423 results on '"Sikandar S"'
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2. Implementation and execution of integrated point of care testing program in three secondary hospitals across Karachi-a lean management approach
- Author
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Ahmed, S., primary, Shakeel, S., additional, Ahmed, S., additional, Sohail, S., additional, Khanam, F., additional, Sikandar, S., additional, and Jafri, L., additional
- Published
- 2024
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3. Pigs in Transplantation Research and Their Potential as Sources of Organs in Clinical Xenotransplantation
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Raza, Sikandar S, primary, Hara, Hidetaka, additional, Eyestone, Willard, additional, Ayares, David, additional, Cleveland, David C, additional, and Cooper, David K C, additional
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- 2024
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4. Cold sensing by Na V 1.8-positive and Na V 1.8-negative sensory neurons
- Author
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Luiz, A. P., MacDonald, D. I., Santana-Varela, S., Millet, Q., Sikandar, S., Wood, J. N., and Emery, E. C.
- Published
- 2019
5. Neuropharmacological studies on supraspinal modulation of visceral sensory transmission
- Author
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Sikandar, S.
- Subjects
612.8 - Abstract
Pain from internal or cutaneous structures is an unpleasant and sensory emotional experience that accompanies disease or trauma, although there is a developing awareness towards treating pain independently as a syndrome itself rather than a by-product of illness. Pain from internal organs is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical attention, and there is accordingly growing interest in pre-clinical and clinical literature to investigate the peripheral and central mechanisms of nociceptive signalling. However, the wealth of knowledge of somatic pain signalling is contrasted by a great lack of understanding of the mechanisms in visceral nociception, which produces a great challenge in successfully treating visceral pain syndromes such as functional gut disorders. The central brainstem mechanisms mediating visceral nociceptive signalling are investigated here using electrophysiological and immunohistochemistry techniques in a model of acute visceral pain, which involves colorectal distension in normal rats and in rats with acute visceral hyperalgesia. Using pharmacological antagonism of spinal 5-HT3 receptors, a descending facilitatory serotonergic drive is shown to play a role in mediating evoked visceral pain responses monitored by electromyography. Single unit electrophysiological recordings in the serotonin-rich rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) verify that the brainstem neuronal processing of somatic and visceral stimuli differs. Manipulation of pro-nociceptive RVM ON-cells coupled with immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology reveal an important role in regulating spinal excitability to visceral stimuli. Differential brainstem processing of noxious somatic and visceral stimuli may underlie the unique lack of state-dependent actions of the neuropathic pain drug, pregabalin, in this visceral pain model, as it produces analgesic effects in animals lacking pathophysiology and in the absence of pro-nociceptive brainstem neurones. These results illustrate differences in the central processing of visceral and somatic stimuli, yet a common role for descending modulation by brainstem activity in mediating evoked pain measures partly through serotonergic facilitations. A better understanding of the mechanisms of visceral nociception can advance translational research for producing effective analgesic treatments for the variety of visceral pain disorders.
- Published
- 2010
6. POS0413 SEX DIFFERENCES IN A MURINE MODEL OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
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Bharde, S., primary, Caxaria, S., additional, Celik, P., additional, and Sikandar, S., additional
- Published
- 2023
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7. POS0255 A PRO-NOCICEPTIVE POPULATION OF NEUTROPHILS INFILTRATE SENSORY GANGLIA AND MEDIATE CHRONIC WIDESPREAD PAIN IN FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME
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Evans, R., primary, Caxaria, S., additional, Celik, P., additional, Fuller, A. M., additional, Bharde, S., additional, and Sikandar, S., additional
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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8. Detection and Classification of Physical and Electrical Fault in PV Array System by Random Forest-Based Approach
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Sikandar Shah SYED, Bin Li, and Anqi Zheng
- Subjects
ac protection, electrical fault, machine learning, physical fault, pv database, solar photovoltaic. ,Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering ,TK1-9971 ,Information technology ,T58.5-58.64 - Abstract
The importance of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased over the past ten years due to the solar PV industry's explosive growth. To ensure the reliable, safe, and efficient operation of residential PV systems, fault detection is crucial. Early classification of faults can improve PV system performance and reduce damage and energy loss. Many recent studies have focused on classifying and detecting PV faults but most of them are limited to specific reasons like Real-world data can be restricted, unbalanced, or include noise, all of which may decrease the effectiveness of ML models. This paper proposes a method for identifying and classifying both physical and electrical faults in the PV array system applying a machine learning (Random Forest) model to that is trained using a synthetic photovoltaic training database. Make use of a synthetic PV database opens the door to a more precise, effective, and scalable PV system by addressing the limitations of real-world data. MATLAB is used to create a synthetic database while scikit-learn tool in Jupyter Notebook is used to train an ML model are the two main steps in this paper. The performance of the proposed model is compared with the existing ML model and achieves the most effective algorithm offering higher accuracy in detection of 98.6% and classification accuracy is 94.2% for both physical and electrical faults after being successfully tested on real-world datasets and trained on historical data from the PV array system (PV Database).
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- 2024
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9. Protein Enrichment by Foam Fractionation: Experiment and Modeling
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(0000-0003-0796-9538) Keshavarzi, B., Krause, T., Sikandar, S., (0000-0002-4866-483X) Schwarzenberger, K., (0000-0002-9671-8628) Eckert, K., Ansorge-Schumacher, M., (0000-0002-2493-7629) Heitkam, S., (0000-0003-0796-9538) Keshavarzi, B., Krause, T., Sikandar, S., (0000-0002-4866-483X) Schwarzenberger, K., (0000-0002-9671-8628) Eckert, K., Ansorge-Schumacher, M., and (0000-0002-2493-7629) Heitkam, S.
- Abstract
This work investigates the enrichment of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein through foam fractionation. Here, we performed experiments using BSA and measured the recovery and grade of the extract. Additionally, an unsteady-state simulation of the protein foam fractionation process was carried out by numerically solving the liquid drainage equation in the foam. Thereby, the extracted liquid volume and protein concentration were calculated. Required quantities such as foam stability, interface coverage or bubble size distribution were measured in corresponding experiments and were fed into the model. The experiments showed that the foam coalescence accelerates the liquid drainage leading to dryer extract and higher protein enrichment. The modeling also reproduced the liquid recovery and extract concentration of the foam fractionation tests within a reasonable error range. The modeling solely relies on experimental inputs and does not require any tuning parameters. It can be further used for optimization or up-scaling of protein foam fractionation.
- Published
- 2022
10. Data Publication: Protein Enrichment by Foam Fractionation: Experiment and Modeling
- Author
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Keshavarzi, B., Krause, T., Sikandar, S., Schwarzenberger, K., Eckert, K., Ansorge-Schumacher, M., Heitkam, S., Keshavarzi, B., Krause, T., Sikandar, S., Schwarzenberger, K., Eckert, K., Ansorge-Schumacher, M., and Heitkam, S.
- Abstract
This work investigates the enrichment of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein through foam fractionation. Here, we performed experiments using BSA and measured the recovery and grade of the extract. Additionally, an unsteady-state simulation of the protein foam fractionation process was carried out by numerically solving the liquid drainage equation in the foam. Thereby, the extracted liquid volume and protein concentration were calculated. Required quantities such as foam stability, interface coverage or bubble size distribution were measured in corresponding experiments and were fed into the model. The experiments showed that the foam coalescence accelerates the liquid drainage leading to dryer extract and higher protein enrichment. The modeling also reproduced the liquid recovery and extract concentration of the foam fractionation tests within a reasonable error range. The modeling solely relies on experimental inputs and does not require any tuning parameters. It can be further used for optimization or up-scaling of protein foam fractionation.
- Published
- 2022
11. AB0156 INTRA-ARTICULAR AGRIN PROVIDES DIRECT PAIN RELIEF IN OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE DEFECTS
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Eldridge, S., primary, Barawi, A., additional, Thorup, A. S., additional, Fernandez, B. F., additional, Bharde, S., additional, Sikandar, S., additional, Guan, Z., additional, Kaneva, M., additional, Lydon, H., additional, Henson, F., additional, De Bari, C., additional, McCaskie, A., additional, and Dell’Accio, F., additional
- Published
- 2022
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12. Cancer stem cells: advances in biology and clinical translation-a Keystone Symposia report
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Cable, J., Pei, D., Reid, L. M., Wang, X. W., Bhatia, S., Karras, P., Melenhorst, J. J., Grompe, M., Lathia, J. D., Song, E., Kuo, C. J., Zhang, N., White, R. M., Ma, S. K., Ma, L., Chin, Y. R., Shen, M. M., Ng, I. O. L., Kaestner, K. H., Zhou, L., Sikandar, S., Schmitt, C. A., Guo, W., Chak-Lui Wong, C., Ji, J., Tang, D. G., Dubrovska, A., Yang, C., Wiedemeyer, W. R., and Weissman, I. L.
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cancer stem cell ,pluripotent ,stemness ,tumorigenesis ,tumor heterogeneity ,hepatocellular carcinoma ,organoids ,progenitors - Abstract
The test for the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis is to find a target expressed on all, and only CSCs in a patient tumor, then eliminate all cells with that target that eliminates the cancer. That test has not yet been achieved, but CSC diagnostics and targets found on CSCs and some other cells have resulted in a few clinically relevant therapies. However, it has become apparent that eliminating the subset of tumor cells characterized by self-renewal properties is essential for long-term tumor control. CSCs are able to regenerate and initiate tumor growth, recapitulating the heterogeneity present in the tumor before treatment. As great progress has been made in identifying and elucidating the biology of CSCs as well as their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, the time seems ripe for novel therapeutic strategies that target CSCs to find clinical applicability. On May 19-21, 2021, researchers in cancer stem cells met virtually for the Keystone eSymposium "Cancer Stem Cells: Advances in Biology and Clinical Translation" to discuss recent advances in the understanding of CSCs as well as clinical efforts to target these populations.
- Published
- 2021
13. II. No need for translation when the same language is spoken
- Author
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Sikandar, S. and Dickenson, A. H.
- Published
- 2013
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14. OCCUPATIONAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH. THE WRINKLE RECOVERY ANGLE (WRA) STUDY OF FABRIC THAT NANO-SILVER TREATED
- Author
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Pirzada, A. M., primary, Vambol, S., additional, Khatri, Z., additional, Aziz, A., additional, Samoon, N. A., additional, Shaikh, S., additional, Ali, M., additional, and Sikandar, S., additional
- Published
- 2020
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15. Estimating Conditional Event Probabilities with Mixed Regressors: a Weighted Nearest Neighbour Approach
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Mahfuza Khatun and Sikandar Siddiqui
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qualitative choice models ,nonparametric estimation ,Statistics ,HA1-4737 - Abstract
The k-Nearest Neighbour method is a popular nonparametric technique for solving classification and regression problems without having to make potentially restrictive a priori assumptions about the functional form of the statistical relationship under investigation. The purpose of this paper was to demonstrate that the scope of this method can be extended in a way that enables the simultaneous consideration of continuous, ordered discrete, and unordered discrete explanatory variables. An exemplary application to a publicly available dataset demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed approach.
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- 2023
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16. A novel human pain insensitivity disorder caused by a point mutation in ZFHX2
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Habib, AM, Matsuyama, A, Okorokov, AL, Santana-Varela, S, Bras, JT, Aloisi, AM, Emery, EC, Bogdanov, YD, Follenfant, M, Gossage, SJ, Gras, M, Humphrey, J, Kolesnikov, A, Le Cann, K, Li, S, Minett, MS, Pereira, V, Ponsolles, C, Sikandar, S, Torres, JM, Yamaoka, K, Zhao, J, Komine, Y, Yamamori, T, Maniatis, N, Panov, KI, Houlden, H, Ramirez, JD, Bennett, DLH, Marsili, L, Bachiocco, V, Wood, JN, and Cox, JJ
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Pain Threshold ,Adolescent ,Pain Insensitivity, Congenital ,Sensory Receptor Cells ,dorsal root ganglia ,Mendelian ,pain insensitivity ,transcription factor ,Neurology (clinical) ,Action Potentials ,Pain ,Mice ,Young Adult ,Ganglia, Spinal ,Animals ,Humans ,Point Mutation ,Aged ,Skin ,Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2 ,Mice, Knockout ,Original Articles ,Middle Aged ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,Disease Models, Animal ,Gene Expression Regulation ,Hyperalgesia ,Calcium ,Female ,Capsaicin - Abstract
Studies of monogenic heritable pain disorders provide valuable insights into human pain mechanisms. Habib et al. show that a point mutation in the gene ZFHX2 causes an autosomal dominant form of pain insensitivity. Modulating ZFHX2 and/or downstream genes may present a new strategy for the treatment of chronic pain., Chronic pain is a major global public health issue causing a severe impact on both the quality of life for sufferers and the wider economy. Despite the significant clinical burden, little progress has been made in terms of therapeutic development. A unique approach to identifying new human-validated analgesic drug targets is to study rare families with inherited pain insensitivity. Here we have analysed an otherwise normal family where six affected individuals display a pain insensitive phenotype that is characterized by hyposensitivity to noxious heat and painless bone fractures. This autosomal dominant disorder is found in three generations and is not associated with a peripheral neuropathy. A novel point mutation in ZFHX2, encoding a putative transcription factor expressed in small diameter sensory neurons, was identified by whole exome sequencing that segregates with the pain insensitivity. The mutation is predicted to change an evolutionarily highly conserved arginine residue 1913 to a lysine within a homeodomain. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mice bearing the orthologous murine p.R1907K mutation, as well as Zfhx2 null mutant mice, have significant deficits in pain sensitivity. Gene expression analyses in dorsal root ganglia from mutant and wild-type mice show altered expression of genes implicated in peripheral pain mechanisms. The ZFHX2 variant and downstream regulated genes associated with a human pain-insensitive phenotype are therefore potential novel targets for the development of new analgesic drugs.
- Published
- 2018
17. Hazard and Operability Study of Gas Exploration Field Located in Pakistan
- Author
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ISHTEYAQUE, S., primary, JABEEN, S., additional, ABRO, S. H., additional, GHANI, A. A., additional, SIKANDAR, S., additional, and SAIM, Q., additional
- Published
- 2019
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18. Response to Entrectinib in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer With a ROS1 Fusion
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Sikandar S Imran, Laura Macke, Pratik S. Multani, Jason Christiansen, Stephen V. Liu, Zachary Hornby, Edna Chow-Maneval, and Bradley S Colton
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0301 basic medicine ,Cancer Research ,ROS1 Fusion ,business.industry ,Entrectinib ,Case Reports ,medicine.disease ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,0302 clinical medicine ,Oncology ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Cancer research ,Medicine ,business ,Thyroid cancer - Published
- 2017
19. A PRO-NOCICEPTIVE POPULATION OF NEUTROPHILS INFILTRATE SENSORY GANGLIA AND MEDIATE CHRONIC WIDESPREAD PAIN IN FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME.
- Author
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Evans, R., Caxaria, S., Celik, P., Fuller, A. M., Bharde, S., and Sikandar, S.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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20. Genes, molecules and patients - Emerging topics to guide clinical pain research
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Sikandar, S, Patel, R, Patel, S, Sikander, S, Bennett, DLH, and Dickenson, AH
- Abstract
This review selectively explores some areas of pain research that, until recently, have been poorly understood. We have chosen four topics that relate to clinical pain and we discuss the underlying mechanisms and related pathophysiologies contributing to these pain states. A key issue in pain medicine involves crucial events and mediators that contribute to normal and abnormal pain signaling, but remain unseen without genetic, biomarker or imaging analysis. Here we consider how the altered genetic make-up of familial pains reveals the human importance of channels discovered by preclinical research, followed by the contribution of receptors as stimulus transducers in cold sensing and cold pain. Finally we review recent data on the neuro-immune interactions in chronic pain and the potential targets for treatment in cancer-induced bone pain. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Published
- 2016
21. Response to Entrectinib in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer With a ROS1 Fusion
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Liu, Stephen V., primary, Macke, Laura A., additional, Colton, Bradley S., additional, Imran, Sikandar S., additional, Christiansen, Jason, additional, Chow-Maneval, Edna, additional, Hornby, Zachary, additional, and Multani, Pratik S., additional
- Published
- 2017
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22. Cold sensing by NaV1.8-positive and NaV1.8-negative sensory neurons.
- Author
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Luiz, A. P., MacDonald, D. I., Santana-Varela, S., Millet, Q., Sikandar, S., Wood, J. N., and Emery, E. C.
- Subjects
SENSORY neurons ,BIPOLAR cells ,SENSORY ganglia ,RECEPTIVE fields (Neurology) ,NOCICEPTORS - Abstract
The ability to detect environmental cold serves as an important survival tool. The sodium channels Na
V 1.8 and NaV 1.9, as well as the TRP channel Trpm8, have been shown to contribute to cold sensation in mice. Surprisingly, transcriptional profiling shows that NaV 1.8/NaV 1.9 and Trpm8 are expressed in nonoverlapping neuronal populations. Here we have used in vivo GCaMP3 imaging to identify cold-sensing populations of sensory neurons in live mice. We find that ~80% of neurons responsive to cold down to 1 °C do not express NaV 1.8, and that the genetic deletion of NaV 1.8 does not affect the relative number, distribution, or maximal response of cold-sensitive neurons. Furthermore, the deletion of NaV 1.8 had no observable effect on transient cold-induced (≥5 °C) behaviors in mice, as measured by the cold-plantar, cold-plate (5 and 10 °C), or acetone tests. In contrast, nocifensive-like behavior to extreme cold-plate stimulation (-5 °C) was completely absent in mice lacking NaV 1.8. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and subsequent microarray analysis of sensory neurons activated at 4 °C identified an enriched repertoire of ion channels, which include the Trp channel Trpm8 and potassium channel Kcnk9, that are potentially required for cold sensing above freezing temperatures in mouse DRG neurons. These data demonstrate the complexity of cold-sensing mechanisms in mouse sensory neurons, revealing a principal role for NaV 1.8-negative neurons in sensing both innocuous and acute noxious cooling down to 1 °C, while NaV 1.8-positive neurons are likely responsible for the transduction of prolonged extreme cold temperatures, where tissue damage causes pan-nociceptor activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2019
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23. Factors Determining Child Labor: Empirical Evidence from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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Sikandar Sikandar, Sanaullah Panezai, Shahab E. Saqib, Said Muhammad, Bilal Bilal, and Imran Khan
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Social sciences (General) ,H1-99 - Abstract
Children are forced to work when their families face financial pressures due to poverty, illness, or the loss of jobs. There is, however, still a perceived lack of research on the key factors contributing to child labor in Pakistan. This study examines the determinants of child labor in Mardan and Nowshera districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province of Pakistan. A total of 200 households were interviewed. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed to collect data from the family heads whose children are in child labor. A stepwise-regression model was adopted to explore the strength of the relationship between independent variables and dependent variable. The dependent variable was the child labor ratio and the independent variables were the socio-economic and demographic’ characteristics such as age, education, family size, parents’ occupation, the number of adult males and females, family income. The findings show that the family size was the most important determinant of child labor. Likewise, the number of adult females, parents’ occupation as daily wages labor, and the parents’ age had a positive influence on the extent of child labor. However, the number of adult males, family income, and parents’ education had a negative relationship with the extent of child labor. The questionnaire survey had shown that families considered poverty to be the main reason behind child labor, unemployment was the second reason and the third was number of dependent females within the families. Therefore, the government may target these families from lower socio-economic backgrounds to disseminate information about family planning and also include these people in the current governmental program to help them financially.
- Published
- 2022
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24. Stent thrombosis of the drug-eluting stent after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty of single functioning kidney in-patient with Takayasu's arteritis-induced bilateral renal artery stenosis
- Author
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Pankaj Jariwala, Kartik Jadhav, Dilip Babu Madhawar, and Sikandar Shaikh
- Subjects
Acute kidney injury ,Drug-eluting stent ,Renovascular hypertension ,stent thrombosis ,Takayasu arteritis ,Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system ,RC666-701 - Abstract
Stent thrombosis following percutaneous trans-luminal renal angioplasty [PTRA] for renal artery involvement secondary to Takayasu's arteritis is a serious medical emergency, requiring early detection and urgent intervention to prevent permanent kidney injury. The incidence of renal artery involvement in Takayasu's arteritis is 8–38%. The involvement of the renal artery is identified as a poor prognostic factor as it leads to renal artery stenosis, renovascular hypertension that is often highly resistant to antihypertensive therapy and subsequent, hypertensive emergency and renal failure.We report a case of a young woman who had the complete thrombotic occlusion of the renal artery secondary to stent thrombosis which required an emergency PTRA and the implantation of a drug-eluting stent to restore the flow in a single functioning kidney in the setting of Takayasu's arteritis induced renal artery stenosis.
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- 2022
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25. SP0066 Peripheral Processing and Central Modulation of Pain
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Sikandar, S., primary
- Published
- 2016
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26. SEX DIFFERENCES IN A MURINE MODEL OF OSTEOARTHRITIS.
- Author
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Bharde, S., Caxaria, S., Celik, P., and Sikandar, S.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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27. Surgical intervention in aggressive ulcerative pyoderma gangrenosum
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Maham Mudassir, Rabia Ali, Sikandar Saeed, and Ali Rafique Mirza
- Subjects
Medicine - Abstract
Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, debilitating, and painful disease of the skin. Its aetiology and pathophysiology are not well understood. However, it is known that PG is not bacterial in origin, as previously believed. A significant number of cases of PG report a phenomenon called pathergy, which is characterized by the appearance of new lesions after the application of trauma to the skin. This represents a unique challenge for surgeons in cases that are refractory to medical therapy. The objective of this study is to review past literature and report a case of PG in a 19-year old woman, who presented with recurrence, after undergoing skin grafting one year back. The patient was referred for split thickness skin grafting (STSG) to reduce the psychological and physical morbidity as a result of this disease. Continuous...
- Published
- 2022
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28. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of complex aortoiliac occlusive disease secondary to Takayasu’s aortoarteritis in a young female
- Author
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Pankaj Jariwala, Rajendra V Irlapati, Suresh Giragani, and Sikandar Shaikh
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aortoiliac occlusive disease ,percutaneous trans-luminal angioplasty ,self-expanding stents ,takayasu arteritis ,Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine ,R895-920 - Abstract
As the initial treatment of patients with the iliac occlusive disease, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) became common. Though not supported by the latest TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) II guidelines, percutaneous treatment of complex aortoiliac lesions is possible and provides comparable angiographic and clinical outcomes compared to open surgery at both short- and long-term follow-up, also in complex lesion settings. TASC C and D lesions with the latest instruments, procedures, and modalities may also be managed endovascularly. It provides new opportunities for a population of highly comorbid patients. We assume that the outcomes of endovascular therapy for aortoiliac lesions in the setting of Takayasu’s arteritis will be further enhanced through continuous technological progress and new advances in materials. In light of the current progression towards minimally invasive procedures, a growing number of skilled centres should be able to treat by endovascular intervention the great majority of all arterial pathologies.
- Published
- 2020
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29. Impact of Graphic Warning Labels on Cigarette Packs in Changing Smokers' Views and Habits: An Opinion Survey
- Author
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Nismat Javed, Sikandar Saeed, Syed Muhammad Shah, Rabia Ali, Talha Kamran Khan, and Saima Perwaiz Iqbal
- Subjects
smoking ,community surveys ,students ,pakistan ,Medicine ,Psychiatry ,RC435-571 - Abstract
Background: Smoking has become a major issue worldwide. With the advancement in technology, morevulnerable populations, such as teenagers, are also being harmed. One deterrent is the presence of graphiclabels on cigarette packs. With this rationale in mind, the objective of our study is to assess the impact ofthese warning labels on the habits and opinions of smokers.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing a validated paper-based questionnaire.The sample size was calculated to be 200 using statistical software. The study targeted students ofIslamabad, Pakistan, who were studying in twelfth grade and were smokers. The sampling method usedwas ‘snowball sampling’.Findings: 128 (64%) males and 72 (36%) females participated in the study. The mean age of the participantswas 17.59 ± 0.51 years. 40 participants reported choosing local brands for cigarettes due to cigarette‘freshness’, regardless of presence or absence of a graphic label, which was a new concept. 94% ofparticipants believed that presence of a visual label helped with understanding the harm and 78% believedthat the side effects were accurately portrayed. Participants who were more than 17 years of age believed thatthe graphic label provided a clear description of the consequences of smoking. Similar results were seen inthe female participants of the study.Conclusion: There is a general consensus on graphic labels altering the opinions of smokers. The presenceof these labels is, however, targeting only a specific type of audience and hence, should be expanded for alarger audience
- Published
- 2020
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30. Robust Synchronization of Ambient Vibration Time Histories Based on Phase Angle Compensations and Kernel Density Function
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Salman Saeed, Luc Chouinard, and Sikandar Sajid
- Subjects
operational modal analysis ,ambient vibration tests ,system identification ,singular value decomposition ,kernel density function ,data synchronization ,Chemical technology ,TP1-1185 - Abstract
The output-only modal analysis is ubiquitously used for structural health monitoring of civil engineering systems. The measurements for such applications require the use of multiple data acquisition systems (DAS) to avoid complicated meshes of cables in high-rise buildings, avoid traffic constriction on a bridge during measurements, or to avoid having limited channels in a single DAS. Nevertheless, such requirements introduce time synchronization problems which potentially lead to erroneous structural dynamic characterization and hence misleading or inconclusive structural health monitoring results. This research aims at proposing a system-identification-based time synchronization algorithm for output-only modal analysis using multiple DAS. A new procedure based on the compensation of the phase angle shifts is proposed to identify and address the time synchronization issue in ambient vibration data measured through multiple DAS. To increase the robustness of the proposed algorithm to the inherent inconsistencies in these datasets, the kernel density function is applied to rank multiple time-shift estimates that are sometimes detected by the algorithm when inaccuracies exist in the data arising from low signal-to-noise ratio and/or presence of colored noise in the ambient excitations. First, the synchronized ambient vibration dataset of a full-scale bridge is artificially de-synchronized and used to present a proof of concept for the proposed algorithm. Next, the algorithm is applied to ambient vibration data of a 30-story, reinforced concrete building, where the synchronization of the data could not be achieved using two DAS despite best efforts. The application of the proposed time synchronization algorithm is shown to both detect and correct the time synchronization discrepancies in the output-only modal analysis.
- Published
- 2022
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31. Effects of Ascorbic Acid and/or α-Tocopherol on Agronomic and Physio-Biochemical Traits of Oat (Avena sativa L.) under Drought Condition
- Author
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Hossam S. El-Beltagi, Sulaiman, Maged Elsayed Mohamed Mohamed, Sami Ullah, and Sikandar Shah
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water stress ,cereal crops ,secondary metabolites ,growth mediators ,antioxidant properties ,Agriculture - Abstract
Water stress is notably a critical environmental condition restricting plant growth and economic outputs in semi-arid and arid environments. In a pot experiment, we explored the potential function of α-tocopherol (α-toc) and/or ascorbic acid (AsA) on the agronomic and physio-biochemical features of oat grown in water-scarce conditions. Drought duration significantly reduced the soil electrical conductivity and pH but increased the soil temperature, influencing the nutrient availability and uptake. For example, post-drought (25 days) soil analysis indicated that electrical conductivity decreased from 597 to 306 mS/m, total dissolved solids from 298 to 153 mg/L, and pH from 7.5 to 6.3 in 25 days of drought. Further, the drought-stressed leaves also contained significantly lower metabolites, such as proline, protein, sugar, and glycine betaine, than the control leaves, indicating impaired plant defense mechanisms. Significantly increased enzymatic antioxidants in leaves (e.g., superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and peroxidase) suggested the inability of oat plants to overcome drought-induced oxidative damage. In contrast, AsA and/or α-toc significantly amplified the seed germination rates and plant growth. Taken together, our results demonstrate that AsA and α-toc have the capability to mitigate adverse effects of drought conditions on oat plants by improving leaf relative water contents, photosynthetic pigments, and the antioxidant defense system.
- Published
- 2022
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32. Remote Real Time Well Testing—Experience in the Grove Gas Field in the North Sea
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Sikandar, S.., additional, Badr, A.., additional, Shumakov, Y.., additional, Theuveny, B.., additional, McMillon, M.., additional, Sarac, S.., additional, and Fuentes, A.., additional
- Published
- 2010
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33. 315 PREGABALIN MODULATION OF VISCERAL NOCICEPTION INVOLVES BRAINSTEM (RVM) PROCESSING
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Sikandar, S., primary and Dickenson, A.H., additional
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- 2009
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34. Using mathematical models to evaluate germination rate and seedlings length of chickpea seed (Cicer arietinum L.) to osmotic stress at cardinal temperatures.
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Sikandar Shah, Sami Ullah, Sajjad Ali, Ajmal Khan, Muhammad Ali, and Said Hassan
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Cicer arietinum is the 3rd most important cool season legume crop growing in vast arid and semi-arid regions of the world. A lab experiment was designed using hydrothermal time model (HTT) to investigate the chickpea seed germination (SG) behavior, cardinal temperatures and germination responses across fluctuating temperatures (Ts) and water potentials (Ψs). Seeds of chickpea var. NIFA 1995 were germinated at six constant Ts (7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42°C) each having the following five water potentials: 0, -0.2, -0.4-0.6 and -0.8 MPa. Germination percentage (G%) decreased significantly at (*P ≤ 0.05) from 86.7% at 28°C in -0.2 MPa to 10% in -0.2 MPa at 7°C. The germination rate (GR = 1/t50) against different T percentiles exhibited that linear increase was observed in the GR pattern above and below the To. Based on the confidence intervals of the model coefficients and (R2: 0.96), the average cardinal temperatures were 4.7, 23 and 44.2°C for the base (Tb), optimal (To) and ceiling (Tc) temperatures respectively. θT1 value was observed maximum at 28°C in -0.2 MPa and decreases with decreasing Ψ (-0.8 MPa). In comparison with control, the θT2 value was also highest in -0.2 MPa at 28°C. The thermal time (TT) concept is well fitted to germination fraction data in distilled water with an R2 value increasing 0.972. The hydro time constant (θH) increased with an increase in T to To and then decreased when T>To. The ѱb(50) irregularly varied with increasing T, σΨb was also recorded lowest (0.166 MPa) at 28°C and highest (0.457 MPa) at 7°C. Based on the statistical analysis, cardinal temperatures, hydrothermal time constant (θHTT) and germination findings the HTT gives an insight into the interactive effect of T and Ψ on seed germination time courses under varying environmental conditions.
- Published
- 2021
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35. Eco-Taxonomic Study of Family Poaceae (Gramineae)
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Muhammad Nauman Khan, Sajjad Ali, Tabassum Yaseen, Sami Ullah, Akhtar Zaman, Majid Iqbal, and Sikandar Shah
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Grasses, Systematic, Biological Spectra, Tribes, Abundant Class, Charsadda. ,Medicine ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Background: The study of species diversity, its conservations and extinction can be done by using systematics in plant biodiversity. Poaceae is a very diverse grass family with great economic importance as it contains crops like rice, maize, oats, wheat, etc. Objectives: The current study was undertaken in district Charsadda during 2017-18 in flowering season to collect different grass species from the area. Methodology: Grass specimens were gathered, preserved, mounted and then identified from the available literature/native flora (Flora of Pakistan). Ecological parameters like habitat, class, life cycle and biological spectra were determined. A total of 51 taxa comprised of 34 genera, 5 subfamilies and 11 tribes of grasses were collected from the District Charsadda. The subfamily Panicoideae was the leading family with highest number of genera, taxa and tribes, followed by Pooideae. Results: The biological spectrum showed that in the life-form class, therophyte had the highest number of species 32 (62.74%), followed by hemicryptophyte having 13 species (25.49%). In the Leaf size class, microphylls were dominant with 24 species (47.05%) followed by nanophylls having 14 species (27.45%). The adaptational survival of plants showed that 32 species (62.74%) were terrestrial and 19 species (37.25%) were amphibious in our study. The Life-cycle class depicted that 33 species (64.70%) were annual, 17 species (33.33%) were perennial and 1 species (1.960%) was annual or perennial. The Palatability class showed that 35 species (68.62%) were highly palatable, followed by less-palatable 11 species (21.56%), non-palatable 2 species (3.921%) and moderately palatable 3 species (5.882%). The Abundant class were determined through species rating scale in ecology Acfor (Abundant Common Frequent Occasional Rare) scale to describe species abundance in a given area; 26 species (50.98%) were occasional, 12 species (23.52%) were frequent, 7 species (13.72%) were rare, 5 species (9.803%) were common and only 1 species cynodon dactylon (1.960%) was abundant in the whole area and present everywhere in the research area in every season. Conclusion: It has been concluded from the study that unwise collection, over-grazing, over-exploitation, over-consumption and overutilization are major biotic factors, which affect the diversity of the grasses in the area and affect the populations’ sustainability on the earth crust. Therefore, the study aims to document and explore wild grasses from the area, which might help in future researches. This survey will be helpful in identifying plant wealth and status for their exploitation on systematic approaches and scientific basis.
- Published
- 2020
36. Using technology acceptance model to measure the ese of social media for collaborative learning in Ghana
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Latif Amadu, Sikandar Syed Muhammad, Abubakari Sadiq Mohammed, Grace Owusu, and Sadia Lukman
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Social media, technology acceptance model, academic performance, collaborative learning ,Education ,Special aspects of education ,LC8-6691 ,Technology ,Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) ,TA1-2040 - Abstract
In this Digital era, thousands of teens in the universities use social network sites, it has become a way of life. Social Media Usage has recently received numerous debate in its impact on academics, with its advent, communities have become link to each other, but the lecture room still remains quite isolated, from other teachers, students, and a host of others who could potentially enhance learning. This study aimed at investigating the impact of social media usage on students’ academic performance through collaborative learning among university students in Ghana. (Based Davis et al,. 1989) Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), a conceptual framework was adopted for the study. To achieve the objectives, a quantitative data analysis method was employed. A total of 200 students were randomly surveyed for the study. Regression analysis revealed that, Interaction with peers, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness had a significant positive relationship with collaborative learning. Furthermore, results suggested that there exist a significant mediation effects on the relationship between social media usage dimensions and academic performance. TAM does not take into account environment or economic factors that may influence a person’s intention to perform a behavior. The study recommends a clear mobile learning methodologies, rules and policies for integrating student activities on social media into their final grades.
- Published
- 2018
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37. Enhanced recovery of Haemophilus ducreyi from clinical specimens by incubation at 33 versus 35 degrees C
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Schmid, G P, primary, Faur, Y C, additional, Valu, J A, additional, Sikandar, S A, additional, and McLaughlin, M M, additional
- Published
- 1995
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38. Pregabalin suppresses spinal neuronal hyperexcitability and visceral hypersensitivity in the absence of peripheral pathophysiology.
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Bannister K, Sikandar S, Bauer CS, Dolphin AC, Porreca F, Dickenson AH, Bannister, Kirsty, Sikandar, Shafaq, Bauer, Claudia S, Dolphin, Annette C, Porreca, Frank, and Dickenson, Anthony H
- Abstract
Background: Opioid-induced hyperalgesia is recognized in the laboratory and the clinic, generating central hyperexcitability in the absence of peripheral pathology. We investigated pregabalin, indicated for neuropathic pain, and ondansetron, a drug that disrupts descending serotonergic processing in the central nervous system, on spinal neuronal hyperexcitability and visceral hypersensitivity in a rat model of opioid-induced hyperalgesia.Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (180-200 g) were implanted with osmotic mini-pumps filled with morphine (90 μg · μl⁻¹ · h⁻¹) or saline (0.9% w/v). On days 7-10 in isoflurane anesthetized animals, we evaluated the effects of (1) systemic pregabalin on spinal neuronal and visceromotor responses, and (2) spinal ondansetron on dorsal horn neuronal response. Messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations of α2δ-1, 5HT3A, and μ-opioid receptor in the dorsal root ganglia of all animals were analyzed.Results: In morphine-treated animals, evoked spinal neuronal responses were enhanced to a subset of thermal and mechanical stimuli. This activity was attenuated by pregabalin (by at least 71%) and ondansetron (37%); the visceromotor response to a subset of colorectal distension pressures was attenuated by pregabalin (52.8%; n = 8 for all measures, P < 0.05). Messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations were unchanged.Conclusions: The inhibitory action of pregabalin in opioid-induced hyperalgesia animals is neither neuropathy-dependent nor reliant on up-regulation of the α₂δ-1 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels-mechanisms proposed as being essential for pregabalin's efficacy in neuropathy. In opioid-induced hyperalgesia, which extends to colonic distension, a serotonergic facilitatory system may be up-regulated, creating an environment that is permissive for pregabalin-mediated analgesia without peripheral pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2011
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39. Overcoming Tribal Boundaries: The Biocultural Heritage of Foraging and Cooking Wild Vegetables among Four Pathan Groups in the Gadoon Valley, NW Pakistan
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Sheharyar Khan, Wahid Hussain, Sulaiman, Sikandar Shah, Hidayat Hussain, Ahmed E. Altyar, Mohamed L. Ashour, and Andrea Pieroni
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ethnobotany ,wild vegetables ,Pathans ,Gadoon Valley ,Pakistan ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
The foraging and consumption of wild food plants is a long-standing tradition in many parts of the world and their importance in promoting food security has become more widely debated in recent years. The current study aimed to document, analyze, and interpret the traditional knowledge of non-cultivated vegetables among four Pathan tribes (Alisher Khel, Hadarzai, Haji Khel, and Umarzai) living in the Gadoon Valley, Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, NW Pakistan, and to evaluate how these practices vary among the considered tribal communities. A total of 104 informants were interviewed via a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire and group discussions. The field survey was conducted from October 2018 to November 2020. Information about local names, growth habit, used plant parts, food/cooking details, medicinal perceptions, availability season, and market prices were collected. The field survey recorded 51 non-cultivated vegetables belonging to 24 botanical families, for which the frequently used plant parts included young leaves, stems, and flowers. The greatest number of use reports was recorded for Colocasia and the highest cultural index value was recorded for Rumex dentatus; the dominant botanical families were Asteraceae and Fabaceae (six species each). Seven species were found to be sold at local and regional markets. Cross-cultural analysis among the four considered tribes showed that the largest number of species was reported by members of the Hadarzai and Umarzai tribes, although most of the quoted wild vegetables were homogenously gathered among all considered communities, with some more idiosyncratic plant uses among the Umarzai group, who have likely been less affected by the erosion of traditional knowledge or possibly have had less access to traded cultivated vegetables. The novelty of the data was assessed by comparing it with the previously published wild food ethnobotanical literature of Pakistan, which showed fifteen new wild vegetables not yet reported in the NW of the country. The recorded food biocultural heritage should be seriously considered in future local development projects aimed at fostering environmental sustainability and food security.
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- 2021
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40. Quantitative Ethnobotanical Study of Indigenous Knowledge on Medicinal Plants Used by the Tribal Communities of Gokand Valley, District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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Sulaiman, Sikandar Shah, Sheharyar Khan, Rainer W. Bussmann, Maroof Ali, Dildar Hussain, and Wahid Hussain
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quantitative study ,ethnobotanical ,indigenous ,conservation ,Gokand ,Pakistan ,Botany ,QK1-989 - Abstract
The current study on the traditional use of medicinal plants was carried out from February 2018 to March 2020, in Gokand Valley, District Buner, Pakistan. The goal was to collect, interpret, and evaluate data on the application of medicinal plants. Along with comprehensive notes on individual plants species, we calculated Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Report (UR), Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (FCI), as well as Family Importance Value (FIV). During the current study, a total of 109 species belonging to 64 families were reported to be used in the treatment of various ailments. It included three families (four species) of Pteridophytes, 58 families (99 species) of angiosperm, one family (three species) of Gymnosperms, and two families (three species) of fungi. The article highlights the significance of domestic consumption of plant resources to treat human ailments. The UV varied from 0.2 (Acorus calamus L.) to 0.89 (Acacia modesta Wall.). The RFC ranged from 0.059 (Acorus calamus L. and Convolvulus arvensis L.) to 0.285 (Acacia modesta Wall.). The species with 100% FL were Acacia modesta Wall. and the fungus Morchella esculenta Fr., while the FCI was documented from 0 to 0.45 for gastro-intestinal disorders. The conservation ranks of the medicinal plant species revealed that 28 plant species were vulnerable, followed by rare (25 spp.), infrequent (17 spp.), dominant (16 spp.), and 10 species endangered. The traditional use of plants needs conservation strategies and further investigation for better utilization of natural resources.
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- 2020
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41. A Multifunctional Na 2 Se/Zn-Mn Skeleton Enables Processable and Highly Reversible Sodium Metal Anode.
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Aman S, Iqbal S, Chishti AN, Ali M, Ali M, Hussain H, Huang H, Lin Y, Yousaf M, and Jiang Y
- Abstract
The recent high-energy density sodium (Na) metal batteries (SMBs) are restricted by their processability, lifetime, and safety. These issues can be addressed by controlling the reactions at the Na metal by modifying the Na metal anode (SMA) with the sodiophilic hosts. Herein, a multifunctional Na
2 Se/Zn-Mn skeleton is introduced for SMA and fabricate a processable Na@Na2 Se/Zn-Mn composite using repeated cold rolling/folding approach through the spontaneous reaction between Na metal and ZnMnSe alloy. This unique intermetallic composite has Zn and Mn metal sites for uniform deposition of Na, while Na2 Se generates a stable SEI for rapid Na+ ion transport. It offers outstanding sodiophilicity, high processability, excellent mechanical strength, and high ionic conductivity due to the synergistic effect of multi-component, enabling stable Na plating/stripping at high current densities and areal capacities. An optimized Na2 Se/Zn-Mn skeleton enables Na||Na symmetric cells to attain a high critical current density of 5.0 mA cm-2 at 5.0 mAh cm-2 with an extended lifespan of 9000 h at 1.0 mA cm-2 at 1.0 mAh cm-2 . Remarkably, when configured into a full cell with a Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 cathode, the SMB displays an extended lifespan of 2000 cycles at 10 C and an impressive high-rate capacity of ≈61.6 mAh g- ¹ at 30 C., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)- Published
- 2024
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42. Citric acid-driven cadmium uptake and growth promotion mechanisms in Brassica napus.
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Menhas S, Hayat K, Lin D, Shahid M, Bundschuh J, Zhu S, Hayat S, and Liu W
- Abstract
Citric acid (CA) is well-known for mitigating cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants. Yet, the underlying mechanisms driving growth promotion, Cd detoxification/tolerance, and enhanced phytoremediation processes remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the effects of CA application (2.5 mM) on Brassica napus grown in Cd-contaminated (30 mg kg
-1 ) growth medium through a controlled pot experiment. Cd exposure alone significantly impaired various plant physiological parameters in B. napus. Whereas CA application significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced physiological attributes, Cd detoxification and tolerance by modulating key genes involved in photosynthesis and Cd transport, including the metal-transporting P1B -type ATPases (Cd/zinc heavy metal-transporting ATPase 1; HMA1) and light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding 3 (LHCB3). Notably, CA application increased Cd accumulation in stems and leaves by 4% and 35%, respectively, enhancing bioconcentration factors (BCF) by 12% in stems and 40% in leaves while reducing root BCF by 10%. This translocation was facilitated by the upregulation of HMA4, HMA2, and plant Cd resistance (PCR2) genes in plant leaves, improving Cd mobility within the plant. Furthermore, CA induced a 34% increase in phytochelatins and a 32% upregulation in metallothioneins, accompanied by a significant reduction in oxidative stress markers, including a 40% decrease in hydrogen peroxide and a 44% decline in malondialdehyde levels in leaves. Enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and osmolyte accumulation further contributed to improved Cd detoxification/sequestration in leaves, reduced oxidative stress, and improved photosynthetic efficiency, resulting in enhanced plant biomass production and Cd tolerance. Transcriptomic analysis showed that CA treatment substantially influenced the expression of 12,291 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 750 common genes consistently downregulated in CK vs Cd treatment group but upregulated in Cd vs Cd-CA treatment group. Additionally, CA modulated 11 DEGs associated with 32 gene ontologies in the citrate pathway under Cd stress, highlighting its targeted regulatory effect on metabolic pathways involved in Cd stress response. This study offers novel insights into the synergistic role of CA in promoting plant growth and regulating Cd uptake in B. napus, highlighting its potential to enhance phytoremediation strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2024
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43. Pathogenicity and sub-lethal activity of orally administered entomopathogenic fungi against two adult mosquito species, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae).
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Hussain S, Kanuka H, Rakotondrafara A, Tani M, and Aiuchi D
- Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are known for their efficacy in controlling adult mosquito populations by penetrating through their cuticle. However, the effect of oral administration of EPF on the biological parameters of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to assess the effect of orally administrated EPF isolates on the survival, feeding behavior, fecundity, fertility, follicle development and host-searching behavior in response to yeast-generated CO
2 of Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi. An initial screening of 50 isolates involved exposure of adult Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi by integument inoculation. Subsequently, the entomopathogenic effect of the five highly virulent isolates was confirmed through oral administration revealing Beauveria pseudobassiana 42-51 as a potent mosquito killer. B. pseudobassiana 42-51 was administered orally to evaluate sub-lethal effects. The results showed a 63 % and 43 % reduction in blood feeding of Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi, respectively. Furthermore, a decrease in egg hatching rate was observed, with a reduction of 83% for Ae. aegypti and 74% for An. stephensi on the seventh day following fungal administration, showing decreased hatchability in both species. Poor and abnormal follicle development was observed in both mosquito species. Also, the host-searching behavior was evaluated by attraction to CO2 utilizing a Y-tube olfactometer. A tendency of reduction in the attraction rate towards the odor was observed three days post-fungal administration. These findings underscore the significant impact of oral administration of B. pseudobassiana 42-51 on mosquitoes, highlighting not only its lethal effects but also sub lethal impacts on their biology. Moreover, this fungus may exhibit the potential to simultaneously control both mosquito species and serve as a biocontrol agent for the management of vector-borne diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2024
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44. Practice Variations in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism.
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Thakkar D, Garden F, Nguyen J, Ta B, Hussaini S, and Dobler CC
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- Humans, Retrospective Studies, Female, Male, Middle Aged, Aged, Australia, Ultrasonography, Adult, Pulmonary Embolism diagnosis, Pulmonary Embolism diagnostic imaging, Pulmonary Embolism therapy, Practice Patterns, Physicians' statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Venous thromboembolism is responsible for a significant burden of disease worldwide. Despite the publication of multiple international guidelines, anecdotal evidence suggests significant clinical variation exists in the diagnostic and management pathways of pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records to examine clinical variation in patients admitted to a tertiary referral center in Australia with a diagnosis of PE between November 2018 and January 2020. Three hundred cases met the inclusion criteria; we found variation in rates of compression ultrasonography, acute investigation of the right ventricle, and planning of repeat imaging at specialist follow-up. Guidelines do not address the use of compression ultrasonography in already diagnosed PE, are conflicting in their recommendation for acute investigation of the right ventricle, and recommend repeat imaging only if there are persistent symptoms at the time of specialist follow-up. The variations we found in this study may in part be due to physician preference or due to the paucity of evidence for some of these diagnostic practices. Robust future studies are required to guide the use of these investigations in PE., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Devesh Thakkar et al.)
- Published
- 2024
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45. 2D Se-Rich ZnSe/CoSe2@C Heterostructured Composite as Ultrastable Anodes for Alkaline-Ion Batteries.
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Iqbal S, Wang L, Kong Z, Zhai Y, Wang F, Jing Z, Sun X, Wang B, He X, Dou J, and Xu L
- Abstract
2D transitional metal selenide heterostructures are promising electrode materials for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) owing to the large surface area, high mechanical strength, and short diffusion pathways. However, the cycling performance remains a significant challenge, particularly concerning the electrochemical conversion reaction. Herein, 2D Se-rich ZnSe/CoSe
2 @C heterostructured composite is fabricated via a convenient hydrothermal approach followed by selenization process, and then applied as high-performance anodes for PIBs. For example, the capacity delivered by the heterostructured composite is mainly contributed to the synergistic effect of conversion and alloy/de-alloy processes aroused by K+ , where K+ may highly insert or de-insert into Se-rich ZnSe/CoSe2 @C. The obtained electrode delivers an outstanding reversible charge capacity of 214 mA h g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 4000 cycles for PIBs, and achieves 262 mAh g-1 when coupled with a PTCDA cathode in the full cell. The electrochemical conversion mechanism of the optimized electrode during cycling is investigated through in situ XRD, Raman, and ex situ HRTEM. In addition, the heterostructured composite as anodes also displays excellent electrochemical performances for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This work opens up a new window for investigating novel electrode materials with excellent capacity and long durability., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)- Published
- 2024
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46. Bimetallic Sulfide Hollow Nanocubes Heterostructure Promotes Dual Coupling of Conversion and Alloying/Dealloying Reactions to Achieve Durable Potassium-Ion Battery Anode.
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Iqbal S, Wang L, Kong Z, Zhai Y, Sun X, Wang F, Jing Z, He X, Mamoor M, and Xu L
- Abstract
Conversion and alloying-type transitional metal sulfides have attracted significant interests as anodes for Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) and Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high theoretical capacities and low cost. However, the poor conductivity, structural pulverization, and high-volume expansions greatly limit the performance. Herein, Co
1-x S/ZnS hollow nanocube-like heterostructure decorated on reduced graphene oxide (Co1-x S/ZnS@rGO) composite is fabricated through convenient hydrothermal and post-heat vulcanization techniques. This unique composite can provide a more stable conductive network and shorten the diffusion length of ions, which exhibits a remarkable initial charge capacity of 638.5 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 for SIBs and 606 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 for PIBs, respectively; It is worth noting that the composite presents remarkable long stable cycle performance in PIBs, which initially delivered 274 mA h g-1 and sustained the charge capacity up to 245 mA h g-1 at high current density of 1 A g-1 after 2000 cycles. A series of in situ/ex situ detections and first principle calculations further validate the high potassium ions adsorption ability of Co1-x S/ZnS anode materials with high diffusion kinetics. This work will accelerate the fundamental construction of bimetallic sulfide hollow nanocubes heterostructure electrodes for energy storage applications., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)- Published
- 2024
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47. Local Electronic Structure Regulation Enabling Fluorophosphates Cathode with Improved Redox Potential and Reversible Capacity for Sodium-Ion Batteries.
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Huang H, Xia Y, Hao Y, Li H, Yousaf M, Iqbal S, Pan H, Yan M, and Jiang Y
- Abstract
Mn-based fluorophosphates have attracted much attention as cathodes for sodium-ion batteries owing to their high cost effectiveness, considerable capacity, and stable framework. However, the fascinating Mn
3+/2+ redox couple suffers from inadequate activation due to the Mn-O covalent character and poor electronic conductivity, impeding its further applications. Herein, a local electronic structure regulation strategy is proposed to improve the Mn3+/2+ redox potential and reversible capacity simultaneously through introducing elements with low-energy 3d orbitals to expand the energy gap between the eg orbitals and Fermi energy of Na. Moreover, the 3d element substitution serves to narrow the band gap toward the improved intrinsic electronic conductivity. In comparison with pristine Na2 Fe0.45 Mn0.55 PO4 F, the as-prepared Na2 Fe0.45 Mn0.4 V0.1 PO4 F cathode achieves an increase from 3.5 to 3.6 V in the high-voltage platform and an improvement in energy density from 330 to 361 Wh kg-1 . This work inspires new ideas in adjusting the redox potential of polyanionic cathodes through deliberate regulation of the local electronic structure.- Published
- 2024
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48. Whole-Genome Sequencing of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Fusarium solani KMZW-1 and Its Efficacy Against Bactrocera dorsalis .
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Yu J, Hussain M, Wu M, Shi C, Li S, Ji Y, Hussain S, Qin D, Xiao C, and Wu G
- Abstract
Fusarium solani KMZW-1 is recognized for its potential as a biocontrol agent against agricultural and forestry pests, particularly due to its compatibility with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This study aimed to investigate the complete genome of F. solani KMZW-1 and assess its pathogenicity against Bactrocera dorsalis . Whole-genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 47,239,278 bp, comprising 27 contigs, with a GC content of 51.16% and fungus identified as F. solani KMZW-1. The genome completeness was assessed as 97.93% using BUSCO analysis, the DFVF sequence identifier was Fusarium 0G092560.1, and AntiSMASH analysis identified 35 gene clusters associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis, providing insights into the genetic basis of its pathogenic mechanisms and biocontrol potential. Comparative genomic analysis found 269 unique genes for F. solani KMZW-1, and collinearity analysis exhibited a high degree of synteny with Fusarium solani-melongenae . The pathogenicity of F. solani KMZW-1 was assessed using concentrations ranging from 1 × 10
4 to 1 × 1011 conidia/mL. Higher concentrations (1 × 1010 to 1 × 1011 conidia/mL) resulted in significantly increased cumulative mortality rates of B. dorsalis adults compared to the control group. Notably, the pathogenicity was higher in male adults than in females. Probit analysis yielded LC50 (50% lethal concentration) values of 5.662 for female and 4.486 for male B. dorsalis adults. In summary, F. solani , KMZW-1 exhibits strong insecticidal activity against B. dorsalis and shows potential as a biocontrol agent with IPM strategies. These findings provide robust genomic evidence supporting the use of F. solani KMZW-1 in managing against B. dorsalis populations.- Published
- 2024
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49. Assessing the Factors Leading to Missed Breast Cancer Diagnoses in Mammography Among Pakistani Women: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.
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Malik M, Idrees RB, Anwar S, Kousar F, Sikandar S, and Chaudhary MH
- Abstract
Objective To determine the frequency of false-negative mammograms, and identify the factors contributing to missed breast cancer diagnoses in Pakistani women. Materials and methods This descriptive, prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from December 15, 2020, to December 10, 2023, including 150 women aged 30 to 60 who underwent bilateral mammography and concurrent breast ultrasound. The study analyzed the frequency and causes of false negatives, categorizing them into patient-related, tumor-related, technical-related, and provider-related factors. Stratification was performed based on age groups and Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) scores, and statistical significance was assessed using Chi-square tests. Results The study found a 5.1% frequency of false-negative mammograms. Lesion-related factors were seen in 59 (39.7%) patients; patient-related factors were seen in 40 (26.7%) patients; provider-related factors were seen in 29 (19.3%) patients; and technical-related factors were seen in 22 (26.7%) patients. Conclusion Dense breast tissue significantly contributes to missed breast cancer diagnoses in Pakistani women. While lesion-related, provider-related, and technical-related factors uniformly affect mammography outcomes, addressing patient-specific challenges - particularly in younger women with dense breasts - is crucial. The study suggests incorporating supplementary imaging modalities, like ultrasound, in routine screening for better detection, potentially informing national breast cancer screening guidelines in Pakistan., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. IRB/EC INMOL-AECH issued approval INMOL-53-(42). Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Malik et al.)
- Published
- 2024
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50. Enhancement of Electron Transport Characteristics Using MXene-MnFeO 3 Nanocomposite Integration with Fullerene Derivatives for the Perovskite-Based Solar Cells and Detectors.
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Liu H, Hussain S, Ali Sheikh Z, Aftab S, Al-Enizi AM, Adaikalam K, Kim HS, Jung J, Kim DK, Vikraman D, and Kang J
- Abstract
In this study, we prepared a hybrid film incorporating the MnFeO
3 -decorated conducting two-dimensional (2D) MXene sheet-suspended [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) electron transfer layer (ETL) for the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and detectors. The incorporation of MXene-MnFeO3 with the PCBM ETL could drive exceptional conducting features for the PSCs. Moreover, the presence of MXene-MnFeO3 facilitated superior charge transfer pathways, thereby enhancing the electron extraction and collection processes. This enhancement was directed to improve the electron mobility within the device, resulting in high photocurrents. The designed interface engineering with the MXene-MnFeO3 nanocomposite-tuned PCBM ETL has produced a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 17.79% ± 0.27. Moreover, X-ray detectors employing PCBM modulated with the MXene-MnFeO3 ETL achieved notable performance metrics including 18.47 μA/cm2 CCD-DCD, 5.53 mA/Gy·cm2 sensitivity, 7.64 × 10-4 cm2 /V·s electron mobility, and 1.51 × 1015 cm2 /V·s trap density.- Published
- 2024
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