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This study was aimed at exploring the lived experiences of out-of-school children engaged in begging and scavenging in Pakistan. There is a dearth of existing literature in the context of Pakistan on out of school children who are engaged in begging, scavenging and other hazardous activities. The research also offers an extensive understanding of the responsible factors and possible consequences of engagement in these activities on out-of-school children. In this qualitative study, 21 out-of-school children of district Swat Pakistan aged 5 to 18 years, comprised of both boys and girls engaged in such activities were recruited through a purposive sampling. The respondents were interviewed using an interview guide, and the data was analyzed through a thematic analysis technique. The study was guided by poverty theories, including 'structure theory' and 'culture of poverty theory,' which served as the theoretical framework. The research findings reveal that child begging and scavenging are primarily caused by poverty, high inflation, forced labor, and earning responsibilities. The findings further suggest that these children are exposed to maltreatment, scolding, abuse, and exploitation which also create detrimental effects on their health. We also found some positive aspects of their experiences related to their contribution towards their families, their adaptability, and resilience in the face of many challenges. The study findings make a significant contribution to the existing literature on out-of-school children and their engagement in begging and scavenging activities in a less-explored cultural context of Pakistan. The study findings can be used to inform stakeholders, including policymakers, educational practitioners, and child welfare specialists about the requisite awareness, protection, and needs of at-risk children in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conventional solid‐state reaction route was utilized for the fabrication of Ba0.55Sr0.45Ti1−xMnxO3 (x =.004,.006,.008,.01, and.015) ceramics. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) diffractograms revealed pseudo‐cubic structural symmetry with a single phase. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed fine grain morphology for x =.006, while an obvious increase in grain size was detected at x >.006. A high‐energy storage density (Ws) of 2.47 J cm−3 and a recoverable energy density (Wrec) of 1.36 J cm−3 at an applied electric field of 220 kV cm−1 were achieved for x =.006. An impedance spectroscopic study showed the electrical response relationship with microstructure. The observed two semicircles in Nyquist plots are an indication of the contribution of grains (bulk) and grain boundaries as a resistive medium for conduction of charge carriers, which led to enhanced the capability in capacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. typhi) continues to pose a significant risk to public health in developing countries, including Pakistan. This study investigated the epidemiological factors linked to suspected and confirmed S. typhi infections in Peshawar's hospital population. Methodology: A total of 5735 blood samples of patients with suspected enteric fever were collected from September 2022 to November 2023. S. typhi infection was confirmed using microbiological culture of blood samples, biochemical-based tests, and DNA-sequencing methods. Drug sensitivity testing on cultures was conducted as per the CLSI guidelines. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of 5735 samples stratified by S. typhi infection status, and risk factors were assessed by applying logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs). Results: The number of confirmed typhoid fever cases in this hospital-based study population was 691 (/5735, 12.0%), more prevalent in males (447/3235 13.8%) and children (0–11 years) (429/2747, 15.6%). Compared to children, the risk of S. typhi infection was lower in adolescence (adjusted OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.42–0.66), adulthood (19–59 years; aOR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.25–0.38), and older adulthood (aOR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.04–0.18) (p < 0.001). Compared to males, the risk of S. typhi infection was lower in females (aOR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.56–0.80; p = 0.002). Living in a rural residence (compared to urban) was associated with a higher risk of infection (aOR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.16–1.63; p = 0.001), while access to a groundwater source (compared to municipal water supply) led to a lower risk (aOR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.43–0.73; p = 0.002). Vaccination demonstrated a robust protective effect (aOR = 0.069; 95% CI = 0.04–0.11, p = 0.002). For those with typhoid infections, clinical biomarker analysis revealed the presence of leucopenia (65/691, 9.4%), thrombocytopenia (130/691, 18.8%), and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (402/691, 58.2%) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (690/691, 99.9%) levels. Worryingly, among the positive S. typhi isolates, there was a high prevalence of drug resistance (653/691), including multidrug-resistant (MDR 82/691, 11.9%) and extensively drug-resistant types (XDR, 571/691, 82.6%). Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of age, sex, locality, water source, and vaccination status in shaping the epidemiological landscape of S. typhi in the Peshawar district. It implies that expanding vaccination coverage to the broader population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, particularly in the district of Peshawar, would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerium doped Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 spinel nano-magnets were synthesized using sol–gel technique and characterized through x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared radiation (FT-IR), impedance analyzer, modulus spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The cations redistribution with Ce3+ substitution strongly affect the physical properties of the samples. Single phase spinel structure is identified for the synthesized samples and the crystal imperfection is found low. The lattice parameters reduce with Ce3+ concentration due to lanthanide contraction. The saturation magnetization of Mn0.5Zn0.5CexFe2−xO4 is found maximum for the x = 0 sample. The measured magnetic properties such as coercivity (Hc), retentivity (Mr) and saturation magnetization (Ms) decrease with increase in Ce3+ concentration. The synthesized samples show positive values of magnetic susceptibility which show anti-ferromagnetic/ferrimagnetic nature. The SEM images show increase in size of the grain with increasing sintering conditions parallel by significant decrease of pores, the position and the existence of tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The FT-IR spectra reveal the metal–oxygen oscillations at tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The dielectric constants are found in the range −118.6 to −242.5 at 2 MHz, which revealed moderate strain sensitivity, low ac conductivity and low dielectric loss. At low frequency range the synthesized samples are promising materials for stress sensor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow behavior of nonlinear materials over magnetized and contracting and extending inclined surfaces is described specifically by Jeffery–Hamel type flow, where the flow is caused by a convergent/divergent channel with the appearance of a source or sink. The role of the conversion of more than one species to more than every other species is significant in the flow conduct of such types of nonlinear materials. However, for the desired higher thermal conductivity, the Brownian motion and thermophoretic forces are incorporated in this particular work. Moreover, the impacts of first‐order chemical reaction and slips on the velocity, thermal, and concentration distributions, respectively presented to portray the importance of the entire study. The liquid motion on such surfaces is further addressed with the involvement of viscous dissipation and solar radiation. The newly mathematically formulated work is then approximated via one of the built‐in approaches based on collocation methods. The key findings are determined through graphical illustration. The physically interesting growing velocity of the liquid motion is noticed with variation in the slippery motion parameter during the convergent channel case. The opposite trend is noted for the divergent channel case. Furthermore, the Brownian motion‐related parameter escalated the temperature of the liquid, and the reverse status of the liquid concentration is determined with variation in the same parameter. The mass fraction is determined in a declining conduct with the ascending variation in first‐order chemical reaction factor. At the end of the work, a comparison with existing results is provided with excellent agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) change has evolved as a central force behind environmental challenges and has gained great acknowledgment for its wide-ranging effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Mountains, including the mountainous belts of Pakistan, are particularly vulnerable to alterations in LULC resulting from deforestation and other anthropogenic activities. These changes have profound repercussions on the socio-ecological and biophysical environments of mountains. This research aims to investigate the spatiotemporal changes in LULC in the Swat River Basin (SRB), Eastern Hindu Kush, Pakistan. Assessments of LULC changes are crucial for gaining an in-depth understanding, formulating policy guidelines, and implementing conservation practices to address the environmental challenges faced by mountainous areas. The study is based on remotely sensed data and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis. The temporal span (1988–2018) is divided into three periods and based on ten years interval, Landsat Satellite Images were acquired for 1988, 1998, 2008 and 2018. These images were processed and classified in ArcGIS 10.8. The analysis indicates varying trends in LULC changes over three periods. Forest cover increased by 52.5% in period 1 as a result of social forestry project but declined in periods 2 (-12.8%) and 3 (-18.8%). Contrarily, rangeland decreased by 63.9% in period 1 but grew in periods 2 (71.1%) and 3 (15.5%). Built-up areas expanded by 280%, barren land by 47%, agricultural land by 14.3%. However, snow cover consistently decreased. These alterations are mainly the result of bio-physical impacts, which highlight the urgent need for sustainable land management to mitigate the environmental impact of human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network selection in heterogeneous wireless networks (HWNs) is a complex issue that requires a thorough understanding of service features and user preferences. This is because the various wireless access technologies have varying capabilities and limitations, and the best network for a voice, video, and data service depends on a variety of factors. For selecting the optimal network in HWNs, varying factors such as the user’s position, accessible network resources, service quality requirements, and user preferences must be considered. The classical decision making procedure is very difficult and uncertain to select the desirable HWNs for voice, video, and data. Therefore, we develop a novel decision making model based on feed-forward neural networks under the double hierarchy linguistic information for the selection of the best HWNs for voice, video, and data. In this article, we introduce a novel feed-forward double hierarchy linguistic neural network using the Hamacher t-norm and t-conorm. Further, the feed-forward double hierarchy linguistic neural network applies to the decision making model for the selection of the best HWNs for voice, video, and data. In this novel decision making model, we first take the given data about HWNs and use the converting function to convert the given data into a double hierarchy linguistic term set. We calculate the hidden layer and output layer information by using Hamacher aggregation operations. Finally, we use the sigmoid activation function on the output layer information to decide on the best HWNs for voice, video, and data according to ranking. The proposed approach is compared with other existing models of decision making and the results of the comparison show that the proposed technique is applicable and reliable for the decision support model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In disaster scenarios with cellular base station failures, the importance of wireless communication further rises, necessitating the deployment of Public Safety Communication (PSC) networks for critical missions. This manuscript delves into an innovative approach that harnesses the power of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) to elevate the capabilities of a PSC network. Within this framework, an observation UAV (Ob-UAV) captures videos from ground users in affected areas (AGUs) and seamlessly relays them to nearby operational ground Base Stations (GBS) through a passive IRS-equipped UAV. The central objective is to maximize the average utility of video streams from AGUs at the GBS. The optimization involves positions of the observation UAV and IRS-UAV, IRS-UAV phase shift coefficients, and communication resource distribution. We formulate a mathematical solution addressing these optimizations with system-defined constraints. Due to the non-convex nature of the problem, finding a solution poses a significant challenge. To address this challenge, we suggest an efficient iterative algorithm that relies on block coordinate descent and successive convex approximation techniques. Thorough simulations confirm that our proposed optimization approach surpasses the outcomes of other compared schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, also known as the COVID-19 pandemic, is still a critical risk factor for both human life and the global economy. Although, several promising therapies have been introduced in the literature to inhibit SARS-CoV-2, most of them are synthetic drugs that may have some adverse effects on the human body. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to carry out an in-silico investigation into the medicinal properties of Petiveria alliacea L. (P. alliacea L.)-mediated phytocompounds for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections since phytochemicals have fewer adverse effects compared to synthetic drugs. To explore potential phytocompounds from P. alliacea L. as candidate drug molecules, we selected the infection-causing main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 as the receptor protein. The molecular docking analysis of these receptor proteins with the different phytocompounds of P. alliacea L. was performed using AutoDock Vina. Then, we selected the three top-ranked phytocompounds (myricitrin, engeletin, and astilbin) as the candidate drug molecules based on their highest binding affinity scores of −8.9, −8.7 and −8.3 (Kcal/mol), respectively. Then, a 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study was performed for their complexes with Mpro using YASARA software, computed RMSD, RMSF, PCA, DCCM, MM/PBSA, and free energy landscape (FEL), and found their almost stable binding performance. In addition, biological activity, ADME/T, DFT, and drug-likeness analyses exhibited the suitable pharmacokinetics properties of the selected phytocompounds. Therefore, the results of this study might be a useful resource for formulating a safe treatment plan for SARS-CoV-2 infections after experimental validation in wet-lab and clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review extensively explores the potential applications of MXenes as versatile materials in the realm of photocatalysis, with a specific focus on their efficacy in mitigating hazardous dyes and CO2 to less harmful and friendly by-products. The review systematically investigates the unique properties that render MXenes well-suited for photocatalytic purposes and provides a thorough examination of their current state of research. It meticulously summarizes the successes and breakthroughs achieved thus far, offering insights into the advancements that have propelled these materials into the spotlight of photocatalytic research. In addition to highlighting achievements, the review critically addresses the challenges and hurdles that impede the full realization of the potential inherent in MXenes. Here, we have also highlighted the stability problem of MXenes and how to overcome this problem for efficient photocatalysis. The mechanism of photocatalysis was also the main theme of this review article and how to overcome the recombination of photogenerated charges. By identifying these challenges, the review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, providing a roadmap for future endeavours to unlock the untapped capabilities of these materials. It serves as a beacon for environmental researchers, offering valuable insights into the pivotal role these materials can play in creating a more environmentally friendly and safe world. Ultimately, this review contributes significantly to the collective knowledge base and will prove instrumental for researchers and professionals dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable living. Highlights: Hazardous effect of pollutants on environment. Properties and synthesis of MXenes. MXenes promising materials for dyes degradation and CO2 reduction. Mechanism of Photocatalysis for dyes degradation and CO2 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several technologies are employed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, each synthesis technique has advantages and disadvantages, and the best technique relies on the application at hand, the required qualities of the nanoparticles, and the size of the product. But in this article green synthesis were followed. In this research, AgNPs were synthesized using Salvia Sclarea leaf extract in green synthetic routes. The synthesized nanoparticles were examined using UV–vis spectroscopy, powder XRD, SEM, and FT-IR. Here three different type of silver nanoparticles were biosynthesized, AgNPs-1, AgNPs-2, and AgNPs-3 (where composition of AgNO3 and extract were 6:1, 10:1 and 14:1 respectively). The catalytic ability of AgNPs 1–3 was determine in the reduction of nitro-compounds into corresponding amines, where AgNPs-2 was found efficient reductive catalyst. Moreover, antibacterial activities were checked against both gram-positive (Bacillus Suntilis) and gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae). Upon increasing Ag contents antibacterial activities were found in increasing mode. Which open new era of knowledge for further consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has examined the legal framework and status concerning crypto currency in Pakistan. It has highlighted the associated issues that Pakistan is facing like other developing countries. It has discussed the examples of other jurisdictions who have best standards and practices that are appreciable in regulating digital currencies and provides a crypto-friendly ecosystem. It highlights the necessity of recognizing and regulating crypto currencies in Pakistan. This study analyzes the situation of legal and regulatory framework of Pakistan and offer recommendations for reforms in the laws governing financial structures and cyber-crimes in Pakistan and suggested ways of promoting best practices by taking guidance and lessons from international standards and approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to determine the diagnostic utility of IL-18 for early diagnosis of AKI by comparing it with the routinely used marker serum creatinine. Material and Methods: This validation study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar from September 2021 to February'2022. A total of 156 patients with Acute Kidney Injury were recruited from the intensive care units of three Peshawar tertiary care hospitals. Serum and urinary samples were taken at the time of admission and 48 hours after admission to estimate Serum creatinine level and urinary IL-18. Comparisons were made between the diagnostic utility of Urinary IL-18, and serum creatinine using the paired t-test. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: This study included 156 acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. The mean creatinine level on admission was 0.90 ± 0.26 mg/dl; after 48 hours of admission, it was 1.38 ± 0.70 mg/dl. Similarly, IL-18 on admission was 130.14 ± 61.31 pg/ml while after 48 hours it was 290.32 ± 136.50 pg/ml. IL-18 levels of =75 pg/ml with a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 29% can be used as a cutoff in the diagnosis of AKI in patients after 48 hours of admission. Conclusion: Due to high sensitivity and specificity, Urinary IL-18 can predict AKI 24-48 hours before the onset of renal injury and can be used as an early marker for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we utilized Cu-Co@TiO2 NCs (as a substitute of Fe + 2 in UV/PMS/ Fe+2 system) for the degradation of model dyes such as Chicago Sky Blue 6B (CSB-6B) and Acid Yellow 17 (AY-17). The Cu-Co@TiO2 NCs synthesized via a simple reduction method by using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. The as-prepared NCs are characterized by SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD. The degradation through the UV/PMS/Fe+2 system is reported to be 62% and 59% (at optimized conditions) for CSB-6B and AY-17, respectively. Whereas the degradation by UV/ PMS/ Cu-Co@TiO2 NCs system at optimized conditions is 98% and 97% for CSB-6B and AY-17, respectively. The Cu-Co@TiO2 NCs are found to remain stable in the photocatalytic dye degradation reaction carried out by the UV/PMS/ Cu-Co@TiO2 NCs system. The Co@TiO2 NCs therefore can be used repeatedly in UV/PMS/ Cu- Co@TiO2 NCs systems for their promising applications in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In certain healthcare settings, such as emergency or critical care units, where quick and accurate real-time analysis and decision-making are required, the healthcare system can leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) models to support decision-making and prevent complications. This paper investigates the optimization of healthcare AI models based on time complexity, hyper-parameter tuning, and XAI for a classification task. The paper highlights the significance of a lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) for analysing and classifying Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in real-time and is compared with CNN-RandomForest (CNN-RF). The role of hyper-parameter is also examined in finding optimal configurations that enhance the model’s performance while efficiently utilizing the limited computational resources. Finally, the benefits of incorporating the XAI technique (e.g. GradCAM and Layer-wise Relevance Propagation) in providing transparency and interpretable explanations of AI model predictions, fostering trust, and error/bias detection are explored. Our inference time on a MacBook laptop for 323 test images of size 100x100 is only 2.6 sec, which is merely 8 milliseconds per image while providing comparable classification accuracy with the ensemble model of CNN-RF classifiers. Using the proposed model, clinicians/cardiologists can achieve accurate and reliable results while ensuring patients’ safety and answering questions imposed by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The proposed investigative study will advance the understanding and acceptance of AI systems in connected healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High concentrations of toxic cadmium (Cd) in soils are problematic as the element accumulates in food crops such as rice and cacao. A mitigation strategy to minimise Cd accumulation is to enhance the competitive uptake of plant-essential metals. Theobroma cacao seedlings were grown hydroponically with added Cd. Eight different treatments were used, which included/excluded hydroponic or foliar zinc (Zn) and/or iron (Fe) for the final growth period. Analyses of Cd concentrations and natural stable isotope compositions by multiple collector ICP-MS were conducted. Cadmium uptake and translocation decreased when Fe was removed from the hydroponic solutions, while the application of foliar Zn-EDTA may enhance Cd translocation. No significant differences in isotope fractionation during uptake were found between treatments. Data from all treatments fit a single Cd isotope fractionation model associated with sequestration (seq) of isotopically light Cd in roots and unidirectional mobilisation (mob) of isotopically heavier Cd to the leaves (ε114Cdseq-mob = −0.13‰). This result is in excellent agreement with data from an investigation of 19 genetically diverse cacao clones. The different Cd dynamics exhibited by the clones and seen in response to different Fe availability may be linked to similar physiological processes, such as the regulation of specific transporter proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use land cover (LULC) changes have emerged as a pivotal driver of environmental challenges in the Northwestern mountainous belts of Pakistan. These changes are increasingly recognized for their pervasive impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The conversion of pastures and rangelands into other land uses is a key facet of LULC change, posing a substantial threat to the availability of animal feed sources. This study aims to evaluate LULC changes and investigate their consequences on animal feed sources in the Upper Kurram Valley, located in the Koh-e-Safid mountain of Northwestern Pakistan. The study employs a multidisciplinary methodological approach that incorporates remotely sensed data, focus group discussions, interviews, and field observations. The study findings uncover a notable decline in rangeland (26.6%) and forest cover (28.7%) over a span of more than three decades (1987–2019). The shrinkage of rangeland has spurred an increased reliance on crop residues and fodder crops. The free grazing practices have been replaced by stall-feeding and controlled grazing methods. This declining rangeland resources has negatively affected animal husbandry, and the average number of livestock per household decreased from 32 in 1980 to 3.7 in 2019. In essence, this transition has not only impacted animal feed sources but also reshaped the livelihoods of local communities closely connected to animal husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) has emerged as an innovative networking method that offers effective management and remarkable flexibility. However, current SDN-based solutions primarily focus on static networks or concentrate on backbone networks, where network dynamics have minimal impact. The existing methods for placing flow entries in Software-Defined Networking (SDN)-based Internet of Things (IoT) systems exhibit shortcomings in accurately predicting outcomes and efficiently reducing table misses and associated performance metrics. This research introduces a new approach, specifically the mobility-aware adaptive flow entry placement scheme for SDN-based Internet of Things (IoT) environments, to address the mobility aspect of networks. The proposed scheme utilizes the Q-learning algorithm to predict the next possible location of end devices, while the cost-sensitive AdaBoost algorithm is employed to select heavy and active flows. As a result, efficient flow rules for incoming flows can be dynamically implemented without controller intervention. Extensive computer simulations demonstrate that this approach significantly enhances match probability and prediction accuracy while concurrently reducing the number of table misses and resource expenditure compared to existing schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus mutans, the primary cause of dental caries, relies on its ability to create and sustain a biofilm (dental plaque) for survival and pathogenicity in the oral cavity. This study was focused on the antimicrobial biofilm formation control and biofilm dispersal potential of Coumaric acid (CA) against Streptococcus mutans on the dentin surface. The biofilm was analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability assay, microtiter plate assay, production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), florescence microscopy (surface coverage and biomass μm2) and three-dimensional (3D) surface plots. It was observed that CA at 0.01 mg/mL reduced bacterial growth by 5.51%, whereases at 1 mg/mL, a significant (p < 0.05) reduction (98.37%) was observed. However, at 1 mg/mL of CA, a 95.48% biofilm formation reduction was achieved, while a 73.45% biofilm dispersal (after 24 h. treatment) was achieved against the preformed biofilm. The MTT assay showed that at 1 mg/mL of CA, the viability of bacteria in the biofilm was markedly (p < 0.05) reduced to 73.44%. Moreover, polysaccharide (EPS) was reduced to 24.80 μg/mL and protein (EPS) to 41.47 μg/mL. ImageJ software (version 1.54 g) was used to process florescence images, and it was observed that the biofilm mass was reduced to 213 (μm2); the surface coverage was reduced to 0.079%. Furthermore, the 3D surface plots showed that the untreated biofilm was highly dense, with more fibril-like projections. Additionally, molecular docking predicted a possible interaction pattern of CA (ligand) with the receptor Competence Stimulating Peptide (UA159sp, PDB ID: 2I2J). Our findings suggest that CA has antibacterial and biofilm control efficacy against S. mutans associated with dental plaque under tested conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Valvular heart disease (VHD) significantly impacts patients' lives and often necessitates cardiac surgery. This study aimed to assess the frequency of ischemic heart disease in patients undergoing valvular heart surgery. Methodology: This observational study analyzed the records of 204 consecutive patients presenting to the Peshawar Institute of Cardiology between January 2021 and December 2022. All patients underwent screening angiography before surgery according to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) criteria. Results: Among the 204 patients studied, 57.4% were male, with a mean age of 53.16 ± 12.708 years. Hypertension was the most common comorbid condition (38.2%). Mitral valve pathology was the predominant indication for valvular surgery, while isolated aortic stenosis was the most common valvular lesion observed (25%). Out of the 204 patients who underwent screening angiography, 23% had significant coronary artery disease (CAD), defined as luminal narrowing >50%. Patients younger than 40 years had a lower prevalence of significant CAD (9.8%) compared to older patients (p = 0.003). Angiographic findings revealed single-vessel disease as the most common coronary lesion (16.7%), followed by double-vessel disease (12.7%), with triple-vessel disease observed in 5.4% of cases. Conclusion: The frequency of coronary artery disease was lower in patients younger than 40 years compared to older patients. Noninvasive investigations such as CT coronary angiography may serve as an alternative to invasive coronary angiography as a screening tool prior to cardiac surgery in older patients, if needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentilla nepalensis belongs to the Rosaceae family and has numerous therapeutic applications as potent plant-based medicine. Forty phytoconstituents (PCs) from the root and stem through n-hexane (NR and NS) and methanolic (MR and MS) extracts were identified in earlier studies. However, the PCs affecting human genes and their roles in the body have not previously been disclosed. In this study, we employed network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations (MDSs), and MMGBSA methodologies. The SMILES format of PCs from the PubChem was used as input to DIGEP-Pred, with 764 identified as the inducing genes. Their enrichment studies have shown inducing genes' gene ontology descriptions, involved pathways, associated diseases, and drugs. PPI networks constructed in String DB and network topological analyzing parameters performed in Cytoscape v3.10 revealed three therapeutic targets: TP53 from MS-, NR-, and NS-induced genes; HSPCB and Nf-kB1 from MR-induced genes. From 40 PCs, two PCs, 1b (MR) and 2a (MS), showed better binding scores (kcal/mol) with p53 protein of −8.6 and −8.0, and three PCs, 3a, (NR) 4a, and 4c (NS), with HSP protein of −9.6, −8.7, and −8.2. MDS and MMGBSA revealed these complexes are stable without higher deviations with better free energy values. Therapeutic targets identified in this study have a prominent role in numerous cancers. Thus, further investigations such as in vivo and in vitro studies should be carried out to find the molecular functions and interlaying mechanism of the identified therapeutic targets on numerous cancer cell lines in considering the PCs of P. nepalensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg alloys/Mg-based composites are utilized significantly in the construction of missiles, aerospace and automobiles due to their lightweight, specific strength, and hardness. In the recent work, Mg-based two-components (Mg–TiO2/Mg–Al2O3) and three-components (Mg–TiO2–Al2O3) composites were fabricated through solid-phase synthesis (powder metallurgy method). Temperature (30 °C), pressure (760 mm Hg) and concentration factors were optimized prior to experiments. The characterization of obtained composites were performed through different physicochemical methods like Surface analyzer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). FTIR analysis verified the composite fabrication. SEM determined microstructures and particle size of the materials in µm dimensions. XRD confirmed the homogeneity and crystalline nature of the obtained composites. The surface area of the produced samples was observed to vary from 40 to 70 m2/g. These properties allow the prepared composites to play the main role in different adsorption applications and catalytic analysis. The prepared materials were considered to be used as catalyst for the formation of CNTs. The catalytic efficiency was observed to be 80 % for the growth of CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated multi-organ segmentation plays an essential part in the computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) of chest X-ray fluoroscopy. However, developing a CAD system for the anatomical structure segmentation remains challenging due to several indistinct structures, variations in the anatomical structure shape among different individuals, the presence of medical tools, such as pacemakers and catheters, and various artifacts in the chest radiographic images. In this paper, we propose a robust deep learning segmentation framework for the anatomical structure in chest radiographs that utilizes a dual encoder–decoder convolutional neural network (CNN). The first network in the dual encoder–decoder structure effectively utilizes a pre-trained VGG19 as an encoder for the segmentation task. The pre-trained encoder output is fed into the squeeze-and-excitation (SE) to boost the network's representation power, which enables it to perform dynamic channel-wise feature calibrations. The calibrated features are efficiently passed into the first decoder to generate the mask. We integrated the generated mask with the input image and passed it through a second encoder–decoder network with the recurrent residual blocks and an attention the gate module to capture the additional contextual features and improve the segmentation of the smaller regions. Three public chest X-ray datasets are used to evaluate the proposed method for multi-organs segmentation, such as the heart, lungs, and clavicles, and single-organ segmentation, which include only lungs. The results from the experiment show that our proposed technique outperformed the existing multi-class and single-class segmentation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cocoa crop (Theobroma cacao L.) is known to be a host for several badnaviruses, some of which cause severe disease, while others are asymptomatic. Recently, the first preliminary evidence has been published concerning the occurrence of a polerovirus in cacao. We report here the first near-complete genome sequence of cacao polerovirus (CaPV) by combining bioinformatic searches of cacao transcript databases, with cloning from the infected germplasm. The reported novel genome has all the genome features known for poleroviruses from other species. Pairwise identity analyses of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and coat protein indicates < 60% similarity of CaPV with any reported poleroviruses; hence, we propose that the polerovirus isolate reported in this study is a novel polerovirus. The genome sequence information was also used to develop a multiplex RT-PCR assay, which was applied to screen a selected range of germplasms and to identify several infected clones. Although there is no evidence that this virus causes any severe disease, this new information, together with a robust diagnostic assay, are of strategic importance in developing protocols for the safe international transfer of cacao germplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report systematically demonstrated the plasmonic and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect in the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) using MAPbI3 as an active layer. The finite element method (FEM) was employed for the entire simulation of PSCs. Various light trapping and smooth charge carrier dynamics geometries with tailored nanoparticles (NPs) radius and core-shell thickness like Au NPs, Au@TiO2 core-shell, and Au@TiO2 nanorods (NR) were incorporated in the active layer. We observed their effect on PSC's optical absorption, charge carrier generation, and power conversion efficiency (PCE). The light absorption, generation rate, and short-circuit current density (JSC) were improved after embedding Au NPs with varying radii in the active layer. The best PCE achieved for Au NPs with a radius (AuNPs = 50 nm) was compared to the reference model without Au NPs (14.32 %). This increment in PCE is dedicated to the strong LSPR effect and improved JSC. The other cases, like Au@TiO2 core-shell and Au@TiO2 NR, also performed better than the reference model and Au NPs-based PSCs. The highest PCEs achieved for Au@TiO2 core-shell and Au@TiO2 NR were 16.52 % and 18.47 % Which is 15.53 %, and 28.98 %, higher than the reference model. This improvement in the performance of Au@TiO2 core-shell and Au@TiO2 NR-based PSCs is due to the strong LSPR effect, near-field enhancement, far-field scattering, increase in the generation rate of the exciton, and the overall performance of PSCs. These investigations contribute to further exploring the emerging technology of plasmonic-based PSCs and propose promising techniques to enhance photon energy and charge carrier dynamic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria found within many arthropods, including insects. A variety of benefits are provided by these bacteria to human and insect hosts, including protection from viruses and parasites and the ability to kill males. In this study, Wolbachia was identified in Aedes aegypti present in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A population of mosquitoes was collected from eight different areas, processed, and tested for Wolbachia using 16 S rRNA specific to Wolbachia bacteria and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) under optimized PCR conditions. In five ecologically diverse sites to determine Wolbachia prevalence, we identified eleven diverse novel resident Wolbachia strains within Ae. Aegypti for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Future studies to evaluate the possible use of Wolbachia as a control agent in Aedes sp. in Saudi Arabia are necessary. Wolbachia prevalence rates and strain characterization through Sanger sequencing with multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and phylogenetic analysis revealed significant diversity. In developing biocontrol strategies, it is beneficial to consider the implications of resident Wolbachia strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nb-modified lead-free ceramics (K0.48Bi0.52)(Mg0.02Ti0.98−xNbx)O3, (KBT-BMTNbx with x = 0.00 − 0.05) were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction route followed by furnace cooling. The effects of Nb-doping on the structural properties and electrical properties of KBT-BMTNbx ceramics have been investigated. The X-ray diffraction pattern indicates a mixed tetragonal and cubic phase for the pure KBT-BMTNbx ceramics. Therefore, a large piezoelectric actuator coefficient d33* ≈ 700 pm/V, piezoelectric sensor coefficient (d33 ≈ 133 pC/N) along with remnant polarization (Pr ≈ 17.5 µC/cm2), maximum electromechanical strain ≈ 0.35% and maximum temperature (Tm ≈ 336 ºC) were obtained for KBT-BMTNbx. However, with Nb-doping, a compositionally driven phase transformation occurred from mixed rhombohedral and tetragonal phases to cubic phase. Because of the excess Nb-doping in the KBT-BMT ceramics, the grain size suddenly decreased, as a result, the long-range ferroelectric phase was converted into a short-range relaxor phase. Hence, a low dielectric loss tanδ ≈ 0.02 was achieved at x = 0.02 composition. This superior dielectric performance is correlated to the crystal structure morphotropic phase boundary, optimum grain size (≈ 2 μm), maximum lattice distortion, and soft-ferroelectric effect induced by the donor doping. The main aim of recent research is to investigate Pr, d33, d33*, Smax, and reduced tanδ for practical applications in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A sensitive and specific donor screening strategy is essential for the prevention of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI). The study was conducted to ascertain the comparative efficacy of ICT, CLIA and NAT methods. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in Regional Blood Center Abbottabad, Pakistan from 1st April to 25 August 2022. 6233 donors were screened for Hep B, C, and HIV by testing simultaneously with ICT, CLIA and NAT. Results: Active Hep B, C and HIV Infection was present in 0.51%, 0.28% and 0.00048% donors respectively. The sensitivity was found to be higher for HBV and HIV with CLIA as compared to ICT but was equal for HCV with both. whereas specificity was the same with both CLIA and ICT for all three viruses. PPV was higher with ICT for HBV and HCV, but for HIV it was found higher by CLIA. NPV was higher for all three viruses by CLIA as compared to ICT. Conclusion: In case rapid testing devices are used for the initial screening of blood in countries with limited resources, positive cases must be confirmed by CLIA and if possible, then by NAT because of missing cases in the window period and false positive cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accreditation bodies of medical education globally value competency in research that facilitates evidence-based practice of medicine. Physician-scientists need awareness of qualitative research methods for in-depth exploration of sociocultural, gender, behavioural, emotional, and religious factors affecting health that cannot be gauged by quantitative research methods. The introduction of qualitative research at the undergraduate level can enhance understanding of local populations' unique health needs and strengthen evidence-based practice. Methods: This was a mixed-method study conducted from July to October 2021. Four journals with dedicated student's corner/student journals were hand-searched for qualitative research articles published by students, over the past five years. Quantitative data was collected at four medical colleges of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for several qualitative research projects being conducted by students. Quantitative data was collected from the faculty of these colleges about the facilities of research departments. After analysing quantitative data, five semi-structured interviews via email were conducted about factors limiting qualitative research at medical colleges. Written responses were analysed for themes. Results: There was not a single qualitative research article published by students in local journals in five years. Out of 39 research projects by undergraduates at four medical colleges only one was qualitative. Two themes developed from qualitative data were underdeveloped research departments and a lack of attitude toward qualitative research. Conclusion: There is a felt need and gap to include qualitative research objectives at the undergraduate level, but before that emphasis needs to be placed on providing infrastructure, resources, and trained faculty to facilitate implementation. It will facilitate future doctors to find answers to problems impalpable by quantitative methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil fuel and electricity-powered irrigation techniques boost the water availability expense and increase greenhouse gas emissions. Especially in developing countries, solar-powered irrigation is becoming more popular as a response to the growing energy and environmental issues associated with agriculture systems. The existing study used data from 1080 wheat farmers in Balochistan, Pakistan, to investigate the impact of solar-powered irrigation system (SPIS) usage on the technical efficiency (TE) of wheat production. The TE of wheat production is estimated using a stochastic frontier production function, and the potential self-selectivity bias is addressed using an endogenous switching regression model. The findings indicated that 13.7% of the wheat cultivators assessed used SPISs to produce their crops. Using an endogenous switching regression model shows that SPIS usage increases the TE of wheat growers by 6.657%, after controlling for self-selection bias. While using SPISs, wheat farmers with large farms and farming familiarity had stronger positive effects on TE. The results highlight the need for more investigation and research into evidence-based good practice for SPIS solutions at the site level to ensure that the rollout of modern equipment not only drives the energy sector forward but also contributes significantly to our level playing field and sustainable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A substantial portion of the world's population owns and utilizes computers and mobile devices, contributing to the rapid expansion of digital advertising. Marketers swiftly recognized the communicative benefits of social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Considering the importance of social media platforms and digital modes of marketing, it is considered especially significant for small firms to integrate these platforms into their business strategies in order to improve performance. Methods: Based on this aim, this study collected data from 363 owners/managers of SMEs in Pakistan. Structural equation modeling is used to check the hypothesized model of the study. Results: The results show that compatibility, owner/manager support, employee IT skills, financial cost, government policies, and social influence significantly affect adoption of digital marketing by SMEs in Pakistan. Conclusions: Furthermore, digital marketing also positively affects SME performance. This paper discusses the study's findings as well as managerial and academic implications, including its limitations and future research avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the Korteweg-de Vries-Caudrey-Dodd-Gibbon (KdV-CDG) equation is explored via a fractional operator. A nonlocal differential operator with a nonsingular kernel is used to study the KdV-CDG equation. Some theoretical features concerned with the existence and uniqueness of the solution, convergence, and Picard-stability of the solution by using the concepts of fixed point theory are discussed. Analytical solutions of the KdV-CDG equation by using the Laplace transformation (LT) associated with the Adomian decomposition method (ADM) are retrieved. The solutions are presented using 3D and surface graphics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edge-cloud computing is an emerging approach in which tasks are offloaded from mobile devices to edge or cloud servers. However, Task offloading may result in increased energy consumption and delays, and the decision to offload the task is dependent on various factors such as time-varying radio channels, available computation resources, and the location of devices. As edge-cloud computing is a dynamic and resource-constrained environment, making optimal offloading decisions is a challenging task. This paper aims to optimize offloading and resource allocation to minimize delay and meet computation and communication needs in edge-cloud computing. The problem of optimizing task offloading in the edge-cloud computing environment is a multi-objective problem, for which we employ deep reinforcement learning to find the optimal solution. To accomplish this, we formulate the problem as a Markov decision process and use a Double Deep Q-Network (DDQN) algorithm. Our DDQN-edge-cloud (DDQNEC) scheme dynamically makes offloading decisions by analyzing resource utilization, task constraints, and the current status of the edge-cloud network. Simulation results demonstrate that DDQNEC outperforms heuristic approaches in terms of resource utilization, task offloading, and task rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forensic osteology, the scientific study of human skeletal remains, occupies a pivotal position in the realm of forensic science. Its significance lies in its capacity to unveil the hidden narratives within bones and offer critical insights into the identification of skeletal injuries. This research endeavors to illuminate the multifaceted role played by forensic osteology in the detection, analysis, and interpretation of injuries sustained by skeletal remains. Objective: This research explores the pivotal role of forensic osteology in assessing injuries related to the chest and pulmonology conducted at Qazi Hussain Ahmed Medical Complex, Nowshera - Pakistan. Methods: A diverse sample of 85 skeletal remains was systematically examined, incorporating techniques such as osteological assessment, radiological imaging, histological analysis, and statistical analysis. Demographic characteristics, trauma patterns, radiological findings, and histological insights were meticulously documented. Results: The findings unveiled a diverse spectrum of trauma patterns, with 49.4% of cases exhibiting skeletal trauma, including those relevant to the chest and pulmonary region. Radiological imaging was instrumental in uncovering hidden fractures in 32.9% of cases, with implications for chest injuries. Additionally, histological analysis allowed for the differentiation of recent and healed injuries in 53.3% of cases, shedding light on pulmonary trauma. Conclusion: Forensic osteology, as exemplified in this study, plays a crucial role in identifying skeletal injuries, particularly those related to the chest and pulmonology. Its multidisciplinary approach not only advances our understanding of trauma patterns in these regions but also significantly contributes to the resolution of forensic cases and disaster victim identification efforts. This research underscores the critical role played by forensic osteology in delivering justice, resolving unresolved cases, and providing closure to individuals and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Measles is one of the most familiar contagious diseases in children associated with numerous systemic complications. The aim of this study is to find the frequency of Myocarditis in children suffering from measles. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of pediatrics, MTI Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from 6th December 2019 to 5th June 2020. Ninety-six patients of both genders and ages ranging from 1-12 years having measles for more than one week were enrolled in the study after informed consent. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethical Review Board. Patient demographic data were collected on a structured proforma and the frequency of children having clinical presentation of myocarditis was recorded. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 22. Results: The frequency of Myocarditis was 7.3% in children presented with Measles. The mean age was 6.6± 3.06 years. There were 47.9% males and 52.1% females. Most patients belonged to middle socioeconomic status i.e. 61.5%. Maternal education was 49% in the 6-10 age group. In sampled population, 46.9% belonged to urban areas and 5.1% belonged to rural areas. There were 18.8% vaccinated children and 81.3% were not vaccinated for measles. Myocarditis was significantly associated with the younger age group (p-value 0.028), however, there was no difference in gender (p-value 0.781). Children with low socioeconomic status had significantly higher frequency (p-value 0.05) of myocarditis. Conclusion: Myocarditis is commonly presented in children having measles especially patients in younger age groups and belonging to poor socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth and productivity of wheat crops depend on the availability of essential nutrients such as zinc (Zn) and potassium (K2O), which play critical roles in the plant's physiological and biochemical processes. This study aimed to investigate the synergizing effect of zinc and potassium fertilizers on uptake of both the nutrients, growth, yield, and quality of the Hashim-08 cultivar and local landrace, during the 2019–2020 growing season in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. The experiment was designed using a split plot pattern in a randomized complete pattern, with main plots for the wheat cultivars and subplots for the fertilizer treatments. Results indicated that both cultivars responded positively to the fertilizer treatments, with the local landrace exhibiting maximum plant height and biological yield, and improved Hashim-08, showing increased agronomic parameters, including the number of tillers and grains and spike length. Application of Zn and K2O fertilizers significantly enhanced agronomic parameters, such as the number of grains per plant, spike length, thousand-grain weight, grain yield, harvest index, Zn uptake of grain, dry gluten content, and grain moisture content, while crude protein and grain potassium remained relatively unchanged. The soil's Zn and K content dynamics were found to vary among treatments. In conclusion, the combined application of Zn and K2O fertilizers proved beneficial in improving the growth, yield, and quality of wheat crops, with the local landrace exhibiting lower grain yield but greater Zn uptake through fertilizer application. The study's findings highlight that the local landrace showed good response to the growth and qualitative parameter when compared with the Hashim-08 cultivar. Additionally, the combined application of Zn and K showed a positive relation in terms of nutrient uptake and soil Zn and K content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite great academic interest in global green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, its effectiveness for environmental management systems (EMS) and market competitiveness during COVID-19 remains untapped. Existing literature suggests that a fundamental link between GSCM, EMS, and market competitiveness is missing, as supply management is critical to maintain market competitiveness. To fill this gap in the literature, this study examines whether environmental management systems influence the link between GSCM practice and market competitiveness in China. We also propose the articulating role of big data analytics and artificial intelligence (BDA-AI) and environmental visibility toward these associations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the proposed model using regression-based structural equation modeling (SEM) with primary data (n = 330). This result provides empirical evidence of the impact of GSCM on EMS and market competitiveness. Moreover, the results show that the BDA-AI and the environmental visibility enhanced the positive relationship between GSCM-EMS and EMS and market competitiveness in China. Recent research shows that supply chain professionals, policymakers, managers, and researchers are turning to formal EMS, BDA-AI, and environmental visibility to help their organizations achieve the competitiveness that the market indicates they need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we produced POT polymer-based tungsten (IV) oxide, (WO2), cerium (IV) oxide, (CeO2) and iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3) novel composite materials by emulsion polymerization and one pot blending techniques. UV–Vis analysis confirmed various electronic transitions in π–π* and n–π* levels. FT-IR spectra showed the integration of reinforcement particles within the polymer matrix by the engagement of free functionalities of the polymer by the metal oxide moieties. SEM analysis described the diverse morphology (spherical, pellets, porous and rod-shaped) of the synthesized materials while the complete dispersion of reinforcement particles in the polymer matrix. Extensive cyclic voltammetry studies were done and the materials were found to be used as electroactive agents as they deliver reversible anodic and cathode peaks. The materials are less resistive toward the mobility of ions thus offering good electrical and storage properties. The prepared are proposed to be efficient in electrode and capacitors production technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Arabidopsis, the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase ε (POLE) is encoded by two genes: DNA polymerase epsilon catalytic subunit A (AtPOL2A) and B (AtPOL2B). Although studies have shown AtPOL2A to be involved in various biological processes, the role of AtPOL2B remains to be determined. In the present study, leaf cDNA libraries of one AtPOL2A mutant (atpol2a-1) and three AtPOL2B mutants (atpol2b-1, -2 and − 3) were sequenced using the Illumina platform. Analysis of gene expression profiles identified a total of 198, 76, 141 and 67 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in atpol2a-1, atpol2b-1, atpol2b-2 and atpol2b-3, respectively. It was noted that the majority of pericentromeric transposable elements were transcriptionally active in atpol2a-1 as compared to atpol2b mutants and wild-type plants. Computational analysis of the proteins encoded by the DEGs identified CER1, Replication Protein A 1E (RPA1E) and AT5G60250 as potential interactors of AtPOL2A, and Pathogenesis-related gene 1 (PR1) and AT5G48490 as potential interactors of AtPOL2B. Interestingly, all these proteins showed a significant interaction with the POLE catalytic subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Furthermore, the in silico promoter analysis showed that the AtPOL2A promoter sequence is overrepresented with cis-acting regulatory elements associated with cell cycle regulation, meristematic/reproductive tissue-specific pattern of expression and MYB protein recognition, whereas the AtPOL2B promoter sequence was mainly enriched with stress-responsive elements; defense-responsive elements were only detected in the AtPOL2B promoter. Our data support the idea that AtPOL2B may coexpress with stress-responsive genes. The findings of the present study begin to unravel the potential molecular interactors of AtPOL2 genes at the molecular level and suggest new avenues for future studies. Key Message: Transcriptome analysis of Arabidopsis DNA polymerase epsilon catalytic subunit A and B mutants provided novel insights into molecular interactors of AtPOL2s. Furthermore, the combined analysis of protein-protein interactions and promoter sequences revealed that the duplicated copy of AtPOL2A may play a role in mediating stress responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term persistence of potentially carcinogenic pollutants, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in agricultural soil has attracted the world scientists for using various biochars to assess their applicability for reducing their mobility in soils and bioaccumulation in food crops. Experiments were conducted to check the influence of different biochars, like rice straw biochar (RSBC), sewage sludge biochar (SSBC), and soybean stalk biochar (SBBC), on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons mobility and bioaccumulation in spinach added at the rates of 2, 5, and 10% to polluted soil. The application of selected biochars reduced the mobility of PAHs; however, the results were more effective at a rate of 5%. The application of biochar considerably (P ≤ 0.05) minimized the bioaccumulation of PAHs in spinach, with decreases observed as 41–72% for RSBC, 15–37% for SSBC, and 38–69% for SBBC. The efficiency of RSBC in decreasing PAHs was more significant (P ≤ 0.05) at rates of 2% and 5% compared to SBBC and SSBC. These findings suggest that RSBC treatment will be more effective for remediating PAHs from the contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to establish whether zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) share similar physiological mechanisms for uptake and translocation in cacao plants (Theobroma cacao L.). Multiple-collector ICP-MS was used to determine the Zn stable isotope compositions in the roots, stems and leaves of 19 diverse cacao genotypes grown in hydroponics with 20 µmol L−1 CdCl2. Additional plants of one genotype were grown in hydroponic solutions containing lower Cd concentrations (0 and 5 µmol L−1 added CdCl2). Regardless of the Cd concentration used in the exposures, the Zn stable isotope compositions show the same systematic patterns in plant organs, with δ66Znroot > δ66Znstem > δ66Znleaf (δ66Zn denotes relative differences in 66Zn/64Zn ratios in parts per thousand). The mean Zn stable isotope fractionation between the plants and the hydroponic solutions was ε66Znuptake = –1.15 ± 0.36‰ (2SD), indicating preferential uptake of isotopically light Zn by plants from the hydroponic solution. The mean stable isotope fractionation factor associated with translocation of Zn from roots to shoots, ε66Znseq-mob = + 0.52 ± 0.36‰ (2SD), shows that isotopically heavy Zn is preferentially sequestered in the cacao roots, whilst isotopically light Zn is mobilised to the leaves. A comparison with the Cd stable isotope compositions of the same plants shows that both isotopically light Zn and Cd are preferentially taken up by cacao plants. In contrast to Zn, however, the cacao roots retain isotopically light Cd and transfer isotopically heavy Cd to the leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diamines are used for the modification of surface of pristine monocrystalline diamond particles for better interfacial interaction. Chemically modified diamond particles are integrated into the fibers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by using electrospinning method. The agglomeration of diamond particles is restricted by electrospinning technique and uniform distribution is achieved in PMMA under electric field. Comparative analysis is done of the effect of two different reagents used for modification of pristine diamond particles and on thermal and structural characteristics of PMMA fibers. The diameters of fibers and morphology of diamond loaded PMMA fibers are assessed by applied voltage, diamond content polymer concentration and flow rate. The effect of different modified diamond structures on the functioning of PMMA electrospun fibers in the epoxy-resin was studied by employing flexural experiments on samples created by classical procedure. The loading of pure PMMA electrospun fibers into the epoxy-resin indicated growth in flexural strength and modulus by 17.7% and 10.9%, respectively. Conversely, the loading of hydrazine functionalized diamond particles into PMMA fibers increased the flexural strength and modulus by 20.7% and 17.41%, respectively. On the other hand, by the reinforcing of ethylenediamine functionalized diamond particles into PMMA fibers enhanced flexural strength and modulus by 18.7% and 16.42%, respectively. This increase in mechanical characteristics is ascribed to the consistent dissemination and efficient interface between PMMA matrix and modified diamond particles and which transmit load effectively to the reinforcement in epoxy matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a new deterministic disease system is constructed to study the influence of treatment adherence as well as awareness on the spread of tuberculosis (TB). The suggested model is composed of six various classes, whose dynamics are discussed in the sense of the Caputo fractional operator. Firstly the model existence of a solution along with a unique solution is checked to determine whether the system has a solution or not. The stability of a solution is also important, so we use the Ulam–Hyers concept of stability. The approximate solution analysis is checked by the technique of Laplace transformation using the Adomian decomposition concept. Such a solution is in series form which is decomposed into smaller terms and the next term is obtained from the previous one. The numerical simulation is established for the obtained schemes using different fractional orders along with a comparison of classical derivatives. Such an analysis will be helpful for testing more dynamics instead of only one type of integer order discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]