Effects of environmental relevant concentrations of acetochlor on growth, hematology, serum biochemistry and histopathology of Japanese quail.

Acetochlor is frequently applied to various food crops in agriculture sector, and long-term exposure can cause significant endocrine-disrupting effects in exposed animals including impacts on human health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acetochlor on the growth, hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathological alterations in Japanese quail. Eighty male quail were obtained and divided into four groups (A-D) and given acetochlor orally for the period of 45 days. Group A was served as the control, while groups B, C, and D received 20mg/kg, 30mg/kg, and 40mg/kg acetochlor, respectively. The study found that Japanese quail administered higher doses of acetochlor exhibited reduced frequency of crowing and foam production. The results showed that increased concentrations of acetochlor led to adverse effects on the growth parameters of Japanese quail. Hematology analysis indicated that birds exposed to higher concentrations of acetochlor experienced a significant decrease in red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), along with a significant increase in white blood cell count compared to the control group. Additionally, higher concentrations of acetochlor led to a significant increase in various serological indices including urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), while the values of total proteins, albumin, and plasma proteins declined. The histopathology results of treated Japanese quail exposed to higher concentrations of acetochlor showed a range of pathological lesions in the testes, heart, and brain. The study concluded that even low concentrations of acetochlor can cause slight to significant changes in Japanese quail, affecting their physical, hematological, histopathological and serum biochemical parameters.

Targeting CD36-Mediated Lipid Metabolism by Selective Inhibitor-Augmented Antitumor Immune Responses in Oral Cancer.

The fatty acid receptor CD36 is expressed on various malignant cells and is suggested to contribute to tumor progression. CD36 is also expressed by several immune cells and involved in immune responses and may be a potential target in cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we investigated whether the selective inhibition of CD36 can inhibit tumor progression and facilitate an antitumor immune response in oral squamous carcinoma cells (OSCCs). We assessed the effects of sulfosuccinimidyl oleate sodium (SSO), a CD36 inhibitor, on the proliferation apoptosis and alteration in tumor cell surface expression levels of immune accessory molecules in vitro. We also assessed whether SSO-treated OSCCs could promote a T cell response via a Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR) assay. We also investigated the direct antitumor effects and immunomodulatory effects of SSO using a mouse oral cancer OSCC model. SSO treatment significantly inhibited OSCC proliferation, increased apoptotic cell death, and upregulated the cell surface expression of several immune accessory molecules, including CD83, MHC-Class II, and PD-L1. SSO-treated OSCCs augmented T cell proliferation following MLR. In vivo SSO administration significantly attenuated mouse tumor growth with an increased proportion of immune cells, including CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and dendritic cells; it also decreased the proportion of immune suppressive cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor and regulatory T cells. These results suggest that the selective inhibition of CD36 can induce direct and indirect antitumor effects by facilitating host antitumor immune responses in OSCCs.

Bioinspired Wearable Hydrogel Composite with Sustained Drug-Release for Wound Healing and Naked-Eye Visual Early Warning of Wound Dehiscence.

Wound healing is critical to the structural and functional restoration of damaged tissue. However, effective wound closure and healing are always great challenges in regenerative engineering. This study provided bioinspired wearable hydrogel composites with drug-releasing hydrogel and nonclose-packed photonic crystals (NPCs) for wound therapy and naked-eye visual early warning of wound dehiscence. Molecular dynamics models and drug-releasing results illustrated the sustained drug release of ibuprofen, and the mechanical properties of the drug-releasing hydrogel were optimized with 1410% tensile strain by introducing fish collagen; their biocompatibility and adhesion were also improved. The structural color of the NPCs blue-shifted from 630 to 500 nm with 15.0% strain, and the original color was customized with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) concentration and acrylamide content. Compared with the gauze and the traditional hydrogels, the composite provided a moist environment and an effectively closed wound; the debridement and released drug avoided inflammation, and the rat wound was healed 40.5% on the third day and essentially 100% on the 14th day. The work provided a novel strategy for wound healing and naked-eye visual early warning when a wound deforms, which is expected to promote the synergistic development of clinical treatment and visualized early warning.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using blood serum samples.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious medical condition generally known as heart attack, which is caused by the decreased or completely blocked blood flow to a part of the heart muscle. It is a significant cause of both mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) is an important biomarker at different stages of AMI and is one of the most specific and widely used cardiac skeletal muscle proteins. Delays in medical treatment and inaccurate diagnosis might be the main cause of death of AMI patients. To overcome the death rate of AMI patients, early diagnosis of this disease is crucial. In the current study, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is employed for the characterization and diagnosis of this disease using blood serum samples from 49 clinically confirmed acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and 17 healthy persons. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used as the SERS substrate for the recognition of characteristic SERS spectral features, differentiating between healthy and AMI-positive samples. The acute myocardial infarction-positive blood serum samples reveal remarkable differences in spectral intensities at 534, 697, 744, 835, 927, 941, 988, 1221, 1303, 1403, 1481, 1541, 1588 and 1694 cm-1. For the differentiation and quantitative analysis of the SERS spectra, multivariate chemometric tools (including principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR)) are employed. A PLSR model established on the basis of differentiating the SERS spectral features is found to be helpful in the prediction of the levels of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) in the blood serum samples with the root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) value of 2.98 ng mL-1 and root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) value of 3.98 ng mL-1 for S7.

Geospatial interpolation and hydro-geochemical characterization of alluvial aquifers in the Thal Desert, Punjab, Pakistan.

This study seeks to assess the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in the southern part of Thal Desert of Pakistan. The primary focus lies in identifying potential sources of contamination and evaluating their impact on groundwater and the ecosystem. Groundwater samples were collected from diverse sources including shallow hand pumps, tubewells, and dug wells, with depths ranging from 11 to 28 m. A comprehensive analysis was performed to scrutinize the physical, chemical, and microbial attributes of the samples. Utilizing visual aids like the Piper, Durov, and Gibbs diagrams, as well as Pearson correlation, scatter plots, Schoeller diagrams, and pie charts, the study evaluated the groundwater quality and its suitability for consumption. Results indicate that mineral infiltration from rainfall, domestic waste, and industrial effluents significantly affects groundwater quality, leading to widespread salinity. Weathering processes and ion exchange were identified as key factors contributing to elevate levels of bicarbonates, sodium, magnesium, and chloride ions. Employing the Water Quality Index (WQI) on 40 groundwater samples, findings reveal that 52.5% of samples demonstrated poor to not suitable quality, with 27.5% categorized as poor, 2.5% as very poor, and 22.5% not suitable consumption. Conversely, 47.5% of samples showcased good to excellent quality, with 25% rated as good and 22.5% as excellent. These findings provide valuable insights for hydrogeologists to develop appropriate strategies for water treatment and address any concerns related to groundwater quality.

The Spectrum of Echocardiographic Findings Across Stages I-V of Chronic Kidney Disease.

AIM AND BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the frequency of cardiac abnormalities across different stages of CKD, providing insights into the relationship between renal dysfunction and cardiac abnormalities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Lahore General Hospital's Nephrology Department, enrolling 356 non-dialysis CKD patients (stages I-V) over one year. Participants aged 18-65 years with CKD duration of three months or more were included. Exclusion criteria encompassed dialysis dependency, transplantation, acute kidney injury, and various cardiac conditions. Detailed echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac structure and function was noted. RESULTS: This study included 356 patients with CKD across stages I-V, with the majority in stages III (44.7%) and IV (36.5%). Significant variations were observed in age (p<0.000), hypertension prevalence (p=0.004), and smoking status. Haemoglobin, calcium, and phosphate levels differed significantly across stages (p<0.001). Echocardiographic findings revealed significant differences: left ventricular hypertrophy frequency increased from 12.5% in stages I-II to 60.0% in stage V (p=0.001); diastolic dysfunction worsened, with grades 2-3 dysfunction increasing from 6.2% in stages I-II to 51.4% in stage V (p=0.000); systolic dysfunction increased with reduced ejection fraction (<45%) more common in advanced stages (p=0.000); global longitudinal strain worsened from -18.47% to -15.34% (p=0.000); left atrial volume index and pulmonary hypertension also increased significantly (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a significant correlation between the progression of CKD and the severity of echocardiographic abnormalities. As CKD advances, structural and functional cardiac abnormalities increase, underscoring the importance of early cardiac evaluation and intervention to improve cardiovascular outcomes in non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients.

Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease on Maintenance Hemodialysis Using the Missoula-Vitas Quality of Life Index.

AIM AND BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance hemodialysis through the Missoula-Vitas Quality of Life Index-15 (MVQOLI-15) to identify factors affecting their well-being. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dialysis Unit of the Nephrology Department, Nishtar Hospital Multan. Over six months, 140 eligible patients were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling. Participants aged 18-80 years on maintenance hemodialysis for at least six months were evaluated using the MVQOLI-15 questionnaire assessing symptoms, function, interpersonal, well-being, and transcendence dimensions of QoL. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). Inferential statistical tests, including the t-test for comparing two groups and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for comparing multiple groups, were utilized to determine the significance of differences in QoL scores among different demographic and clinical categories. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study analyzed 140 hemodialysis patients, with a mean age of 52.41 ± 16.31 years and an average hemodialysis duration of 4.55 ± 2.46 years. Most participants were aged 61-80 years (35.7%), had secondary education (44.3%), and were married (67.1%). QoL scores, measured using the MVQOLI, indicated mean values for symptoms at 4.51 ± 10.71, function at 5.77 ± 8.04, interpersonal at 7.49 ± 13.67, well-being at -13.60 ± 7.11, transcendence at 8.24 ± 13.12, and a total score of 16.24 ± 2.75. Significant findings include the following: females had higher symptom scores (p=0.001) and lower well-being scores (p=0.000); younger patients (<30 years) had higher function scores (p=0.054); patients on hemodialysis three times per week had higher function scores (p=0.006); patients taking 1 to 3 pills per day had higher transcendence scores (p=0.000); unmarried patients had higher symptoms scores (p=0.064) and lower well-being scores (p=0.004); and illiterate patients had higher symptoms (p=0.005) and transcendence scores (p=0.034). In total score, patients on hemodialysis once per week reported significantly better scores (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: This study highlights varied QoL experiences among hemodialysis patients, with transcendence scoring the highest and well-being, the lowest. Demographic factors such as age, gender, and education level significantly impact the QoL dimensions. Understanding these findings can guide personalized interventions to improve the well-being of hemodialysis patients.

ß-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase functionalized two-dimensional photonic crystals for quantitative and visual sensing of ketone bodies.

ß-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is a substantial physiological ketone body. Its elevated concentration causes ketoacidosis, which is a disorder with a high mortality rate. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a simple method for the in-situ monitoring of BHB in urine. In this study, a photonic crystal hydrogel (PCH) sensing material for the detection of urinary ketones was prepared by embedding a two-dimensional polystyrene photonic crystal array (PCA) in a hydrogel functionalized with ß-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (BHBDH). BHBDH catalyzes the interconversion between ß-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetic acid and relies on the cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to participate in the reaction process. The catalytic cycle of converting ß-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate generates H+, which reduces the electrostatic repulsion between the carboxyl groups in the hydrogel network, ultimately leading to the shrinkage of the hydrogel volume. The hydrogel volume change was detected by measuring the diameter of the Debye diffraction ring, thus reflecting the concentration of BHB. When the concentration of BHB was increased from 0 to 10 mM, the reflection spectrum of PCH shifted for 117 nm within 60 min, consequently, the structural color of PCH changed from red to green and finally to blue. The material was used for quantitative detection of BHB with a detection limit of 48.94 µM. Then it was used for detection in artificial urine samples. While, this smart and reusable sensing material could provide a more convenient and efficient strategy for the ketone body detection in clinical diagnosis and point-of-care monitoring.

Improvement in Inhaler Techniques After Training and Counseling in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or Asthma.

Background Chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma significantly impair quality of life and impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Proper inhalation technique is important for effective management of these diseases, yet remains poorly performed by many patients. This study evaluated the impact of structured counseling and training sessions on inhaler use among patients with COPD and asthma, aiming to enhance technique correctness and disease control. Methodology This cross-sectional study analyzed 150 patients with asthma and COPD who fulfilled the inclusion criteria for inhalation techniques. Patients were counseled regarding the proper seven-step inhalation technique for each inhaler type [metered-dose inhaler (MDI), MDI with spacer, and dry powder inhaler (DPI)] through practical demonstration at baseline visits. Correct use of inhalers was assessed by a predefined checklist for each inhaler device at the baseline visit and after three months. The correctness of the inhalation technique was evaluated by scoring each of the seven steps. The disease control assessment was done using the COPD assessment test (CAT) and asthma control test (ACT) at the baseline visit and after three months. Results In this study of 150 patients, there were 97 (64.7%) males and 53 (35.3%) females. In total, 67 (44.7%) were diagnosed with asthma and 83 (55.3%) with COPD. The mean age was 45.33 ± 12.62 years. Post-counseling improvements in inhaler technique were marked, with MDI users enhancing their technique score from an average of 4.4 to 6.1, MDI with spacer from 4.56 to 6.26, and DPI from 4.92 to 6.24 (p < 0.001 for all). Disease control also showed significant gains; CAT scores decreased for MDI users from 23.4 to 20.5, MDI with spacer from 23.92 to 20.96, and DPI from 24.89 to 21.96. Concurrently, ACT scores increased for MDI users from 16.4 to 18.0 (p = 0.002), MDI with spacer from 17.29 to 19.04, and DPI from 16.42 to 18.37 (p < 0.001 for both), reflecting substantive advances in managing COPD and asthma symptoms. Furthermore, patients with primary education exhibited a significant boost in technique mastery post-counseling (p < 0.001), underscoring the potential of well-crafted counseling to transcend educational barriers in promoting effective inhaler use. Conclusions Post-counseling, inhaler technique improved significantly across all types, with MDI with spacer users demonstrating the most progress. Technique scores increased notably (p < 0.001), and disease control scores for COPD and asthma, measured by CAT and ACT, also showed significant improvements (p < 0.001). Remarkably, primary education level participants exhibited substantial technique gains post-intervention, emphasizing the effectiveness of counseling irrespective of initial educational status in enhancing inhaler use and disease management.

Significant influence of land use types and anthropogenic activities on the distribution of microplastics in soil: A case from a typical mining-agricultural city.

Microplastics pollution in soil has become a prominent issue in the field of ecological environment. However, relevant data on the microplastics pollution characteristics in mining industry-agricultural soil ecosystems is still limited. In this study, an extensive investigation on the characteristics of microplastics pollution in typical mining-agricultural city soil was conducted, revealing abundances, features, and influencing factors of microplastics in five land use types including facility farmland (FF), traditional farmland (TF), residential land (RL), industrial land (IL), and grassland (GL). The results showed that the distribution of microplastics abundances exhibits a nonuniform pattern, and the highest microplastics abundance was found in FF (3738 ± 2097 items·kg-1) compared with the other four land use types of this study area. Moreover, the key polymers identified were polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) with a smaller size (<0.01 mm) accounting for the majority at ,45 %, primary colors of microplastics were transparent with the dominant shapes being fibers and fragments. Additionally, principal component analysis and cluster analysis characterized microplastics features across various land use patterns, revealing that agricultural plastic waste, irrigation, and fertilization may be the main the primary sources of agricultural microplastics, while domestic sewage, household waste (include construction waste), and mining transportation activities are the potential urban sources. Correlation analysis indicates a positive relationship between TN, TP, SOC, and the abundances of microplastics (P < 0.05), and a negative relationship between pH and microplastic abundances. Furthermore, Cd, Cu, and As exhibit a significant positive correlation with microplastic characteristics (P < 0.05). Notably, the distribution trends of Cd content and microplastic abundance are similar. Overall, comprehensive analysis of environmental dynamics on microplastics in agricultural soil in coal industrial cities is crucial for developing effective measures to prevent and control microplastic pollution.

Synergistic adsorption of methylene blue using ternary composite of phosphoric acid geopolymer, calcium alginate, and sodium lauryl sulfate.

The removal of dyes from the aquatic ecosystem is necessary being a major threat to life. For enhanced remediation of methylene blue (MB) dye, a new ternary biopolymer-geopolymer-surfactant composite adsorbent is synthesized by combining phosphoric acid geopolymer (PAGP), calcium alginate (Alg), and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). During the synthesis of the composites, PAGP and SLS were mixed with the alginate matrix, producing porous hybrid beads. The PAGP-SLS-alginate (PSA) beads prepared were characterized using different analytical tools, i.e., scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), surface area and porosimetery (SAP), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). To ascertain the ideal conditions for the adsorption process, a batch reactor procedure was used to investigate the effects of several parameters on MB adsorption, including pH (2, 4, 6, 8, 10), PSA adsorbent dosage (0.06-0.12 g), MB concentration (50-500 mg/L), contact time (15 to 300 min), and temperature (25, 35, and 45 °C). The SEM investigation indicated that ~ 1860 µm-sized PSA beads with 6-8 µm voids are generated. Based on XRD, FTIR, and SAP examinations, the material is amorphous, having numerous functional groups and an average pore size of 6.42 nm. Variation of pH has a little effect on the adsorption process, and the pH of 7.44 was found to be the pHpzc of the PSA beads. According to the findings of the batch study, equilibrium adsorption was obtained in 270-300 min, showing that the adsorption process was moderately slow-moving and effective. The dye adsorption linearly increased with initial dye concentration over concentration range of 50-500 mg/L and reciprocally decreased with rise in temperature. 0.06 g adsorbent dose, 25 °C, pH10, and 270 min were found to be the better conditions for adsorption experiments. Langmuir isotherm fitted well compared to Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) isotherm models on the experimental data, and the maximum adsorption capacity(qmax) calculated was 1666.6 mg. g-1. Pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetics model and multi steps (two) intra particle diffusion (IPD) model fitted well on the adsorption kinetics data. The system's entropy, Gibbs free energy, and change in enthalpy were measured and found to be -109.171 J. mol-1. K-1, - 8.198 to - 6.014 kJ. mol-1, and - 40.747 kJ. mol-1. Thermodynamics study revealed that adsorption process is exothermic, energetically favorable and resulting in the decrease in randomness. Chemisorption is found to be the dominant mechanism as confirmed by pH effect, Langmuir isotherm, PSO kinetics, IPD model, and thermodynamics parameters. PSA beads were successfully regenerated using ethanol in a course of 120 min and re-used for five times. To sum up, the PSA adsorbent's impressive adsorption capability of 1666.66 mg/g highlights its potential as a successful solution for methylene blue removal. The results of this study add to the expanding corpus of information on sophisticated adsorption materials and demonstrate PSA's potential for real-world uses in wastewater treatment and environmental clean-up.

Thrombocytopenia and Grading of Esophageal Varices in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease.

Background Chronic liver disease (CLD) is associated with a variety of consequences, including thrombocytopenia and esophageal varices, which significantly impact patient prognosis and management. Thrombocytopenia, frequently observed in patients with CLD, may correlate with the severity of esophageal varices, a critical complication leading to variceal bleeding. Methodology A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Medicine and Gastroenterology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from October 2021 to March 2022. The study enrolled 94 patients, aged 18-70 years, diagnosed with CLD, regardless of the cause. These patients were categorized into four groups based on platelet count: <50,000/uL, 50,000-99,999/uL, 100,000-150,000/uL, and >150,000/uL. Pearson's correlation was utilized to evaluate the association between the severity of thrombocytopenia and the grading of esophageal varices. Results A total of 94 patients were enrolled in the study, with 53 (56.4%) males and 41 (43.6%) females. The mean age of patients was 51.06 ±11.09 years. Seventeen (18.1%) had no esophageal varices, 16 (17.0%) were diagnosed with Grade I varices, 35 (37.2%) with Grade II varices, and 26 (27.7%) had Grade III varices. Most patients without varices had a platelet count above 150 x 103 (17, 18.1%). Conversely, most patients with Grade III varices (19, 20.2%) had platelet counts below 50 x 103. Patients with no esophageal varices had a mean platelet count of 173.70 ± 37.48 x 103. Among the patients, those with Grade III esophageal varices exhibited the lowest mean platelet count, recorded at 78.54 ± 24.14 x 103. These findings indicate a statistically significant difference in mean platelet counts across the various esophageal varices grades (P = 0.000). There was an inverse correlation of platelet count with the grading of esophageal varices (r = -0.645, P < 0.000). Conclusions A negative correlation was observed between the platelet count and the grading of esophageal varices, implying that as the severity of esophageal varices increased, the platelet counts proportionally decreased.

The spectrum of giant cell arteritis through a rheumatology lens.

Treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA) aims initially to prevent acute visual loss, and subsequently to optimise long-term quality of life. Initial prevention of acute visual loss in GCA is well-standardised with high-dose glucocorticoid therapy but in the longer term optimising quality of life requires tailoring of treatment to the individual. The licensing of the IL-6 receptor inhibitor tocilizumab combined with advances in vascular imaging have resulted in many changes to diagnostic and therapeutic practice. Firstly, GCA is a systemic disease that may involve multiple vascular territories and present in diverse ways. Broadening of the "spectrum" of what is called GCA has been crystallised in the 2022 GCA classification criteria. Secondly, the vascular inflammation of GCA frequently co-exists with the extracapsular musculoskeletal inflammation of the related disease, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Thirdly, GCA care must often be delivered across multiple specialities and healthcare organisations requiring effective interprofessional communication. Fourthly, both GCA and PMR may follow a chronic or multiphasic disease course; long-term management must be tailored to the individual patient's needs. In this article we focus on some areas of current rheumatology practice that ophthalmologists need to be aware of, including comprehensive assessment of extra-ocular symptoms, physical signs and laboratory markers; advanced imaging techniques; and implications for multi-speciality collaboration.

Differentiation of different dibenzothiophene (DBT) desulfurizing bacteria via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Fossil fuels are considered vital natural energy resources on the Earth, and sulfur is a natural component present in them. The combustion of fossil fuels releases a large amount of sulfur in the form of SO x in the atmosphere. SO x is the major cause of environmental problems, mainly air pollution. The demand for fuels with ultra-low sulfur is growing rapidly. In this aspect, microorganisms are proven extremely effective in removing sulfur through a process known as biodesulfurization. A major part of sulfur in fossil fuels (coal and oil) is present in thiophenic structures such as dibenzothiophene (DBT) and substituted DBTs. In this study, the identification and characterization of DBT desulfurizing bacteria (Chryseobacterium sp. IS, Gordonia sp. 4N, Mycolicibacterium sp. J2, and Rhodococcus sp. J16) based on their specific biochemical constituents were conducted using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). By differentiating DBT desulfurizing bacteria, researchers can gain insights into their unique characteristics, thus leading to improved biodesulfurization strategies. SERS was used to differentiate all these species based on their biochemical differences and different SERS vibrational bands, thus emerging as a potential technique. Moreover, multivariate data analysis techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were employed to differentiate these DBT desulfurizing bacteria on the basis of their characteristic SERS spectral signals. For all these isolates, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are above 90%, and an AUC (area under the curve) value of close to 1 was achieved for all PLS-DA models.

Integrated study of quaternary aquifer for hydrostratigraphy and groundwater quality assessment in central Thal Doab, Punjab, Pakistan.

The groundwater resources in different areas of Pakistan are heading towards depletion along with the deterioration of quality due to over-abstraction and urbanization. The main focus of this study is to map the current hydrostratigraphical and hydraulic conditions of the late Quaternary aquifers in the central part of Thal Doab of Punjab Plains. To achieve the target, a comprehensive approach was employed combining geophysical investigations using electrical resistivity surveys (ERS) and physiochemical analysis of groundwater specimens collected from the study area. Careful calibration of resistivity models was performed by comparing them with lithologs to ensure their accuracy. The current groundwater conditions were assessed through thirty vertical electrical soundings (VES) using the Schlumberger electrode configuration up to 300m of AB/2. The interpreted results revealed the presence of four to six geo-electric sublayers comprising the intermixing layers of clay, silt, sand, gravel, and kankar inclusions. These layers exhibited very low (<20 Ω-m) to very high (>230 Ω-m) resistivity zones at various depth intervals. The developed 2D/3D models of aquifer systems identify the promising areas of good/fresh quality groundwater in the regions characterized by medium to very high resistivity mainly within the sand with gravel layers. However, lower resistivity values indicate the presence of marginally suitable/fair and saline/brackish groundwater showing the existence of fine sediments such as clays/silts. Additionally, twenty groundwater samples were collected to assess various parameters including pH, TDS, arsenic, fluoride, iron, nitrate, and nitrite. The spatial distribution of these parameters was visualized using 2D maps. The suitability of the groundwater for drinking consumption was evaluated in accordance with WHO guidelines.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for the study of interaction of an antibacterial agent ([bis(1,3-dipentyl-1H-imidazol-2(3H)-ylidene)silver(i)]bromide) with Bacillus subtilis bacterial biofilms.

Bacterial resistance towards antibiotics is a significant challenge for public health, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has great potential to be a promising technique to provide detailed information about the effect of antibiotics against biofilms. SERS is employed to check the antibacterial potential of a lab synthesized drug ([bis(1,3-dipentyl-1H-imidazol-2(3H)-ylidene)silver(i)] bromide) against Bacillus subtilis and to analyze various SERS spectral features of unexposed and exposed Bacillus strains by observing biochemical changes in DNA, protein, lipid and carbohydrate contents induced by the lab synthesized imidazole derivative. Further, PCA and PLS-DA are employed to differentiate the SERS features. PCA was employed to differentiate the biochemical contents of unexposed and exposed Bacillus strains in the form of clusters of their representative SERS spectra and is also helpful in the pairwise comparison of two spectral data sets. PLS-DA provides authentic information to discriminate different unexposed and exposed Bacillus strains with 91% specificity, 93% sensitivity and 97% accuracy. SERS can be employed to characterize the complex and heterogeneous system of biofilms and to check the changes in spectral features of Bacillus strains by exposure to the lab synthesized imidazole derivative.

Factors influencing pregnancy rate and loss after laparoscopic artificial insemination with frozen-thawed semen in Lohi sheep under sub-tropical conditions.

This study evaluates factors influencing pregnancy rates per artificial insemination (P/AI) and pregnancy loss in Lohi ewes undergoing laparoscopic AI with frozen-thawed semen under sub-tropical conditions. Data from three experiments comprising ewes (n = 358) of mixed parity (nulliparous; NP and parous; P), various body condition score (BCS) and assigned to long-term (LTP, 11 days) and short-term (STP, 5 days) oestrus synchronization regimen across high breeding season (HBS) and low breeding season (LBS) were analysed. Laparoscopic insemination was conducted 54 h post-sponge removal. Pregnancy diagnosis and loss were evaluated on days 35 and 90 post-insemination via ultrasonography. Results showed parity significantly influenced P/AI, with nulliparous ewes achieving higher pregnancy ratios than parous ewes (p = .001). BCS significantly influenced P/AI (p < .05), with a quadratic relationship observed between BCS and season (BCS*BCS*Season; p = .07). Progestin treatment did not significantly influence the ratio of pregnant ewes (p = .07). Pregnancy losses were significantly higher during LBS than HBS (p < .05), irrespective of progestin treatment. In conclusion, parity and BCS significantly influenced P/AI, with BCS demonstrating a quadratic association with season. Ewes bred during LBS experienced higher pregnancy losses than HBS, irrespective of progestin treatment.

Addressing cyberbullying in Urdu tweets: a comprehensive dataset and detection system.

The prevalence of cyberbullying has reached an alarming rate, affecting approximately 54% of teenagers who experience various forms of cyberbullying, including offensive hate speech, threats, and racism. This research introduces a comprehensive dataset and system for cyberbullying detection in Urdu tweets, leveraging a spectrum of machine learning approaches including traditional models and advanced deep learning techniques. The objectives of this study are threefold. Firstly, a dataset consisting of 12,500 annotated tweets in Urdu is created, and it is made publicly available to the research community. Secondly, annotation guidelines for Urdu text with appropriate labels for cyberbullying detection are developed. Finally, a series of experiments is conducted to assess the performance of machine learning and deep learning techniques in detecting cyberbullying. The results indicate that fastText deep learning models outperform other models in cyberbullying detection. This study demonstrates its efficacy in effectively detecting and classifying cyberbullying incidents in Urdu tweets, contributing to the broader effort of creating a safer digital environment.