The current study was designed to determine the concentrations of toxic metals (Ni, Pb and Cr) in feathers of birds collected from four regions of NE Pakistan. Feather samples of birds (House Crow, ...Common Myna and House Sparrow) were collected from different areas. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine the concentration of metals in feathers. Analysis of the data revealed that concentrations of Pb and Cr were significantly different (
p
< 0.05) among bird species, whereas no difference (
p
> 0.05) was detected among bird species (house crow, common myna and house sparrow) for Ni. A significant difference was found for the concentration of Pb and Ni in all the four studied regions. Whereas, non-significant difference was found in all the studied regions for the concentrating of Cr. It was revealed that there is significant rising concentration of metals (Pb, Cr) in feathers of birds in Azad Kashmir.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of work-from-home (WFH) human resource (HR) practices on the performance of faculty under the drastic circumstances of coronavirus disease 2019 ...(COVID-19). The population of the study included faculty members of the higher education institutions in Sialkot, Pakistan. The study filled the gap of scarce literature on the impact of various HR practices by HR officials while working from home during lockdown observed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Based on reinforcement theory, this article proves that there is a significant relationship between HR practices (including training, performance appraisal, career planning, employee participation, job definition, compensation, and selection) and faculty performance. It also proves that there is a strong positive relationship between the two variables. The findings of this study provide a blueprint to improve HR practices for high performance by faculty in the higher education sector during WFH settings.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently one of the most frequent malignant neoplasms, ranking 3rd in incidence and 2nd in mortality both in the USA and across the world. The pathogenesis of CRC is a ...complex interaction between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors such as exposure to metals. Therefore, the present study was intended to assess the imbalances in the concentrations of selected essential/toxic elements (Pb, Cr, Fe, Zn, As, Cd, Cu, Se, Ni, and Hg) in the serum of newly diagnosed colorectal carcinoma patients (
n
= 165) in comparison with counterpart controls (
n
= 151) by atomic absorption spectrometry after wet-acid digestion method. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) of the CRC patients was determined using immunoradiometric method. Body mass index (BMI) which is an established risk factor for CRC was also calculated for patients and healthy controls. Conversely, average Ni (2.721 μg/g), Cd (0.563 μg/g), As (0.539 μg/g), and Pb (1.273 μg/g) levels were significantly elevated in the serum of CRC patients compared to the healthy donors, while the average Se (7.052 μg/g), Fe (15.67 μg/g), Cu (2.033 μg/g), and Zn (8.059 μg/g) concentrations were elevated in controls. The correlation coefficients between the elements in the cancerous patients demonstrated significantly dissimilar communal relationships compared with the healthy subjects. Significant differences in the elemental levels were also showed for CRC types (primary colorectal lymphoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and adenocarcinoma) and CRC stages (stage-I, stage-II, stage-III, and stage-IV) among the patients. Majority of the elements demonstrated perceptible disparities in their levels based on dietary, habitat, gender, and smoking habits of the malignant patients and healthy subjects. Multivariate methods revealed noticeably divergent apportionment among the toxic/essential elements in the cancerous patients than the healthy counterparts. Overall, the study showed significantly divergent distribution and associations of the essential and toxic elemental levels in the serum of the CRC patients in comparison with the healthy donors.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Colorectal tumor is a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality both in USA and around the globe. Exposure to environmental toxicants such as toxic trace elements has been implicated in ...colorectal malignancy. However, data linking them to this cancer are generally lacking.
Accordingly, the current study was to investigate the distribution, correlation and chemometric evaluation of 20 elements (Ca, Na, Mg, K, Zn, Fe, Ag, Co, Pb, Sn, Ni, Cr, Sr, Mn, Li, Se, Cd, Cu, Hg and As) in the tumor tissues (n = 147) and adjacent non tumor tissues (n = 147) of same colorectal patients which were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophometry employing nitric acid-perchloric acid based wet digestion method.
On the average, Zn (p < 0.05), Ag (p < 0.001), Pb (p < 0.001), Ni (p < 0.01), Cr (p < 0.005) and Cd (p < 0.001) showed significantly higher levels in the tumor tissues compared with the non tumor tissues of patients, whereas mean levels of Ca (p < 0.01), Na (p < 0.05), Mg (p < 0.001), Fe (p < 0.001), Sn (p < 0.05) and Se (p < 0.01), were significantly elevated in the non tumor tissues than the tissues of tumor patients. Most of the elements revealed markedly disparities in their elemental levels based on food (vegetarian/nonvegetarian) habits and smoking (smoker/nonsmoker) habits of donor groups. The correlation study and multivariate statistical analyses demonstrated some significantly divergent associations and apportionment of the elements in the tumor tissues and non tumor tissues of donors. Noticeably, variations in the elemental levels were also noted for colorectal tumor types (lymphoma, carcinoids tumor and adenocarcinoma) and stages (I, II, III, & IV) in patients.
Overall, the study revealed that disproportions in essential and toxic elemental concentrations in the tissues are involved in pathogenesis of the malignancy. These findings provide the data base that helps to oncologist for diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal malignant patients.
•20 elements were quantified in tumor & non-tumor tissues for patients suffering from colorectal cancer.•At stage-IV of tumor, mean Pb, Hg, & As concentrations were found higher•Based on types, Mn, Pb, Hg and As levels were revealed higher in carcinoids tumor.•Average Cr, Ni, Li and Ag concentrations were higher in adenocarcinoma.•Mean Cu, Co and Cd levels noted maximum in lymphoma tumors of colorectal patients.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
A new series of bis((5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)thio)alkanes 4–14 have been synthesized via nucleophilic substitution reaction of dihaloalkanes with respective 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiols 3a-f, and ...characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The structures of 4 and 12 were unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Density functional theory calculations at B3LYP/6-31 + G(d) level of theory were performed for comparison of X-ray geometric parameters, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and frontier molecular orbital analyses of synthesized compounds. MEP analysis revealed that these compounds are nucleophilic in nature. Frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) analysis of 4–14 was performed for evaluation of kinetic stability. All synthesized compounds were screened in vitro for antimicrobial activity against three bacterial and three fungal strains and showed promising results.
Display omitted
•New bis((5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)thio)alkanes were synthesized and characterized.•Crystal structures of two analogues (4 and 12) were described.•Computational studies via (DFT, and MEP) of the new analogues were performed.•Evaluation of the inhibition activity against some bacterial and fungal strains.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
To investigate the reliability of atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) as a marker of cardiovascular disease risk and its correlation with CVD risk factors.
It is a sub-study of the second National ...Diabetes Survey of Pakistan (NDSP) 2016–2017, an epidemiological survey including both genders with >20 years of age in all four provinces of Pakistan. Out of 213 clusters, twenty-seven clusters were selected and households were identified from each cluster. Selected members of every 10th household were counseled for a visit to the campsite after observing an overnight fast. Standardized techniques were used for measuring height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Biochemical parameters including oral glucose tolerance test, lipid profile, and various lipid-derived parameter/ratios were also analyzed via standardized methods.
A total of 7351 individuals were selected for this sub-analysis after fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Mean AIP score was calculated as 0.38 ± 0.31 with statistically significant difference among all groups (p < 0.0001), and according to the AIP risk categorization, a majority of 6996 individuals (95.2%) fell in the high-risk category of developing CVD, whereas 258 (3.5%) were in moderate and only 97 (1.3%) individuals were found in the low-risk category. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed male gender and diabetes as risk factors for developing CVD based on the AIP score. Furthermore, various lipid-derived parameters LDL-C and HDL-C, TG and HDL-C, lipoprotein combined index (LCI) were shown a strong correlation with AIP.
The significant association between AIP and CVD risk factors exists and high levels of AIP in Pakistani population may be an alarming sign in developing cardiovascular disease.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
PDF
