Salinity stress is a serious abiotic stress that negatively affect the crop growth and development. Mineral nutrient supplementation is considered as an effective strategy to mitigate the adverse ...effects of salinity. Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient needed for plants and its application also an effective strategy to mitigate adverse impacts of salinity. Salinity stress disturbs plant physiological, and biochemical functions, antioxidant activities, cellular membranes, antioxidant activities and nutrient uptake thereby cause significant reduction in plant growth and development. The application of N maintains membrane stability, plant water relations, leaf gas exchange characteristics, and protect the plants from oxidative damages which induce the salt tolerance in plants. Besides, this N also improves nutrient uptake and it also induce cellular signaling that mitigate the adverse impacts of salinity. Therefore, it is interesting to understand the role of N in inducing salt tolerance in plants. In present review the mechanisms of N uptake and assimilation in plants under saline conditions are discussed. The present review provides information on how N mitigates ionic toxicity, and oxidative damages and maintains nutrient balance to counter the toxic effects of salinity stress in plants. This review will help the readers to learning more about the role of N in inducing salt tolerance in plants.
•Green synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles.•Use of glucoxylans from seeds of Mimosa pudica.•The synthesis excludes use of additional reducing and capping agents.•The AuNPs are not cytotoxic ...and suitable for drug delivery.•The particles exhibit exceptional high stability.
A green synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles having exceptional high stability is reported. The synthesis involves the use of glucoxylans isolated from seeds of Mimosa pudica and excludes the use of conventional reducing and capping agents. The average particle sizes were 40 and 6nm for gold and silver, respectively. The size of gold particles obtained in this work is suitable for drug delivery as they are non-cytotoxic. In phyto-toxicity tests the gold and silver nanoparticles did not show any significant effect on germination of radish seeds, whereas in radish seedling root growth assay the two particles behaved differently. The silver nanoparticles exhibited a concentration-dependent stimulatory effect on root length, whereas the gold nanoparticles had no significant effect in this test. The likely mechanism of these effects is discussed.
Apple (Malus pumila L) of the family Rosaceae, most cultivated fruit in temperate regions of the world and is used fresh or processed. The apple production is affected by several pathogens including ...fungi. The present study was designed to identify disease-causing agents that reduce fruit production in the district Qilla Abdullah of Balochistan, Pakistan, which is the main apple production area of the province. Three varieties of apple: ‘Tur-Kulu’ (‘Red Delicious’), ‘Shin-Kulu’ (‘Golden Delicious’), and ‘Kaja’ were selected. Infected leaf samples were collected from eight different sites of tehsil Gulistan, district Qilla Abdullah. The cultures of fungal micro-flora were grown on two media, potato dextrose agar (PDA), and malt extract agar (MEA) followed by incubation for one week. The resulting colonies were observed under a microscope and identified based on morphological characters. Predominant fungal species was identified through ITS marker and PCR amplification. The isolated pathogens belonged to Zygomycota and Ascomycota divisions. The pathogens found were Aspergillus niger, A. oryzae, A. terrus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Mucor spp., Penicillium expansum, and one species of Absidia as well as Rhizopus. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were predominantly found in all varieties. Morphological and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the identity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. As a result of this study, the predominant pathogen species Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is one of the causes of leaf infection in apple varieties.
Winter cropping is widely considered as an effective way to increase rice yield. Therefore, this study was performed to find optimal winter cropping patterns in middle and lower reaches of the ...Yangtze River, China. Five experimental treatments were set up based on the long-term field experiment including winter fallow (CK), Chinese milk vetch winter cropping pattern (CRR), rapeseed winter cropping pattern (RRR), garlic winter cropping pattern (GRR), and winter multiple cropping rotation (ROT). The effects of different winter cropping patterns on the yield, dry matter accumulation and translocation, and plant nitrogen uptake were explored in double-cropping rice. The results showed that compared with CK, winter cropping increased the early and late rice yield by 7.91-10.70% and 3.57-6.89%, respectively. Similarly, compared with CK, winter cropping patterns also increased the number of spikes in early rice by 19.36-25.81% and CRR and ROT increased the effective number of spikes in late rice by 25.58% and 23.26% respectively. The dry matter (DM) translocation by stem and leaf of early rice under CRR was highest, with a 36.2% increase compared with CK, however, DM accumulation after heading in early rice under CRR was lowest. GRR decreased the dry matter translocation by stem and leaf in early rice but increased DM accumulation after heading in early and late rice by 65.28% and 13.44% as compared to CK. Moreover, ROT increased the dry matter translocation by stem and leaf in late rice by 112.63%. Additionally, GRR and ROT treatments increased the stem nitrogen uptake in early rice by 61.76% and 58.61% as compared to control, while CRR increased the nitrogen uptake by stem, leave and spike in late rice by 40.76%, 49.51% and 42.92%. In conclusion, CRR is more beneficial to increase DM accumulation and translocation by stem and leaf in double-cropping rice, and nitrogen uptake by rice plants.
We developed a three‐dimensional fluid model to investigate the evolution of filamentation during the breakdown phase in an atmospheric pressure DBD plasma. Filamentation is a major source of ...instability in DBD plasma and it develops frequently under distinct conditions. In this study, we explore the dynamic behavior of filaments under the influence of overvoltage and driving frequency. The filamentary profile of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge is suppressed in the breakdown phase when the frequency varies in the specified domain (2.5–25 kHz) in He‐N2 gas mixture. In particular, we contrast the spatial profiles of discharge parameters in the case of uniform and non‐uniform discharge plasma. The trapping mechanism of electrons is identified only at higher frequencies (>50 kHz) than small frequencies in the uniform DBD plasma. This simulation study describes the importance of three‐dimensional modeling for the understanding of the filamentary and uniform discharge plasmas in the breakdown phase.
We developed a three‐dimensional fluid model to investigate the behavior of filamentation. Filamentation is a major source of instability and it develops frequently under distinct conditions. The dynamics of the filaments are explored by the influence of overvoltage and frequency. The filamentary profile of plasma is suppressed, when the frequency varies from 2.5–25 kHz. The trapping mechanism of electrons is identified only at higher frequencies (>50 kHz).
After trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (tOPV) cessation, Pakistan has maintained immunity to type 2 poliovirus by administering inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in routine immunization, alongside ...monovalent OPV type 2 (mOPV2) and IPV in supplementary immunization activities (SIAs). This study assesses the change in poliovirus type 2 immunity after tOPV withdrawal and due to SIAs with mOPV2 and IPV among children aged 6-11 months.
Three cross-sectional sequential serological surveys were conducted in 12 polio high-risk areas of Pakistan. 25 clusters from each geographical stratum were selected utilizing probability proportional to size.
Seroprevalence of type 2 poliovirus was 49%, with significant variation observed among surveyed areas; <30% in Pishin, >80% in Killa Abdullah, Mardan & Swabi, and Rawalpindi. SIAs with IPV improved immunity from 38 to 57% in Karachi and 60 to 88% in Khyber. SIAs with IPV following mOPV2 improved immunity from 62 to 65% in Killa Abdullah, and combined mOPV2 and IPV SIAs in Pishin improved immunity from 28 to 89%. Results also reflected that immunity rates for serotypes 1 and 3 were consistently above 90% during all three phases and across all geographical areas.
The study findings highlight the importance of implementing effective vaccination strategies to prevent the re-emergence of poliovirus. Moreover, the results provide crucial information for policymakers working toward achieving global polio eradication.
Breast cancer patients use numerous medications, which include cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, hormonal agents and supportive medication, so they are more vulnerable to potential adverse drug ...interactions. This study aimed to evaluate frequency, severity, clinical importance and risk factors responsible for the Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in a cohort of patients suffering from breast cancer. Data was obtained from 150 patients in the oncology ward (both inpatient and outpatient) with a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer and currently receiving standard breast cancer-directed treatment. The data was recorded into a pre-designed form specifically made for this study through individual patient interviews and by reviewing the detailed medical chart records of the patients. DDIs were identified by using drug interaction software such as Medscape mobile application and Micromedex version 2.
The results of this study showed that all patients were female. The mean numbers of drugs that patients used were 7. Potential drug interactions were identified in 92% of the patients. When drug groups were overviewed, 32% of interactions were between anti neoplastic drugs, 62.9% interactions were between the anti neoplastic agent and supportive care drugs and 5% of them were between anti-cancer drugs and drugs used to treat comorbidities. Major DDIs were found in 62.2% of patients, 25.3% of DDIs were moderate and 12.4% were minor. The number of drugs, comorbid diseases, and selection of chemo protocols were the risk factors for drug interactions. Most of the DDIs found in breast cancer therapy may have adverse consequences on patient health and therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, health care professionals should review the medication regimen of patients with breast cancer before starting any chemotherapy treatment.
Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) has been widely used for biomedical application due to its excellent mechanical strength, good tissue compatibility and outstanding chemical stability. There are ...several methods to fabricate porous scaffolds including solvent casting, phase separation, rapid prototyping and electrospinning methods. In the present study, β-TCP scaffolds were fabricated using freeze drying method. β-TCP slurry was frozen and freeze dried for 24 hours followed by sintering process to form β-TCP scaffolds. The porous β-TCP scaffold were fabricated at different percentages of β-TCP powder used (10 wt. %, 20 wt. % and 30 wt. %) and froze at different freezing temperature (-10°C, -20°C, -40°C and -80°C) in order to study the effect of these parameters on the pore formation of the scaffolds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis for 30 wt. % β-TCP scaffold frozen at -10°C revealed acceptable pore size distribution with majority pore size within the range of 102.65 µm to 372.90 µm. Furthermore, this scaffold also possessed highest compressive strength of 0.31 MPa.
Radial artery occlusion is a silent complication of a transradial approach to cardiac catheterization that may complicate subsequent transradial procedures in patients undergoing cardiac ...catheterization. A transradial band reduces vascular complications and provides brisk, powerful and effective haemostasis. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of radial artery occlusion in 180 patients undergoing transradial coronary catheterization.
The median age of the study cohort was 58 years. Radial artery occlusion was found in 14 (7.8%) patients. When stratifying by age group and sex, there was no significant difference in radial artery occlusion between age groups and sex. It was likewise found that comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and smoking, increased the risk of radial artery occlusion however this was observed to be significant only for diabetes mellitus. We therefore conclude that a transradial pneumatic pressure band is an extremely helpful and safe strategy to prevent radial artery occlusion.
The 2,4-Dicholorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a herbicide used against broad leave herbs and it is carcinogenic and mutagenic in nature, which need to be remediated to avoid negative impact on the ...living organisms. In view of promising adsorption efficiency of composite materials, the present investigation is focused on the preparation of polypyrrole (PPY) and sugarcane bagasse (SB) based composites. The composites were characterized for surface properties and thermal stability. The prepared composite was utilized for the sequestration of 2,4-D from aqueous solution in column mode as function of bed height, flow rate and 2,4-D concentration. Thomas model was applied to the rate of adsorption at different 2,4-D concentrations, flow rates and bed heights to predict the breakthrough curves. The BDST (bed depth service time) model was also applied to predict the breakthrough curves as function of bed heights. The biosorption capacities of SB and PPY/SB were 6.1 and 8.63 (mg/g), respectively. The results indicated that sugarcane bagasse composite with PPY is efficient adsorbent for the remediation of 2,4-D and could have potential for the removal of herbicides from effluents.
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