Climate change is a global environmental threat to all economic sectors, particularly the agricultural sector. Pakistan is one of the countries negatively affected by climate change due to its high ...exposure to extreme events and low adaptive capacity. In Pakistan, farmers are the primary stakeholders in agriculture and are more at risk due to climate vulnerability. Based on farm household data from 450 households collected from three districts in three agroecological zones in the Punjab province of Pakistan, this study examines how farmers perceive climate change and how they adapt their farming in response to perceived changes in climate. The results demonstrate that awareness of climate change is widespread throughout the area, and farm households make adjustments to adapt their agriculture in response to climatic change. Overall 58% of the farm households adapted their farming to climate change. Changing crop varieties, changing planting dates, planting of shade trees and changing fertilizers were the main adaptation methods implemented by farm households in the study area. The results from the binary logistic model reveal that education, farm experience, household size, land area, tenancy status, ownership of a tube well, access to market information, information on weather forecasting and agricultural extension services all influence farmers' choices of adaptation measures. The results also indicate that adaptation to climate change is constrained by several factors such as lack of information, lack of money, resource constraints and shortage of irrigation water in the study area. Findings of the study suggest the need for greater investment in farmer education and improved institutional setup for climate change adaptation to improve farmers' wellbeing.
Although the cellular mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of autism are not understood, a growing number of studies have suggested that localized inflammation of the central nervous system ...(CNS) may contribute to the development of autism. Recent evidence shows that IL-6 has a crucial role in the development and plasticity of CNS.
Immunohistochemistry studies were employed to detect the IL-6 expression in the cerebellum of study subjects. In vitro adenoviral gene delivery approach was used to over-express IL-6 in cultured cerebellar granule cells. Cell adhesion and migration assays, DiI labeling, TO-PRO-3 staining and immunofluorescence were used to examine cell adhesion and migration, dendritic spine morphology, cell apoptosis and synaptic protein expression respectively.
In this study, we found that IL-6 was significantly increased in the cerebellum of autistic subjects. We investigated how IL-6 affects neural cell development and function by transfecting cultured mouse cerebellar granule cells with an IL-6 viral expression vector. We demonstrated that IL-6 over-expression in granule cells caused impairments in granule cell adhesion and migration but had little effect on the formation of dendritic spines or granule cell apoptosis. However, IL-6 over-expression stimulated the formation of granule cell excitatory synapses, without affecting inhibitory synapses.
Our results provide further evidence that aberrant IL-6 may be associated with autism. In addition, our results suggest that the elevated IL-6 in the autistic brain could alter neural cell adhesion, migration and also cause an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory circuits. Thus, increased IL-6 expression may be partially responsible for the pathogenesis of autism.
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Structure engineering of zirconium-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) aims to develop efficient catalysts for transforming intermittent renewable energy into value-added chemical ...fuels. In order to have a deeper understanding of industrial scaling, it is vital to ascertain the favourable operational parameters that are necessary for projecting at the atomic level. The proposed paradigm provides a robust basis for the efficient design of MOFs based heterogeneous photocatalysts. In this study, set of defective MOF (D-NUiO66) was effectively produced using a modular acidic method. Afterwards, the D-NUiO66 was combined with CeO2 to form the D-CeNUiO66 heterojunction for the purpose of carbon dioxide reduction. The morphological aspect of the composite investigation suggested that D-CeNUiO66 had a mesoporous structure with favourable adsorption properties. The optimized D-CeNUiO66 photocatalyst showed the high activity for the reduction of CO2 to CO, with a rate of 38.6 µmolg−1h−1 and demonstrated remarkable repeatability in terms of CO production. The incorporation of defect sites in the D-NUiO66 enhanced the light response to visible light, resulting in reduced band gap of 2.9 eV. The photoelectrochemical tests indicated that the introduction of defects in the UiO66 and coupling CeO2 in the D-CeNUiO66 composite induced fast charge transfer, therefore suppressing the charge recombination rate. This study provides valuable insights into the use of defective engineering and heterojunction approaches to metal–organic frameworks for photocatalytic applications.
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•Electron storage in defective R2 and effective release to H2O2 to generate ROS-enabled night catalysis.•Broad spectrum response and better carrier separation improved the ...photoactivities.•TC degradation pathways are proposed in light of DFT calculations and LC-MS data.
Tetracycline (TC) antibiotics and dyes are the prevalent water contaminants, and their removal from the water through photocatalysis is a plausible approach. However, most semiconductors in their pristine form need to be improved to be exploited in photocatalysis owing to poor photoresponse, intense carrier recombination, and inertness without irradiation. Herein, we demonstrate the modification of defective WO3-x by rGO and AgBiS2 in the form of WO3-x/rGO/AgBiS2 (R2). It exploits the superior conductivity and synergism of rGO to inhibit carrier recombination; thereby, Z-scheme heterojunction with AgBiS2 provides high redox potential. Defects in WO3-x enable electron (e-) storage in R2, which decomposes H2O2 to generate ROS without irradiation. Owing to these essences and broad-spectrum response, it removed 93.72, 82.77, and 84.82% of TC during photo-Fenton (PFR), night-Fenton (NFR), and photocatalytic (PCR) reactions, respectively. Its removal rates reached 94.74, 81.54, and 87.50% against rhodamine B (RhB) during PFR, NFR, and PCR, respectively. It is superior to memory catalysis (MC) and conventional Fenton reactions (CFR) because it can perform without and with irradiation across a broader pH range. So, this work is conducive to designing WO3-x-based catalysts to combat environmental and energy crises.
A series of nickel substituted copper ferrite nanocrystals (NixCu1-xFe2O4, x=0,0.1,0.3,0.5,0.7) were synthesized by co-precipitation technique. The prepared powders were calcined twice at 900 °C ...(pre-calcination) and 1100 °C (post-calcination) respectively. The structural, morphological and magnetic properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. XRD analysis shows that all the samples have a single-phase cubic spinel structure. The crystallite size was calculated by using Debye-Scherrer’s formula. It was observed that the crystallite size decreases with the increasing nickel (Ni) content and increases after post-calcination. The saturation magnetization increased with the increasing Ni content, whereas the coercivity decreased. The saturation magnetization further increased after post-calcination. The parameters such as dielectric constant, dielectric loss and ac conductivity were also studied in the frequency range from 1 to 12 GHz. The complex dielectric permittivity of NixCu1-xFe2O4 nanocrystals was decreased with the increasing Ni contents and as well as after post calcination. Furthermore, the dielectric loss tangent and ac conductivity also decreases with the increasing Ni contents and as well as after post calcination.
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•Co-precipitation technique is used to synthesis NixCu1-xFe2O4 (x=0,0.1,0.3,0.5,0.7).•Structural and morphological investigation confirmed spinel structure of NixCu1-xFe2O4.•The particle size decreases with the increasing nickel content.•Magnetic properties improved with the addition of nickel contents and after post-calcination.•Complex permittivity decreases with increasing nickel contents and after post-calcination as well.
Abstract This study determined immune activities in the brain of ASD patients and matched normal subjects by examining cytokines in the brain tissue. Our results showed that proinflammatory cytokines ...(TNF-α, IL-6 and GM-CSF), Th1 cytokine (IFN-γ) and chemokine (IL-8) were significantly increased in the brains of ASD patients compared with the controls. However the Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10) showed no significant difference. The Th1/Th2 ratio was also significantly increased in ASD patients. Conclusion: ASD patients displayed an increased innate and adaptive immune response through the Th1 pathway, suggesting that localized brain inflammation and autoimmune disorder may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD.
Joining of commercially pure Ti to 304 stainless steel by fusion welding processes possesses problems due to the formation of brittle intermetallic compounds in the weld metal, which degrade the ...mechanical properties of the joints. Solid-state welding processes are contemplated to overcome these problems. However, intermetallic compounds are likely to form even in Ti-SS joints produced with solid-state welding processes such as friction welding process. Therefore, interlayers are employed to prevent the direct contact between two base metals and thereby mainly to suppress the formation of brittle Ti-Fe intermetallic compounds. In the present study, friction-welded joints between commercially pure titanium and 304 stainless steel were obtained using a thin nickel interlayer. Then, the joints were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and X-ray diffractometry. The mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated by microhardness survey and tensile tests. Although the results showed that the tensile strength of the joints is even lower than titanium base metal, it is higher than that of the joints which were produced without nickel interlayer. The highest hardness value was observed at the interface between titanium and nickel interlayers indicating the formation of Ni-Ti intermetallic compounds. Formation these compounds was validated by XRD patterns. Moreover, in tensile tests, fracture of the joints occurred along this interface which is related to its brittle nature.
Dissimilar material joining is often more difficult than joining the similar material or alloys with minor differences in physical properties and composition. The formation of deleterious ...intermediate phases consisting of intermetallic compounds during welding of titanium and stainless steel is a challenge to the welding processes, for decades. Friction welding has been used in an attempt to reduce formation of intermetallic compounds through inserting an interlayer material. In recent years, a number of approaches have been developed to insert interlayer between the substrates to avoid the metallurgical incompatibility. In this research, dissimilar joint of titanium and stainless steel were welded effectively using a new technique of electrodeposited nickel coating on one of the substrate (stainless steel) as interlayer. The bonding interface of the joints was characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Tensile strength of the nickel interlayer joints was higher than the direct joints. The microstructural characterization in the interface of titanium and stainless steel showed the absence of brittle Fe–Ti intermetallic compounds, which was a condition attributed to the use of interlayer technique. Whereas, the characterization of interface were identified as the presence of Ti–Ni phases which were more plastic than Fe–Ti intermetallic compounds.
Vegetables are an important source of income and high-value crops for small farmers. Chilli (Capsicum spp.) is one of the most economically important vegetables of Pakistan and it is grown throughout ...the country. It is a rich source of nutrition especially vitamins A, B, C and E along with minerals as folic acid, manganese (Mn), potassium (K) and molybdenum (Mo). Chilli possesses seven times more amount of vitamin C than an orange. Vitamin A, C and beta-carotenoids are strong antioxidants to scavenge the free radicals. Chilli production is restricted due to various biotic factors. Among these viruses, Chilli veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV) is one of the most destructive and menacing agents that inflicts heavy and colossal losses that accounted for 50% yield loss both in quality and quantity. Pathogen-Derived Resistance (PDR) approach is considered one of the effective approaches to manage plant viruses. In this study, ChiVMV was characterized on a molecular level, the coat protein (CP) gene of the virus was stably transformed into Nicotiana benthamiana plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The transgenic plants were challenged with the virus to evaluate the level of resistance of plants against the virus. It was observed that the plants expressing CP gene have partial resistance against the virus in terms of symptoms' development and virus accumulation. Translation of this technique into elite chilli varieties will be resulted to mitigate the ChiVMV in the crop as well as an economic benefit to the farmers.
Fuel cell technology is conquering much attraction in advanced energy conversion technologies due to the highest efficiency and environment friendly features. However, the high working temperature of ...solid oxide fuel cell is a major obstacle to launch this technology as marketable. In this context, Ba0.15Cu0.15Ni0.10Zn0.60 oxide material has been reported as anode material and prepared via sol-gel technique. The structural analysis and surface morphology are studied through X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. The average particle size was calculated to be 231 nm. The asymmetrical three layers cell was fabricated for testing of fuel cell performance. The prepared cell was tested between 450 and 650 °C of temperature range with hydrogen fuel. The highest conductivity and power density were achieved to be 10.4 Scm−1 and 350 mWcm−2, respectively. The activation energy was found to be 0.12 eV. The prepared material showed fairly reliable power density at lower operating temperature that make it good candidate for LT-SOFC anode.
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•New Zn based electrode was synthesized via sol-gel route.•BCNZ oxide powder has been used as anode for LTSOFC.•The maximum power density of 350 mW/cm 2 was achieved at 600 °C.•These new electrodes are cost effective for traditional solid oxide fuel cells.
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