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Bilal Aslam,1 Muhammad Hussnain Siddique,2 Abu Baker Siddique,1 Muhammad Shafique,1 Saima Muzammil,1 Mohsin Khurshid,1 Muhammad Hidayat Rasool,1 Moeed Ahmad,1 Tamoor Hamid Chaudhry,3 Afreenish Amir,3 Muhammad Salman,3 Zulqarnain Baloch,4 Norah A Alturki,5 Ahmad Alzamami6 1Department of Microbiology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 2Department of Bioinformatics & Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 3Public Health Laboratories Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan; 4Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 5Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Science, Shaqra University, AlQuwayiyah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Bilal Aslam, Department of Microbiology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Email drbilalaslam@gcuf.edu.pk Ahmad Alzamami, Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Science, Shaqra University, AlQuwayiyah, Saudi Arabia, Email aalzamami@su.edu.saBackground: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the multi-drug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae as one of the critical bacterial pathogens. The dearth of new antibiotics and inadequate therapeutic options necessitate finding alternative options. Bacteriophages are known as enemies of bacteria and are well-recognized to fight MDR pathogens.Methods: A total of 150 samples were collected from different clinical specimens through a convenient sampling technique. Isolation, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) of K. pneumoniae were done by standard and validated microbiological procedures. Molecular identification of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was carried out through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by using specific primers. For bacteriophage isolation, hospital sewage samples were processed for phage enrichment, purification, and further characterization ie, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and stability testing, etc. followed by evaluation of the lytic potential of the phage.Results: Overall, a total of 41% of isolates of K. pneumoniae were observed as hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp). Among hvKp, a total of 12 (42%) were detected as MDR hvKp. A total of 37% of all MDR isolates were found resistant to colistin, and 66% of the colistin resistance isolates were recorded as mcr-1 positive. Isolated phage KpnM had shown lytic activity against 53 (79%) K. pneumoniae isolates. Remarkably, all 8 mcr-1 harboring MDR hvKp and non-hvKp isolates were susceptible to KpnM phage.Conclusion: Significant distribution of mcr-1 harboring hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae was observed in clinical specimens, which is worrisome for the health system of the country. Characterized phage KpnM exhibited encouraging results and showed the lytic activity against the mcr-1 harboring hvKp isolates, which may be used as a prospective alternative control strategy to fight this ominous bacterium.Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae, bacteriophages, colistin, MDR, virulence

Further to prior development in enhancing structural health using smart materials, an innovative class of materials characterized by the ability to feel senses like humans, i.e. ‘nervous materials’, is discussed. Designed at all scales, these materials will enhance personnel and public safety, and secure greater reliability of products. Materials may fail suddenly, but any system wishes that failure is known in good time and delayed until safe conditions are reached. Nervous materials are expected to be the solution to this statement. This new class of materials is based on the novel concept of materials capable of feeling multiple structural and external stimuli, e.g. stress, force, pressure and temperature, while feeding information back to a controller for appropriate real-time action. The strain–stress state is developed in real time with the identified and characterized source of stimulus, with optimized time response to retrieve initial specified conditions, e.g. shape and strength. Sensors are volumetrically embedded and distributed, emulating the human nervous system. Immediate applications are in aircraft, cars, nuclear energy and robotics. Such materials will reduce maintenance costs, detect initial failures and delay them with self-healing. This article reviews the common aspects and challenges surrounding this new class of materials with types of sensors to be embedded seamlessly or inherently, including appropriate embedding manufacturing techniques with modeling and simulation methods.

TiO2 thin films are synthesized by using DC magnetron sputtering system on Si (100) substrates and then annealed in a muffled furnace at 450 °C. Annealed samples are irradiated with carbon ions accelerated at the energy of 300 keV at various carbon ion doses of 4.2 × 1012, 6.3 × 1013, 1.2 × 1014 and 2.5 × 1014 ions/cm2. Structural and optical properties are studied by using different techniques such as x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, photo-luminescence spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results show that structural and optical properties of the thin films modify with the amount of carbon ion doses. The synthesized thin film without ions irradiation has the rutile phase preferably, and by increasing the ion dose, it is changing into the anatase phase. Smaller crystallite size results in to the agglomeration process, and however, crystal size decreases with ion dose. PL spectra also confirm the formation of anatase phase from the rutile phase and different energy states due to the carbon ion implantation within the TiO2 phase. The creation of energy states are linked with defects induced into the thin films and are required to improve the photocatalytic properties due to the hopping mechanism. DRS results show that bandgap of the pure TiO2 thin film is 2.4 eV and it decreases to 2.1 eV by increasing the carbon ions dose. The achievement of this small band gap is attributed to the decrease in crystallite sizes and the defects induced by the ion implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide is a major public health concern and one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. People with an at‐risk‐mental‐state (ARMS) for psychosis are more vulnerable to psychiatric co‐morbidity and suicide, however, there are limited data from low‐middle‐income countries. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation along with sociodemographic and clinical correlates of suicidal ideation in individuals with ARMS from Pakistan. Method: Participants between the age of 16 and 35 years who met the criteria for ARMS based on the Comprehensive Assessment of At‐Risk Mental State (CAARMS), were recruited from the community, general practitioner clinics and psychiatric units across Pakistan (n = 326). Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Social‐Occupational‐Functional‐Assessment‐Scale (SOFAS) were administered to participants. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts in the sample at baseline were 91.1% (n = 297) and 61.0% (n = 199), respectively. There were significant mean differences between groups (mean difference [95% CI]; p‐value) without suicidal ideation and with suicidal ideation on measures of MADRS (−5.47 [−7.14, −3.81]; p <.001), CAARMS non‐bizarre ideas (−0.29 [−0.47, −0.11]; p =.002) and perceptual abnormalities (−0.23 [−0.41, −0.04]; p =.015). Conclusion: These findings indicate that suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms are highly prevalent in individuals with ARMS in Pakistan. Given the pivotal developmental stages that ARMS presents, and the poor outcomes associated with co‐morbid depression, there is an urgent need to prioritize the development of low‐cost and scalable evidence‐based interventions to address psychiatric comorbidity and suicidality in the ARMS population in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is a water-soluble metal pollutant that is not required for plants, but its mobility in the soil-plant continuum has lately attracted substantial interest due to its harmful effects on plants. It may cause serious morphological and physiological abnormalities in addition to inhibiting cotton growth. Thereby, the present study was conducted to explore the effect of different concentrations of Cd on the growth, morphological, biochemical, and physiological processes of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties. Understanding the morphological, biochemical, and physiological responses to Cd stress is necessary for a holistic approach to plant resistance mechanisms to Cd stress. A net house experiment was conducted to investigate the growth and adaptation mechanism of G. hirsutum varieties (V1: KLMNH-142 and V2: KL-FH-886) with different sowing times (i.e., early and late) under Cd stress (250 µM, 500 µM, 750 µM, and 1000 µM). The results showed that Cd predominately accumulated in the root at a higher dose, which consequently led to a reduction in the root biomass. During the late sowing time, transpiration rate (1.01 ± 0.04) and stomatal gas exchange rate (0.01 ± 0.003) were recorded to be significantly decreased by the application of Cd at 1000 µM to variety V2 (KL-MNH886) as compared to the early sowing interval and respective control (1.63 ± 0.06). Calcium contents (1.4 ± 0.5) in the root were decreased in the early sowing period in V1 as compared to the late sowing period. Besides, the application of Cd (1000 µM) has significantly decreased root soluble sugar (0.13 ± 0.001) in V1 under the late sowing period compared with the early sowing period and respective control. Cd not only led to the decrease in root anthocyanin but also changed the chlorophyll content. Our study proved that G. hirsutum has good tolerance to Cd stress during early time intervals as compared to the late time interval and is the best species for soil and ecological environment restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hareer Fatima,1 Hussain Sohail Rangwala,1 Muhammad Saqlain Mustafa,1 Muhammad Ashir Shafique,1 Syed Raza Abbas,2 Azra Rizwan,3 Tagwa Kalool Fadlalla Ahmed,4 Ainan Arshad3 1Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan; 2Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan; 3Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan; 4Department of Medicine, Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Al-Khartum, SudanCorrespondence: Tagwa Kalool Fadlalla Ahmed, Department of Medicine, Ahfad University for Women, PO Box 167, Omdurman, Al-Khartum, Sudan, Tel +923412127759, Email tagwa.kalool@gmail.comIntroduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a significant global health concern, with Type 2 DM (T2DM) being highly prevalent. Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), such as Danuglipron, offer potential benefits in T2DM management. This meta-analysis examines the safety and efficacy of Danuglipron, focusing on adverse outcomes and glycemic parameters.Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for RCTs involving Danuglipron till August 2023, following PRISMA guidelines. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used for quality assessment. Adverse outcomes (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, dizziness) and glycemic parameters like changes in HbA1C, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and body weight were analyzed.Results: Four RCTs published from 2021 to 2023 were included. Both doses of Danuglipron were associated with diarrhea (RR=2.66, 90% CI: 1.32 to 5.35, p=0.02), nausea (RR=5.5, 90% CI: 3.4 to 8.88, p< 0.00001), and vomiting (RR=5.98, 90% CI: 2.93 to 12.23, p=0.0001). The 120mg dose showed decreased appetite (RR=3.46, 90% CI: 1.57 to 7.62, p=0.01), dyspepsia (RR=4.04, 90% CI: 1.93 to 8.43, p=0.002), and dizziness (RR=5.08, 90% CI: 1.45 to 17.82, p=0.03). Reductions in HbA1C (SMD − 1.09, 90% CI − 1.39 to − 0.8, p < 0.00001), FPG (SMD − 1.10, 90% CI − 1.46 to − 0.75, p < 0.00001), and body weight (SMD − 1.08, 90% CI − 1.42 to − 0.74, p < 0.00001) were observed for both doses.Conclusion: Danuglipron demonstrates potential for glycemic control and weight reduction in T2DM. Adverse outcomes include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite, with dose-related effects. Clinicians must weigh benefits against side effects when considering Danuglipron for T2DM management.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, Danuglipron, adverse outcomes, glycemic parameters