Search

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) is the most economical, rapid, facile, and eco-friendly technique. In this study, pathogenic bacteria from human stool were identified, and the antibacterial potency of Nigella sativa L. seed extracts containing SNPs was assessed. The identification of the isolated pathogenic bacteria was achieved through the analysis of their 16 S rDNA sequences. The characterization of SNPs was done by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–VIS spectroscopy), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Six pathogenic bacteria were isolated from human stool and isolated bacteria were identified by 16 S rDNA sequencing analysis. SNPs were found in the size range of 30–60 nm and showed good antibacterial and antifungal activity. The maximum zone of inhibition was found against A. spanius at 32.0±0.8 nm. Achromobacter spanius, Pseudomonas geniculate, and Enterobacter asburiae WL115 were extremely sensitive to heated treated nanoparticles at 100 μg ml−1. In the current work, N. sativa L. was investigated because it produced SNPs effectively, may be used as a safe, affordable agent, and may have antibacterial and antifungal properties. The potential biological uses of SNPs will be encouraged by these discoveries, which will drive future research.

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) pose a significant threat to global crop productivity, causing an estimated annual loss of US $157 billion in the agriculture industry. While synthetic chemical nematicides can effectively control PPNs, their overuse has detrimental effects on human health and the environment. Biocontrol agents (BCAs), such as bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere, are safe and promising alternatives for PPNs control. These BCAs interact with plant roots and produce extracellular enzymes, secondary metabolites, toxins, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to suppress nematodes. Plant root exudates also play a crucial role in attracting beneficial microbes toward infested roots. The complex interaction between plants and microbes in the rhizosphere against PPNs is mostly untapped which opens new avenues for discovering novel nematicides through multi-omics techniques. Advanced omics approaches, including metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have led to the discovery of nematicidal compounds. This review summarizes the status of bacterial and fungal biocontrol strategies and their mechanisms for PPNs control. The importance of omics-based approaches for the exploration of novel nematicides and future directions in the biocontrol of PPNs are also addressed. The review highlighted the potential significance of multi-omics techniques in biocontrol of PPNs to ensure sustainable agriculture.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to characterize a novel circulating recombinant form of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) among people living with HIV in Karachi, Pakistan. We conducted near-full-length genome (NFLG) sequencing on eight samples exhibiting D/G recombination signals in the pol gene region. We successfully obtained NFLG sequences (790–9,614; with reference to the HXB2 genome) from four of the eight samples and then conducted phylogenetic and recombination analyses on them. The four NFLG sequences from our study and one DG unique recombinant form previously identified in the United Kingdom (GenBank accession: MF109700) formed a distinct monophyletic cluster with an Shimodaira-Hasegawa approximate likelihood ratio test node support value of 100%. Bootscan analyses of the five NFLG sequences of DG recombinants showed that all five NFLGs shared the same unique mosaic pattern of recombination breakpoints between D and G clades, with two D fragments in the pol and vif regions inserted into a G backbone. Subregion phylogenetic analyses confirmed these sequences to be a novel circulating recombinant form (CRF) composed of subtypes D and G. The DG recombinant sequences were eventually designated as CRF152_DG by the Los Alamos HIV Sequence Database staff.IMPORTANCEIn Pakistan, the genetic diversity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is becoming increasingly complex, compared to the early years of the epidemic that started after the detection of the first cases of HIV-1 in 1987 in Karachi. Based on the available molecular studies, two dominant HIV-1 clades, sub-subtype A1 and CRF02_AG, have been found to co-circulate with other clades, namely B, C, D, G, CRF01_AE, CRF35_A1D, and CRF56_cpx, in various urban areas of Pakistan. Several novel recombinant forms have also been detected. This first report of CRF152_DG highlights the complex nature of the HIV epidemic in Pakistan and emphasizes the importance of continual molecular surveillance (ideally based on whole-genome sequences) of HIV.

Flooding is a recurrent and severe natural hazard in Afghanistan, exacerbated by climate change, and poses significant threats to human lives and livelihoods. The country's socioeconomic vulnerabilities make it highly susceptible to the devastating impacts of disasters, resulting in loss of lives, livelihoods, and damage to public and private assets. This study employs a multimethod research approach, combining remote sensing-based flood data analysis with spatial analysis and literature studies, to comprehensively assess flood risk by considering hazard, exposure, and vulnerability indicators. Specifically, a 25-year return flood event was used to examine flood risk for the exposed population. The framework proposed by the IPCC in 2014 was adopted to define flood risk, encompassing hazard, exposure, and vulnerability components. The findings reveal that provinces located near major river basins, particularly in the southern, northern, and northeastern regions, experience the highest flood risk. Notably, the provinces of Nimroz and Helmand in the southern region exhibit pronounced risk index values of 0.20 and 0.10, with a highly exposed population of 36% and 15%, respectively, and vulnerability index values of 0.57 and 0.62. Similarly, in the northern and northeastern regions, the provinces of Jawzjan and Kunduz also display elevated risk levels, each with a risk index value of 0.11, characterized by highly exposed populations of 21% and 18%, respectively, and vulnerability index values of 0.53 and 0.57. This multi-method approach provides valuable insights into the spatial distribution of flood risk and the drivers of population exposure, assisting policymakers and decision-makers in formulating effective flood risk reduction strategies through targeted flood vulnerability and risk reduction measures.

Abstract Arsenic (As), contamination in drinking groundwater resources is commonly environmental problem in many developing countries including Pakistan, with significant human health risk reports. In order to examine the groundwater quality concerning As contamination, its geochemical behavior along with physicochemical parameters, 42 samples were collected from community tube wells from District Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. The results showed the concentration of elevated As, its source of mobilization, and associated public health risk. The As concentration detected in groundwater samples varied from 0.12 to 104 µg/L with an average value of 34.7 µg/L. Among 42 groundwater samples, 27 samples were beyond the permitted limit of 10 µg/L recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), for drinking purposes. Statistical analysis result show that the groundwater cations values are in decreasing order such as: Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+, while anions were HCO3 – > SO4 2– > Cl– > NO3 –. Hydrochemical facies result depict that the groundwater samples of the study area, 14 samples belong to CaHCO3 type, 5 samples belong to NaCl type, 20 samples belong to Mixed CaMgCl type, and 3 samples belong to CaCl2 type. It can be accredited due to weathering and recharge mechanism, evaporation processes, and reverse ion exchange. Gibbs diagram shows that rock water interaction controls the hydrochemistry of groundwater resources of the study area. Saturation Index (SI) result indicated the saturation of calcite, dolomite, gypsum, geothite, and hematite mineral due their positive SI values. The principal component analysis (PCA) results possess a total variability of 80.69% signifying the anthropogenic and geogenic source of contamination. The results of the exposure-health-risk-assessment method for measuring As reveal significant potential non-carcinogenic risk (HQ), exceeding the threshold level of (> 1) for children in the study area. Water quality assessment results shows that 24 samples were not suitable for drinking purposes.

The agriculture sector is one of the major sectors in India. India is well known for the production of various varieties of spices, fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc. Along with the pollution, the diseases that are affecting plants are increasing and there are various reasons for this. Tomato is one of the high-demand crops in the market and is produced in large quantities. There are many diseases that tomatoes get affected by because of the virus, fungus, bacteria, etc. In this project, we proposed a model to identify the diseases of tomato plants using images of tomato plant leaves. Our main goal is to develop a good model with decent accuracy and a mobile application that works with or without the internet for users, especially farmers. The Convolution Neural Network-based approach is used to create the model for this project. This proposed system model gives 98 % accuracy and that model is converted to the TF Lite model which is used in the application. This application can precisely predict the disease of the tomato leaf and suggest the treatment for it.

ABSTRACT CRF01_AE strains have been shown to form multiple transmission clusters in China, and some clusters have disparate pathogenicity in Chinese men who have sex with men. This study focused on other CRF01_AE clusters prevalent in heterosexual populations. The CD4+ T-cell counts from both cross-section data in National HIV Molecular Epidemiology Survey and seropositive cohort data were used to evaluate the pathogenicity of the CRF01_AE clusters and other HIV-1 sub-types. Their mechanisms of pathogenicity were evaluated by co-receptor tropisms, predicted by genotyping and confirmed with virus isolate phenotyping, as well as inflammation parameters. Our research elucidated that individuals infected with CRF01_AE clusters 1 and 2 exhibited significantly lower baseline CD4+ T-cell counts and greater CD4+ T-cell loss in cohort follow-up, compared with other HIV-1 sub-types and CRF01_AE clusters. The increased pathogenesis of cluster 1 or 2 was associated with higher CXCR4 tropisms, higher inflammation/immune activation, and increased pyroptosis. The protein structure modeling analysis revealed that the envelope V3 loop of clusters 1 and 2 viruses is favorable for CXCR4 co-receptor usage. Imbedded with the most mutating reverse transcriptase, HIV-1 is one of the most variable viruses. CRF01_AE clusters 1 and 2 have been found to have evolved into more virulent strains in regions with predominant heterosexual infections. The virulent strains increased the pressure for early diagnosis and treatment in HIV patients. To save more lives, HIV-1 surveillance systems should be upgraded from serology and genotyping to phenotyping, which could support precision interventions for those infected by virulent viruses.IMPORTANCERetroviruses swiftly adapt, employing error-prone enzymes for genetic and phenotypic evolution, optimizing survival strategies, and enhancing virulence levels. HIV-1 CRF01_AE has persistently undergone adaptive selection, and cluster 1 and 2 infections display lower counts and fast loss of CD4+ T cells than other HIV-1 sub-types and CRF01_AE clusters. Its mechanisms are associated with increased CXCR4 tropism due to an envelope structure change favoring a tropism shift from CCR5 to CXCR4, thereby shaping viral phenotype features and impacting pathogenicity. This underscores the significance of consistently monitoring HIV-1 genetic evolution and phenotypic transfer to see whether selection bias across risk groups alters the delicate balance of transmissible versus toxic trade-offs, since virulent strains such as CRF01_AE clusters 1 and 2 could seriously compromise the efficacy of antiviral treatment. Only through such early warning and diagnostic services can precise antiviral treatments be administered to those infected with more virulent HIV-1 strains.

The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 epidemic in Pakistan has significantly increased over the last two decades. In Karachi, Pakistan, there is a lack of updated information on the complexity of HIV-1 genetic diversity and the burden of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) that can contribute to ART failure and poor treatment outcomes. This study aimed to determine HIV-1 genetic diversity and identify drug-resistance mutations among people living with HIV in Karachi. A total of 364 HIV-positive individuals, with a median age of 36 years, were enrolled in the study. The HIV-1 partial pol gene was successfully sequenced from 268 individuals. The sequences were used to generate phylogenetic trees to determine clade diversity and also to assess the burden of DRMs. Based on the partial pol sequences, 13 distinct HIV-1 subtypes and recombinant forms were identified. Subtype A1 was the most common clade (40%), followed by CRF02_AG (33.2%). Acquired DRMs were found in 30.6% of the ART-experienced patients, of whom 70.7%, 20.7%, and 8.5% were associated with resistance to NNRTIs, NRTIs, and PIs, respectively. Transmitted DRMs were found in 5.6% of the ART-naïve patients, of whom 93% were associated with resistance against NNRTIs and 7% to PIs. The high prevalence of DRMs in ART-experienced patients poses significant challenges to the long-term benefits and sustainability of the ART program. This study emphasizes the importance of continuous HIV molecular epidemiology and drug resistance surveillance to support evidence-based HIV prevention, precise ART, and targeted AIDS care.

Background: Women are disproportionally affected by HIV and are at greater risk of OIs and malignancies. This study investigated the spectrum of OIs and malignancies among women living with HIV (WLHIV) in Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted among 3,817 WLHIV on Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) from 2007 to 2019 in Ethiopia. Data on OIs, malignancies, and clinical characteristics were retrieved from medical records. Prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates were measured over 13 years of follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve and multivariable Cox-proportional hazard regression were used to estimate incidence and identify predictors of OIs and malignancies, respectively. Result: The pooled prevalence of OIs or malignancies was 47%. OIs accounted for 39% and malignancies were 23.3%. The incidence of OIs and malignancies were 19.4 (95%CI:9.2-29.5) and 11.5 (95%CI:2.2-20.8) per 100 person-years of observation, respectively. Incidence of candidiasis was 14.1 per 100 person-years followed by Lymphoma (11.9), Cervical Cancer (11.5), and TB (10.9). The risk of OIs was higher in patients with baseline CD4 count ≤500 cells/mm3 [AHR (95%CI): 2.0 (1.8-2.3)] and VL>1000 copies/ml [AHR (95%CI): 1.5 (1.1-1.9)]. Overall, 24.6% died, and of them, 62.2% had a history of OIs or malignancies. The risk of death was higher among WLHIV with a history of Toxoplasmosis, TB and PCP. Conclusion: OIs and malignancies was recently increasing and two-thirds of all deaths were associated with these co-morbidities. The high rates of OIs and malignancies were attributed to poor treatment outcomes. The finding calls to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of these co-morbidities.Abbreviations AIDS: acquired immune deficiency syndrome; CI: confidence interval; EPHI: Ethiopian Public Health Institute; HAART: highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV: human immunodeficiency virus; HR: hazard ratio; Mg/dl: milligram per deciliter; TB: tuberculosis; PCP: pneumocystis carinii pneumonia; ZJU: Zhejiang University

Co-circulation of different human immunodeficiency virus type 1 HIV-1 subtypes among infected populations can lead to the generation of new recombinants. In Pakistan, subtype A1 and CRF02_AG are the dominant strains circulating among key populations. The high prevalence of new HIV infections among the key populations highlights the possibility of recombination between the dominant strains, which can lead to the generation of new recombinants. Here, we identified a recombinant cluster composed of CRF02_AG, sub-subtype A3, and subtype G among HIV-infected children in Larkana. For the study, 10 retrospectively collected samples, with recombination signals in the pol gene, were used to perform a near full-length genome NFLG sequencing. Of the 10 samples, NFLG was successfully sequenced from seven samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the seven NFLGs showed that all recombinants formed a distinct monophyletic cluster and were distinct from known HIV-1 circulating recombinant forms CRFs. Recombination analyses showed that all seven NFLGs shared a similar recombinant structure consisting of CRF02_AG, sub-subtype A3, and subtype G, with a sub-subtype A3 fragment inserted into pol and vif regions spanning from (HXB2: 4218-5518), and a subtype G fragment inserted into vpu, rev, tat and env regions spanning from (HXB2: 5957-8250) of the CRF02_AG backbone. The identification of unique recombinant forms may indicate the presence and transmission of several co-circulating lineages in Larkana, giving rise to newer CRFs. This study also highlights the importance of continuous molecular surveillance to fully understand HIV-1 genetic diversity in Pakistan, particularly in Larkana, which is the epicenter of HIV outbreaks.

Abstract Background Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is one of the most frequent hereditary retinal diseases that often starts with night blindness and eventually leads to legal blindness. Our study aimed to identify the underlying genetic cause of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) in a consanguineous Pakistani family. Methods Following a detailed ophthalmological examination of the patients by an ophthalmologist, whole-exome sequencing was performed on the proband’s DNA to delineate the genetic cause of RP in the family. In-depth computational methods, in-silico analysis, and familial co-segregation study were performed for variant detection and validation. Results We studied an inbred Pakistani family with two siblings affected by retinitis pigmentosa. The proband, a 32 years old female, was clinically diagnosed with RP at the age of 6 years. A classical night blindness symptom was reported in the proband since her early childhood. OCT report showed a major reduction in the outer nuclear layer and the ellipsoid zone width, leading to the progression of the disease. Exome sequencing revealed a novel homozygous missense mutation (c.938C > T;p.Thr313Ile) in exon 12 of the PDE6B gene. The mutation p.Thr313Ile co-segregated with RP phenotype in the family. The altered residue (p.Thr313) was super conserved evolutionarily across different vertebrate species, and all available in silico tools classified the mutation as highly pathogenic. Conclusion We present a novel homozygous pathogenic mutation in the PDE6B gene as the underlying cause of arRP in a consanguineous Pakistani family. Our findings highlight the importance of missense mutations in the PDE6B gene and expand the known mutational repertoire of PDE6B-related RP.

Considering the uncertainty of transporting goods from numerous origins to diverse destinations is a critical task for the decision-maker (DM). The ultimate goal of the DM is to make the right decisions that optimize the profit or loss of the organization under the vagueness of the uncontrollable effects. In this paper, mathematical models are proposed using fuzzy non-linear membership functions for the transportation problem considering the parameters' uncertainty that can help the DM to optimize the multi-objective transportation problems (MOTP) and to achieve the desired goals by choosing a confidence level of the uncertain parameters. Based on DM's selection of the confidence level, a compromise solution of the uncertain multi-objective transportation (UMOTP) is obtained along with the satisfaction level in percent for the DM. Two non-linear fuzzy membership functions are considered: the exponential and the hyperbolic functions. Using both membership functions, the sensitivity analysis was implemented by considering different confidence levels. According to the experimental results, the hyperbolic membership function gives 100% DM's satisfaction in many instances. Moreover, it shows stability against the exponential and linear functions.

Abstract Background Treatment as prevention evolved into the universal HIV test-and-treat (UTT) strategy, which entails testing to the general population and treatment to every people living with HIV. We investigated universal testing (UT) performance and its determinants in urban Ethiopia and explore magnitude of late diagnosis and its impact on disease stages. Method We used data from the Ethiopia Population Based HIV Impact assessment (EPHIA), conducted in 2017/2018 which was a cross-sectional and household-based study. For current analysis, we considered self-report first diagnosis to estimate universal testing irrespective of their serostatus and also consider HIV LAg avidity vs viral load vs plasma antiretroviral drug level algorithm to categorize the late diagnosis. We finally evaluate disease stages using CD4 count and viral load. A 2-level multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model was employed. The effects of individual-level predictors were quantified by the estimates from the fixed-effect part of the model with p-value

With the advancement of the Internet and the world wide web (WWW), it is observed that there is an exponential growth of data and information across the internet. In addition, there is a huge growth in digital or textual data generation. This is because users post the reply comments in social media websites based on the experiences about an event or product. Furthermore, people are interested to know whether the majority of potential buyers will have a positive or negative experience on the event or the product. This kind of classification in general can be attained through Sentiment Analysis which inputs unstructured text comments about the product reviews, events, etc., from all the reviews or comments posted by users. This further classifies the data into different categories namely positive, negative or neutral opinions. Sentiment analysis can be performed by different machine learning models like CNN, Naive Bayes, Decision Tree, XgBoost, Logistic Regression etc. The proposed work is compared with the existing solutions in terms of different performance metrics and XgBoost outperforms out of all other methods.

The study mainly focuses on heavy metals’ quantification, investigation of physicochemical characteristics, source apportionments, human health risk assessment, and connectivity between the water of alpine glacial lakes and rivers. In this regard, twenty-six water samples are taken from sixteen lakes and two lakes-fed rivers. The physiochemical parameters, particularly heavy metals are quantified using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The Pearson correlations are used to find out the relationship between various heavy metals and physicochemical parameters. The multivariate methods, Principal component analysis (PCA), and Hierarchal cluster analysis (HCA) are conducted for contamination source apportionment. In the findings of the current analysis, the mean concentration of Lead (Pb 0.51), Cadmium (Cd 0.04), Nickel (Ni 0.06), Chromium (Cr 0.08), Iron (Fe 0.06), and Manganese (Mn 0.09) is the most common heavy metal contaminants found in both lakes and river water. Copper (Cu 0.00) and Arsenic (As 0.001) concentrations are lower in both lakes and rivers. Other tested physicochemical characteristics, such as pH, Hardness, Chemical oxygen demands (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO) chloride (Cl-), sulfate (SO4), nitrate (NO3), and bicarbonates (HCO3) are within the maximum permissible limits of World Health Organization’s (WHO).

There are great disparities of the results in immune reconstruction (IR) of the HIV-1 infected patients during combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), due to both host polymorphisms and viral genetic subtypes. Identifying these factors and elucidating their impact on the IR could help to improve the efficacy. To study the factors influencing the IR, we conducted a 15-year retrospective cohort study of HIV-1 infected individuals under cART. The trend of CD4+ count changes was evaluated by the generalized estimating equations. Cox proportional model and propensity score matching were used to identify variables that affect the possibility of achieving IR. The tropism characteristics of virus were compared using the coreceptor binding model. In addition to baseline CD4+ counts and age implications, CRF01_AE cluster 1 was associated with a poorer probability of achieving IR than infection with cluster 2 (aHR, 1.39; 95%CI, 1.02-1.90) and other subtypes (aHR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.31-2.56). The mean time from cART initiation to achieve IR was much longer in patients infected by CRF01_AE cluster 1 than other subtypes/sub-clusters (P

ABSTRACT: Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate HIV-1 drug resistance among patients failing first-line antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 699 adults infected with HIV (aged ≥15 years) who failed first-line Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) were recruited between 2017 and 2019 from 63 ART-providing sites in Ethiopia. Treatment failure was defined as patients with two consecutive viral loads (VLs) ≥1000 copies/mL within six months of follow-up. The pol gene region of HIV-1 was amplified and sequenced using an in-house assay of the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control. The Stanford HIVDB v9.0 algorithm was used for identification of resistance mutations. Resistance mutations were characterized according to the 2019 International AIDS Society-USA mutation list. P values of

In this research work, we developed a model to investigate the long-run behavior of the solutions of continuous review (s,S) inventory policy for level-dependent perishable products with positive service time on Jackson queueing network. The service facility is assumed that the waiting capacities of each queue are different. In this model, we assume two independent single server nodes in a M/M/1 queueing system with an associated inventory, where each node represents a queue. In a Poisson process, customers enter the system. The service times (μi>0) and lead times (θi>0) are independent and also spread exponentially at the node i for 1⩽i⩽2. If the inventory levels of goods from the warehouse i are below si at any moment, an order for Qi=((Si-si)>0;∀i) units is made, where Si is the highest capacity of storage for each warehouse in the system. In the steady state case, the matrix analytic technique is used to derive the combined probability distribution for the number of customers and inventory level. The overall anticipated cost rate is determined using some essential system performance measures. Numerical and graphical examples are presented to analyze the effect of variation of parameters on the system.

Abstract Background Pyruvate kinase deficiency is an exceptionally rare autosomal recessive Mendelian disorder caused by bi-allelic pathogenic variants in the PKLR gene. It is mainly characterized by chronic nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia though other symptoms such as splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, pallor, fatigue, iron overload, shortness of breath, hyperbilirubinemia, and gallstones might also prevail. Case presentation We present here a novel genetic defect in the PKLR gene that correlates with pyruvate kinase deficiency phenotype in a consanguineous family from North-Western Pakistan. The family included three affected individuals who were all born to consanguineous parents. The proband, a 13-year-old female of Pashtun ethnicity, showed chronic nonautoimmune hemolytic anemia since birth, extremely low hemoglobin (7.6 g/dL) and pyruvate kinase (12.4 U/g Hb) levels, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly. Bone marrow aspirate showed a markedly decreased myeloid to erythroid ratio and hypercellular marrow particles due to hyperplasia of the erythroid elements. Molecular characterization of the proband’s genomic DNA uncovered a likely pathogenic homozygous missense variant p.[D339N] in exon 7 of the PKLR gene. In-depth in silico analysis and familial cosegregation implies p.[D339N] as the likely cause of pyruvate kinase deficiency in this family. Further in vitro or in vivo studies are required to validate the impact of p.[D339N] on protein structure and/or stability, and to determine its role in the disease pathophysiology. Conclusions In summary, these findings suggest a novel genetic defect in the PKLR gene as a likely cause of pyruvate kinase deficiency, thus further expanding the mutational landscape of this rare Mendelian disorder.

This study aims to quantify land use and land cover changes before and after the 2010 flood in district Charsadda, Pakistan. Advanced geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing techniques (RST) evaluate land use and land cover changes. The purpose of this research is to estimate and compare the preand post-flood changes and their influences on land use and land cover changes. Land use land cover data studies are important for sustainable management of natural resources; they are becoming increasingly important for assessing the environmental impacts of economic development. Moreover, some remedial measures are adopted to develop the area's land cover to overcome future problems. Land use and land cover changes are measured using satellite images. Two instances, i.e., pre-flood and post-flood, are compared to analyze the change in land use and land cover of district Charsadda within 5 km along the Kabul River. Comparative analysis of pre-flood and post-flood imageries highlighted some drastic changes over the water body, built-up area, agricultural land, and bare land during flood instances. The study area is rural and agricultural land is dominant as compared to other land uses. We evaluated the percentage of different land use and land cover within our study area. The agricultural land found about 68.5%, barren land 22.5%, and the water body 8.8% before the flood. After inundation, the water body raised to 16.4%, bare soil increased to 26.3%, agricultural land degraded up to 57.0%, and settlements (villages) along the Kabul River were severely damaged and finished by this flood. 2010’s flood heavily damaged approximately four villages in district Nowshera, six in district Peshawar, and twenty-seven Charsadda District villages.

Groundwater contamination through potentially harmful metals (PHMs) is an environmental hazard in Pakistan with significant human health risk reports. The current research was conducted in Sheikhupura District, which is a major industrial site in Punjab, Pakistan. According to the Punjab Directorate of Industries in Pakistan, there are a total of 748 industries in this area. These industries produce a lot of waste and effluent, which contaminate the environment with harmful and toxic materials. Continuous irrigation with industrial effluent and sewage sludge may make groundwater sources vulnerable. Therefore, we collected 243 groundwater samples from community tube wells to investigate the groundwater quality cconcerning PHM contaminations in the study area. This research presents the values of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and potentially harmful metals (PHMs) like arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe). PHMs such as As (91%), Mn (14%), Pb (97%), Fe (45%), Zn (15%), in these samples were beyond the permitted limit recommended by the world health organization (WHO). Principal component analysis (PCA) results with total variability of (60%) reveal that the groundwater sources of the study area are contaminated about 30.9, 31.3, and 37.6% of contaminations of groundwater sources of this study are resulted from geogenic sources, anthropogenic sources, or both geogenic and anthropogenic sources, respectively. Such sources may include rock-water interaction, mining actions, agricultural practices, domestic sewage, and industrial effluent in the study area. Saturation indices show that the aquifers of the study area are saturated with lead hydroxide, zinc hydroxide, and goethite minerals, indicating that these minerals have a vital role in the contamination of groundwater. Health risk assessment results predicted that the non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) values of PHMs were found within the permissible limit (

Background: High rates of disease progression and HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) among adults taking highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) in Sub-Saharan Africa were previously documented. However, children were generally not considered despite their greater risk. Hence, this study was aimed to evaluate HIV-1 disease progression and drug resistance mutation among children on first-line antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia. Method: A longitudinal study was conducted among 551 HIV-positive children (pol gene region using in-house assay validated at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Stanford HIVDB v9.0 algorithm was used for identification of drug resistance mutations. The Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to estimate the rate and predictors of disease progression, respectively. Results: The disease progression rate was 6.3 per 100 person-years-observation (95% CI = 4.21–8.53). Overall immunosuppression (CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3) during the 12-year follow-up was 11.3% (95% CI = 7.5–15.1). Immunosuppression was significantly increased as of the mean duration of 10.5 (95% CI = 10.1–10.8) years (38.2%) to 67.8% at 12 years (p < 0.001). Overall, 14.5% had resistance to at least one drug, and 6.2% had multi-drug resistance. A resistance of 67.8% was observed among children with VF. Resistance to non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) drugs were 11.4% and 10.1%, respectively. Mutations responsible for NRTI resistance were M184V (30.1%), K65R (12.1%), and D67N (5.6%). Moreover, NNRTI-associated mutations were K103N (14.8%), Y181C (11.8%), and G190A (7.7%). Children who had a history of opportunistic infection [AHR (95% CI) = 3.4 (1.8–6.2)], vitamin D < 20 ng/mL [AHR (95% CI) = 4.5 (2.1–9.9)], drug resistance [AHR (95% CI) = 2.2 (1.4–3.6)], and VF [AHR (95% CI) = 2.82 (1.21, 3.53)] had a higher hazard of disease progression; whereas, being orphan [AOR (95% CI) = 1.8 (1.2–3.1)], history of drug substitution [(AOR (95% CI) = 4.8 (2.1–6.5), hemoglobin < 12 mg/dL [AOR (95% CI) = 1.2 (1.1–2.1)] had higher odds of developing drug resistance. Conclusions: Immunosuppression was increasing over time and drug resistance was also substantially high. Enhancing routine monitoring of viral load and HIVDR and providing a vitamin-D supplement during clinical management could help improve the immunologic outcome. Limiting HAART substitution is also crucial for children taking HAART in Ethiopia.

Seaside petunia (Calibrachoa parviflora) is a mat-forming plant species that was recently reported in fall-seeded onion (Allium cepa) in the southwestern United States. To initiate development of herbicide recommendations for seaside petunia in onion, we conducted a study to determine seaside petunia susceptibility to commonly used herbicides for broadleaf weed control after onion emergence. Our study included herbicides applied at below-label rates, which provided insights on seaside petunia responses to reductions in the amount of herbicide available for plant absorption. For herbicides with preemergence activity, our growth chamber study indicated that soil applications of flumioxazin or oxyfluorfen (0.06 and 0.25 lb/acre, respectively) prevented seaside petunia seedling emergence when applied at 0.125×, 0.25×, 0.5×, and 1.0× the labeled rates for onion. Labeled rate treatments of dimethenamid-P (0.84 lb/acre) and S-metolachlor (0.64 lb/acre) inhibited seedling emergence similar to labeled rate treatments of flumioxazin and oxyfluorfen; however, below-label rate treatments of dimethenamid-P and S-metolachlor resulted in diminished control of seaside petunia compared with the labeled rate treatments. Following labeled rate applications of dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate [DCPA (6 lb/acre)] and pendimethalin (0.71 lb/acre), more than 50% of seaside petunia seedlings emerged compared with the nontreated control. For herbicides with postemergence activity on weeds, our greenhouse study indicated that bromoxynil at 0.37 lb/acre, flumioxazin at 0.06 lb/acre, and oxyfluorfen at 0.25 lb/acre equally reduced growth of seaside petunia plants that were small at the time of spraying (stem length, 1–2 cm). Postemergence control of seaside petunia with oxyfluorfen and flumioxazin decreased as plant size at spraying increased; however, bromoxynil effects on seaside petunia remained high as stem length at spraying increased from 5 to 12 cm. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that promising herbicide programs for seaside petunia in onion include oxyfluorfen or flumioxazin for preemergence control and bromoxynil for postemergence control. These herbicides, alone and in combination, should be evaluated for seaside petunia control and onion phytotoxicity in future field trials.

CRF07_BC is one of the most prevalent HIV-1 strains in China, which contributes over one-third of the virus transmissions in the country. In general, CRF07_BC is associated with slower disease progression, while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our study focused on envelope proteins (Env) and its V3 loop which determine viral binding to co-receptors during infection of cells. We studied a large dataset of 3,937 env sequences in China and found that CRF07_BC had a unique profile of predominantly single CCR5 tropism compared with CCR5 and CXCR4 dual tropisms in other HIV-1 subtypes. The percentages of the CXCR4-tropic virus in B (3.7%) and CRF01_AE (10.4%) infection are much higher than that of CRF07_BC (0.1%), which is supported by median false-positive rates (FPRs) of 69.8%, 25.5%, and 13.4% for CRF07_BC, B, and CRF01_AE respectively, with a cutoff FPR for CXCR4-tropic at 2%. In this study, we identified the first pure CXCR4-tropic virus from one CRF07_BC-infected patient with an extremely low CD4+T cell count (7 cells/mm3). Structural analysis found that the V3 region of this virus has the characteristic 7T and 25R and a substitution of conserved “GPGQ” crown motif for “GPGH”. This study provided compelling evidence that CRF07_BC has the ability to evolve into CXCR4 strains. Our study also lay down the groundwork for studies on tropism switch, which were commonly done for other HIV-1 subtypes, for the long-delayed CRF07_BC.

The interaction between plant and bacterial VOCs has been extensively studied, but the role of VOCs in growth promotion still needs to be explored. In the current study, we aim to explore the growth promotion mechanisms of cold-tolerant Bacillus strains GBAC46 and RJGP41 and the well-known PGPR strain FZB42 and their VOCs on tomato plants. The result showed that the activity of phytohormone (IAA) production was greatly improved in GBAC46 and RJGP41 as compared to FZB42 strains. The in vitro and in-pot experiment results showed that the Bacillus VOCs improved plant growth traits in terms of physiological parameters as compared to the CK. The VOCs identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, namely 2 pentanone, 3-ethyl (2P3E) from GBAC46, 1,3-cyclobutanediol,2,2,4,4-tetramethyl (CBDO) from RJGP41, and benzaldehyde (BDH) from FZB42, were used for plant growth promotion. The results of the partition plate (I-plate) and in-pot experiments showed that all the selected VOCs (2P3E, CBDO, and BDH) promoted plant growth parameters as compared to CK. Furthermore, the root morphological factors also revealed that the selected VOCs improved the root physiological traits in tomato plants. The plant defense enzymes (POD, APX, SOD, and CAT) and total protein contents were studied, and the results showed that the antioxidant enzymes and protein contents significantly increased as compared to CK. Similarly, plant growth promotion expression genes (IAA4, ARF10A, GA2OX2, CKX2, and EXP1) were significantly upregulated and the ERF gene was downregulated as compared to CK. The overall findings suggest that both Bacillus isolates and their pure VOCs positively improved plant growth promotion activities by triggering the antioxidant enzyme activity, protein contents, and relative gene expressions in tomato plants.

Heavy metals and metalloids (HMs) are environmental pollutants, most notably cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, and chromium. When HMs accumulate to toxic levels in agricultural soils, these non-biodegradable elements adversely affect crop health and productivity. The toxicity of HMs on crops depends upon factors including crop type, growth condition, and developmental stage; nature of toxicity of the specific elements involved; soil physical and chemical properties; occurrence and bioavailability of HM ions in the soil solution; and soil rhizosphere chemistry. HMs can disrupt the normal structure and function of cellular components and impede various metabolic and developmental processes. This review evaluates: (1) HM contamination in arable lands through agricultural practices, particularly due to chemical fertilizers, pesticides, livestock manures and compost, sewage-sludge-based biosolids, and irrigation; (2) factors affecting the bioavailability of HM elements in the soil solution, and their absorption, translocation, and bioaccumulation in crop plants; (3) mechanisms by which HM elements directly interfere with the physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes in plants, with particular emphasis on the generation of oxidative stress, the inhibition of photosynthetic phosphorylation, enzyme/protein inactivation, genetic modifications, and hormonal deregulation, and indirectly through the inhibition of soil microbial growth, proliferation, and diversity; and (4) visual symptoms of highly toxic non-essential HM elements in plants, with an emphasis on crop plants. Finally, suggestions and recommendations are made to minimize crop losses from suspected HM contamination in agricultural soils.

By analyzing an unprecedentedly large, longitudinal HIV-1 CRF07_BC sequence dataset collected from China in the past two decades, we sought to build CRF07_BC lengthwise transmission networks, and understand its transmission dynamics. We divided CRF07_BC into two clusters based on phylogenetic analysis and an estimation of the pairwise genetic distance at 0.7%. Of 6213 sequences, 3607 (58.1%) linked to ≥1 other sequence. CRF07_BC was divided into two clusters: 07BC_O and 07BC_N. The 07BC_O is the original CRF07_BC, circulating in people who inject drugs (PWID) and heterosexuals, predominantly in southwestern and northwestern provinces of China. The 07BC_N is a new cluster, identified mostly in men having sex with men (MSM) in the northern provinces of China. Bayesian analysis indicates that CRF07_BC has experienced two phases of exponential growth, which was first driven by 07BC_O then 07BC_N. Compared to 07BC_O, the proportion of the parameter of population transmission risk (TR) of 07BC_N has risen constantly. The power-law function analyses reveal that 07BC_N has increased over years with higher degree. In 07BC_N, only 13.16% of MSM were linked to other risk groups, but these links represent 41.45%, 54.25%, and 55.07% of links among heterosexual females, heterosexual males, and male PWID respectively. This study indicates that CRF07_BC has evolved into two clusters in China, and their distributions are distinct across risk groups and geographical regions. 07BC_N shows a greater risk of transmission, and has gradually replaced 07BC_O. Furthermore, the results show that strengthening the MSM interventions could lower the rapidity of 07BC_N transmission in all risk groups.

The diversity of HIV-1 envelope (Env) glycoproteins affects the potency and breadth of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), a promising alternative to antiretroviral drugs for the prevention and treatment of HIV-1 infection. To facilitate immunogen design and development of therapeutic neutralizing antibodies, we characterized viral evolution and monitored the changes in neutralizing activity/sensitivity of a long-term non-progressor patient with HIV-1 CRF07_BC infection. Fifty-nine full-length Env gene fragments were derived from four plasma samples sequentially harvested from the patient between 2016 and 2020. Sequencing of patient-derived Env genes revealed that potential N-linked glycosylation sites (PNGS) in V1 and V5 significantly increased over time. Further, 24 functional Env-pseudotyped viruses were generated based on Env gene sequences. While all 24 Env-pseudotyped viruses remained sensitive to concurrent and subsequent autologous plasma, as well as bNAbs, including 10E8, VRC01, and 12A21, Env-pseudotyped viruses corresponding to later sampling time were increasingly more resistant to autologous plasma and bNAbs. All 24 Env-pseudotyped viruses were resistant to bNAbs 2G12, PGT121, and PGT135. The neutralization breadth of plasma from all four sequential samples was 100% against the global HIV-1 reference panel. Immune escape mutants resulted in increased resistance to bNAb targeting of different epitopes. Our study identified known mutations F277W in gp41 and previously uncharacterized mutation S465T in V5 which may be associated with increased viral resistance to bNAbs.

Background Despite recent advances in human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) prevention, a fast, safe, and effective vaccine will probably be necessary to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This study was conducted to evaluate global research trends and map the key bibliometric indices in HIV-1 genetic diversity from 1998 to 2021. Methods A comprehensive online search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database to retrieve published literature on HIV-1 genetic diversity. Key bibliometric indicators were calculated and evaluated using HistCiteTM, Bibliometrix: An R-tool, and VOSviewer software for windows. Results A total of 2,060 documents written by 9,201 authors and published in 250 journals were included in the final analysis. Year 2012 was the most productive year with 121 (5.87%) publications. The most prolific author was Shao Yiming (n = 74, 3.59%) from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The United States of America was the highly contributing and influential country (n = 681, 33.05%). AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses was the most productive journal (n = 562, 27.2%). Network visualization shows that HIV-1 was the most widely used author keyword. Conclusion This study provides global research trends and detailed information on HIV-1 genetic diversity. The amount of scientific literature on HIV-1 genetic diversity research has rapidly increased in the last two decades. The maximum number of articles on HIV-1 genetic diversity was published in developed countries; therefore, a scientific research collaboration among researchers and institutes in low-income countries should be promoted and supported.

Widespread concerns about high-fluoride groundwater and their health risks have been raised worldwide. Weathering of volcanic minerals is regarded as a principal source of groundwater fluoride in regions with volcanic bedrocks. However, how does the volcanic minerals control fluoride occurrence, if it induces other hydrogeochemical processes participating in and how this relates to human health still remain unclear. This study takes Kenya Rift Valley, which has volcanic geological formations, as an example to delineate the occurrence and origins of high-fluoride shallow groundwater with analysis of hydrochemistry, graphical and multivariate statistical methods. Over 40% of shallow groundwater (F-: up to 23.5 mg/L) show elevated fluoride values over the WHO standards of 1.5 mg/L. High fluoride groundwater are generally Na-rich and Ca-poor with high pH and HCO3¯ concentrations. Hydrogeochemical and principal component analysis indicate that weathering of hyper-alkaline volcanic rocks could release accumulated fluoride in melts and volatile fractions, as well as in clay minerals. Alkaline condition and high HCO3- contents lead to the competitive desorption of F- from clay minerals and Fe-hydroxides into groundwater. Clay minerals also provide abundant exchange sites where cation exchange happens and promotes the release of F- from the sediments by controlling the dissolution/precipitation of calcite and fluorite. Health risk assessment results show that chronic health risks by groundwater geogenic fluoride ingestion are identified to various individuals, with highest threats in children. Finally, a conceptual model has been developed to demonstrate the formations of high geogenic fluoride groundwater in regions with volcanic bedrocks and its relation with human health.

Herbal medicines or natural products and plant extract may exhibit promising alternatives or supplements for chemotherapy and antibiotic therapy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the therapeutic value and phytoconstituents of the whole plant, Nepeta distans. The methanol extract contains four known compounds, namely, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol. The structures of these compounds were confirmed with the help of NMR and mass spectrometry and by comparison with the available literature of these known compounds. The phytochemical analysis test confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, fats, proteins, and phytosterols. The antimicrobial activities were carried out by the agar well diffusion method. Both methanol extract and chloroform fraction showed significant antimicrobial activities.

Soil salinity is a major constraint adversely affecting agricultural crops including wheat worldwide. The use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to alleviate salt stress in crops has attracted the focus of many researchers due to its safe and eco-friendly nature. The current study aimed to study the genetic potential of high halophilic Bacillus strains, isolated from the rhizosphere in the extreme environment of the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau region of China, to reduce salt stress in wheat plants. The genetic analysis of high halophilic strains, NMCN1, LLCG23, and moderate halophilic stain, FZB42, revealed their key genetic features that play an important role in salt stress, osmotic regulation, signal transduction and membrane transport. Consequently, the expression of predicted salt stress-related genes were upregulated in the halophilic strains upon NaCl treatments 10, 16 and 18%, as compared with control. The halophilic strains also induced a stress response in wheat plants through the regulation of lipid peroxidation, abscisic acid and proline in a very efficient manner. Furthermore, NMCN1 and LLCG23 significantly enhanced wheat growth parameters in terms of physiological traits, i.e., fresh weight 31.2% and 29.7%, dry weight 28.6% and 27.3%, shoot length 34.2% and 31.3% and root length 32.4% and 30.2%, respectively, as compared to control plants under high NaCl concentration (200 mmol). The Bacillus strains NMCN1 and LLCG23 efficiently modulated phytohormones, leading to the substantial enhancement of plant tolerance towards salt stress. Therefore, we concluded that NMCN1 and LLCG23 contain a plethora of genetic features enabling them to combat with salt stress, which could be widely used in different bio-formulations to obtain high crop production in saline conditions.

End-to-end application performance and throughput of vehicular cognitive transport control protocol depend on how efficiently the segments (TCP header) are being transmitted from source to destination. One way to enhance the performance of vehicular cognitive TCP protocol is by reducing the packet drops in between the source and destination. In general, packet drops occur in between the source and destination of Cognitive Radio Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (CR-VANET) because of spectrum handoff or cognitive node handoff, or network congestion. In this paper, we focus on enhancing the performance of cognitive TCP protocol through “cognitive AODV routing protocol with the spectrum handoff mechanism.” In the proposed work, channel-route control messages of cognitive AODV routing protocol are updated with the support of spectrum handoff which helps to provide the backup opportunistic channel during PU active and helps to reduce the end-to-end spectrum handoff packet drops. Simulation results reveal that the overall performance of the vehicular cognitive TCP protocol with the proposed spectrum handoff aware cognitive AODV routing protocol is enhanced as compared to the existing cognitive TCP protocol.

Effective time management leads to greater academic performance and reduces stress, strain and anxiety among students, however, students facing difficulties to keep a balance between their academic life and personal-social life. This study aims to examine the self-perceptions of undergraduate students’ time management behaviour by using Time Management Behaviour Scale (TMBS) developed by Macan, Shahani, Dipboye and Phillips (1990). The scale consisted of 34 rating items ranges from very often true to seldom true. The population of the study consisted of all undergraduate students studying in the academic session 2018-19 at public sector general category universities in Malakand division. By using stratified sampling technique a sample of 1050 undergraduate students were selected from the sampled universities. Students were also asked to provide their CGPA in their previous semester. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. It was found that prospective teachers have moderate to high level of time management skills. Significant relationship was found between undergraduate students’ time management behaviour and academic performance. It was recommended that university administration should orient students to enhance their time management behaviour by arranging seminars, workshops and conferences to enhance their time management skills.

Due to the basic nature of mobile ad hoc networks, that is, infrastructure-less, it is prone to individual or collective misbehaviors by participating node(s). Participating nodes could act selfishly and does cause massive loss to network performance because of limited resources or belonging to a different administrative domain. Reputation-based solutions are widely used to mitigate selfishness. These solutions are to some extent depend on the feedback from participating nodes for any given node which required its secure exchange in an adverse environment. This paper introduces a secure opinion sharing based on network coding to ensure the effectiveness of any reputation against selfishness in an adverse environment. The proposed scheme addresses the threat to opinion exchange in any reputation-based solution with minor changes. In addition, it can be used to exchange secure data in an adverse environment, for example, virtual currency and feedback exchange for credit payment and game theory–based solutions, respectively. Simulation results proved that this scheme achieves excellent opinion exchange ratio, moderate delay, and affordable per cycle overhead.

Solar energy exploitation through photovoltaic technology has demonstrated a sustainable way for curbing energy needs and cutting environmental issues happening due to emissions of carbon dioxide, CO 2 from the usage of non-renewable energy resources. The purpose of this study was to reduce metallization by choosing optimal metallization on silicon photovoltaic wafer. Using numerical study, the effects of the number of busbars, fingers, and soldering/probe points were analyzed and also the study of the size of busbar and finger was carried out to find the optimal value for each which assures better performance. It is revealed that increasing the number and size of busbars, fingers, and probe points result in increasing fill factor, however, the efficiency of the device is limited to a number which provides the best optimal performance in terms of efficiency, whereas increasing the size (width) of the parameter result in a decrease in efficiency increasing shading factor. The optimal value of prescribed parameters was recorded as 4, 82, and 20 numbers of busbars, fingers, and probe points, respectively, while an optimal value of the width of busbar and finger is found as 0.5 mm and 60 µm, respectively. These values attained efficiency and fill factor above 20% and 80%, respectively. This study finds a realistic method to further diminish the metallization, improve the performance, and reduce the cost of often used industrial silicon photovoltaic cells.

Future climate change is expected to impact the natural systems. This study used future climate data of general circulation models (GCMs) to investigate the impacts of climate change during the future period (2062–2095) relative to the historical period (1981–2014) on the hydrological system of the Minjiang river watershed, China. A previously calibrated soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) was employed to simulate the future hydrology under the impacts of changes in temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric CO2 concentration for four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP 1, 2, 3, and 5) of the CMIP6. The study revealed that the impacts of increase in future temperature, i.e., increase in ET, and decrease in surface runoff, water, and sediment yield will be countered by increased atmospheric [CO2], and changes in the hydrological parameters in the future will be mostly associated to changes in precipitation. Data of the GCMs for all the SSPs predicts increase in precipitation of the watershed, which will cause increase in surface runoff, water yield, and sediment yield. Surface runoff will increase more in SSP 5 (47%), while sediment and water yield will increase more in SSP 1, by 33% and 23%, respectively. At the seasonal scale, water yield and surface runoff will increase more in autumn and winter in SSP 1, while in other scenarios, these parameters will increase more in the spring and summer seasons. Sediment yield will increase more in autumn in all scenarios. Similarly, the future climate change is predicted to impact the important parameters related to the flow regime of the Minjiang river, i.e., the frequency and peak of large floods (flows > 14,000 m3/s) will increase along the gradient of scenarios, i.e., more in SSP 5 followed by 3, 2, and 1, while duration will increase in SSP 5 and decrease in the other SSPs. The frequency and duration of extreme low flows will increase in SSP 5 while decrease in SSP 1. Moreover, peak of extreme low flows will decrease in all scenarios except SSP 1, in which it will increase. The study will improve the general understanding about the possible impacts of future climate change in the region and provide support for improving the management and protection of the watershed’s water and soil resources.

Electrocatalytic materials offer numerous benefits due to their wide range of applications. In this study, a polyol technique was used to synthesize PdNi nanoparticles (NPs) with different percent atomic compositions (Pd = 50 to 90%) to explore their catalytic efficiency. The produced nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical investigations. According to XRD measurements, the synthesized NPs were crystalline in nature, with crystallite sizes of about 2 nm. The electrochemical properties of the synthesized NPs were studied in alkaline solution through a rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) technique of cyclic voltammetry. The PdNi nanoparticles supported on carbon (PdNi/C) were used as electrocatalysts and their activity and stability were compared with the homemade Pd/C and Pt/C. In alkaline solution, PdNi/C electrocatalysts showed improved oxygen reduction catalytic activity over benchmark Pd/C and Pt/C electrocatalysts in all composition ratios. Furthermore, stability experiments revealed that PdNi 50:50 is more stable in alkaline solution than pure Pd and other PdNi compositions.

The world has become a global village where an occurrence in one corner of the world has resounding effects in all the other corners. Therefore, the need to develop a positive attitude toward understanding and interaction among all the world religions has increased manifold, particularly in view of the grave nature of threats posed to global order and peace. This paper deals with the issues of religious bigotry, intolerance and misunderstanding toward other religions. Religion does not teach violence and antagonism to its followers. The primary and fundamental teaching of all world religions promotes love, compassion, tolerance, peace, mutual respect, understanding and cooperation. In the past, many efforts have been made to create harmony among the followers of different religions by eliminating their differences and their unique identities shaped by their respective religion through the imposition of a uniform religious structure. This paper explains that there is no need to eliminate religious differences and identities in order to establish a good society but it also emphasizes the need to develop core respect and understanding the beliefs of others. These form the basis on which believers of different religions can live together. The followers of different religions and faiths need to join hands in initiating dialogue and interaction with each other in order to make this globe a peaceful place for every one regardless of his religion, creed and ethnic identities. This is the only way to eliminate the specter of terrorism and extremism.

In this study, dichlorodifluoromethane (R12) gas and mixtures with nitrogen (N(2)) and air at different pressures and mixing ratios have been investigated and showed good alternative to [inline-formula] gas in terms of high-voltage application. Mixed gases contain R12 gas, they offer good dielectric properties and possibility to be used in low-temperature environment. Synergistic effects and self-recoverability test have been performed. Dielectric strength under quasi-uniform field showed in the order of [inline-formula] air in alternating current (AC), direct current (DC) and impulse was examined. Mixture R12/N(2) (80/20%) could reach over 0.90–0.95 times to that of [inline-formula] gas at 50 lb/in^2 at AC and R12/air (70/30%) gives 0.80–0.90 to [inline-formula] gas. R12 gas presents brilliant self-recoverability. The optimal ratio to switch [inline-formula] gas is R12/N(2) (80/20%) and R12/air (70/30%) is based on the authors’ experimental condition and setup.

A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of tillage, crop residue management and nitrogen (N) splitting on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield over 2 yr (2010-2012) in a rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat system in northwestern Pakistan. The experiment was conducted as split plot arranged in randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Treatments comprised six tillage and residue managements: zero tillage straw retained (ZTsr), zero tillage straw burnt (ZTsb), reduced tillage straw incorporated (RTsi), reduced tillage straw burnt (RTsb), conventional tillage straw incorporated (CTsi), and conventional tillage straw burnt (CTsb) as main plots and N (200 kg ha−1) was applied as split form viz., control (no nitrogen & no splitting, N0S0); 2 splits of total N, half at sowing and half at the 1st irrigation (i.e., 20 d after sowing (DAS)) (NS1); 3 splits of total N, 1/3 at sowing, 1/3 at the 1st irrigation, and 1/3 at the 2nd irrigation (NS2); 4 splits of total N, 1/4 at sowing, 1/4 at the 1st irrigation, 1/4 at the 2nd irrigation (45 DAS), and 1/4 at the 3rd irrigation (70 DAS) (NS3); and 4 splits of total N, 1/4 at the 1st irrigation, 1/4 at the 2nd irrigation, 1/4 at the 3rd irrigation, and 1/4 at the 4th irrigation (95DAS) (NS4) as sub plots. The results showed that the most pikes m−2, grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, and N use efficiency (NUE) were obtained at zero tillage, straw retained and 4 splits application of total N (i.e., at sowing 20, 45 and 70 d after sowing). The results indicated that ZTsr with application of 200 kg N ha−1 in 4 equal splits viz. at sowing 20, 45 and 70 d after sowing is an appropriate strategy that enhanced wheat yield (7436-7634 kg ha−1) and N efficiency (28.6-29.5 kg kg−1) in rice-wheat system.

Lipopeptides from Bacillus species exhibit promising biological control activity against plant pathogens. This study aimed to explore the potential of purified fengycin to induce systemic resistance in tomato against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42, its mutant AK1S, and their corresponding metabolites showed in vitro inhibition of S. sclerotiorum mycelium. Fengycin derived from an AK1S mutant was purified and identified through HPLC and MALDI-TOF-MS, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed structural deformities in the fungal mycelium. Moreover, fengycin induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in S. sclerotiorum mycelium and downregulated the expression of ROS-scavenging genes viz., superoxide dismutase (SsSOD1), peroxidase (SsPO), and catalase (SsCAT1) compared to the untreated control. Furthermore, the lesion size was dramatically reduced in fengycin-treated tomato plants compared to plants infected with S. sclerotiorum only in a greenhouse experiment. Additionally, the transcriptional regulation of defense-related genes GST, SOD, PAL, HMGR, and MPK3 showed the highest upsurge in expression at 48 h post-inoculation (hpi). However, their expression was subsequently decreased at 96 hpi in fengycin + S. sclerotiorum treatment compared to the plants treated with fengycin only. Conversely, the expression of PPO increased in a linear manner up to 96 hpi.

Abiotic stress in plants pose a major threat to cereal crop production worldwide and cold stress is also notorious for causing a decrease in plant growth and yield in wheat. The present study was designed to alleviate cold stress on plants by inoculating psychrophilic PGPR bacteria belonging to Bacillus genera isolated from extreme rhizospheric environments of Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. The genetic screening of psychrophilic Bacillus spp. CJCL2, RJGP41 and temperate B. velezensis FZB42 revealed presence of genetic features corresponding to cold stress response, membrane transport, signal transduction and osmotic regulation. Subsequently, the time frame study for the expression of genes involved in these pathways was also significantly higher in psychrophilic strains as analyzed through qPCR analysis at 4 ℃. The inoculated cold tolerant Bacillus strains also aided in inducing stress response in wheat by regulating abscisic acid, lipid peroxidation and proline accumulation pathways in a beneficial manner. Moreover, during comparative analysis of growth promotion in wheat all three Bacillus strains showed significant results at 25 ℃. Whereas, psychrophilic Bacillus strains CJCL2 and RJGP41 were able to positively regulate the expression of phytohormones leading to significant improvement in plant growth under cold stress.

The effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) on tree growth has been extensively investigated in this paper. The fillers are widely added in the insulation partly for reinforcement and also for suppression of tree initiation and their growth. The addition of zinc oxide (ZnO) as a filler into polymer insulation material also shows a non linear effect in dc conductivity when volume fraction of filler is above a certain level. In this work, zinc oxide (ZnO) employed in clear polyester resin as a barrier. High voltage 28kV rms is applied in the form of burst. The growth and nature of tree monitor on polariscope on regular interval. The life time of the specimen was filled with ZnO and ZnO as a barrier, is increased many fold. The results zinc oxide (ZnO) specimens are compared with Aluminium Oxide (Al O ) barrier. In the case of Aluminium oxide (Al O ) when tree was blocked by the barrier, the branches of the tree become wider because of discharge activity and no such activity was found in the case of zinc oxide (ZnO). Ten specimens of zinc oxide (ZnO) barrier were tested and none of them breakdown.

To investigate the crystallization of ibuprofen [((RS)-2-(4-(2-methylpropyl) phenyl) propanoic acid)] from ethanol and water-ethanol mixtures it is necessary to know the nucleation limits of its solutions. In the absence of crystals, nucleation will seldom occur below the PNT (primary nucleation threshold). If crystals are present, nucleation will seldom occur until below the lower SNT (secondary nucleation threshold). Below the SNT, crystals will still grow with negligible nucleation. PNT and SNT values (expressed as relative supersaturation σ) have been measured at 10, 25, and 40°C for ibuprofen in ethanol and in a range of mixtures of different ethanol (E)/water (W) ratios. The induction times were determined from observing the times to nucleate for a range of different supersaturated solutions at a given temperature and E/W ratio. As expected, lowering the supersaturation leads to longer induction times. In ethanol, the SNT values are small and thus the secondary metastable zone width (MSZW) is relatively narrow with a 1 h SNT relative supersaturation typically about σ ~ 0.05. The 1 h PNT values are much larger with values for σ around 0.3. In aqueous ethanolic mixtures at 25°C, both the PNT and SNT decrease as the water content increases.

In this paper, a numerical method for the solution of a strongly coupled reaction-diffusion system, with suitable initial and Neumann boundary conditions, by using cubic B-spline collocation scheme on a uniform grid is presented. The scheme is based on the usual finite difference scheme to discretize the time derivative while cubic B-spline is used as an interpolation function in the space dimension. The scheme is shown to be unconditionally stable using the von Neumann method. The accuracy of the proposed scheme is demonstrated by applying it on a test problem. The performance of this scheme is shown by computing L∞ and L2 error norms for different time levels. The numerical results are found to be in good agreement with known exact solutions.

A new two-time level implicit technique based on cubic trigonometric B-spline is proposed for the approximate solution of a nonclassical diffusion problem with nonlocal boundary constraints. The standard finite difference approach is applied to discretize the time derivative while cubic trigonometric B-spline is utilized as an interpolating function in the space dimension. The technique is shown to be unconditionally stable using the von Neumann method. Several numerical examples are discussed to exhibit the feasibility and capability of the technique. The L2 and L∞ error norms are also computed at different times for different space size steps to assess the performance of the proposed technique. The technique requires smaller computational time than several other methods and the numerical results are found to be in good agreement with known solutions and with existing schemes in the literature.