COVID-19 risk perception and coping mechanisms: Does gender make a difference?

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged as a real threat to humans, drastically disrupting everyday life in 2020-21. Although the pandemic affected people from all walks of life, irrespective of age or gender, the way the risk is perceived varies from one person to another. The pandemic risk reduction strategies can only be effective if individuals and communities respond positively to them, and for that, it is important to understand how the risk is perceived and responded to, differently by different groups of people.

Algae as an attractive source for cosmetics to counter environmental stress.

In recent times, a considerable amount of evidence has come to light regarding the effect that air pollution has on skin conditions. The human skin is the chief protection we have against environmental harm, whether biological, chemical, or physical. The stress from these environmental factors, along with internal influences, can be a cause of skin aging and enlarged pores, thinner skin, skin laxity, wrinkles, fine lines, dryness, and a more fragile dermal layer.

An Overview of Immune Evasion Strategies of DNA and RNA Viruses.

A successful viral infection is due to the effective evasion of viruses of the immune system. The entry of viruses is usually detected by different cellular receptors including PRRs. Recognition of the viral genome leads to the production of interferons through a signaling stream.

Cellular Therapy During COVID-19: Lessons Learned and Preparing for Subsequent Waves.

An evidence-based triage plan for cellular therapy distribution is critical in the face of emerging constraints on healthcare resources. We evaluated the impact of treatment delays related to COVID-19 on patients scheduled to undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy at our center. Data were collected in real time between March 19 and May 11, 2020, for patients who were delayed to cellular therapy.

Identification and analysis of olfactory genes in Dioryctria abietella based on the antennal transcriptome.

The coneworm Dioryctria abietella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an economy devastating pest that infests many valuable conifer species in the Holarctic regions, such as Pinus koraiensis Siebold and Zucc. The chemosensory system plays a crucial role in the mating, foraging, and ovipositing of this pest, and therefore it is desirable to identify chemosensory molecules for pest control. However, little is known at molecular level about the olfactory mechanisms in D.

Effects of different combinations of N, P and K at different time interval on vegetative, reproductive, yield and quality traits of mango (Mangifera Indica. L) cv. Dusehri.

The experiment was carried out on mango cv. Dusehri to investigate the effect of N, P and K fertilizers on vegetative, reproductive growth, yield and fruit quality. Eight different fertilizer combinations such as T1 (control), T2 (N), T3 (P), T4 (K), T5 (NP), T6 (NK), T7 (PK) and T8 (NPK) were used.

Lead Toxicity in Cereals: Mechanistic Insight Into Toxicity, Mode of Action, and Management.

Cereals are the major contributors to global food supply, accounting for more than half of the total human calorie requirements. Sustainable availability of quality cereal grains is an important step to address the high-priority issue of food security. High concentrations of heavy metals specifically lead (Pb) in the soil negatively affect biochemical and physiological processes regulating grain quality in cereals.

Management of Polymicrobial Cierny-Mader Grade 3 and 4 Chronic Osteomyelitis of the Femur.

Introduction Osteomyelitis refers to an inflammatory process affecting the bone and bone marrow. Chronic disease occurs following the formation of a necrotic, devascularised sequestrum. Regardless of the approach, treatment is complex and resource-intensive, often requiring multiple surgical interventions and extended antibiotic therapy.

Prevalence and molecular detection of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in large ruminants in Punjab, Pakistan.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a highly contagious disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. It is characterized by anorexia, fever, dyspnea, polypnea, cough, and nasal discharges.

Trends of Antimicrobial Resistance in Typhoidal Strains of Salmonella in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan.

Introduction: Enteric fever or typhoid fever is a major public health issue affecting greater than 27 million individuals globally and is responsible for greater than 200,000 deaths per year. Due to the extensive overuse of antimicrobials, the world is moving toward a pre-antibiotic era. The emergence and transmission of antibiotic-resistant species are a global threat and a serious concern in developing countries such as Pakistan.

Identification of candidate genes influencing anthocyanin biosynthesis during the development and ripening of red and white strawberry fruits via comparative transcriptome analysis.

Strawberries are one of the most economically important berry fruits worldwide and exhibit colours ranging from white to dark red, providing a rich genetic resource for strawberry quality improvement. In the present study, we conducted transcriptome analyses of three strawberry cultivars, namely, 'Benihoppe', 'Xiaobai', and 'Snow White', and compared their gene expression profiles. Among the high-quality sequences, 5,049 and 53,200 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained when comparing the diploid and octoploid strawberry genomes and analysed to identify anthocyanin-related candidate genes.

Should COVID-19 patients >75 years be Ventilated? An Outcome Study.

Background: Elderly patients with COVID-19 disease are at increased risk for adverse outcomes. Current data regarding disease characteristics and outcomes in this population are limited.

Aim: To delineate the adverse factors associated with outcomes of COVID-19 patients ≥75 years of age.

Carbaporphyrin Dimers That Bear a Rigid Naphthalene Motif as an Internal Strap.

The first fully connected aromatic carbaporphyrin dimer () and its bis-Pd complex () that bear a rigid naphthalene motif as an internal strap were synthesized. These dimers consisted of two aromatic carbaporphyrins that shared a naphthalene motif. The π-electron conjugation of the obtained macrocycles was proposed to have two separated local 22 π-electron pathways and a 34 π-electron pathway.

Cloning, Genetic Transformation and Cellular Localization of Abiotic Stress Responsive Universal Stress Protein Gene (GUSP1) in .

Background: Drought stress seriously affects the cotton fiber development. Universal stress protein gene isolated from native species has the promising tolerance role against these stresses.

Objectives: This study aimed to clone, characterize, and genetically transform the GUSP1 gene in local cotton and to observe its expression in transgenic plants under drought stress.

Antibiotic use: A cross-sectional survey assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices amongst students of Punjab, Pakistan.

The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of students regarding the use of antibiotics in Punjab, Pakistan. 525 medical and non-medical students from Punjab in Pakistan. The t-test and ANOVA were used to compare the average response of respondents.

Liver Cancer-Specific Serine Protease Inhibitor Kazal Is a Potentially Novel Biomarker for the Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: Liver cancer-secreted serine protease inhibitor Kazal (LC-SPIK) is a protein that is specifically elevated in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We assessed the performance of LC-SPIK in detecting HCC, including its early stages, in patients with cirrhosis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods: We enrolled 488 patients, including 164 HCC patients (81 early HCC) and 324 controls in a blinded, prospective, case-control study.

Identification of Inhibitors of Integrin Cytoplasmic Domain Interactions With Syk.

Leukocyte inflammatory responses require integrin cell-adhesion molecule signaling through spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), a non-receptor kinase that binds directly to integrin β-chain cytoplasmic domains. Here, we developed a high-throughput screen to identify small molecule inhibitors of the Syk-integrin cytoplasmic domain interactions. Screening small molecule compound libraries identified the β-lactam antibiotics cefsulodin and ceftazidime, which inhibited integrin β-subunit cytoplasmic domain binding to the tandem SH2 domains of Syk (IC range, 1.

Additive interactions of some reduced-risk biocides and two entomopathogenic nematodes suggest implications for integrated control of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Higher volumes of conventional and novel chemical insecticides are applied by farmers to control resistant strains of armyworm (Spodoperta litura) in Pakistan without knowing their risks to the environment and to public health. Ten reduced-risk insecticides were tested for their compatibility with two entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs); Heterorhabditis indica and Steinernema carpocapsae against S. litura.

Molecular binding interaction of pyridinium based gemini surfactants with bovine serum albumin: Insights from physicochemical, multispectroscopic, and computational analysis.

To study the interaction of the series of pyridinium based gemini surfactants (GS) (referred to as m-Py-m, m = 14, 16); 4,4'-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(1-(2-(tetradecyloxy)-2-oxoethyl) dipyridinium chloride (14-Py-14), and 4,4'-(propane-1,3-diyl) bis(1-(2-(hexadecyloxy)-2-oxoethyl)dipyridinium chloride (16-Py-16) with bovine serum albumin (BSA), various physicochemical and spectroscopic tools such as tensiometry, steady-state fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, pyrene fluorescence, UV-visible, far-UV circular dichroism (CD) were utilized at physiological pH (7.4) and 298 K in combination with computational molecular modeling analysis. The tensiometric results show significant modifications in interfacial and thermodynamic parameters for m-Py-m GS upon BSA combination, deciphering the gemini surfactant-BSA interaction.

Perspective of Covid-19 pandemic in South Asian countries.

COVID-19 is rapidly spreading throughout the world since December 2019. It has hit South Asian countries with faded impact, which can be attributed to (a) availability of kits, (b) number of people tested for COVID-19, (c) immunity, (d) environmental conditions and (e) vaccination.

Chemopreventive effects of vitamin D and its analogue, paricalcitol, in combination with 5-fluorouracil against colorectal cancer: The role of calcium signalling molecules.

Background: Although vitamin D (VD) is chemoprotective and enhances 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer (CRC), little is known about its potential calcium (Ca)-mediated anti-tumorigenic actions. Therefore, this study compared between VD and its non-calcaemic analogue, Paricalcitol (Pcal), ± 5-FU in relation to chemoprevention and Ca-mediated apoptosis in vivo and in vitro.

Methods: Seventy male mice were distributed to: negative controls, positive controls (PC), VD, Pcal, 5-FU, VD + 5-FU and Pcal+5-FU groups.

Hosoya Polynomial for Subdivided Caterpillar Graphs.

Background: Computing Hosoya polynomial for a graph associated with a chemical compound plays a vital role in the field of chemistry. From Hosoya polynomial, it is easy to compute the Weiner index(Weiner number) and Hyper Weiner index of the underlying molecular structure. The Wiener number enables the identifying of three basic features of molecular topology: branching, cyclicity, and centricity (or centrality) and their specific patterns, which are well reflected by the physicochemical properties of chemical compounds.

Green Synthesis of Fused Chromeno-pyrazolo-phthalazine Derivatives with Silicasupported Bismuth Nitrate under Solvent-free Conditions.

Aim: The study aimed to synthesize chromeno-pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine-6,9,14(7H)-trione analogs with the help of silica-supported bismuth nitrate catalyst.

Background: Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds are widespread, and their applications to pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials are becoming more and more important. Pyrazoles are an important class of compounds for new drug development, as they are the core structure of numerous biologically active compounds, including blockbuster drugs such as celecoxib, viagra, pyrazofurine, and many others.