In this research communication we investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of S. aureus harboring virulent genes responsible for mastitis in cattle of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 690 milk samples were collected from commercial dairy farms for analysis of the prevalence of subclinical and clinical mastitis and isolation of S. aureus. Virulence ability and methicillin resistance in S. aureus (MRSA) was determined by targeting the pvl (the gene for Panton-Valentine leukocidin) and mecA genes, respectively. A total of 175 S. aureus isolates exhibiting prevalence of pvl gene (6.28%) and mecA gene (22.28%) were determined. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of pvl positive and negative MRSA against different classes of antibiotics revealed 100% resistance against ß-lactams while 100% sensitivity towards tylosin and linezolid.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the status of antimicrobial-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in Pakistan, their association in terms of co-occurrence with the biofilm-forming genes, resistance profiling and associated discrepancies in diagnostic methods. METHODOLOGY: A total of 384 milk samples from bovine was collected by using convenient sampling technique and were initially screened for subclinical mastitis, further preceded by isolation and confirmation of S. aureus. The S. aureus isolates were subjected to evaluation of antimicrobial resistance by phenotypic identification using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, while the genotypic estimation was done by polymerase chain reaction to declare isolates as methicillin, beta-lactam, vancomycin, tetracycline, and aminoglycoside resistant S. aureus (MRSA, BRSA, VRSA, TRSA, and ARSA), respectively. RESULTS: The current study revealed an overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis and S. aureus to be 59.11% and 46.69%, respectively. On a phenotypic basis, the prevalence of MRSA, BRSA, VRSA, TRSA, and ARSA was found to be 44.33%, 58.49%, 20.75%, 35.84%, and 30.18%, respectively. The results of PCR analysis showed that 46.80% of the tested isolates were declared as MRSA, 37.09% as BRSA, and 36.36% as VRSA, while the occurrence of TRSA and ARSA was observed in 26.31% and 18.75%, respectively. The current study also reported the existence of biofilm-producing genes (icaA and icaD) in 49.06% and 40.57% isolates, respectively. Lastly, this study also reported a high incidence of discrepancies for both genotypic and phenotypic identification methods of resistance evaluation, with the highest discrepancy ratio for the accA-aphD gene, followed by tetK, vanB, blaZ, and mecA genes. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that different antibiotic resistance strains of S. aureus are prevalent in study districts with high potential to transmit between human populations. The study also determined that there are multiple resistance determinants and mechanisms that are responsible for the silencing and expression of antibiotic resistance genes.
Objective: This research was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of manual H-files versus a combination of a Pro-Taper universal rotary canal preparation system and retreatment system in removing gutta-percha (GP) during endodontic retreatment, by using a digital radiography technique. Methods: This ex vivo study used a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. The study sample comprised 60 extracted anterior permanent teeth, each with one root with a straight root canal (RC). After preparation, RCs were obturated with GP and sealer. Subsequently, teeth were stored for 2 weeks in a humid environment at 37 °C. Thirty teeth each were randomly assigned to the control (group I), and experimental (group II) groups. GP removal was performed with H-files {group I) or a combination of a Pro-Taper universal rotary canal preparation system and retreatment system (group 2). Digital radiographs were acquired with Carestream digital radiovisiography software (Kodak; version-VER.6.10.8.3-A), and the presence of residual GP was analyzed. AutoCAD (2006) software was used to demarcate the RC and residual root filling. The residual GP in both groups was compared with independent sample t-tests. Results: The remaining root filling did not significantly differ when GP was removed with conventional Hedstrom files versus a combination of Pro-Taper Universal preparation and retreatment file systems. The residual GP was confined to the apical third of the canals in both groups. Conclusions: Pro-Taper Universal preparation and retreatment file systems have similar effectiveness to manual H-files in GP removal in straight canals.
This article presents a numerical and artificial intelligence (AI) based investigation on the web crippling performance of pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymers' (GFRP) rectangular hollow section (RHS) profiles subjected to interior-one-flange (IOF) loading conditions. To achieve the desired research objectives, a finite element based computational model was developed using one of the popular simulating software ABAQUS CAE. This model was then validated by utilizing the results reported in experimental investigation-based article of Chen and Wang. Once the finite element model was validated, an extensive parametric study was conducted to investigate the aforementioned phenomenon on the basis of which a comprehensive, universal, and coherent database was assembled. This database was then used to formulate the design guidelines for the web crippling design of pultruded GFRP RHS profiles by employing AI based gene expression programming (GEP). Based on the findings of numerical investigation, the web crippling capacity of abovementioned structural profiles subjected to IOF loading conditions was found to be directly related to that of section thickness and bearing length whereas inversely related to that of section width, section height, section's corner radii, and profile length. On the basis of the findings of AI based investigation, the modified design rules proposed by this research were found to be accurately predicting the web crippling capacity of aforesaid structural profiles. This research is a significant contribution to the literature on the development of design guidelines for pultruded GFRP RHS profiles subjected to web crippling, however, there is still a lot to be done in this regard before getting to the ultimate conclusions.
The hydrological regimes of watersheds might be drastically altered by climate change, a majority of Pakistan's watersheds are experiencing problems with water quality and quantity as a result precipitation changes and temperature, necessitating evaluation and alterations to management strategies. In this study, the regional water security in northern Pakistan is examined about anthropogenic climate change on runoff in the Kunhar River Basin (KRB), a typical river in northern Pakistan using Soil and Water Assessment tool (SWAT) and flow durarion curve (FDC). Nine general circulation models (GCMs) were successfully utilized following bias correction under two latest IPCC shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) emission scenarios. Correlation coefficients (R2), Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients (NSE), and the Percent Bias (PBIAS) are all above 0.75. The conclusions demonstrate that the SWAT model precisely simulates the runoff process in the KRB on monthly and daily timescales. For the two emission scenarios of SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, the mean annual precipitation is predicted to rise by 3.08 % and 5.86 %, respectively, compared to the 1980-2015 baseline. The forecasted rise in mean daily high temperatures is expected to range from 2.08 °C to 3.07 °C, while the anticipated increase in mean daily low temperatures is projected to fall within the range of 2.09 °C-3.39 °C, spanning the years 2020-2099. Under the two SSPs scenarios, annual runoff is estimated to increase by 5.47 % and 7.60 % due to climate change during the same period. Future socioeconomic growth will be supported by a sufficient water supply made possible by the rise in runoff. However, because of climate change, there is a greater possibility of flooding because of increases in both rainfall and runoff. As a result, flood control and development plans for KRB must consider the climate change's possible effects. There is a chance that the peak flow will move backwards relative to the baseline.
Clubroot caused by the obligate parasite Plasmodiophora brassicae is a devastating disease affecting the canola industry worldwide. The socio-economic impact of clubroot can be significant, particularly in regions where Brassica crops are a major agricultural commodity. The disease can cause significant crop losses, leading to reduced yield and income for farmers. Extensive studies have been conducted to understand the biology and genetics of the pathogens and develop more effective management strategies. However, the basic procedures used for pathogen storage and virulence analysis have not been assembled or discussed in detail. As a result, there are discrepancies among the different protocols used today. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive and easily accessible resource for researchers who are interested in replicating or building upon the methods used in the study of the clubroot pathogen. Here, we discuss in detail the methods used for P. brassicae spore isolation, inoculation, quantification, propagation, and molecular techniques such as DNA extraction and PCR. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Extraction of Plasmodiophora brassicae resting spores and propagation Support Protocol 1: Evans blue staining to identify resting spore viability Support Protocol 2: Storage of Plasmodiophora brassicae Basic Protocol 2: Generation of single spore isolates from P. brassicae field isolates Basic Protocol 3: Phenotyping of Plasmodiophora brassicae isolates Basic Protocol 4: Genomic DNA extraction from Plasmodiophora brassicae resting spores Basic Protocol 5: Molecular detection of Plasmodiophora brassicae.
Plant Diseases , Plasmodiophorida , Plasmodiophorida/genetics , Plasmodiophorida/isolation & purification , Plasmodiophorida/pathogenicity , Plant Diseases/parasitology , Brassica/parasitology , Brassica napus/parasitology
Objective: To investigate the prevalence of paratuberculosis in cattle and buffaloes at twelve public dairy farms in Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: A total of 2181 more than two-year-old animals (1242 cattle and 939 buffaloes) were tested by avian tuberculin, i.e., killed purified protein derivative (PPD) of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis and indirect ELISA. Blood and fecal samples were collected from tuberculin positive animals. These samples were further processed by indirect ELISA. The data were analyzed using frequency analysis and logistic analysis procedures. Results: The prevalence of paratuberculosis at public dairy farms was 3.8%, as determined by tuberculin + ELISA test. It varied from 0.71-13.5% with a 100% herd prevalence. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that species, milk production, total animals, total small ruminants, and total buffaloes were significantly associated with the occurrence of paratuberculosis. Odd ratio analysis revealed that with a one-kilogram increase in body weight, there will be a 0.006% increase in disease occurrence. With the increase in one animal in small ruminants and buffaloes, there will be 0.008% and 0.42% greater chances of developing paratuberculosis, respectively. Bivariate logistic regression analysis of cattle and buffaloes revealed that farm number, age, and total number of cattle were significantly associated with the occurrence of paratuberculosis. A one-month increase in lactation length increases the chance of tuberculosis by 0.004%; similarly, a one-liter increase in milk production increases the chance of disease by 10%. With each additional buffalo in the herd, there will be a 0.007% greater chance for the occurrence of paratuberculosis. Conclusion: This study concluded that tuberculin testing can be used in conjunction with ELISA to screen animals for paratuberculosis in countries with scarce resources, such as Pakistan. The efficacy of disease diagnosis can be improved by combining multiple tests.
OBJECTIVES: Resin-based composites (RBCs) evolved into favoured materials for teeth restorations, marking a significant change in dental practice. Despite many advantages, RBCs exhibit various limitations in their physical and chemical properties. Therefore, we assessed the dentists' awareness of possible complications after direct composite restorations and their opinions about this material. METHODS: The online questionnaire was created in English in May 2023. A 16-item survey was dedicated to general dentists and specialists. The first section included four questions related to demographic characteristics. The second section comprised twelve questions and focused on awareness of potential side effects of composite restorations, the most crucial advantages and disadvantages of composite resins, and the frequency of experienced clinical complications after the application of composite materials. RESULTS: A total of 1830 dentists from 13 countries took part in the survey. Dentists most often declared awareness of low adhesion to the dentine (77.5 %) and, most rarely, solubility in oral fluids (42.6 %). Aesthetics was identified as the main advantage of composite fillings (79 %), followed by the possibility of repair (59 %) and adhesion to enamel (57 %). Polymerisation shrinkage was a major disadvantage for most countries (70 % overall). Analysing the declared potential clinical complications for all countries, statistically significant findings were obtained for marginal discolouration (OR=2.982, 95 % CI: 1.321-6.730, p-value=0.009) and borderline significance for secondary caries (OR=1.814, 95 % CI: 0.964-3.415, p-value=0.065). CONCLUSIONS: Dentists value aesthetics and repairability but are aware of shrinkage and experience discolouration. The issue of toxicity and solubility seems to be the least known to dentists. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dentists should use RBCs with critical caution due to possible side effects. Despite the undoubted aesthetics of direct composite restorations, it is necessary to remember potential clinical complications such as marginal discolouration or secondary caries.
The current study was conducted on the inhabitants living in the area adjacent to the Hudiara drain using bore water and vegetables adjacent to the Hudiara drain. Toxic heavy metals badly affect human health because of industrial environmental contamination. Particularly hundreds of millions of individuals globally have faced the consequences of consuming water and food tainted with pollutants. Concentrations of heavy metals in human blood were elevated in Hudiara drainings in Lahore city, Pakistan, due to highly polluted industrial effluents. The study determined the health effects of high levels of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, Ni, Hg, Cr) on residents of the Hudiara draining area, including serum MDA, 8-Isoprostane, 8-hydroxyguanosine, and creatinine levels. An absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine heavy metals in wate water, drinking water, soil, plants and human beings blood sampleas and ELISA kits were used to assess the level of 8-hydroxyguanosine, MDA, 8-Isoprostane in plasma serum creatinine level. Waste water samples, irrigation water samples, drinking water samples, Soil samples, Plants samples and blood specimens of adult of different weights and ages were collected from the polluted area of the Hudiara drain (Laloo and Mohanwal), and control samples were obtained from the unpolluted site Sheiikhpura, 60 km away from the site. Toxic heavy metals in blood damage the cell membrane and DNA structures, increasing the 8-hydroxyguanosine, MDA, creatinine, and 8-Isoprostane. Toxic metals contaminated bore water and vegetables, resulting in increased levels of creatinine, MDA, Isoprostane, and 8-hydroxy-2-guanosine in the blood of inhabitants from the adjacent area Hudiara drain compared to the control group. In addition,. This study also investigated heavy metal concentrations in meat and milk samples from buffaloes, cows, and goats. In meat, cow samples showed the highest Cd, Cu, Fe and Mn concentrations. In milk also, cows exhibited elevated Cu and Fe levels compared to goats. The results highlight species-specific variations in heavy metal accumulation, emphasizing the need for targeted monitoring to address potential health risks. The significant difference between the two groups i.e., the control group and the affected group, in all traits of the respondents (weight, age, heavy metal values MDA, 8-Isoprostane, 8-hydroxyguaniosine, and serum creatinine level). Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated. The study has shown that the level of serum MDA, 8-Isoprostane, 8-hydroxyguaniosine, or creatinine has not significantly correlated with age, so it is independent of age. This study has proved that in Pakistan, the selected area of Lahore in the villages of Laloo and Mohanwal, excess of heavy metals in the human body damages the DNA and increases the level of 8-Isoprostane, MDA, creatinine, and 8-hydroxyguaniosine. As a result, National and international cooperation must take major steps to control exposure to heavy metals.
Drinking Water , Metals, Heavy , Soil Pollutants , Adult , Humans , Animals , Cattle , Creatinine/analysis , Soil Pollutants/metabolism , Pakistan , Drinking Water/analysis , Cadmium/analysis , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Heavy Metal Poisoning , Soil/chemistry , Vegetables/metabolism , DNA Damage , DNA , Goats/metabolism , Risk Assessment
Preplaced aggregate concrete (PAC) also known as two-stage concrete (TSC) is widely used in construction engineering for various applications. To produce PAC, a mixture of Portland cement, sand, and admixtures is injected into a mold subsequent to the deposition of coarse aggregate. This process complicates the prediction of compressive strength (CS), demanding thorough investigation. Consequently, the emphasis of this study is on enhancing the comprehension of PAC compressive strength using machine learning models. Thirteen models are evaluated with 261 data points and eleven input variables. The result depicts that xgboost demonstrates exceptional accuracy with a correlation coefficient of 0.9791 and a normalized coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9583. Moreover, Gradient boosting (GB) and Cat boost (CB) also perform well due to its robust performance. In addition, Adaboost, Voting regressor, and Random forest yield precise predictions with low mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) values. The sensitivity analysis (SA) reveals the significant impact of key input parameters on overall model sensitivity. Notably, gravel takes the lead with a substantial 44.7% contribution, followed by sand at 19.5%, cement at 15.6%, and Fly ash and GGBS at 5.9% and 5.1%, respectively. The best fit model i.e., XG-Boost model, was employed for SHAP analysis to assess the relative importance of contributing attributes and optimize input variables. The SHAP analysis unveiled the water-to-binder (W/B) ratio, superplasticizer, and gravel as the most significant factors influencing the CS of PAC. Furthermore, graphical user interface (GUI) have been developed for practical applications in predicting concrete strength. This simplifies the process and offers a valuable tool for leveraging the model's potential in the field of civil engineering. This comprehensive evaluation provides valuable insights to researchers and practitioners, empowering them to make informed choices in predicting PAC compressive strength in construction projects. By enhancing the reliability and applicability of predictive models, this study contributes to the field of preplaced aggregate concrete strength prediction.
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in many physiological processes in plants and animals. In humans, vitamin C is an antioxidant, reducing agent, and cofactor in diverse chemical processes. The established role of vitamin C as an antioxidant in plants is well recognized. It neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can cause damage to cells. Also, it plays an important role in recycling other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, which helps maintain the overall balance of the plant's antioxidant system. However, unlike plants, humans cannot synthesize ascorbic acid or vitamin C in their bodies due to the absence of an enzyme called gulonolactone oxidase. This is why humans need to obtain vitamin C through their diet. Different fruits and vegetables contain varying levels of vitamin C. The biosynthesis of vitamin C in plants occurs primarily in the chloroplasts and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The biosynthesis of vitamin C is a complex process regulated by various factors such as light, temperature, and plant hormones. Recent research has identified several key genes that regulate vitamin C biosynthesis, including the GLDH and GLDH genes. The expression of these genes is known to be regulated by various factors such as light, temperature, and plant hormones. Recent studies highlight vitamin C's crucial role in regulating plant stress response pathways, encompassing drought, high salinity, and oxidative stress. The key enzymes in vitamin C biosynthesis are L-galactose dehydrogenase (GLDH) and L-galactono-1, 4-lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH). Genetic studies reveal key genes like GLDH and GLDH in Vitamin C biosynthesis, offering potential for crop improvement. Genetic variations influence nutritional content through their impact on vitamin C levels. Investigating the roles of genes in stress responses provides insights for developing resilient techniques in crop growth. Some fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, along with strawberries and kiwi, are rich in vitamin C. Guava. Papaya provides a boost of vitamin C and dietary fiber. At the same time, red and yellow bell peppers, broccoli, pineapple, mangoes, and kale are additional sources of this essential nutrient, promoting overall health. In this review, we will discuss a brief history of Vitamin C and its signaling and biosynthesis pathway and summarize the regulation of its content in various fruits and vegetables.
Ascorbic Acid , Vegetables , Animals , Humans , Antioxidants , Fruit/genetics , Plant Growth Regulators , Crops, Agricultural/genetics , Signal Transduction
In this study, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique, along with principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), is used as a simple, quick, and cost-effective analysis method for identifying biochemical changes occurring due to induced mutations in the Aspergillus niger fungus strain. The goal of this study is to identify the biochemical changes in the mutated fungal cells (cell mass) as compared to the control/nonmutated cells. Furthermore, multivariate data analysis tools, including PCA and PLS-DA, are used to further confirm the differentiating SERS spectral features among fungal samples. The mutations are caused in A. niger by the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat CRISPR-Cas9 genomic editing method to improve their biotechnological potential for the production of cellulase enzyme. SERS was employed to detect the changes in the cells of mutated A. niger fungal strains, including one mutant producing low levels of an enzyme and another mutant producing high levels of the enzyme as a result of mutation as compared with an unmutated fungal strain as a control sample. The distinctive features of SERS corresponding to nucleic acids and proteins appear at 546, 622, 655, 738, 802, 835, 959, 1025, 1157, 1245, 1331, 1398, and 1469 cm-1. Furthermore, PLS-DA is used to confirm the 89% accuracy, 87.7% precision, 87% sensitivity, and 88.9% specificity of this method, and the value of the area under the curve (AUROC) is 0.67. It has been shown that surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is an effective method for identifying and differentiating biochemical changes in genome-modified fungal samples.
BACKGROUND: Contemporary undergraduate dental education aims to equip the dental students with clinical competence, empathy, and professionalism to enable them to deliver safe and effective dental care to the communities. The purpose of this study was to assess the self-reported preparedness of final year dental students and interns at three Saudi dental institutions, using the pre-validated Dental Undergraduates Preparedness Assessment Scale (DU-PAS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the self-reported preparedness of the participants using the DU-PAS. Following ethics approval, a probability sampling technique was used to recruit undergraduate dental students and interns from three dental institutions in Saudi Arabia. The data was collected online on Google Forms and all participants provided their consent to participate in the study prior to providing their responses to DU-PAS. RESULTS: Responses were received from 397 participants including 171 males and 226 females yielding a response rate of 60.3%. The total mean score of the participants was 81.85 ± 13.11. Although higher scores were reported in males, the interaction between gender and DU-PAS scores were not significant. Interaction between DU-PAS scores and stage of education showed significant effect of the stage of education with interns reporting higher overall scores. The participants reported that they were able to perform most clinical procedures independently. However, low confidence was reported in performing multi-rooted endodontics, fabrication of removable dentures and orthodontic assessment. The participants also expressed their confidence in a wide range of behavioural attributes related to communication, teamworking and professionalism. However, lack of experience was noted in referral for oral cancer, interpreting research, and evaluation of new dental products using an evidence-based approach. CONCLUSION: The study provides useful insights into the self-reported preparedness of undergraduate dental students and interns in three dental institutions. While the overall preparedness of the participants was comparable to their international peers, the findings underscore the need for further enhancements to the teaching and training of undergraduate students particularly in multirooted endodontics, removable prosthodontics and orthodontics.
Endodontics , Students, Dental , Male , Female , Humans , Self Report , Saudi Arabia , Cross-Sectional Studies , Endodontics/education
INTRODUCTION: Cadaveric fresh frozen cartilage provides an enticing alternative to traditional autologous cartilage grafts. This review provides a systematic analysis of existing literature on the use of fresh frozen rib for in rhinoplasties and focuses on clinical and aesthetic outcomes. METHODS: The methodology was designed and registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023447166). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guideline was used to perform this systematic review. RESULTS: Four articles were included, with a total of 554 patients. A total of 477 patients were female (86%). Mean age ranged between 35.8 and 40.6. Mean follow-up ranged from 12.2 to 20.3 months. Only one article had a suitable control (with autologous rib graft). Pooled complications rates were low. Infection occurred in 12 patients (2%), warping in 8 patients (1.4%) and resorption in 3 patients (0.5%). CONCLUSION: Fresh frozen cartilage may be a safe and reliable alternative to autologous rib grafts. Complication rates were comparable to previous systematic reviews of autologous graft and irradiated allograft. Overall, patients reported high satisfaction rates with low rates of revision procedures. Further studies are required to assess both clinical and cost effectiveness against the current gold standard (autologous graft). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: Rhinoplasty. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Drought poses a significant challenge to wheat production globally, leading to substantial yield losses and affecting various agronomic and physiological traits. The genetic route offers potential solutions to improve water-use efficiency (WUE) in wheat and mitigate the negative impacts of drought stress. Breeding for drought tolerance involves selecting desirable plants such as efficient water usage, deep root systems, delayed senescence, and late wilting point. Biomarkers, automated and high-throughput techniques, and QTL genes are crucial in enhancing breeding strategies and developing wheat varieties with improved resilience to water scarcity. Moreover, the role of root system architecture (RSA) in water-use efficiency is vital, as roots play a key role in nutrient and water uptake. Genetic engineering techniques offer promising avenues to introduce desirable RSA traits in wheat to enhance drought tolerance. These technologies enable targeted modifications in DNA sequences, facilitating the development of drought-tolerant wheat germplasm. The article highlighted the techniques that could play a role in mitigating drought stress in wheat.
Triticum , Water , Plant Breeding , Phenotype , Droughts
Developing a highly efficient electrochromic energy storage device with sufficient color fluctuation and significant electrochemical performance is highly desirable for practical energy-saving applications. Here, to achieve a highly stable material with a large electrochemical storage capacity, a W18O49 NW/Ti3C2Tx composite has been fabricated and deposited on a pre-assembled Ag and W18O49 NW conductive network by Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The resulting hybrid electrode composed of 15 layers of W18O49 NW/Ti3C2Tx composite exhibits an areal capacitance of 125 mF cm-2, with a fast and reversible switching response. An optical modulation of 98.2% can be maintained at a current density of 5 mA cm-2. Using this electrode, a bifunctional symmetric electrochromic supercapacitor device having an energy density of 10.26 µWh cm-2 and a power density of 0.605 mW cm-2 is fabricated, with high capacity retention and full columbic efficiency over 4000 charge-discharge cycles. Meanwhile, the device displays remarkable electrochromic characteristics, including fast switching time (5 s for coloring and 7 s for bleaching), and a significant coloration efficiency of 116 cm2 C-1 with good optical modulation stability. In addition, the device exhibits significant mechanical flexibility and fast switching while being stable over 100 bending cycles, which is promising for real-world applications.
Most vegetable crops are severely affected by the uptake of heavy metals from the soil. Heavy metals in vegetable bodies generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that unbalance the antioxidant defense system. This study was initiated to determine the physiological and biochemical characteristics of spinach plants grown on soil contaminated with heavy metals and responding to Bacillus cereus and Bacillus aerius were isolated from soil contaminated with heavy metals. Heavy metal contamination led to a significant reduction in seed germination, seedling biomass, protein, and total nitrogen content of spinach plants grown in contaminated soils compared to control soils. In contrast, a significant increase in the content of metallothioneins and antioxidant enzymes was observed. Plants inoculated with B. cereus and B. aerius significantly reduced the oxidative stress induced by heavy metals by improving seed germination (%), seedling growth, nitrogen, and protein content. The content of metallothioneins and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were reduced in spinach plants grown from seeds inoculated with bacterial strains. In addition, plants inoculated with, B. cereus and B. aerius showed greater stomata opening than plants grown on soil contaminated with heavy metals, whose stomata were almost closed. These results suggested that both bacterial strains enhanced plant growth by reducing oxidative stress caused by metals.
Loratadine/analogs & derivatives , Metals, Heavy , Soil Pollutants , Spinacia oleracea , Antioxidants/metabolism , Metals, Heavy/toxicity , Oxidative Stress , Bacteria/metabolism , Soil/chemistry , Plants/metabolism , Nitrogen/metabolism , Soil Pollutants/toxicity , Soil Pollutants/metabolism
The growth and productivity of maize are severely affected by soil salinity. The crucial determinants for the future performance of plants are productive for seed germination and seedling establishment; however, both stages are liable to soil salinity. For grain, maize is an economically significant crop sensitive to abiotic stresses. However, little is known about defense responses by the salinity-induced antioxidant and oxidative stress in maize. In our work, the commercially available maize variety Raka-Poshi was grown in pots for 30 days under greenhouse conditions. To evaluate the salt-induced oxidative/antioxidant responses in maize for salt stress 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 mM concentrations, treatments were provided using sodium chloride (NaCl). All the biochemical indices were calculated under all NaCl concentrations, while drought was induced by up to 50% irrigation water. After 30 days of seed germination, the maize leaves were collected for the measurement of lipid peroxidase or malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione reductase (GR), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipoxygenase (LOX), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The results revealed a 47% reduction under 150 mM NaCl and 50% drought stress conditions. The results have shown that the successive increase of NaCl concentrations and drought caused an increase in catalase production. With successive increase in NaCl concentration and drought stress, lower levels of H2O2, SOD, and MDA were detected in maize leaves. The results regarding the morphology of maize seedlings indicated a successive reduction in the root length and shoot length under applications of salt and drought stress, while root-to-shoot weights were found to be increased under drought stress and decreased under salt stress conditions During gene expression analysis collectively indicate that, under drought stress conditions, the expression levels of all nine mentioned enzyme-related genes were consistently downregulated.
Antioxidants , Zea mays , Antioxidants/metabolism , Catalase/metabolism , Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism , Sodium Chloride/metabolism , Stress, Physiological , Seedlings , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism , Soil , Defense Mechanisms , Gene Expression
Robust wireless communication using relaying system and Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) will be extensively used for future IoT applications. In this paper, we consider a fall detection IoT application in which elderly patients are equipped with wearable motion sensors. Patient motion data is sent to fog data servers via a NOMA-based relaying system, thereby improving the communication reliability. We analyze the average signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) performance of the NOMA-based relaying system, where the source node transmits two different symbols to the relay and destination node by employing superposition coding over Rayleigh fading channels. In the amplify-and-forward (AF) based relaying, the relay re-transmits the received signal after amplification, whereas, in the decode-and-forward (DF) based relaying, the relay only re-transmits the symbol having lower NOMA power coefficient. We derive closed-form average SINR expressions for AF and DF relaying systems using NOMA. The average SINR expressions for AF and DF relaying systems are derived in terms of computationally efficient functions, namely Tricomi confluent hypergeometric and Meijer's G functions. Through simulations, it is shown that the average SINR values computed using the derived analytical expressions are in excellent agreement with the simulation-based average SINR results.
YABBY gene family is a plant-specific transcription factor with DNA binding domain involved in various functions i.e. regulation of style, length of flowers, and polarity development of lateral organs in flowering plants. Computational methods were utilized to identify members of the YABBY gene family, with Carrot (Daucus carota) 's genome as a foundational reference. The structure of genes, location of the chromosomes, protein motifs and phylogenetic investigation, syntony and transcriptomic analysis, and miRNA targets were analyzed to unmask the hidden structural and functional characteristics YABBY gene family in Carrots. In the following research, it has been concluded that 11 specific YABBY genes irregularly dispersed on all 9 chromosomes and proteins assembled into five subgroups i.e. AtINO, AtCRC, AtYAB5, AtAFO, and AtYAB2, which were created on the well-known classification of Arabidopsis. The wide ranges of YABBY genes in carrots were dispersed due to segmental duplication, which was detected as prevalent when equated to tandem duplication. Transcriptomic analysis showed that one of the DcYABBY genes was highly expressed during anthocyanin pigmentation in carrot taproots. The cis-regulatory elements (CREs) analysis unveiled elements that particularly respond to light, cell cycle regulation, drought induce ability, ABA hormone, seed, and meristem expression. Furthermore, a relative study among Carrot and Arabidopsis genes of the YABBY family indicated 5 sub-families sharing common characteristics. The comprehensive evaluation of YABBY genes in the genome provides a direction for the cloning and understanding of their functional properties in carrots. Our investigations revealed genome-wide distribution and role of YABBY genes in the carrots with best-fit comparison to Arabidopsis thaliana.
Arabidopsis , Daucus carota , Tephritidae , Animals , Daucus carota/genetics , Arabidopsis/genetics , Phylogeny , Seeds
