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Abstract Background Cotton leaf curl virus disease (CLCuD) is one of the major concerns for cotton growers. The traditional approach to managing CLCuD involves the control of the vector (whitefly) population through the use of pesticides. This study compares the efficacy of zinc oxide, iron oxide, copper and silver nanoparticles with conventional pesticides. Nanoparticles dose was optimized by evaluating their phytotoxic threshold in our previous study. In this study, optimized doses of nanoparticles such as zinc oxide (100 ppm), iron oxide (50 ppm), copper (50 ppm) and silver nanoparticles (25 ppm) were applied in a field trial of cotton against cotton leaf curl virus disease (CLCuD). Morphological parameters (height of stem, monopodial branches, sympodial branches, staple length, boll weight and number of bolls), yield parameters (seed cotton yield and ginning outturn), chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids and total chlorophyll), biochemical parameters (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and electrolyte leakage) and disease parameters (reduction infection, disease severity and disease incidence) were determined in this study. Results The incidence of cotton leaf curl virus was confirmed by triple antibody sandwich–enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA). The pesticide Imidacloprid significantly reduced the infection by 79.3%. However, in comparison to pesticide, application of nanoparticles also reduced the infection. ZnO NPs reduced the infection by 42.33%, FeO NPs by 41%, Cu NPs by 34.7%, and Ag NPs by 44.8%. Moreover, these nanoparticles also improved the plant growth parameters as compared to control treatment. ZnO NPs enhanced morphological, yield parameters, and chlorophyll content by 36%, 22%, and 29%, respectively. FeO NPs showed improvements by 38%, 21%, and 29%; Cu NPs 39%, 25%, and 29%; and Ag NPs 31%, 19%, and 18%, respectively. Conclusion Although treatment pesticide showed the least disease incidence compared to nanoparticles, nanoparticles are eco-friendly and safe as compared to pesticides. Farmers can apply these nanoparticles at their optimal thresholds through foliar application as an alternative to traditional pesticides. It is concluded that nanocomposites and hybrid modes may be used for managing CLCuD efficiently in the future. Graphical abstract

Abstract Incorporating selenium into high-surface-area carbon with hierarchical pores, derived from red kidney bean peels via simple carbonization/activation, yields a superior Li–Se battery cathode material. This method produces a carbon framework with 568 m2 g−1 surface area, significant pore volume, and improves the composite’s electronic conductivity and stability by mitigating volume changes and reducing lithium polyselenide dissolution. The Se@ACRKB composite, containing 45 wt% selenium, shows high discharge capacities (609.13 mAh g−1 on the 2nd cycle, maintaining 470.76 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles at 0.2 C, and 387.58 mAh g−1 over 1000 cycles at 1 C). This demonstrates exceptional long-term stability and performance, also applicable to Na–Se batteries, with 421.36 mAh g−1 capacity after 200 cycles at 0.1 C. Our study showcases the potential of using sustainable materials for advanced battery technologies, emphasizing cost-effective and scalable solutions for energy storage.

Background Plant growth and development can be greatly impacted by drought stress. Suitable plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) or biochar (BC) application has been shown to alleviate drought stress for plants. However, their co-application has not been extensively explored in this regard. Methods We isolated bacterial strains from rhizospheric soils of plants from arid soils and characterized them for plant growth promoting characteristics like IAA production and phosphate solubilization as well as for drought tolerance. Three bacterial strains or so called PGPRs, identified as Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus tropicus, and Bacillus paramycoides based on their 16S rRNA, were screened for further experiments. Wheat was grown on normal, where soil moisture was maintained at 75% of water holding capacity (WHC), and induced-drought (25% WHC) stressed soil in pots. PGPRs were applied alone or in combination with a biochar derived from pyrolysis of tree wood. Results Drought stress substantially inhibited wheat growth. However, biochar addition under stressed conditions significantly improved the wheat growth and productivity. Briefly, it increased straw yield by 25%, 100-grain weight by 15% and grain yield by 10% compared to the control. Moreover, co-application of biochar with PGPRs B. thuringiensis, B. tropicus and B. paramycoides further enhanced straw yield by 37–41%, 100-grain weight by 30–36%, and grain yield by 22–22.57%, respectively. The co-application also enhanced soil quality by increasing plant-available phosphorus by 4–31%, microbial biomass by 33–45%, and soil K+/Na+ ratio by 41–44%. Conclusion Co-application of PGPRs and biochar alleviated plant drought stress by improving nutrient availability and absorption. Acting as a nutrient reservoir, biochar worked alongside PGPRs, who solubilized nutrients from the former and promoted wheat growth. We recommend that the co-application of suitable PGPRs and biochar is a better technology to produce wheat under drought conditions than using these enhancers separately.

In many underdeveloped countries, textile industries discharge their effluents without any treatment. The untreated textile wastewater consists of both azo dyes and heavy metals which not only change the physicochemical and biological properties of soil and water but also affect human health. In recent years, copper-based nanomaterials have attained worldwide attention because of their unique properties and potential for decolorization of azo dyes and wastewater treatment. The present study demonstrates the bacterial synthesis of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) using Bacillus flexus strain isolated from a textile wastewater followed by their application for photocatalytic degradation of various azo dyes and treatment of actual wastewater. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of various functional groups including proteins on Cu-NPs which improved their stability. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed the spherical shape of Cu-NPs with a size of range between 17–34 nm. Similarly, the XRD analysis of biosynthesized Cu-NPs showed various diffraction peaks at 44.5°, 51.5°, 74.75 which confirmed the crystalline nature of nanoparticles. While studying the photocatalytic decolorization of azo dyes by Cu-NPs, it was observed that 88.164 ± 0.19 %, 88.452 ± 1.89 %, 90.433 ± 1.81 %, 64.770 ± 1.02 %, 46.774 ± 1.61 %, and 67.274 ± 2.89 % of reactive black-5, congo red, malachite green, methylene blue, reactive red-2 and blue direct, respectively, were decolorized after 4 h of solar irradiation at 50 ppm concentration. Additionally, the biosynthesized nanoparticles also resulted in reduction of various parameters like EC, pH, TDS, COD, color intensity, sulphates, and phosphates in the textiles wastewater. The reduction of COD, sulfates, and phosphates was about 39.659 %, 43.157 %, and 49.493 %. The results of current work suggest that biosynthesized copper nanoparticles might serve as a potential green solution for the decolorization of various dyes including wastewater treatment.

Background Sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) in agricultural soils promises climate change mitigation as well as sustainable ecosystem services. In order to stabilize crop residues as soil carbon (C), addition of mineral nutrients in excess to crop needs is suggested as an inevitable practice. However, the effect of two macronutrients i.e., nitrogen (N) & phosphorus (P), on C cycling has been found contradictory. Mineral N usually decreases whereas mineral P increases the soil organic C (SOC) mineralization and microbial biomass. How the addition of these macronutrients in inorganic form to an organic-matter poor soil affect C cycling remains to be investigated. Methods To reconcile this contradiction, we tested the effect of mineral N (120 kg N ha−1) and/or P (60 kg N ha−1) in presence or absence of maize litter (1 g C kg−1 soil) on C cycling in an organic-matter poor soil (0.87% SOC) in a laboratory incubation. Soil respiration was measured periodically during the incubation whereas various soil variables were measured at the end of the incubation. Results Contrary to literature, P addition stimulated soil C mineralization very briefly at start of incubation period and released similar total cumulative CO2-C as in control soil. We attributed this to low organic C content of the soil as P addition could desorb very low amounts of labile C for microbial use. Adding N with litter built up the largest microbial biomass (144% higher) without inducing any further increase in CO2-C release compared to litter only addition. However, adding P with litter did not induce any increase in microbial biomass. Co-application of inorganic N and P significantly increased C mineralization in presence (19% with respect to only litter amended) as well as absence (41% with respect to control soil) of litter. Overall, our study indicates that the combined application of inorganic N and P stabilizes added organic matter while depletes the already unamended soil.

Highlights Si/C Composite and Nanostructure Engineering: Advanced Si/C composites and multidimensional nanostructures address key challenges in silicon anodes, like volume expansion and unstable SEI, enhancing LIBs performance. Artificial SEI, Prelithiation, and Binders: Focus on stable artificial SEI layers, efficient prelithiation, and cutting-edge binders to improve Coulombic efficiency and reduce capacity loss, enhancing Si anode durability and efficiency. Real-World Application and Scalability: Analysis of these strategies highlights scalability and commercial viability, transitioning Si-anode technologies to practical, high-performance LIBs applications.

Background and purposeBiomarkers for prediction of outcome in patients with pancreatic cancer are wanted in order to personalize the treatment. This study investigated the value of longitudinal diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) for prediction of overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).Materials and methodsThe study included 45 patients with LAPC who received 5 fractions of 10 Gy on a 1.5T MRI-Linac. DWI was acquired prior to irradiation at each fraction. The analysis included baseline values and time-trends of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and DWI parameters obtained using a decomposition method. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model for OS was made using best-subset selection, using cross-validation based on Bootstrap.ResultsThe median OS from the first day of SBRT was 15.5 months (95% CI: 13.2-20.6), and the median potential follow-up time was 19.8 months. The best-performing multivariable model for OS included two decomposition-based DWI parameters: one baseline and one time-trend parameter. The C-Harrell index describing the model’s discriminating power was 0.754. High baseline ADC values were associated with reduced OS, whereas no association between the ADC time-trend and OS was observed.ConclusionDecomposition-based DWI parameters indicated value in the prediction of OS in LAPC. A DWI time-trend parameter was included in the best-performing model, indicating a potential benefit of acquiring longitudinal DWI during the SBRT course. These findings support both baseline and longitudinal DWI as candidate prognostic biomarkers, which may become tools for personalization of the treatment of patients with LAPC.

Abstract Highly multiplexed protein imaging is emerging as a potent technique for analyzing protein distribution within cells and tissues in their native context. However, existing cell annotation methods utilizing high-plex spatial proteomics data are resource intensive and necessitate iterative expert input, thereby constraining their scalability and practicality for extensive datasets. We introduce MAPS (Machine learning for Analysis of Proteomics in Spatial biology), a machine learning approach facilitating rapid and precise cell type identification with human-level accuracy from spatial proteomics data. Validated on multiple in-house and publicly available MIBI and CODEX datasets, MAPS outperforms current annotation techniques in terms of speed and accuracy, achieving pathologist-level precision even for typically challenging cell types, including tumor cells of immune origin. By democratizing rapidly deployable and scalable machine learning annotation, MAPS holds significant potential to expedite advances in tissue biology and disease comprehension.

This study provides a high-level overview of alternative energy sources that can be harnessed to power agricultural operations, focusing on renewable energy technologies. When thinking about the overall economy around the globe, agriculture is vital. Energy is required at each step of production, from fertilizer production to fueling tractors for planting and harvesting. The high energy prices and unpredictable energy market significantly affect the input energy costs. Energy efficiency methods, when properly applied, and the use of farm’s renewable energy sources could assist agricultural producers in saving energy-related costs. Renewable energy resources in the form of solar, biomass, wind, and geothermal energy are abundantly available in the agriculture sector. This review aims to explore renewable energy as an alternative energy source for efficient energy management in agriculture. It discusses the potential benefits, challenges, and opportunities associated with adopting renewable energy technologies in the agricultural sector. Our research adds value by presenting a comprehensive overview of alternative energy sources and their applicability in energy management. By highlighting the benefits and potential challenges associated with each option, we provide valuable insights for agricultural stakeholders and researchers aiming to transition toward sustainable energy practices in the sector. Better energy management is intertwined with problems that need a broader strategy than has so far been used. In a nutshell, transitioning to alternative energy sources for energy management in agriculture holds great promise for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and promoting sustainability in food production. However, successful implementation requires addressing technical, economic, and policy barriers while fostering knowledge dissemination and capacity building among farmers and stakeholders.

The current research was carried out to devise a biological strategy to remediate dyes and metal ions from textile wastewater. For this purpose, Citrobacter sp. M41 was isolated from a textile wastewater sample. This strain efficiently decolorized > 90 % of the added reactive black-5 (RB5) dye using yeast extract as a C source at 8.5 pH and 30 °C in mineral salt medium containing a mixture of metals (Pb2+, Ni2+ and Cd2+). Moreover, M41 showed > 90 % decolorization of RB5 beside > 80 % concurrent removal of hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)]. Furthermore, the granulated corncob and its biochar bioaugmented with M41 and filled within packed bed column based bioreactors efficiently (>90 %) removed the RB5 and Cr(VI) from a textile wastewater. The M41 bioaugmented corncob biochar resulted into a 60.8 %, 57.8 % and 68.7 % decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD), electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) of the wastewater, respectively. A phytotoxicity study conducted by using mung bean (Vigna radiata) as a test crop indicated that the treated synthetic wastewater was relatively less toxic as compared with the untreated wastewater. Therefore, it can be concluded that Citrobater sp. M41 is an important bio-resource for treatment of textile effluent polluted with azo dyes and Cr(VI).

This study examines the challenges Pakistani farmers face in adopting global good agricultural practices (GGAP) and highlights the limitations in infrastructure and cost-based clauses. A questionnaire based on GGAP’s fruit and vegetable module version 5.0 was developed and validated by the Department of Environmental Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad. This was a survey-based study of 15 farmers divided into 5 groups according to their annual farm turnover. The findings of the study indicated that, although the basic paperwork requirements of GGAP were implementable, clauses related to capital investment and technical record-keeping were not. Results showed that 90-100% of farmers considered risk assessments, training, and documentation on their farms. However, 42-56% of clauses related to record-keeping, installation, visual presentation, and infrastructure development, and 24-37% of clauses related to external testing, health, safety, and hygiene were declared not implementable. The study revealed a need for adapting GGAP standards to Pakistan's unique agricultural conditions, suggesting the development of localized standards for more practical implementation. The study’s findings highlight crucial insights for policymakers and stakeholders in the agriculture sector and suggest the need for target strategies to overcome implementation barriers and optimize the adaptation of Global GAP in Pakistan that would help to increase exports of agricultural commodities.

Introduction: Rhodococcus is an extremely rare, gram positive, aerobic, coccobacillary organism, usually found in the soil or in dairy and livestock animals. It is most commonly affecting the immunocompromised. Only 15 % of cases have been reported in immunocompetent hosts. Case report: We bring forth the unusual case of a 45-year-old gem minor who had already undergone pericardial window due to pericardial effusion. He presented to us with recurrent pericardial effusion and anterior mediastinal mass diagnosed on Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiogram scan. He was diagnosed with Rhodococcus as being the causative organism of the condition on pericardial fluid cultures. This is an extremely rare manifestation of Rhodococcus infection, which has not yet been reported in literature to the best of our knowledge. Discussion: The first human case of Rhodococcus was reported in a young male upon steroidal therapy for autoimmune hepatitis who developed pneumonia in 1967. Rhodococci infections are usually common in immunocompromised hosts, and only 19 cases have been reported in immunocompetent hosts till now. The usual signs of presentation are cough, pleuritic chest pain, and fever; however, it varies according to the site of infection. The most common manifestation is pneumonia, although other presentations include osteomyelitis, brain abscess, wound infections, etc. Result: The diagnosis and treatment of Rhodococci is very difficult due to the rarity of presentation. Despite that, surgical intervention should be considered as the preferred modality for diagnostic purposes and in infections resistant to medical management.

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to find out how the positive influence of corporate sustainable development on corporate financial performance alters during the two recent crises i.e. the global recession (2008–10) and COVID-19 (2019–20). The fixed effect modeling of panel data is applied in the main analysis of Chinese manufacturing companies ranging from 2008 to 2020. The results of the study disclose that there is an overall positive influence of corporate sustainable development on corporate financial performance. However, this influence becomes stronger during both crises i.e. the global recession (2008–10) and COVID-19 (2019–20). Moreover, this positive influence is even stronger during covid −19 recession as compared to this influence during the global recession (2008–10).

IntroductionNanoparticles play a vital role in environmental remediation on a global scale. In recent years, there has been an increasing demand to utilize nanoparticles in wastewater treatment due to their remarkable physiochemical properties.MethodsIn the current study, manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO-NPs) were synthesized from the Bacillus flexus strain and characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.ResultsThe objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of biosynthesized MnO-NPs to treat wastewater. Results showed the photocatalytic degradation and adsorption potential of MnO-NPs for chemical oxygen demand, sulfate, and phosphate were 79%, 64%, and 64.5%, respectively, depicting the potential of MnO-NPs to effectively reduce pollutants in wastewater. The treated wastewater was further utilized for the cultivation of wheat seedlings through a pot experiment. It was observed that the application of treated wastewater showed a significant increase in growth, physiological, and antioxidant attributes. However, the application of treated wastewater led to a significant decrease in oxidative stress by 40%.DiscussionIt can be concluded that the application of MnO-NPs is a promising choice to treat wastewater as it has the potential to enhance the growth, physiological, and antioxidant activities of wheat seedlings.

Abstract Background A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the phytotoxic thresholds of zinc oxide (ZnO NPs), iron oxide (FeO NPs), copper (Cu NPs), and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on cotton. All the nanoparticles were biosynthesized from Conocarpus erectus L. leaf extract. They were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Five concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm) of all the biosynthesized nanoparticles were foliar applied thrice over the duration of cotton growth. Five cotton seeds were sown in 5 kg soil pot and harvested after 6 weeks. SPAD values were evaluated before harvesting while physical growth parameters, physiological parameters biochemical, and oxidative stress parameters were measured after harvesting. Results The value of all parameters, except oxidative stress, increased by 13–47% in response to ZnO NPs application up to 100 ppm. However, phytotoxic threshold of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO NPs) and copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) was only 50 ppm as plant growth was increased by 7.9–24.3%. Above 50 ppm plant growth and biomass were decreased by 6.7–16.2%. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) showed maximum growth (3.7 to 9.12% increased) at 25 ppm concentration. At higher concentrations than 25 ppm, the application of Ag NPs decreased the growth due to toxicity. Foliar application of different biosynthesized nanoparticles showed the different range of threshold value for cotton crop. Threshold value of iron oxide and copper nanoparticles for cotton was 50 ppm, whereas, it was 25 ppm for silver nanoparticles. Since the ZnO NPs application continued increasing the growth till its maximum concentration used i.e., 100 ppm, we cannot say that this is its threshold value. Conclusion On the basis of obtained results, it can be concluded that nanoparticles should be used within threshold to avoid adverse effects on crops. Application of nanoparticles within threshold optimum concentration, increased plant biomass and antioxidant system. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Meplazumab, a humanized CD147 antibody, has shown favourable safety and efficacy in our previous clinical studies. In DEFLECT (NCT04586153), 167 patients with severe COVID-19 were enroled and randomized to receive three dosages of meplazumab and a placebo. Meplazumab at 0.12 mg/kg, compared to the placebo group, showed clinical benefits in significantly reducing mortality by 83.6% (2.4% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.0150), increasing the proportion of patients alive and discharged without supplemental oxygen (82.9% vs. 70.7%, p = 0.0337) and increasing the proportion of patients who achieved sustained clinical improvement (41.5% vs. 31.7%). The response rate in the 0.2 mg/kg group was relatively increased by 16.0% compared with the placebo group (53.7% vs. 46.3%). Meplazumab also reduced the viral loads and multiple cytokine levels. Compare with the placebo group, the 0.3 mg/kg significantly increased the virus negative rate by 40.6% (p = 0.0363) and reduced IL-8 level (p = 0.0460); the 0.2 mg/kg increased the negative conversion rate by 36.9%, and reduced IL-4 (p = 0.0365) and IL-8 levels (p = 0.0484). In this study, the adverse events occurred at a comparable rate across the four groups, with no unexpected safety findings observed. In conclusion, meplazumab promoted COVID-19 convalescence and reduced mortality, viral load, and cytokine levels in severe COVID-19 population with good safety profile.

Guided by the AMO theory, VBN theory, and warm-glow-giving theory, the theoretical glue that joint the proposed model together this study investigates how employing Green HRM practices and Eco-Islamic Phenomenon (i.e. religiosity) corporate sector can achieve an equilibrium between Environmental-sustainability (ES) and Subjective Wellbeing (SWB), through the centrality of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). An in-depth review of strategically selected qualitative/empirical/conceptual articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases on the multi-disciplined subjects (i.e., GHRMPs, Religiosity, PEBs, ES, and SWB) published from 1978 to 2022 has been executed. A review of the literature derived 12 hypotheses combining cross-domain consolidated model for the corporate-sector of Pakistan, comprehending ‘how’ equilibrium between SWB and ES could be actualized. Distinctive from previous studies, the proposed model brings a new horizon to explore the untried associations of cross domains PEBs (i.e., workplace, public & private sphere) with GHRMPs, Religiosity, ES, and SWB to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying behavioral process bridging GHRMPs and Religiosity with ES and LS, respectively. This study offers contextual support to the literature where studies connecting sustainability and subjective well-being (SWB) are lacking especially in developing countries context.

BackgroundAdaptive MRI-guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT) requires accurate and efficient segmentation of organs and targets on MRI scans. Manual segmentation is time-consuming and variable, while deformable image registration (DIR)-based contour propagation may not account for large anatomical changes. Therefore, we developed and evaluated an automatic segmentation method using the nnU-net framework.MethodsThe network was trained on 38 patients (76 scans) with localized prostate cancer and tested on 30 patients (60 scans) with localized prostate, metastatic prostate, or bladder cancer treated at a 1.5 T MRI-linac at our institution. The performance of the network was compared with the current clinical workflow based on DIR. The segmentation accuracy was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), mean surface distance (MSD), and Hausdorff distance (HD) metrics.ResultsThe trained network successfully segmented all 600 structures in the test set. High similarity was obtained for most structures, with 90% of the contours having a DSC above 0.9 and 86% having an MSD below 1 mm. The largest discrepancies were found in the sigmoid and colon structures. Stratified analysis on cancer type showed that the best performance was seen in the same type of patients that the model was trained on (localized prostate). Especially in patients with bladder cancer, the performance was lower for the bladder and the surrounding organs. A complete automatic delineation workflow took approximately 1 minute. Compared with contour transfer based on the clinically used DIR algorithm, the nnU-net performed statistically better across all organs, with the most significant gain in using the nnU-net seen for organs subject to more considerable volumetric changes due to variation in the filling of the rectum, bladder, bowel, and sigmoid.ConclusionWe successfully trained and tested a network for automatically segmenting organs and targets for MRIgRT in the male pelvis region. Good test results were seen for the trained nnU-net, with test results outperforming the current clinical practice using DIR-based contour propagation at the 1.5 T MRI-linac. The trained network is sufficiently fast and accurate for clinical use in an online setting for MRIgRT. The model is provided as open-source.

Cereals are an important source of nutrients for animals. Several diseases cause severe yield loss in cereal crops. Bacterial diseases result in varying yield losses across cereals: Wheat (5-40%), maize (15-98.9%), rice (20-70%), pearl millet (3-35%), and oats (15-49%). Diseases may be bacterial diseases, fungal or viral. Bacterial diseases are traditionally treated by pesticides. Chemically synthesized pesticides are toxic and hazardous to the environment. Nanotechnology is emerging and novel field for agriculture, especially in plant pathology as a strong antimicrobial agent. Nanoparticles have been synthesized in various ways i.e., biological, physical, and chemical methods. Chemical and physical methods of nanoparticles are costly and toxic to the environment. The biological method for the synthesis of nanoparticles is eco-friendly and economical. Microorganisms or plant extracts are used for metal nanoparticle synthesis. The application of nanoparticles in agriculture has a wide scope and it can bring nano-revolution. This review summarizes the antibacterial activity of biosynthesized metal nanoparticles and their role in bacterial disease management of cereals.

Background and purpose: 3D Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is used in radiation therapy for reference planning and, lately, for adaptive treatments on MR accelerators. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different types of respiratory motion on the apparent target position and extent in such scans. Materials and methods: An MRI motion phantom with a 30 mm diameter target was used to simulate cranial-caudal (CC) motion and imaged at an MR-Linac using a standard clinically released 3D T2w sequence. Scans were acquired for each combination of functions (sin(t), sin4(t) and sin12(t)), peak-to-peak amplitudes (5, 10, 15 and 20 mm), and periods (4, 5 and 6 s). Furthermore, respiration CC motion patterns from two patients were used. Motion functions were shifted such that the time average target position would match a static reference scan at 0-position. The target was automatically identified in coronal and sagittal images using k-means clustering. The mean position and area of the target were calculated and compared to the reference scan. Results: Artefacts increased with amplitude and depended on the motion type. Sin(t) and sin4(t) oscillations resulted in a blurring of the target, which led to an increased target area, while sin12(t) motion did not show significant changes in the target area. However, for the sin12(t) motion, the offset in apparent position was prominent, while that was not the case for the sin(t) and sin4(t) motion. The patient respiration motion profiles showed similar trends. Conclusions: In 3D MRI, target motion can change apparent tumour extent and apparent position. The changes increase with motion amplitude and depend on the motion type.

Abstract Sustainable food security is a major challenge in today’s world, particularly in developing countries. Among many factors, environmental stressors, i.e., drought, salinity and heavy metals are major impediments in achieving sustainable food security. This calls for finding environment-friendly and cheap solutions to address these stressors. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have long been established as an environment-friendly means to enhance agricultural productivity in normal and stressed soils and are being applied at field scale. Similarly, pyrolyzing agro-wastes into biochar with the aim to amend soils is being proposed as a cheap additive for enhancement of soil quality and crop productivity. Many pot and some field-scale experiments have confirmed the potential of biochar for sustainable increase in agricultural productivity. Recently, many studies have combined the PGPR and biochar for improving soil quality and agricultural productivity, under normal and stressed conditions, with the assumption that both of these additives complement each other. Most of these studies have reported a significant increase in agricultural productivity in co-applied treatments than sole application of PGPR or biochar. This review presents synthesis of these studies in addition to providing insights into the mechanistic basis of the interaction of the PGPR and biochar. Moreover, this review highlights the future perspectives of the research in order to realize the potential of co-application of the PGPR and biochar at field scale. Graphical Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem that is closely related to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prevalence of acute and chronic HBV infection, liver cirrhosis, and HCC has significantly decreased as a result of the introduction of universal HBV vaccination programs. The first hepatitis B vaccine approved was developed by purifying the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from the plasma of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. Subsequently, recombinant DNA technology led to the development of the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Although there are already several licensed vaccines available for HBV infection, continuous research is essential to develop even more effective vaccines. Prophylactic hepatitis B vaccination has been important in the prevention of hepatitis B because it has effectively produced protective immunity against hepatitis B viral infection. Prophylactic vaccines only need to provoke neutralizing antibodies directed against the HBV envelop proteins, whereas therapeutic vaccines are most likely needed to induce a comprehensive T cell response and thus, should include other HBV antigens, such as HBV core and polymerase. The existing vaccines have proven to be highly effective in preventing HBV infection, but ongoing research aims to improve their efficacy, duration of protection, and accessibility. The routine administration of the HBV vaccine is safe and well-tolerated worldwide. The purpose of this type of immunization is to trigger an immunological response in the host, which will halt HBV replication. The clinical efficacy and safety of the HBV vaccine are affected by a number of immunological and clinical factors. However, this success is now in jeopardy due to the breakthrough infections caused by HBV variants with mutations in the S gene, high viral loads, and virus-induced immunosuppression. In this review, we describe various types of available HBV vaccines, along with the recent progress in the ongoing battle to develop new vaccines against HBV.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medicine has grown rapidly, yet few algorithms have been deployed. It is not the problem with the AI itself but with the way functions and results are communicated. Regulatory science provides the appropriate language and solutions to this problem for three reasons: First, there is value in the intentionally interdisciplinary regulatory language. Second, regulatory concepts are important for AI researchers because these concepts enable tackling of risk and safety concerns as well as understanding of recently proposed regulations in the US and Europe. Third, regulatory science is a scientific discipline that evaluates and challenges current regulation—aiming for evidence-based improvements. Knowledge of the regulatory language, concepts, and science should be regarded a core competency for communicating medical innovation. Regulatory grade communication will be the key to bringing medical AI from hype to standard of care. Foregoing the possible benefits of regulatory science as a unifying force for the realization of medical AI is a missed opportunity.

Background and purpose: Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance imaging (DWI) quantifies water mobility through the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC), a promising radiotherapy response biomarker. ADC measurements depend on manual delineation of a region of interest, a time-consuming and observer-dependent process. Here, the aim was to introduce and test the performance of a new, semi-automatic delineation tool (SADT) for ADC calculation within the viable region of the tumour. Materials and methods: Thirty patients with rectal cancer were scanned with DWI before radiotherapy (RT) (baseline) and two weeks into RT (week 2). The SADT was based on intensities in b=1100 s mm−2 DWI and derived ADC maps. ADC values measured using the SADT and manual delineations were compared using Bland-Altman- and correlation analyses. Delineations were repeated to assess intra-observer variation, and repeatability was estimated using repeated DWI scans. Results: ADC measured using the SADT and manual delineation showed strong and moderate correlation at baseline and week 2, respectively, with the SADT measuring systematically smaller values. Intra-observer ADC variation was slightly smaller for the SADT compared to manual delineation both at baseline, [−0.00; 0.03] vs. [−0.02; 0.04] 10−3 mm2 s−1, and week 2, [−0.01; 0.00] vs. [−0.04; 0.07] 10−3 mm2 s−1 (68.3% limits of agreement). The ADC change between baseline and week 2 was larger than the ADC uncertainty (±0.04 · 10−3 mm2 s−1) in all cases except one. Conclusion: The presented SADT showed performance comparable to manual expert delineation, and with sufficient consistency to allow extraction of potential biological information from the viable tumour.

Background and purpose: With the introduction of hybrid magnetic resonance linacs (MR-linac), improved imaging has enabled daily treatment adaptation. However, the use of gadolinium based contrast agents (GBCAs) is desired to further improve MR image contrast. GBCAs are in the form of a non-toxic metalorganic gadolinium complex, but toxic un-chelated aqueous gadolinium(III), Gd3+(aq), can be released in patients if the organic ligand is degraded by the radiation. In this study, T1 relaxation measurements were performed to study the effect of radiation on three GBCAs. Materials and methods: GBCAs, gadoteric acid, gadobutrol and gadoxectic acid were investigated in a concentration range of 10–100 mM. Measurements were performed on a 500 MHz nuclear MR (NMR) spectrometer with a high-resolution inversion recovery sequence to determine T1. Samples were irradiated with 7 MV photons on an MR-linac to a total dose of 100 Gy. The lower detection limit of Gd3+(aq) was established by estimating the overall measurement uncertainty and comparing to corresponding changes in R1 when replacing chelated Gd3+ with gadolinium nitrate at predefined percentages. Results: The overall measurement uncertainty was estimated to ±0.0053 ms−1, corresponding to Gd3+(aq) detection levels 1%–1.5% or 1–4.5 micro molar at clinical GBCA dosage. No detectable differences in R1 were observed between irradiated and non-irradiated samples for any GBCA. Conclusions: This study did not find any measurable degradation of GBCAs due to irradiation with high-energy X-rays, however, in-vivo investigations are needed to provide the clinical basis for safe use of contrast agents in a radiotherapy workflow.

Background Azo dyes are recalcitrant organic pollutants present in textile industry effluents. Conventional treatment methods to remove them come with a range of disadvantages. Nanoparticles and their nanocomposites offer more efficient, less expensive and easy to handle wastewater treatment alternative. Methods In this study, nanoparticles of nickel oxide (NiO-NPs), copper oxide (CuO-NPs) and their nanocomposite (NiO/CuO-NC) were synthesized using co-precipitation method. The functional groups present on the surface of synthesized nanomaterials were verified using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Surface morphology was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) whereas purity, shape and size of the crystallite were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The potential of these nanomaterials to degrade three dyes i.e., Reactive Red-2 (RR-2), Reactive Black-5 (RB-5) and Orange II sodium salt (OII) azo dyes, was determined in an aqueous medium under visible light (photocatalysis). The photodegradation effectiveness of all nanomaterials was evaluated under different factors like nanomaterial dose (0.02–0.1 g 10 mL−1), concentration of dyes (20–100 mg L−1), and irradiation time (60–120 min). They were also assessed for their potential to adsorb RR-2 and OII dyes. Results Results revealed that at optimum concentration (60 mgL−1) of RR-2, RB-5, and OII dyes, NiO-NPs degraded 90, 82 and 83%, CuO-NPs degraded 49, 34, and 44%, whereas the nanocomposite NiO/CuO-NC degraded 92, 93, and 96% of the said dyes respectively. The nanomaterials were categorized as the efficient degraders of the dyes in the order: NiO/CuO-NC > NiO-NPs > CuO-NPs. The highest degradation potential shown by the nanocomposite was attributed to its large surface area, small particles size, and quick reactions which were proved by advance analytical techniques. The equilibrium and kinetic adsorption of RR-2 and OII on NiO-NPs, CuO-NPs, and NiO/CuO-NC were well explained with Langmuir and Pseudo second order model, respectively (R2 ≥ 0.96). The maximum RR-2 adsorption (103 mg/g) was obtained with NiO/CuO-NC. It is concluded that nanocomposites are more efficient and promising for the dyes degradation from industrial wastewater as compared with dyes adsorption onto individual NPs. Thus, the nanocomposite NiO/CuO-NC can be an excellent candidate for photodegradation as well as the adsorption of the dyes in aqueous media.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of resin infiltration technique in arresting superficial proximal carious lesions of posterior teeth. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Operative dentistry department, de’ Montmorency College of Dentistry Lahore, from Oct 2018 to Mar 2019. Methodology: Meeting inclusion criteria were selected. Informed consent was obtained. After application of rubber dam; etchant gel was applied to superficial proximal carious lesions in these patients; water-rinsed and air-dried for 30 sec; resin was then infiltrated into each lesion. Patients were recalled after 6 months for follow up. Results: Total patients were 30 out of which 18 (60%) were males and 12 (40%) were females. Mean age of patients was 25.77 years ranging from 16-35 years. Success of resin infiltration technique in superficial proximal carious lesions in posterior teeth was 86.7% measured by bitewing radiograph taken on follow up after 6 months to see any progression of carious lesion. Conclusion: Resin infiltration was effective in 86.7% patients in arresting progress of superficial proximal carious lesions with no significant difference for age and gender. Hence it is suggested that resin infiltration being promising micro invasive approach should be considered in addition to non-operative and operative treatment approaches.

Water scarcity due to overuse and growing water pollution has led to the need for upgrading of conventional methods of wastewater treatment. The biological synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and their photocatalytic capacity to degrade contaminants offer a promising and environment-friendly approach to municipal wastewater treatment. This technique is advantageous due to its cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and reduction in toxic residual substances. In this study, microbial-synthesized ZnO-NPs were used for the treatment of municipal wastewater. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of treated wastewater for wheat crop cultivation. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized from a pre-isolated bacterial strain, namely Shewanela sp., and characterized using UV–VIS, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. The results showed that after the treatment of wastewater, the concentration of total dissolve solids (TDS), the chemical oxygen demand (COD), and sulfate and phosphate levels decreased by 76.5%, 57.1%, 81.1%, and 67.4%, respectively. However, the application of treated wastewater increased chlorophyll, carotenoids, and antioxidants by 45%, 40.8%, and 10.5 to 30.6%, respectively. Further, the application of treated wastewater also significantly decreased oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) by 8.1% and 30.1%, respectively. In conclusion, biosynthesized ZnO-NPs could be an important choice to treat municipal wastewater and to improve wheat productivity.

Abstract Given the rapidly increasing use of metal oxide nanoparticles in agriculture as well as their inadvertent addition through sewage sludge application to soils, it is imperative to assess their possible toxic effects on soil functions that are vital for healthy crop production. In this regard, we designed a lab study to investigate the potential toxicity of one of the most produced nanoparticles, i.e. zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO), in a calcareous soil. Microcosms of 80 g of dry-equivalent fresh soils were incubated in mason jars for 64 days, after adding 100 or 1000 mg of biogenically produced nZnO kg−1 soil. Moreover, we also added rice-straw derived biochar at 1 or 5% (w: w basis) hypothesizing that the biochar would alleviate nZnO-induced toxicity given that it has been shown to adsorb and detoxify heavy metals in soils. We found that the nZnO decreased microbial biomass carbon by 27.0 to 33.5% in 100 mg nZnO kg−1 soil and by 39.0 to 43.3% in 1000 mg nZnO kg−1 soil treatments across biochar treatments in the short term i.e. 24 days after incubation. However, this decrease disappeared after 64 days of incubation and the microbial biomass in nZnO amended soils were similar to that in control soils. This shows that the toxicity of nZnO in the studied soil was ephemeral and transient which was overcome by the soil itself in a couple of months. This is also supported by the fact that the nZnO induced higher cumulative C mineralization (i.e. soil respiration) at both rates of addition. The treatment 100 mg nZnO kg−1 soil induced 166 to 207%, while 1000 mg nZnO kg−1 soil induced 136 to 171% higher cumulative C mineralization across biochar treatments by the end of the experiment. However, contrary to our hypothesis increasing the nZnO addition from 100 to 1000 mg nZnO kg−1 soil did not cause additional decrease in microbial biomass nor induced higher C mineralization. Moreover, the biochar did not alleviate even the ephemeral toxicity that was observed after 24d of incubation. Based on overall results, we conclude that the studied soil can function without impairment even at 1000 mg kg−1 concentration of nZnO in it.

This study focuses on the moderating role of the cash conversion cycle (CCC) and its components while investigating the relationship between short-term borrowings and profitability in Chinese firms. The generalized method of moments (GMM) approach is employed on the panel data over the period 2000 to 2017. The findings reveal a significant moderating role of CCC and its components in the short-term borrowings and profitability relationship. Specifically, the firms following a conservative strategy in CCC and its components, adopt the same strategy in the external financing which lies in the long-term borrowings. Consequently, such firms require less short-term borrowings compared to the full sample. However, the firms following an aggressive strategy in the CCC and its components, do not follow the aggressive strategy in external financing that lies in the short-term borrowings. Instead, these firms adopt the conservative strategy for profit maximization and require less amount of short-term borrowings compared to the full sample. Finally, several policy options are proposed to achieve the optimum relation between short-term borrowings and profitability.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has exquisite soft-tissue contrast and is the foundation for image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) with integrated magnetic resonance linacs. However, MRI suffers from geometrical distortions. In this study the MRI system- and patient-induced geometric distortion at four different tumor-sites was investigated: adrenal gland (7 patients), liver (4 patients), pancreas (6 patients), prostate (20 patients). Maximum level of total distortion within the gross-tumor-volume (GTV) was 0.96 mm with no significant difference between abdominal patients (adrenal gland, liver, pancreas) and pelvic patients (prostate). Total tumor-site specific distortion depended on location in the field-of-view and increased with the distance to MRI iso-center.

Soil alkalinity is a severe threat to crop production globally as it markedly retards plant growth. Different techniques are used to mitigate alkaline stress, but priming techniques are considered the most appropriate. The current study was carried out in complete randomized design (CRD) to evaluate the effect of different priming techniques on maize crop grown under different levels of alkalinity stress. The experiment was comprised of different treatments of alkalinity stress (AS) including, control, 6 dS m-1 and 12 dS m-1 and different priming techniques including control, hydro-priming (HP), osmo-priming (OP) with potassium nitrate: KNO3) and redox-priming (RP) with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Results indicated that alkalinity stress significantly reduced plant growth and biomass production and induced severe alterations in physiological attributes and antioxidant activities. Soil alkalinity significantly reduced the root and shoot growth and subsequent biomass production by increasing electrolyte leakage (70.60%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: 31.65%), malondialdehyde (MDA: 46.23%) and sodium (Na+) accumulation (22.76%) and reduction in photosynthetic pigments, relative water contents (RWC), total soluble proteins (TSP) and free amino acids, potassium (K+) accumulation. However, priming treatments significantly alleviated the alkalinity-induced toxic effects and improved plant growth. OP (KNO3) remained the top performing. It appreciably improved plant growth owing to the improved synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, better RWC (16.42%), TSP (138.28%), FAA (178.37%), and K+ accumulation (31.385) and improved antioxidant activities (APX and CAT) by favoring the Na+ exclusion and maintenance of optimum Na+/K+. In conclusion, KNO3 priming is an imperative seed priming practice to improve maize growth and biomass production under alkalinity stress.

Detrimental environmental impacts due to the increasing demands of the aviation industry have gained tremendous global attention. With a potential fuel saving, along with high aerodynamic performance and maneuverability during different phases of a flight, adaptable wing design has become a viable alternative to its fixed-shape counterpart. A morphing wing design embraces, and can respond accordingly to, most of the flight condition variations effectively and efficiently. Despite these prospects, morphing wing design comes with some challenges due to its inherent complexity caused by an increased number of degrees of freedom. With the availability of various morphing parameters, the vibration signature of a morphing wing design plays a vital role in terms of its structural as well as aeroelastic characteristics. In the present paper, the dynamic characteristics of a re-configurable modular morphing wing developed in-house by a research team at Toronto Metropolitan University are investigated. This modular morphing wing, developed based on the idea of a parallel robot, consists of a number of structural elements connected to each other and to the wing ribs through eyebolt joints. Timoshenko bending beam theories, in conjunction with finite element methodology, are exploited. The free vibration of un-morphed (original) and morphed configurations undergoing multiple levels of sweep and spanwise morphing is presented through a design of experiment methodology.

Salinity stress (SS) is major abiotic stress that is seriously limiting crop production across the globe. The application of organic amendments (OA) mitigate the effects of salinity and improves soil health and crop production on a sustainable basis. However, limited studies are conducted to determine the impact of farmyard manure (FYM) and press mud (PM) on the performance of rice crop. Therefore, we performed this study to determine the impacts of FYM and PM on the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes, yield, and grain bio-fortification of rice crop under SS. The experiment was comprised of SS levels; control, 6 and 12 dS m−1 SS and OA; control, FYM: 5%, press mud 5% and combination of FYM (5%) + PM (5%). Soil salinity imposed deleterious impacts on the growth, yield, and grain quality of rice, however, OA appreciably offset the deleterious impacts of SS and improved the growth, yield, and grain bio-fortification of rice crop. The combined application of FYM + PM improved the growth and yield of rice through an increase in chlorophyll contents, leaf water contents, anti-oxidant activities (ascorbate peroxidise: APX; catalase: CAT, peroxidise: POD and ascorbic acid: AsA), K+ accumulation and decrease in Na+/K+ ratio, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), Na+ accumulation. Moreover, the combined application of FYM + PM significantly improved the grain protein (5.84% and 12.90%), grain iron (40.95% and 42.37%), and grain zinc contents (36.81% and 50.93%) at 6 and 12 dS m−1 SS. Therefore, this study suggested that the application of FYM and PM augmented the growth, yield, physiology, biochemistry, and grain bio-fortification of rice and proved to be a good practice for better rice production in salt-affected soils.

Growing concerns over the CO2 footprint due the exponential demand of the aviation industry, along with the requirements for high aerodynamic performance, cost saving, and manoeuvrability during different phases of a flight, pave the path towards adaptable wing design. Morphing wing design encompasses most, if not all, of the flight condition variations, and can respond interactively. However, functional failure of the morphing wing might bring devastating impacts on the passengers, crew, and/or aircraft. In the present work, the dynamic characteristics of a re-configurable modular morphing wing developed in-house by a research group at the Toronto Metropolitan University, are investigated from the perspective of a functional hazard assessment (FHA). This modular morphing wing, developed based on the idea of a parallel robot, consists of a number of structural elements connected to each other and to the wing ribs through eye-bolt joints. Timoshenko’s bending beam theory, in conjunction with the finite element method (FEM), is exploited to model the structural members. Possible hazards, assumed here to be the structural failure of the beam components, have been identified and their failure conditions are assessed. Numerical simulations have been presented to show the impact of various combinations of the identified hazards on the vibration signature of the morphing wing in unmorphed and morphed configurations. Identification of changes in the wing’s vibration signature is a vital component in the fail-safe structural and aeroelastic design of an aircraft. The present study is geared towards the structural response of the system in the absence of any aerodynamic loads.

For low-income homes in developing nations, an improved cooking burner is the most practical solution to minimize indoor air pollution. This research was carried out in a rural region of Khipro City in Pakistan's Sindh province. The thermal efficiency and water boiling tests were carried out on the upgraded cooking stove that was designed. The results of the experiment are equivalent to those of published research. The enhanced cooking stove is made of mud and has design parameters of 10-inch height, 16-inch width, and 32-inch length. A twin mouth cooking burner with a chimney to extrude the generated gases is the design. The designed ICS was tested using a water boiling test (WBT) and found to have a fuel consumption of 293 g with 30% efficiency, which is comparable to the claimed efficiency of ICSs. The use of comparable stoves can considerably reduce the quantity of gases produced by cooking, resulting in a healthier lifestyle.

In this research study, the design and performance evaluation of grid-tied photovoltaic systems has been carried out through experimentation, HelioScope simulation, and black-box machine learning methods for data-driven artificial intelligence system performance assessment and validation. The proposed systems are based on 15 kWp of monoperk and polyperk, which are separately installed in the industrial sector of Faisalabad, Pakistan. The experimental evaluation of the installed PV modules was performed from November 2020 to August 2021. The performance of the PV modules was evaluated by determining the annual average daily final yield (If), performance ratio (PR), and capacity factor (CF). The study showed that the annual average of daily final yield, performance ratio, and capacity factor for 15 kW polyperk was estimated to be 61.94 kWh, 84.17%, and 19.12, respectively. The annual average of daily final yield, performance ratio, and capacity factor for 15 kW monoperk was estimated to be 58.32 kWh, 81.42%, and 18.13, respectively. A comparison of final yield is obtained from simulation and real-time systems obtained from polyperk PV and monoperk. A significant mean error exists between the experimentation and simulation results which lie within the range of 1250 to 1470 kWh and 1600 to 1950 kWh, respectively. Substantial differences between both aforementioned results were initially tested and highlighted by statistical values; i.e., the standard error lies in-between 5 and 45% in polyperk crystalline and 5 and 25% in monocrystalline PV grid-connected module. Machine learning logistical regression evaluated that monoperk crystalline grid-connected system, experimental work was found to be more reliable with error difference reduces in off-peak months as compared to corresponding simulation study and vice versa for polyperk crystalline grid-connected system. Model accuracy after training and testing produced resulted up to 99.5% accuracy for either grid-connected experimentation or simulation outcomes with validation.