Efficacy of Cisplatin-Containing Chemotherapy Regimens in Patients of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The relative success of cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens for PDAC in clinical trials warrants a review of the literature to assess the cumulative results. This study aims to assess the efficacy of cisplatin-containing regimens for PDAC in terms of survival and response outcomes using a systematic review and proportional meta-analysis. METHODS: In this study, an electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar to find relevant literature. The random effects model was used to assess pooled overall response rate, stable disease rate, progressive disease rate, 1-year overall survival rate, and their 95% CIs. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot symmetry and the one-tailed Eggers' test. In all cases, p-value < 0.05 was indicative of significant results. The review is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42023459243. RESULTS: A total of 34 studies consisting of 1599 patients were included in this review. All the included studies were of good quality. In total, 906 patients were male, and the median age of the patients was 58-69 years. Overall, 599 patients had cancer of the pancreatic head, 139 had cancer of the pancreatic body, and 102 patients had cancer of the pancreatic tail. The pooled risk ratios (RRs) revealed an overall response rate of 19.2% (95% CI, 14.6-24.2%), a stable disease rate of 42.3% (95% CI, 36.6-48.8), a 1-year overall survival rate of 40% (95% CI, 34.3-45.8), and progressive disease rate of 24.7% (95% CI, 18.8-31.2). Commonly reported adverse events were anemia, thrombocytopenia, abdominal adverse events, neutropenia, fatigue, leukopenia, alopecia, anorexia, mucositis, stomatitis, and hepatobiliary adverse events. CONCLUSION: Cisplatin-containing regimens have shown moderate efficacy with significant improvement in overall survival at 1 year, stable disease rate, and progressive disease rate; however, only a small percentage of patients achieved an overall response rate.

The Efficacy of Ketoconazole Containing Regimens in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a challenging subset of prostate cancer associated with an extensive metastatic profile and high mortality. Ketoconazole is a nonselective steroid 17α-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase (CYP17A1) inhibitor and is employed as a second line treatment option for CRPC with an established efficacy profile in patients. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of ketoconazole containing regimens for CRPC in terms of prostate specific antigen (PSA) decline rate using a systematic review and meta-analysis. In this review, an electronic search was carried out on PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and Google Scholar to find relevant literature. Random effects model was used to assess pooled PSA decline rate and 95% CIs. Publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot symmetry and one-tailed Egger's and Begg's test. In all cases, P-value <.05 was indicative of significant results. The review is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42023466536. A total of 483 articles were retrieved after database searching, out of which 23 studies (having a total of 1315 patients) were included in the review based on prespecified criteria. The PSA decline rate was reported in the 14 observational studies (having 964 patients) and 9 experimental studies (having 351 patients). Pooled results revealed that 48.6% (95% CI 43.1-54.2; P-value <.001; I2 = 73.24%) of participants achieved more than 50% decline in PSA (602/1315 participants). Sensitivity analysis using the leave-one-out method revealed no substantial change in pooled effect estimates; (Risk Ratio) RR 47.2% to RR 49.8% demonstrating the robustness of our results. There was no evidence of publication bias as assessed from the funnel plot symmetry. Ketoconazole containing regimens have shown moderate efficacy in high risk CRPC patients as demonstrated by the pooled results. Hence, a ketoconazole based chemotherapy can be added to patients' regimen if there is a persistent rise in PSA levels after androgen deprivation therapy.

Cardiac autonomic plexus neuromodulation for decompensated heart failure: An updated review on the positive inotropic technique based on the DRI2P2S classification.

Current pharmacological regimen is unable to improve adverse outcomes such as mortality post hospitalization for Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) patients. Ongoing research is directed towards managing ADHF patients with Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (CANS) excitatory interventions having long-term prognosis benefits. Recently, a novel treatment coined as Cardiac Pulmonary Nerve Stimulation (CPNS) has reproducibly shown increased inotropy with no change in heart rate. However, there are some potential limitations associated with the neurostimulation of the parasympathetic component of the CANS plexus. The INOVATE-HF trial involved the vagus nerve only. The early termination of the INOVATE-HF trial gave valuable insights into the cardio-protective effect of simultaneously stimulating the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the CANS plexus done in CPNS. It is essential to individualize the treatment protocol keeping in mind patient selection. Ongoing trials assessing the efficacy and safety of the CPNS technique in ADHF patients shall set the tone for such innovative techniques in times to come.

Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: An Unusual Pericardial and Pulmonary Metastasis - A Case Report.

Introduction: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) manifests in the glandular cells present in the lining of the esophagus and usually forms in the distal portion of the esophagus. The metastasis of EAC has been reported to occur in surrounding lymphovascular structures, the liver, brain, and bones. Case Presentation: We present the rare case of a 52-year-old Hispanic male with EAC metastasis to the pericardium and lungs. The patient presented with shortness of breath off and on for the last 6 weeks without any usually reported symptoms of EAC like chest pain, vomiting, or chronic cough. Respiratory examinations of this patient were significant for bilateral bronchial breathing and coarse crackles. The patient had been given numerous courses of oral antibiotics over the previous weeks with the provisional diagnosis of atypical pneumonia. Cardiac tamponade pathophysiology was also observed in this patient, for which a pericardial window was created to relieve the patient's symptoms. A final diagnosis of EAC with an unusual metastasis in the lungs and pericardium was made based on radiological and pathological findings. The patient chose palliative care instead of curative care because of the advanced stage of this cancer. The patient received cancer diagnosis counseling and was sent to hospice care for further management. Conclusion: The metastasis of EAC to the pericardium and lungs instead of usual sites constitutes an important prognostic factor in the overall survival of patients.

Comprehensive insights into the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA in alkaline-salt stress tolerance in rice.

BACKGROUND: Alkaline-salt is one of the abiotic stresses that slows plant growth and developmental processes and threatens crop yield. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are endogenous RNA found in plants that engage in a variety of cellular functions and stress responses. METHOD: lncRNAs act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) and constitute a new set of gene control. The precise regulatory mechanism by which lncRNAs function as ceRNAs in response to alkaline-salt stress remains unclear. We identified alkaline-salt responsive lncRNAs using transcriptome-wide analysis of two varieties including alkaline-salt tolerant [WD20342 (WD)] and alkaline-salt sensitive [Caidao (CD)] rice cultivar under control and alkaline-salt stress treated [WD20342 (WDT, and Caidao (CDT)] conditions. RESULTS: Investigating the competitive relationships between mRNAs and lncRNAs, we next built a ceRNA network involving lncRNAs based on the ceRNA hypothesis. Expression profiles revealed that a total of 65, 34, and 1549 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were identified in alkaline-salt tolerant WD (Control) vs. WDT (Treated). Similarly, 75 DE-lncRNAs, 34 DE-miRNAs, and 1725 DE-mRNAs (including up-regulated and down-regulated) were identified in alkaline-salt sensitive CD (Control) vs. CDT (Treated), respectively. An alkaline-salt stress ceRNA network discovered 321 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA triplets in CD and CDT, with 32 lncRNAs, 121 miRNAs, and 111 mRNAs. Likewise, 217 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA triplets in WD and WDT revealed the NONOSAT000455-osa_miR5809b-LOC_Os11g01210 triplet with the highest degree as a hub node with the most significant positive correlation in alkaline-salt stress response. CONCLUSION: The results of our investigation indicate that osa-miR5809b is dysregulated and plays a part in regulating the defense response of rice against alkaline-salt stress. Our study highlights the regulatory functions of lncRNAs acting as ceRNAs in the mechanisms underlying alkaline-salt resistance in rice.

Effect of cementing technique on aseptic stem loosening in cemented primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aseptic stem loosening after total hip arthroplasty surgery is the commonest complication, whether stem is cemented or uncemented. The aseptic cemented stem loosening has been a challenging problem over the years and a leading cause for revision since the inception of total hip arthroplasty. The objective of systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the impact of cementing technique on aseptic stem loosening in total hip arthroplasty. Methods: Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, Google scholar, Medline, PubMed were searched in 13 December 2020. Two independent investigators extracted the data and a third investigator's involvement was reached on consensus. A total of 37 studies of revision rate due to aseptic loosening were reviewed by using fixed/random effects size and were grouped by cementing technique and studies' characteristics. The data were analyzed through Meta-Essentials and RStudio. Results: In revision total hip arthroplasty, retained femoral components revisions rate due to aseptic loosening were recorded in 37 studies involving 6167 cases. Aseptic loosening rate collectively was 5.8% (CI 95%, 0.03-0.08) and mean follow-up of study was 12.5 years. The average follow-up period, mean age at index revision surgery and percentage of aseptic loosening were insignificantly associated with revision rate (P≥0.05), in meta-regression univariant analyses. Conclusion: This investigative analysis showed that there is a minimal difference between results of cementing techniques of total hip arthroplasty in femoral components in long-term follow-ups, and usually have a low risk of failure.

The prevalence of fibromyalgia among doctors in the tertiary care hospital: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is an umbrella term for chronic pain syndrome, associated with tenderness, fatigue, reduced pain thresholds, and paresthesia in the limbs. The field of medicine places doctors in constant work-related stress, sleep deprivation, and depression, thus increasing their vulnerability to developing FMS. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and severity of FM (fibromyalgia) among physicians in a tertiary care hospital setting. Methods: The cross-sectional study was performed at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan, from December 2019 to December 2020.243 physicians of either gender, and from all the departments being house officers, medical officers, and post-graduate trainees were included & divided into 3 age groups from 20 to more than 45 years. Widespread Pain Index (WPI) equal to or more than 7 and Symptom Severity Score (SSS) equal to or more than 5 OR WPI = 3 to 6 and SSS equal to or more than 9 were required, according to the modified American College of Rheumatology preliminary diagnostic criteria 2016 for fibromyalgia diagnosis. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25. Results: Among a total of 243 participants, FMS was diagnosed in 69 (28.40%) individuals. The predominant FMS population was the youngest age group 20-35 (56 = 81.16%). Increased BMI, increasing pain score category, gender, and comorbidities are significantly associated with FMS (p ≤ 0.05). Whereas, advancing age is insignificantly linked with FMS (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of fibromyalgia was found to be high among doctors working in stressful hospital settings, particularly among the youngest ones.

Genome-wide and molecular characterization of the DNA replication helicase 2 (DNA2) gene family in rice under drought and salt stress.

Rice plants experience various biotic (such as insect and pest attack) and abiotic (such as drought, salt, heat, and cold etc.) stresses during the growing season, resulting in DNA damage and the subsequent losses in rice production. DNA Replication Helicase/Nuclease2 (DNA2) is known to be involved in DNA replication and repair. In animals and yeast DNA2 are well characterized because it has the abilities of both helicase and nuclease, it plays a crucial role in DNA replication in the nucleus and mitochondrial genomes. However; they are not fully examined in plants due to less focused on plants damage repair. To fill this research gap, the current study focused on the genome-wide identification and characterization of OsDNA2 genes, along with analyses of their transcriptional expression, duplication, and phylogeny in rice. Overall, 17 OsDNA2 members were reported to be found on eight different chromosomes (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11). Among these chromosomes (Chr), Chr4 contained a maximum of six OsDNA2 genes. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the OsDNA2 gene members were clustered into three different groups. Furthermore, the conserved domains, gene structures, and cis-regulatory elements were systematically investigated. Gene duplication analysis revealed that OsDNA2_2 had an evolutionary relationship with OsDNA2_14, OsDNA2_5 with OsDNA2_6, and OsDNA2_1 with OsDNA2_8. Moreover, results showed that the conserved domain (AAA_11 superfamily) were present in the OsDNA2 genes, which belongs to the DEAD-like helicase superfamily. In addition, to understand the post-transcriptional modification of OsDNA2 genes, miRNAs were predicted, where 653 miRNAs were reported to target 17 OsDNA2 genes. The results indicated that at the maximum, OsDNA2_1 and OsDNA2_4 were targeted by 74 miRNAs each, and OsDNA2_9 was less targeted (20 miRNAs). The three-dimensional (3D) structures of 17 OsDNA2 proteins were also predicted. Expression of OsDNA2 members was also carried out under drought and salt stresses, and conclusively their induction indicated the possible involvement of OsDNA2 in DNA repair under stress when compared with the control. Further studies are recommended to confirm where this study will offer valuable basic data on the functioning of DNA2 genes in rice and other crop plants.

Inquiring the inter-relationships amongst grain-filling, grain-yield, and grain-quality of Japonica rice at high latitudes of China.

The widespread impacts of projected global and regional climate change on rice yield have been investigated by different indirect approaches utilizing various simulation models. However, direct approaches to assess the impacts of climatic variabilities on rice growth and development may provide more reliable evidence to evaluate the effects of climate change on rice productivity. Climate change has substantially impacted rice production in the mid-high latitudes of China, especially in Northeast China (NEC). Climatic variabilities occurring in NEC since the 1970s have resulted in an obvious warming trend, which made this region one of the three major rice-growing regions in China. However, the projections of future climate change have indicated the likelihood of more abrupt and irregular climatic changes, posing threats to rice sustainability in this region. Hence, understanding the self-adaptability and identifying adjustive measures to climate variability in high latitudes has practical significance for establishing a sustainable rice system to sustain future food security in China. A well-managed field study under randomized complete block design (RCBD) was conducted in 2017 and 2018 at two study sites in Harbin and Qiqihar, located in Heilongjiang province in NEC. Four different cultivars were evaluated: Longdao-18, Longdao-21 (longer growth duration), Longjing-21, and Suijing-18 (shorter growth duration) to assess the inter-relationships among grain-filling parameters, grain yield and yield components, and grain quality attributes. To better compare the adaptability mechanisms between grain-filling and yield components, the filling phase was divided into three sub-phases (start, middle, and late). The current study evaluated the formation and accumulation of the assimilates in superior and inferior grains during grain-filling, mainly in the middle sub-phase, which accounted for 59.60% of the yield. The grain yields for Suijing-18, Longjing-21, Longdao-21, and Longdao-18 were 8.02%, 12.78%, 17.19%, and 20.53% higher in Harbin than those in Qiqihar, respectively in 2017, with a similar trend observed in 2018. At Harbin, a higher number of productive tillers was noticed in Suijing-18, with averages of 17 and 15 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The grain-filling parameters of yield analysis showed that the filling duration in Harbin was conducive to increased yield but the low dry weight of inferior grains was a main factor limiting the yield in Qiqihar. The average protein content values in Harbin were significantly higher (8.54% and 9.13%) than those in Qiqihar (8.34% and 9.14%) in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The amylose content was significantly higher in Harbin (20.03% and 22.27%) than those in Qiqihar (14.44% and 14.67%) in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The chalkiness percentage was higher in Qiqihar, indicating that Harbin produced good quality rice. This study provides more direct evidence of the relative changes in rice grain yield due to changes in grain-filling associated with relative changes in environmental components. These self-adaptability mechanisms to climatic variability and the inter-relationships between grain-filling and grain yield underscore the urgent to investigate and explore measures to improve Japonica rice sustainability, with better adaptation to increasing climatic variabilities. These findings may also be a reference for other global rice regions at high latitudes in addressing the impacts of climate change on future rice sustainability.

Recent trends in nitrogen cycle and eco-efficient nitrogen management strategies in aerobic rice system.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is considered as a staple food for more than half of the global population, and sustaining productivity under a scarcity of resources is challenging to meet the future food demands of the inflating global population. The aerobic rice system can be considered as a transformational replacement for traditional rice, but the widespread adaptation of this innovative approach has been challenged due to higher losses of nitrogen (N) and reduced N-use efficiency (NUE). For normal growth and developmental processes in crop plants, N is required in higher amounts. N is a mineral nutrient and an important constituent of amino acids, nucleic acids, and many photosynthetic metabolites, and hence is essential for normal plant growth and metabolism. Excessive application of N fertilizers improves aerobic rice growth and yield, but compromises economic and environmental sustainability. Irregular and uncontrolled use of N fertilizers have elevated several environmental issues linked to higher N losses in the form of nitrous oxide (N2O), ammonia (NH3), and nitrate (NO3 -), thereby threatening environmental sustainability due to higher warming potential, ozone depletion capacities, and abilities to eutrophicate the water resources. Hence, enhancing NUE in aerobic rice has become an urgent need for the development of a sustainable production system. This article was designed to investigate the major challenge of low NUE and evaluate recent advances in pathways of the N cycle under the aerobic rice system, and thereby suggest the agronomic management approaches to improve NUE. The major objective of this review is about optimizing the application of N inputs while sustaining rice productivity and ensuring environmental safety. This review elaborates that different soil conditions significantly shift the N dynamics via changes in major pathways of the N cycle and comprehensively reviews the facts why N losses are high under the aerobic rice system, which factors hinder in attaining high NUE, and how it can become an eco-efficient production system through agronomic managements. Moreover, it explores the interactive mechanisms of how proper management of N cycle pathways can be accomplished via optimized N fertilizer amendments. Meanwhile, this study suggests several agricultural and agronomic approaches, such as site-specific N management, integrated nutrient management (INM), and incorporation of N fertilizers with enhanced use efficiency that may interactively improve the NUE and thereby plant N uptake in the aerobic rice system. Additionally, resource conservation practices, such as plant residue management, green manuring, improved genetic breeding, and precision farming, are essential to enhance NUE. Deep insights into the recent advances in the pathways of the N cycle under the aerobic rice system necessarily suggest the incorporation of the suggested agronomic adjustments to reduce N losses and enhance NUE while sustaining rice productivity and environmental safety. Future research on N dynamics is encouraged under the aerobic rice system focusing on the interactive evaluation of shifts among activities and diversity in microbial communities, NUE, and plant demands while applying N management measures, which is necessary for its widespread adaptation in face of the projected climate change and scarcity of resources.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Receptor-Like Protein Kinase 1 (RPK1) Gene Family in Triticum aestivum Under Drought Stress.

Receptor-like protein kinase 1 (RPK1) genes play crucial roles in plant growth and development processes, root architecture, and abiotic stress regulation. A comprehensive study of the RPK1 gene family has not been reported in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). Here, we reported the genome-wide identification, characterization, and expression patterns of the RPK1 gene family in wheat. Results confirmed 15 TaRPK1 genes, classified mainly into three sub-clades based on a phylogenetic tree. The TaRPK1 genes were mapped on chromosomes 1-3 in the respective A, B, and D genomes. Gene structure, motif conservation, collinearity prediction, and synteny analysis were carried out systematically. A Gene ontology study revealed that TaRPK1 genes play a vital role during molecular and biological processes. We also identified 18 putative miRNAs targeting TaRPK1 genes, suggesting their roles in growth, development, and stress responses. Cis-Regulatory elements interpreted the presence of light-related elements, hormone responsiveness, and abiotic stress-related motifs in the promoter regions. The SWISS_MODEL predicted the successful models of TaRPK1 proteins with at least 30% identity to the template, a widely accepted threshold for successful modeling. In silico expression analysis in different tissues and stages suggested that TaRPK1 genes exhibited the highest expression in root tissues. Moreover, qRT-PCR further validated the higher expression of TaRPK1 genes in roots of drought-tolerant varieties compared to the drought-susceptible variety. Collectively, the present study renders valuable information on the functioning of TaRPK1 genes in wheat that will be useful in further functional validation of these genes in future studies.

Role of the type-B authentic response regulator gene family in fragrant rice under alkaline salt stress.

Globally, rice is being consumed as a main staple food and faces different kinds of biotic and abiotic stresses such drought, salinity, and pest attacks. Through the cytokinin signaling, Type-B authentic response regulators (ARR-Bs) respond positively towards the environmental stimuli. ARR-Bs are involved in abiotic stress tolerance and plant development but their molecular mechanisms in fragrant rice are still not fully explored. The current study showed the genome-wide characterization of OsARR-B genes under alkaline salt stress. Results showed that in total, 24 OsARR-B genes were found and divided into four subgroups on the basis of a phylogenetic analysis. These genes were located on all rice chromosomes except 8 and 10. Analysis of gene duplications, gene structure, cis-elements, protein-protein interactions, and miRNA were performed. Gene ontology analysis showed that OsARR-B genes are involved in plant development through the regulation of molecular functions, biological processes, and cellular components. Furthermore, 117 and 192 RNA editing sites were detected in chloroplast and mitochondrial genes, respectively, encoding proteins of OsARR-B. In chloroplast and mitochondrial genes, six and nine types of amino acid changes, respectively, were caused by RNA editing, showing that RNA editing has a role in the alkaline salt stress tolerance in fragrant rice. We also used a comparative transcriptome approach to study the gene expression changes in alkaline tolerant and susceptible genotypes. Under alkaline salt stress, OsARR-B5, OsARR-B7, OsARR-B9, OsARR-B10, OsARR-B16, OsARR-B22, and OsARR-B23 showed higher transcript levels in alkaline salt tolerant genotypes as compared to susceptible ones. Quantitative RT-PCR showed upregulation of gene expression in the alkaline tolerant genotypes under alkaline stress. Our study explored the gene expression profiling and RESs of two rice contrasting genotypes, which will help to understand the molecular mechanisms of alkaline salt tolerance in fragrant rice.

Assessing the reliability and degradation of 10-35 years field-aged PV modules.

The objective of this study was to conduct a reliability analysis on photovoltaic (PV) modules from the oldest PV installation site in Pakistan. Four sets of modules; Type A & B (30 years old), Type C (10 years old), and Type D (35 years old) were identified for this analysis. It has been observed that modules have shown degradation after working for a good number of years in the field. Comparing with nameplate data (available for Type B & C only), a drop of 28.68% and 2.99 percentage points (pp) was observed in the output power (Pmax) and efficiency (Eff.) respectively for Type B, while a drop of 22.21% and 4.05 pp was observed in Pmax and Eff. respectively for Type C. A greater drop in ISC and Pmax was observed in Type B, which is attributed to severe browning of EVA in them. While the greater drop in Pmax, in case of Type C, is attributed to the poor quality of materials used. Amongst the different defects observed, the junction box defects which include cracking and embrittlement, etc., and backsheet defects which include discoloration, delamination and cracking, etc. were found in all four types of modules. Other defects include browning of EVA, observed in Type B and D, and corrosion of frame and electrical wires, found in Type A, B, and D. This first-ever study will provide valuable information in understanding the degradation mechanism and henceforth, improving the long term reliability of PV modules in the humid-subtropical conditions of Pakistan.

Corporate default risk and environmental deterioration: international evidence.

"How does a firm's bankruptcy affect its regional environment?" is an open empirical question that has received little attention in the literature. We hypothesize that because enterprises provide funds to protect their regional environment, their default risk negatively impacts that environment. We analyze the impact of corporate default risk on environmental deterioration in the international setting to answer this question. Using a firm-level corporate default risk quarterly data from 2013q1 to 2020q4, we find that corporate default risk is positively associated with CO2 emissions and decomposed components. These findings are reliable in low-income and highly uncertain countries but weak in countries having more market competition. We also find that the negative impact of corporate default risk on the environment is more robust in countries with more population density and fewer forest area thresholds. Finally, using the instrumental variable approach, we provide preliminary evidence that firm-level political risk (for US and Canadian firms only) increases corporate default risk, leading to a degrading environment. Our findings are robust to alternative measurements of a firm's default risk and environmental deterioration. Our research will help environmental authorities to consider corporate default risk as a determinant when formulating environmental-related strategies.

Adoption of circular economy for food waste management in the context of a developing country.

Food wastage is a global concern with high economic, social and environmental impacts. Pakistan, a developing country, is also significantly affected by the adverse impacts of food wastage. For overcoming this problem, the transition from a Linear to a Circular Economy (CE) for the management of food wastage can serve as a viable strategy. However, there are barriers of political, technical and cultural nature, which are impediments in the path of this transition. This study aims to identify and prioritize these barriers in order of their significance. This research study evaluated and ranked these barriers using a Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). A total of 15 barriers were analyzed, and the 'complicated intrinsic nature of CE', 'misleading information about shelf-life leading to waste rather than distribution', 'the poor economic viability of start-ups with CE model', 'corporate and organizational hesitance to change/innovate' and 'technological backwardness of farmers/growers on the agricultural production side' were ranked as the most significant hurdles. The novelty of this study lies in its application. This study is unique as it has focused on developing countries and proposed policy recommendations for the transition towards a CE. In light of the above-mentioned results, this study provides policy recommendations for public and private sector policymakers that would facilitate the food industry in shifting towards the CE model.

Novel perovskite solar cell with Distributed Bragg Reflector.

This paper reports numerical modeling of perovskite solar cell which has been knotted with Distributed Bragg Reflector pairs to extract high energy efficiency. The geometry of the proposed cells is simulated with three different kinds of perovskite materials including CH3NH3PbI3, CH3NH3PbBr3, and CH3NH3SnI3. The toxic perovskite material based on Lead iodide and lead bromide appears to be more efficient as compared to non-toxic perovskite material. The executed simulated photovoltaic parameters with the highest efficient structure are open circuit voltage = 1.409 (V), short circuit current density = 24.09 mA/cm2, fill factor = 86.18%, and efficiency = 24.38%. Moreover, a comparison of the current study with different kinds of structures has been made and surprisingly our novel geometry holds enhanced performance parameters that are featured with back reflector pairs (Si/SiO2). The applied numerical approach and presented designing effort of geometry are beneficial to obtain results that have the potential to address problems with less efficient thin-film solar cells.

Evolution of Deeper Rooting 1-like homoeologs in wheat entails the C-terminus mutations as well as gain and loss of auxin response elements.

Root growth angle (RGA) in response to gravity controlled by auxin is a pertinent target trait for obtainment of higher yield in cereals. But molecular basis of this root architecture trait remain obscure in wheat and barley. We selected four cultivars two each for wheat and barley to unveil the molecular genetic mechanism of Deeper Rooting 1-like gene which controls RGA in rice leading to higher yield under drought imposition. Morphological analyses revealed a deeper and vertically oriented root growth in "NARC 2009" variety of wheat than "Galaxy" and two other barley cultivars "Scarlet" and "ISR42-8". Three new homoeologs designated as TaANDRO1-like, TaBNDRO1-like and TaDNDRO1-like corresponding to A, B and D genomes of wheat could be isolated from "NARC 2009". Due to frameshift and intronization/exonization events the gene structures of these paralogs exhibit variations in size. DRO1-like genes with five distinct domains prevail in diverse plant phyla from mosses to angiosperms but in lower plants their differentiation from LAZY, NGR and TAC1 (root and shoot angle genes) is enigmatic. Instead of IGT as denominator motif of this family, a new C-terminus motif WxxTD in the V-domain is proposed as family specific motif. The EAR-like motif IVLEM at the C-terminus of the TaADRO1-like and TaDDRO1-like that diverged to KLHTLIPNK in TaBDRO1-like and HvDRO1-like is the hallmark of these proteins. Split-YFP and yeast two hybrid assays complemented the interaction of TaDRO1-like with TOPLESS-a repressor of auxin regulated root promoting genes in plants-through IVLEM/KLHTLIPNK motif. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed abundance of DRO1-like RNA in root tips and spikelets while transcript signals were barely detectable in shoot and leaf tissues. Interestingly, wheat exhibited stronger expression of TaBDRO1-like than barley (HvDRO1-like), but TaBDRO1-like was the least expressing among three paralogs. The underlying cause of this expression divergence seems to be the presence of AuxRE motif TGTCTC and core TGTC with a coupling AuxRE-like motif ATTTTCTT proximal to the transcriptional start site in TaBDRO1-like and HvDRO1-like promoters. This is evident from binding of ARF1 to TGTCTC and TGTC motifs of TaBDRO1-like as revealed by yeast one-hybrid assay. Thus, evolution of DRO1-like wheat homoeologs might incorporate the C-terminus mutations as well as gain and loss of AuxREs and other cis-regulatory elements during expression divergence. Since root architecture is an important target trait for wheat crop improvement, therefore DRO1-like genes have potential applications in plant breeding for enhancement of plant productivity by the use of modern genome editing approaches.

Testing EKC hypothesis with energy and sustainable development challenges: a fresh evidence from belt and road initiative economies.

Diverse impact of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) over the landscape of environment is generally believed in literature. As CO2 emission acutely leads to GHGs is a major contributor for global warming, it creates a serious pressure on natural resources and ecological settings. Similarly, low-carbon (CO2) economy, plenty of energy resources, and sustainable growth are a big ask for worldwide economies in this era of mechanization. This paper analyzes the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) economies, to contend the role of mega projects in BRI as an attribute for ecological detriments. The on-hand study engages fresh data information ranging from 1981 to 2016 holding with heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence as a special deliberation. The calculated outcomes expose that, mean group estimator provides strong evidence and favor the existence of EKC approximately in every region. The long-run influence is measured by pooled mean group estimators, which shows significant outcomes in every region; additionally, the EKC hypothesis affirmed in the long run especially for developed economies. Mega projects, i.e., BRI requisite immense energy sources to accomplishing the enclosed projects efficiently and effectively. The positive association between carbon emission and energy consumption troubled the governments to make policies for restraining the magnitude of carbon emission and controls energy usage for enduring environment to its original position. Next, the valuations depicted the dense recommendations for state administrations in capacity of rigorous level supremacy, trash managing campaigns, renewable energy reliance, and advance for desirable judgments to sterilize the atmosphere.