Search

Water decontamination from chromium (Cr) is of prime importance because of its carcinogenic nature. The sample of activated carbon was characterized by surface area analyzer, SEM/EDX, TGA, FTIR and PZC. This study was focused on adsorption of hexavalent chromium from the aqueous phase onto activated carbon. Both the temperature and pH had a positive effect on the chromate uptake by activated carbon. The chromate uptake at different pH values followed the trend: pH 2 > pH 3 > pH 5 > pH 7 > pH 8. The sorption maxima at pH 2 was explained on the basis of electrostatic attraction between the negatively charged chromate anions and positively charged surface of the activated carbon. Different models were tested to access the sorption maxima and to probe into the chromate adsorption mechanism. The thermodynamic parameters suggested that heat is needed to shift the hexavalent chromium from solution to the solid surface. It was concluded that the anion exchange sorption was involved in removing the chromate anion from the aqueous system into the surface of activated carbon.

The present study describes the predicted model and functional characterization of an endochitinase (30 kDa) from corms of Gladiolus grandiflorus. ESI-QTOF-MS generated peptide showed 96% sequence homology with family 18, Class III acidic endochitinase of Gladiolus gandavensis. Purified G. grandiflorus chitinase (GgChi) hydrolyzed 4-methylumbelliferyl β-d-N,N′,N′′-triacetylchitotriose substrate showing specific endochitinase activity. Since no structural details of GgChi were available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB), a homology model was predicted using the coordinate information of Crocus vernus chitinase (PDB ID: 3SIM). Ramachandran plot indicated 84.5% in most favored region, 14.8% in additional and 0.6% in generously allowed region while no residue in disallowed region. The predicted structure indicated a highly conserved (β/α)8 (TIM barrel) structure similar to the family 18, class III chitinases. The GgChi also showed sequence and structural homologies with other active chitinases. The GgChi (50 μg/disc) showed no antibacterial activity, but did provide mild growth inhibition of phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum at a concentration of 500 μg/well Similarly, insect toxicity bioassays of GgChi (50 μg) against nymphs of Bemisia tabaci showed 14% reduction in adult emergence and 14% increase in mortality rate in comparison to control values. The GgChi (1.5 mg) protein showed significant reduction in a population of flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) after 35 days, but lower reactivity against rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae). The results of this study provide detai.led insight on functional characterization of a family 18 class III acidic plant endochitinase. Keywords: Gladiolus grandiflorus, Endochitinase, TIM barrel, Antibacterial, Antifungal

There have been a variety of attempts to model and quantify the amount of land-based waste entering the world’s oceans, most of which rely heavily on global estimates of population density as the key driving factor. Using empirical data collected in seven different countries/territories (China, Kenya, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Vietnam), we assessed a variety of different factors that may drive plastic leakage to the environment. These factors included both globally available GIS data as well as observations made at a site level. While the driving factors that appear in the best models varied from country to country, it is clear from our analyses that population density is not the best predictor of plastic leakage to the environment. Factors such as land use, infrastructure and socio-economics, as well as local site-level variables (e.g., visible humans, vegetation height, site type) were more strongly correlated with plastic in the environment than was population density. This work highlights the importance of gathering empirical data and establishing regular monitoring programs not only to form accurate estimates of land-based waste entering the ocean, but also to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of land-based interventions.

Abstract Pollution by plastic and other debris is a problem affecting the world's oceans and is increasing through time. The problem is so large that prioritizing solutions to effect meaningful change may seem overwhelming to the public and policy makers. Marine megafauna are known to mistakenly eat anthropogenic debris and die from consequent gastrointestinal blockages, perforations and malnutrition, as well as suffer sublethal impacts. We collated information on which specific items were ingested and responsible for causing death across 80 marine species, including cetaceans, pinnipeds, sea turtles, and seabirds. We evaluated which items were responsible for the highest mortality, and which, if reduced by policy responses or other means, could result in the largest reduction in debris mortality. A limited number of consumer items were shown to be responsible for most megafauna deaths. Flexible plastic is responsible for the largest proportion of debris deaths, primarily due to gastric obstructions. Disproportionately lethal items included plastic bags/sheets/packaging, rope/fishing nets, fishing tackle and balloons/latex. Smaller items, including “microplastics,” though abundant, were seldom implicated in mortality. We provide suggestions to directly curb debris deaths of marine megafauna by prioritizing policies that would reduce or eliminate the input of disproportionately hazardous items into the marine system.

It has been reported in literature that extrusion dies most often fail by fatigue fracture. Experimental studies have shown that cracks pre-exist in dies because of various factors including machining, heat treatment and surface hardening. High levels of repeated mechanical and thermal loads result in crack propagation leading to ultimate fracture failure. In an earlier work by the authors, a simplified approach of plate-with-edge-crack was used to develop a fracture mechanics based fatigue life prediction model for tube dies. In the current work, extrusion die is modeled as a pressurized-cylinder-with-internal-crack, a more realistic approach for a hollow (tube) die. Stochastic nature of various fatigue-related die parameters has been used to reflect their variability. Monte Carlo simulation has been performed to forecast fracture failure of extrusion dies under a given set of operating conditions and mechanical properties. Predicted mean-time-to-failure is quite close to actual average extrusion die life data from the industry. Using tube die as a basis, fracture life of other hollow profiles can be estimated through their shape complexity values. Analysis has also been carried out to evaluate how sensitive fracture life of hollow extrusion dies is to material and process parameters. Major findings are that die life is highly sensitive to initial crack size, wall thickness, profile outer diameter and billet length; moderately sensitive to Paris constant and extrusion ratio; and only slightly sensitive to fracture toughness and ram speed. These results can contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors responsible for fracture failure of an extrusion die exposed to thermo-mechanical fatigue environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to be a major public health problem in Pakistan, data regarding trends of resistance among pathogenic bacteria remains scarce, with few studies presenting long-term trends in AMR. This study was therefore designed to analyze long-term AMR trends at a national level in Pakistan. We report here results of a comprehensive analysis of resistance, among pathogens isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), between 2011 and 2015. Susceptibility data was obtained from a local laboratory with collection points all across Pakistan (Chughtai Laboratory). Resistance proportions to most commonly used antimicrobials were calculated for each pathogen over a period of five years. While Acinetobacter species demonstrated highest resistance rates to all tested antimicrobials, a sharp increase in carbapenem resistance was the most noticeable (50%-95%) between 2011-2015. Our results also highlight the presence of third and fourth generation cephalosporins resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in Pakistan. Interestingly, where rise in AMR was being observed in some major invasive pathogens, decreasing resistance trends were observed in Staphylococcus aureus, against commonly used antimicrobials. Overall pathogens isolated from blood and CSF between 2011-2015, showed an increase in resistance towards commonly used antimicrobials.

Vicilin has nutraceutical potential and different noteworthy medicative health-promoting biotic diversions, and it is remarkable against pathogenic microorganisms and insects. In this study, Vigna aconitifolia vicilin (VacV) has been identified and characterized from the seed of Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal (Moth beans). LC-MS/MS analysis of VacV provided seven random fragmented sequences comprising 238 residues, showing significant homology with already reported Vigna radiata vicilin (VraV). VacV was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation (60%) followed by size exclusion chromatography on Hi-Load 16/60 Superdex 200 pg column and anion-exchange chromatography (Hi trap Q FF column). Purified VacV showed a major ~50 kDa band and multiple lower bands on 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under both reduced and non-reduced conditions. After all, a three-dimensional molecular structure of VacV was predicted, which showed β-sheeted molecular conformation similar to crystallographic structure of VraV. All Vicilins from V. aconitifolia and other plants were divided into six sub-groups by phylogenetic analysis, and VacV shared a high degree of similarity with vicilins of Vigna radiata, Pisum sativum, Lupinus albus, Cicer arietinum and Glycine max. Additionally, VacV (20 μg) has significant growth inhibition against different pathogenic bacteria along strong antifungal activity (50 μg). Likewise, VacV (3.0 mg) produced significant growth reduction in Rice Weevil Sitophilus oryzae larvae after 9 days compared with control. Furthermore, by using MMT assay, the cytotoxicity effect of VacV on the growth of HepG2 liver cancerous cells was tested. VacV showed cytotoxicity against the HepG-2 line and the acquired value was 180 µg after 48 h. Finally, we performed molecular docking against caspase-3 protein (PDB ID: 3DEI) for VacV bioactive receptor interface residues. Hence, our results reveal that VacV, has nutraceutical potential and moth beans can be used as a rich resource of functional foods.

ABSTRACT Most of the challenges of poultry production can be addressed by using smart technology, electronic devices, and operations-controlling gadgets in an organized, efficient, and easy way. Considering the reality that the prospects of using smart technologies in the poultry industry far outweigh its problems or challenges, this study reviews an impact analysis for the adoption and implementation of these technologies in poultry management systems. Drawing from the results of research studies, observations, intuition, and secondary data, this review paper stresses that smart technology poultry management is viable with several comparative advantages over the traditional poultry management system. The use of artificial intelligence in poultry production had shown multiple benefits such as reducing cost per unit production, reducing labor involvement, stress-free environment for birds' betterment, decreasing multiple losses and damages, etc. resulting in increased productivity, profitability, and efficiency of poultry, decision-making and control and the welfare/behavior of birds on the farm. Effective use of smart technologies in the poultry industry would usher in lots of prospects, revolution, and innovation in the poultry sector and hence will help to fulfil animal protein demand in the current recent scarcity era. However, until now this technology is not been fully exploited in developing countries as there is limited applicability and automatic operations. Therefore, it is recommended that sensor technology, smart networks, the internet of things and analysis tools, and big data analysis leading to a culture of rapid response to information should be imbibed in most poultry operations. Moreover, data protection rules and regulations should be improved to make fully operational and continuously efficient poultry production operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Prescription error rates and delays in treatment provision are high for N-acetylcysteine (NAC) when prescribed for paracetamol overdose (POD). We hypothesised that an electronic tool which proposed the complete NAC regimen would reduce prescription errors and improve the timeliness of NAC provision. Error rates and delays in the provision of NAC were assessed following POD, before and after the implementation of an electronic prescribing tool. Methods The NAC electronic prescribing tool proposed the three NAC infusions (dosed for weight) following entry of the patient’s weight. All NAC prescriptions were reviewed during a three-month period prior to and after the tool’s implementation. Error rates were divided into dose, infusion volume or infusion rate. Delays in NAC provision were identified using national Emergency Medicine guidelines. Results 108 NAC prescriptions were analysed for all adult patients admitted to the emergency department of a secondary care hospital in the UK between July-September 2017 and August-October 2018, respectively. There were no differences in the demographics of patients or the seniority of the prescribing clinician before or after the introduction of the electronic tool. The electronic prescribing tool was associated with a decrease in prescribing errors (25% to 0%, p

Plastic pollution is a critical environmental concern. There is a growing focus on this transboundary issue, and a corresponding increase in public and government awareness. Understanding the key factors associated with litter and mismanaged waste on land will help to predict where and how waste enters the environment, providing opportunities for low cost, effective interventions. There exist only a few large-scale datasets with which such analyses can be conducted. To fill this knowledge gap we analysed a national, designed survey dataset of litter in the environment from Keep Australia Beautiful (2007–2017). We found that debris decreased significantly, with a nearly 6% decrease over the decade. Using generalised additive model modelling of 17 653 surveys at 983 sites around Australia, we found that site type, land use, state, population, and socio-economic status had the strongest relationships (in decreasing order) with litter distribution. Higher levels of litter were found in economically and socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Site types related to transitory human use such as highways and carparks, had more litter than areas with higher aesthetic or cultural value such as beaches, parks, and residential neighbourhoods. Sites that were sources of litter, such as shopping centres and retail strips, also had elevated litter counts, as did surveys near waterways. This enhanced understanding of the factors that influence litter deposition will help to craft more effective policy solutions, and can also improve our models of litter loads on land, and subsequent input to the ocean.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Decision support systems are key for yield improvement in modern agriculture. Crop models are decision support tools for crop management to increase crop yield and reduce production risks. Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) and an Agricultural System simulator (APSIM), intercomparisons were done to evaluate their performance for wheat simulation. Two-year field experimental data were used for model parameterization. The first year was used for calibration and the second-year data were used for model evaluation and intercomparison. Calibrated models were then evaluated with 155 farmers’ fields surveyed for data in rice-wheat cropping systems. Both models simulated crop phenology, leaf area index (LAI), total dry matter and yield with high goodness of fit to the measured data during both years of evaluation. DSSAT better predicted yield compared to APSIM with a goodness of fit of 64% and 37% during evaluation of 155 farmers’ data. Comparison of individual farmer’s yields showed that the model simulated wheat yield with percent differences (PDs) of −25% to 17% and −26% to 40%, Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) of 436 and 592 kg ha−1 with reasonable d-statistics of 0.87 and 0.72 for DSSAT and APSIM, respectively. Both models were used successfully as decision support system tools for crop improvement under vulnerable environments.

Elastomers are being increasingly used for sealing and other applications in the oil and gas industry. Specifically developed elastomers possess durable properties and have the ability to withstand detrimental effects of heat, chemicals, and harsh environments. For successful modeling and simulation of various downhole processes, it is very important to determine the behavior of elastomer materials under realistic well conditions. Of special interest is the class known as swelling elastomers. This article reports some results from experiments conducted on mechanical testing and characterization of an inert (nonswelling) and a water-swelling elastomer (both belonging to the EPDM family) used for sealing purposes by a local petroleum development firm. Experiments were designed and conducted in accordance with standard ASTM test methods. Apart from regularly available testing equipment, some simple test rigs and fixtures were designed and fabricated. Elastomer behavior was tested for hardness, compression set (at different temperatures and for different periods of time), tensile set (for different periods of time), tensile properties (fracture strength and percent elongation), and swelling. In the swelling test, different sample geometries (unconfined samples and samples mounted on steel plate) were tested for a total duration of 1000 h (roughly 45 days) in salt solutions of different concentrations and at different temperatures. Results show that compression set increases with increasing temperature and testing time, while room temperature tensile set also increases with longer testing time. Compared to the inert elastomer (exhibiting nonlinear elastic behavior like normal rubbers), swelling elastomer surprisingly showed linear stress-strain response. As expected, the inert elastomer did not exhibit any change in volume, while the swelling elastomer showed significant volume/thickness increase with increasing test temperature and decreasing salt concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) was the most suitable multiple access transmission technology for the mobile communication and all the third Generation Mobile Communication. The main reason for the success of this technology is the huge increase in capacity offered by CDMA system in comparison to other analog (FM) or digital (TDMA) transmission systems. This paper presents an overview of the capacity of CDMA system. It begins with a brief overview of some of the natural advantages of CDMA, which contribute to the increase of capacity. The performance of this system has been analyzed for a number of users by varying information bit rate (R), taking bandwidth, (W) = 1.25 MHz, and keeping energy per bit to noise density ratio constant (Eb/N0 = 7). The analysis is also carried out for a number of users by varying the bandwidth and keeping constant Eb/N0 = 7 and R = 9600. Further the results are analyzed by varying Eb/N0 at constant bandwidth and information bit rate. The results obtained are presented. This paper also summarizes some of the early work done on the capacity calculations of CDMA systems in brief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV) is a serious and economically important viral disease agent in cotton and ornamental plants like Hibiscus in many regions of the world, especially in South Asia. CLCuMuV is transmitted exclusively by Bemisia tabaci cryptic species complex. This virus was recently recorded in southern China, presumably an invasion from South Asia. This study was performed to estimate the efficiency of three species of the B. tabaci whitefly complex (tentatively named as MEAM1, MED and Asia II 7, respectively) to transmit CLCuMuV and Cotton leaf curl multan virus betasatelite (CLCuMuB). Transmission assays and real-time quantitative PCR were conducted using three cultivars of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, including 112-2, Xinhai-21 and Zhongmian-40. The results indicated that Asia II 7 was able to transmit the virus to two of the cotton cultivars, i.e. 112-2 and Xinhai-21, with the highest transmission efficiencies of 40% and 30%, respectively, but was unable to transmit the virus to the cotton cultivar Zhongmian-40. MEAM1 and MED failed to transmit CLCuMuV and CLCuMuB to any of the three cotton cultivars. After the three cryptic species of whiteflies had fed on virus-infected cotton plants for 48 h, the relative quantity of CLCuMuV in Asia II 7 was detected to be significantly higher than that in both MEAM1 and MED (P

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040884.].

This paper presents the unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a generalized Burgers' fluid between two parallel side walls perpendicular to a plate. The flow is generated from rest at time induced by sawtooth pulses stress applied to the bottom plate. The solutions obtained by means of the Laplace and the Fourier cosine and sine transforms in this order are presented as a sum between the corresponding Newtonian and non-Newtonian contributions. We investigate the effect of magnetic field and permeability on the fluid motion by a numerical procedure for the inverse Laplace transform, namely Stehfest's algorithm. Moreover, the influence of side walls on the fluid motion, the effect of pulse period, magnetic and porosity parameters and material parameters is presented by graphical illustrations.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common tumor of the urinary tract. It is known to have variable presentations due to the extremely vascular nature of the organ. RCC are known to metastasize to lungs, bone, and brain commonly but atypical metastasis to various sites are reported in literature but as very rare pathology. We report a case of a 60-year-old female who presented with multiple inguinal and axillary lymph node enlargements which on excision biopsy showed metastatic RCC. RCC can present with synchronous metastatic deposits in the various organs. RCC can metastasize to some atypical sites as well such as thyroid, orbit, and neck as mentioned earlier in literature. The patient presenting with extra-regional lymph nodes like inguinal and axillary is extremely rare, and so far only one clinical case could be found from India in 2008. A 61-year-old female presented in the emergency department with left flank pain and hematuria. Imaging showed left swollen kidney but multiple lymph nodes in retroperitoneum, left inguinal and axillary region. Excisional biopsy confirmed metastatic renal clear cell carcinoma. The case was referred to an oncologist after left radical nephrectomy for further treatment. Renal cancer is quite common aggressive disease. Due to its vascular nature, it may present quite atypically as evident from literature. Although treatment of metastatic carcinoma is still controversial surgery is the mainstay of treatment and guidelines consider metastasectomy and cytoreductive nephrectomy as valid option followed by targeted systemic therapies. RCC has quite a high potential to metastasize in the versatile pattern, in our case, it is evident that valid management is still surgery but needs support from the multidisciplinary team.

This paper presents a study for the MHD flow of an incompressible generalized Burgers' fluid through a rectangular duct in porous medium. The flow is generated due to the velocity sawtooth pulses applied on the duct. Exact solutions of the governing equations are obtained by using the Laplace transform and double finite Fourier sine transform in this order. The obtained solutions satisfy all the initial and boundary conditions and are written as a sum of steady and transient solutions. Graphs are plotted for both developing and retarding flows. The effects of magnetic parameter, porosity parameter, and various parameters of interest on the flow characteristics are discussed. The problem reduces to the flow between two plates in the absence of side walls.

Background: Pollination has a great effect on the yield of fruit trees. Blow flies are considered as an effective pollinator compared to hand pollination in fruit orchards. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of different pollination methods in mango orchards. Methodology: The impact of pollination on quantity and quality of mango yield by blow flies was estimated by using three treatments, i.e., open pollinated trees, trees were covered by a net in the presence of blow flies for pollination, and trees were covered with a net but without insects. Results: The maximum number of flowers was recorded in irregular types of inflorescence, i.e., 434.80 flowers/inflorescence. Fruit setting (bud) was higher in open pollinated mango trees (i.e. 37.00/inflorescence) than enclosed pollination by blow flies (i.e. 22.34/inflorescence). The size of the mango fruit was the highest (5.06 mm) in open pollinated tree than those pollinated by blow flies (3.93 mm) and followed by without any pollinator (3.18 mm) at marble stage. We found that the maximum weight of mango fruit (201.19 g) was in open pollinated trees. Discussion: The results demonstrated that blow flies can be used as effective mango pollinators along with other flies and bees. The blow flies have shown a positive impact on the quality and quantity of mango. This study will be helpful in future and also applicable at farm level to use blow flies as pollinators that are cheap and easy to rear.

Aortic aneurysms are very rare in Middle East unlike Europe and America. Therefore, this pathology is very likely to be missed in acute presentation to the Emergency Medicine Department. We present a case of leaking abdominal aortic aneurysm mimicking right ureteric colic, which was missed in the initial assessment.

Tomato is well known regarding its quality and nutritional value in all over the world but imbalances of fertilizer nutrients severely affect the quality of tomato. To investigate the specific contribution of potassium to yield and quality of tomato, a field experiment was conducted on two tomato cultivars, Nagina and Roma. Foliar application with varying levels (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 and 1.0%) of potassium solutions was applied to the plants and compared with control (without K). Exogenous application of 0.6% K significantly improved plant height, lycopene content, potassium, fruit weight and diameter. Exogenous application of 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7% K maximally improved ascorbic acid contents of both tomato cultivars whereas 0.4 and 0.8% did not improve ascorbic acid contents. Due to positive correlation between K nutrition and fruit quality attributes, exogenous application of an appropriate K level can contribute to higher yield and better quality of tomato fruits. Among all potassium levels, 0.5–0.7% K maximally improved performance of tomato plants of both cultivars.