Silicon-Mediated Priming Induces Acclimation to Mild Water-Deficit Stress by Altering Physio-Biochemical Attributes in Wheat Plants.

Water-deficit stress negatively affects seed germination, seedling development, and plant growth by disrupting cellular and metabolic functions, reducing the productivity and yield of field crops. In this study, sodium silicate (SS) has been employed as a seed priming agent for acclimation to mild water-deficit stress by invoking priming memory in wheat plants. In pot experiments, the SS-primed (20, 40, and 60 mM) and non-primed control seeds were allowed to grow under normal and mild water-deficit conditions.

Sodium nitroprusside mediated priming memory invokes water-deficit stress acclimation in wheat plants through physio-biochemical alterations.

Aim: Water-deficit stress is the most devastating environmental factor that adversely affects plant growth causing yield losses and low crop productivity. In this study, we employed sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a seed priming agent for the acclimation of water-deficit stress in wheat plants by invoking priming memory.

Methods: The SNP-primed (75, 100, and 125 μM) and non-primed controls were allowed to grow in pots under water deficit and normal conditions.

Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in pregnant women in Pakistan: maternal and fetal outcomes.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is endemic in Pakistan. Although otherwise asymptomatic, HEV infection becomes fatal in pregnancy, with considerable maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We conducted a descriptive study from April to October 2015 in 10 tertiary care hospitals throughout Pakistan to determine maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in HEV-positive pregnant women with acute jaundice or raised liver function tests.

Trajectory of cause of death among brought dead neonates in tertiary care public facilities of Pakistan: A multicenter study.

Background: Considering the fact that Pakistan is amongst the countries with very high neonatal mortality rates, we conducted a research study to determine the possible causes and characteristics of neonates presenting dead to the emergency department of tertiary public health care facilities of Pakistan using verbal autopsies.

Methods: A descriptive case series study was conducted in emergency department/pediatrics ward/neonatal ward/nursery unit of ten tertiary care public health facilities, situated in seven major cities of Pakistan from November, 2011 to June, 2013. Precoded verbal autopsy proforma was used to collect information regarding cause of death, family narratives and other associated risks accountable for pathway to mortality.

Phytochemical screening, antiglycation and antioxidant activities of whole plant of Boerhavia repens L. from Cholistan, Pakistan.

Present study was aimed to explore a traditionally used indigenous medicinal plant Boerhavia repens (Nyctaginaceae family) of the Cholistan desert, Pakistan. Crude aqueous and methanolic extracts of the whole plant were investigated in vitro for preliminary phytochemical screening, antioxidant and antiglycation activities. Antioxidant activities were determined by total phenolic contents, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Response of different HCV genotypes to interferon therapy in different age groups of chronic hepatitis-C patients.

Background: Although new Pegylated Interferon is available, yet the conventional Interferon with the combination of Ribavirin is still the therapy of choice to treat the Hepatitis C patients. This study was conducted to investigate the response of different HCV genotypes in different age groups of chronic Hepatitis C patients treated with conventional Interferonα-2b (IFNα-2b) plus Ribavirin (RBV).

Methods: In this cross sectional observational study a total of 520 Hepatitis C patients infected with different HCV genotypes meeting the study criteria were included from August 2010 to January 2013.

Antiglycation activity of thiamin-HCl and benfotiamine in diabetic condition.

Objective: To observe the antiglycation effect of water-soluble vitamin, thiamin-hydrochloride (B1) and its fat-soluble derivative benfotiamine and their comparison with two different glycation assays in diabetics.

Methods: Plasma of both the normal's and diabetic persons was taken for this experimental study which was conducted in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad in 2008. Varying concentrations of both the glycation inhibitors and glucose were incubated for 5 weeks at 37 degrees C.

Aflatoxin B1 in chilies from the Punjab region, Pakistan.

The occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in chilies from Pakistan was determined by using HPLC in work undertaken in Pakistan. Whole (n = 22) and powdered (n = 22) chilies were analyzed. Sixteen (73.

Evaluation of biocompatibility and mechanical behavior of chitin-based polyurethane elastomers. Part-II: Effect of diisocyanate structure.

Chitin-based polyurethane elastomers having potential for biomedical applications with tunable mechanical properties were synthesized by step growth polymerization techniques using poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) with different diisocyanates. The prepolymer was extended using chitin and/or 1,4-butane diol (BDO). The structures of the resulted polymers were determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic techniques.

Evaluation of biocompatibility and mechanical behavior of polyurethane elastomers based on chitin/1,4-butane diol blends.

Chitin based polyurethane elastomers with potential as biomedical implants with tunable mechanical properties were synthesized by step growth polymerization techniques using poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). The prepolymer was extended with different mass ratios of chitin and 1,4-butane diol (BDO). Molecular characterization was done using FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR techniques.

Effect of fortification on physico-chemical and microbiological stability of whole wheat flour.

Stability of fortified whole wheat flour (WWF) was evaluated using NaFeEDTA, elemental iron, ZnSO4 and ZnO as fortificants. Fortified WWF was stored in tin boxes and polypropylene bags for 60 days under ambient storage condition (ASC) and controlled storage condition (CSC). Fortification significantly (p⩽0.

XRD studies of chitin-based polyurethane elastomers.

Chitin-based polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) were synthesized by step growth polymerization techniques using poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) varying diisocyanate and chain extender structures. The viscosity average molecular weight (M(v)) of chitin was deduced from the intrinsic viscosity and found; M(v)=6.067 x 10(5).

Thermal Characterization of Purified Glucose Oxidase from A Newly Isolated Aspergillus Niger UAF-1.

An intracellular glucose oxidase was isolated from the mycelium extract of a locally isolated strain of Aspergillus niger UAF-1. The enzyme was purified to a yield of 28.43% and specific activity of 135 U mg(-1) through ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography.

Food fortification strategy--preventing iron deficiency anemia: a review.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant challenge in developing countries. It increases the risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. In children, IDA retards growth, impairs cognitive performance, and reduces physical activity.

Studies on kinetics and thermostability of a novel acid invertase from Fusarium solani.

The present investigation deals with purification and thermal characterization of an acid invertase produced by Fusarium solani in submerged culture. The maximum enzyme activity (9.90 U mL(-1)) was achieved after 96 h of cultivation at pH 5.