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It would be inaccurate to state that Yemen’s difficulties began with the current civil war in September of 2014. While the war brought about its own list of insurmountable tribulations, it also exacerbated already present disasters. This article explores the many dynamics that have led to what has been referred to as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. These include war, internal displacement, economic disaster, healthcare collapse, outbreaks in refugee camps, vaccination concerns, malnutrition, food insecurity, water sparsity, and infectious disease catastrophes. Along with accurate depictions of what is happening on the ground, this article suggests a few potential solutions worth investigating further, ranging from national and international efforts. With an ever-changing climate, this article serves to provide the most up to date impression of the current crisis and disasters.

Background: Despite playing an essential role as micronutrients, when exposed to an excess level, heavy metals can augment the risk of potential health diseases among humans and animals. Due to environmental degradation and food adulteration, many people are becoming the victims of those diseases by ingesting heavy metals from those food sources. Eggs are one of the principal sources of proteinaceous food and eggshells are also a good source of calcium, therefore, it is necessary to estimate the frequency of heavy metals as the poultry feeds, nowadays, are contaminated with heavy metals. Materials and Methods: Five types of egg samples were collected from the Jahangirnagar University area including indigenous, white and brown layer chicken eggs, duck eggs, and quail eggs. The concentration of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn was estimated both for egg contents and eggshells (10 samples) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry compared with the standard curve. Estimated daily intake (EDI), Target hazard quotient (THQ), and Hazard Index (HI) were also calculated to observe whether egg intake possesses any health hazards or not. Results: Among all the trace elements estimated, the highest concentration was 35.36±0.4 (Zn) in white layer chicken eggs, and for eggshells, the highest concentration was 0.69875±0.082 mg/kg (Fe) in Quail eggshell. Except for Fe, Pb was relatively higher compared to other elements in eggs, the amount of Pb was the highest in Quail eggs (0.486±0.09 mg/kg). All the six elements were also within the acceptable range in eggshells where the amount of Pb was the highest in Brown layer eggshells, and Cu and Zn were the highest in indigenous eggshells. Cd and Cr were below the detection limit for all types of eggshells. Estimated daily intake (EDI), Target hazard quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) values indicated that intake of eggs does not possess any health risk. Conclusion: Interestingly, the heavy metal concentration of our samples belongs within the PTDI and USEPA limit. Therefore, based on our study, all egg samples were safe considering the average egg ingestion in our country. If the average egg consumption rises, people might be at risk for higher Pb consumption through egg intake.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is Gram negative, rod shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterium, belongs to enterobacteriaceae family that causes typhoid fever in humans. This bacterium has become a super bug due to acquisition of multi drug resistance. Bacteria is transmitted through food and water contaminated with human feaces. Present study reports the screening of Adhatoda vasica, Amaranthus hybridus and Aloe barbadensis and their evaluation against multi-drug resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. Qualitative analysis of ten phytochemicals was conducted using chemical method and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). Antibacterial activity of plants was carried out by agar well diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar. Total tannins, total alkaloids and total flavonoids of different parts of three plants were estimated through spectrophotometer. Total tannins content in different parts of plants was present in the given order Amaranthus hybridus leaf > Aloe barbadensis leaf > Adhatoda vasica leaf > Adhatoda vasica flower > Adhatoda vasica stem. Whereas, the order of total flavonoid concentration was Amaranthus hybridus leaf > Aloe barbadensis leaf > Adhatoda vasica leaf > Amaranthus hybridus seed. Total alkaloids have order, Adhatoda vasica leaf > Amaranthus hybridus leaf > Adhatoda vasica flower > Amaranthus hybridus seed > Aloe barbadensis leaf. Results of phytochemical analysis suggested that plants have strong profile of antioxidants, total phenolic contents and various enzymes proposing them best alternate to cure bacterial infections. GC-MS analysis further confirmed stronger phytochemical profile that can be utilized as antagonists to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.

The prevalence of anemia is high among children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries because of undernutrition resulting from their poor socioeconomic status and lack of knowledge on proper nutrition. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of anemia among children and adolescents aged between 6 months and 19 years in Bangladesh. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to identify the studies that reported the prevalence of anemia among children and adolescents. A total of 24 studies, including the data of 14,062 cases, were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis of the time period between 1997 and 2019. The random-effects model was used to calculate the summary estimates. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021246960). The pooled prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and non-severe and severe anemia were 46.8% [95% CI: 36.0–57.6], 13.6% [95% CI: 8.0–19.2], 56.4% [95% CI: 39.6–73.1] and 0.7% [95% CI: 0.1–1.4], respectively. Prevalence of anemia exhibited the highest among the children aged ≤2 years. Briefly, 91.67% of the studies were of high quality. No significant publication bias was found; however, two outlier studies were detected. The prevalence of anemia among children and adolescents was estimated as high in Bangladesh.

Economic valuation of ecosystem services is a new concept in forest management. Economic valuation provides basis for payment for ecosystem services (PES). Therefore, objective of this study was to evaluate eco-tourism and carbon stock services of the Maindam valley, District Swat, Pakistan. For the carbon stock calculation, a sample size of 155 plots of 0.1 hectare (Ha) was taken using preliminary survey at 95% confidence interval and 10% allowable error. The data for tourism services was collected from owners of all the hotels, 100 tourists and key informants of the area at 10% sampling intensity on pretested questionnaire for twenty years period (1997-2017). Results showed that Miandam valley has carbon stock worth US$ 16,306,000 while the value of eco-tourism was US$ 1,578,458 on annual basis. The results also showed that trend of tourism has drastically declined after the 9/11 incident for foreigners and locals and the situation was further deteriorated during the era of Talibanization or militancy from 2008-2011. This study recommends implementation of PES strategy at the rate of 5%, thus a total of US$ 78,922 can be earned from eco-tourism and carbon crediting in the study area annually, which could play important role in sustainable forest management. Resumo A valoração econômica dos serviços ecossistêmicos é um novo conceito no manejo florestal. A avaliação econômica fornece base para o pagamento por serviços ecossistêmicos (PES). Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o ecoturismo e os serviços de estoque de carbono do vale de Miandam, distrito Swat, Paquistão. Para o cálculo do estoque de carbono, um tamanho de amostra de 155 parcelas de 0,1 hectare (ha) foi tirado, usando pesquisa preliminar com intervalo de confiança de 95% e erro admissível de 10%. Os dados para serviços de turismo foram coletados de proprietários de todos os hotéis, 100 turistas e informantes-chave da área em 10% de intensidade de amostragem em questionário pré-testado para um período de 20 anos (1997-2017). Os resultados mostraram que o vale de Miandam tem estoque de carbono no valor de US$ 16.306.000, enquanto o valor do ecoturismo foi de US$ 1.578.458 anualmente. Os resultados também mostraram que a tendência do turismo diminuiu drasticamente para estrangeiros e locais após o incidente de 11 de Setembro, e a situação se agravou ainda mais durante a era da talibanização ou militância de 2008-2011. Este estudo recomenda a implementação da estratégia de PES na taxa de 5%, portanto um total de US$ 78.922 pode ser ganho com ecoturismo e crédito de carbono na área de estudo anualmente, o que pode desempenhar um papel importante no manejo florestal sustentável.

Military conflicts have been significant obstacles in detecting and treating infectious disease diseases due to the diminished public health infrastructure, resulting in malaria endemicity. A variety of violent and destructive incidents were experienced by FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). It was a struggle to pursue an epidemiological analysis due to continuing conflict and Talibanization. Clinical isolates were collected from Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai agencies from May 2017 to May 2018. For Giemsa staining, full blood EDTA blood samples have been collected from symptomatic participants. Malaria-positive microscopy isolates were spotted on filter papers for future Plasmodial molecular detection by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) of small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (ssrRNA) genes specific primers. Since reconfirming the nPCR, a malariometric study of 762 patients found 679 positive malaria cases. Plasmodium vivax was 523 (77%), Plasmodium falciparum 121 (18%), 35 (5%) were with mixed-species infection (P. vivax plus P. falciparum), and 83 were declared negative by PCR. Among the five agencies of FATA, Khyber agency has the highest malaria incidence (19%) with followed by P. vivax (19%) and P. falciparum (4.1%). In contrast, Kurram has about (14%), including (10.8%) P. vivax and (2.7%) P. falciparum cases, the lowest malaria epidemiology. Surprisingly, no significant differences in the distribution of mixed-species infection among all five agencies. P. falciparum and P. vivax were two prevalent FATA malaria species in Pakistan’s war-torn area. To overcome this rising incidence of malaria, this study recommends that initiating malaria awareness campaigns in school should be supported by public health agencies and malaria-related education locally, targeting children and parents alike. Resumo Os conflitos militares têm sido obstáculos significativos na detecção e tratamento de doenças infecciosas devido à diminuição da infraestrutura de saúde pública, resultando na endemicidade da malária. Uma variedade de incidentes violentos e destrutivos foi vivida pelas FATA (áreas tribais administradas pelo governo federal). Foi uma luta buscar uma análise epidemiológica devido ao conflito contínuo e à talibanização. Isolados clínicos foram coletados de agências Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber e Orakzai, de maio de 2017 a maio de 2018. Para a coloração de Giemsa, amostras de sangue completo com EDTA foram coletadas de participantes sintomáticos. Isolados de microscopia positivos para malária foram colocados em papéis de filtro para futura detecção molecular plasmódica por reação em cadeia da polimerase aninhada (nPCR) de primers específicos de genes de subunidade ribossômica de ácido ribonucleico (ssrRNA). Desde a reconfirmação do nPCR, um estudo malariométrico de 762 pacientes encontrou 679 casos positivos de malária. Plasmodium vivax foi 523 (77%), Plasmodium falciparum 121 (18%), 35 (5%) eram com infecção de espécies mistas (P. vivax mais P. falciparum) e 83 foram declarados negativos por PCR. Entre as cinco agências da FATA, a agência Khyber tem a maior incidência de malária (19%), seguida por P. vivax (19%) e P. falciparum (4,1%). Em contraste, Kurram tem cerca de 14%, incluindo 10,8% casos de P. vivax e 2,7% P. falciparum, a epidemiologia de malária mais baixa. Surpreendentemente, não há diferenças significativas na distribuição da infecção de espécies mistas entre todas as cinco agências. P. falciparum e P. vivax foram duas espécies prevalentes de malária FATA na área devastada pela guerra no Paquistão. Para superar essa incidência crescente de malária, este estudo recomenda que o início de campanhas de conscientização sobre a malária na escola deve ser apoiado por agências de saúde pública e educação relacionada com a malária localmente, visando crianças e pais.

Rice bran oil is known as wonder oil and it is the most important vegetable oil in Asia. Rice bran oil is extracted from bran that is the outer hard layer of rice. It is an emerging category in edible oil with a lot of nutritional properties and health benefits. Rice bran oil is heart-friendly, boosts up immunity, and prevents from other diseases occurring commonly in Pakistan. The current study aimed to stabilize rice bran oil through different probiotic isolates and to assess the nutritional content of rice bran oil after stabilization. The study was aimed to inactivate naturally occurring lipases that can hydrolyze oil into glycerol and free fatty acid which is a serious problem that gives it a rancid taste and smell. Antilipase activity was used to inactivate naturally occurring lipases that are a huge threat to the stabilization process. The fermentation process utilizes antilipase activity without affecting the nutritional value of oil. Lactobacillus strains were used for the stabilization of rice bran oil. Rice bran oil was extracted in the Soxhlet apparatus. The probiotic lab isolates Lactobacillus delbrueckii S2, Lactobacillus casei S5 and Lactobacillus plantarum S13 were applied to it to increase its shelf life and prevent oxidative rancidity. The extraction temperature of rice bran oil was maintained above 40 °C to inhibit lipase activity. Rice bran oil samples were stored at refrigeration temperature to arrest lipase activity. Probiotics maintained acidic pH to keep oil stabilization. Qualitative analysis was done to confirm rice bran oil stabilization. Determination of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) and saponification value confirmed that oxidative rancidity of rice bran oil was controlled by probiotics. FFA count was less than 10% and Saponification Value (SV) was 180. GC analysis was performed to analyze the FFA profile. Gas Chromatography results have shown 3 fatty acids. Statistical analysis has shown non-significant effect on different incubation temperatures of Lactobacillus isolates. Among the biological methods of stabilization, the use of probiotics is a novel concept and recommended for commercial application.

The outbreak of the current coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) occurred in late 2019 and quickly spread all over the world. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) belongs to a genetically diverse group that mutates continuously leading to the emergence of multiple variants. Although a few antiviral agents and anti‐inflammatory medicines are available, thousands of individuals have passed away due to emergence of new viral variants. Thus, proper surveillance of the SARS‐CoV‐2 genome is needed for the rapid identification of developing mutations over time, which are of the major concern if they occur specifically in the surface spike proteins of the virus (neutralizing analyte). This article reviews the potential mutations acquired by the SARS‐CoV2 since the pandemic began and their significant impact on the neutralizing efficiency of vaccines and validity of the diagnostic assays.

Medicinal plants play important role in the public health sector worldwide. Natural products from medicinal plants are sources of unlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of their unique chemical diversity. Researchers have focused on exploring herbal products as potential sources for the treatment of cancer, cardiac and infectious diseases.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune condition that can have a wide range of symptoms among pediatric patients. Although clinical symptoms like hematochezia, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are commonly addressed, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is often overlooked in patients with IBD and pediatric patients with chronic disease in general. Examining HRQOL can help improve patient outcomes, but it has been studied sparingly. In this review, we aim to compare HRQOL between pediatric patients suffering from IBD and healthy children, as well as those suffering from other illnesses. We searched through peer-reviewed primary literature related to IBD and HRQOL and selected 10 articles from the PubMed database to be reviewed. Our inclusion criteria included articles published after the year 2000 in English, primary studies, and those that corresponded to the aim of this review. Case reports and secondary and tertiary articles were excluded from our review. We found that patients with IBD reported worse HRQOL in terms of overall health and in various subdomains, including physical health and fatigue, compared to their healthy counterparts. However, children with IBD demonstrated a comparable HRQOL with children suffering from functional abdominal pain (FAP) and obesity. Additionally, children with IBD displayed a greater HRQOL than pediatric patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic constipation. In addressing the aim of this review, we found that children with IBD had a lower HRQOL when compared to healthy children, but a comparable or greater HRQOL than other sick children. Some factors associated with a reduced HRQOL include disease activity, age, fatigue, gender, psychological variables, and associated symptoms. Going forward, HRQOL should be considered by practitioners when caring for pediatric IBD patients in a clinical setting as it can help improve patient care. More studies need to be conducted to further explore HRQOL in pediatric patients. This can help implement early psychosocial interventions in children to reduce the disease burden.

Aim: To measure levels of VWF and ADAMTS-13 in patients of ischemic stroke and healthy controls. Method: Blood samples of forty five patients and forty five controls of age 30-65 years were taken from medical or neurology wards of Lahore General Hospital. VWF antigen assay was determined by Immuno-Turbidimetric method and quantitative ADAMTS-13 antigen assay was measured by ELISA. Results: The mean level of plasma VWF antigen of controls was 114.0±49.7% and mean plasma level of VWF antigen in patients was 137.0±54.3%. The mean plasma VWF antigen level was significantly elevated among patients as compared to controls (p=0.011). The mean ADAMTS-13 antigen level of controls was 151.7± 87.9 U/L and mean ADAMTS-13 antigen level of patients was 107.9±106.7 U/L. Our study also found that mean ADAMTS-13 was significantly lower in patients as compared to controls (p=0.018). Conclusion: In conclusion, Vwf and ADAMTS-13 antigen assays have an important role in pathogenesis of clot formation in patients of ischemic stroke. Keywords: Low ADAMTS, ischemic stroke, high WWF

Some soil microbes, with their diverse inhabitance, biologically active metabolites, and endospore formation, gave them characteristic predominance and recognition among other microbial communities. The present study collected ten soil samples from green land, agricultural and marshy soil sites of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. After culturing on described media, the bacterial isolates were identified through phenotypic, biochemical and phylogenetic analysis. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed three bacterial isolates, A6S7, A1S6, and A1S10, showing 99% nucleotides sequence similarity with Brevibacillus formosus, Bacillus Subtilis and Paenibacillus dendritiformis. The crude extract was prepared from bacterial isolates to assess the anti-bacterial potential against various targeted multidrug-resistant strains (MDRS), including Acinetobacter baumannii (ATCC 19606), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (BAA-1683), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (BAA-2108), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 292013), Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) and Salmonella typhi (ATCC 14028). Our analysis revealed that all bacterial extracts possess activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria at a concentration of 5 mg/mL, efficiently restricting the growth of E. coli compared with positive control ciprofloxacin. The study concluded that the identified species have the potential to produce antimicrobial compounds which can be used to control different microbial infections, especially MDRS. Moreover, the analysis of the bacterial extracts through GC-MS indicated the presence of different antimicrobial compounds such as propanoic acid, oxalic acid, phenol and hexadecanoic acid.

The evaluation of soil erosion is often assessed using traditional soil-loss models such as the Revised Universal Soil-Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). These models provide quantitative outputs for sediment yield and are often integrated with geographic information systems (GIS). The work described here is focused on transitioning towards a qualitative assessment of erosion potential using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), for improved decision-support and watershed-management prioritization in a northern Gulf of Mexico coastal watershed. The foundation of this work conceptually defined watershed erosion potential based on terrain slope, geomorphology, land cover, and soil erodibility (as defined by the soil K-factor) with precipitation as a driver. These criteria were evaluated using a weighted linear combination (WLC) model to map generalized erosion potential. The sensitivity of individual criteria was accessed with the one-at-a-time (OAT) method, which simply removed one criterion and re-evaluated erosion potential. The soil erodibility and slope were found to have the most influence on erosion-potential modeling. Expert input was added through MCDA using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The AHP allows for experts to rank criteria, providing a quantitative metric (weight) for the qualitative data. The individual AHP weights were altered in one-percent increments to help identify areas of alignment or commonality in erosion potential across the drainage basin. These areas were used to identify outliers and to develop an analysis mask for watershed management area prioritization. A comparison of the WLC, AHP, ensembled model (average of WLC and AHP models), and SWAT output data resulted in visual geographic alignment between the WLC and AHP erosion-potential output with the SWAT sediment-yield output. These observations yielded similar results between the qualitative and quantitative erosion-potential assessment approaches, with alignment in the upper and lower ranks of the mapped erosion potentials and sediment yields. The MCDA, using the AHP and ensembled modeling for mapping watershed potential, provided the advantage of more quickly mapping erosion potential in coastal watersheds for improved management of the environmental resources linked to erosion.

The objective of the study was to find out odorant-binding protein 2 and salivary protein MP58 as potential RNAi targets in Myzus persicae. These potential targets were confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Genes were sequenced and GenBank IDs allotted were MN183129 for odorant-binding protein 2 and MN183130 for MP58. ERNAi tool designed more than 250 siRNA targets from which seven were mentioned with structural map positions for both genes without any off-target. Maximum mortality was observed with odorant-binding protein 2 (70%); followed by MP58 (57%) in comparison to $$\underline{\mathbf{+ve}}$$ and $$\underline{\mathbf{-ve}}$$ control 8d after dsRNA feeding (15 ng/μL). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction expressed the reduced expression of odorant-binding protein 2 (33%) followed by MP58 (40%) gene 8Ds after dsRNA feeding in comparison to control (98%). Phylogenetic analysis exhibited homology of M. persicae odorant-binding protein 2 to grain, oat, pea and corn aphid and MP58 with pea and corn aphid; broaden its application for main staple crops and more specifically for M. persicae.

Antiphospholipid antibodies are highly prevalent in autoimmune diseases and mainly associated with thromboembolic events, which is one of the major reasons for cancer-related mortality. Confirmed adult cancer patients were included (n = 40) with an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The presence and concentration of anticardiolipin antibodies were investigated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the venous blood samples. aCL antibodies were detected in 60.0% (n = 24) of the cancer patients compared to none in the healthy controls (p < 0.001). The serum concentration of aCL antibodies was significantly higher in cancer patients than controls (p < 0.001) and ranged from 89.0 U/mL to 133.0 U/mL among the aCL-positive patients. All the lung cancer patients (n = 6) were diagnosed with positive aCL, and a borderline significant association of aCL antibody positivity was observed in colon cancer patients (p = 0.051). About 72.7% of the advanced-stage cancer individuals and 81.8% of the cancer patients who underwent surgery were diagnosed with positive aCL antibodies. A significant association of aCL antibody positivity was observed with cancer patients comorbid with heart diseases (p = 0.005). The prevalence and serum levels of aCL antibodies were significantly higher in cancer patients compared to healthy controls. Cancer patients (i.e., lung, liver, and colon), at advanced-stage, comorbid with heart diseases, who underwent surgery, were more likely to be diagnosed with aCL antibodies.

Aim: Helicobacter pylori infection has been ascertained to play pivotal role in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis and gastric neoplasia.1The present study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of H&E stain and Giemsa stain for the histological diagnosis of helicobacter pylori by taking immunohistochemical staining as a gold standard. Methods: A total of 155 cases were included in our study. The received biopsies were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, grossed and stained with H&E and giemsa stain. A board of histopathologists analyzed the morphological details to ascertain the diagnosis. The biopsies were stained by using immunohistochemical techniques against H. pylori antigens, and the procedure was performed according to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer considering the appropriate positive and negative controls for staining. IHC staining was evaluated autonomously and recorded on the proforma as positive and negative cases. Results: In our study, mean age was calculated as 38.4±11.57 years, 74(47.74%) were male and 81(52.26%) were females, frequency of H.Pylori on gold standard was recorded as 109(70.32%), the diagnostic accuracy of hematoxylin-eosin stain for helicobacter pylori detection by taking immunohistochemical staining as a gold standard measure was calculated as 63.30%, 65.22%, 81.18%, 42.86% and 63.87% for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy rate respectively, while these findings were recorded as 74.31%, 80.43%, 90%, 56.92% and 76.12% for Giemsa stain. Conclusion: We concluded that the diagnostic accuracy of H&E and Giemsa stains for detection of HP is promising and cost-effective method in our population. MeSH words: Helicobacter pylori, Immunohistochemistry, Hematoxylin, Pathology, Diagnosis

Background:Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune condition that can have a wide range of symptoms and a taxing clinical course for pediatric patients. Although clinical symptoms like hematochezia, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are commonly addressed, health related quality of life (HRQOL) is often overlooked in patients with IBD and pediatric patients with chronic disease in general.Methods:We searched through peer-reviewed primary literature related to IBD and health related quality of life, and selected 11 articles from the PubMed database to be reviewed.Results: We found patients with IBD reported worse overall HRQOL than their healthy counterparts, but greater or comparable HRQOL relative to other sick pediatric patients, including those with gastroesophageal reflux disease and chronic constipation. Some factors associated with a reduced HRQOL include disease activity, age, fatigue, gender, psychological variables, and associated symptoms.Conclusion: Examining HRQOL can improve symptoms for these patients and chart better outcomes. Thus, HRQOL should be considered by practitioners when caring for pediatric IBD patients in a clinical setting. Further, more studies, particularly prospective cohort studies and those with large and diverse samples, should be conducted to examine HRQOL in pediatric patients with chronic disease. Findings from these studies can help elucidate clinical management and early psychosocial interventions in children to reduce disease burden.

Endophytic fungi isolated from medicinal plants are important for production of antibiotics. They can produce secondary metabolites with diverse structures and activities. Debregeasia salicifolia is a plant of medicinal importance, and no report exists regarding isolation of endophytic fungi from it. This study was focused to isolate and identify culturable endophytic fungi from foliar parts of D. salicifolia and to determine their bioactivities. Molecular analysis resulted in identification of Fusarium fujikuroi, Aspergillus tubingensis and Rhizopus oryzae based on specific internal transcribed spacer primer (ITS1/ITS4). Our analysis revealed that all fungal endophytes possess antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Remarkably, Rhizopus oryzae at a concentration of 5 mg/mL efficiently restricted the growth of ATCC strain of E. coli in comparison with positive control ciprofloxacin. Rhizopus oryzae and F. fujikuroi at a concentration of 1000 µg/ml exhibited maximum antioxidant activity of 45% and 44%, respectively. They also showed antifungal activity ranging from 60 to 75% against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Our analysis of the fungal extracts through GC–MS indicated the presence of 21 compounds of diverse nature and structure. In conclusion, our study highlighted the potential of D. salicifolia to host a plethora of fungal endophytes that secrete potentially therapeutic bioactive metabolites

Cranes are the large and attractive Creatures of nature with long necks, legs, and life-span. Adults of both sexes are the same with similar color patterns. Demoiselle cranes spend most of their lifespan on dry grasses. They are also found around the stream, rivers, shallow lakes, natural wetlands, and depressions. To evaluate the current status of habitat use and major threats a study was conducted in tehsil Domel district Bannu. Line transect method and water quality tests (temperature, PH, contamination of E-coli bacteria) were used. To determine the major threats questionnaire method was used. The whole data was analyzed by using SPSS 21 version. Based on the distribution four study sites were selected and four water samples from each study site were taken. Most sites were moderate to highly degraded except Kashoo and kurram river mixing point which was low degraded with livestock grazing and human activities. Water quality tests showed PH ranges from 7-9, temperature 6.5-8.5, and contamination of E-coli in all samples. The social survey revealed that hunting, habitat degradation, and pollution as major threats. Effective long-term conservation and management in the study area are needed to focus on the protection of disturbance-free habitat. Resumo Guindastes são a grande e atraente criatura da natureza com um pescoço longo, pernas e vida útil. Adultos de ambos os sexos são os mesmos com padrões de cores semelhantes. Guindastes Demoiselle passam a maior parte da vida em gramíneas secas. Também se encontram ao redor do córrego, rios, lagos rasos, pântanos naturais e depressões. Para avaliar o estado atual do uso do hábitat e as principais ameaças, um estudo foi realizado no distrito de Tehsil Domel, em Bannu. Foram utilizados o método transect e testes de qualidade da água (temperatura, pH, contaminação da bactéria E. coli). Para determinar as principais ameaçasfoi utilizado o método de questionário. Todos os dados foram analisados por meio da versão SPSS 21. Com base na distribuição, foram selecionados quatro locais de estudo e quatro amostras de água de cada local de estudo. A maioria dos locais estava moderada a altamente degradada, exceto no ponto de encontro dos rios Kashoo e Kurram, que teve baixa degradação com pastagem de gado e atividades humanas. Os testes de qualidade da água mostraram variação de pH de 7-9, temperatura 6,5-8,5 e contaminação de E. coli em todas as amostras. A pesquisa do questionário revelou que a caça, a degradação do hábitat e a poluição são as principais ameaças. Efetiva conservação e gestão a longo prazo na área de estudo são necessárias para se concentrar na proteção de um hábitat livre de distúrbios.

Bacteriocins exhibited a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity against different pathogens. The aim of current study was to characterize the bacteriocins produced by Bifidobacterium spp. isolated from ruminants. The Bifidobacterium isolates were identified as B. longum, B. pseudolongum, B. bifidum, B. thermophilum, B. boum, B. merycicum and B. ruminantium. Bacteriocins were found to be pH stable, heat resistant, highly diffusible, NaCl tolerant and resistant to UV radiations. SDS, EDTA and urea induced 14%, 21% and 24% bacteriocins activity loss. Modified MRS broth (1% tryptone, 1% yeast extract and 2% glucose) was found to be the best nutrient medium for optimal production of bacteriocins. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values varied from 300 μl/ml to 500 μl/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values ranged from 500 μl/ml to500 μl/ml for E. coli and S. aureus respectively. The highest protein concentration (29.0248 mg/ml) was recorded for Bifidobacteria bacteriocin produced by B. longum. Tricine-Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Poly Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that molecular weight of isolated bifidobacterial bacteriocins was in the range of 3.6 kDa-30 kDa. Current study indicated that bifidobacterial bacteriocins have considerable potential to be used as biopreservative.

The acquisition of multi-drug resistance (MDR) genes by pathogenic bacterial bugs and their dispersal to different food webs has become a silent pandemic. The multiplied use of different antibacterial therapeutics during COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the process among emerging pathogens. Wild migratory birds play an important role in the spread of MDR pathogens and MDR gene flow due to the consumption of contaminated food and water.

This molecular epidemiological study was designed to determine the antimalarial drug resistance pattern, and the genetic diversity of malaria isolates collected from a war-altered Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), in Pakistan. Clinical isolates were collected from Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai and Kurram agencies of FATA region between May 2017 and May 2018, and they underwent DNA extraction and amplification. The investigation of gene polymorphisms in drug resistance genes (dhfr, dhps, crt, and mdr1) of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax was carried out by pyrosequencing and Sanger sequencing, respectively. Out of 679 PCR-confirmed malaria samples, 523 (77%) were P. vivax, 121 (18%) P. falciparum, and 35 (5%) had mixed-species infections. All P. falciparum isolates had pfdhfr double mutants (C59R+S108N), while pfdhfr/pfdhps triple mutants (C59R+S108N+A437G) were detected in 11.5% of the samples. About 97.4% of P. falciparum isolates contained pfcrt K76T mutation, while pfmdr1 N86Y and Y184F mutations were present in 18.2% and 10.2% of the samples. P. vivax pvdhfr S58R mutation was present in 24.9% of isolates and the S117N mutation in 36.2%, while no mutation in the pvdhps gene was found. Pvmdr1 F1076L mutation was found in nearly all samples, as it was observed in 98.9% of isolates. No significant anti-folate and chloroquine resistance was observed in P. vivax; however, mutations associated with antifolate-resistance were found, and the chloroquine-resistant gene has been observed in 100% of P. falciparum isolates. Chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance were found to be high in P. falciparum and low in P. vivax. Chloroquine could still be used for P. vivax infection but need to be tested in vivo, whereas a replacement of the artemisinin combination therapy for P. falciparum appears to be justified.

Medicinal plants play important role in the public health sector worldwide. Natural products from medicinal plants are sources of unlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of their unique chemical diversity. Researchers have focused on exploring herbal products as potential sources for the treatment of cancer, cardiac and infectious diseases. Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) is an important medicinal plant found in the northwest Himalayan regions of Pakistan. It is a poisonous plant and is used as a remedy against snake bites and scorpion stings. In this study, two bioactive compounds were isolated from Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) and their anticancer activity was evaluated against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 using an MTT assay. The crude extract of Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) was subjected to fractionation using different organic solvents in increasing order of polarity. The fraction indicating maximum activity was then taken for isolation of bioactive compounds using various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques such as column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Crude extract of Arisaema flavum (Forssk.), as well as various fractions extracted in different solvents such as n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate, were tested against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 using an MTT assay. The crude extract exhibited significant dose-dependent anticancer activity with a maximum activity of 78.6% at 500 µg/mL concentration. Two compounds, hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester with molecular formula C18H36O7 and molar mass 284 and 5-Oxo-19 propyl-docosanoic acid methyl ester with molecular formula C26H50O3 and molecular mass 410, were isolated from chloroform fraction. These compounds were tested against the MCF-7cell line for cytotoxic activity and exhibited a significant (p < 0.00l) decrease in cell numbers for MCF-7 cells with IC50 of 25 µM after 48 h of treatment. Results indicated that Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) possesses compounds with cytotoxic activity that can further be exploited to develop anticancer formulations.

Climate change and its impact on agriculture are challenging issues regarding food production and food security. Many researchers have been trying to show the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on agriculture using different methods. In this study, we used linear regression models to assess the impact of climate on crop yield spatially and temporally by managing irrigated and non-irrigated crop fields. The climate data used in this study are Tmax (maximum temperature), Tmean (mean temperature), Tmin (minimum temperature), precipitation, and soybean annual yields, at county scale for Mississippi, USA, from 1980 to 2019. We fit a series of linear models that were evaluated based on statistical measurements of adjusted R-square, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). According to the statistical model evaluation, the 1980–1992 model Y[Tmax,Tmin,Precipitation]92i (BIC = 120.2) for irrigated zones and the 1993–2002 model Y[Tmax,Tmean,Precipitation]02ni (BIC = 1128.9) for non-irrigated zones showed the best fit for the 10-year period of climatic impacts on crop yields. These models showed about 2 to 7% significant negative impact of Tmax increase on the crop yield for irrigated and non-irrigated regions. Besides, the models for different agricultural districts also explained the changes of Tmax, Tmean, Tmin, and precipitation in the irrigated (adjusted R-square: 13–28%) and non-irrigated zones (adjusted R-square: 8–73%). About 2–10% negative impact of Tmax was estimated across different agricultural districts, whereas about −2 to +17% impacts of precipitation were observed for different districts. The modeling of 40-year periods of the whole state of Mississippi estimated a negative impact of Tmax (about 2.7 to 8.34%) but a positive impact of Tmean (+8.9%) on crop yield during the crop growing season, for both irrigated and non-irrigated regions. Overall, we assessed that crop yields were negatively affected (about 2–8%) by the increase of Tmax during the growing season, for both irrigated and non-irrigated zones. Both positive and negative impacts on crop yields were observed for the increases of Tmean, Tmin, and precipitation, respectively, for irrigated and non-irrigated zones. This study showed the pattern and extent of Tmax, Tmean, Tmin, and precipitation and their impacts on soybean yield at local and regional scales. The methods and the models proposed in this study could be helpful to quantify the climate change impacts on crop yields by considering irrigation conditions for different regions and periods.

Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) predominantly infects the respiratory system, several investigations have shown the involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) along the course of the illness, with encephalitis being one of the symptoms. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the characteristics (clinical, neuro-radiological aspects, and laboratory features) and outcomes of encephalitis in COVID-19 patients. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched from 1 December 2019 until 21 July 2022 to identify case reports and case series published on COVID-19 associated with encephalitis. The quality of the included studies was assessed by the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists. This systematic review included 79 studies, including 91 COVID-19 patients (52.7% male) experiencing encephalitis, where 85.6% were adults (49.3 ± 20.2 years), and 14.4% were children (11.2 ± 7.6 years). RT-PCR was used to confirm 92.2% of the COVID-19 patients. Encephalitis-related symptoms were present in 78.0% of COVID-19 patients at the time of diagnosis. In these encephalitis patients, seizure (29.5%), confusion (23.2%), headache (20.5%), disorientation (15.2%), and altered mental status (11.6%) were the most frequently reported neurologic manifestations. Looking at the MRI, EEG, and CSF findings, 77.6%, 75.5%, and 64.1% of the patients represented abnormal results. SARS-CoV-2-associated or -mediated encephalitis were the most common type observed (59.3%), followed by autoimmune encephalitis (18.7%). Among the included patients, 66.7% were discharged (37.8% improved and 28.9% fully recovered), whereas 20.0% of the reported COVID-19-positive encephalitis patients died. Based on the quality assessment, 87.4% of the studies were of high quality. Although in COVID-19, encephalitis is not a typical phenomenon, SARS-CoV-2 seems like a neuropathogen affecting the brain even when there are no signs of respiratory illness, causing a high rate of disability and fatality.

Continuous application of phosphate (P) mineral to soil renders apatite addition during each crop growing season which is of great concern from a sustainable agriculture viewpoint. Use of efficient phosphate solubilizing microbes (PSB) is one of the most effective ways to solubilize this apatite mineral in the soil. The current study targeted hydroxyapatite mines to explore, isolate and characterize efficient P solubilizers to solubilize apatite in the soil. Efficiency of isolated microbes to solubilize rock phosphate (hydroxyapatite) and tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) as well as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC) activity were tested. Identification and phylogenetic analysis of bacterial and fungal isolates were carried out by 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence analyses, respectively. The isolated bacterial strains were identified as Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus firmus, Bacillus safensis, and Bacillus licheniformis whereas fungal isolates were identified as Penicillium sp. and Penicillium oxalicum. Results showed that the impact of identified strains in combination with three phosphate fertilizers sources (compost, rock phosphate and diammonium phosphate (DAP)) was conspicuous on maize crop grown in pot. Both bacterial and fungal strains increased the P uptake by plants as well as recorded with higher available P in post-harvested soil. Penicillium sp. in combination with compost resulted in maximum P-uptake by plants and post-harvest soil P contents, compared to other combinations of P sources and bio-inoculants. Screening and application of efficient P solubilizers can be a better option to utilize the indigenous phosphate reserves of soil as well as organic amendments for sustainable agriculture.

Unplanned industrialization and improper management of wastes and gases into open surfaces are affecting the agricultural lands causing heavy metal pollution. This study monitored a suburban industrial zone located beside the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) at the Dhaka district in Bangladesh. We studied the heavy metal (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, Pb, and Cd) concentration in the agricultural soils, plants, and in the atmospheric particulate matter (PM). The soils were found moderately contaminated with Fe, Cu, Ni, Co, and Zn and less contamination with Mn, Cr, Pb, and Cd. The enrichment factor (EF) and pollution load index (PLI) concluded a moderate level of soil pollution in this region. Besides, the plant samples showed an excess level of Cr and a similar level of Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, Pb, and Cd compared with the levels of industrial polluted sites of Bangladesh. The atmospheric PM analysis showed the presence of Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Pb metals. The EF showed the anthropogenic origin of Mn and Ni in the atmospheric PM. The statistical correlation (r

The COVID-19 being a preconized global pandemic by the World Health Organization needs persuasive immediate research for possible medications. The present study was carried out with a specific aim to computationally evaluate and identify compounds derived from Bacillus species as the plausible inhibitors against 3-chymotrypsin-like main protease (3CLpro) or main protease (MPro), which is a key enzyme in the life-cycle of coronavirus. The compounds were isolated from the crude extracts of Bacillus species. Among the isolated compounds, novel inhibitory leads were identified using in silico techniques. Molecular docking revealed that stigmasterol (-8.3 kcal/mol), chondrillasterol (-7.9 kcal/mol) and hexadecnoic acid (-6.9 kcal/mol)) among others bind in the substrate-binding pocket and also interacted with the catalytic dyad of the 3-CLpro. Further evaluation using 50 ns molecular dynamic simulation and MMPB-GBSA indicated that among the top three docking hits, hexadecanoic acid was found to be the most promising anti-COVID-19 lead against the main protease. Hexadecanoic acid might serve as a potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 compound to combat COVID-19, however, in vitro and in vivo validation and optimization is needed. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the most frequent and persistent global diseases causing millions of deaths every year. Pakistan lies at number 6 among the 22 most dominant countries, with multidrug resistance up to 15%. Isoniazid-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are gradually rising and seem to be more prevalent in developing countries. Mutations in the katG gene are considered to be responsible for the accusation of isoniazid resistance in M. tuberculosis. Objectives: The current study was designed to investigate the structural and functional associations of KatG gene mutations (S315R and S315T) and multidrug resistance in M. tuberculosis isolates from Karachi, Pakistan. Results: The present study revealed conformational changes in the structure of the KatG enzyme due to observed mutations, which led to induced alterations in isoniazid binding residues at the active site of the KatG enzyme. Furthermore, substantial changes were observed in interaction energy, ligand-receptor energy, electrostatic energy, salvation energy, and ligand-receptor conformational entropy. All these resultant modifications due to S315R and S315T mutations ultimately reduced the flexibility and stability of proteins at isoniazid-binding residues. Conclusions: This deviation in the consistency of protein texture eventually compromises the enzyme activity. It is well expected that the outcomes of the current study would provide a better understanding of the consequences of these mutations and provide a detailed insight into some previously unknown features.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started to spread globally since December 2019 from Wuhan, China. Headache has been observed as one of the clinical manifestations in COVID-19 patients. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the overall pooled prevalence of headache in COVID-19 patients.Methods: PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify studies published between December 2019 and March 2020. Adult (≥18 years) COVID-19 patients were considered eligible. We used random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Quality assessment was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020182529).Results: We identified 2,055 studies, of which 86 studies (n = 14,275, 49.4% female) were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the pooled prevalence of headache in COVID-19 patients was 10.1% [95% CI: 8.76–11.49]. There was no significant difference of headache prevalence in severe or critical vs. non-severe (RR: 1.05, p = 0.78), survived (recovered or discharged) vs. non-survived (RR: 1.36, p = 0.23), and ICU vs. non-ICU (RR: 1.06, p = 0.87) COVID-19 patients. We detected 64.0, 34.9, and 1.1% of the included studies as high, moderate, and low quality, respectively.Conclusions: From the first 4-month data of the outbreak, headache was detected in 10.1% of the adult COVID-19 patients.

Wastewater irrigation leads to the deposition of hazardous elements (HE) in irrigated soils which could be accumulated in cultivated vegetables, contaminating the food chain and pose threat to the human population. HE concentrations could be varied in the wastewater-irrigated and background soil and cultivated vegetables with season depending on temperature, humidity, and quantity of irrigation water. For this purpose, soil and vegetable samples were collected in the summer and winter seasons of Peshawar, Pakistan, and analyzed for HE including Cu, Cr, Cd, Co, Zn, Pb, Mn, and Ni. Results revealed that HE contaminations except for Ni in wastewater-irrigated soil and vegetables of both seasons were multifold higher than reference. Between seasons, summer had higher HE contamination in soil and vegetables compared to the winter season. The Cd and Ni concentrations in soil and Pb, Cd, and Cr in vegetables of both seasons exceeded their respective threshold limits set by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. Soil enrichment factors for HE contamination were observed greater than one that could be attributed to wastewater irrigation. Higher values of bioaccumulation factors were found for Cd (1.4), Co (1.8), and Cu (4.0). HE concentrations of vegetables were used for the risk assessment using average daily intake (ADI) and target hazard quotient (THQ). The ADI values of Cd and Pb were observed higher than their respective referenced dose. The THQ values ranged from 0.002–3.86 and 0.02–3.46 for adults and children. Higher THQ values could result in various health problems for the exposed human community.

Unplanned industrialization and improper management of wastes and gases into open surfaces are affecting the agricultural lands causing heavy metal pollution. This study monitored a suburban industrial zone located beside the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) at the Dhaka district in Bangladesh. We studied the heavy metal (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, Pb, and Cd) concentration in the agricultural soils, plants, and in the atmospheric particulate matter (PM). The soils were found moderately contaminated with Fe, Cu, Ni, Co, and Zn and less contamination with Mn, Cr, Pb, and Cd. The enrichment factor (EF) and pollution load index (PLI) concluded a moderate level of soil pollution in this region. Besides, the plant samples showed an excess level of Cr and a similar level of Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, Pb, and Cd compared with the levels of industrial polluted sites of Bangladesh. The atmospheric PM analysis showed the presence of Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Pb metals. The EF showed the anthropogenic origin of Mn and Ni in the atmospheric PM. The statistical correlation (r 0.0001) of soil and plant heavy metals showed the possibility of transfer of metals from soil to plant which will cause the increase of pollution intensity. Overall, this agricultural region became an intermediate pollution zone. This study will help the decision-maker become conscious of heavy metal pollution in the suburban regions to monitor agricultural lands from anthropogenic pollution.

The current study was focused on the usage of bio synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles to increase the tissue culture efficiency of important forage grass Panicum virgatum. Zinc being a micronutrient enhanced the callogenesis and regeneration efficiency of Panicum virgatum at different concentrations. Here, we synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles through Cymbopogon citratus leaves extract to evaluate the influence of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the quality of plant regeneration in switchgrass. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) validate phase purity of green synthesize Zinc oxide nanoparticles whereas, electron microscopy (SEM) has illustrated the average size of particle 50±4 nm with hexagonal rod like shape. Energy dispersive Xray (EDS) spectra depict major peaks of Zn (92.68%) while minor peaks refer to Oxygen (7.32%). ZnO NPs demonstrate the incredibly promising results against callogenesis. Biosynthesized ZnO NPs at optimum concentration showed very promising effect on plant regeneration ability. Both the explants, seeds and nodes used in study showed dose dependent response and upon high doses exceeding 40 mg/L the results were recorded negative, whereas at 30 mg/L both explants demonstrate 70 % and 76 % regeneration frequency. The results conclude that zinc oxide nanoparticles enhance plant growth and development. Being one of the essential plant nutrients, ZnO has greatly tailored the nutritive properties at nano-scale.

To ensure adequate access to urban facilities, it is important for urban planners to achieve equity in the geographical arrangement of such facilities. For the evaluation of vertical spatial equity in the geographical organization of urban facilities, there is a requirement to examine whether and to what degree the variation in spatial accessibility to urban facilities corresponds to the variation in aspatial accessibility for such facilities. While no studies so far measure vertical spatial equity in accordance with ‘need’ and ‘demand’ based approaches of equity with a focus on both spatial and aspatial accessibility. Therefore, this paper attempts to measure an integrated spatial accessibility index for the evaluation of geographic variation in spatial accessibility to urban facilities, and then, seeks to integrate spatial accessibility and aspatial accessibility in one framework to evaluate vertical spatial equity in the geographical arrangement of urban facilities. This paper measures integrated spatial accessibility index for urban facilities following the concept of 2SFCA method incorporating supply and demand for urban facilities, the travel distance or time that users are willing to cover to reach such facilities, and the interaction of residents across geographic boundaries. Aspatial accessibility to urban facilities is defined through demographic-demand index and social-need index for those facilities. Spearmen correlation coefficient, spatial analysis models (local spatial autocorrelation in this case), and overlay are used to assess the association between spatial accessibility and aspatial accessibility to urban facilities. The results indicate there exists a variation (inequality) in spatial accessibility to urban facilities in the case study area (DCC). Urban facilities are inequitably distributed within DCC, as high-social-need areas and high-demographic-demand areas have low spatial accessibility to such facilities. These areas should be prioritized in distributing urban facilities in the future, and thus, it can help urban planners to achieve an equitable distribution of urban facilities. Keywords: Spatial accessibility, Aspatial accessibility, Spatial equity, Urban facilities, 2SFCA

Brain tumor, a type of cancer, is caused by a genetic mutation of abnormal neuronal cells. However, it cannot be easily diagnosed and depends on the patient’s symptoms which range from hemialgia, seizure, irregular vision, mental shift and many more. The symptoms may vary depending on the region of the tumor. Currently, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan is the foremost means for tumor detection as well as identifying the position and extent of the tumor for surgical procedure. However, the MRIs are needed to be manually checked by a professional to determine the results. We propose a system which is an effective image processing algorithm for detecting and recognizing the tumor from MRI images to obtain the image segmentation of brain bleeding more accurately, making immediate medical treatment possible. In this system, the same problem with different procedures and methods is tested to find the best conjunction through trial and error. Through the combination, the effectiveness and error ratio of the results is engrossed on. This approach is for early detection of brain tumors with high correctness which gives an adequate result by detecting brain tumor properly.