Occurrence, source identification and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in water and sediments of Uchalli lake - Ramsar site, Pakistan.

Uchalli Lake is an internationally significant Ramsar site that needs protection for supporting migratory birds. The current study aimed to assess wetland health by examining water and sediments utilizing total and labile heavy metals concentration, pollution indices, ecological risk assessment, water recharge and pollution induction sources through isotope tracer techniques. Al concentration in water was of serious concern as it was 440 times higher than the maximum acceptable concentration of Environmental Quality Standard of the UK for aquatic life in saline waters.

Outcome Of The Choice Of Wound Closure Technique In Emergency Laparotomy.

Background: Abdominal surgeries are the most common surgeries performed around the world. Closure of abdominal wound is important and a number wound closing techniques are in practice. This study was conducted to determine the outcome of the choice of wound closure technique in emergency laparotomy.

Evaluation Of Darn Repair For Recurrence Rate In The Management Of Indirect Inguinal Hernia.

Background: Management of Inguinal Hernia had long been remained an enigma & various method had been employed for its management till date. Recent trend is towards the preferential use of mesh in open as well as Laparoscopic approaches where its advocates almost always undermine the role of raphys in the management of inguinal hernia but Darning repair despite all this critique is still a valid & viable option for the management of Indirect inguinal hernia.

Methods: This descriptive study was designed & carried out at the surgical units of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad from February 01, 2016 to October 31, 2018.

Biochar from pyrolyzed Tibetan Yak dung as a novel additive in ensiling sweet sorghum: An alternate to the hazardous use of Yak dung as a fuel in the home.

Yak dung is used as fuel in Tibetan homes; however, this use is hazardous to health. An alternative use of the dung that would be profitable and offset the loss as a fuel would be very beneficial. Sweet sorghum silage with yak dung biochar as an additive was compared with a control silage with no additives and three silages with different commercial additives, namely Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus plantarum and Acremonium cellulase.

Long-term active restoration of extremely degraded alpine grassland accelerated turnover and increased stability of soil carbon.

Soil nutrient contents and organic carbon (C) stability are key indicators for restoration of degraded grassland. However, the effects of long-term active restoration of extremely degraded grassland on soil parameters have been equivocal. The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of active restoration of degraded alpine grassland on: (a) soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization; and (b) the importance of biotic factors for temperature sensitivity (Q ) of SOM mineralization.

Biochar amendment improves alpine meadows growth and soil health in Tibetan plateau over a three year period.

Previous biochar research has primarily focused on agricultural annual cropping systems with very little attention given to highly fragile, complex and diverse natural alpine grassland ecosystems. The present study investigated the effect of biochar on the growth of alpine meadows and soil health. This study was conducted in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau over a three year period to investigate the effect of three rice husk biochar application rates alone and combination with high and low NPK fertilizer dosages on alpine meadow productivity, soil microbial diversity as well as pH, carbon and nitrogen content at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depth.

Pattern of microbial community composition and functional gene repertoire associated with methane emission from Zoige wetlands, China-A review.

The Hindu-Kush Himalaya region extends over 4 million km across the eight countries. Knowingly, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is considered the principal altitudinal permafrost constituent on earth and is deemed as the third 'pole'. Among which, the Zoige wetlands are located in the northeastern boundary of QTP, wrapping a total area of 6180 km with an average altitude of 3500 m.

A critical review of clay-based composites with enhanced adsorption performance for metal and organic pollutants.

Adsorption techniques offer unique advantages owing to the use of synthetic (e.g., nanosized metal oxides and polymer-functionalized nanocomposites) and natural (e.

Mechanical ventilation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Neuromuscular respiratory failure is the most common cause of death, which usually occurs within two to five years of the disease onset. Supporting respiratory function with mechanical ventilation may improve survival and quality of life.

Pyrolysis of attapulgite clay blended with yak dung enhances pasture growth and soil health: Characterization and initial field trials.

Recent studies have shown that the pyrolysis of biomass combined with clay can result in both lower cost and increase in plant yields. One of the major sources of nutrients for pasture growth, as well as fuel and building materials in Tibet is yak dung. This paper reports on the initial field testing in a pasture setting in Tibet using yak dung, biochar, and attapulgite clay/yak dung biochars produced at ratios of 10/90 and 50/50 clay to dung.

Efficacy Of Local Anaesthesia In Repair Of Inguinal Hernia.

Background: Local anaesthesia has been identified as the most favourable anaesthesia for elective inguinal hernia repair with respect to complication rate, cost effectiveness and overall patients' satisfaction. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of local anaesthesia in inguinal hernia in terms of pain relief, wound infection and hospital stay.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), 60 patients with inguinal hernia were included at the General Surgical 'B' Unit, Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad.

Prognostic factors for survival in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: analysis of a multi-centre clinical trial.

Information regarding factors influencing prognosis and quality of life (QoL) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is useful for clinicians and also for patients and their carers. The aims of this study are to identify prognostic factors for survival in ALS and to determine the physical factors influencing QoL. This study is a retrospective analysis of a cohort of 512 patients who participated in a phase II/III clinical trial of olesoxime.

Influence of Pyrolysis Temperature on Physico-Chemical Properties of Corn Stover (Zea mays L.) Biochar and Feasibility for Carbon Capture and Energy Balance.

This study examined the influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar characteristics and evaluated its suitability for carbon capture and energy production. Biochar was produced from corn stover using slow pyrolysis at 300, 400 and 500°C and 2 hrs holding time. The experimental biochars were characterized by elemental analysis, BET, FTIR, TGA/DTA, NMR (C-13).

Effect of lipid profile on prognosis in the patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Insights from the olesoxime clinical trial.

Patients with ALS may have insufficientenergy substrates, due to dysphagia and hypermetabolism, which adversely affects the prognosis. Hyperlipidaemia has been reported to be associated with ALS and to represent a significant prognostic factor for survival in ALS. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of dyslipidaemia among a cohort of patients with ALS and how the lipid profile of patients with ALS influenced the prognosis.

A preliminary randomized trial of the mechanical insufflator-exsufflator versus breath-stacking technique in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

A major problem faced by patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in respiratory failure is the inability to cough effectively. Forty eligible ALS patients were randomized to the breath-stacking technique using a lung volume recruitment bag (n = 21) or mechanical insufflator-exsufflator MI-E (n = 19) and followed up at three-monthly intervals for at least 12 months or until death. Results showed that there were 13 episodes of chest infection in the breath-stacking group and 19 episodes in the MI-E group (p = 0.

Cadmium phytoavailability to rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in representative Chinese soils. A model to improve soil environmental quality guidelines for food safety.

Food chain contamination by cadmium (Cd) is globally a serious health concern resulting in chronic abnormalities. Rice is a major staple food of the majority world population, therefore, it is imperative to understand the relationship between the bioavailability of Cd in soils and its accumulation in rice grain. Objectives of this study were to establish environment quality standards for seven different textured soils based on human dietary toxicity, total Cd content in soils and bioavailable portion of Cd in soil.

Mechanical ventilation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neuron disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Neuromuscular respiratory failure is the commonest cause of death, usually within two to five years of the disease onset. Supporting respiratory function with mechanical ventilation may improve survival and quality of life.

Purification of eutrophic water by ryegrass.

The present study was carried out to investigate the growth characteristics of different ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars and their ability to remediate eutrophic water using floating plant-bed technology. Greenhouse and lake experiments were conducted to evaluate the grass genotypes for water remediation.

Using transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitor (TOSCA 500) to detect respiratory failure in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a validation study.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition, respiratory failure being the commonest cause of death. Quality of life and survival can be improved by supporting respiratory function with non-invasive ventilation. Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring is a non-invasive method of measuring arterial carbon dioxide levels enabling simple and efficient screening for respiratory failure.

Respiratory management of motor neurone disease: a review of current practice and new developments.

Motor neurone disease is a neurodegenerative condition with a significant morbidity and shortened life expectancy. Hypoventilatory respiratory failure is the most common cause of death and respiratory function significantly predicts both survival and quality of life in patients with motor neurone disease. Accordingly, supporting and maintaining respiratory function is important in caring for these patients.