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Abstract This research purpose was focused to document the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge (TEK) associated with important wild plants and indigenous communities residing in mountainous zone of District Sudhnoti of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and to determine their conservation status with suggestions and recommendations to protect and propagate the rare and endangered wild flora of the area for sustainable use. The data regarding traditional ethnomedicines (TEMs) and phytogeography with conservation analysis of wild plants were collected via structured and semi structured interviews of 150 participants belonging to various professions and of both genders. Prior consent and permission were obtained from family heads and from all the participants, and the data were shared with all the informants through the local female translator guide. To validate the collected data, various microstatistical tools, such as the informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL) and data matrix ranking (DMR) were used. The relative frequency of citations (RFC) and rank order of popularity (ROP) were also calculated to determine and authenticate the relative importance of TEMs which may be further studied in future research and used for drug discovery. In the present study, 150 locally important plants belonging to 69 families were documented, and the Rosaceae was the most dominant and prevalent family. The results indicated that many locally important plants have multiple uses such as food, medicine, fodder, shelter, ornamental and fuel. The TEMs obtained from these plants have been known to be useful for curing various infirmities such as flu, renal disorders, fever, malaria, cough, migraine, whooping cough, influenza, skin rashes, allergies, stomach aches, wounds and bruises, diabetes, tumours and joint pains. The ICF analysis revealed that renal calculus, malaria, fever, whooping cough, rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis were prevalent infirmities of the mountainous area. The FL analysis indicated the popularity of these plants used in various TEMs and among these Artemisia maritima and Berberis lycium were the most common. The DMR indicated that Pinus roxburghii was the most common species being used for multipurpose by the indigenous communities. The highest use value index was found for Indigofera linifolia. The relative frequency of citations was calculated to determine the importance of plants in traditional ethnomedicine, highlighting Morus nigra, Pinus wallichiana, and Rosa indica as significant species. The Jaccard index indicated a high level of novelty in the research which can be exploited for neo-drug discovery and drug development. In conclusion, this study has successfully documented the ethnobotanically and ethnomedicinally important plants in District Sudhnoti, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. The findings of this research contribute to the preservation and documentation of cultural heritage, as well as provide a foundation for further studies in ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology and biodiversity conservation efforts for sustainable provision of wild flora to the indigenous communities which will also assist in combating drasting climatic changes.

Abstract Heavy metals stress particularly cadmium contamination is hotspot among researchers and considered highly destructive for both plants and human health. Iron is examined as most crucial element for plant development, but it is available in inadequate amount because they are present in insoluble Fe3+ form in soil. Fe3O4 have been recently found as growth promoting factor in plants. To understand, a sand pot experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (control, cadmium, 20 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles,40 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles, 20 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles + cadmium, 40 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles + cadmium) to study the mitigating role of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on cadmium stress in three Raphanus sativus cultivars namely i.e., MOL SANO, MOL HOL PARI, MOL DAQ WAL. The plant growth, physiological and biochemical parameters i.e.,shoot length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root length, root fresh and dry weight, MDA content, soluble protein contents, APX, CAT, POD activities and ion concentrations, membrane permeability, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and anthocyanin content, respectively were studied. The results displayed that cadmium stress remarkably reduces all growth, physiological and biochemical parameters for allcultivars under investigation. However, Fe3O4 nanoparticles mitigated the adverse effect of cadmium by improving growth, biochemical and physiological attributes in all radish cultivars. While, 20 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been proved to be more useful against cadmium stress. The outcome of present investigation displayed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles can be utilized for mitigating heavy metal stress.

This research examined the effectiveness and feasibility of utilizing ultraviolet (UV) assisted photo-catalysis to treat wastewater effluents from textile production containing reactive blue 250 (RB 250) dye. Molecular oxygen and active species like O2•−, HO2•, H2O2 and •OH play crucial roles in the degradation process. Additionally, the degradation of dyes is influenced by several factors, including dye concentration, duration of UV irradiation, pH levels, concentration of H2O2, and the catalyst. The concentration of H2O2 and catalyst dose for the decolorization was studied at 0.6 mL and 0.5 g respectively. The discoloration was higher at low dye concentration, high H2O2 concentration, acidic conditions and high catalyst concentration. The maximum degradation (97 %) of RB 250 dye was obtained in the presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles within 90 min. The extent of decolorization of the dye was determined by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to analyze the changes in functionalities after degradation. The disappearance of characteristic peaks associated with specific groups within the dye molecule confirmed the extensive degradation of RB 250 dye. LCMS analysis was conducted to examine the intermediates and a mechanistic degradation pathway was subsequently proposed. The cytotoxicity of the irradiated dye samples was evaluated through a hemolytic test both pre and post-treatment. The findings suggest that the UV/H2O2/ZnO treatment represents a promising approach for effectively degrading RB 250 dye.

IntroductionEfficient treatment of fecal sludge in densely populated settings is essential as it has a direct impact on public health and the environment. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of fecal sludge treatment technologies in Rohingya camps at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, focusing on removal efficiencies and compliance with regulatory standards.MethodsSeventeen treatment plants of five different technologies were evaluated based on removal efficiency and standard discharge guidelines for various physicochemical and microbiological parameters.ResultsWaste Stabilization Pond (WSP) was the top performer compared to four other different treatment technologies evaluated, achieving notable removal rates: 97.3% reduction in E. coli, 100% in helminth eggs, 98.3% for COD, 97.8% for BOD, 98.7% for TSS, 92.1% for TS, 82.8% for phosphate, and 93.3% for total nitrogen. Lime Stabilization Ponds showed lower removal rates, except for E. coli (98.9%), with reductions of 99.7% for helminth eggs, 81.6% for COD, 80.9% for BOD, 86.3% for TSS, 68.6% for TS, and 49.2% for phosphate. Upflow Filters demonstrated good removal efficiencies for E. coli (99.7%), TSS (95.9%), COD (91.7%), BOD (93.5%), and helminth eggs (93.7%). WSP consistently outperformed other technologies across all seasons. Despite these, none of the technologies fully met discharge standards.DiscussionThese findings highlight the need for a comprehensive approach, the combination of physicochemical and biological processes, to enhance efficacy. Promoting improved fecal sludge management technologies through awareness campaigns and technical support can mitigate environmental health risks in densely populated humanitarian settings.

Abstract Genetic diversity plays a critical role in crop improvement. Radish is one of the important vegetable crops of Rabi season, however, there is a lack of information about radish germplasm resources available in Pakistan. The present research was carried out to characterize radish gene pool on the basis of qualitative and quantitative traits. Twelve genotypes of radish comprised of local and exotic sources were evaluated for genetic variability through morphological, quality, and quantitative traits. Analysis of variance depicted maximum variation among genotypes for all studied straits. High genotypic co-efficient of variance (GCV) value (>20%) in all traits indicates that these traits can be improved through selection. The estimate of genotypic co-efficient of variance (GCV) in present research was closer to phenotypic co-efficient of variance (PCV), suggesting the key role of genotype as compared to the environment. However, high heritability along with genetic advance (as % of mean) among studied genotypes suggests that the selection of studied traits simply on phenotypic basis can also be effective for the breeding program. Cluster analysis based on morphological traits, grouped genotypes into three clusters and cluster I, contained the maximum number of genotypes. In correlation analysis, significant positive correlation among plant fresh weight, root length, root weight, number of leaves and yield can be directly used a selection criteria. Studying of variability in qualitative traits through frequency distribution exhibited maximum variation for root shape and root base. This study showed considerable variability exists in studied genotypes that can further be used for the improvement of radish breeding.

The research study was carried out to assess the impact and coping measures of flash floods in Quetta City during Monsoon 2022. A combination of both qualitative and quantitative research method was used as part of “After-Only” research design. Primary data sources included survey of the affected areas in Quetta City and interviews of officials from various departments. Secondary data sources involved records from relevant departments, newspapers, journals and internet. Random sampling technique was adopted during the survey and thematic analysis of total sample size of 390 was carried out. .The findings have revealed that unchecked urbanization and construction in waterways amplified the damaged caused by flash floods in Quetta in 2022. The empirical evidences and survey conducted of affected areas pointed out lack of implementation of available regulatory measures. In order to mitigate the effect of any future flash flood, existing regulatory mechanism in required to be implemented in true letter and spirit which should include reclaiming of encroached waterways, planning for rehabilitation of affected households to suitable location and detailed urban planning to cater for expansion of Quetta City.

This study explores the integration of sustainable practices in the textile industry through the use of naturally colored cotton, which offers significant environmental advantages by eliminating the need for chemical bleaching and dyeing, thereby conserving water, chemicals, and energy. We examined the impact of yarn count and twist multiplier (TM) on the quality parameters of knitted fabrics tailored for winter cotton sweaters, utilizing a flatbed knitting machine to create a rib-cum-interlock structure. Our analysis aimed at optimizing thermal resistance, pilling resistance, and bursting strength, while reducing air permeability and fabric shrinkage. The findings indicated that thermal resistance peaked at 2.33 × 10 −3 m 2 K/W for yarns with a 20/2 Ne count and a 4.5 TM. Furthermore, coarser yarns demonstrated enhanced bursting strength, with the highest at 276.8 kPa for a 16/2 Ne count and 4.25 TM, and an increase in yarn count improved pilling resistance. Air permeability was lowest at 103 mm/s for 16/2 Ne yarns. Interestingly, a rise in yarn count led to negative lengthwise shrinkage but positive widthwise shrinkage. The 20/2 Ne yarn count with a 4.50 twist multiplier emerged as optimal across considered properties, underscoring the potential of naturally colored cotton as a sustainable alternative in textile manufacturing. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of naturally colored sustainable cotton as a viable alternative to conventional cotton in the textile industry.

Abstract Urban atmospheric pollution is global problem and and have become increasingly critical in big cities around the world. Issue of toxic emissions has gained significant attention in the scientific community as the release of pollutants into the atmosphere rising continuously. Although, the Pakistani government has started the Pakistan Clean Air Program to control ambient air quality however, the desired air quality levels are yet to be reached. Since the process of mapping the dispersion of atmospheric pollutants in urban areas is intricate due to its dependence on multiple factors, such as urban vegetation and weather conditions. Therefore, present research focuses on two essential items: (1) the relationship between urban vegetation and atmospheric variables (temperature, relative humidity (RH), sound intensity (SI), CO, CO2, and particulate matter (PM0.5, PM1.0, and PM2.5) and (2) the effect of seasonal change on concentration and magnitude of atmospheric variables. A geographic Information System (GIS) was utilized to map urban atmospheric variables dispersion in the residential areas of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Pearson correlation and principal component analyses were performed to establish the relationship between urban atmospheric pollutants, urban vegetation, and seasonal variation. The results showed a positive correlation between urban vegetation, metrological factors, and most of the atmospheric pollutants. Furthermore, PM concentration showed a significant correlation with temperature and urban vegetation cover. GIS distribution maps for PM0.5, PM1.0, PM2.5, and CO2 pollutants showed the highest concentration of pollutants in poorly to the moderated vegetated areas. Therefore, it can be concluded that urban vegetation requires a rigorous design, planning, and cost–benefit analysis to maximize its positive environmental effects.

In this study, we propose hybrid conv-attention networks that combine convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformers to recognize targets from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images automatically. The proposed model is designed to obtain robust features from global and local patterns in the SAR image, utilizing the weights of a pre-trained backbone model with self-attention structures. Furthermore, we adopted pre-processing and training methods optimized for transfer learning to enhance performance. By comparing and analyzing the performance between the proposed model and conventional models using the OpenSARShip and MSTAR dataset, we found that our system significantly outperforms conventional approaches, with a performance improvement of 24.06%. This considerable enhancement is attributed to the ability of the model to leverage the 2D kernel-based approach of CNNs and the sequence vector-based approach of transformers, offering a comprehensive method for SAR image target recognition.

Abstract Selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene (C6H6), cyclohexane (C6H12), isoprene (C5H8), cyclopropanone (C3H4O), propanol (C3H8O), and butyraldehyde butanal (C4H8O), in exhaled human breath can act as indicators or biomarkers of lung cancer diseases. Detection of such VOCs with low density would pave the way for an early diagnosis of the disease and thus early treatment and cure. In the present investigation, the density-functional theory (DFT) is applied to study the detection of the mentioned VOCs on Ti3C2TX MXenes, saturated with the functional groups Tx = O, F, S, and OH. For selectivity, comparative sensing of other interfering air molecules from exhaled breath, such as O2, N2, CO2, and H2O is further undertaken. Three functionalization (Tx = O, F, and S) are found promising for the selective detection of the studied VOCs, in particular Ti3C2O2 MXenes has shown distinct sensor response toward the C5H8, C6H6, C6H12, and C3H4O. The relatively strong physisorption ( $${E}_{ads}\cong -0.45 to-0.65 {\text{eV}}$$ E ads ≅ - 0.45 t o - 0.65 eV ), triggered between VOC and MXene due to an enhancement of van der Waals interaction, is found responsible to affect the near Fermi level states, which in turn controls the conductivity and consequently the sensor response. Meanwhile, such intermediate-strength interactions remain moderate to yield small desorption recovery time (of order $$\tau \cong \mu {\text{s}}-{\text{ms}})$$ τ ≅ μ s - ms ) using visible light at room temperature. Thus, Ti3C2O2 MXenes are found promising candidate material for reusable biosensor for the early diagnosis of lung cancer diseases through the VOC detection in exhaled breath.

Prion diseases are a type of neurodegenerative disorder caused by the transmission of specific pathogens containing prion proteins. Due to the unique structural characteristics of Prion proteins (PrP), which differ from other types of proteins, the extended incubation period observed in the transmission of specific Prions can be attributed to these differences, at least in part. Prions are found in several other mammals and animals. Prions are unique among false protein folding abnormalities because these are infections and contain various strains of contagious agents associated with a unique in vivo phenotype. They can be acquired either by inheritance or sporadically. There are two types: classical and typical BSP. The objective of this study was to observe the Bhagnari cattle breed of Balochistan, Pakistan, and compare the PrP gene sequence of the Bhagnari with other reported sequences from Pakistan and other parts of the world. This research collected 40 Bhagnari cattle blood samples from Tali, Bhag Nari, and Sibi district areas. DNA extraction of each sample was performed by inorganic method, and then DNA amplification and sequencing of PRNP Gene was performed. The results of this research work showed different polymorphic variations (SNPs) in 16 samples. In this study, while mutations causing prion diseases in cattle were detected in Italian and German breeds, none were identified in the PRNP gene of the cattle population investigated, despite its association with neurological disorders.

Academic writing skills contribute greatly in academic performance. One of the key elements of good academic writing is to know the proper use of the strings of the words usually occur together. These words are termed as lexical bundles in corpus linguistics. Some research has been conducted on the use and functions of lexical bundles in spoken and written discourses (Chen & Chen, 2020). However, there is scarce research on the functions of lexical bundles and their use in Pakistani research writing. While drawing on the corpus of 90201 corpora of the 12 Pakistani research articles, we investigated the functions and use of lexical bundles in research papers of Pakistani authors. The list of the lexical bundles by Simpson-Vlach and Ellis (2010) was used as a source to interpret the lexical bundles. We found the referential expressions were the highest lexical bundles in research articles of Pakistani authors followed by the expressions of ability and possibility and hedges in the list. Based on these findings, we argue that Pakistani authors are aware about the various types of the lexical bundles and their functions in academic writing. It is suggested that the high-frequency bundles can help the learners to improve the use of modal words used as hedges in academic writing. As per the findings of this study, it is recommended that a large corpus may be built for better results in the future.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of some key manufacturing parameters of Sports Compression Socks (SCS), aiming to optimize their performance characteristics for athletic applications. We investigated the interplay of material selection (Polyamide and Polyester), knitting structures (Pique and Drop Needle), and processing methods (E-wash, Dip wash, and Direct Press) on the functional properties of SCS. Our experimental design employed a full factorial approach, utilizing the Taguchi method for robust data analysis and the VIKOR (VlseKriterijuska Optimizacija I Komoromisno Resenje) technique for multi-criteria optimization. Key performance indicators assessed included compression pressure, fabric thickness, breathability (air permeability and Overall Moisture Management Capacity), and serviceability (pilling resistance and dimensional stability). The collected data underwent rigorous scrutiny using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess their significance, validated by p -values ( p < 0.05). Further insight into the significance and contribution percentages of each factor was gained through ANOVA (α = 0.10) and visualized using a pie chart. Results demonstrated significant influences of knitting structures and processing methods on the physical and performance characteristics of SCS. Particularly, the Nylon E-wash Pique (NEWP) combination emerged as the most effective, providing a balanced profile of breathability, compression, and durability. Overall, the study contributes to the optimization of SCS performance characteristics for athletic applications, through a comprehensive analysis of key manufacturing parameters, with practical implications for manufacturers. These insights are pivotal for guiding manufacturers in producing high-quality, effective SCS that meet diverse consumer needs. The study advances the understanding of SCS design, proposing strategic approaches that consider important material and manufacturing perspectives. Future research directions include comparing pressure values in yarn-dyed and sock-dyed processes to further enhance the quality of compression garments.

IntroductionThe utilization of fauna and fauna-based byproducts in ethnomedicinal usages has been a longstanding human activity, practiced across various cultures worldwide. This study focuses on investigating the utilization of animal-based traditional medicine by the people of Pakistan, specifically in the Gujranwala area.MethodsData collection took place from January to September 2019 through interviews with local communities. Ethnomedicinal applications of animal products were analyzed using several indices, including Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Relative Popularity Level (RPL), Folk Use Value (FL), and Relative Occurrence Percentage (ROP).ResultsThe study identified the use of different body parts of 54 species of animals in treating various diseases and health issues. These include but are not limited to skin infections, sexual problems, pain management (e.g., in the backbone and joints), eyesight issues, immunity enhancement, cold, weakness, burns, smallpox, wounds, poisoning, muscular pain, arthritis, diabetes, fever, epilepsy, allergies, asthma, herpes, ear pain, paralysis, cough, swelling, cancer, bronchitis, girls’ maturity, and stomach-related problems. Certain species of fauna were noted by informers with high “frequency of citation” (FC), ranging from 1 to 77. For instance, the black cobra was the most frequently cited animal for eyesight issues (FC = 77), followed by the domestic rabbit for burn treatment (FC = 67), and the Indus Valley spiny-tailed ground lizard for sexual problems (FC = 66). Passer domesticus and Gallus gallus were noted to have the highest ROP value of 99.DiscussionThe findings of this study provide valuable preliminary insights for the conservation of fauna in the Gujranwala region of Punjab, Pakistan. Additionally, screening these animals for medicinally active compounds could potentially lead to the development of novel animal-based medications, contributing to both traditional medicine preservation and modern pharmaceutical advancements.

Abstract Indicine cattle, also referred to as zebu (Bos taurus indicus), play a central role in pastoral communities across a wide range of agro-ecosystems, from extremely hot semiarid regions to hot humid tropical regions. However, their adaptive genetic changes following their dispersal into East Asia from the Indian subcontinent have remained poorly documented. Here, we characterize their global genetic diversity using high-quality whole-genome sequencing data from 354 indicine cattle of 57 breeds/populations, including major indicine phylogeographic groups worldwide. We reveal their probable migration into East Asia was along a coastal route rather than inland routes and we detected introgression from other bovine species. Genomic regions carrying morphology-, immune-, and heat-tolerance-related genes underwent divergent selection according to Asian agro-ecologies. We identify distinct sets of loci that contain promising candidate variants for adaptation to hot semi-arid and hot humid tropical ecosystems. Our results indicate that the rapid and successful adaptation of East Asian indicine cattle to hot humid environments was promoted by localized introgression from banteng and/or gaur. Our findings provide insights into the history and environmental adaptation of indicine cattle.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) are two of the most prevalent human viruses worldwide. They are known to cause a variety of diseases including genital herpes, meningitis, encephalitis, cold sores and herpes stromal keratitis. The seropositive rate for HSV-1 is around 90%, whereas for HSV-2 it remains around 20–25% for the general adult population. The infections caused by these viruses remain difficult to study because a large proportion of infected individuals are asymptomatic. Furthermore, given the neurotropic characteristics of the virus, studies aimed at understanding the complex pathogenesis in humans is difficult. As a result, animal models have been developed to understand several characteristics of HSV biology, pathogenesis, disease and host responses to infection. These models are also commonly used as the first evaluation of new drugs and vaccines. There are several well-established animal models to study infection with HSV, including mice, guinea pigs and rabbits. Variables within the animal models depend on the species of animal, route of infection, viral strain, dosage, etc. This review aims at summarizing the most commonly used animal models to study HSV pathogenesis and therapies.

The production of citric acid, a vital agricultural commodity utilized across various industries such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, detergents, and cosmetics, predominantly relies on microbial fermentation, with Aspergillus niger accounting for approximately 90% of global production. In this study, we aimed to optimize the key factors influencing citric acid production, with a focus on strains, fermentation techniques, and carbon sources, particularly sugarcane molasses. A. niger, sourced from the Botany department/Biotechnology laboratories at Govt. College of Science, Lahore, was employed for citric acid production. The process involved inoculum preparation through spore collection from 3 to 5 days of cultured PDA slants. The fermentation medium, comprising cane molasses with a 15% sugar concentration, was meticulously prepared and optimized for various factors, including magnesium sulfate, potassium ferrocyanide, time of addition of potassium ferrocyanide, ammonium oxalate, and calcium chloride. Our optimization results shed light on the significant impact of different factors on citric acid production. For instance, the addition of 0.4 g/L magnesium sulfate led to a maximum yield of 75%, while 2 g/L potassium ferrocyanide, added at 24 h, achieved a yield of 78%. Remarkably, ammonium oxalate, at a concentration of 10 g/L, resulted in a notable 77% yield. Conversely, the addition of calcium chloride exhibited negligible effects on citric acid production, with the control group yielding more at 78%. Our study underscores the potential for optimizing factors to enhance citric acid production by A. niger in submerged fermentation. These findings highlight the pivotal role of magnesium sulfate, potassium ferrocyanide, and ammonium oxalate in augmenting citric acid yields while emphasizing the minimal impact of calcium chloride. Ultimately, these insights contribute to advancing our understanding of microbial citric acid biosynthesis, providing valuable implications for industrial applications and future research endeavors.

Abstract Integration of distributed energy resources, such as photovoltaic solar (PV), introduces new opportunities to establish local energy market frameworks to improve renewable energy utilisation in residential sectors. Such peer‐to‐peer (P2P) energy trading refers to a local market structure where customers (and prosumers) interact to share excess PV generation to enhance the individual and community social welfare. In this work, a day‐ahead continuous double auction (CDA)‐based P2P market structure considering network losses and network utilisation fees was designed. Day‐ahead PV energy is modelled using fractional integral polynomials and the output is forecasted using an autoregressive integrated moving average model for each market interval. Based on the customer load and excess PV energy, the CDA market is cleared using a bid/ask matching mechanism. The performance of the P2P market was evaluated by computing different welfare metrics while analysing the effect of network constraints. The results show that the designed CDA‐based P2P market structure increases the social welfare of all participants by an average of 17.75% compared to the baseline for the presented cases. Moreover, the impact of the forecasting error between the day‐ahead and real‐time market was also quantified.

Ants belonging to the Monomorium indicum (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) species are ubiquitous insects that are commonly associated with household settings in Pakistan. Packaged foodstuffs are easily destroyed by household ants when packaging is made with materials that have a high susceptibility. This study evaluated the susceptibility of three common flexible plastic packaging materials namely: opaque polyethylene, transparent polyethylene and polypropylene, which were each tested at thicknesses of 0.02 mm for their susceptibility against M. indicum. Except opaque polyethylene which is only available at 0.02 mm thickness, both transparent polyethylene and polypropylene were tested at higher thickness of 0.04 mm and 0.06 mm also against M. indicum. In order to simulate household settings, experiments were conducted at the faculty building of the agriculture and environment department of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan during summer vacations when the building was quiet. Different corners were selected near water sources for maximum exposure to the largest number of ants. Experimental cages used for the experiment were built with wood and 2 mm iron gauze to allow only ants to enter the cages. Daily activity of ants was used as an infestation source in cages. Experiments were run over three time spans of fifteen days each from June 20th 2022 to August 15th 2022. Results showed all packaging materials were susceptible against M. indicum at the 0.02 mm thickness level. Polypropylene was susceptible at 0.04 mm thickness but resistant to ants at 0.06 mm thickness, whereas polyethylene was still susceptible to ants at the higher thickness of 0.06 mm. Correlation of packaging damage with weather factors showed that temperature had a positive relationship, while relative humidity had a negative association with M. indicum attack. Overall correlation of packaging damage with packaging thickness showed packaging thickness was negatively associated with packaging damage from the ants. Because major cutting role is performed by the mandibles, we studied mandibles of ants and three frequent pests of packaged foodstuff namely Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum and Trogoderma granarium. The results showed that ants had the largest mandible and frontal mandibular tooth lengths compared with the mandibles and frontal teeth of the common stored product pests, indicating M. indicum household ants have a higher pest status for packaged foodstuffs compared to common stored product pests. Although the thickness of the flexible plastic packaging was a major factor against household ants, the study results recommend the use of polypropylene with a thickness of at least 0.06 mm as foodstuff packaging against household ants compared with polyethylene packaging, which was found to be susceptible to ants even at 0.06 mm thickness.

Extended spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli) is a primary concern for hospital and community healthcare settings, often linked to an increased incidence of nosocomial infections. This study investigated the characteristics of ESBL E. coli isolated from hospital environments and clinical samples. In total, 117 ESBL E. coli isolates were obtained. The isolates were subjected to molecular analysis for the presence of resistance and virulence genes, antibiotic susceptibility testing, quantitative adherence assay, ERIC-PCR for phylogenetic analysis and whole genome sequencing of four highly drug resistant isolates. Out of the 117 isolates, 68.4% were positive for blaCTX-M, 39.3% for blaTEM, 30.8% for blaNDM-1, 13.7% for blaOXA and 1.7% for blaSHV gene. Upon screening for diarrheagenic genes, no isolates were found to harbour any of the tested genes. In the case of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) virulence factors, 7.6%, 11%, 5.9%, 4.3% and 21.2% of isolates harbored the focG, kpsMII, sfaS, afa and iutA genes, respectively. At a temperature of 25°C, 14.5% of isolates exhibited strong biofilm formation with 21.4% and 28.2% exhibiting moderate and weak biofilm formation respectively, whereas 35.9% were non-biofilm formers. On the other hand at 37°C, 2.6% of isolates showed strong biofilm formation with 3.4% and 31.6% showing moderate and weak biofilm formation respectively, whereas, 62.4% were non-biofilm formers. Regarding antibiotic susceptibility testing, all isolates were found to be multidrug-resistant (MDR), with 30 isolates being highly drug resistant. ERIC-PCR resulted in 12 clusters, with cluster E−10 containing the maximum number of isolates. Hierarchical clustering and correlation analysis revealed associations between environmental and clinical isolates, indicating likely transmission and dissemination from the hospital environment to the patients. The whole genome sequencing of four highly drug resistant ExPEC isolates showed the presence of various antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factors and mobile genetic elements, with isolates harbouring the plasmid incompatibility group IncF (FII, FIB, FIA). The sequenced isolates were identified as human pathogens with a 93.3% average score. This study suggests that ESBL producing E. coli are prevalent in the healthcare settings of Bangladesh, acting as a potential reservoir for AMR bacteria. This information may have a profound effect on treatment, and improvements in public healthcare policies are a necessity to combat the increased incidences of hospital-acquired infections in the country.

Seamless garment technology is apparently a sustainable and efficient garment-manufacturing approach. This technology is already used in knitting for sportswear, hosiery and other knitted garments. Garment industry relies mainly on weaving technique; therefore, seamless weaving also needs to be studied for its further exploration. This review paper aims to investigate the prevalent techniques for seamless weaving in the textile industry and to explore its future prospects.

Abstract Background Fisheries have tremendous cultural and educational importance in human societies. The world is undergoing fast environmental and cultural changes, and local knowledge is being lost. Understanding how people interpret environmental change and develop practices in response to such change is essential to comprehend human resource use. This study was planned with the intent to document and conserve the knowledge about the uses of the freshwater fish fauna among the residents in South Punjab, Pakistan. Methods Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were conducted to collect data from informers (N = 88). Principal component analysis, relative frequency citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, rank-order priority, and similarity index were used to analyze the fish data. Results Overall, a total of 43 species of fishes were utilized in the study region, but only 26 species were utilized ethnomedicinally to treat a variety of illnesses such as asthma, body weakness, burn, chicken pox, cold, cough, eyesight, hepatitis, impotence, joint pain, night blindness, skin burn, spleen treatment, stomach infection, and weakness. The uses of fishes were analyzed employing various indices. The highest use value (UV) of 0.86 was calculated for spotted snakehead (Channa punctata), whereas the lowest UV of 0.05 was attained by karail fish (Securicula gora). Moreover, Channa punctata, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita, Oreochromis niloticus, Wallago attu, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Rita rita, Sperata seenghala, Notopterus notopterus, Labeo dyocheilus, Systomus sarana, Puntius punjabensis, Securicula gora, Ompok bimaculatus, and Ompok pabda were the most popular species with RPL = 1.0. Out of the total, 20 species had a “zero” similarity index, while the ethnomedicinal use of 12 species (i.e., Labeo dyocheilus, Labeo boggut, Systomus sarana, Puntius punjabensis, Aspidoparia morar, Securicula gora, Crossocheilus diplochilus, Mastacembelus armatus, Ompok bimaculatus, Ompok pabda, Labeo gonius, and Sperata seenghala) was documented for the first time for a variety of diseases (i.e., body weakness, stomach infection, skin burn, joint pain, impotence, asthma, spleen treatment, and chicken pox). Conclusion Our findings showed that the local people of the study area hold noteworthy traditional knowledge about the medicinal and cultural uses of fish species. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of active chemicals and in vivo and/or in vitro activities of chemicals derived from ichthyofauna with the highest FC as well as UVs could be interesting for research on new drugs.

Renewable energy (RE) offers major environmental and economic benefits compared to nuclear and fuel-based energy; however, the data used for RE include significant randomness, intermittent behaviour, and strong-volatility, hindering their integration into smart grids. Accurate RE prediction is a promising solution to this problem and can provide effective planning and management services. Various predictive models have been developed to improve the prediction performance for better energy management. However, current works focus on improving the prediction accuracy, which is a requirement of power systems, without considering the time complexity of their methodologies. Considering these limitations, we develop a lightweight ESNCNN model for accurate RE prediction, in which an ESN learns the nonlinear mapping relationship and a CNN extracts the spatial information from RE data. The ESN and CNN layers are linearly connected via residual connections to avoid the vanishing gradient problem. Finally, we incorporate fully connected layers to enhance and select the optimal ESNCNN features to predict the future energy production. Our ESNCNN model is evaluated based on RE benchmarks, using various evaluation metrics such as MSE, MBE, MAE and RMSE, and achieves state-of-the-art performance. Further experiments are performed with different machine learning, deep learning, and hybrid models to select the optimum model. To fully assess the generalisation ability of the proposed ESNCNN, additional experiments are performed over electricity consumption datasets, which reveal an extensive decrease in error rates compared to other state-of-the-art approaches. Our model therefore represents a new paradigm for finding an energy equilibrium between grid and energy production resources using a single ESNCNN platform. Our results indicate a substantial reduction in the error rates over the RE dataset (MSE (5.01%), MAE (5.49%), and RMSE (3.76%)) and the electricity consumption dataset (MSE (5.37%), MAE (7.63%), RMSE (0.047%), and MBE (1.2%)).

Modern utility grid is experiencing a transition from conservative centralized generation structure to a more distributed and decentralized structure. To achieve this transition, decentralized energy sources and loads must be seamlessly integrated and isolated from main grid structure. Realization of one such approach is termed as “Microgrid”. Microgrids (MGs) are a source of clean, efficient, and an economical way to integrating renewable energy sources and loads to the main grid. Higher penetration levels of MG would lead to significant perturbations with time periods being lower than conventional dynamic responses. This may pose problems of stable operation for the entire utility grid. For addressing this problem, this paper gives an in-depth literature review on the different control structure of MGs. As control dynamics required vary significantly, depending upon the integrated source, connected loads and ratings of the MG, it is important to understand the different structures of MG. Thus, categorization of MG based on different criteria such as distributed energy resources (DERs), type of distribution systems, modes of operation, and types of communication links used are first studied. As modern control structures are layered to achieve dynamic responses at different time constants, hierarchical controls are implemented. To address this concern, different levels of hierarchical controls are also discussed along with the control strategies of integrating various renewable energy resources in MGs. Different methods of controls are analyzed and assessed in each category and the major issues faced in the current infrastructure are noted. As the grid is moving towards optimal design of microgrid structures this manuscript reviews a number of optimization techniques along with their benefits and drawbacks.

Sportswear textile is the interface between consumers, clothing and the environment in conjunction with human physiology. In this study, multi-response optimization of sensorial comfort properties of terry and fleece knitted sportswear fabrics was planned by varying areal densities (GSM) and fiber content under Taguchi-based gray rational technique. The L36 Taguchi orthogonal array was used to develop thirty-six samples out of which 18 samples were washed in order to determine the effect of washing, areal density and fiber content on sensorial comfort of fabrics. From the results it was revealed that washing process caused positive influence on crease recovery rate, smoothness score, and resilience while slight reduction in drapability and softness was observed after washing process. It was found that as the polyester content was increased from 20 to 40% the sensory characteristics of both terry and fleece fabrics were increased. Similarly, the areal density of fabric also caused significant influence on sensory attributes of clothing comfort. Based on Taguchi gray rational optimization, the optimum fabric parameters were found to be terry fabric, after wash, 240 GSM and 60/40 cotton: polyester content for simultaneously achieving good sensorial comfort properties for sportswear fabric.

All the surgical bandages, extracorporeal devices, and prosthetic implants that we use today are the product of textiles. Because they conform well to the body and feel good against the skin. Woven, non-woven, and knitted are only textile fabric construction methods. Among all, the knitted structures are more breathable and simpler to produce. In the previous two decades, knitting technology has advanced, now it is simple to create customized flexible and cost-effective biomedical devices. Knitted structures are increasingly used in implantable textiles like hernia and heart patches etc. due to their comfort, optimal strength, and ability to ravel from the last loop. The porous structure of knitted fabrics is particularly well suited for the transport of drugs. Since the knitted pattern, yarn effect, and dimensional parameters of fabric are all displayed in the 3D simulation software like Apex-lll and M-1, there is no longer any need to use actual fabric for quality control purposes, which greatly aids in reducing fabric waste. This article offers recent research on knitted fabrics including their advantages, disadvantages and future solutions that could be achieved by using advanced knitting manufacturing technologies. In addition, it calls attention to the significance of knitted structure in biomedical applications which may motivate further research into materials of this kind in the future.

Soil and air pollution caused by heavy metals and limestone dust are prevalent in urban environments and they are an alarming threat to the environment and humans. This study was designed to investigate the changes in morphological and physiological traits of three urban tree species seedlings (Bombax ceiba, Conocarpus lancifolius, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis) under the individual as well as synergetic effects of heavy metal lead (Pb) and limestone dust toxicities. The tree species were grown under controlled environmental conditions with nine treatments consisting of three levels of dust (0, 10, and 20 g) and three levels of Pb contaminated water irrigation (0, 5, and 10 mg L−1). The results depicted that the growth was maximum in T1 and minimum in T9 for all selected tree species. B. ceiba performed better under the same levels of Pb and limestone dust pollution as compared with the other two tree species. The B. ceiba tree species proved to be the most tolerant to Pb and limestone pollution by efficiently demolishing oxidative bursts by triggering SOD, POD, CAT, and proline contents under different levels of lead and dust pollution. The photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, evapotranspiration rate, and transpiration rate were negatively influenced in all three tree species in response to different levels of lead and dust applications. The photosynthetic rate was 1.7%, 3.1%, 7.0%, 11.03%, 16.2%, 23.8%, 24.8%, and 30.7%, and the stomatal conductance was 5%, 10.5%, 23.5%, 40%, 50.01%, 61.5%, 75%, and 90.9%, greater in T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, and T9 plants of B. ceiba, respectively, as compared to T1. Based on the findings, among these three tree species, B. ceiba is strongly recommended for planting in heavy metal and limestone dust-polluted areas followed by E. camaldulensis and C. lancifolius due to their better performance and efficient dust and heavy metal-scavenging capability.

This study presents optimization of dyeing variables for dyeing 100% cotton fabric with two novel bifunctional reactive dyes D-1 and D-2. These dyes have sulfatovinylsulfone and monochlorotriazine functional moieties. The impact of different variables, including dyeing temperature, salt concentration, and alkali, was investigated and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). In spite of an exploring structural difference between both of these dyes, the dyeing temperature was optimized at the same value (61.68°C). The optimized conditions of salt (43.33 g/L) and alkali (29.50 g/L) for D-1 were resulted in 72.29% (±3) of exhaustion and 67.45% (±3) fixation. Similarly, D-2 showed 69% (±3) of exhaustion and 62.5% (±3) fixation at optimum value of salt (44.05 g/L) and alkali (33.87 g/L) concentration. Results showed better fixation and exhaustion of D-1 than dye D-2 which may be attributed to its more structural planarity and lower steric hindrance. The different fastness behaviors of dyes were found good to excellent for both dyes. The results attained were useful and suitable for commercial dyeing processes.

This paper investigates the development of fabric materials using several blends of inherently fire-resistant (FR) fibers and various knitted structures. The samples are evaluated with respect to their performance and comfort-related properties. Inherently fire-resistant fibers, e.g., Nomex, Protex, carbon and FR viscose, were used to develop different structures of knitted fabrics. Cross-miss, cross-relief, and vertical tubular structures were knitted by using optimum fiber blend proportions and combinations of stitches. Several important aspects of the fabric samples were investigated, e.g., their physical, mechanical and serviceability performance. Thermo-physiological and tactile/touch-related comfort properties were evaluated in addition to flame resistance performance. An analysis of mechanical performance indicated that the knitted structure has a significant influence on the tensile strength, bursting strength and pilling resistance. The cross-relief structure proved to be the strongest followed by the cross-miss and vertical tubular structures. The FR station suits made from 70:30 Protex/Nomex exhibited the best combination of tensile and bursting strength; therefore, this material is recommended for making a stable and durable station suit. Interestingly, it was also concluded from the experimental study that knitted samples with a cross-relief structure exhibit the best fire-resistance performance. Fiber blends of 70:30 Protex/Nomex and 70:30 Nomex/carbon were found to be optimum in terms of overall performance. The best flame resistance was achieved with Nomex:carbon fiber blends. These results were confirmed with vertical flammability tests, TGA, DTGA and cone calorimetry analysis. The optimization of blend composition as well as knitting structure/architecture is a crucial finding toward designing the best FR station suit in terms of mechanical, dimensional, thermal, thermo-physiological and flame resistance performance.