Molecular characterization of Aeromonas hydrophila detected in Channa marulius and Sperata sarwari sampled from rivers of Punjab in Pakistan.

Aeromonas hydrophila is one of the major pathogenic bacteria responsible for causing severe outbreaks at fish farms and is also a major global public health concern. This bacterium harbors many virulence genes. The current study was designed to evaluate the antidrug and virulence potential of A. hydrophila by amplifying its antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes using PCR and examining their effects on fish tissues and organs. A total of 960 fish samples of Channa marulius and Sperata sarwari were collected from four sites of the rivers of the Punjab, Pakistan. A. hydrophila isolates were subjected to biochemical identification and detection of virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes by PCR. We retrieved 181 (6.46%) A. hydrophila isolates from C. marulius and 177 (6.25%) isolates from S. sarwari. Amplification through PCR revealed the incidence of virulence genes in 95.7% of isolates in C. marulius and 94.4% in S. sarwari. Similarly, amplification through PCR also revealed occurrence of AMR genes in 87.1% of isolates in C. marulius and 83.9% in S. sarwari. Histopathological examination revealed congestion (5.2%) and hepatocyte necrosis (4.6%) in liver, lamellar fusion (3.3%) and the presence of bacterial colonies (3.7%) in gills, fin erosion (6%), and the presence of biofilms (3.5%) in tail fins of infected fish. Phylogenetic tree analysis of 16S rRNA and gyrB gene of A. hydrophila revealed 100% and 97% similarity, respectively, with 16S rRNA gene and gyrB of A. hydrophila isolated in previous studies. The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that all isolates demonstrated resistance to sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, neomycin, and norfloxacin, while susceptibility to gentamicin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline, and intermediate resistance was observed against cefotaxime. The results concluded that examined fish samples were markedly contaminated with virulent and multidrug strains of A. hydrophila which may be of a potential health risk. The study emphasizes the responsible antimicrobial use in aquaculture and the urgent need for effective strategies to control the spread of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes in A. hydrophila.

Exploiting the biocatalytic potential of co-expressed l-fucose isomerase and d-tagatose 3-epimerase for the biosynthesis of 6-deoxy-l-sorbose.

6-Deoxy-l-sorbose (6-DLS) is an imperative rare sugar employed in food, agriculture, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industeries. However, it is a synthetic and very expensive rare sugars, previously synthesized by chemo-enzymatic methods through a long chain of chemical processes. Recently, enzymatic synthesis of rare sugars has attracted a lot of attention due to its advantages over synthetic methods. In this work, a promising approach for the synthesis of 6-DLS from an inexpensive sugar l-fucose was identified. The genes for l-fucose isomerase from Paenibacillus rhizosphaerae (Pr-LFI) and genes for d-tagatose-3-epimerase from Caballeronia fortuita (Cf-DTE) have been used for cloning and co-expression in Escherichia coli, developed a recombinant plasmid harboring pANY1-Pr-LFI/Cf-DTE vector. The recombinant co-expression system exhibited an optimum activity at 50 °C of temperature and pH 6.5 in the presence of Co2+ metal ion which inflated the catalytic activity by 6.8 folds as compared to control group with no metal ions. The recombinant co-expressed system was stable up to more than 50 % relative activity after 12 h and revealed a melting temperature (Tm) of 63.38 °C exhibiting half-life of 13.17 h at 50 °C. The co-expression system exhibited, 4.93, 11.41 and 16.21 g/L of 6-DLS production from initial l-fucose concentration of 30, 70 and 100 g/L, which equates to conversion yield of 16.44 %, 16.30 % and 16.21 % respectively. Generally, this study offers a promising strategy for the biological production of 6-DLS from an inexpensive substrate l-fucose in slightly acidic conditions with the aid of co-expression system harboring Pr-LFI and CF-DTE genes.

A comprehensive review of recent advances in the characterization of L-rhamnose isomerase for the biocatalytic production of D-allose from D-allulose.

D-Allose and D-allulose are two important rare natural monosaccharides found in meager amounts. They are considered to be the ideal substitutes for table sugar (sucrose) for, their significantly lower calorie content with around 80 % and 70 % of the sweetness of sucrose, respectively. Additionally, both monosaccharides have gained much attention due to their remarkable physiological properties and excellent health benefits. Nevertheless, D-allose and D-allulose are rare in nature and difficult to produce by chemical methods. Consequently, scientists are exploring bioconversion methods to convert D-allulose into D-allose, with a key enzyme, L-rhamnose isomerase (L-RhIse), playing a remarkable role in this process. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the extractions, physiological functions and applications of D-allose from D-allulose. Specifically, it provides a detailed description of all documented L-RhIse, encompassing their biochemical properties including, pH, temperature, stabilities, half-lives, metal ion dependence, molecular weight, kinetic parameters, specific activities and specificities of the substrates, conversion ratio, crystal structure, catalytic mechanism as well as their wide-ranging applications across diverse fields. So far, L-RhIses have been discovered and characterized experimentally by numerous mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria. Furthermore, the crystal forms of L-RhIses from E. coli and Stutzerimonas/Pseudomonas stutzeri have been previously cracked, together with their catalytic mechanism. However, there is room for further exploration, particularly the molecular modification of L-RhIse for enhancing its catalytic performance and thermostability through the directed evolution or site-directed mutagenesis.

Exploring the China-Pakistan economic corridor project performance during Covid-19 pandemic.

The outburst of the coronavirus into the global arena, first as a respiratory disease and later as a worldwide pandemic and health emergency, pushed the world economic order into complete turmoil and aftermath, posing severe challenges to the financial stability of developing countries like Pakistan. The temporary suspension of economic activities worldwide has resulted in significant disruptions to international supply chains, leading to substantial delays in implementing infrastructure projects associated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The pandemic has further hindered CPEC progress. Building mega-projects, such as the CPEC, is crucial in determining the economic stability of a nation such as Pakistan. Nevertheless, it is essential to consider that the implementation of infrastructure projects can be subject to delays due to the COVID-19 lockdown and travel restrictions. However, it is worth noting that there needs to be more scholarly research available examining the ongoing progress and performance of CPEC projects from a particular perspective. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown policy and travel restrictions on CPEC project performances by highlighting the role of socioeconomic and infrastructure development factors. The study will shed light on numerous causes of concerns in project development phases and provide policy recommendations to help CPEC officials reduce project losses and better survival in the event of extreme uncertainty. The data were collected through an online survey from all over Pakistan using self-administered questionnaires with 570 responses from CPEC employees, officials, and professors from management and economic departments. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique analyzes the problem mentioned above. As per the results of this study, it is evident that the COVID-19 lockdown policy and travel restrictions have a detrimental effect on the construction of the CPEC project. Moreover, it has been observed that the socioeconomic and infrastructure development associated with the CPEC has a notable impact on the performance of the CPEC projects. This paper aims to provide valuable insights to policymakers by examining the management of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of the CPEC.

Stimulating appearance comparison dynamics and their effects on psychological dysfunctions: The moderating role of self-compassion.

In recent decades, attitudes towards appearance comparison, and self-disapproval have rapidly increased, and these are attitudes strongly associated with psychological disorders. The present study aims to investigate the underlying patterns of depression, appearance-based stress, dietary constraints, and social and celebrity appearance comparison among young adults. It also examines the role of self-compassion in moderating the relationship between psychological dysfunctions and appearance comparison as well as the criteria and influences contributing to appearance comparison. Data on BMI, the measures of depression, appearance-based stress, eating restraints, appearance comparison, self-compassion, and predictors of peers and celebrity appearance comparison were collected from 434 college students (Age: Mean = 22; SD = 2.36; Male = Female = 217) in Sialkot, Pakistan. The data was analyzed by using the Hierarchical Regression Model. The results revealed that respondents who compared their appearances to peers and celebrities had increased depression and appearance-based stress while eating constraints didn't affect the appearance-based comparison, stress, and depression. Moreover, self-compassion significantly moderated the relationship between depression, appearance-based stress, and appearance comparison whereas an insignificant moderation effect is observed between eating restraints and self-compassion. Despite psychological distresses such as depression, appearance-based stress, and eating restraints, appearance comparisons are connected to appearance-based victimization, media appearance pressure, social-cultural appearance pressure, appearance conversation, and self-consciousness.

Assessment of hepatoprotective, nephroprotective efficacy, and antioxidative potential of Moringa oleifera leaf powder and ethanolic extract against PCOS-induced female albino mice (Mus Musculus).

Moringa oleifera is a medicinal plant that has anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, tissue-protective, and antioxidant activities. Here, we evaluated the protective effect of M. oleifera leaf powder (MoLP) and 70% ethanol M. oleifera leaf extract (MoLE) on mitigating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-induced liver and kidney dysfunction via regulating oxidative stress in female albino mice (Mus musculus). The efficacy of M. oleifera was compared with metformin (standard medicine used to treat infertility in women). PCOS was induced by intramuscular injection of testosterone enanthate at 1.0 mg/100 g BW for 35 days. PCOS-induced mice were treated with MoLP (250 and 500 mg/Kg), MoLE (250 and 500 mg/kg), and metformin (250 mg/kg) orally for 14 days. Renal function test (RFT), liver function test (LFT), and oxidative stress biomarker malondialdehyde (MDA) were quantified in serum at 0, 7, and 14 days of intervention. Mice treated with M. oleifera and metformin showed a significant decrease (p < .001) in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphate (ALP), total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, and a significant increase (p < .001) in total protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Oxidative stress decreased significantly (p = .00) with respect to treatments, exposure days, and their interaction in metformin and all M. oleifera-treated groups. M. oleifera leaf powder and extract reduce oxidative stress and enhance nephron-hepatic activity in PCOS-induced female albino mice.

The impact of CSR and green consumption on consumer satisfaction and loyalty: moderating role of ethical beliefs.

The present study introduces an innovative conceptual framework for analyzing the influence of corporate social responsibility and green consumption on customer satisfaction and loyalty. The study employed a quantitative methodology, wherein data was gathered through face-to-face surveys from a sample of 329 participants in Pakistan during the period from November 2022 to February 2023. The collected data was subsequently subjected to analysis using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results demonstrate that corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a significant and positive impact on consumer satisfaction, which subsequently serves as a significant predictor of loyalty. The research findings indicate a significant correlation between consumers' ethical beliefs, specifically idealism and relativism, and their engagement in green consumption. Furthermore, it is observed that green consumption positively influences consumer satisfaction. Additionally, the research revealed that the variables of idealism and relativism do not exert a moderating influence on the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and consumer satisfaction. The results underscore the significance of managers directing their attention towards cultivating more robust customer relationships through the prioritization of satisfaction within their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. This study aimed to assess a theoretical framework that delineates the fundamental connections between corporate social responsibility (CSR), green consumption, consumer satisfaction, and loyalty. While prior research has predominantly concentrated on corporate viewpoints and employee attitudes towards CSR, this research sought to fill the gap by examining the aforementioned relationships from a consumer perspective.

Cancer incidence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 2020.

BACKGROUND: To present the population-based cancer statistics for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, an incidence study was conducted at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2023. METHODS: Records from various centres on new cancers diagnosed among residents of KP between January and December 2020 were gathered. Both active and passive methods of data collection were applied, and the information was saved in a central repository at SKMCH&RC. The incidence rates were computed by age group and sex and presented per 100,000 population. RESULTS: Among children (0-14 years), the Age-Standardised Incidence Rate (ASIR) was 4.0 in girls and 6.1 in boys, and haematologic malignancies were more prevalent; in adolescents (15-19 years), the ASIR was 7.7 in females, 9.4 in males, and bone tumours, haematologic malignancies, and neurological cancers were prominent; in adult females (> / = 20 years), the ASIR was 84.9, and cancers of the breast, digestive system, and reproductive organs were predominant; and adult males, the ASIR was 73.0, and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, lip/oral cavity/pharynx, prostate, and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) were common. CONCLUSIONS: It is crucial to investigate the aetiology of these diseases at the community level because dietary elements, infectious diseases, and tobacco use all appear to be significant contributors. Prospective studies could play a key role in highlighting the factors linked to these diseases. Therefore, cancer registration must continue in conjunction with the exploration of risk factors.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi integrate nitrogen mobilisation and mineral weathering in boreal forest soil.

Tree growth in boreal forests is driven by ectomycorrhizal fungal mobilisation of organic nitrogen and mineral nutrients in soils with discrete organic and mineral horizons. However, there are no studies of how ectomycorrhizal mineral weathering and organic nitrogen mobilisation processes are integrated across the soil profile. We studied effects of organic matter (OM) availability on ectomycorrhizal functioning by altering the proportions of natural organic and mineral soil in reconstructed podzol profiles containing Pinus sylvestris plants, using 13 CO2 pulse labelling, patterns of naturally occurring stable isotopes (26 Mg and 15 N) and high-throughput DNA sequencing of fungal amplicons. Reduction in OM resulted in nitrogen limitation of plant growth and decreased allocation of photosynthetically derived carbon and mycelial growth in mineral horizons. Fractionation patterns of 26 Mg indicated that magnesium mobilisation and uptake occurred primarily in the deeper mineral horizon and was driven by carbon allocation to ectomycorrhizal mycelium. In this horizon, relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi, carbon allocation and base cation mobilisation all increased with increased OM availability. Allocation of carbon through ectomycorrhizal fungi integrates organic nitrogen mobilisation and mineral weathering across soil horizons, improving the efficiency of plant nutrient acquisition. Our findings have fundamental implications for sustainable forest management and belowground carbon sequestration.

Environmental implication and cancer risk assessment of residual pollutants in cotton crop: a case study of Multan District, Pakistan.

Pakistan is the fourth largest yarn producer in the world heavily that relies on cotton crop which receives a substantial 62% of all pesticide applications. The present study was conducted to quantify the levels of pesticides such as bifenthrin, spirotetramat, pyriproxyfen, imidacloprid, and diafenthiuron in soil and plants residue at selected cotton fields of Multan District, Pakistan. In addition to pesticides, the assessment of heavy metal concentration was also conducted in order to determine the overall risks that these compounds to both plants and human population. For this analysis, 20 soil samples and 10 plant samples were collected from 10 selected cotton fields. Pesticides and heavy metals in soil and plant samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), respectively. It was observed that all samples collected from selected fields contained pesticide residue in top soil (0-15 cm). However, no pesticides were detected in the lower soil layer (16-30 cm). In case of heavy metals, the highest concentration of Fe, Pb, and Mn was observed in both soil and plant residue samples. The heavy metals were found in the order of Fe > Mn > Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd in the soil. The total carcinogenic risk values for a few pesticides were found to range from 10-6 to 10-2, indicating that residents of the study area have low to higher chances of developing cancer. A positive correlation was observed among the pesticides (r = 0.18-0.95) as well as in metals related parameters (r = 0.49-0.96), where a weak negative correlation was found among metal to pesticide parameters except Pd where the maximum r value was 0.62. In general, the finding of this study encourages the development and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices that lower the dependence on toxic pesticides and endorse environmentally friendly alternatives.

Seasonal variation in non-point source heavy metal pollution in Satpara Lake and its toxicity in trout fish.

Heavy metal contamination in surface water is widespread throughout the world as a result of numerous anthropogenic activities and geo-genic mechanisms. This contamination is also affecting aquatic life, as fish have the potential to acquire heavy metals in their tissues making them vulnerable. Worldwide lakes are an important source of water for the inhabitants of the area. So, in the present study, we have focused on the Satpara Lake to check the extent of heavy metal pollution and their accumulation in fish to provide baseline data for metal pollution management. Samples were collected from three locations (inflow, center, and outflow sites) during two seasons (summer and winter). Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was applied to analyze heavy metals concentration. Among the metals, Cd, Pb, As, and Fe revealed relatively higher concentrations. The highest concentration of heavy metal found in water and fish was of Cd, i.e., 8.87 mg L-1 and 18.19 mg L-1 in summer season, respectively. Arsenic concentration was also higher than the permissible limits in both water (0.76) and fish (1.17 mg L-1). The water quality assessment showed that in the summer season, the HPI (heavy metal pollution index) value 253.01 was more than 100, indicating the bad quality of water for drinking purposes. However, the HPI value 35.72 was less than 100 in winter. Toxicity hazard calculation of fish in summer seasons gives Hi values greater than 10.0, indicating the acute effect on human health as compared to winter.

Cancer care in times of conflict: Treatment of patients from Afghanistan, in Pakistan.

Introduction: Afghanistan has been in a near-continuous armed conflict, which has degraded the country's health infrastructure. Due to this, Afghans have opted to seek cancer treatment in Pakistan. This manuscript aims to understand the complex cancer journey of patients from Afghanistan seeking care in the largest tertiary care cancer institutions in Pakistan. Methods: This retrospective study explores the demographics, epidemiology and outcomes of Afghan cancer patients treated at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres (SKMCH&RC) in Lahore and Peshawar, Pakistan, over the period from 1995 to June 2022. Results: A total of 6,370 patients from Afghanistan have undergone cancer care since 1995. The mean age at presentation was 40.7 years, 57% were male, and 87% were adults >19 years. Close to 30% of these patients came from Kabul and Nangarhar districts. 56% of all patients presented with stage III or IV disease. 34% of adult patients achieved a complete response to treatment, but more than half of all patients have since been lost to follow-up. Children generally had better outcomes, with 43% showing a complete response to treatment. Discussion: The cancer journey for these patients remains long and difficult and the inability to ensure follow-up in so many remains frustrating for both patients and providers. The lack of a cancer infrastructure in Afghanistan after decades of conflict, means that policymakers need to develop and support alternative systems and structures to provide post-conflict domestic and cross-border cancer care.

Characterization of l-fucose isomerase from Paenibacillus rhizosphaerae to produce l-fuculose from hydrolyzed fucoidan and commercial fucose.

AIMS: l-Fuculose is a valuable rare sugar that is used to treat a variety of ailments, including HIV, cancer, Hepatitis B, human lysosomal disease (fucosidosis), and cardio-protective medications. The enzymatic approach for the production of l-fuculose using l-fucose as a substrate would be an advantageous method with a wide range of industrial applications. The objective of this study is the characterization of recombinant l-fucose isomerase from Paenibacillus rhizosphaerae (Pa-LFI) for the production of l-fuculose from an inexpensive and natural source (fucoidan) as well as its comparison with commercial l-fucose (Sigma-Aldrich). METHODS AND RESULTS: Fucoidan, a fucose-containing polysaccharide (FPs), was isolated from Undaria pinnatifida, subsequently hydrolyzed, and characterized before the enzymatic production of l-fuculose. The results elaborate that FPs contain 35.9% of fucose along with other kinds of monosaccharides. The purified Pa-LFI exhibited a single band at 65 kDa and showed it as a hexamer with a native molecular mass of 396 kDa. The highest activity of 104.5 U mg-1 of Pa-LFI was perceived at a temperature of 50°C and pH 6.5 in the presence of 1 mM of Mn2+. The Pa-LFI revealed a melting temperature (Tm) of 75°C and a half-life of 12.6 h at 50°C. It exhibited that Pa-LFI with aldose substrate (l-fucose), has a stronger isomerizing activity, disclosing Km,kcat, and kcat/Km 86.2 mM, 32 831 min-1, and 335 min-1 mM-1, respectively. After reaching equilibrium, Pa-LFI efficiently catalyzed the reaction to convert l-fucose into l-fuculose and the conversion ratios of l-fuculose from 100 g L-1 of FPs and commercial fucose were around 6% (5.6 g L-1) and 30% (30.2 g L-1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of the current study, the Pa-LFI will be useful in the manufacturing of l-fuculose using an effective and easy approach that produces no by-products.

Cottonseed oil: A review of extraction techniques, physicochemical, functional, and nutritional properties.

Seed oils are the richest source of vitamin-E-active compounds, which contribute significantly to antioxidant activities. Cottonseed oil (CS-O) is attaining more consideration owing to its high fiber content and stability against auto-oxidation. CS-O has gained a good reputation in the global edible oil market due to its distinctive fatty acid profile, anti-inflammatory, and cardio-protective properties. CS-O can be extracted from cottonseed (CS) by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), aqueous/solvent extraction (A/SE), aqueous ethanol extraction (A-EE), subcritical water extraction, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SC-CO2), and enzyme-assisted extraction (E-AE). In this review, the importance, byproducts, physicochemical characteristics, and nutritional profile of CS-O have been explained in detail. This paper also provides a summary of scientific studies existing on functional and phytochemical characteristics of CS-O. Its consumption and health benefits are also deliberated to discover its profitability and applications. CS-O contains 26-35% saturated, 42-52% polyunsaturated, and 18-24% monounsaturated FA. There is approximately 1000 ppm of tocopherols in unprocessed CS-O, but up to one-third is lost during processing. Moreover, besides being consumed as cooking oil, CS-O discovers applications in many fields such as biofuel, livestock, cosmetics, agriculture, and chemicals. This paper provides a comprehensive review of CS-O, its positive benefits, fatty acid profile, extraction techniques, and health applications.HighlightsCS-O is a rich source of exceptional fatty acids.Various techniques to extract the CS-O are discussed.Numerous physicochemical properties of CS-O for the potential market are assessed.It has a wide range of functional properties.Nutritional quality and health benefits are also evaluated.

mHealth app usage amongst paediatric department doctors in South Africa.

Background: Smartphone and mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) have become an integral part of the day-to-day function of healthcare professionals, allowing quick, comprehensive, and up-to-date access to current clinical guidelines and other reference material. Objective: To evaluate the extent and nature of use of mHealth apps by paediatric department doctors in South Africa. Methods: E-mails requesting study participation were sent out to 285 paediatric department doctors employed at six hospitals affiliated to the University of the Witwatersrand. Willing participants were directed to complete the online study questionnaire. Results: A total of 150 respondents completed the questionnaire. All respondents owned a mobile device and already had one or more mHealth apps, 95.3% were unaware of any regulatory body responsible for regulating the use of mHealth apps, 86.0% did not have access to free Wi-Fi at work and 87.3% used an mHealth app at least once daily. Drug dosing (81.3%), diagnostic (59.3%) and clinical decision-making (44.7%) apps were the most common app categories with Medscape® (62.0%) and EMGuidance® (41.3%) being the most frequently used apps. Peer recommendation (76.0%), app credibility (74.0%) and app functionality (66.0%) were the most common factors that were considered by respondents prior to downloading or using an mHealth app. Conclusion: Medical apps are frequently used among paediatric medical doctors of all ranks. Drug dosing, diagnostic and clinical decision-making apps are the most common app categories in use. Improved awareness of the regulations pertaining to the use of mHealth apps amongst doctors is required.

Pseudomonas and Curtobacterium Strains from Olive Rhizosphere Characterized and Evaluated for Plant Growth Promoting Traits.

Plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria are known to enhance plant growth and protect them from environmental stresses through different pathways. The rhizosphere of perennial plants, including olive, may represent a relevant reservoir of PGP bacteria. Here, seven bacterial strains isolated from olive rhizosphere have been characterized taxonomically by 16S sequencing and biochemically, to evaluate their PGP potential. Most strains were identified as Pseudomonas or Bacillus spp., while the most promising ones belonged to genera Pseudomonas and Curtobacterium. Those strains have been tested for their capacity to grow under osmotic or salinity stress and to improve the germination and early development of Triticum durum subjected or not to those stresses. The selected strains had the ability to grow under severe stress, and a positive effect has been observed in non-stressed seedlings inoculated with one of the Pseudomonas strains, which showed promising characteristics that should be further evaluated. The biochemical and taxonomical characterization of bacterial strains isolated from different niches and the evaluation of their interaction with plants under varying conditions will help to increase our knowledge on PGP microorganisms and their use in agriculture.

Fucoidan-based nanomaterial and its multifunctional role for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Fucoidans are promising sulfated polysaccharides isolated from marine sources that have piqued the interest of scientists in recent years due to their widespread use as a bioactive substance. Bioactive coatings and films, unsurprisingly, have seized these substances to create novel, culinary, therapeutic, and diagnostic bioactive nanomaterials. The applications of fucoidan and its composite nanomaterials have a wide variety of food as well as pharmacological properties, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-thrombic, anti-coagulant, immunoregulatory, and anti-viral properties. Blends of fucoidan with other biopolymers such as chitosan, alginate, curdlan, starch, etc., have shown promising coating and film-forming capabilities. A blending of biopolymers is a recommended approach to improve their anticipated properties. This review focuses on the fundamental knowledge and current development of fucoidan, fucoidan-based composite material for bioactive coatings and films, and their biological properties. In this article, fucoidan-based edible bioactive coatings and films expressed excellent mechanical strength that can prolong the shelf-life of food products and maintain their biodegradability. Additionally, these coatings and films showed numerous applications in the biomedical field and contribute to the economy. We hope this review can deliver the theoretical basis for the development of fucoidan-based bioactive material and films.

Belt and road initiative as a catalyst of infrastructure development: Assessment of resident's perception and attitude towards China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The Chinese Government commenced the One Belt One Road (OBOR) project in 2013 for the multidimensional development to restore the historical Silk Road paradigms. The Economic Corridor provides networks and connections based on two geographical territories. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of them, a chunk of the Silk Road Economic Belt's economic corridors. CPEC would be an economic game-changer for Pakistan. It will generate businesses, minimize poverty, generate employment opportunities, and improve local communities' health and education. However, it is more lucrative for the Chinese economy because CPEC is a safe, cheapest, and shortest route for importing energy rather than other routes. The present study investigates the social, infrastructural, and tourism effects of CPEC through the mediation role of rural development and knowledge sharing, including income, employment, business, land-use change variables, and CPEC adoptability for a local community in Pakistan. This study is based on four different regions of Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh in Pakistan. The study incorporates the collected data from the respondents living on the CPEC routes via face-to-face interviews from citizens (cities, villages, and towns). Besides, the study applied univariate and Structural Equation Model techniques to draw the results. The study results reveal that CPEC plays a significant role in Pakistan's socio-economic and rural development. This mega project's expectations might bring positive changes in infrastructure development, energy sector, and social development projects in Pakistan. The Results also indicated that CPEC would link rural areas to urban areas, which would offer development opportunities for rural regions to achieve sustainable development.

Factors Affecting Adaptability of Cryptocurrency: An Application of Technology Acceptance Model.

Cryptocurrency has revolutionized the economic system of the world. It provides a new and innovative means of exchange that has speedily invaded the financial market trends and changed the traditional cash world. However, consumers have low acceptability for blockchain-based cryptocurrency due to increasing online scams and the absence of a regulatory framework. There is also a misconception about its usage on many platforms, which has created a clear gap in the literature to address this issue. Therefore, the current study intends to investigate the effect of technology awareness on the behavioral intention of crypto users through perceived factors (usefulness, ease of use, risk). It also empirically examines the moderating role of government support on these indirect paths. The underlying framework is investigated by surveying 333 respondents from the Z generation. Results revealed that perceived factors (usefulness, ease of use, risk) mediate the relationship between technology awareness and behavioral intention. Furthermore, government support strengthens the indirect relationship of technology awareness on behavioral intention through technology acceptance determinants, such that the effect of technology awareness on behavioral intention through perceived factors (usefulness, ease of use, risk) is more assertive when government support is high. The findings will provide a new dimension to different financial bodies implementing monetary policy and highlight the need to adopt innovative digital technologies in Pakistan.