Search

The current investigation aimed to evaluate the role of Punica granatum juice extract to reduce nephrotoxic formation by amikacin in male and female albino rabbits by measuring some criteria for biochemical functions, such as creatinine, urea, albumin, total protein. Given amikacin (80mg/ kg) daily by injection in muscle for period of 15 days caused a significant increase at the level of (p ≤ 0.05)in the concentration of creatinine, and urea in the serum compared with the group control, while decreased the concentration of albumin and total protein significantly compared with the control group. The rabbits given orally total dose of 100ml several time of amikacin daily pomegranate juice, a concentration of 40%, concomitantly with the injection in muscle at aldose of (80) mg/kg/day) has recorded a significant decrease in the concentrations of creatinine and urea compared with the group of rabbits treated with amikacin only, and increased significantly the albumin and total protein compared with the control group treated with amikacin only.

The low performance of insulation panels has received great attention from many researchers and engineers to improve their properties as it has become a limiting factor that minimize their usage specifically as insulation building material. Recently, there has been an increase in interest in the development of composite insulation panels made from natural waste fiber. Due to the abundance of natural waste fiber generated by the agricultural industry, it has made them suitable to be utilized as raw material for composite insulation panels. Having improper waste disposal management might result in these massive quantities of valuable natural waste fiber having a detrimental effect on our ecosystem and contributing to various environmental pollution. A composite insulation panel made from natural waste fibers has unique and versatile features in terms of thermal, physical, and mechanical properties. Seeing such potential, this paper presents a review on the influencing factors towards improving comprehensive properties of composite insulation panels. Factors that influence the properties of the panel, such as the physico-chemical properties of fiber, fiber geometrical structure, and fiber treatment were discussed. Previous and recent research efforts related to factors influencing the properties of composite insulation panels were also compiled. Last but not least, the suitable criteria, limiting factors, and condition of the fiber used in composite insulation panels were also all highlighted.

Abdullah Omar Al Houssien,1 Adi Mohammed Al Owaifeer,2,3 Sameer I Ahmad,4– 6 Ohoud Owaidhah,7 Rizwan Malik8 1Fellowship and Residency Training Program, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA; 5Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; 6Glaucoma Consultants of Washington, Herndon, VA, USA; 7Glaucoma Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Ophthalmology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesCorrespondence: Abdullah Omar Al Houssien, Fellowship and Residency Training Program, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, 2775 Al Urobah Road, Umm Al Hamam Al Gharbi, Riyadh, 12329-8139, Saudi Arabia, Email AbdullahAlHoussien@gmail.comIntroduction and Objective: To describe a novel technique for providing external ligation of the Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) to prevent hypotony in eyes at high risk with a 4/0 nylon stent suture and report outcomes compared to ligation with an absorbable vicryl suture and no ligation in terms of efficacy and safety.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study investigating the efficacy and safety of in situ stenting compared to an absorbable ligature and the standard care, in high risk eyes, of hypotony. It included 116 patients; 34 in Group A (ligation + stent), 27 in Group B (ligation – stent), and 55 in Group C (no ligation).Results: The mean age (in years) of the participants was 53.94± 19.01 in Group A, 44.85± 29.92 in Group B and 52.62± 24.47 in Group C, 59% (n = 20), 63% (n = 17) and 60% (n = 33) were males, respectively. The follow-up period was at least 6 months (Group A: 9.1± 4.2 months, Group B: 9.6± 3.4 months and Group C: 10.2± 6.4 months). The mean baseline Snellen VA (LogMAR) was 1.82± 1.34, 1.30± 0.98 and 1.34± 1.07 and the mean baseline IOP was 32.50± 9.48, 28.22± 7.12 and 28.33± 10.63 mmHg, in Groups A, B and C, respectively. The failure rates, by the Kaplan Meier Survival curve, were higher 27.3% in Group C (no ligation) compared to 20.6% in Group A (ligation + stent) and 18.5% in Group B (ligation – stent) yet not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.4; log rank test). There was lower hypotony 2.9% in Group A and lower complications 25.9% in Group B but no statistical significance was found amongst the groups.Conclusion: In conclusion, temporary nylon in situ stenting of AGV had lower rates of hypotony. Furthermore, lower failure and complication rates were observed in vicryl only ligated AGV, then nylon in situ stented AGV and lastly in standard AGV controls.Keywords: AGV, hypotony, ligation, stent, ligature

LMB-100 is a novel immune-conjugate (immunotoxin) that targets mesothelin. A phase 1/2 clinical trial was conducted (NCT02810418) with primary objectives assessing the safety and efficacy of LMB-100 ± nab-paclitaxel. Participant blood samples were analyzed for changes in serum cytokines and circulating immune cell subsets associated with response or toxicity. On Arm A, participants (n = 20) received standard 30-minute LMB-100 infusion with nab-paclitaxel. Although clinical efficacy was observed, the combination caused intolerable capillary leak syndrome (CLS), a major toxicity of unclear etiology that affects many immunotoxin drugs. Participants developing CLS experienced rapid elevations in IFNγ and IL-8 compared to those without significant CLS, along with midcycle increases in Ki-67- CD4 T cells that were CD38, HLA-DR, or TIM3 positive. Additionally, a strong increase in activated CD4 and CD8 T cells and a concurrent decrease in Tregs were seen in the single Arm A patient achieving a partial response. In Arm B, administration of single agent LMB-100 to participants (n = 20) as a long infusion given over 24-48 h was investigated based on pre-clinical data that this format could reduce CLS. An optimal dose and schedule of long infusion LMB-100 were identified, but no clinical efficacy was observed even in patients receiving LMB-100 in combination with nab-paclitaxel. Despite this, both Arm A and B participants experienced increases in specific subsets of proliferating CD4 and CD8 T cells following Cycle 1 treatment. In summary, LMB-100 treatment causes systemic immune activation. Inflammatory and immune changes that accompany drug associated CLS were characterized for the first time.

Oxidative stress is a significant source of the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases; that is why antioxidant behavior is one of the most commonly identified biological activities in citrus fruits. The pulp of citrus fruits is the sticky substance of the fruit's endocarp and contains the fruit's juice. This study scrutinizes the quality assessment, sensory evaluation, and free radical scavenging activity (RSA) of orange (Citrus auranthium) pulp. Free radical scavenging activity was examined by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. The quality assessment parameters results showed that the ºBrix of orange pulp was 64.50, pH 3.70, acidity 5.12, ratio 12.58, pulp 9.70%, and SO2 were not detected. On analyzing the sensory evaluation, it was found that orange pulp juice has the score of appearance (7.07 ± 0.146), color (7.27 ± 0.163), flavor (7.52 ± 0.172), taste (6.87 ± 0.156), and overall acceptability (7.60 ± 0.165). The results of free radical scavenging showed that the percentage inhibition was 9.55-54.80 at concentrations of 0.2-1.0 mg/ml. The antioxidant activity of orange pulp may be due to presence of polyphenols, flavonoids and possibly other compounds in orange pulp that are responsible for this activity. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 57(2), 123-130, 2022

Colonic wall thickening (CWT) is commonly associated with clinically significant pathologies, but predictive factors of such pathologies are not well known. This study aims to identify the predictors of clinically significant pathologies, such as colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in patients with CWT.Subjects with an abnormal abdominal computed tomography (CT) and a follow-up colonoscopy between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with CWT in the CT were included and examined in this study. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess for factors independently associated with CRC or IBD in these subjects. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to further examine significant parameters in multivariable logistic regression analysis.Among 403 patients with CWT on CT scans who underwent a colonoscopy, 269 subjects who met the inclusion criteria were identified and studied. On multivariable logistic regression models, elevated platelet count, low hematocrit, and localized CWT were found to be independently associated with CRC, while elevated platelet count and younger age were independently associated with IBD. On ROC curve analysis for CRC, area under the curve (AUC) for hematocrit, platelets, and localized CWT was 0.76, 0.75, and 0.61, respectively. On ROC curve analysis for IBD, AUC for age and platelets was 0.90 and 0.69, respectively.Elevated platelet count, low hematocrit, and localized CWT can be potentially used as predictors of CRC in patients with CWT. Elevated platelet count and young age can be used to predict IBD in these patients.

Regulations often are imposing long postmortem times before autopsy leading to certain toxicity-unrelated changes in biomarkers, which in turn may affect the reliability of toxicity evaluation during forensic investigations. Since methomyl pesticide shows significant toxicity and is frequently encountered in poisoning cases, the current study evaluated different parameters in methomyl intoxicated rats at three different postmortem intervals (Hour 0, Hour 3 and Hour 6). Eighteen adult Sprague Dawley rats were poisoned with methomyl to simulate actual methomyl poisoning cases. The time of death was assigned as Hour 0. The animals were divided into 3 groups (

This research was done to study the effects of chemical modification on the mechanical, thermal and hydrophobic properties of treated Sansevieria trifasciata fibre (STF) in hybridized polymer composites. Processing of the composites was done by using an internal mixer machine. The processing parameters used were 135°C for temperature and a mixing rotor speed of 55 rpm for 15 mins. Filler loading was varied from 10% to 40% of STF and the fibre size used was 125 µm. The composite blends obtained then were pressed with a hot press machine to get samples for testing. Samples were evaluated via tensile tests, water absorption tests, water contact angle tests, antioxidant activity and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that chemical modification by using silane-coupling agent has improved tensile strength, strain values and decreased water absorption of the treated composites. Antioxidant activity in treated fibre was also higher than untreated fibre, due to the removal of the impurities during the treatment. SEM micrographs have proven that the treated fibre has produced a rougher surface for more inter-facial interactions between fibre and matrix. Treated composites have given higher contact angle values compared to untreated composites and polymer matrix, contributed by the increment of the hydrophobic surface of the materials. From the results obtained, the treated composites have the potentials to be applied as packaging films to prolong the shelf life of food products due to their high barrier properties to water and moisture, even higher than typical packaging plastic (i.e HDPE). Materials obtained are also suitable for natural antioxidant packaging film and biodegradable packaging applications.

A review of Secure Constrained Node Networks and a performamce evaluation using traffic analysis in a Cooja based RPL: IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Network.

Purpose Despite growing recognition that unfortunately common maternal stress exposures in childhood and pregnancy may have intergenerational impacts on children’s psychiatric health, studies rarely take a life course approach. With child psychopathology on the rise, the identification of modifiable risk factors is needed to promote maternal and child well-being. In this study, we examined associations of maternal exposure to childhood traumatic events (CTE) and pregnancy stressful life events (PSLE) with child mental health problems in a large, sociodemographically diverse sample. Methods Participants were mother–child dyads in the ECHO-PATHWAYS consortium’s harmonized data across three U.S. pregnancy cohorts. Women completed questionnaires regarding their own exposure to CTE and PSLE, and their 4–6-year-old child’s mental health problems using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Regression analyses estimated associations between stressors and child total behavior problems, adjusting for confounders. Results Among 1948 dyads (child age M = 5.13 (SD = 1.02) years; 38% Black, 44% White; 8.5% Hispanic), maternal history of CTE and PSLE were independently associated with children’s psychopathology: higher CTE and PSLE counts were related to higher total problems ([ßCTE = 0.11, 95% CI [.06, .16]; ßSLE = 0.21, 95% CI [.14, 0.27]) and greater odds of clinical levels of problems (ORCTE = 1.41; 95% CI [1.12, 1.78]; ORPSLE = 1.36; 95% CI [1.23, 1.51]). Tests of interaction showed PSLEs were more strongly associated with child problems for each additional CTE experienced. Conclusion Findings confirm that maternal exposure to CTE and PSLE are independently associated with child mental health, and history of CTE exacerbates the risk associated with PSLE, highlighting intergenerational risk pathways for early psychopathology. Given the prevalence of these exposures, prevention and intervention programs that reduce childhood trauma and stress during pregnancy will likely positively impact women’s and their children’s health.

Plastics possess diverse functional properties that have made them extremely desirable. However, due to poor waste management practices, large quantities eventually end up in the oceans where their degradation begins. Hence, it is imperative to understand and further investigate the dynamics of this process. Currently, most relevant studies have been carried out under benign and/or controlled weather conditions. This study investigates the natural degradation of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in more extreme environments. Simulated and real marine conditions, both in the laboratory (indoors) and outdoors were applied for a duration of 140 days and results were assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. SEM micrographs revealed variations in the morphologies of both plastic types. Degradation signs were shown in both plastic types, under all conditions. Findings indicated that microplastics (MPs) degraded faster than macroplastics, with PP MPs having higher weight loss (49%) than PET MPs (1%) when exposed to outdoor marine conditions. Additionally, the degradation rates of MPs-PP were higher than MPs-PET for outdoor and indoor treatments, with 1.07 ×10-6g/d and 4.41 ×10-7g/d, respectively. FTIR combined with PCA was efficient in determining the most degraded plastic types. This paper was supported by Qatar University Internal Grant (No. QUCG-CAS-21/22-3). The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. The SEM-EDX, DSC, and FTIR analyses were accomplished in the Central Laboratories unit, Qatar University.

Birds are very valuable indicators of species richness and endemic patterns in a specified ecosystem, which eventually help the scientist to measure the environmental degradation. The aim of present study was to know human knowledge and attitude toward urban birds in Faisalabad city, Pakistan. The study conducted in four consecutive months: November 2019 to February 2020. Population of birds was noted from eight residential towns of Faisalabad city, data were collected through questionnaire. Faisalabad has a reasonably large population of birds and present data show that, there is a significant difference between favorite bird of residential areas and institutions. The pigeon received the most likeness in bird population among residential area residents, while the myna received the least. The most popular bird in Faisalabad institutions was the sparrow, while the least popular bird was the common myna. Bird adaptation percentage of residential areas and institutional areas of Faisalabad was the highest for parrot and sparrow respectively. People in residential areas and institutions, on the other hand, adapted least to common myna. It is concluded that people of the study area like birds and offered food and high population of birds are present in study area.

Cookies are one of the most widely consumed food products that are high in demand worldwide. Based on this fact, an attempt was made to develop the cookies by adding aloe vera gel due to its functional properties. The study was focused on the quality characterization of aloe vera-based cookies in terms of nutritional and sensory attributes. To find out the best formulation, the proximate composition and sensory analysis of biscuits containing 10%, 20% and 30% aloe vera gel were determined. For overall acceptability, cookies with 20% aloe vera gel were found best compared to the cookies containing 20% and 30% aloe vera gel. Aloe vera-based biscuits may also be helpful for most vulnerable populations in developing countries due to their functional properties. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.56(4), 293-298, 2021

The occurrence of shade and drought stress either individually or simultaneously causes altered morphophysiological and molecular responses in crops. Nevertheless, responses of crop plants to combined shade and drought stress are unique as compared to those of individually occurring stress which urges need to study and identify distinctions, commonalities, and the interaction between responses of plants to these concurrent stress factors. In the present review, we outlined currently available knowledge on responses of plants to shade and drought stress on a shared as well as the unique basis and tried to find a common thread potentially underlying these responses. Then, we briefly described some plausible mitigation strategies to cope with these stresses along with future perspectives. A deeper insight into plant responses to co-occurring shade and drought stress will help us to generate crops with broad-spectrum stress tolerance and increased resilience to such stresses in high planting densities or intercropping systems, thus, ensuring food security.

The structural, elastic, electrical, and thermodynamic characteristics of Fe2Hf cubic and hexagonal phases with space group Fd-3m and P63/mmc are presented using the generalized gradient approximations. The k-points mesh density and plane-wave energy cut-off accomplish the energy convergence. The computed equilibrium parameters are closer to the theoretical data. The elastic tensor and crystal anisotropy of ultra-incompressible Fe2Hf are computed in a wide pressure range. The isothermal and adiabatic bulk modulus, as well as the heat capacity of Fe2Hf is successfully calculated utilizing the quasi-harmonic Debye Model. The Fd-3m and P63/mmc Fe2Hf structures are stable in the studied pressure range.

Fenton (H2O2/Fe2+) system is a simple and efficient advanced oxidation technology (AOT) for the treatment of organic micropollutants in water and soil. However, it suffers from some drawbacks including high amount of the catalyst, acid pH requirement, sludge formation and slow regeneration of Fe2+ ions. If these drawbacks are surmounted, Fenton system can be the best choice AOT for the removal of persistent organics from water and soil. In this work, it was attempted to replace the homogeneous catalyst with a heterogeneous natural iron-based catalyst for the decomposition of H2O2 into oxidative radical species, mainly hydroxyl (HO•) and hydroperoxyl radicals (HO2•). The natural iron-based catalyst is hematite-rich (α-Fe2O3) and contains a nonnegligible amount of magnetite (Fe3O4) indicating the coexistence of Fe (III) and Fe(II) species. A pseudo-first order kinetics was determined for the decomposition of H2O2 by the iron-based solid catalyst with a rate constant increasing with the catalyst dose. The catalytic decomposition of H2O2 into hydroxyl radicals in the presence of the natural Fe-based catalyst was confirmed by the hydroxylation of benzoic acid into salicylic acid. The natural Fe-based catalyst/H2O2 system was applied for the degradation of riluzole in water. It was demonstrated that the smaller the particle size of the catalyst, the larger its surface area and the greater its catalytic activity towards H2O2 decomposition into hydroxyl radicals. The degradation of riluzole can occur at all pH levels in the range 3.0–12.0 with a rate and efficiency greater than H2O2 oxidation alone, indicating that the natural Fe-based catalyst can function at any pH without the need to control the pH by the addition of chemicals. An improvement in the efficiency and kinetics of the degradation of riluzole was observed under UV irradiation for both homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton systems. The results chromatography analysis demonstrate that the degradation of riluzole starts by the opening of the triazole ring by releasing nitrate, sulfate, and fluoride ions. The reuse of the catalyst after heat treatment at 500 °C demonstrated that the heat-treated catalyst retained an efficiency >90% after five cycles. The results confirmed that the natural sources of iron, as a heterogeneous catalyst in a Fenton-like system, is an appropriate replacement of a Fe2+ homogeneous catalyst. The reuse of the heterogeneous catalyst after a heat-treatment represents an additional advantage of using a natural iron-based catalyst in Fenton-like systems.

The ensuing ischemia due to the disruption of blood supply to the brain is one of the most common causes of stroke. Evidence suggests a clear association of the ischemic injury with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). In response to the brain ischemia, a cascade reaction starts leading to neuronal damage due to oxidative stress and other inflammatory mediators. A pilot study was done, which showed that following stroke, monomeric-C-reactive protein (mCRP) is expressed in large quantities around the infarcted zone and this CRP is able to induce neurodegeneration and inflammation potentially perpetuating dementia.We examined both patient brain samples and excised mouse brain tissue, previously injected with 1.75 mg/mL mCRP into the CA1 area of the hippocampus through the stereotactic surgical procedures and followed them over a period of over 6 months. The distribution of mCRP was examined through immunohistochemistry (mouse anti-human mCRP-specific antibodies 8C10).We observed a novel finding: those micro vessels close to the injection location were strongly stained with mCRP only in the mice that had been injected with mCRP, indicating that this small blood vessel can spread it throughout the brain.mCRP found in the brain after a hemorrhagic stroke promotes damage over a large area via the induction of inflammation and degeneration of perivascular compartments.

The promising variety “Khanpur Canola” (KN-279) is an outcome of hybridization (KN-120 × Shiralli) durong 2006-07 and chosen through Pedigree strategy for determination. Homozygous descendants were built in 2014-15 for yield assessment. Its exhibition was assessed in on station, micro yield preliminaries and national level Uniform Rapeseed Yield Preliminary trials. It has demonstrated its worth in all yield preliminaries and its exhibition is superior to every one of the current developed assortments. Its greatest yield of 3400 kg/ha was accomplished in NURYT 2018-19. It produced 22% higher yield in micro yield trials against standard variety during 2016-17. It surpassed the check (Faisal Canola) with 21% better return in National Uniform Rapeseed Yield trials in 2017-18. Similarly, in NURYT 2018-19 KN-279 gave 19% higher seed yield than the check hybrid Hyola 401.Khanpur canola is a striking cultivated new endorsed assortment having great qualities and reasonable for palatable oil creation. It has the erucic acid; 4.04 % and Glucosinolates; 17.20 µ mole/g oil and it gives 40-46 % eatable oil content on extraction. Agronomic examinations uncovered that this assortment needs no unique creation innovation bundle and fit in a superior manner with the current agronomic practices. The competitor assortment additionally showed most extreme aphid resistance when contrasted with the actually agronomic practices. It is reasonable for climatic states of both inundated and rain-fed region of the Punjab.

Chashma reservoir is located at latitude of Nº 32'26.110 and longitude of E° 71'25.571 and is constructed on the river Indus at District Mianwali on Dera Ismail Khan Road in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. It is the third largest multi-purpose reservoir in Pakistan and covers a surface area of 360 Km². It is used for flood control, irrigation, power generation and fish production. Its fish biodiversity was studied during a period of twenty four months from September 2013 to September 2015. Various fishing gears like hand nets, mosquito nets, rod and line, cast nets, drag nets and gill nets etc. were employed for sample collection. Total 74 numbers of fish species distributed over 9 orders, 21 families and 54 genera were recorded. Population dynamics of commercial fish specieswas also studied. Their numbers and biomass in the fish catch were recorded. Labeo gonius is the most prevalent species and found 50% in number and 37.34% in biomass in the total harvest whereas Wallago attu is the most commercial fish species which represent 5.37 % in number and 18% by weight in the total fish catch. Fish species are classified as common (C), not common (NC), rare (R), and very rare (VR) based on how frequently they appeared in the samples. Species utilized for aquaculture are marked as (CU) and the exotic species are represented as (E). This reservoirhosts around 39% of Pakistan's entire freshwater fish biodiversity.

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded radical changes in service delivery. Our centre adopted the use of outpatient telemedicine to reduce close-contact interactions between patients and staff. We hypothesised that incidental gains may be associated with this. We evaluated financial, practical and environmental implications of substituting virtual clinics (VCs) for in-person urology outpatient appointments. Methods VCs were studied over a 3-month period. Based on patient-reported ‘usual mode of transport’ to the hospital, travel distance, time, petrol and parking costs, and the carbon emissions avoided by virtue of remote consultations were calculated. The underlying symptom/diagnosis and the ‘effectiveness’ of the VC were evaluated. Results Of 1,016 scheduled consultations, 736 (72.44%) were conducted by VCs over the study period. VCs resulted in an agreed treatment plan in 98.4% of a representative patient sample. The use of VCs was associated with an overall travel distance saving for patients of 31,038 miles (49,951km) over 3 months, with an average round-trip journey of 93.8 miles (151km) avoided for each rural-dwelling patient and an average financial saving of £25.91 (€28.70) per rural-dwelling car traveller. An estimated 1,257.8 hours of patient time were saved by avoidance of travel and clinic waiting times. Based on car-travelling patients alone, a 6.07-tonne reduction in carbon emissions was achieved with the use of VCs. Conclusions In appropriate clinical circumstances, VCs appear to provide efficiency across a number of domains. Future healthcare may involve offering outpatients the option of telemedicine as an alternative to physical attendance.

Myricetin is a critical nutritive component of diet providing immunological protection and beneficial for maintaining good health. It is found in fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine. The families Myricaceae, Polygonaceae, Primulaceae, Pinaceae, and Anacardiaceae are the richest sources of myricetin. Different researchers explored the therapeutic potential of this valuable constituent such as anticancer, antidiabetic, antiobesity, cardiovascular protection, osteoporosis protection, anti‐inflammatory, and hepatoprotective. In addition to these, the compound has been tested for cancer and diabetic mellitus during clinical trials. Health benefits of myricetin are related to its impact on different cell processes, such as apoptosis, glycolysis, cell cycle, energy balance, lipid level, serum protein concentrations, and osteoclastogenesis. This review explored the potential health benefits of myricetin with a specific emphasis on its mechanism of action, considering the most updated and novel findings in the field., Myricetin is a critical nutritive component of diet providing immunological protection and beneficial for maintaining good health.

Cotton crop, plays a significant role in Pakistan’s economy by ruling a prominent place in edible oil and local textile industry. Phosphorus (P) inaccessibility and deficiency of soil organic matter are the key restraints for low crop productivity in cotton. Therefore, a two years field study was designed during 2014-15, to explore the influence of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM) and inanimate sources of P on various physiological, growth, yield and quality parameters of cotton crop at CCRI Multan. Field responses of seeds inoculated with two distinctive phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) strains viz. S0 = control, S1 =strain-1, S2 = strain-2 and eight organic, inorganic P sources viz., P0= control, P1 = 80 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source, P2 = 80 kg ha-1 P from FYM, P3 = 80 kg ha-1 P from PM, P4 = 40 kg ha-1 P from FYM + 40 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source, P5 = 40 kg ha-1 P from PM + 40 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source, P6 = 80 kg ha-1 P from FYM + 40 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source, P7 = 80 kg ha-1 P from PM + 40 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source and P8 = 40 kg ha-1 P from FYM + 40 kg ha-1 P from PM were evaluated. Results revealed that inoculation of seeds with PSB and collective use of inorganic and organic sources of P had considerably increased the yield contributing attributes in cotton. However, the treatment P7 (80 kg P ha-1 from PM + 40 kg P ha-1 from inorganic source) in coincidence with seeds inoculated with PSB (S1) produced taller plant, maximum boll weight, significantly higher LAI and CGR. Significantly higher seed cotton yield, lint yield, fiber length and maximum BCR of 1.95 and 1.81 was also obtained from the P7 treatment during both crop-growing seasons. In conclusion, combined use of 80 kg P ha-1 from PM + 40 kg P ha-1 from inorganic source and cotton seeds inoculated with strain-1 improved phosphorus uptake ensuing in greater consumption of photo-assimilates for maximum growth and yield. Resumo A safra de algodão, desempenha um papel significativo na economia do Paquistão, ao ocupar um lugar de destaque no óleo comestível e na indústria têxtil local. A inacessibilidade e a deficiência de fósforo (P) da matéria orgânica do solo são as principais restrições para a baixa produtividade das culturas em algodão. Portanto, um estudo de campo de dois anos foi desenvolvido durante 2014-15, para explorar a influência de bactérias solubilizantes de fosfato (PSB), esterco de capoeira (FYM), esterco de aves (PM) e fontes inanimadas de P sobre vários fatores fisiológicos, crescimento, rendimento e parâmetros de qualidade da cultura do algodão no CCRI Multan. Respostas de campo de sementes inoculadas com duas cepas distintas de bactérias solubilizantes de fosfato (PSB) viz. S0 = controle, S1 = cepa-1, S2 = cepa-2 e oito fontes orgânicas de P inorgânicas viz., P0 = controle, P1 = 80 kg ha-1 P de fonte inorgânica, P2 = 80 kg ha-1 P de FYM, P3 = 80 kg ha-1 P de PM, P4 = 40 kg ha-1 P de FYM + 40 kg ha-1 P de fonte inorgânica, P5 = 40 kg ha-1 P de PM + 40 kg ha-1 P de fonte inorgânica, P6 = 80 kg ha-1 P de FYM + 40 kg ha-1 P de fonte inorgânica, P7 = 80 kg ha-1 P de PM + 40 kg ha-1 P de fonte inorgânica e P8 = 40 Foram avaliados kg ha-1 P da FYM + 40 kg ha-1 P da PM. Os resultados revelaram que a inoculação de sementes com PSB e o uso coletivo de fontes inorgânicas e orgânicas de P aumentaram consideravelmente os atributos que contribuem para a produtividade no algodão. No entanto, o tratamento P7 (80 kg P ha-1 da PM + 40 kg P ha-1 da fonte inorgânica) em coincidência com sementes inoculadas com PSB (S1) produziu planta mais alta, peso máximo de cápsula, IAF e CGR significativamente maiores. Produtividade significativamente maior do algodão, rendimento de fiapos, comprimento da fibra e BCR máximo de 1,95 e 1,81 também foi obtida a partir do tratamento P7 durante as duas épocas de cultivo. Em conclusão, o uso combinado de 80 kg P ha-1 de PM + 40 kg P ha-1 de fonte inorgânica e sementes de algodão inoculadas com a cepa-1 melhoraram a captação de fósforo, resultando em maior consumo de foto assimilados para obter crescimento e produtividade máximos.

The perceived risk of transmission of aerosolised viral particles from patients to airway practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic led to the widespread use of aerosol precautions, including personal protective equipment and modifications to anaesthetic technique. The risk of these aerosol precautions on peri-operative airway complications has not been assessed outside of simulation studies. This prospective, national, multicentre cohort study aimed to quantify this risk. Adult patients undergoing general anaesthesia for elective or emergency procedures over a 96-hour period were included. Data collected included use of aerosol precautions by the airway practitioner, airway complications and potential confounding variables. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to assess the risk of individual aerosol precautions on overall and specific airway complications. Data from 5905 patients from 70 hospital sites were included. The rate of airway complications was 10.0% (95%CI 9.2-10.8%). Use of filtering facepiece class 2 or class 3 respirators was associated with an increased risk of airway complications (odds ratio 1.38, 95%CI 1.04-1.83), predominantly due to an association with difficult facemask ventilation (odds ratio 1.68, 95%CI 1.09-2.61) and desaturation on pulse oximetry (odds ratio 2.39, 95%CI 1.26-4.54). Use of goggles, powered air-purifying respirators, long-sleeved gowns, double gloves and videolaryngoscopy were not associated with any alteration in the risk of airway complications. Overall, the use of filtering facepiece class 2 or class 3 respirators was associated with an increased risk of airway complications, but most aerosol precautions used during the COVID-19 pandemic were not.

In this minireview, we intend to shed light on relatively recent examples related to the size and shape effects on materials at the nanoscale and their usage to test a set of quantum mechanics governed phenomena.

Gastric cancer significantly contributes to cancer mortality globally. Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a stage in the Correa cascade and a premalignant lesion of gastric cancer. The natural history of GIM formation and progression over time is not fully understood. Currently, there are no clear guidelines on GIM surveillance or management in the United States.To investigate factors associated with GIM development over time in African American-predominant study population.This is a retrospective longitudinal study in a single tertiary hospital in Washington DC. We retrieved upper esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) with gastric biopsies from the pathology department database from January 2015 to December 2020. Patients included in the study had undergone two or more EGDs with gastric biopsy. Patients with no GIM at baseline were followed up until they developed GIM or until the last available EGD. Exclusion criteria consisted of patients age18, pregnancy, previous diagnosis of gastric cancer, and missing data including pathology results or endoscopy reports. The study population was divided into two groups based on GIM status. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard induced by patient demographics, EGD findings, andOf 2375 patients who had at least 1 EGD with gastric biopsy, 579 patients were included in the study. 138 patients developed GIM during the study follow-up period of 1087 d on average, compared to 857 d in patients without GIM (An increase in age and non-Caucasian race/ethnicity are associated with an increased risk of GIM formation. The effect of

The prevailing global health crisis, posed by the pandemic COVID-19, has threatened the livelihood of the public around the world. The dramatic coronavirus surge (2019-nCoV) is denoted as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Initially, this deadly ailment was identified to have originated from bats and thereafter, passed on to human beings, in December 2019 via unknown modes of biological transmission in Wuhan, China. One of the leading causes of COVID-19 mortality could be attributed to respiratory failure (hypoxemic or hypercapnic) due to acute respiratory distress. From an immunological perspective, the virus triggers secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, which results in fulminant, followed by fatal hypercytokinaemia alongside multiple organ failure, which happens in adults, in most of the predominant cases. As several scientific communities and researchers, tirelessly strive to find a suitable cure since there is a need for finding a registered medication/vaccine against COVID-19, it becomes quite pertinent for boosting our immune system. As the immune system, supports the body’s ability, as a fortress, to defend against pathogenic microbes, comprising of viruses, fungi, bacteria and protozoan species, thereby restricting infection. This review emphasizes the utilization of naturally-derived or otherwise plant-based supplements/foods that facilitate in enhancing or boosting the immunity against COVID-19, irrespective of one’s age. For a healthy lifestyle, the use of micro and macronutrients, such as: magnesium, zinc, vitamin-rich foods, especially vitamins C, D and E, since health could be enhanced and an individual could be further aided to overcome the infection. This report, majorly investigates the significance of antioxidants and their roles as immune boosters, through determining the various vitamins C and D-rich compounds, alongside the various secondary metabolites-endowed foods from various sources, which could most likely facilitate in improving immunity and thereby, controlling COVID-19.

Reducing the leaf senescence rate could improve the grain yield in maize. In the present study, maize seeds were treated with uniconazole at concentrations of 0 and 25 mg kg-1, and nitrogen was applied at 0, 150, and 225 kg ha-1 to maize crop planted at a density of 105,000 plants ha-1. Applying uniconazole and nitrogen reduced the leaf senescence rate by increasing the leaf area per plant, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate. Uniconazole and nitrogen increased the electron transport rate, photochemical quenching coefficient, variable fluorescence, maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, and effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry. Uniconazole and nitrogen reduced the intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, nonphotochemical quenching coefficient, and malondialdehyde content but increased the soluble protein content and antioxidant enzyme activities. Applying uniconazole at a concentration of 25 mg kg-1 and nitrogen at a rate of 150 kg ha-1 obtained the maximum grain yield in maize.

Nanoemulsion-based delivery systems have a considerable potential for the encapsulation, protection and delivery of lipophilic bioactives. In the current study, in-vitro stability of curcumin-loaded single (NEI), double (NEII), and triple-layered nanostructures was investigated against varying environmental stress (temperature, pH, ionic strength) and storage conditions. In addition, their functional performance, as influenced by the number of polymer layers, was also assessed by comparing in-vitro lipid digestibility and curcumin bioaccessibility. Initially, NEI was prepared through ultrasonic homogenisation technique, and stabilised with modified starch. Next, sequential deposition of chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on the NEI droplets resulted into the formation of NEII and nanocapsules, respectively. Nanocapsules showed good stability against aggregation over a wide range of pH (3.0–7.0), salt concentration (50–300 mM NaCl) and temperature (30–90 °C for 30 min). Digestion studies suggested that polymeric coatings interfered with lipolysis as the digestibility (% free fatty acid released) of oil droplets was considerably reduced with increasing the number of layers surrounding the oil droplets. However, curcumin bioaccessibility increased with adding the number of coating layers. Overall, results indicate that the developed nano-system could be helpful in improving the oral delivery of curcumin besides incorporating it into functional foods and beverages.

The geometric and material parameters are seen to directly affect the biomechanical response of cornea, for example in tonometry they are responsible for possible errors in pressure readings (referred to as Goldman IOP or IOPG). Some of the critical geometric parameters include radius, curvature, asphericity and, central and peripheral thicknesses that vary with ethnic origin of specimen. While the material parameters, such as stiffness, viscosity hyper elasticity and anisotropy largely depend on age, genetics and environmental exposure. Therefore, to understand the response of such parameters, experimental strip tests are normally used to characterise the problem. While other studies have identified the response and significance of geometrical parameters on IOP, the current study evaluates the impact of key assumptions made during optimisation through mathematical models. In addition, the assumptions are implemented on a set of experimental data (coupon tests on an Instron machine over expensive inflation test procedures) to obtain stress–strain response of corneal specimens. In addition to outlining the shortcomings in current experimental procedures and theoretical assumptions, possible conclusions are also made to improve the accuracy of the outcome of results: for example, an anisotropic behaviour is significantly reduced or diminished with further improvement in geometrical assumptions and careful clamping procedures. As a result, contrary to current assumptions in literature, it may be argued that the cornea has anisotropy along superior–inferior (vertical) and temporal–nasal (horizontal) directions.

This work is devoted to understanding the dynamical instability of spherically symmetric space–time in the background of Einstein-Λ gravity. For this purpose, we have considered a spherical geometric distribution and assumed that it is filled with an anisotropic fluid. To proceed with our analysis, we have calculated the corresponding field as well as the mass function. We found nonlinear behavior of physical variables. To deal with that situation, we have subjected our system to the radial perturbations. We assume that after a particular era, our structural quantities have the same time dependence parameter. After linearizing the basic expressions, we have studied the impact of the cosmological constant in the modeling of relativistic stars. It is concluded that Λ tends to slow down the rate of spherical anisotropic collapse.

Black tea processing consists of four steps, namely withering, CTC, fermentation and drying, while cup quality made tea mostly controlled by fermentation step. This study evaluated biochemical changes at different stages of black tea processing in Bangladesh and determined the optimum fermentation time. Samples were collected from different tea processing stages to measure major phytochemicals and time intervals during fermentation to measure theaflavins and thearubigins ratio. Caffeine content was the least susceptible to processing steps. Biochemical changes started at withering, cell maceration and enzymatic oxidation started at CTC processing, thus the major reduction in the reducing sugar (20.46 to 04.95 ppm), catechin (16.88 to 7.95 ppm) and polyphenol (42.30 to 30.73 ppm) occurred here. The significant changes appeared during fermentation when polyphenol content decreased from 44.66 to 18.23 and catechin from 17.41 to 03.98 ppm due to the breakdown of these compounds to theaflavins (TF) and thearubigins (TR). The TF and TR ratio increased with fermentation time, and the highest of 1:8.4 was found at 50 min, which turned into 1:10 in the final product. The made tea quality parameters were comparable or better at fermentation time of 50 min than the quality of the black tea available in market.