Synergistic effects of Vachellia nilotica-derived zinc oxide nanoparticles and melatonin on drought tolerance in Fragaria × ananassa.

This study investigates the synergistic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and melatonin (MT) on Fragaria × ananassa (strawberry) plants under drought stress, focusing on growth, fruit biomass, and stress tolerance. ZnO NPs enhance nutrient uptake and stress resistance, while MT regulates growth hormones and boosts photosynthetic efficiency. Seven treatments were evaluated: T1 (no stress, 0.

The epidemiology of substance use disorders in Saudi Arabia: findings from the Saudi national mental health survey.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs), encompassing alcohol (AUDs) and drug use disorders (DUDs), are significant global public health concerns. While SUDs are well-documented worldwide, data on their prevalence and impact in Saudi Arabia remain scarce. This study investigates the epidemiology and burden of SUDs in Saudi Arabia using data from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS).

One-pot, Four-component Synthesis, Molecular Docking and Pharmacokinetic Studies of Tetra-substituted Imidazole Derivatives as Potential Mushroom Tyrosinase Inhibitors.

Introduction: An efficient and four-component one-pot facile synthesis of tetra-substituted imidazole is achieved by cyclo-condensation reaction of benzil with subsequent successive substitution of aromatic aldehydes, ester substituted amine and ammonium acetate via refluxing the mixture for almost two hours at 140°C.

Method: The ending point of the understudy reaction was examined by TLC after regular intervals. Synthesized 1,2,4-tetrasubstituted imidazoles were characterized by physical data and the structural features were analyzed using spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, NMR and elemental analysis.

Exploring the nutritional composition and quality parameters of natural honey from diverse melliferous flora.

Natural honey is enriched with essential and beneficial nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the melliferous flora microscopic techniques and assess the biochemical properties of honey. Flavonoid and phenolic contents in honey samples were analyzed via colorimetric and Folin-Ciocalteu methods and the alpha-amylase, reducing power, and minerals using Pull's and spectroscopy methods.

ToRCH pathogens-induced histopathological changes in placental tissues and associated post obstetric complications.

Background: Maternal infections caused by the ToRCH complex, comprising Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii), Rubella Virus (RV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), are significant contributors to Bad Obstetric History (BOH). These infections can vertically transmit through the placental barrier, leading to complications in fetal development.

Assessment of growth, biomass, and carbon sequestration potential of urban tree species in greenbelts.

This study assessed the growth, biomass, and carbon storage potential of four urban tree species-Pinus roxburghii, Broussonetia papyrifera, Jacaranda mimosifolia, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis-in Islamabad's greenbelts. Sampling was conducted using a quadrat method, covering five sites (F-9, G-8, H-8, I-8, Zero-Point), with 400 trees analyzed. Growth parameters such as diameter at breast height (DBH), height, aboveground biomass (AGB), aboveground carbon density (ACD), belowground carbon density (BCD), basal area (BA), and volume were measured.

Sarcopenia diagnosis using skeleton-based gait sequence and foot-pressure image datasets.

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a common age-related disease, defined as a decrease in muscle strength and function owing to reduced skeletal muscle. One way to diagnose sarcopenia is through gait analysis and foot-pressure imaging.

Motivation And Research Gap: We collected our own multimodal dataset from 100 subjects, consisting of both foot-pressure and skeleton data with real patients, which provides a unique resource for future studies aimed at more comprehensive analyses.

Sex-related differences in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This review aims to analyze sex-related differences in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS).

Methods: 10 studies were retrieved from PubMed and Embase comparing outcomes between men and women admitted with AMI complicated by CS. Pooled log odds ratios (OR) were calculated for binary outcomes using the Mantel-Haenszel method, and Hedges' g with the inverse-variance method was used for continuous outcomes.

Synergistic effects of gibberellic acid, biochar, and rhizobacteria on wheat growth under heavy metal and drought stress.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a vital crop constituting approximately 20% of global caloric intake, faces significant threats from heavy metal contamination, particularly cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr), along with drought stress, jeopardizing global food security. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of these stressors and the potential of plant growth enhancers such as gibberellic acid (GA3), biochar (BC), and rhizobacteria to improve wheat growth.

Validation of SSR markers for identification of high-yielding and Phytophthora Capsici root rot resistant chilli genotypes.

The study was designed to validate the previously reported 34 SSR markers using 78 chilli genotypes to detect significant trait specific markers as well as superior genotypes resistant to Phytophthora capsici root rot (PcRR). In this context, the identification of germplasm with higher yield per plant (YPP) leads to hype in stress tolerance index (STI) in genotypes, Chakwal3 (11.98), Greenfire (10.

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs): a review of current challenges and future applications.

Nuclear power sources can be effectively employed to generate renewable energy as a counter to global reliance on fossil fuels and increasing energy demands. Nuclear radiation can be utilized in numerous ways to produce energy. Along with their use as fuel for nuclear power plants, the decay process of radioisotopes can also be used to create electrical energy.

Rhizophagus intraradices mediated mitigation of arsenic toxicity in wheat involves differential distribution of arsenic in subcellular fractions and modulated expression of Phts and ABCCs.

Biomagnification of arsenic in food chain through wheat consumption poses a serious threat to human health. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate mechanism of arsenic tolerance and detoxification in wheat. The study aimed to unravel the strategies adopted by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to alleviate arsenic toxicity in wheat.

Something old, something new: the origins of an unusual renal cell underpinning a beetle water-conserving mechanism.

Tenebrionid beetles have been highly successful in colonising environments where water is scarce, underpinned by their unique osmoregulatory adaptations. These include a cryptonephridial arrangement of their organs, in which part of their renal/Malpighian tubules are bound to the surface of the rectum. Within the cryptonephridial tubules, an unusual cell type, the leptophragmata, plays a key physiological role underpinning water conservation.

Structure and functional studies of Avt1, a novel peptide from the sea anemone Aulactinia veratra.

Sea anemones are a rich source of peptide toxins spanning a diverse range of biological activities, typically targeting proteins such as ion channels, receptors and transporters. These peptide toxins and their analogues are usually highly stable and selective for their molecular targets, rendering them of interest as molecular tools, insecticides and therapeutics. Recent transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of the sea anemone Aulactinia veratra identified a novel 28-residue peptide, designated Avt1.

Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormonal Therapy on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Transgender Health: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Background: Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is common among transgender individuals, but its impact on lipid profile and cardiovascular health is not well studied.

Objectives: The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature to assess the impact of GAHT on lipid profiles and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in transgender individuals.

Methods: Online databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central registry were searched to find studies on lipid profile changes in women who are transgender, also referred to as transfeminine (TF), and men who are transgender, also referred to as transmasculine (TM) before and after GAHT.

BeetleAtlas: An Ontogenetic and Tissue-specific Transcriptomic Atlas of the Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum.

The red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum has emerged as a powerful model in insect functional genomics. However, a major limitation in the field is the lack of a detailed spatio-temporal view of the genetic signatures underpinning the function of distinct tissues and life stages. Here, we present an ontogenetic and tissue-specific web-based resource for Tribolium transcriptomics: BeetleAtlas (https://www.

Impact of the Early COVID-19 Pandemic on the Quality of Obstetric Care in a Tertiary Care Center in Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective This study aimed to assess the indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obstetric quality measures. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at a private-sector tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Data were collected for specific antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care indicators during the initial six months of the COVID-19 phase (March to August 2020) and compared with baseline measures from the preceding six months before the COVID-19 phase (September 2019 to February 2020) using frequencies and percentages.

A kinetic modelling approach to explore mechanism of Cr(VI) detoxification by a novel strain Pseudochrobactrum saccharolyticum NBRI-CRB 13 using response surface methodology.

A novel Pseudochrobactrum saccharolyticum strain NBRI-CRB 13, isolated from tannery sludge, was studied to grow up to 500 mgL of Cr(VI) and showed Cr(VI) detoxification by reducing > 90% of Cr(VI) at different concentrations 25, 50 and 100 mgL. Kinetic studies showed that first-order models were fitted (R = 0.998) to the time-dependent Cr(VI) reduction with degradation rate constant (k) (1.

Investigating Urinary Pathogens and Their Antibiotic Resistance: A Cross-Sectional Urine Culture Study.

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most prevalent infectious diseases. Females are more affected than males. The primary culprit is Escherichia coli.