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Background: To tolerate salt and water-deficit stress, the plant adapts to the adverse environment by regulating its metabolism and expressing certain stress-induced metabolic pathways. This research analyzed the relative expression of four pea genes (P5CR, PAL1, SOD, and POX) in three pea varieties (Climax, Green grass, and Meteor) under different levels of salt and water-deficit stress. Methods and results: The experiments on salt stress and water-deficit stress were carried out within greenhouse settings under controlled environment. The saturation percentage was employed to create artificial salinity conditions: Control without NaCl treatment, Treatment 1: 50 mM NaCl treatment, Treatment 2: 75 mM NaCl treatment, and Treatment 3: 100 mM NaCl treatment. Field capacity (FC) was used for the development of artificial water-deficit treatments in the pots, i.e., Treatment 1 (Control; water application 100% of FC), Treatment 2 (water application 75% of FC), and Treatment 3 (water application 50% of FC). Pea genes involved in biosynthetic pathways of proline, flavonoids, and enzymatic antioxidant enzymes including P5CR, PAL1, SOD, and POX were selected based on literature. Quantitative real-time PCR using cDNA as a template was used to analyze the gene expression. Pea genes were analyzed for phylogenetic analysis in closely related crops having similarity percent identity 80% and above. In silico characterization of selected proteins including the family classification was done by the NCBI CDD and INTERPRO online servers. Results from RT-qPCR analysis showed increased expression of P5CR, PAL1, and POX genes, while SOD gene expression decreased under both stresses. Climax exhibited superior stress tolerance with elevated expression of P5CR and PAL1, while Meteor showed better tolerance through increased POX expression. Phylogenetic analysis revealed common ancestry with other species like chickpea, red clover, mung bean, and barrel clover, suggesting the cross relationship among these plant species. Conserved domain analysis of respective proteins revealed that these proteins contain PLNO 2688, PLN02457, Cu–Zn Superoxide dismutase, and secretory peroxidase conserved domains. Furthermore, protein family classification indicated that the oxidation–reduction process is the most common chemical process involved in these stresses given to pea plant which validates the relationship of these proteins. Conclusions: Salt and water-deficit stresses trigger distinct metabolic pathways, leading to the up-regulation of specific genes and the synthesis of corresponding proteins. These findings further emphasize the conservation of stress-tolerance-related genes and proteins across various plant species. This knowledge enhances our understanding of plant adaptation to stress and offers opportunities for developing strategies to improve stress resilience in crops, thereby addressing global food security challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To tolerate salt and water-deficit stress, the plant adapts to the adverse environment by regulating its metabolism and expressing certain stress-induced metabolic pathways. This research analyzed the relative expression of four pea genes (P5CR, PAL1, SOD, and POX) in three pea varieties (Climax, Green grass, and Meteor) under different levels of salt and water-deficit stress. Methods and results: The experiments on salt stress and water-deficit stress were carried out within greenhouse settings under controlled environment. The saturation percentage was employed to create artificial salinity conditions: Control without NaCl treatment, Treatment 1: 50 mM NaCl treatment, Treatment 2: 75 mM NaCl treatment, and Treatment 3: 100 mM NaCl treatment. Field capacity (FC) was used for the development of artificial water-deficit treatments in the pots, i.e., Treatment 1 (Control; water application 100% of FC), Treatment 2 (water application 75% of FC), and Treatment 3 (water application 50% of FC). Pea genes involved in biosynthetic pathways of proline, flavonoids, and enzymatic antioxidant enzymes including P5CR, PAL1, SOD, and POX were selected based on literature. Quantitative real-time PCR using cDNA as a template was used to analyze the gene expression. Pea genes were analyzed for phylogenetic analysis in closely related crops having similarity percent identity 80% and above. In silico characterization of selected proteins including the family classification was done by the NCBI CDD and INTERPRO online servers. Results from RT-qPCR analysis showed increased expression of P5CR, PAL1, and POX genes, while SOD gene expression decreased under both stresses. Climax exhibited superior stress tolerance with elevated expression of P5CR and PAL1, while Meteor showed better tolerance through increased POX expression. Phylogenetic analysis revealed common ancestry with other species like chickpea, red clover, mung bean, and barrel clover, suggesting the cross relationship among these plant species. Conserved domain analysis of respective proteins revealed that these proteins contain PLNO 2688, PLN02457, Cu–Zn Superoxide dismutase, and secretory peroxidase conserved domains. Furthermore, protein family classification indicated that the oxidation–reduction process is the most common chemical process involved in these stresses given to pea plant which validates the relationship of these proteins. Conclusions: Salt and water-deficit stresses trigger distinct metabolic pathways, leading to the up-regulation of specific genes and the synthesis of corresponding proteins. These findings further emphasize the conservation of stress-tolerance-related genes and proteins across various plant species. This knowledge enhances our understanding of plant adaptation to stress and offers opportunities for developing strategies to improve stress resilience in crops, thereby addressing global food security challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Distal pancreatectomy is a standard treatment for tumours of the pancreatic body and tail. Minimally invasive techniques for all types of pancreatic tumours (benign and malignant) are being established, while concerns regarding oncological safety, cost effectiveness and learning curves are being explored with prospective studies. This paper presents our unit's data in the context of the above concerns and provides a relevant narrative review of the current literature. (2) Methods: Data were collected retrospectively between 2014 and 2021 for all adult patients who underwent elective distal pancreatectomy in our tertiary care referral HPB Unit. Data on demographics, underlying pathology, perioperative variables and post-operative complications were collected and reported using descriptive statistics. On review of the Miami guidelines, four important but less validated areas regarding distal pancreatectomy are presented in light of the current evidence; these are recent randomised controlled trials, oncological safety, cost effectiveness and learning curves in minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP). (3) Results: 207 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy in total from 2014–2021, with 114 and 93 patients undergoing open and minimally invasive techniques, respectively. 44 patients were operated on for PDAC in the open vs. 17 in the minimally invasive group. The operative time was 212 min for the open and 248 min for the minimally invasive group. The incidence of pancreatic fistula was higher in the minimally invasive group vs. the open group (16% vs. 4%). (4) Conclusions: Our unit's data conform with the published literature, including three randomised control trials. These published studies will not only pave the way for establishing minimally invasive techniques for suitable patients, but also define their limitations and indications. Future studies will inform us about the oncological safety, cost effectiveness, overall survival and learning curves regarding patients undergoing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) afflict a significant proportion of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), ranging from 25% to 30% of patients throughout the course of the disease. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in the application of near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging as an intraoperative imaging technique for liver surgery. The utilisation of NIRF-guided liver surgery, facilitated by the administration of fluorescent dye indocyanine green (ICG), has gained traction in numerous medical institutions worldwide. This innovative approach aims to enhance lesion differentiation and provide valuable guidance for surgical margins. The use of ICG, particularly in minimally invasive surgery, has the potential to improve lesion detection rates, increase the likelihood of achieving R0 resection, and enable anatomically guided resections. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of ICG, such as its low specificity. Consequently, there has been a growing demand for the development of tumour-specific fluorescent probes and the advancement of camera systems, which are expected to address these concerns and further refine the accuracy and reliability of intraoperative fluorescence imaging in liver surgery. While NIRF imaging has been extensively studied in patients with CRLM, it is worth noting that a significant proportion of published research has predominantly focused on the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we present a comprehensive literature review of the existing literature pertaining to intraoperative fluorescence imaging in minimally invasive surgery for CRLM. Moreover, our analysis places specific emphasis on the techniques employed in liver resection using ICG, with a focus on tumour detection in minimal invasive surgery (MIS). Additionally, we delve into recent developments in this field and offer insights into future perspectives for further advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of the Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan during the winter season of 2018-19 with the objective to evaluate weed dynamics, growth, and productivity of wheat crop under stale seedbed. This experiment was held under RCBD with three replications. The study consisted of eight treatments viz: T1: stale seedbed + no herbicide, T2: stale seedbed + glyphosate @ 711 a.i mL ha-1, T3: stale seedbed + paraquat-dichloride @ 494 a.i mL ha-1, T4: stale seedbed + atlantis (mesosulfuron-methyl and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium) @ 15 a.i g ha-1, T5: stale seedbed + glyphosate @ 356 a.i mL ha-1 + paraquat @ 247 a.i mL ha-1, T6: stale seedbed + glyphosate @ 356 a.i mL ha-1 + atlantis @ 7.5 a.i g ha-1, T7: stale seedbed + paraquat @ 247 a.i mL ha-1 + atlantis @ 7.5 a.i g ha-1, T8: stale seedbed + glyphosate @ 237 a.i mL ha-1 + paraquat @ 165 a.i mL ha-1+ atlantis @ 5 a.i g ha-1. The highest WCE (84%), HEI (13.01), Pn (13.83 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1) and gs (234.33 mmol m-2 s-1) was recorded in plots treated with glyphosate + paraquat + atlantis. The highest NAR (3.60 gm-2day-1), LAI (4.82), GCR (7.87 gm-2day-1), LAD (186.43 days) was recorded in the treatment Stale seedbed + glyphosate + paraquat + atlantis. This treatment depicted the highest productive tillers m-2 (246.33), grains spike-1 (53.67), 100-grains weight (31.88 g), and grain yield 40% (4.65 Tons ha-1) in comparison with the no herbicide treated plots. From this study, it is concluded that using the stale seedbed, pre- and post-emergence herbicides in reduced doses can restrict weeds growth till 40 DAS to maximize wheat productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) are becoming the foremost part of rescue teams for protecting human lives from severe disasters and reducing human casualties by informing them about the risks ahead, such as mine detection and clearance. In mine detection, a centralized system is required so that the UGVs can communicate with each other efficiently to disseminate the mine detection messages (MDMs) to incoming vehicles of military and civilians. Therefore, in this piece of research, a novel unmanned ground and aerial vehicle (UGAV)-based mine-detection-vehicle routing (MDVR) protocol has been proposed, mainly for the mine detection and clearance teams using a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET). The protocol disseminates the MDMs using UGVs and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in combination to overcome the limitations of only inter-UGV communication. The proposed protocol performs cluster-based multicast communication in real time using UAVs so that the dynamic mobility of UGVs cannot affect the performance of MDM dissemination. Hence, the proposed scheme is adaptable because any failure in message delivery can cause a high level of destruction. The proposed cluster-based scheme can adapt to any real-time scenario by introducing the level-based cluster-head election scheme (LBCHE), which works concerning its assigned priority for reducing the delay incurred in MDMs dissemination. The simulation of the proposed protocol in the network simulator (NS) shows that the overhead and delay are reduced in MDMs dissemination. At the same time, the throughput, packet delivery ratio, and stability increased compared to the other competing protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Action Recognition (HAR) is a current research topic in the field of computer vision that is based on an important application known as video surveillance. Researchers in computer vision have introduced various intelligent methods based on deep learning and machine learning, but they still face many challenges such as similarity in various actions and redundant features. We proposed a framework for accurate human action recognition (HAR) based on deep learning and an improved features optimization algorithm in this paper. From deep learning feature extraction to feature classification, the proposed framework includes several critical steps. Before training fine-tuned deep learning models - MobileNet-V2 and Darknet53 - the original video frames are normalized. For feature extraction, pre-trained deep models are used, which are fused using the canonical correlation approach. Following that, an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO)-based algorithm is used to select the best features. Following that, the selected features were used to classify actions using various classifiers. The experimental process was performed on six publicly available datasets such as KTH, UT-Interaction, UCF Sports, Hollywood, IXMAS, and UCF YouTube, which attained an accuracy of 98.3%, 98.9%, 99.8%, 99.6%, 98.6%, and 100%, respectively. In comparison with existing techniques, it is observed that the proposed framework achieved improved accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the Qatar Medical Journal, discusses the incidence of right ventricular (RV) strain in pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with Covid-19 pneumonia. The study analyzed 63 cases of PE in Covid-19 patients and found an RV strain incidence of 22.2% and a mortality rate of 25.4%. However, there was no significant association between RV strain and clot burden or mortality. The authors suggest that further research with a larger sample size is needed to fully understand the relationship between RV strain and PE in Covid-19 pneumonia. [Extracted from the article]

Comprehension algorithms like High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) facilitates fast and efficient handling of multimedia contents. Such algorithms involve various computation modules that help to reduce the size of content but preserve the same subjective viewing quality. However, the brute-force behavior of HEVC is the biggest hurdle in the communication of multimedia content. Therefore, a novel method will be presented here to accelerate the encoding process of HEVC by making early intra mode decisions for the block. Normally, the HEVC applies 35 intra modes to every block of the frame and selects the best among them based on the RD-cost (rate-distortion). Firstly, the proposed work utilizes neighboring blocks to extract available information for the current block. Then this information is converted to the probability that tells which intra mode might be best in the current situation. The proposed model has a strong foundation as it is based on the probability rule-2 which says that the sum of probabilities of all outcomes should be 1. Moreover, it is also based on optimal stopping theory (OST). Therefore, the proposed model performs better than many existing OST and classical secretary-basedmodels. The proposed algorithms expedited the encoding process by 30.22% of the HEVC with 1.35% Bjontegaard Delta Bit Rate (BD-BR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to evaluate outcomes of vascularized fibula flap used for Avascular necrosis of femoral head. Outcomes were recorded by post-operative Harris hip and radiological improvement of the femoral head. Study Design: Retrospective longitudinal study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plastic Surgery, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad Pakistan, from Jan 2019 to Jan 2020. Methodology: Cases were recruited from 2005-2018 (SIH) performed by the same Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgeon. Data from 30 patients was reviewed. Ethical approval and consent of the patient were taken before the utilization of their data. Results: A total of 30 patients were included, comprising 27(90%) males and 3(10%) females. The mean age was 28.3± years. Pre-operative Harris Hip scores were fair in 17(56.7%) and poor in 13(43.3%) patients. Post operatively these scores improved and were noted to be excellent in 10(33.3%), good in 18(60%) and fair in 2(6,7%) patients. Radiological improvement was seen in 20(80%) patients, 8(23.3%) showed no change and 2(6.7%) went into progression. The radiological improvement was significantly associated with aetiology (p=0.004) and Avascular necrosis of HIP (p=0.007). Conclusion: A vascularized fibular graft is an effective treatment option for avascular necrosis of the femoral head in terms of improved radiological outcomes and post-operative Harris Hip scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous occurrence of Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) is very rare. Only 3 pediatric case reports were reported in literature. All 3 patients presented with therapy-sensitive disease. Unfortunately, only one patient survived. It is preventable in 100% of patients, but TLS is a hard nut to crack. We present three distinct cases of spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome within the pediatric population, each associated with different types of tumors. A 3-year-old boy with mediastinal germ cell tumor of stage III, had hyperuricemia and hyperphosphatemia on presentation, tumor lysis syndrome improved but later died with sepsis, another patient of 4-year-old girl with precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma had hyperkalemia, hyperuricemia and hyperphosphatemia on presentation and third patient was 6-year-old boy with abdominal Burkitt lymphoma stage III presented with hyperkalemia, hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) before initiation of chemotherapy. Later both these patients improved and survived. Spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome has high mortality, so it is of utmost importance to diagnose it timely. Swift and effective responses to spontaneous TLS can significantly reduce the risk of mortality linked to this critical emergency condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early prediction of Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be vital for the endurance of patients and establishes as an accommodating and facilitative factor for specialists. The proposed work presents a robotized predictive structure, dependent on machine learning (ML) methods for the forecast of AD. Neuropsychological measures (NM) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers are deduced and passed on to a recurrent neural network (RNN). In the RNN, we have used long short-term memory (LSTM), and the proposed model will predict the biomarkers (feature vectors) of patients after 6, 12, 21 18, 24, and 36 months. These predicted biomarkers will go through fully connected neural network layers. The NN layers will then predict whether these RNN-predicted biomarkers belong to an AD patient or a patient with a mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The developed methodology has been tried on an openly available informational dataset (ADNI) and accomplished an accuracy of 88.24%, which is superior to the next-best available algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brute-force behaviour of High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is the biggest hurdle in the communication of the multimedia contents. Therefore, a novel method will be presented here to expedite the intra mode decision process of HEVC. In the first step, the feasibility of the odds-algorithm for the early intra mode decision is presented by using statistical evidence. Then, various elements of odds algorithm are analyzed and then mapped to the intra mode process (elements) of HEVC. Finally, the probability required by the odds algorithm is obtained by utilizing the correlation between the current and the neighboring blocks. The proposed algorithm accelerated the encoding process of the HEVC by 25% to 35%, while the Bjontegaard Delta Bit Rate (BD-BR) is 0.95% to 1.84%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left sided superior vena cava (SVC) is a rare anatomic variant of the normal anatomy of the heart and the venous system that has clinical implications. The presence of this variant is relevant to central venous catheter placement, cardioverter defibrillator placement, coronary artery bypass grafting, and numerous other medical procedures. In this report, we describe a rare case of left sided SVC, which was diagnosed during central venous catheter insertion. We also discuss the vascular and anesthetic considerations for individuals with this uncommon variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Liver surgery is a major and challenging procedure for the surgeon, the anesthetist, and the patient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the postoperative nonhepatic complications of patients undergoing liver resection surgery with perioperative factors. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 79 patients who underwent liver resection surgeries at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore, Pakistan, from July 2015 to December 2022. Results The mean age at the time of surgery was 53 years (range: 3-77 years), and the mean BMI was 26.43 (range: 15.72-38.0 kg/m 2 ). Of the total patients, 44.3 % (n = 35) had no comorbidities, 26.6% (n=21) had one comorbidity, and 29.1% (n=23) had two or more comorbidities. Patients in whom the blood loss was more than 375 ml required postoperative oxygen inhalation with a significant relative risk of 2.6 (p=0.0392) and an odds ratio of 3.5 (p=0.0327). Similarly, patients who had a surgery time of more than five hours stayed in the hospital for more than seven days, with a statistically significant relative risk of 2.7 (p=0.0003) and odds ratio of 7.64 (p=0.0001). The duration of surgery was also linked with the possibility of requiring respiratory support, with a relative risk of 5.0 (p=0.0134) and odds ratio of 5.73 (p=0.1190). Conclusion Patients in our cohort who had a prolonged duration of surgery received an increased amount of fluids, and a large volume of blood loss was associated with prolonged stay in the ICU (>2 days), hospital admission (>7 days), ICU readmission, and increased incidence of cardiorespiratory, neurological, and renal disturbances postoperatively., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Akhtar et al.)

Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Background Subtotal cholecystectomy (STC) has been reported as an effective method to remove the gallbladder if the hepatocystic triangle anatomy is unfavourable. However, the evidence regarding its long-term outcomes from the United Kingdom (UK) is lacking. This study aimed to assess its short and long-term outcomes with a minimum of one-year follow-up. Methodology We retrospectively analysed all elective and emergency STCs performed in a single UK NHS Trust between 2014 and 2020. Relevant data were collected using electronic patient records and questionnaire-based, long-term, telephonic follow-up (median follow-up of 3.7 years). Outcomes examined were immediate/short-term complications (biliary injury, bile leak, return-to-theatre) and long-term problems (recurrent symptoms, choledocholithiasis, cholangitis/pancreatitis). Results There were a total of 50 STC cases (58% females) out of 4,341 cholecystectomies performed (1.15%), with the median age, body mass index, and length of stay being 69.5 years, 29 kg/m 2 and eight days, respectively. Twenty-eight (56%) were emergency. No patient endured bile duct injury. Seven (14%) patients had postoperative bile leak which was significantly more common when Hartmann's pouch was left open (33% vs. 8%; p = 0.03). No bile duct injury was reported. Most were managed conservatively (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography + stent: four; radiological drainage: one; no intervention: one). Only one patient required laparoscopic lavage and drainage. The true incidence of developing choledocholithiasis over the long term was 4/50 (8%) in our study. The median interval between STC and the diagnosis of postoperative choledocholithiasis was 15.9 months. All four patients had undergone type 1 STC (where the remnant of Hartmann's pouch was closed with sutures); however, subsequent cross-sectional imaging (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or computed tomography) showed that the gallbladder remnant was visible in only two of these four patients. Conclusions STC is a safe option in difficult situations and prevents bile duct injury. Although the risk of bile leak can be reduced by closing Hartmann's pouch remnant, this may slightly increase the risk of subsequent stone formation. Infrequent occurrence of recurrent gallstone-related symptoms or complications favours its use., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Bodla et al.)

An rare pandemic of viral pneumonia occurs in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, which is now recognized internationally as Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the etiological agent classified as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it has so far expanded to more than 213 countries/territories worldwide. Our study aims to find the viral peptides of SARS-COV-2 by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) in order to predict its novel structure and find an inhibitor for each viral peptide. For this reason, we calculated the mass of amino acid sequences translated from the SARS-CoV2 whole genome and identify the peptides that may be a target for inhibition. Molecular peptide docking with Moringa oleifera, phytochemicals (aqueous and ethanolic) leaf extracts of flavonoids (3.56 ± 0.03), (3.83 ± 0.02), anthraquinone (11.68 ± 0.04), (10.86 ± 0.06) and hydroxychloroquine present therapy of COVID-19 in Pakistan for comparative study. Results indicate that 15 peptides of SARS-CoV2 have been identified from PMF, which is then used as a selective inhibitor. The maximum energy obtained from AutoDock Vina for hydroxychloroquine is -5.1 kcal/mol, kaempferol (flavonoid) is -6.2 kcal/mol, and for anthraquinone -6 kcal/mol. Visualization of docking complex, important effects are observed regarding the binding of peptides to drug compounds. In conclusion, it is proposed that these compounds are effective antiviral agents against COVID-19 and can be used in clinical trials.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.