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Ethnopharmacological relevance: Aconitum tanguticum (Maxim.) Stapf (ATS) is a rare Tibetan medicinal plant that belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. This herb is mainly distributed in the high-altitude areas of Qinghai, Gansu provinces, and Tibetan Autonomous Region in China. In Tibetan medicine, ATS is mainly used to treat lung inflammation, hepatitis, gastrointestinal diseases, influenza, fever caused by infectious diseases, food poisoning, snake and scorpion bites, and yellow water disease. ATS has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and other pharmacological effects, according to recent research. It is welltolerated by individuals from diverse ethnic groups and has a long history of use in Tibetan medicine. Aim of the study: This study investigated the preventive effects of ATS alcoholic extract on acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and aimed to elucidate its possible mechanism of action. Materials and methods: Alveolar epithelial cells A549 and specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 mice were induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish ALI models both in vivo and in vitro and to explore the pharmacological effects and therapeutic mechanisms of ATS. Results: ATS down-regulated the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors NF-κB p65, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8, inhibited the release of reactive oxygen species, inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition caused by sustained cell injury, promoted the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway, reduced the degree of oxidative stress in vivo, and inhibited the production of proteins associated with LPS-induced ferroptosis. Conclusion: The Tibetan medicine ATS reduced pulmonary haemorrhage and oedema in ALI mice, alleviated the degree of lung tissue lesions, inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors and apoptosis, and plays a preventive role against acute lung injury in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The current study was conducted to assess the impact of market available probiotic containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG bacteria on the growth performance and morphometric characters of grass carp for 60 days. A total of 120 fish fingerlings of mean weight 2.95±0.27g were randomly distributed into four experimental groups having three replicates (n=10/aquarium) and fed with four experimental diets i.e., D1 (commercial fish feed without probiotics as control), D2, D3 and D4 (commercial fish feed with addition of 2g, 4g and 6g Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG/kg respectively) @ 5% of their body weight. Growth performance was determined in terms of final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), percent weight gain (%WG), average daily weight gain (AWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survival rate (SR) of fingerlings. Morphometric traits were measured including total length (TL), standard length (SL), fork length (FL), head length (HL), eye diameter (ED), dorsal fin length (DFL), pectoral fin length (PFL), pelvic fin length (PvFL), anal fin length (AFL) and caudal fin length (CFL). The highest FBW (14.20±0.08g), WG (11.25±0.08g), AWG (0.18±0.00g), SGR (2.61±0.05% day-1), %WG (381.340±14.40g), and SR (100%) and lowest FCR (1.94±0.00) were recorded in D4 (P< 0.05) followed by D3, D2 and D1. Fish fed with probiotics showed improved (P<0.05) morphometric traits and highest TL(15.19±0.29cm), SL(13.17±0.40cm), FL(14.04±0.28cm), HL(1.76±0.04cm), ED(0.62±0.04cm), DFL(1.82±0.04cm), PFL(1.43±0.04cm), PvFL(1.36±0.05cm), AFL(1.41±0.09cm) and CFL(1.82±0.04cm) was observed in D4. The result of this study demonstrated the importance of commercial probiotic as feed additives containing L. rhamnosus GG to improve the growth, survival rate and morphometric parameters of grass carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Rumi's ideas have been widely recognized in Western psychology, only little scholarly attention has been paid to his notion of mental health. Therefore, this article aims to describe the ideas of mental health depicted in Rumi's thought. This article also presents the contribution of Rumi's thoughts to psychotherapy practices. By engaging critically primary and secondary sources on Rumi's works and other literature about his thoughts, this study shows that Rumi offers three dimensions of mental health: spiritual, cognitive, and emotional. These dimensions of Rumi's mental health concept help us better understand and apply psychotherapy practices, including logotherapy, mindfulness, and cognitive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of family social support on student resilience and self-regulated learning (SRL), as well as the role of SRL as a mediator for Indonesian and Turkish students. This quantitative method used three research scales to answer the research questions: resilience, family social support, and self-regulated learning. The study included 606 Indonesian respondents and 504 Turkish respondents. In this study, the researchers used a structural equation model based on partial least squares to perform data analysis. The results showed that Indonesian students had a higher average academic resilience score than Turkish students. Turkish students' family social support scores were higher than Indonesian students. The bootstrapping method demonstrated a positive indirect effect of SRL on the relationship between family social support and academic resilience. Hence, SRL is a good variable that connects family social support with academic resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian fertilization is a complex and highly regulated process that has garnered significant attention, particularly with advancements in assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). The fusion of egg and sperm involves a sequence of molecular and cellular events, including capacitation, the acrosome reaction, adhesion, and membrane fusion. Critical genetic factors, such as IZUMO1, JUNO (also known as FOLR4), CD9, and several others, have been identified as essential mediators in sperm–egg recognition and membrane fusion. Additionally, glycoproteins such as ZP3 within the zona pellucida are crucial for sperm binding and triggering the acrosome reaction. Recent gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9 and conditional knockout models, have facilitated the functional annotation of genes such as SPAM1 and ADAM family members, further elucidating their roles in capacitation and adhesion. Furthermore, the integration of CRISPR-Cas9 with omics technologies, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and lipidomics, has unlocked new avenues for identifying previously unknown genetic players and pathways involved in fertilization. For instance, transcriptomics can uncover gene expression profiles during gamete maturation, while proteomics identifies key protein interactions critical for processes such as capacitation and the acrosome reaction. Lipidomics adds another dimension by revealing how membrane composition influences gamete fusion. Together, these tools enable the discovery of novel genes, pathways, and molecular mechanisms involved in fertility, providing insights that were previously unattainable. These approaches not only deepen our molecular understanding of fertility mechanisms but also hold promise for refining diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions for infertility. This review summarizes the current molecular insights into genes orchestrating fertilization and highlights cutting-edge methodologies that propel the field toward novel discoveries. By integrating these findings, this review aims to provide valuable knowledge for clinicians, researchers, and technologists in the field of reproductive biology and assisted reproductive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is an important medical condition characterized by the accumulation of blood in the subdural space. Several methods have been explored, including surgical intervention and administration of tranexamic acid, which is a conservative treatment option. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid in CSDH management. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed according to the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. This study included cohort and randomized controlled trials involving adults with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) who were treated with intravenous tranexamic acid. The primary outcome measures were recurrence and adverse events. Results: Six studies encompassing 2024 participants were included. Studies have shown that tranexamic acid reduced recurrence rates (OR, 0.32; 95% CI: 0.27–0.38, p = 0.16; I2 = 0%), although the result was non-significant. However, the analysis of adverse events indicated a moderate level of heterogeneity (OR, 1.14; 95% CI: 0.60–2.15, p = 0.07; I2 = 57%), suggesting a potential safety concern. Conclusion: In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests tranexamic acid (TXA) may reduce chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) recurrence, though significance varied across studies. Adverse effects with TXA were similar to controls. Larger trials are needed to confirm TXA's role in CSDH management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of breast cancer treatment, the immunotherapy involving natural killer (NK) cells is increasingly highlighting its distinct potential and significance. Members of the interleukin (IL) family play pivotal regulatory roles in the growth, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis of NK cells, and are central to their anti-tumor activity. These cytokines enhance the ability of NK cells to recognize and eliminate tumor cells by binding to specific receptors and activating downstream signaling pathways. Furthermore, interleukins do not function in isolation; the synergistic or antagonistic interactions between different interleukins can drive NK cells toward various functional pathways, ultimately leading to diverse outcomes for breast cancer patients. This paper reviews the intricate relationship between NK cells and interleukins, particularly within the breast cancer tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we summarize the latest clinical studies and advancements in NK cell therapy for breast cancer, along with the potential applications of interleukin signaling in these therapies. In conclusion, this article underscores the critical role of NK cells and interleukin signaling in breast cancer treatment, providing valuable insights and a significant reference for future research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of breast cancer treatment, the immunotherapy involving natural killer (NK) cells is increasingly highlighting its distinct potential and significance. Members of the interleukin (IL) family play pivotal regulatory roles in the growth, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis of NK cells, and are central to their anti-tumor activity. These cytokines enhance the ability of NK cells to recognize and eliminate tumor cells by binding to specific receptors and activating downstream signaling pathways. Furthermore, interleukins do not function in isolation; the synergistic or antagonistic interactions between different interleukins can drive NK cells toward various functional pathways, ultimately leading to diverse outcomes for breast cancer patients. This paper reviews the intricate relationship between NK cells and interleukins, particularly within the breast cancer tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we summarize the latest clinical studies and advancements in NK cell therapy for breast cancer, along with the potential applications of interleukin signaling in these therapies. In conclusion, this article underscores the critical role of NK cells and interleukin signaling in breast cancer treatment, providing valuable insights and a significant reference for future research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of breast cancer treatment, the immunotherapy involving natural killer (NK) cells is increasingly highlighting its distinct potential and significance. Members of the interleukin (IL) family play pivotal regulatory roles in the growth, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis of NK cells, and are central to their anti-tumor activity. These cytokines enhance the ability of NK cells to recognize and eliminate tumor cells by binding to specific receptors and activating downstream signaling pathways. Furthermore, interleukins do not function in isolation; the synergistic or antagonistic interactions between different interleukins can drive NK cells toward various functional pathways, ultimately leading to diverse outcomes for breast cancer patients. This paper reviews the intricate relationship between NK cells and interleukins, particularly within the breast cancer tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we summarize the latest clinical studies and advancements in NK cell therapy for breast cancer, along with the potential applications of interleukin signaling in these therapies. In conclusion, this article underscores the critical role of NK cells and interleukin signaling in breast cancer treatment, providing valuable insights and a significant reference for future research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) are considered essential skills in the modern era, encompassing the abilities to think critically, analytically, and creatively and to solve problems. HOTS is crucial to understanding cultural heritage, literature, and Islamic thought in Arabic language learning. This study aims to gather and review information from various research studies that discuss HOTS in Indonesia using content analysis methods on articles published in Science and Technology Index (SINTA) accredited Arabic language education journals from 2019 to 2023. This research addresses questions about HOTS research trends in terms of the number of studies per year, the accreditation of journals publishing HOTS articles, types of research, research subjects, data collection instruments, and data analysis techniques used by researchers. The results of this study show an increasing trend in HOTS research. Researchers tend to prefer publishing their findings in accredited journals to enhance the credibility and exposure of their research. Qualitative research designs dominate, with documentation as the primary data collection instrument. Practice questions in textbooks and exam questions containing HOTS dominate the research objects. This impacts the data analysis techniques, with content analysis methods providing a clear framework for exploring meanings and deeply explaining the data context. Based on the research findings, future studies are expected to consider students as research subjects, explore strategies, models, and teaching methods to enhance students' HOTS, increase the variety of research types, and select data analysis techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ungulates held in captivity often face challenges in their health and well-being due to the constraints of their artificial environments. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as blood sampling, can induce stress and discomfort in these animals, potentially affecting the accuracy of results and overall welfare. This study explores the protocol establishment of urinalysis as a stress-free alternative diagnostic technique for assessing health and stress levels in captive ungulates. Ethical considerations were followed throughout the study as samples of captive animals, including Zebra, Mouflon, Punjab Urial, and cattle, were collected from Lahore Zoological Garden, Lahore Safari, and Jallo Forest and Wildlife Park. Urinalysis utilized non-invasive techniques to determine the urinary standard values in ungulates, including the urinary proteins. Results indicated that urinalysis provided reliable indicators of health and stress levels in captive ungulates without causing additional stress. The reference standards for urine proteins, specific gravity, creatinine, and urine protein to creatinine ratios have been provided as 13.39 mg/dL,1.009, 57.89 mg/dL, and 0.23. Bradford Assay revealed a concentration of proteins in cattle, Punjab Urial, Mouflons, and zebra with a mean value of 58.56 µg/ml, 40.81 µg/ml, 48.39 µg/ml, and 40.34 µg/ml, respectively. It has been hypothesized that the presence of these concentrations of proteins in captive animals might be responsible for renal dysfunction. Furthermore, urinalysis may be an effective instrument for assessing renal activity and alterations in physiological conditions in ungulates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advances in sports testing and measurement are expanding, but there is a notable gap in research focused on physical conditioning tests for athletes with disabilities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of footwork ability test technology for para badminton athletes. A quantitative descriptive design was employed, involving trials with both the footwork ability test technology and conventional methods. The subjects were National Para Badminton Athletes of Malaysia, selected through purposive sampling for their relevance to the research objectives. The study utilized a footwork ability test device, whose validity and reliability were assessed in comparison to conventional tests. Data were analyzed using percentage calculation techniques to determine effectiveness and error rates. Results indicate that the footwork ability test technology achieved an effectiveness rate of 97.1%, demonstrating superior performance with a lower error rate than conventional tests. This indicates the technology's suitability for athletes with disabilities, including those categorized as lower standing, upper standing, and short stature. The findings suggest significant potential for broader application in various sports disciplines. Future research should explore the technology's adaptability to different sports and environmental conditions, contributing to more inclusive and advanced training methodologies for athletes with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable management of river systems is a serious concern, requiring vigilant monitoring of water contamination levels that could potentially threaten the ecological community. This study focused on the evaluation of water quality in the Jhelum River (JR), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and northern Punjab, Pakistan. To achieve this, 60 water samples were collected from various points within the JR Basin (JRB) and subjected to a comprehensive analysis of their physicochemical parameters. The study findings indicated that the concentrations of physicochemical parameters in the JRB water remained within safety thresholds for both drinking and irrigation water, as established by the World Health Organization and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency. These physicochemical parameters refer to various chemical and physical characteristics of the water that can have implications for both human health (drinking water) and agricultural practices (irrigation water). The spatial variations throughout the river course distinguished between the upstream, midstream, and downstream sections. Specifically, the downstream section exhibited significantly higher values for physicochemical parameters and a broader range, highlighting a substantial decline in its quality. Significant disparities in mean values and ranges were evident, particularly in the case of nitrates and total dissolved solids, when the downstream section was compared with its upstream and midstream counterparts. These variations indicated a deteriorating downstream water quality profile, which is likely attributable to a combination of geological and anthropogenic influences. Despite the observed deterioration in the downstream water quality, this study underscores that the JRB within the upper Indus Basin remains safe and suitable for domestic and agricultural purposes. The JRB was evaluated for various irrigation water quality indices. The principal component analysis conducted in this study revealed distinct covariance patterns among water quality variables, with the first five components explaining approximately 79% of the total variance. Recommending the continued utilization of the JRB for irrigation, we advocate for the preservation and enhancement of water quality in the downstream regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leachate generated in municipal solid waste landfills tends to have extremely elevated levels of organic and inorganic pollutants influenced by the age and variety of landfills. This research aims to conduct a comparative analysis between two landfills, Krubong Landfill Sites (KLS) and Bukit Bakri Landfill Sites (BBLS). Based on the standard limit set by the Malaysia Environment Quality Act (MEQA), the average values of the leachate parameters at KLS and BBLS were recorded. These parameters include pH (8.84 for KLS and 9.08 for BBLS), temperature (30.22°C for KLS and 30.06°C for BBLS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) (3695 mg L-1 for KLS and 11289 mg L-1 for BBLS), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) (1695 mg L-1 for KLS and 3325 mg L-1 for BBLS), and ammonia nitrogen (1107 mg L-1 for KLS and 1390 mg L-1 for BBLS). The findings of this research suggest that the age of the landfill indeed influences the characteristics of leachate and soil. KLS, being a mature landfill, demonstrated low biodegradability. On the other hand, BBLS, being a young landfill, exhibited high biodegradability. The highest heavy metal concentration in the soil sample of KLS was Barium (Ba), with 409 ppm, followed by Zirconium (Zr) at 297 ppm and Vanadium (V) at 114 ppm. For BBLS, Zirconium (Zr) and Thorium (Th) were 209 ppm, Rubidium (Rb) was detected at 86 ppm, and Chromium (Cr) was 57 ppm. In overall essence, the age of a landfill significantly influences its characteristics. Newly established landfills tend to contain a greater quantity of organic matter compared to older ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educationists are focusing to introduce changes in the pedagogy and create new paradigm which suits the globalized generation. This study has compared the effects of traditional instructional model, problem solving model and 5E instructional model on 9th grade Secondary School students' achievements in the subject of general science. Objectives of the study were to compare the effects of these instructional models and to explore the effect on gender difference. The experimental design, 'pretest posttest control group design' was used. By adopting purposive sampling technique, 90 girls and 90 boys were selected. These 180 students were further distributed into two control and four experimental groups, comprising of 30 students in each group. The results revealed that these models yielded better achievement results. While, no significant difference was observed among male and female students. It was recommended to enhance competency of teachers by equipping them with innovative instructional methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female participation in economic development is crucial for female empowerment. It further indicates the maturity and level of emancipation of a society. The labor market is a very significant indicator of this phenomenon. The Arab labor market has its unique features. This paper aims to study the prevailing trends in the Arab labor market. The paper has included in its scope women's unemployment both for educated and uneducated women in the Arab world. It also brings into its ambit aspects of supply and demand. It discusses the various constraints in this context. The paper is able to locate various factors responsible for the present state of female labor participation in the Arab world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement Learning (RL) has developed as a highly effective approach for creating Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) and solving problems that require sequential decision-making. Reinforcement learning has achieved some impressive achievements in recent years, surpassing humans in a variety of areas. According to recent research, Deep Learning (DL) techniques are used with techniques of reinforcement learning to recognize meaningful identification for a problem regarding high dimensional raw data input and enough to solve Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). In addition to the main concepts, this paper highlights the intuition behind the use of RL and Deep QNetwork (DQN) over other algorithms. In this research paper, different methods and details for dealing with reinforcement learning difficulties have been presented. Finally, various difficulties of reinforcement learning have been addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exhibits a greater capacity for cadmium (Cd) absorption compared to other cereal crops, leading to elevated daily Cd intake, and posing a significant threat to public health. For the mitigation of Cd stress in sustainable and environmentally friendly way, a pot study was designed by using exogenous application of various biostimulants, i.e. Nigella sativa and Ocimum sanctum extracts: 0%, 10%, and 20% in combination with the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) using 0 and 5 mg kg under various levels of Cd stress (i.e. 0, 5, 10, and 15 mg kg soil). Results revealed that Cd stress significantly reduced the seed emergence, growth, root, and allometric characters and yield-related parameters of wheat crops. The most observable reduction was documented in wheat plants exposed to a higher Cd concentration (15 mg kg), followed by the lower Cd level (control). The combined application of bio-stimulants and EDTA minimized the negative impacts of Cd stress. The highest increase in seedling emergence (5.44%), leaf area (50.60%), number of tillers (31.02%), grain yield per plant (24.28%), biological yield (13.97%), and decrease in Cd levels in grains (40%) was noticed where 20% foliar application of N. sativa and 10% of O. sanctum biostimulants were done using 5 mg kg of soil-applied EDTA. This intervention demonstrated a notable reduction in Cd-induced negative effects, highlighting the potential of these substances in promoting sustainable wheat cultivation in contaminated environments. Moreover, it is an eco-friendly and approachable method at the field level able to ensure food safety. Graphic Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatherapy is a popular enrichment that reduces stress. We hypothesize that essential oils positively affect captivated carnivores to cope with stress. The solitary carnivores, namely, Asiatic Wolf, Jungle Cat, Asiatic Lion, Common Leopard, and Stripped Hyena, were studied for this purpose during the pre-enrichment, enrichment, and post-enrichment phases. The focal monitoring method was used to observe animal behaviors for 384 hours over the 2 months. The carnivores were provided sensory enrichment with essential oils: Lavandula angustifolia, Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Citrus limon Linn, and Mentha piperita Linn. The FGCs evaluated the cortisol levels by ELISA. The Asiatic wolf is found to be the most stressed carnivore among all studied animals. The efficacy order of the oils in reducing stress was found to be Lavender > Eucalyptus > Peppermint > Lemon. The frequency of stereotypic behavior and cortisol levels in these carnivores were significantly reduced with the effectiveness of essential oil. The aromatherapy reduced cortisol level values ranged from 82.6±0.927 to 46±0.707, 155±0.707 to 93.4±0.927, 385±0.710 to 289.2±1.067, 285.4±1.029 to 190±0.709 and 205.4±0.930 to 176±0.708 in Asiatic Wolf, Jungle Cat, Common Leopard, Asiatic Lion and Hyena respectively. It is concluded that essential oils and aromatherapy help alleviate stress and anxiety and improve animal behavior. Aromatherapy may be applied as short-term sensory enrichment for captive wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of DOMAIN OF UNKNOWN FUNCTION 679 membrane proteins (DMPs) have the DUF679 domain, which plays an important role in the process of plant fertilization. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to identify and analyze the DMP gene family in pepper. The location of the expression of the DMP gene family was explored according to the transient expression of Nicotiana benthamiana, and its expression patterns in different tissues and abiotic stress treatments were analyzed by qRT-PCR. A total of 17 CaDMP genes were identified from the three capsicum varieties, and sub-cellular localization prediction showed that CaDMPs were located on the cell membrane. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CaDMP5 in subgroup Ⅳ was highly homologous with haploid induction genes in Arabidopsis and maize, and its expression level in reproductive organs was significantly higher than that in other tissues, suggesting that CaDMP5 could be a candidate gene for haploid induction in pepper. The expression of CaDMPs increased to varying degrees after different stress treatments, indicating that the DMP gene plays an important role in plant growth and development. The CaDMP gene family was systematically analyzed in this study, which provided preliminary insights for the further research of Capsicum haploid breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinically, the diagnosis and treatment of cholangiocarcinoma are generally different according to the location of occurrence, and the studies rarely consider the differences between different pathological types. Cholangiocarcinomas in large- and middle-sized intrahepatic bile ducts are mostly mucinous, while in small sized bile duct are not; mucinous extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are also more common than mucinous intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. However, it is unclear whether these pathological type differences are related to the prognosis. Methods: Data of total 22509 patients was analyzed from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database out of which 22299 patients were diagnosed with common adeno cholangiocarcinoma while 210 were diagnosed with mucinous cholangiocarcinoma. Based on the propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, between these two groups' clinical, demographic, and therapeutic features were contrasted. The data were analyzed using Cox and LASSO regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Ultimately, overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) related prognostic models were established and validated in test and external datasets and nomograms were created to forecast these patients' prognosis. Results: There was no difference in prognosis between mucinous cholangiocarcinoma and adeno cholangiocarcinoma. Therefore, we constructed prognostic model and nomogram that can be used for mucinous and adeno cholangiocarcinoma at the same time. By comparing the 9 independent key characteristics i.e. Age, tumor size, the number of primary tumors, AJCC stage, Grade, lymph node status, metastasis, surgery and chemotherapy, risk scores were calculated for each individual. By integrating these two pathological types in OS and CSS prognostic models, effective prognosis prediction results could be achieved in multiple datasets (OS: AUC 0.70-0.87; CSS: AUC 0.74-0.89). Conclusion: Age, tumor size, the number of primary tumors, AJCC stage, Grade, lymph node status, metastasis, surgery and chemotherapy are the independent prognostic factors in OS or CSS of the patients with mucinous and ordinary cholangiocarcinoma. Nomogram that can be used for mucinous and adeno cholangiocarcinoma at the same time is of significance in clinical practice and management of cholangiocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of pristine and transition metal (Co, Fe, and Zr)-doped indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films fabricated via RF magnetron sputtering. The effect of transition metal doping on ITO thin films properties was comprehensively examined using numerous spectroscopic and microscopic methods such as XRD, FTIR, and SEM coupled with EDX, UV–visible and PL spectroscopy, and four-probe and J–V measurements. The cubic crystal structure of the materials was confirmed through XRD spectroscopy, while FTIR results validated the existence of chemical bonds, signified by sharp peaks at 608 cm−1 and 667 cm−1 in the fingerprint region. SEM imaging revealed a granular-like agglomerated structure, with EDX confirming the elemental composition of the samples. The incorporation of Co, Fe, and Zr ions into ITO is aimed at improving photoconductivity and the optical bandgap, with the ultimate objective of enhancing performance in photovoltaic applications. Our findings showed a significant decrease in optical transmission in the visible spectrum. The bandgap also experienced a minor decrease from 3.67 eV to 3.53 eV. Analysis of the photoluminescence spectra exhibited the majority of emission peaks in the UV region, ascribed to electronic transitions occurring via band-to-band and band-to-impurity interactions within the ITO. Electrical measurements indicated lower resistance, higher current flow, and increased carrier concentration in transition metals–doped ITO compared to the undoped ITO, with Zr-doped ITO exhibiting the highest conductivity and optimal charge flow among all dopants. These promising findings in terms of optical, structural, and electrical attributes signal the potential of these materials for photovoltaic system applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural tracts is a serious problem, contributing to soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) depletion. In this regard, the use of chemical fertilizers together with organic amendments is considered as a sustainable approach, which alters SMBC, thereby increasing nutrient availability in soil-plant ecosystems. The present study was thus conducted to examine the effects of various mixes of organic amendments both with and without chemical fertilizers (NPK) on SMBC and pea (Pisum sativum L.) growth. The following eight treatments were established: control, 100% farmyard manure (FYM), 100% compost, 50% compost + 50% FYM, 33% compost + 33% chemical fertilizers (NPK) + 33% FYM, 50% chemical fertilizers + 50% FYM, 50% compost + 50% NPK, and 100% NPK, each with three replications. Results showed that the combination of 33% compost + 33% NPK + 33% FYM (T5) had the most significant impact on plant height, number of leaves, and roots and shoots biomass. Furthermore, the combination of NPK, compost and FYM enhanced the soil organic matter and SMBC, contributing to the increased amounts of available NPK in the soil-plant systems. Based on the results, it has been concluded that 33% compost + 33% NPK, and 33% FYM improves pea productivity due to improved SMBC that contributed to increased nutrient uptake by plants. It has been suggested to the farmers that integrated nutrient management approaches must be adopted for maintaining SMBC and further sustainable crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges faced by cotton production in Pakistan, including climate change, pests and diseases, and competition from food crops. One major issue is maintaining seed purity, as cotton is often cross-pollinated. The article explores the possibility of growing cotton in Karachi, Pakistan, as it offers a mild tropical climate that allows for the advancement of three cotton generations in a single year. This can reduce the time required for breeding new cotton varieties and maintain seed purity. The article concludes that Karachi provides a great opportunity for cotton breeders, research institutes, seed companies, and other stakeholders. [Extracted from the article]

Hematochemical parameters are often used by veterinarians to assess the health status of animals. The information on blood parameters of African lions (Panthera leo) is scarce in Pakistan, this research was conducted on captive African Lions kept at Safari Zoo, Lahore to see their blood profile. The hematochemical parameters included white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), lymphocytes (LYM) count, RBCs count, platelet count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), bilirubin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined. Further, different biological, analytical and operational factors which impose significant effects on hematochemical factors were also considered to rationalize the results. Most of the values were in accordance with the mean values published in the literature, but values of few parameters e.g., hematocrit, platelet, AST, ALT, ALP and blood urea nitrogen were found different from the reference values. It was concluded that biological, analytical and operational factors as well as their respective partialities affect these values. The study contributes to the development of the normal values of hematochemical parameters of African lions kept at different Zoos of Pakistan and ultimately helps to improve their health status and conservation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is one of the most important fiber crops that plays a vital role in the textile industry. Its production has been unstable over the years due to climate change induced biotic stresses such as insects, diseases, and weeds, as well as abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, heat, and cold. Traditional breeding methods have been used to breed climate resilient cotton, but it requires a considerable amount of time to enhance crop tolerance to insect pests and changing climatic conditions. A promising strategy for improving tolerance against these stresses is genetic engineering. This review article discusses the role of genetic engineering in cotton improvement. The essential concepts and techniques include genome editing via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9), overexpression of target genes, downregulation using RNA interference (RNAi), and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). Notably, the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation has made significant contributions to using these techniques for obtaining stable transgenic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SPL gene family (for Squamosa Promoter-binding like Proteins) represents specific transcription factors that have significant roles in abiotic stress tolerance, development and the growth processes of different plants, including initiation of the leaf, branching and development of shoot and fruits. The SPL gene family has been studied in different plant species; however, its role is not yet fully explored in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). In the present study, 11 members of the CcSPL gene family were identified in C. cajan. The identified SPLs were classified into nine groups based on a phylogenetic analysis involving SPL protein sequences from C. cajan , Arabidopsis thaliana , Cicer arietinum , Glycine max , Phaseolus vulgaris , Vigna unguiculata and Arachis hypogaea. Further, the identification of gene structure, motif analysis, domain analysis and presence of cis -regulatory elements in the SPL family members were studied. Based on RNA-sequencing data, gene expression analysis was performed, revealing that CcSPL2.1, 3 and 13A were significantly upregulated for salt-tolerance and CcSPL14 and 15 were upregulated in a salt-susceptible cultivar. Real-time qPCR validation indicated that CcSPL3, 4, 6 and 13A were upregulated under salt stress conditions. Therefore, molecular docking was performed against the proteins of two highly expressed genes (CcSPL3 and CcSPL14) with three ligands: abscisic acid, gibberellic acid and indole-3-acetic acid. Afterward, their binding affinity was obtained and three-dimensional structures were predicted. In the future, our study may open avenues for harnessing CcSPL genes in pigeon pea for enhanced abiotic stress resistance and developmental traits. The pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) is a diploid legume, grown in humid and subtropic regions around the world. The gene family of Squamosa Promoter-binding like Proteins has been studied in different plant species, but is not yet fully explored in pigeon pea. The identified genes were classified into nine groups based on a phylogenetic analysis. Gene expression analysis using RNA sequencing revealed that CcSPL2.1, 3 and 13A were significantly upregulated in salt-tolerant cultivars, which could be further explored. This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SRO (Similar to RCD1) genes family is largely recognized for their importance in the growth, development, and in responding to environmental stresses. However, genome-wide identification and functional characterization of SRO genes from cotton species have not been reported so far. Results: A total of 36 SRO genes were identified from four cotton species. Phylogenetic analysis divided these genes into three groups with distinct structure. Syntenic and chromosomal distribution analysis indicated uneven distribution of GaSRO, GrSRO, GhSRO, and GbSRO genes on A2, D5 genomes, Gh-At, Gh-Dt, Gb-At, and Gb-Dt subgenomes, respectively. Gene duplication analysis revealed the presence of six duplicated gene pairs among GhSRO genes. In promoter analysis, several elements responsive to the growth, development and hormones were found in GhSRO genes, implying gene induction during cotton growth and development. Several miRNAs responsive to plant growth and abiotic stress were predicted to target 12 GhSRO genes. Organ-specific expression profiling demonstrated the roles of GhSRO genes in one or more tissues. In addition, specific expression pattern of some GhSRO genes during ovule development depicted their involvement in these developmental processes. Conclusion: The data presented in this report laid a foundation for understanding the classification and functions of SRO genes in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cotton is a strategically important fibre crop for global textile industry. It profoundly impacts several countries' industrial and agricultural sectors. Sustainable cotton production is continuously threatened by the unpredictable changes in climate, specifically high temperatures. Breeding heat-tolerant, high-yielding cotton cultivars with wide adaptability to be grown in the regions with rising temperatures is one of the primary objectives of modern cotton breeding programmes. Therefore, the main objective of the current study is to figure out the effective breeding approach to imparting heat tolerance as well as the judicious utilization of commercially significant and stress-tolerant attributes in cotton breeding. Initially, the two most notable heat-susceptible (FH-115 and NIAB Kiran) and tolerant (IUB-13 and GH-Mubarak) cotton cultivars were spotted to develop filial and backcross populations to accomplish the preceding study objectives. The heat tolerant cultivars were screened on the basis of various morphological (seed cotton yield per plant, ginning turnout percentage), physiological (pollen viability, cell membrane thermostability) and biochemical (peroxidase activity, proline content, hydrogen peroxide content) parameters. Results: The results clearly exhibited that heat stress consequently had a detrimental impact on every studied plant trait, as revealed by the ability of crossing and their backcross populations to tolerate high temperatures. However, when considering overall yield, biochemical, and physiological traits, the IUB-13 × FH-115 cross went over particularly well at both normal and high temperature conditions. Moreover, overall seed cotton yield per plant exhibited a positive correlation with both pollen viability and antioxidant levels (POD activity and proline content). Conclusions: Selection from segregation population and criteria involving pollen viability and antioxidant levels concluded to be an effective strategy for the screening of heat-tolerant cotton germplasms. Therefore, understanding acquired from this study can assist breeders identifying traits that should be prioritized in order to develop climate resilient cotton cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ovate Family Proteins (OFPs) gene family houses a class of proteins that are involved in regulating plant growth and development. To date, there is no report of the simultaneous functional characterization of this gene family in all members of U's Triangle of Brassica. Here, we retrieved a combined total of 256 OFP protein sequences and analyzed their chromosomal localization, gene structure, conserved protein motif domains, and the pattern of cis-acting regulatory elements. The abundance of light-responsive elements like G-box, MRE, and GT1 motif suggests that OFPs are sensitive to the stimuli of light. The protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed that OFP05 and its orthologous genes were involved in regulating the process of transcriptional repression through their interaction with homeodomain transcription factors like KNAT and BLH. The presence of domains like DNA binding 2 and its superfamily speculated the involvement of OFPs in regulating gene expression. The biotic and abiotic stress, and the tissue-specific expression analysis of the RNA-seq datasets revealed that some of the genes such as BjuOFP30, and BnaOFP27, BolOFP11, and BolOFP10 were highly upregulated in seed coat at the mature stage and roots under various chemical stress conditions respectively which suggests their crucial role in plant growth and development processes. Experimental validation of prominent BnaOFPs such as BnaOFP27 confirmed their involvement in regulating gene expression under salinity, heavy metal, drought, heat, and cold stress. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis also sheds light on the involvement of OFPs in regulating plant growth and development. These findings have the potential to serve as a forerunner for future studies in terms of functionally diverse analysis of the OFP gene family in Brassica and other plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop globally and regarded sensitive to water stress. Exogenous application of micronutrients such as zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) significantly improves abiotic stress tolerance of crop plants. Therefore, the current study assessed the effects of combined Zn and Si application on the growth, gas exchange, and yield-related traits of maize plants subjected to water stress. The plants were grown under either well-watered (75% water holding capacity - WW) or water stress (50% water holding capacity - DS) conditions. Three soil-applied Zn levels [i.e., 0 (Zn0), 10 (Zn10) and 20 (Zn20) mg kg−1] and two soil-applied Si levels [i.e., 0 (Si0) and 100 (Si100) mg kg−1] were included in the study. Increased leaf area, root length, number of roots per plant, chlorophyll contents, stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthetic rates, plant height, cob length, number of grains per cob, 100-grain weight, and grain and biological yields were recorded for the plants grown under WW conditions supplemented with Zn10 and Si100. Conversely, the plants grown without Zn and Si supplementation under DS displayed the lowest values for these traits. The supplementation of Zn10 and Si100 considerably enhanced growth, gas exchange, and yield-related traits of maize plants cultivated under DS compared to their no application. In conclusion, soil application of Zn10 and Si100 improved growth, gas exchange, and yield-related characteristics of maize plants under DS; therefore, maize should be supplemented with these nutrients to improve yield and economic returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size of a resolving set R of a non-trivial connected graph Γ of order n ≥ 2 is the number of edges in the induced subgraph < R >. The minimum cardinality of a resolving set of size k of graph Γ is called the metric dimension of size k, denoted by β(k) (Γ). We study the existence of resolving sets of size k in some families of graphs and investigate their properties. We find bounds on the metric dimension of size k of a graph Γ. We give the necessary condition for the metric dimension of size k and size (k + 1) of a graph Γ, to satisfy the inequality β(k+1)(Γ)-β(k) (Γ) ≤ 1. We will disprove a conjecture on bounds of the metric dimension of size k. For every positive integers k, l, and n such that k + 1 ≤ l ≤ n, we give a realizable result of a graph Γ of order n and l = β(k) (Γ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop globally and regarded sensitive to water stress. Exogenous application of micronutrients such as zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) significantly improves abiotic stress tolerance of crop plants. Therefore, the current study assessed the effects of combined Zn and Si application on the growth, gas exchange, and yield-related traits of maize plants subjected to water stress. The plants were grown under either well-watered (75% water holding capacity - WW) or water stress (50% water holding capacity - DS) conditions. Three soil-applied Zn levels [i.e., 0 (Zn0), 10 (Zn10) and 20 (Zn20) mg kg−1] and two soil-applied Si levels [i.e., 0 (Si0) and 100 (Si100) mg kg−1] were included in the study. Increased leaf area, root length, number of roots per plant, chlorophyll contents, stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthetic rates, plant height, cob length, number of grains per cob, 100-grain weight, and grain and biological yields were recorded for the plants grown under WW conditions supplemented with Zn10 and Si100. Conversely, the plants grown without Zn and Si supplementation under DS displayed the lowest values for these traits. The supplementation of Zn10 and Si100 considerably enhanced growth, gas exchange, and yield-related traits of maize plants cultivated under DS compared to their no application. In conclusion, soil application of Zn10 and Si100 improved growth, gas exchange, and yield-related characteristics of maize plants under DS; therefore, maize should be supplemented with these nutrients to improve yield and economic returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of accurate and reliable solar radiation data is very important to explore solar energy potential for commercial power plants. This study presents the validation of global horizontal irradiance (GHI) from McClear model under clear-sky and all-sky conditions against measured data for complex topography of Pakistan. The McClear GHI shows good agreement with measured GHI under clear-sky conditions for nine stations and good correlation was achieved with correlation coefficient ranging from 0.972 to 0.992. The relative mean bias error (rMBE) and relative root mean square error (rRMSE) using GHI data having temporal resolution of 10 minutes was ranging from −2.3 to 6.4% and 3.6 to 7.8% respectively. A seasonal statistical analysis shows variation of errors during seasons, significant variation of errors was observed for monthly statistical analysis, the overall errors for all stations were maximum in January and minimum in June. Cloud fraction (CF) from three state-of-the-art datasets (ERA-5, MERRA-2 and MODIS) was incorporated into McClear clear-sky GHI (GHIMC,clear-sky) to derive commercially resourceful all-sky GHI data (GHIMC,all-sky) using a noval approach. The rMBE of GHIMC,all-sky using CF from ERA-5, MERRA-2 and MODIS ranges from 0.1 to 8.4%, 0.1 to 14.1% and 0.2 to 16.8% respectively. The application of ERA-5 cloud fraction shows good correlation with correlation coefficient ranging from 0.871 to 0.966 and gave best results as rMBE for all stations is less than 4% except one station, the long-term GHIMC,all-sky data can be used for the solar resource assessment of Pakistan in the absence of measured data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. (Shisham) is a timber-producing species of economic, cultural, and medicinal importance in the Indian subcontinent. In the past few decades, Shisham's dieback disease caused by the fungus Botryodiplodia theobromae has become an evolving issue in the subcontinent endangering its survival. To gain insights into this issue, a standard transcriptome assembly was deployed to assess the response of D. sissoo at the transcriptomic level under the stress of B. theobromae infection. For RNA isolation, the control and infected leaf tissue samples were taken from 1-year-old greenhouse-grown D. sissoo plants after 20 days of stem-base spore inoculation. cDNA synthesis was performed from these freshly isolated RNA samples that were then sent for sequencing. About 18.14 Gb (Giga base) of data was generated using the BGISEQ-500 sequencing platform. In terms of Unigenes, 513,821 were identified after a combined assembly of all samples and then filtering the abundance. The total length of Unigenes, their average length, N50, and GC-content were 310,523,693 bp, 604 bp, 1,101 bp, and 39.95% respectively. The Unigenes were annotated using 7 functional databases i.e., 200,355 (NR: 38.99%), 164,973 (NT: 32.11%), 123,733 (Swissprot: 24.08%), 142,580 (KOG: 27.75%), 139,588 (KEGG: 27.17%), 99,752 (GO: 19.41%), and 137,281 (InterPro: 26.72%). Furthermore, the Transdecoder detected 115,762 CDS. In terms of SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) markers, 62,863 of them were distributed on 51,508 Unigenes and on the predicted 4673 TF (Transcription Factor) coding Unigenes. A total of 16,018 up- and 19,530 down-regulated Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) were also identified. Moreover, the Plant Resistance Genes (PRGs) had a count of 9230. We are hopeful that in the future, these identified Unigenes, SSR markers, DEGs and PRGs will provide the prerequisites for managing Shisham dieback disease, its breeding, and in tree improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research delves into the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) phase diagram in the temperature T and quark chemical potential μ plane. We use a unique confining contact interaction effective model of quark dynamics that maintains the QCD symmetry intact. By embedding the model in a Schwinger–Dyson equation framework within a Landau gauge rainbow-ladder-like truncation, we derive the gap equation. In order to accurately regulate the equation, we utilize the Schwinger optimal time regularization scheme. We further derive the effective potential of the model by integrating the gap equation over the dynamical mass, which along with the confining length scale serve as parameters for the chiral and confinement–deconfinement phase transitions, respectively. A crossover transition is observed at low μ and above a critical value of the temperature T c , whilst a first-order phase transition is found for low T at high density. The location of the critical endpoint is estimated at (μ E / T c,0 = 1.6 , T E / T c,0 = 0.42) , which falls within the range of other QCD effective model predictions. T c,0 = 208 MeV is the critical temperature at vanishing μ . Screening effects of the medium which dilute the strength of the effective coupling are considered by including in the framework the vacuum polarization contribution due to quarks at high temperatures. The critical endpoint is then located at (μ c E / T c ≈ 2.6 , T c E / T c ≈ 0.57) , which suggests the need for a deeper analysis of the screening effects on models of this kind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drought is one of the limiting factors for quality and quantity of cotton lint in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Therefore, development of drought tolerant cotton genotypes have become indispensable. The identification of drought tolerant genotypes is pre-requisite to develop high yielding cultivars suitable for drought affected areas. Methods: Forty upland cotton accessions were selected on the basis of their adaptability and yield. The collected germplasm accessions were evaluated at seedling stage on the basis of morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters. The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions in greenhouse where these genotypes were sown under different levels of drought stress by following factorial under completely randomized design. The data were collected at seedling stages for root and shoot lengths, relative leaf water content, excised leaf water losses, peroxidase content and hydrogen peroxide concentrations in leaf tissues. Results: The biometrical analysis revealed that germplasm is significantly varied for recorded parameters, likewise interaction of genotypes and water stress was also significantly varied. The cotton germplasm was categorized in eight clusters based on response to water stress. The genotype Cyto-124 exhibited lowest H2O2 content under drought conditions, minimum excised leaf water loss under stress environment was exhibited by genotypes Ali Akber-802 and CEMB-33. Overall, on the basis of morphological and biochemical traits, SL-516 and Cyto-305 were found to be drought tolerant. Genotypes 1852 − 511, Stoneville 15–17 and Delta Pine-55 showed low values for root length, peroxidase activity and higher value for H2O2 contents. On the basis of these finding, these genotypes were declared as drought susceptible. Conclusion: The categorization of cotton germplasm indicating the differential response of various parameters under the control and drought stress conditions. The recorded parameters particularly relative leaf water contents and biochemical assays could be utilized to screen large number of germplasm of cotton for water deficit conditions. Besides, the drought tolerant genotypes identified in this research can be utilized in cotton breeding programs for the development of improved cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the rising problems in the whole world in wild animals. As we know, countries like India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, etc. are considered the home of many endangered wildlife species like the Asian elephant, Rhinoceros, Markhor, Snow Leopard, and Bengal tiger. These countries carry 44% of the burden of TB in the form of human TB, livestock TB, and wildlife TB. The TB pathogen has a wide host range, therefore it is of great importance and need of the hour to work under one health concept to construct a composite TB control program in the medical as well as veterinary fields. Moreover, further research is yet to be made on this challenging arena. Globally, many studies have been conducted to discover the types of tuberculosis in wild animals. Recent studies have declared that Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not only the causative agent of tuberculosis in wild animals but other mycobacterium species are also a growing threat. It was demonstrated that a wide variety of mycobacterium strains are present in the whole region, particularly in developing countries pointing out its endemic distribution. Tuberculosis in the free-ranging Rhinoceros in South Africa, Nepal, and Sri Lanka is associated with the M. bovis and M. orygis that also signify the threats of TB in other wild animal species including chances of unknown maintenance host. Some other research has revealed that there is a rising challenge of TB in the elephants in different countries of the World. Being a major reservoir host of tuberculosis, wildlife has become a conservation and public health challenge all over the World. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the main source of natural fiber in the global textile industry, and thus its fiber quality and yield are important parameters. In this study, comparative transcriptomics was used to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) due to its ability to effectively screen candidate genes during the developmental stages of cotton fiber. However, research using this method is limited, particularly on fiber development. The aim of this study was to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the whole period of fiber development and the differences in transcriptional levels. Methods: Comparative transcriptomes are used to analyze transcriptome data and to screen for differentially expressed genes. STEM and WGCNA were used to screen for key genes involved in fiber development. qRT-PCR was performed to verify gene expression of selected DEGs and hub genes. Results: Two accessions of upland cotton with extreme phenotypic differences, namely EZ60 and ZR014121, were used to carry out RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on fiber samples from different fiber development stages. The results identified 704, 376, 141, 269, 761, and 586 genes that were upregulated, and 1,052, 476, 355, 259, 702, and 847 genes that were downregulated at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days post anthesis, respectively. Similar expression patterns of DEGs were monitored using short time-series expression miner (STEM) analysis, and associated pathways of DEGs within profiles were investigated. In addition, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified five key modules in fiber development and screened 20 hub genes involved in the development of fibers. Discussion: Through the annotation of the genes, it was found that the excessive expression of resistance-related genes in the early fiber development stages affects the fiber yield, whereas the sustained expression of cell elongationrelated genes is critical for long fibers. This study provides new information that can be used to improve fibers in newly developed upland cotton genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes after complete and early micro-incision vitrectomy surgery in patients with postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Vitreoretina Department, Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul 2017 to Dec 2020. Methodology: Thirty (30) patients diagnosed with post-operative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery were included in the study. A vitreous sample was taken and sent for bacterial and fungal culture. A complete vitrectomy was performed after induction of posterior vitreous detachment. The peripheral vitreous base was trimmed, followed by intravitreal antibiotics. Patients were followed up on the first post-operative day and followed up at one week, month and three months. At three months follow-ups, the best corrected visual acuity was noted. Success was defined as best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of >6/60, while failure was defined as BCVA <6/60 three months after vitrectomy. Results: Mean age of patients was 61.33±14.38 years. Average time from onset of symptoms of endophthalmitis to vitrectomy was 13.46±9.99 days. Pre-operatively one patient had BCVA >6/60, and 29 patients had BCVA <6/60, whereas post-operatively, 25 patients had BCVA>6/60, and 5 patients had BCVA<6/60. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Complete and early vitrectomy is safe and effective in managing post-operative endophthalmitis with better visual outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]