91phox component of the Phagocytic Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase and specifically, X-linked CGD is caused by mutations in the CYBB gene, located on the X chromosome. The aim of the study was to characterize functional and genetic mutations in X-linked CGD. Methods Functional analysis was conducted on the whole blood of seventeen male individuals who were suspected to have X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Flow cytometry was employed to assess the capacity of NADPH oxidase, measuring both H2O2 production and gp91phox protein expression in neutrophils. Additionally, DNA Sanger sequencing was performed for genetic analysis. The pathogenicity of novel mutations was assessed by pathogenicity prediction tools. Result Among the seventeen patients evaluated, five patients (P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5) displayed impaired H2O2 production by their neutrophils upon stimulation with Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), accompanied by abnormal gp91phox expression. DNA sequencing of the CYBB gene identified specific mutations in each patient. In P1 and P2 (previously reported cases), a hemizygous missense mutation, c.925G > A/p.E309K was identified. In P3 and P4 (novel cases), hemizygous nonsense mutations, c.216T > A/p.C72X were found. Lastly, in P5 (also a novel case), a hemizygous missense mutation, c.732T > G/p.C244W was detected. These mutations reside in exons 9,3 and 7 of the CYBB gene, respectively. Conclusions The current study contributes to the understanding of the clinical and genetic spectrum associated with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). It highlights the significance of early diagnosis in CGD and emphasizes the importance of lifelong prophylaxis to prevent severe infections.

Abstract Despite significant advances in pathogen survival and food cleaning measures, foodborne diseases continue to be the main reason for hospitalization or other fatality globally. Conventional antibacterial techniques including pasteurization, pressurized preparation, radioactivity, as well as synthetic antiseptics could indeed decrease bacterial activity in nutrition to variable levels, despite their serious downsides like an elevated upfront outlay, the possibility of accessing malfunctions due to one corrosiveness, as well as an adverse effect upon those the foodstuffs' organoleptic properties and maybe their nutritional significance. Greatest significantly, these cleansing methods eliminate all contaminants, including numerous (often beneficial) bacteria found naturally in food. A huge amount of scientific publication that discussed the application of virus bioremediation to treat a multitude of pathogenic bacteria in meals spanning between prepared raw food to fresh fruit and vegetables although since initial idea through using retroviruses on meals. Furthermore, the quantity of widely viable bacteriophage‐containing medicines licensed for use in health and safety purposes has continuously expanded. Bacteriophage bio‐control, a leafy and ordinary technique that employs lytic bacteriophages extracted from the atmosphere to selectively target pathogenic bacteria and remove meaningfully decrease their stages meals, is one potential remedy that solves some of these difficulties. It has been suggested that applying bacteriophages to food is a unique method for avoiding bacterial development in vegetables. Because of their selectivity, security, stability, and use, bacteriophages are desirable. Phages have been utilized in post‐harvest activities, either alone or in combination with antimicrobial drugs, since they are effective, strain‐specific, informal to split and manipulate. In this review to ensure food safety, it may be viable to use retroviruses as a spontaneous treatment in the thread pollution of fresh picked fruits and vegetables, dairy, and convenience foods.

Introduction: The present work aimed to assess the anti-parasitic effects of limonene (LMN) against Giardia lamblia trophozoites and cysts. Methods: Anti-Giardia activities of LMN (25, 50, and 100 μg/mL) were assessed against G. lamblia cysts and trophozoites for 15-360 minutes. The effects of LMN on the apoptosis stimulation G. lamblia parasites were determined by colorimetric protease assay. Results: Giardia trophozoites were more sensitive to LMN than cysts. The best effect of LMN was seen at 100 μg/mL. LMN markedly triggered caspase-3 activity by 10.2%, 25.3%, and 36.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: We found the potent in vitro anti-giardia activity of LMN against G. lamblia parasites with the maximum activity at 50 and 100 μg/mL. However, additional surveys are necessary to reveal the specific efficacy, mechanisms, and safety of LMN.

In this study, the non-edible Chinaberry Seed Oil (CBO) is converted into biodiesel using microwave assisted transesterification. The objective of this effort is to maximize the biodiesel yield by optimizing the operating parameters, such as catalyst concentration, methanol-oil ratio, reaction speed, and reaction time. The designed setup provides a controlled and effective approach for turning CBO into biodiesel, resulting in encouraging yields and reduced reaction times. The experimental findings reveal the optimal parameters for the highest biodiesel yield (95 %) are a catalyst concentration of 1.5 w/w, a methanol-oil ratio of 6:1 v/v, a reaction speed of 400 RPM, and a reaction period of 3 min. The interaction of the several operating parameters on biodiesel yield has been investigated using two methodologies: Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). RSM provides better modeling of parameter interaction, while ANN exhibits lower comparative error when predicting biodiesel yield based on the reaction parameters. The percentage improvement in prediction of biodiesel yield by ANN is found to be 12 % as compared to RSM. This study emphasizes the merits of both the approaches for biodiesel yield optimization. Furthermore, the scaling up this microwave-assisted transesterification system for industrial biodiesel production has been proposes with focus on its economic viability and environmental effects.

The objective of the current research was to identify and evaluate the possibility of production of pectinase, also known as pectin degrading enzymes, from indigenous bacterial strains. Qualitative screening of isolated bacterial strains showed that among 29 bacterial strains, 5 have maximum enzymatic activity. The highest pectinase producing strains were quantitatively analyzed for enzyme production. SH7 strain was found as highest pectinase producer (0.77 IU/mL) that was further analyzed to molecular level by amplification of 16s rRNA. It was found 100% similar with other reported strains of Bacillus thuringiensis. Medium optimization was performed to optimize fermentation conditions for maximum enzyme yield. An experimental design containing 12 experimental runs was designed by Plackett–Burman design (PBD). Maximum pectinase activity was obtained at 45°C after 24 h when the growth medium was supplemented with 2.5% nitrogen, 5.0% substrate, MgSO4 as metal ion, 1% inoculum size, and pH was adjusted to 6. Factorial regression analysis of the PBD design was performed and the overall design was also found significant in terms of R square value. In PBD, the most significant factors for production were temperature, pH, metal ion concentration, and nitrogen source. Central composite design (CCD) design consisting of 26 experimental runs was employed to optimize these four significant factors. The overall model summary showed maximum pectinase activity (19.2 IU/mL) at 37°C temperature, 0.08 NaCl, 1.7% nitrogen source, and pH 8.4. In CCD, NaCl, nitrogen source, and pH were also reported as significant factors by the Pareto chart, probability plots, and 3D interactions.

Purpose: The study endeavors to investigate the convergence of technologies and the implications for legal pluralism in human rights enforcement. It aims to examine how private international law can adapt to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, block-chain, and the Internet of Things. Design/Methodology/Approach: By analyzing select case studies, this research article aims to provide practical examples of how private international law has been applied, or could be applied, to enforce human rights in the digital sphere. It seeks to extract lessons from precedents to inform future legal approaches. Findings: Building on the findings, this article aims to propose actionable policy recommendations for lawmakers, regulators, and international organizations. It also aims to speculate on future trends and challenges in the evolving landscape of human rights enforcement in the digital era. Implications/Originality/Value: The research strives to explore the ethical dimensions surrounding the application of private international law in the digital age. It aims to establish normative frameworks that balance human rights protection with other legitimate interests.

Sauerkraut is a traditional fermented vegetable product that has numerous health endorsing properties. It is produced by spontaneous fermentation of cabbage that mainly involves heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. The amount of salt introduces influences the physiochemical, microbial load, and also sensory consistency of sauerkraut. Sauerkraut has a high nutritional and phytochemical profile as well as has some epidemiological attributes. Sauerkraut is rich in vitamins and phenolic compounds, which protect against oxidative stress by serving as powerful free radical scavengers. The sauerkraut is being considered one of the best functional foods across the world due to its therapeutic potential. The current review provides an overview of production technology, nutritional, phytochemical, and different therapeutics (chemo preventive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory) aspects of sauerkraut.

In this study, copper oxide (CuO) specimens were successfully prepared by the hydrothermal process at altered calcination temperatures; 350, 450, and 550°C. The synthesized samples were analyzed through X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-Vis spectroscopy to analyze the impact of calcination temperature on the structural, morphological, vibration spectra, functional group, and optical properties of CuO for optoelectronic device applications. XRD confirms the pure single-phase monoclinic structure of synthesized samples with no impurity phases and has good crystallinity with the development in calcination temperature. The average crystalline size, lattice constant, and porosity were found in the range of 3.98–5.06 nm; a = 3.4357 Å, b = 3.9902 Å, c = 4.8977 Å – a = 3.0573 Å, b = 3.9573 Å, c = 4.6892 Å; and 3.37–1.03%, respectively. SEM exhibited a variation in morphology by increasing calcination temperature. Raman spectra revealed that the CuO sample calcinated at 550°C with a stone-like shape having a large grain size of 3.25 μm exhibited that Raman peak intensity and the multiphonon band became stronger and sharper and exhibited higher intensity compared to the samples calcinated at 350 and 450°C. FTIR spectra confirmed that these synthesized specimens exhibited the peaks associated with the typical stretching vibrations of the Cu–O bond between 400 and 500 cm−1 exhibiting the formation of CuO. The energy bandgap was slightly reduced from 1.61 to 1.43 eV with the increase in the calcination temperature. The optical studies revealed that the calcination temperature of 550°C improves the optical properties of CuO by tuning its optical bandgap. The modified structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the prepared CuO samples make them an appropriate candidate for optoelectronic device applications.

The principal focal point of the current review is the second-grade nanofluid (SGNF) stream with slanted magnetohydrodynamics and viscous disintegration impacts across a moving level flat surface with entropy investigation. Here, we have done a comparative study on copper–methanol and iron–methanol second-grade nanoliquids. The governing conditions of the SGNF model are changed into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by using supportive changes. To tackle the non-straight ODEs, the Runge-Kutta Fehlberg-45 procedure is utilized. The result reveals that the velocity gradient of copper–methanol second-grade nanoliquid is strongly affected by suction, magnetic, and second-grade fluid parameters and declines faster when compared to iron–methanol second-grade nanoliquid. Copper–methanol SGNF shows improved heat transfer than iron–methanol SGNF for improved values of Eckert and Biot numbers.

In the current study, pure and manganese-doped superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Mn-doped SPIONPs) were successfully prepared by a green approach using a fresh aqueous extract of Asparagus officinalis as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Magnetic behaviors of pure and Mn-doped SPIONPs were measured at room temperature against various field strengths by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The saturation magnetization was in the range of 5.39–2.07 emu. Absorption at 340 nm in the UV-visible spectrum confirmed the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). The presence of plant extract as a capping agent was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The crystalline nature of IONPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. A gradual increase in size was observed with increasing concentration of Mn. The synthesized materials were applied successfully as sorbent for the effective removal of lead ions (Pb(ii)). Experimental results of adsorption were also analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations at different temperatures. The results suggested that sorption processes were spontaneous, and the synthesized SPIONPs displayed PbII removal capacity at higher loadings with q m of 21.3 and 29.56 mg·g−1 for undoped and 7% Mn-doped IOPNs, respectively, as compared to the commercial activated carbon.

Nuzhat Sial,1 Saba Saeed,2 Mukhtiar Ahmad,3 Yasir Hameed,3 Abdul Rehman,4 Mustansar Abbas,5 Rizwan Asif,6 Hamad Ahmed,5 Muhammad Safdar Hussain,3 Jalil Ur Rehman,7 Muhammad Atif,7 Muhammad Rashid Khan8 1Department of Zoology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan; 2Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan; 3Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan; 4Department of Eastern Medicine, Qarshi University, Lahore, Pakistan; 5Department of Eastern Medicine, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 6Department of Microbiology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 7University College of Conventional Medicine, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan; 8University College of Eastern Medicine, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, PakistanCorrespondence: Yasir HameedDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, PakistanEmail Yasirhameed2011@gmail.comIntroduction: Cancer is one of the most common malignancies and the leading cause of death worldwide. As a member of the transmembrane emp24 domain (Tmed)/p24 family of proteins, TMED2 expression variations have been documented earlier in only a few subtypes of human cancers, and the multi-omics profiling of TMED2 as a shared biomarker in different other subtypes of human cancers remains to be uncovered.Methods: In the current study, TMED2 multi-omics analysis in 24 major subtypes of human cancer was performed using different authentic online databases and bioinformatics analysis including UALCAN, Kaplan–Meier (KM) plotter, Human Protein Atlas (HPA), GENT2, MEXPRESS, cBioportal, STRING, DAVID, TIMER, and CTD.Results: In general, the TMED2 expression in 24 major subtypes of human cancers was higher relative to normal controls and was also strongly associated with the lower overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) duration of CESC, ESCA, HNSC, KIRC, LIHC, and LUAD patients. This implies that TMED2 plays a significant role in the development and progression of these cancers. Furthermore, the TMED2 overexpression was also correlated with different clinicopathological features of CESC, ESCA, HNSC, KIRC, LIHC, and LUAD patients. TMED2-associated genes network was involved in 3 diverse pathways, and finally, few stronger correlations were also explored between TMED2 expression and its promoter methylation level, genetic alterations, and CD8+ T immune cells level.Conclusion: In conclusion, via this in silico study, we have elucidated that TMED2 can serve as a shared diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in CESC, ESCA, HNSC, KIRC, LIHC, and LUAD patients of different clinicopathological features but, further in vitro and in vivo research should be carried out to confirm these findings.Keywords: TMED2, cancer, expression variations, biomarker

This study aims to determine how technophobia, or dread of technology, hinders education and offers future research recommendations. Utilizing systematic reviews, researchers scoured numerous research sources for articles on technophobia in education. The admissions criteria were established, and 18 research works that met those criteria were selected for the study. The results suggest that fear of technology makes it more difficult for people to embrace and utilize it in education, and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend toward online education, bringing new challenges and obstacles. The study suggests additional research into the causes of technophobia, its effects on students, the efficacy of teacher training programs, and the effect of teaching methods on students' dread of technology. Lastly, the study suggests that students, instructors, and education support personnel devise effective strategies to combat technophobia.

Muhammad Fawad Rasool,1 Rimsha Sarwar,1 Muhammad Subhan Arshad,1,2 Imran Imran,3 Hamid Saeed,4 Abdul Majeed,1 Muqarrab Akbar,5 Muhammad Omer Chaudhry,6 Anees ur Rehman,1 Waseem Ashraf,3 Tanveer Ahmad,7 Waleed Badoghaish,8 Faleh Alqahtani9 1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy, Southern Punjab Institute of Health Sciences, Multan, 60000, Pakistan; 3Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan; 4University College of Pharmacy, Allama Iqbal Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan; 5Department of Political Science, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan; 6School of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan; 7Institute for Advanced Biosciences (Iab), CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Grenoble Alpes University, La Tronche, 38700, France; 8Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, 71411, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Muhammad Fawad Rasool; Faleh Alqahtani Email fawadrasool@bzu.edu.pk; afaleh@ksu.edu.saPurpose: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder with modifiable risk factors and it is associated with considerable health and economic burden. The current study was conducted to assess the frequency and risk factors related to GERD in the previously unstudied population of Southern Punjab, Pakistan.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for assessing the frequency and risk factors of GERD by using a self-administered questionnaire. The gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GerdQ) was utilized to detect the presence of the disease.Results: The study included 308 participants; among them, 55.2% were female and 44.8% were male. The participants diagnosed with GERD (GerdQ score ≥ 8) were 26.6%. The various risk factors like higher BMI, past disease and smoking history, frequent use of NSAIDs, soft drinks, pickles, and spicy foods were significantly associated with GERD.Conclusion: The present study showed that GERD is prevalent in Southern Punjab and is associated with various modifiable risk factors. The ascendance of GERD can be prevented by public health education and awareness campaigns.Keywords: gastroesophageal reflux, GERD, risk factors, Southern Punjab

This empirical study explores the mediation role of organizational embeddedness in the relationship between turnover and quality of work life. The current study investigates how employment variables, such as job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and employee turnover intentions, affect employee perceptions in light of the idea above. The study aims to provide insight into how employees respond to a sense of duty to their employer. The study also seeks to add to existing empirical data on the conflicting influences of intrinsic and extrinsic job-related elements on job satisfaction. The study also seeks to add to existing empirical data on the conflicting influences of intrinsic and extrinsic job-related elements on job satisfaction. Numerous studies have discovered a strong correlation between organizational commitment and job happiness, which has attracted much media attention. For management purposes, it is crucial to understand an employee's physiological and psychological demands to assess how they react to their environment and form attitudes toward their jobs and organizations. This study attempts to explain how the organization and its employees interact in this setting through the lens of reciprocity. This study aims to demonstrate how individuals have high levels of job satisfaction.

Irfan Ullah,1 Assad Ullah,2 Sher Ali,3 Petra Poulova,4 Ahsan Akbar,5 Muhammad Haroon Shah,6 Alam Rehman,7 Muhammad Zeeshan,8 Fakhr E Alam Afridi3 1Reading Academy, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Economics, Henan University, Kaifeng, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Economics, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan; 4Department of Informatics and Quantitative Methods, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, 500 03, Czech Republic; 5International Business School, Guangzhou City University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China; 6College of International Students, Wuxi University, Wuxi 214105, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 7Faculty of Management Sciences, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan; 8College of Business Administration, Liaoning Technical University, XingCheng, Liaoning Province, 125105, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ahsan AkbarInternational Business School, Guangzhou City University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail akbar@gcu.edu.cnObjective: The provision of healthcare facilities remains high on the manifesto of various political parties in Pakistan and healthcare spending has witnessed a significant surge in the last two decades that is expected to positively influence health outcomes in the country. Therefore, this research aims to explore the effects of healthcare expenditures on the actual health status of the masses in Pakistan for the period 1995Q1 to 2017Q1.Methods: We apply the Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) approach for estimation purposes. This is the most recent and emerging estimation technique in time series analysis.Results: Our findings confirm that public healthcare spending significantly impacts health outcomes in Pakistan both in the short-run and long-run. Public healthcare spending improves life expectancy and reduces death rate and infant mortality.Conclusion: The study concludes that public healthcare is the main focus of the current regime. It is noticed that spending on healthcare significantly contributes to the health outcomes in Pakistan. These efforts by the government significantly promote life expectancy and drop down the mortality ratio in the country. Based on these notable facts, the government should allocate sufficient resources towards the latest healthcare technologies and equipment to optimize health outcomes in the country.Keywords: healthcare spending, health outcomes, healthcare technologies, Quantile cointegration, QARDL, Pakistan

Muhammad Arif Asghar,1 Rabia Ismail Yousuf,1 Muhammad Harris Shoaib,1 Muhammad Asif Asghar,2 Mehrukh Zehravi,3 Ahad Abdul Rehman,4 Muhammad Suleman Imtiaz,5 Kamran Khan5 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan; 2Food and Feed Safety Laboratory, Food and Marine Resources Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy for Girls, Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz University, Al-Kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan; 5Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, PakistanCorrespondence: Rabia Ismail Yousuf; Muhammad Harris ShoaibDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, PakistanEmail rabia_pharmaceutics@yahoo.com; harrisshoaib2000@yahoo.com; mhshoaib@uok.edu.pkPurpose: The current study proposed the simple, eco-friendly and cost-effective synthesis of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) structured silver-based nanocomposite (CMC-AgNPs) using Syzygium aromaticum buds extract.Methods: The CMC-AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transmission infra-red (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The synthesized nanocomposites were evaluated for their bactericidal kinetics, in-vivo anti-inflammatory, anti-leishmaniasis, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities using different in-vitro and in-vivo models.Results: The spherical shape nanocomposite of CMC-AgNPs was synthesized with the mean size range of 20– 30 nm, and the average pore diameter is 18.2 nm while the mean zeta potential of − 31.6 ± 3.64 mV. The highly significant (P < 0.005) antibacterial activity was found against six bacterial strains with the ZIs of 24.6 to 27.9 mm. More drop counts were observed in Gram-negative strains after 10 min exposure with CMC-AgNPs. Significant damage in bacterial cell membrane was also observed in atomic force microscopy (AFM) after treated with CMC-AgNPs. Nanocomposite showed highly significant anti-inflammatory activity in cotton pellet induced granuloma model (Phase I) in rats with the mean inhibitions of 43.13% and 48.68% at the doses of 0.025 and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively, when compared to control. Reduction in rat paw edema (Phase II) was also highly significant (0.025 mg/kg; 42.39%; 0.05 mg/kg, 47.82%). At dose of 0.05 mg/kg, CMC-AgNPs caused highly significant decrease in leukocyte counts (922 ± 83), levels of CRP (8.4 ± 0.73 mg/mL), IL-1 (177.4 ± 21.3 pg/mL), IL-2 (83.7 ± 11.5 pg/mL), IL-6 (83.7 ± 11.5 pg/mL) and TNF-α (18.3 ± 5.3 pg/mL) as compared to control group. CMC-AgNPs produced highly effective anti-leishmaniasis activity with the viable Leishmania major counts decreased up to 36.7% within 24 h, and the IC50 was found to be 28.41 μg/mL. The potent DPPH radical scavenging potential was also observed for CMC-AgNPs with the IC50 value of 112 μg/mL. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity was assessed using HeLa cell lines with the LC50 of 108.2 μg/mL.Conclusion: The current findings demonstrate positive attributes of CMC fabricated AgNPs as a promising antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-leishmaniasis, and antioxidant agent with low cytotoxic potential.Keywords: silver nanoparticles, Syzygium aromaticum, carboxymethyl cellulose, green synthesis, biological applications

Purpose: The term "Corporate Social Responsibility" is not new in the business world. Over time, several academics and researchers have evolved their definitions of CSR, basing them on the political, environmental, economic, and social circumstances of the moment. Since the 1950s, no solitary, recognized definition of CSR among academics and researchers has existed. Companies that engage in CSR see a rise in customer loyalty. No doubt, CSR a new-fangled idea in Pakistan intensifies the significance of CSR for banks in Pakistan. The researchers will try to determine whether the banks operating in Pakistan are obeying the standards of CSR and, if so, how closely those rules are being adhered to. Design/Methodology/Approach: To achieve that, we will try to comprehend the idea of CSR, look into where it came from, and examine its constituent parts and primary motivators. affect the environment and people. Findings: Additionally, it is important to consider how CSR compliance may The study will attempt to look out for pertinent laws, rules, regulations, and recommendations in the local and international legal frameworks that highlight the importance of CSR and its application. Implications/Originality/Value: If banks do not execute the CSR laws, we will attempt to determine if the State and people of Pakistan have any legal remedies against the banks

Numerous studies on the distribution of building dangers have been conducted during the last few decades. Even though the current study gives significant insights into the matter, construction industry members are nonetheless concerned about the risks of contracting. A study product was developed to help contracting parties identify, quantify, and assign each construction risk to address this issue. To supplement the model worksheets, flowcharts were created to determine which party should carry which risk, legal research was conducted, and risk allocation guidelines were produced to generate acceptable contract language to address the identified risks. This article focuses on the most significant risks to the project's timeliness, quality, and budget.

Metal halide perovskites have emerged in recent years as promising photovoltaic materials due to their excellent optical and electrical properties, enabling perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with certified power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) greater than 25%. Provided radiative recombination is the dominant recombination mechanism, photon recycling – the process of reabsorption (and re-emission) of photons that result from radiative recombination – can be utilized to further enhance the PCE toward the Shockley–Queisser (S-Q) theoretical limit. Geometrical optics can be exploited for the intentional trapping of such re-emitted photons within the device, to enhance the PCE. However, this scheme reaches its fundamental diffraction limits at the submicron scale. Therefore, introducing photonic nanostructures offer attractive solutions to manipulate and trap light at the nanoscale via light coupling into guided modes, as well as localized surface plasmon and surface plasmon polariton modes. This review focuses on light-trapping schemes for efficient photon recycling in PSCs. First, we summarize the working principles of photon recycling, which is followed by a review of essential requirements to make this process efficient. We then survey photon recycling in state-of-the-art PSCs and propose design strategies to invoke light-trapping to effectively exploit photon recycling in PSCs. Finally, we formulate a future outlook and discuss new research directions in the context of photon recycling.