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Background We have previously reported pulmonary arterial remodelling in smokers and patients with early COPD, which can be attributed to endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT). In this study, we aimed to evaluate if EndMT is an active mechanism in smokers and COPD. Methods Immunohistochemical staining for the EndMT biomarkers CD31, N-cadherin, vimentin and S100A4 was done on lung resection tissue from 49 subjects. These comprised 15 nonsmoker controls (NC), six normal lung function smokers (NLFS), nine patients with small airway disease (SAD), nine current smokers with mild-moderate COPD (COPD-CS) and 10 ex-smokers with COPD (COPD-ES). Pulmonary arteries were analysed using Image ProPlus software v7.0. Results We noted reduced junctional CD31+ endothelial cells (p

Abstract Background Although asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two distinct chronic airway inflammatory diseases, they often co-exist in a patient and the condition is referred to as asthma-COPD overlap (ACO). Lack of evidence regarding the inflammatory cells in ACO airways has led to their poor prognosis and treatment. The objective of this endobronchial biopsy (EBB) study was to enumerate inflammatory cellular changes in the airway wall of ACO compared with asthma, COPD current smokers (CS) and ex-smokers (ES), normal lung function smokers (NLFS), and non-smoker controls (HC). Methods EBB tissues from 74 patients were immunohistochemically stained for macrophages, mast cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, CD8+ T-cells and CD4+ T-cells. The microscopic images of stained tissues were evaluated in the epithelium, reticular basement membrane (RBM) cells/mm RBM length, and lamina propria (LP) cells/mm2 up to a depth of 120 µM using the image analysis software Image-Pro Plus 7.0. The observer was blinded to the images and disease diagnosis. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism v9. Results The tissue macrophages in ACO were substantially higher in the epithelium and RBM than in HC (P

The present study was conducted for the phytase production using solid-state fermentation (SSF) by Aspergillus niger. Optimization of various medium components was carried out for better production of phytase. Maximum enzyme activity (265.12±5.51 IU/g) was obtained, when the fungus was grown in the optimized culture medium containing glucose (1%), NH4NO3 (0.5%), FeSO4.7H2O (0.1%), KCl (0.1%), and MgSO4.7H2O(0.1%) at 35 °C after 5 days of incubation time with pH 6. Then phytase was supplemented as poultry feed additive and given to broiler chickens during a feeding trial of 5 weeks. For this purpose, the birds of the control group (T0) were fed on a basal diet without external phytase, whereas, the birds of the experimental group (T3) were given basal feed + 3000 IU phytase per Kg diet. The results exhibited that there was an improvement in the body weight gain (BWG) of chicks i.e. 1903 g - 2090 g for the control group (T0) and experimental group (T3), respectively. The current study thus indicated the affectivity of phytase as a supplement in the broilers diet for better growth performance and recommended its use as an efficient additive in poultry feed formulatio [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research work was conducted to improve the phytase production by genetic alteration of Aspergillus niger with induced mutagenesis using solid state fermentation. Strain improvement was carried out in the presence of ultra violet (UV) irradiation and ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS) [0.5% v/v] treatments for various time intervals. We reported an improved strain of Aspergillus niger designated as UV-3 mutant producing a zone of hydrolysis of about 40 mm, in comparison to wild strain (26 mm). The highest enzyme activity was found to be 547.64 IU/g for UV-3 mutant followed by EMS-4 mutant (492.23 IU/g) compared to wild strain which showed 406.45 IU/g of enzyme activity. There was 1.35- fold increase in phytase production after mutation studies of Aspergillus niger. Phytase was applied as poultry feed additive and given to broiler chickens for 5 weeks. The results exhibited that there was increase in body weight gain (BWG) of chicks for experimental group (2028 g) in comparison to control group (1903 g). Thus, physical and chemical mutagenesis was proved as an effective technique for the improvement of strain and ultimately for enhanced and economical phytase production for different industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the analysis of the performance of the English Language Teachers (ELTs) and Teachers with Formal Education (TFEs) at secondary level in public high schools. The study shows that ELTs have positive influence on the performance of the students in the final examinations conducted by the board of intermediate and secondary education. We collected the data for present study from three different public schools where ELTs and TFEs were teaching in parallel. The results of the students in their final exam conducted by the board were collected. The results show that those students who receive instruction from the ELTs show better results in the final examinations as compared to those who receive input from the TFEs. The study suggests that the practice of inducting qualified English language teachers at secondary level should continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subcontinent was turned into a diabolical region in August 1947 when the British announced the division of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan. Wickedness, violence, and pure evil erupted into powerful mass that soared out of control and consumed everyone that came in its path. Khushwant Singh's Train to Pakistan and Bapsi Sidhwa's Ice Candy Man describe the monstrosity of the events with such artistry that the tragedy comes alive. The two novels were published with the gap of three decades. Still they share a lot of details while retaining their individuality as well. Instead of depicting the events in political terms, the novelists have provided human dimensions which bring to the event a sense of reality, horror and believability. Bapsi Sidhwa narrates the story of upheaval of the 1947 partition of India through the eyes of a young Parsee girl Lenny growing up in Lahore. The character of Ayah is introduced to refer to several millions of displaced, looted and raped Hindus and Muslims during one of the harshest political phases in the history of the subcontinent. While on the other hand, Train to Pakistan not only records man's bestiality, but it also proves that man is essentially humane and sincere. Even society's marginalized characters like Juggat Singh can be a ray of hope and life for the depressed and distressed souls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims at identifying the issues and problems of quality assurance in Ph.D. English degree in Pakistan. The study shows that the quality of Ph.D. English degree is highly affected by the lack of qualified faculty, limited number of approved supervisors and the absence of the collaboration between universities within the country. The data was collected from 35 students of the M.S. degree programme, in preparation for the degree of Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics. Respondents' agreement to these issues and other problems like access to digital resources, the Internet, well-equipped libraries etc., suggests that quality assurance in Ph.D. English degree programme can be guaranteed only if these issues are given urgent attention and are solved on priority basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]