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Abstract Flame retardant (FR) finishing is crucial for developing protective textiles, traditionally relying on halogen, phosphorus, and phosphorus-nitrogen chemistries, which have limitations like toxicity and fabric stiffening. Innovative approaches such as nanotechnology, plasma treatments, and natural resource-based finishes are being explored to achieve sustainable FR textiles. This study presents the development and comprehensive characterization of hydrogel composites made from nonwoven fabrics composed of various hemp/wool blends (70/30, 80/20, and 90/10). The nonwoven fabrics were treated with a chitosan hydrogel incorporating banana sap to enhance their properties. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examined the surface morphology and structural integrity of the composites, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) identified chemical interactions and functional groups. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) revealed thermal properties, water absorbency tests demonstrated hydrophilicity, mechanical testing assessed tensile strength, and vertical flammability tests evaluated fire resistance. SEM and FTIR revealed a successful coating of chitosan hydrogel with banana sap inclusions onto the hemp/wool nonwoven fabric, forming a composite structure. DSC analysis suggests higher chitosan content and hemp fiber ratio (like 70/30) lead to increased thermal stability of hydrogel composites. Higher chitosan concentrations in the hydrogel significantly improve the flame-retardant properties of hemp/wool nonwoven fabrics by reducing char length and enhancing protective char layer formation, with banana sap further promoting charring. These results indicate that the developed composite can be effectively used in flame-retardant textiles.

Abstract Background Three Amino acid Loop Extension (TALE) belongs to the homeobox group of genes that are important constituents of plant systems. The TALE gene family is instrumental not only in growth and development but also plays an essential role in regulating plant response to environmental adversaries. Results In the present study, we isolated 21 CsTALE genes from the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) genome database. Bioinformatics tools were put in place to understand the structural and functional components of the CsTALE gene family. The evolutionary analysis dissected them into seven subclades (KNOX-I, KNOX-II, and BELL-I to BELL-V). The cis-acting elements in the promoter region of CsTALE genes disclosed that they are key regulators of hormonal and stress-related processes. Additionally, the STRING database advocated the concerting role of CsTALE proteins with other key transcription factors potent in plant developmental biology. The CsmiR319 and CsmiR167a-3p targeting the CsTALE15 and CsTALE16, respectively, further assert the importance of the CsTALE gene family posttranscriptional-related processes. Tissue-specific gene expression unfolded the fundamental involvement of CsTALE genes as they were expressed throughout the developmental stages. Under waterlogging stress, the CsTALE17 expressed significantly higher values in WL, WL-NAA, and WL-ETH but not in WL-MeJA-treated samples. Conclusions The present study reveals the evolution and functions of the CsTALE gene family in cucumber. Our work will provide a platform that will help future researchers address the issue of waterlogging stress in the Yangtze River Delta.

Hydrogels are used in modern wound dressings due to their ability to provide comfort with quick healing. However, poor mechanical properties of hydrogels limit their availability in commercial wound dressings. Nonwovens are highly porous, strong, and flexible structures that can provide support to hydrogels without compromising their properties. In this study, a cost-effective and sustainable hydroentangled nonwoven from industrial cotton waste was prepared and incorporated into alginate hydrogel for wound dressings. The novel composite of hydroentangled cotton nonwoven and alginate hydrogel was synthesized by a simple sol-gel technique. The effect of concentration of alginate hydrogel (0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 1.5 wt %) and drying temperature (20 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C) of composite was analyzed for high wound exudates. The properties of prepared composite samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), XRD, tensile strength, tear strength, Air permeability, moisture management wound exudate test, and quantitative antimicrobial testing. Moreover, the comfort performance of these samples was evaluated by air permeability and moisture management testing. The properties of developed composites are highly dependent on the concentration of alginate and drying temperature. The results showed that maximum fluid absorbency (%) of 650 was achieved with good comfort properties. This study can help to increase the commercial availability of hydrogel-based wound dressings.

Heavy metals employed in various industrial applications can negatively impact both the ecosystem and human beings. Common techniques for eliminating pollutants often rely on expensive materials. So, this study focuses on exploring economical alternatives obtained from nature and textile waste. In this study, a hydrogel composite was synthesized using wool nonwoven fabric mixed with alginate, gum Arabic (GA), and xanthan gum (XG) to evaluate its efficacy in adsorbing lead (Pb) from aqueous solutions. The composites were characterized using SEM, FTIR, and XPS to understand their structure and composition before and after Pb adsorption. The effects of time, pH, and initial metal ion concentration on Pb adsorption by the composite were also investigated. Maximum adsorption was observed at a basic pH, with the highest value recorded at 85.2 mg/g. Notably, 88.2 % of this maximum adsorption was achieved within 60 min, indicating a rapid adsorption process. Kinetic studies indicated that the adsorption process best fits pseudo-second-order kinetics, while the Freundlich model, with an R² value of 0.95, suggests a chemisorption mechanism. The developed wool-alginate-gum hydrogel composite has shown to be a promising candidate for the removal of Pb²⁺ ions from wastewater.

Due to air pollution, technological change is needed in the transportation sector as traditional vehicles are the top contributor. Replacing fossil fuel vehicles with electric vehicles can minimize contamination in the air. This study has investigated factors affecting the adoption of electric vehicles with the moderation of charging infrastructure using the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) with additional factors such as environmental concerns, satisfaction with policies, trust, and charging infrastructure. The data were collected from 300 users through a survey questionnaire in Pakistan. Environmental concerns, price value, hedonic motivation, and habit significantly predict use behavior. Nevertheless, facilitating conditions, effort expectancy, social influence, and satisfaction with incentive policies showed insignificant results while affecting use behavior. The moderating effect of charging infrastructure showed insignificant results.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to greatly reduce the amount of gasoline consumed and carbon emissions produced during transportation. Consequently, the Thai government actively advocates for the widespread use of electric vehicles (EVs). This study has examined the factors that influence the adoption of electric vehicles in Thailand, with the moderation of charging infrastructure. The research builds upon the UTAUT2 model and incorporates new elements such as environmental concerns, satisfaction with incentive policies, trust, and the availability of charging infrastructure. Environmental concerns, price value, and hedonic motivation significantly affect use behaviour through trust and behaviour intentions; however, facilitating conditions do not affect them. Habits positively affect use behaviour through behaviour intention, though factors such as effort expectancy and social influence satisfaction with policies showed insignificant results when affecting use behaviour. The moderating effect of charging infrastructure showed an insignificant result.

The fractional derivative that is used to compute the solution of the corruption system with Power-Law Kernel, Mittag-Leffler Kernel, and Exponential Decay Kernel. It is important to study and analyse corruption dynamics, because it is an act that has a direct effect on public rights, and because of this the right of the rightful owner, just got destroyed. Using hypothesis theory for differential equation, this work suggests and assesses a nonlinear deterministic model for the dynamics of corruption. Positivity and boundedness are verified for the proposed corruption model to identify the level of resolution of corruption factor in society. Fractional-order corruption model is investigated with different kernels for efficient results. The necessary criteria for the best control of corruption transmission were identified using Pontryagin's maximal concept. The numerical simulation showed that corruption must be resisted by an integrated control strategy. Numerical simulations are used to demonstrate the correctness of the proposed approaches. Finally, simulations are derived for the proposed schemes to check the effectiveness of the results and to analyse the corruption behaviour in society as well as dynamically highlight the propagation of corruption group.

Society’s growing concern for the environment has led to an increased emphasis on greener products and processes. While societies are becoming more accepting of this change, there are still significant challenges regarding the esthetic aspect of environmentally friendly products. Textiles, which are essential for providing cover and esthetics, contribute to environmental pollution through waste production. Currently, the production of hard waste yarn, a textile intermediate product, utilizes the OE (open-end) spinning method to make use of textile waste. However, this approach has limitations in terms of quality, as it results in yarn with low abrasion resistance, higher pilling, and poor physical appearance of garments. Consequently, consumers are less satisfied with these sustainable yarns, hindering their widespread use. This study focused on preparing ring-spun yarn from recovered fibers of leno waste and subsequently producing knitted fabrics from these yarns. The properties of these fabrics were analyzed and compared with fabrics made from 100% virgin ring spun yarn. The results revealed that the fiber reclaimed from leno waste had a higher content of short fibers. The yarn produced from these fibers exhibited higher imperfections, unevenness, and reduced strength as the percentage of reclaimed fibers increased. Socks made with an increasing percentage of leno waste showed higher thermal resistance. However, as the yarn became finer, the thermal resistance of the socks decreased. On the other hand, the air permeability of the socks increased with a finer yarn count. Overall, the moisture management of all samples was good, with coarser yarns exhibiting better moisture management in socks. An ANOVA approach was used to statistically evaluate the properties of the yarn and fabric. The conclusion drawn from the study was that these recycled yarns can be effectively utilized in the socks and denim industry without compromising quality.

The NAC (NAM, ATAF and CUC) family is one of the largest transcription factor (TF) families in plant that are involved in the regulatory mechanisms of plant growth and development as well as responses to abiotic stresses. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of drought-responsive NAC family members in soybean still remains inexplicit. In this study, a total of 179 GmNAC genes were identified in the soybean genome. We discovered that the majority of GmNAC members have more than three exons and share a gene and motif structure that is mostly conserved at the N-terminus. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that soybean GmNAC proteins were divided into 10 separate groups. The analysis of cis-elements highlighted the potential role of GmNAC genes in various hormonal and defense related activities. In addition, most of the GmNAC genes showed notable expression in roots and leaves, suggesting their likely role in abiotic stress adaptation. The overexpression of GmNAC3-OE in Arabidopsis increased tolerance to drought stress. Similarly, the GmNAC3-OE plants displayed better survival rates, root length and antioxidant activities. Enhanced expression of stress specific genes in GmNAC3-OE was also recorded. Our findings revealed the potential role of GmNAC3 gene role in regulating soybean response to drought stress and could be used as a potential marker to generate stress resilient plants.

Glycation is the non-enzymatic adduct formation between reducing sugars or dicarbonyls with proteins and is a crucial molecular event under hyperglycaemic conditions of diabetes. The accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) due to glycation of proteins has been implicated in several diseases associated with ageing and diabetes. Thus, investigating the antiglycation potential of some trace metal ions (Manganese; Mn2+, and Zinc; Zn2+) and polyphenolic extract of chickpea seeds (PEC) on the methylglyoxal (MGO) induced glycation of a phytocystatin isolated from chickpea was taken up to find an inexpensive and non-toxic therapeutic means of medicating protein glycation and associated diabetic complications. The current study focused on the comparative analyses of these micronutrients and herbal extracts in inhibiting protein glycation and AGEs formation in a quest to develop nutraceuticals for managing diabetes. The effect of metals (Mn2+, Zn2+) and PEC on protein glycation was assessed by different techniques, i.e., glycation-specific AGE fluorescence and absorbance, thiol protease inhibitory activity assay, and conformational alterations by spectroscopic assays. This study revealed the significant anti-glycation potencies of Mn2+, Zn2+, and PEC against the MGO-induced glycation of CPC, which might pave the way for resolving pathological complications of diabetes by combining higher levels of efficacy, selectivity, and safety in humans. Moreover, characterization and identification of different AGEs formed during the glycation process in diabetics was done to apply the same for determining the onset of glycation at the early stage so that appropriate steps be taken to address the menace of diabetic complications.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary form of liver cancer. It causes ∼ 800 000 deaths per year, which is expected to increase due to increasing rates of obesity and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Current therapies include immune checkpoint inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies, but these therapies are not satisfactorily effective and often come with multiple side effects and recurrences. Metabolic reprogramming plays a significant role in HCC progression and is often conserved between tumor types. Thus, targeting rewired metabolic pathways could provide an attractive option for targeting tumor cells alone or in conjunction with existing treatments. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify novel targets involved in cancer-mediated metabolic reprogramming in HCC. In this review, we provide an overview of molecular rewiring and metabolic reprogramming of glucose metabolism in HCC to understand better the concepts that might widen the therapeutic window against this deadly cancer.

The increasing concern about the environment has enhanced the utilization of sustainable products in every field of life, from common household items to fabrics. Although cotton is a plant-based fiber, its cultivation requires large amounts of water and pesticides. Therefore, the future of product development demands environmental friendliness. To overcome the problems of cotton related to the environment, a novel sustainable fabric was developed by using Tencel and jute fiber for the apparel industry to reduce the usage of cotton. In this current study, six blended yarns of two counts (10 & 20 Ne) of Tencel and jute (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) were developed by ring spinning to weave fabric in two weave designs (Plain & Twill). These developed fabrics were assessed for mechanical, comfort, and hand properties. The results revealed that the blended fabric with a high content of Tencel is good in terms of mechanical, comfort, and hand properties, except for stiffness, pilling resistance, resilience, and drapeability. Additionally, fabric woven with a fine yarn count is also good in the above-stated properties, except for stiffness, resilience, and wrinkle recovery. However, fabrics woven with a twill weave design have good comfort and hand properties, except for smoothness and drapability. On the other hand, fabric with a plain weave design is good in terms of mechanical properties, except for tear strength. The comparison of TJ blended fabric with PC blended fabric shows that the tensile strength, air permeability and OMMC of JT blended fabric is 8.31%, 96%, and 29.46% higher than PC blended fabric but tear strength is 99% less. Furthermore, statistical analysis was performed to check the effect of the input variables on the response factors, and it was found that the effect of yarn count on all output responses is statistically the most significant.

The Ovate Family Proteins (OFPs) are plant-specific transcription factors with a conserved OVATE domain. The OFPs regulate organ shape in Arabidopsis and many crops, including rice, tomato, and melon. However, little is known regarding the OFPs' potential role in regulating plant immune response to biotic/abiotic stresses. Herein, we reported the identification, bioinformatic, and Insilco analysis of OFPs in rice (Oryza sativa L). Thirty-one OsOFP genes were identified from the rice genome database and further divided into six subgroups based on their sequence similarities. Gene expression analysis in developmental stages indicated that some members of the OsOFP gene family displayed tissue-specific patterns. Enrichment of hormonal-related cis-acting elements and varied expression under phytohormones further validated their participation in hormone-mediated plant growth. The microarray expression analysis showed their possible involvement against salinity, drought, brown planthopper (BPH)_striped rice stemborer (SSB) (OsOFP25), and rice leaf folder (RLF) (OsOFP26) infestations. The higher expression of OsOFP25 in the OsWRKY65-OE line implies their key role in reproductive biology. These results provide a systematic analysis of the OsOFPs and lay a foundation for the functional characterization of this gene family.

The primary goal of this study is to increase and improve the precision and order of convergence of the well-known Haar wavelet collocation method (HWCM) that is named as Higher order Haar wavelet collocation method (HHWCM). The HHWCM will then be applied to nonlinear ordinary differential equations with a variety of initial conditions, boundary conditions, periodic conditions, two-point conditions, integral conditions, and multi-point integral boundary conditions. The paper also contains important theorem about the convergence of the HHWCM with computational stability. The convergence of HHWCM is then compared to recently published works including the famous HWCM. In nonlinear case the quasilinearization process has been introduced to linearize the differential equation. Different orders of differential equations including homogeneous and non–homogeneous equations with constant and variable coefficients are also tested by HHWCM. The key advantages of the HHWCM include its easy to use, stability, convergence, high order accuracy, and efficiency under a range of boundary conditions. We have also implemented the HHWCM on nonlinear differential equation having no exact solution.

This study introduces an innovative chemical retting approach, systematically optimized via Grey relational analysis, to achieve jute fibers that exhibit desirable characteristics of softness, high tensile strength, and suitability for spinning, with a particular focus on their application in the apparel industry. In this study, the effect of alkali treatment (alkali concentration, temperature and duration of retting) on jute fiber's chemical composition and mechanical characteristics was investigated. Jute fibers were treated at three concentrations (5 %, 10 %, 15 %) of alkali, at three different temperature (30 °C, 60 °C, & 90 °C) and for three different retting duration (12 h, 24 h, & 36 h). The surface morphology and crystallinity of fibers were analyzed using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The fiber linear density and mechanical characteristics were also tested. The multi-response optimization of all the factors and the responses was investigated using the Grey relational analysis. The results showed that the fiber surface morphology and crystallinity increase with an increase in alkali concentration, retting time, and temperature. Chemical retting treatment also improved the fiber linear density and tensile strength. The finest fibers which were obtained in this research had a linear density of 2.18 Tex with a tenacity of 53.02 cN/tex and elongation of 4.54 %. The spinnable jute fibers were achieved after this treatment with excellent characteristics.

Chalcone synthase (CHS) is the pivotal enzyme that catalyzes the first committed step of the phenylpropanoid pathway leading to flavonoids. Herein, we identified twenty-seven OsCHS genes from the rice genome database. The bioinformatics analysis, including conserved motif, domain, interactive proteins, gene ontology (GO), target micro RNAs (miRNA) prediction, and the OsCHS physiochemical properties, highlight the key aspects of OsCHS genes in Oryza sativa L. The OsCHS proteins' phylogeny was further clustered into 4 sub-groups (Group I- Group IV) based on the structural similarities and functional diversities. The GO analysis of OsCHS proteins showed they are highly stress-responsive (biotic/abiotic) and involved in various growth and developmental processes. The microarray expression analysis showed transcription in twelve rice tissues, and the differential expression pattern of OsCHS genes revealed their possible involvement against salinity and drought. The higher expression of OsCHS15 in the OsWRKY65-OE line indicates its potential in hormonal-mediated stress response. The predicted miRNA that includes miR2260, miR167, miR11337, and miR2232 families further the engagement of OsCHS genes in the post-translational regulation of rice growth and stress-responsive. Owing to the above-mentioned outcomes, we speculate that OsCHS genes in the O. sativa genome play an essential role not only in growth and development but also in fine-tuning the immune responses to various environmental stresses and provide major indications for further functional studies.

2D woven auxetic fabrics (AF) developed by weave design modification provide a continuous, commercial, and low-cost manufacturing process for high strength and stable auxetic structures. However, AFs developed by previous methods have a highly folded surface, which is problematic in printing, laminating, and stitching. For the first time, we studied the auxeticity in a few yarn-based auxetic structures, which provides a uniform surface texture. Reentrant honey-comb geometry was chosen to fabricate auxetic woven fabrics, as such geometry shows the best auxetic nature. Different parameters of auxetic geometry were optimized based on their mechanical response using the statistical tool: gray relational analysis (GRA). The mechanical properties of AFs were compared with conventional (3/1 twill woven) non-auxetic fabric (NAF), having the same specifications. The smaller unit cell (3E) with a reorientation area of 4P showed optimum auxeticity and mechanical properties. The optimized auxetic structure showed superior mechanical properties as compared to conventional fabric. GRA grade of optimized AF was 67.3% higher than the NAF. Most importantly, the tensile strength was 23% higher for optimized AF structure. The bidimensional energy dissipation ability of the AF provides a key advantage in the superior mechanical response.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to appraise the existing literature on using the claims databases for epidemiological studies and to draw inferences for using data from Pakistan’s health insurance databases. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of literature focusing on health insurance databases, querying MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholar. We used the frameworks proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute and Arksy and O’Malley for mapping our results. RESULTS: There was a considerable chronological increase in studies published using data from health insurance databases. Most of the studies in our search were from economically developed countries. Most of the studies (n=84) focussed on chronic non-communicable diseases, while a limited number (n=09) focussed on communicable (infectious) diseases. Our findings suggest that insurance databases could be utilised to study rare diseases, prospects of prolonged follow-up, and minimal research costs. This is especially important for countries like Pakistan, having limited resources to conduct regular, population-level epidemiological studies. Several methodological approaches (for instance, disease, pharmacy or intervention classification codes) were presented in these studies to extract epidemiological data from the insurance database. CONCLUSION: Health insurance databases are utilised as sources for epidemiological studies, predominantly for chronic illnesses, in economically developed countries. Methodological approaches described in these papers could be used to extract data for epidemiological research from health insurance databases in Pakistan. This could be especially useful for following the patterns of infectious disease in the country.

The utilization of denim dates back to ancient times, and still, it is one of the most utilized fabrics around the globe. Special considerations are given to its fading effects. There are many ways for the said fading associated with pros and cons. The laser fading process is a competitive alternative compared to the conventional physical and chemical methods used for getting the aged and worn look on denim fabrics concerning environmental load. This paper critically reviews the laser-based fading of denim fabrics, its effect on physical, mechanical properties, and fading as it influences the material’s appearance, comfort, and life. Furthermore, the key features of laser fading, the influence of various laser parameters on the final physio-mechanical properties, and color fading of denim have been discussed in detail with the recent literature. Laser fading is a more sustainable and green choice.

The recent era of fast optical manipulation and optical devices owe a lot to exciton-polaritons being lighter in mass, faster in speed and stronger in nonlinearity due to hybrid light-matter characteristics. The room temperature existence of polaritons in two dimensional materials opens up new avenues to the design and analysis of all optical devices and has gained the researchers attention. Here, spin-selective optical Stark effect is introduced to form a waveguide effect in uniform community of polaritons, and is used to realize polarization modulation of polaritons. The proposed device basically takes advantage of the spin-sensitive properties of optical Stark effect of polaritons inside the WS2 microcavity so as to guide different modes and modulate polarization of polaritons. It is shown that polaritonic wavepacket of different mode profiles can be generated by changing intensity of the optical Stark beam and the polarization of polaritons can be controlled and changed periodically along the formed waveguide by introduction birefringence that is sensitive to polarization degree of the optical Stark beam.

This study aims at the proposition of a novel strategy to classify the upper body silhouette of the male population into different shapes. Instead of using an existing measuring scheme based on linear evaluation of the body, we devise the use of angle-based anthropometric data to capture the exhibited curvature of the upper body. The objectives are attained by quantifying and employing the chest-waist (CW) angle and hip-waist (HW) angle in the instigation of a more appropriate classification of the upper body. A sample of 241 males aged 17–29 years was scanned through a 3D body scanner to gather the anthropometric data including chest girth, waist girth, and hip girth and their respective heights. In the next phase, the extracted information was used to calculate the angles. Based on the empirical realizations of the resulting indices, criteria defining the classifications of the body shape were determined. The operational environment is further enriched by considering varying levels of angular differences capable of offering more notable stratification of the upper male body shapes. It is realized that the angular difference of 10 ° between the CW and HW angles results in the more prominent classification of the upper male body. The proposed body classification technique classifies the sample of 241 males into three body shapes that are, straight (61%), hourglass (36.51%), and torch shape (2.48%). The classification scheme proposed in this study is a step toward achieving a high degree of customer satisfaction regarding clothing fit. It is a reference for coming research in body shape classification to achieve clothing fit in customized clothing.

The chalcone synthase (CHS) gene family is instrumental not only regulating plant growth and development but fine-tuning plant response to environmental hazards. Despite the growing body of literature, the role of CHS genes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) remains elusive. Herein, we identified 4 CsCHS genes from the cucumber genome database. The evolutionary relationship, gene structure, conserved motifs, proteins interaction and chemical properties highlight the key aspects of CsCHS genes in cucumbers. Evolutionary tree analysis reveals that the CsCHS family is divided into four clades. Moreover, the Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that CsCHS genes regulate plant growth and response to various environmental stimuli. Microarray expression data showed that CsCHS genes were expressed in almost all the tested tissues. Additionally, the differential expression patterns of the CsCHS genes were found under salinity stress and hormonal treatments. The qRT-PCR analysis of CsCHS genes under aphid infestation revealed they are key components of plant defense against insect pests. Under waterlogging stress, only the CsCHS3 displayed high expression under naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and ethylene (ETH). The dual luciferase assay indicated that CsCHS2 effectively binds to the promoters of key stress markers CsERF1 and CsERF3. Our results have provided detailed knowledge regarding the CsCHS gene's influential role in growth and development and also providing the resistive defense in cucumber plants. We believe our study will facilitate the breeding of stress-resilient cultivars, particularly against insect pests and waterlogging stress.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the patient satisfaction with telepsychiatry consultations, and whether time and money was saved by patients availing the service. METHODS: Anonymous internet survey using Google Form method, was conducted between April 2020 and September 2020 to collect data from patients using teleconsultation in out-patients psychiatry clinic. The google form consisted of patient satisfaction questionnaire, demographic details, and additional questions about the money and time saved by patients using the service. RESULTS: Out of 260 participants, 152, (58.5%) were males, 148 (58.3 %) were married and majority (n=157: 60.4%) of patients were

OBJECTIVES: To describe the evolution of the Sehat Sahulat Programme (SSP), a large-scale health insurance scheme launched by the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and to contextualise it in the national discourse around Universal Health Coverage (UHC). METHODS: This review was based on peer-reviewed publications and publicly available grey literature over the last five years (2016-2020). We employed a combination of deductive and inductive approaches informed by the World Health Organisation's (WHO) UHC box framework. REVIEW: SSP was launched on 15 December 2015. It has been implemented in four phases, with a gradual expansion in the population, services and cost coverage. In 2015, SSP covered the poorest 21% of the population in four pilot districts. On 20 August 2020, the coverage was expanded to 100% of the population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. SSP conferred free access to an expanding list of inpatient, secondary and tertiary care services. The scheme covered all expenditures during hospital admission, with a defined upper ceiling. The ceiling for secondary and tertiary care has improved, with marked changes in tertiary coverage, from PKR 0 in Phase1 – PKR 400,000 in Phase 4. Despite the progress, SSP did not cover key health-related targets under Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and partially covered Pakistan's UHC benefits package. CONCLUSION: SSP coverage of population, disease and financial protection has expanded over five years. However, SSP coverage was not aligned with the national UHC priorities and the SDGs.

Agriculture and textiles have the highest production yields among all sectors to meet mankind’s basic needs, i.e., feeding and clothing; however, they are top contributors to environmental pollution and global waste generation. Their wastes and byproducts are precious organic materials, they have great potential as raw materials for the manufacturing of valuable products. This review sheds light on various textile and agricultural wastes, waste management issues, and their existing utilization. Current waste processing methods are mostly based on waste-to-energy routes or material reclamation; however, both methods are hazardous for the environment and are inefficient. During the past decade, many researchers have utilized agriculture and textile wastes in the fabrication of composites. Textile and agricultural wastes and byproducts can be efficiently used for composite fabrication and can be suitable alternatives to existing raw materials. Using textiles and agricultural wastes for composite manufacturing can not only address waste management issues and replace non-eco-friendly materials in the composite industry but also significantly improve composite properties.

A sustainable approach to composites is leading to the use of natural fibers rather than synthetic materials, like carbon or glass, for reinforcement. However, the higher moisture absorption of natural fibers impairs the composite’s mechanical properties. Therefore, to improve the mechanical properties, some chemical treatments like silane and fluorocarbon can be performed to reduce the moisture absorption of natural fibers. In this study, flax was used as reinforcement, and epoxy was used as a matrix. In the first part of the study, flax reinforcement was treated with different concentrations of silane (20, 40, and 60 g/L) and fluorocarbons (80, 100, and 120 g/L). Moisture regains (MRs), absorbency, and tensile strength were measured at reinforcement levels. According to the results, reinforcements treated with 60 g/L silane (S3) and 120 g/L fluorocarbons (F3) exhibited the lowest MR values of 7.09% and 3.06%, respectively, whereas water absorbency was significantly reduced. The sample treated with 120 g/L fluorocarbons required 300 seconds extra time to absorb the water as compared with the untreated sample, whereas samples S3 and F3 showed an increase in tensile strength by 20.16% and 34.80% when compared with untreated reinforcement flax reinforcement. In the second part of the study, untreated and treated flax reinforcements were combined with an epoxy matrix for composite fabrication. MR and mechanical tests (tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact tests) were performed. Results revealed that treated flax-reinforced composites exhibited lower MR values 0.86% for F3 and 0.42% for S3, respectively. The tensile, flexural, and pendulum impact strengths of silane-treated reinforced composite sample C.S3 were increased by 15.07%, 117%, and 20.01%, respectively, compared with untreated reinforced composite samples. Consequently, both chemical treatments improve composite mechanical performance as well as service life.

In this study, a new method to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel-based woven fabric composite is presented. In this method, the woven fabric was first stitched with PVA yarn and then subjected to the borax solution for simultaneously dissolving and crosslinking PVA. The prepared PVA hydrogel-based woven fabric composite was chemically, mechanically, and thermally characterized. FTIR analysis was performed to confirm the crosslinking of PVA on the reinforced fabric surface. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out to investigate the crystallinity of the composite. An optical microscope was used to investigate the surface morphology of the composites. Moreover, a DSC analysis was done to investigate the thermal characteristics of the composite. The mechanical and fluid absorbency characteristics of the composite were analyzed to investigate the effect of the concentration of PVA yarn on the tensile strength and water absorbency of composites. The results showed that the tensile strength and rigidity of the composite increased by increasing the PVA yarn content in the composite.

In the recent era of development, the global market for the sportswear textile manufacturing industries has increased with the increase in consumption of active sportswear. The sportswear manufacturers not only focused on the market trends but also focused on material diversification with technology enhancement. The performance characteristics of active sportswear directly influence comfort level and athletic performance during sports activities. Different types of sportswear products require different performance characteristics. Appropriate moisture and heat management are the key factors for the endowment of the required physiological comfort level. In highly engineered textile-based sports goods, special characteristics are incorporated in the polymer/fibers/product manufacturing procedures/finishing techniques to obtain the maximum performance and comfort level. In this review paper current market trends, highly engineered polymers, fibers, fabrics, finishes, nanomaterials, and the recent developments in the manufacturing techniques of sportswear are illustrated.

The fractal–fraction derivative is an advanced category of fractional derivative. It has several approaches to real-world issues. This work focus on the investigation of 2nd wave of Corona virus in India. We develop a time-fractional order COVID-19 model with effects of disease which consist system of fractional differential equations. Fractional order COVID-19 model is investigated with fractal–fractional technique. Also, the deterministic mathematical model for the Omicron effect is investigated with different fractional parameters. Fractional order system is analyzed qualitatively as well as verify sensitivity analysis. The existence and uniqueness of the fractional-order model are derived using fixed point theory. Also proved the bounded solution for new wave omicron. Solutions are derived to investigate the influence of fractional operator which shows the impact of the disease on society. Simulation has been made to understand the actual behavior of the OMICRON virus. Such kind of analysis will help to understand the behavior of the virus and for control strategies to overcome the disseise in community.

Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease which can easily be disseminated in a society. A five state Susceptible, exposed, infected, recovered and resistant (SEIRs) epidemiological mathematical model of TB has been considered along with two non‐linear controllers: State Feedback (SFB) and Synergetic controllers have been designed for the control and prevention of the TB in a population. Using the proposed controllers, the infected individuals have been reduced/controlled via treatment, and susceptible individuals have been prevented from the disease via vaccination. A mathematical analysis has been carried out to prove the asymptotic stability of proposed controllers by invoking the Lyapunov control theory. Simulation results using MATLAB/Simulink manifest that the non‐linear controllers show fast convergence of the system states to their respective desired levels. Comparison shows that proposed SFB controller performs better than Synergetic controller in terms of convergence time, steady state error and oscillations.

Abstract Destruction of β‐cells in pancreas causes deficiency in insulin production that leads to diabetes in the human body. To cope with this problem, insulin is either taken orally during the day or injected into the patient's body using artificial pancreas (AP) during sleeping hours. Some mathematical models indicate that AP uses control algorithms to regulate blood glucose concentration (BGC). The extended Bergman minimal model (EBMM) incorporates, as a state variable, the disturbance in insulin level during medication due to either meal intake or burning sugar by engaging in physical exercise. In this research work, EBMM and proposed finite time robust controllers are used, including the sliding mode controller (SMC), backstepping SMC (BSMC) and supertwisting SMC (second‐order SMC or SOSMC) for automatic stabilisation of BGC in type 1 diabetic patients. The proposed SOSMC diminishes the chattering phenomenon which appears in the conventional SMC. The proposed BSMC is a recursive technique which becomes robust by the addition of the SMC. Lyapunov theory has been used to prove the asymptotic stability of the proposed controllers. Simulations have been carried out in MATLAB/Simulink for the comparative study of the proposed controllers under varying data of six different type 1 diabetic patients available in the literature.

The plant mirid bug Apolygus lucorum is an omnivorous pest that can cause considerable economic damage. The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is mainly responsible for molting and metamorphosis. The adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an intracellular energy sensor regulated by 20E, and its activity is regulated allosterically through phosphorylation. It is unknown whether the 20E-regulated insect’s molting and gene expression depends on the AMPK phosphorylation. Herein, we cloned the full-length cDNA of the AlAMPK gene in A. lucorum. AlAMPK mRNA was detected at all developmental stages, whereas the dominant expression was in the midgut and, to a lesser extent, in the epidermis and fat body. Treatment with 20E and AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AlCAR) or only AlCAR resulted in activation of AlAMPK phosphorylation levels in the fat body, probed with an antibody directed against AMPK phosphorylated at Thr172, enhancing AlAMPK expression, whereas no phosphorylation occurred with compound C. Compared to compound C, 20E and/or AlCAR increased the molting rate, the fifth instar nymphal weight and shortened the development time of A. lucorum in vitro by inducing the expression of EcR-A, EcR-B, USP, and E75-A. Similarly, the knockdown of AlAMPK by RNAi reduced the molting rate of nymphs, the weight of fifth-instar nymphs and blocked the developmental time and the expression of 20E-related genes. Moreover, as observed by TEM, the thickness of the epidermis of the mirid was significantly increased in 20E and/or AlCAR treatments, molting spaces began to form between the cuticle and epidermal cells, and the molting progress of the mirid was significantly improved. These composite data indicated that AlAMPK, as a phosphorylated form in the 20E pathway, plays an important role in hormonal signaling and, in short, regulating insect molting and metamorphosis by switching its phosphorylation status.

Hexokinases (HKs) convert hexose sugars to hexose-6-phosphate, thus trapping them inside cells to meet the synthetic and energetic demands. HKs participate in various standard and altered physiological processes, including cancer, primarily through the reprogramming of cellular metabolism. Four canonical HKs have been identified with different expression patterns across tissues. HKs 1–3 play a role in glucose utilization, whereas HK 4 (glucokinase, GCK) also acts as a glucose sensor. Recently, a novel fifth HK, hexokinase domain containing 1 (HKDC1), has been identified, which plays a role in whole-body glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity. Beyond the metabolic functions, HKDC1 is differentially expressed in many forms of human cancer. This review focuses on the role of HKs, particularly HKDC1, in metabolic reprogramming and cancer progression.

Nowadays, synthetic polymers are used in medical applications due to their special biodegradable, biocompatible, hydrophilic, and non-toxic properties. The materials, which can be used for wound dressing fabrication with controlled drug release profile, are the need of the time. The main aim of this study was to develop and characterize polyvinyl alcohol/polycaprolactone (PVA/PCL) fibres containing a model drug. A dope solution comprising PVA/PCL with the drug was extruded into a coagulation bath and became solidified. The developed PVA/PCL fibres were then rinsed and dried. These fibres were tested for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, linear density, topographic analysis, tensile properties, liquid absorption, swelling behaviour, degradation, antimicrobial activity, and drug release profile for improved and better healing of the wound. From the results, it was concluded that PVA/PCL fibres containing a model drug can be produced by using the wet spinning technique and have respectable tensile properties; adequate liquid absorption, swelling %, and degradation %; and good antimicrobial activity with the controlled drug release profile of the model drug for wound dressing applications.

Lack of insulin production by pancreas causes high blood glucose level (BGL) in the diabetic patients. For their treatment, manual insulin intake is possible only during the day timings but not feasible during the night when the patient is sleeping. Artificial pancreas (AP) is used for the automatic regulation of BGL by continuous injection of insulin. The nonlinear Bergman's Minimal Model (BMM) considers fixed meal disturbance which may actually vary continuously during medication due to meal intake or by doing exercise. This variation has been taken into account by the Extended Bergman's Minimal Model (EBMM). In this paper, two nonlinear: Terminal Synergetic and State Feedback Linearization based controllers have been proposed for AP to regulate BGL using EBMM. Asymptotic stability of the proposed controllers has been proved using Lyapunov theory. Comparison of the proposed controllers with each other and that with PID controller has been done using MATLAB/Simulink. White noise has been added as the disturbance to further analyze the output performance of the proposed controllers. The Terminal Synergetic controller which performs better than others, has also been implemented on the data of six Type 1 diabetic patients available in the literature.

Objective: To isolate and characterize a novel phytocystatin from walnut and investigate it for biopesticide development. Methods: A battery of methodology was employed. Initially, phytocystatin was extracted and purified from walnut using ammonium sulfate saturation (60–80%), followed by gel filtration chromatography on the Sephacryl S-100 HR column. Further characterization studies including pH and temperature stability, molecular weight, secondary structure, protease inhibitory assay and antimicrobial activity were carried using various techniques viz: spectroscopy, electrophoresis, and circular dichroism (CD) techniques. Results: Thiol protease inhibitor from walnut (WCPI) was isolated and purified with high (71.4%) yield and 184-fold purification. The molecular weight of the purified inhibitor was found to be around 11.2 kDa. Kinetic tests revealed that the inhibitor competitively inhibited papain and other cysteine proteases such as ficin and bromelain. It also exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against bacterial species. Conclusion: Walnut cysteine protease inhibitor (WCPI) from Juglans regia (Kashmiri walnut) was isolated to homogeneity and had features of other members of the phytocystatin family. It demonstrated potential antimicrobial activity and may serve as an initial step towards developing enhanced pest control methods based on natural molecules.

Improvement in the performance and compatibility of face masks has remained the focus of researchers in recent years, especially after the emergence of the COVID pandemic. Although a lot of progress in the design, tolerability, and comfort of the mask has been reported, there are certain limitations, requiring further improvement. The present review aims to highlight the filtration efficacy, comfort, and associated characteristic of various types of face masks and respirators as a function of their design and structure. In addition, the air pollutants, their adverse effects on health, certified respirators, and face masks are also discussed. The present review also provides an insight into different types of commercially available face masks in terms of their materials, filtration efficiency, and limitations. The role of emerging trends (such as nanotechnology and high-performance polymers) in the improvement and development of face masks and respirators is also discussed.

Textiles have been used for clothing purposes since ancient times. However, due to their functional properties, their importance—as well as their use in various fields such as filtration, protective clothing, and medical applications—increased over time. Properties of the textile fabrics depend mostly on the fiber type, fabrication technique, and structure. Moreover, fabric porosity is one of the properties that provide comfort, increased thermal insulation, and filtration capability to the end products. The porous structure of woven, knitted, and nonwoven fabrics has been used for many years to get the desired porosity. Usually, macroporous structures are achieved using these types of textiles. Electrospinning is used to produce nanoporous textile fibrous web, but its poor mechanical properties and low production rate limit its use. Aerogels are solid materials with ultrahigh porosity at the nanoscale with low density and good thermal insulation properties, due to which they are considered potential insulation materials today. On the other hand, pure aerogels are sometimes brittle and have poor mechanical properties. Thus, they cannot be directly used in various applications. Consequently, textile reinforced aerogel composites have been developed, which could provide flexibility and strength to aerogels and impart nanoporous structure to textiles. This review summarizes conventional techniques to produce the porous structure in textiles followed by the modern techniques to develop a nanoporous structure. Further, different mechanisms to synthesize textile reinforced aerogel composites are discussed to get a nanoporous structure for filtration and thermal insulation applications. The porosity, mechanical properties, and thermal insulation of textile reinforced aerogel composites are also highlighted. In the end, we give a conclusion that not only summarizes the literature, but also includes recommendations for the researchers.

The existing literature on internal branding has often adopted a managerial-based approach and seldom considered employees’ perceptions. Therefore, there is a need to understand the perspective of frontline and non-managerial employees. In this context, the current study investigates the impact of internal brand management on brand commitment, brand citizenship behavior, and sustainable competitive advantage for the hotel industry. A survey-based quantitative data was gathered from 390 non-managerial frontline staff working in 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotels of Pakistan. The results revealed that internal brand management positively impacts brand commitment, brand citizenship behavior, and sustainable competitive advantage. Besides, brand commitment has a positive impact on brand citizenship behavior and sustainable competitive advantage. Moreover, brand citizenship behavior has a positive impact on sustainable competitive advantage. In addition, the mediating roles of brand commitment and brand citizenship behavior exist between internal brand management and sustainable competitive advantage. The research implications, together with research limitations, have also been discussed.

The summer headscarves, which are usually made of polyester, are commonly used by women in the Middle East and South Asia regions. The polyester fibers provide good luster and drape but give poor comfort to the wearer. This work aims to produce summer headscarf fabrics using four different fibers with three different fabric structures to achieve comfortable summer scarf. The micropolyester, TENCEL™, COOLMAX®, and bamboo fibers were selected to construct the fabrics with 1/1 plain, 2/1 twill, and 2/2 matt weave. The ring spinning technique was employed to form yarns, which were later used to construct fabrics from these yarns. The fabrics were tested for drape, surface friction, air permeability, thermal resistance, overall moisture management capability, etc. The study revealed that matt weave is the best choice for summer scarf fabrics due to its structure. Further, it was also concluded that in fibers, micropolyester and TENCEL™ can provide the best results for aesthetic, tactile, and thermal comfort.

The mirid bug Cyrtorhinus lividipennis (Reuter) is an important predator that consumes eggs and young nymphs of the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens as a primary food source and thus becomes an important member of the rice ecosystem. We identified and characterized the ClPSP gene in C. lividipennis encoding the phosphoserine phosphatase enzyme. The ClPSP has an open reading frame (ORF) of 957 bp encoding a protein with a length of 294bp and it possesses a haloacid dehalogenase-like (HAD) hydrolase, phosphoserine phosphatase, eukaryotic-like (HAD_PSP_eu) conserved domain. Furthermore, the in silico analysis of the ClPSP gene unveiled its distinct characteristics and it serves as a key player in the modulation of amino acids. The ClPSP showed expression in all developmental stages, with higher expression observed in the ovary and fat body. Silencing the ClPSP by RNA interference (RNAi) significantly decreased PSP enzyme activity and expression compared to dsGFP at two days after emergence (2DAE). The dsPSP treatment altered free hemolymph amino acid compositions, resulting in a significant reduction of serine (Ser) and Arginine (Arg) proportions and a significant increase of Threonine (Thr), Cystine (Cys), and Tyrosine (Tyr) in the C. lividipennis female at 2 DAE. Additionally, a hindered total protein concentration in the ovary and fat body, and reduced vitellogenin (Vg) expression, body weight, and number of laid eggs, were also observed. The same treatment also prolonged the preoviposition period and hindered ovarian development. Our data, for the first time, demonstrated the influential role of the PSP gene in modulating the fecundity of C. lividipennis and provide a platform for future insect pest control programs using the PSP gene in modulating fecundity.

In this study, cotton-reinforced alginate hydrogel fibers were successfully synthesized using the wet spinning technique to improve hydrogel fibers’ mechanical strength and durability. Structural, chemical, and mechanical properties of the prepared fibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter, and single fiber strength tester. Based on the results obtained from fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray Diffraction, cotton fibers have been successfully incorporated into the structure of the hydrogel fibers. It was seen from the differential scanning calorimeter results that the incorporation of fibers in the structure even enhanced the thermal stability of the fiber and is viable to be implanted in the human body. Cotton reinforcement in alginate hydrogel fibers increases the modulus up to 56.45 MPa providing significant stiffness and toughness for the hydrogel composite fiber. The tenacity of the fibers increased by increasing the concentration of alginate from 2.1 cN/Tex (1% w/v) to 8.16 cN/Tex (1.5% w/v). Fiber strength increased by 26.75% and water absorbance increased by 120% by incorporating (10% w/w) cotton fibers into the fibrous structure. It was concluded that these cotton-reinforced alginate hydrogel fibers have improved mechanical properties and liquid absorption properties suitable for use in various biomedical applications.

Composites are macroscopic combinations of chemically dissimilar materials preferred for new high-tech applications where mechanical performance is an area of interest. Mechanical apprehensions chiefly include tensile, creep, and fatigue loadings; each loading comprises different modes. Fatigue is cyclic loading correlated with stress amplitude and the number of cycles while defining the performance of a material. Composite materials are subject to various modes of fatigue loading during service life. Such loadings cause micro invisible to severe visible damage affecting the material’s performance. Mode I fatigue crack propagates via opening lamina governing a visible tear. Recently, there has been an increasing concern about finding new ways to reduce delamination failure, a life-reducing aspect of composites. This review focuses on mode I fatigue behaviours of various preforms and factors determining failures considering different reinforcements with respect to fibres and matrix failures. Numerical modelling methods for life prediction of composites while subjected to fatigue loading are reviewed. Testing techniques used to verify the fatigue performance of composite under mode I load are also given. Approaches for composites’ life enhancement against mode I fatigue loading have also been summarized, which could aid in developing a well-rounded understanding of mode I fatigue behaviours of composites and thus help engineers to design composites with higher interlaminar strength.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 happens when our immune system destroys beta cells in our pancreas due to which it fails to produce enough insulin; a hormone which allows sugar/glucose to enter in its cells in order to produce energy. To cope with failure of pancreas, artificial ones are used to inject the required amount of insulin in the body. Controllers are used for automatic balancing of blood glucose-insulin level. Bergman's minimal model (BMM) is a physiologically verified model representing this phenomenon. In a recent research BMM is extended to more generic form with an extended state of the system, dealing with the disturbance to the blood glucose level caused by meal intake during medication. In this research paper, we have used BMM along with its extended model and proposed three nonlinear controllers: Integral Backstepping (IBS) Controller, Backstepping (BS) Controller and Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC), for the automatic stabilization of the blood glucose level in Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 patients. The integral action is integrated with Backstepping technique; resulting in reducing steady-state error by significant amount. A mathematical analysis has been done to prove the asymptotic stability of the proposed controllers for the both models using Lyapunov theory. For showing the tracking behavior of the proposed controllers with their respective models to the desired blood-glucose output, simulation results have been performed and discussed using MATLAB/Simulink. Comparison results of the both systems show that the proposed controllers performs far better than the ones given in the literature.

The homeodomain-leucine zipper (HDZIP) is an important transcription factor family, instrumental not only in growth but in finetuning plant responses to environmental adversaries. Despite the plethora of literature available, the role of HDZIP genes under chewing and sucking insects remains elusive. Herein, we identified 40 OsHDZIP genes from the rice genome database. The evolutionary relationship, gene structure, conserved motifs, and chemical properties highlight the key aspects of OsHDZIP genes in rice. The OsHDZIP family is divided into a further four subfamilies (i.e., HDZIP I, HDZIP II, HDZIP III, and HDZIP IV). Moreover, the protein–protein interaction and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that OsHDZIP genes regulate plant growth and response to various environmental stimuli. Various microRNA (miRNA) families targeted HDZIP III subfamily genes. The microarray data analysis showed that OsHDZIP was expressed in almost all tested tissues. Additionally, the differential expression patterns of the OsHDZIP genes were found under salinity stress and hormonal treatments, whereas under brown planthopper (BPH), striped stem borer (SSB), and rice leaf folder (RLF), only OsHDZIP3, OsHDZIP4, OsHDZIP40, OsHDZIP10, and OsHDZIP20 displayed expression. The qRT-PCR analysis further validated the expression of OsHDZIP20, OsHDZIP40, and OsHDZIP10 under BPH, small brown planthopper (SBPH) infestations, and jinggangmycin (JGM) spraying applications. Our results provide detailed knowledge of the OsHDZIP gene family resistance in rice plants and will facilitate the development of stress-resilient cultivars, particularly against chewing and sucking insect pests.

Triflumezopyrim (TFM), a novel mesoionic insecticide, has been effective in controlling sucking insect pests such as the brown planthopper (BPH). However, the mechanism of TFM as a seed coating agent in paddy fields remains unclear. Here, we investigate the seed germination rates (>80%) and seedling emergence rates (>85%) of rice treated with TFM at 0, 22.5, 45.0, 67.5, and 90.0 g a.i. ha−1 with no significant effect on germination rates. In addition, the low TFM residue concentration (0.04 mg. kg−1) is maintained in the rice stem. Meanwhile, the TFM seeds’ treatments lead to increased oxalic acid, flavonoids, total phenol, callose contents, and elevated C/N ratio in rice plants at 60 and 90 days after sowing (DAS). The electrical penetration graph (EPG) results indicate that TFM as a seed coating treatment prolongs the non-probing period and inhibits phloem sap ingestion at 90 DAS. Furthermore, the mechanically transplanted rice treated with TFM provides long-term prevention against the BPH infestation. This study demonstrates that seeds treated with TFM play a vital role in controlling the BPH population up to >90%. These results provide a novel valuable control strategy for BPH in the rice fields.

Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs), which belong to pathogenesis-related (PR) protein family 5 (PR5), are involved in the plant host defense and developmental processes. Detailed information regarding the TLP gene family in rice remains elusive. Here, we identified 43 OsTLP genes from the rice genome database. The in silico analysis comprised of the evolutionary tree, gene structure, conserved motifs, and chemical properties highlighted the key aspects of the OsTLP genes. By phylogenetic analysis, the OsTLP genes were classified into ten groups (OsTLPI-OsTLPX). Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that OsTLP genes regulate plant growth and response to various environmental stimuli. Moreover, most of the OsTLP genes are expressed in almost all tissues. Microarray data showed differential expression trends of OsTLP genes under salinity stress and hormonal treatments, whereas under BPH, SSB, and RFL, only OsTLP1, OsTLP2 and OsTLP27 were expressed. The qRT-PCR analysis showed OsTLP27 as the prominent gene, displayed by its upregulated expression under JGM. Our results provide detailed knowledge of OsTLP gene resistance in rice plants, and we believe the current study will facilitate the development of cultivars resistant to biotic/abiotic stress, particularly stress caused by the chewing and sucking of insect pests.

The objective of the study is to examine the dynamic linkages between corruption, economic growth and income inequality in the context of Pakistan by using an annual time series data from 1992-2016. The study used conventional cointegration techniques including unit root test and cointegration tests for analyzing the stationary properties of the candidate variables and long-run relationship between the variables, while robust least square regression technique is used to minimize the possible outliers from the given models and estimate robust parameter estimates for conclusive findings. The statistics show that the mean value of corruption index is less than the value of 3 out of 6 (1 - low corruption index and 6 - high corruption index), hence we classified that the country has a minimal level of corruption, which somehow support to country’s economic growth via the channel of increase in government saving and consumption, hence the identity matrix of saving and consumption in total income function empirically valid in a given country context. In another regression model, the results confirm that poverty decreases income inequality through the channel of increase gross saving in a country. The impact of corruption on income inequality is largely invisible during the study time period. The study conclude with the fact that high mass level of corruption not only break the country’s economic vision and strategic objectives, while it effects political stability and good governance reforms that ultimately damages the country’s image. The policies should be made in a way to reduce corruption by empowering judiciary, intelligence department, and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that responsible for creating and presenting healthy image of the country with say ‘No’ to corruption.