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We extend univariate normality tests for time-dependent observations to their multivariate versions using orthogonalization or empirical standardization of the data. This extension allows us to assess the multivariate normality of serially correlated data. The proposed test statistics asymptotically follow the χ² distribution, which allows for readily applicable tests. A comprehensive Monte Carlo study indicates that the proposed tests exhibit good size control and high empirical power. Furthermore, we provide empirical illustrations of all the extended tests using West German macroeconomic data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly all plants and their organs are inhabited by endophytic microbes which play a crucial role in plant fitness and stress resilience. Harnessing endophytic services can provide effective solutions for a sustainable increase in agriculture productivity and can be used as a complement or alternative to agrochemicals. Shifting agriculture practices toward the use of nature-based solutions can contribute directly to the global challenges of food security and environmental sustainability. However, microbial inoculants have been used in agriculture for several decades with inconsistent efficacy. Key reasons of this inconsistent efficacy are linked to competition with indigenous soil microflora and inability to colonize plants. Endophytic microbes provide solutions to both of these issues which potentially make them better candidates for microbial inoculants. This article outlines the current advancements in endophytic research with special focus on endophytic bacilli. A better understanding of diverse mechanisms of disease control by bacilli is essential to achieve maximum biocontrol efficacy against multiple phytopathogens. Furthermore, we argue that integration of emerging technologies with strong theoretical frameworks have the potential to revolutionize biocontrol approaches based on endophytic microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the incidence of antimicrobial-resistant emerging pathogens, Clostridium difficile, and its associated risk factors in tertiary care setups of Pakistan. This cross-sectional prospective study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020, to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of C. difficile strains isolated from 450 stool specimens of patients suffering from diarrhea hospitalized in tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan. The stool samples of the patients were processed for culture and detection of toxin A and toxin B by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and tpi PCR. The drug sensitivity test was performed for antibiotics including ampicillin, cefixime, cefepime, amoxicillin, nalidixic acid, sulpha/TMP (SXT), chloramphenicol, metronidazole, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and imipenem. Of 450 stool specimens, 108 (24%) were positive for C. difficile by stool culture, whereas 115 (25.5%) were only positive for C. difficile toxins based on ELISA and PCR (128 (28.6%). Of 108, 90.7% (n = 98) isolates were resistant to one antibiotic, and 90 (83.4%) were resistant to three or more antimicrobials. The highest resistance rates were found against penicillin (83.3%) followed by amoxicillin (70%), nalidixic acid (61%), and metronidazole (38%), and the lowest resistance was found against vancomycin (6.4%) and imipenem (3.7%). CDI was statistically significantly correlated with increased age, use of antibiotics, abdominal surgeries, use of proton pump inhibitors and H2a, and presence of comorbidities. The high frequency of C. difficile in Peshawar, Pakistan, indicates that CDI is an important nosocomial infection in different hospitals. The results will be helpful for clinicians to redesign control and therapeutic strategies in hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the nonlinear convection transport of heat transfer in a nanoparticle laden two-layer flow in a vertical channel under the additional effects of magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) and radiation. Water and compressed air are chosen as the fluids in two-layer flow. This type of flow is commonly seen in the transportation of oil and gas in pipelines, therefore, correct understanding of flow dynamics including convective transport phenomenon, layers interaction, and graphical interpretation of flow variables is important for better designing of equipments. Titanium dioxide (Ti O 2 ) nanoparticles are added into the air to magnify the transport mechanism. The mathematical model incorporating buoyancy, nonlinear convection, MHD, viscous dissipation, and radiation effects is presented in the form of nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE's). Then utilizing homotopy analysis method, these interconnected differential equations are resolved. A visual illustration shows how different physical factors affect fluid rate and temperature. Tabulated values of Nusselt number at both walls are presented to discuss the numerical data of convection and found that it decreases toward the left boundary but rises toward the right wall by increasing Eckert number and Prandtl number. The results of this two-layer flow will help in understanding this complex flow which has practical applications in various engineering processes and further enhance the scientific knowledge related to multilayer problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest of this study is to comprehensively explore the boundary layer flow of hybrid nanofluid within two infinite horizontal plates under the impact of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), viscous and magnetic dissipation. The fluid is colloidal mixture of water and a very dilute suspension of Copper Oxide and Silver The flow is generated as a result of uniformly stretching of lower plate in x−$x - $direction. Nonlinear governing equations are modified into ordinary differential equations by nondimensional transformation. MATLAB based bvp4c and Mathematica based NDSolve are employed to compute the solutions of the reduced equations. A numerical and graphical comparison is done between bvp4c and NDSolve to verify the findings. The influence of significant parameters like magnetic field, Reynolds number, Prandtl number, Eckert number and heat absorption/generation are computed graphically. Additionally, numerical information about the heat mass flux is also tabulated to achieve complete picture of heat related data and evaluate its impact on flow dynamics. The outcomes of the present analysis can be used in various engineering processes where nanoparticles enhance thermal conductivity and conservation of energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Insect pests negatively affect crop quality and yield. The excessive use of chemical pesticides has serious impacts on the environment and food safety. Therefore, development of effective management strategies in the form of bio‐agents have important agricultural applications. Tenebrio molitor, a storage pest, causes losses of grains, medicinal materials, and various agricultural and related products in the warehouse. Bacillus subtilis YZ‐1 isolated from naturally deceased Pieris rapae has been found to exhibit significant toxicity against T. molitor. RESULTS: Treatment with B. subtilis YZ‐1 fermentation broth resulted in a 90–95% mortality rate of T. molitor within 36 h post‐treatment, indicating some active substances may have insecticidal activity in the bacterial supernatant. A bioactivity‐guided fractionation method was used to isolate the insecticidal compounds from YZ‐1, which led to the identification of surfactins. Additionally, a surfactin deletion mutant YZ‐1△srfAA was constructed and the surfactin production by the mutant YZ‐1△srfAA was verified through liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Further, YZ‐1△srfAA exhibited loss of insecticidal activity against T. molitor, Plutella xylostella and Achelura yunnanensis. The insecticidal activity and surfactins contents of several strains of Bacillus sp. were also tested and correlation was found between varying surfactins yield and insecticidal activity exhibited by different strains. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, our results suggest that B. subtilis YZ‐1 may provide a novel approach for plant protection against agricultural pests. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper undertakes a thorough study to examine heat and mass transfer of two-layer hybrid nanofluid flow in a vertical channel. Casson fluid model is used to investigate the non-Newtonian nature of blood flow (base fluid) in this study. The problem is formulated which includes laminar, incompressible flow with additional viscous dissipation effects. Titanium dioxide and Graphene nanoparticles are employed in this study for the hybrid notion. At the interface, it is considered that the velocity and temperature remain continuous. A group of non-dimensional transformations are used to non-dimensionalized the set of ordinary differential equations and those non-linear differential equations are then solved using an analytical method known as homotopy analysis method (HAM). The behavior of physical parameters on velocity and temperature are presented graphically. Variation of Nusselt number against emerging parameters are tabulated to provide numerical data for validation. The findings of present study can provide insight into the behavior of blood flow in diseased conditions atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and other cardiovascular diseases. This study can also help in designing more effective drug delivery systems for targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this article, we investigate the flow dynamics and convective transport of nanofluid and ternary hybrid nanofluid in a two-layer vertical channel. Employing a Casson model with blood as the base fluid in both layers, the first layer incorporates nanofluid T i O 2 , while the second layer comprises ternary hybrid nanofluid T i O 2   –   Si O 2   –   A l 2 O 3 . Laminar, incompressible flow with extra viscous dissipation effects is included in the formulation of this problem. The velocity and temperature are assumed to be continuous at the interface. The governing equations are converted into non-dimensional equations by using variables in the dimensionless form. The effective method known as homotopy analysis method (HAM) scheme is used to deal with the mathematical formulations. The behavior of velocity and temperature profile is sketched for various physical parameters and Nusselt number variations are tabulated. The results reveal that increasing the value of Eckert number E c raises the temperature. Temperature rises as T i O 2 and T i O 2 – S i O 2 – A l 2 O 3 nanoparticles volume percentage rises. Nusselt number increases as Eckert number E c and Prandtl number P r increases while decreases as Casson parameters γ increase at the right wall. Rising values of λ and γ exhibit dissimilar behavior in the velocity profile. This study could be useful for medical purposes, like making better ways to deliver medicine through our blood vessels to treat cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]