ALiGaI (A = Cs, Rb): New lead-free and direct bandgap halide double perovskites for IR application.

Recently, all inorganic double perovskites have drawn a lot of interest as promising solar materials. The optical, structural, thermoelectric, electronic, and mechanical properties of double halide perovskites ALiGaI (A = Cs, Rb) are explored via first-principles calculations with the WIEN2k code, using GGA PBEsol and TB-mBJ potentials. The majority of perovskite materials utilized in the highest-performing solar cells have bandgaps ranging between 1.

Maximizing the extraction yield of plant gum exudate using response surface methodology and artificial neural networking and pharmacological characterization.

Prunus armeniaca gum is used as food additive and ethno medicinal purpose. Two empirical models response surface methodology and artificial neural network were used to search for optimized extraction parameters for gum extraction. A four-factor design was implemented for optimization of extraction process for maximum yield which was obtained under the optimized extraction parameter (temperature, pH, extraction time, and gum/water ratio).

Deciphering host-pathogen interaction during Streptomyces spp. infestation of potato.

Potato crop, currently, is the staple food crop of about 1.3 billion global population. Potato is attaining even more admiration globally day by day owing to its public acceptability.

Predictors of Mortality in Patients With Dengue Fever: Insights From a Comparative Analysis.

Objective To determine the clinical and biochemical predictors of mortality in patients with dengue fever. Methods This was an analytical, cross-sectional study conducted at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan. The study participants were patients admitted to the hospital for the management of dengue fever.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for monitoring antibacterial activity of imidazole derivative (1-benzyl-3-(sec‑butyl)-1H-imidazole-3-ium bromide) against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.

Background: Bacterial resistance against antibiotics remains a challenge and Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) may provide critical information concerning this.

Objectives: In the current study, surface enhances Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been used to determine the biochemical changes induced during the antibacterial activity of the in house synthesized imidazole derivative (1-benzyl-3-(sec‑butyl)-1H-imidazole-3-ium bromide) in comparison to commercially available drugs (fasygien) against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Methods: For this purpose, the antibacterial activity of this compound was assessed on Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.

Differential Effect of Heat Stress on Drought and Salt Tolerance Potential of Quinoa Genotypes: A Physiological and Biochemical Investigation.

Soil salinity, drought, and increasing temperatures are serious environmental issues that drastically reduce crop productivity worldwide. Quinoa ( Willd) is an important crop for food security under the changing climate. This study examined the physio-biochemical responses, plant growth, and grain yield of four quinoa genotypes (A7, Titicaca, Vikinga, and Puno) grown in pots containing normal (non-saline) or salt-affected soil exposed to drought and elevated-temperature treatments.

Influence of ionic cerium and cerium oxide nanoparticles on Zea mays seedlings grown with and without cadmium.

Cerium (Ce) and cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO-NPs) have diversified reported effects on plants. Once dispersed in the environment their fate is not well understood, especially in co-existence with other pollutants like cadmium (Cd). The effect of co-application of Ce and Cd are reported in various studies, but the role of Ce source (ionic or bulk) and nanoparticle size is still unknown in cereal plants like maize (Zea mays).

Spectroscopic and crystallographic analysis of nephrite jade gemstone using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.

The elemental composition, mineral phases, and crystalline structure of nephrite jade were investigated using calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). For compositional analysis, the laser-induced plasma was generated on the surface of nephrite jade. The plasma emissions were then acquired and analyzed, which revealed several elements in the sample, including Si, Mg, Ca, Li, Fe, Al, Na, K, and Ni.

Geographic accessibility to childhood tuberculosis care in Pakistan.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) in children is difficult to detect and often needs specialists to diagnose; the health system is supposed to refer to higher level of health care when diagnosis is not settled in a sick child. In Pakistan, the primary health care level can usually not diagnose childhood TB and will refer to a paediatricians working at a secondary or tertiary care hospital. We aimed to determine the health services access to child TB services in Pakistan.

Trends in bacteriological spectrum and antibiotic susceptibility on blood culture in pediatric cardiac patients at a tertiary childcare health facility.

Objectives: To report trends in bacteriological spectrum and antibiotic susceptibility on blood culture in admitted pediatric cardiac patients at a Tertiary Childcare Health Facility.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Cardiology, The Children's Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan from January 2018 to December 2020. We included admitted children of both genders aged one day to 12 years and whose blood sample was sent for blood culture analysis.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for monitoring colistin-resistant and susceptible E. coli strains.

The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria is a precarious global health concern. In this study, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is used to characterize colistin-resistant and susceptible E. coli strains based on their distinguished SERS spectral features for the development of rapid and cost-effective detection and differentiation methods.

Celebrity endorsements, whitening products, and consumer purchase intentions: A review of literature.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how much celebrity endorsement stimulates skin color racism in the cosmetics industry.

Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected from Google Scholar and Web of Science published articles, and researchers had chosen 45 research articles. Some of the research articles used a quantitative research approach while others had used qualitative research approach.

Assessment of wheat productivity responses and soil health dynamics under brackish ground water.

The continuous use of brackish groundwater for irrigation is detrimental for soil and crop attributes. A three-year research study was designed for the wheat crop to assess the effects of brackish groundwater on crop yield and soil health under a surface irrigation system. Three sites were selected in different cropping zones of Pakistan.

Quantitative analysis of solid dosage forms of Losartan potassium by Raman spectroscopy.

Raman spectroscopy is an outstanding analytical tool increasingly utilized in the pharmaceutical field for the solid-state pharmaceutical drug analysis. In current study, the potential of Raman spectroscopy has been investigated for qualitative and quantitative analysis of solid dosage form of Losartan potassium. For this purpose, different solid dosage forms/concentrations of losartan potassium were prepared to compensate the commercially available pharmaceutical drug formulations and their Raman spectral data showed a gradual change in the specific Raman spectral features associated with the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of Losartan potassium as a function of change in the concentration.

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn: The Efficacy Comparison of Vasodilators Sildenafil Plus Bosentan Versus Sildenafil Plus Beraprost at a Tertiary Childcare Health Facility.

Background Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) has been known for more than three decades, and lots of advancements have been made regarding its diagnosis and management. However, the exact causes of PPHN and the best treatment strategies remain debatable. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of sildenafil and bosentan versus sildenafil and beraprost in the management of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

Postnatal causes and severity of persistent pulmonary Hypertension of Newborn.

Background & Objective: Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is described as severe respiratory failure along with hypoxaemia. PPHN is known to be linked with high morbidity and mortality around the world. This study was planned to determine the postnatal causes and assess the severity of persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn in babies presenting to the Children's Hospital, Multan.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectral analysis for comparison of PCR products of hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Background: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is a reliable tool for identification and differentiation of two diseases showing similar symptoms, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV).

Objectives: To develop a polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) based SERS technique for differentiation of two human pathological conditions sharing the same symptoms using multivariate data analysis techniques e.g.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for comparison of serum samples of typhoid and tuberculosis patients of different stages.

Background: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a reliable tool for the identification and differentiation of two different human pathological conditions sharing the same symptomology, typhoid and tuberculosis (TB).

Objectives: To explore the potential of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for differentiation of two different diseases showing the same symptoms and analysis by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square discriminate analysis (PLS-DA).

Methods: Serum samples of clinically diagnosed typhoid and tuberculosis infected individuals were analyzed and differentiated by SERS using silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) as a SERS substrate.

Application of generated mask method based on Mask R-CNN in classification and detection of melanoma.

Objective: Melanoma is a type of malignant skin cancer with high mortality, and its incidence is increasing rapidly in recent years. At present, the best treatment is surgical resection after early diagnosis. However, due to the high visual similarity between melanoma and benign melanocytic nevus, coupled with the scarcity and imbalance of data, traditional methods are difficult to achieve good recognition and detection results.

REVIEW - Advancements in combination therapy of Hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a primary cause of chronic liver disease along with various complications like liver cirrhosis and malignancy which leads to death. It has infected more than 185 million people worldwide. There is no congruence established for the treatment of various genotypes of HCV infection owing to diversity in prevalence globally.

Seizure outcome in moyamoya after indirect revascularization in pediatric patients: Retrospective study and literature review.

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a unique cerebrovascular disorder characterized by progressive stenosis of anterior cerebral circulation. Moyamoya is not an uncommon disease in Saudi Arabia. Although a less common symptom of the disease, the incidence of seizure in MMD ranges from 6 to 30%.