Taxonomic identification and prevalence of hard ticks on different breeds of sheep from district Quetta in Balochistan, Pakistan.

Ticks, being ectoparasites, are vectors for the transmission of various pathogens that can infect animals and can also pose a significant threat to human health. Due to hot and humid climatic conditions across different agro-ecological regions of Pakistan, ticks are widespread and infest a diverse range of animal species. This study aimed for taxonomic identification and prevalence determination of ticks in sheep collected from four different marketplaces in the Quetta district of Balochistan.

Reinforced High-Entropy Fluorite Oxide Ceramic Composites for Thermal Barrier Coating Application.

High-entropy ceramics hold promise for application as thermal barrier coating materials. However, a key challenge in practical applications lies in the low fracture toughness compared to that of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Herein, we designed (Hf,Zr,Ce,)O-AlO (M = Y, Ca, and Gd) ceramic composites by following a set of fundamental guidelines.

Effects of stocking density on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, biochemical composition, and economic efficiency of a new strain of reared in cage culture system at Sindh Pakistan.

The latest strain of is an altered ecological adaptation for sustainable aquaculture and is necessary to sustain stocking density and reduce physiological stress of the new strain. The present study aimed to determine the optimum stocking density, biological performance, and economic efficiency of the Nile tilapia. The 14,000 healthy seeds and uniform weight (40 ± 2.

Synaptic vesicle characterization of iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons provides insight into distinct secretory vesicle pools.

The dysfunction of dopaminergic (DA) neurons is central to Parkinson's disease. Distinct synaptic vesicle (SV) populations, differing in neurotransmitter content (dopamine vs. glutamate), may vary due to differences in trafficking and exocytosis.

Roles for primary cilia in synapses and neurological disorders.

The role of primary cilia has recently garnered significant attention in the field of neurodegeneration. This review explores the diversity of primary cilia in the mature brain and their interrelationships with a multitude of cellular structures, including axons and synapses. Importantly, an overview of the growing prominence of ciliary-related dysfunctions in neurodegenerative diseases is summarized, with a special emphasis on Parkinson's disease (PD) and neuropsychiatric disorders.

A 360-degree evaluation of the professionalism and communication skills of technologists working in the radiology department of a public sector tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Radiologic technologists (RTs) are at the forefront of radiology departments and require optimal skills to demonstrate professionalism and effective provider-patient communication. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the reliability of 360-degree evaluation as a feedback tool to improve competencies in this crucial workforce.

Methods: A planned 360-degree evaluation was conducted using a 10-item tool to evaluate communication skills and professionalism among radiological technologists working at Dow University Hospital, Karachi.

Diversity of aquatic parasites in pristine spring waters in Tehsil Babuzai, Swat, Pakistan.

Global access to clean and safe drinking water remains a formidable challenge, contributing to a myriad of health issues. This research exposes the existence of waterborne parasites in seemingly pristine spring waters, indicating potential contamination. Daily extensive sampling of Seventeen water sources was conducted in the untarnished freshwater streams of Tehsil Babuzai, District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, from February to September 2021.

Post-harvest bacterial contamination of fish, their assessment and control strategies.

Healthy fish populations lead to healthy aquatic ecosystems and it is our responsibility to be a part of the solution. Fish is one of the most favored foods and is suitable for people of all ages. Fish is an essential source of protein, vitamins, and minerals and a source of income for millions of people.

Liquid-liquid phase separation in presynaptic nerve terminals.

The presynaptic nerve terminal is crucial for transmitting signals to the adjacent cell. To fulfill this role, specific proteins with distinct functions are concentrated in spatially confined areas within the nerve terminals. A recent concept termed liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has provided new insights into how this process may occur.

Biomedical properties, characterization of seaweeds species and antimicrobial activity.

Marine organisms produce a variety of compounds with pharmacological activities. In order to better comprehend the medicinal value of five particular seaweed orders Ulvales (Ulva intestinalis), Bryopsidales (Codium decorticatum), Ectocarpales (Iyengaria stellata), Dictyotales (Spatoglossum aspermum) and Gigartinales (Hypnea musciformis), a bioactive analysis including the screening of phytochemical components, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities was the aim of the investigation. The species include U.

Elicitation of expert prior opinion to design the BARJDM trial in juvenile dermatomyositis.

Objectives: To elicit and quantify expert opinion concerning the relative merits of two treatments for a rare inflammatory disease: Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). The formal expression of expert opinion reported in this paper will be used in a Bayesian analysis of a forthcoming randomised controlled trial known as BARJDM (baricitinib for juvenile dermatomyositis).

Methods: A Bayesian prior elicitation meeting was convened, following a previously described methodological template.

Assessing the efficacy of a brief universal family skills programme on child behaviour and family functioning in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of the Strong Families programme.

Purpose: The global burden of mental health difficulties among children underscores the importance of early prevention. This study aims to assess the efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of the Strong Families programme in enhancing child behaviour and family functioning in low-resource settings in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Methods And Analysis: This is a two-arm, multisite feasibility randomised controlled trial with an embedded process evaluation in three districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, namely Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu.

Digital eye strain and its associated factors among radiology physicians in Pakistan: a cross-sectional survey using logistic regression analysis.

Background And Aims: Increased use of digital devices in the modern era has led to the development of digital eye strain (DES) or computer vision syndrome in their users. This can result in the development of various ocular and visual symptoms among them. In this study, the authors aimed to view the prevalence of digital eye strain among radiology physicians in Pakistan and their associated risk factors.

New record of Philometra species from the marine edible fish Terapon jarbua collected from the Sindh, Arabian Sea, Pakistan.

Diseases in fish due to helminth parasites, especially Philometra species, are the primary worry in aquaculture. Philometra are responsible for health problem in fishes they directly affect fish growth and population parameters. A comprehensive survey was conducted involving the examination of the marine fish species Terapon jarbua, gathered from the coastal waters of Sindh, Pakistan In this research different Philometra species from marine fish Terapon jarbua during 2021 and 2022.

Assessment of Babesia spp. prevalence in various domestic animals across Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Parasitic diseases, notably babesiosis, exert a substantial impact on the global cattle industry, posing challenges to commerce, economies, and human health. This study, conducted in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, aimed to assess the prevalence of Babesia spp. across various livestock species using microscopic and PCR methods.

Chromosome-1 abnormalities in Childhood B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia - An analysis with reference to clinical variables and survival outcome.

Background: Chromosome-1 abnormalities (C1As) are common genetic aberrations in hematological malignancies. We sought to evaluate significance of these abnormalities with reference to clinical characteristics and survival outcome in a pediatric B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) cohort.

Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in cytogenetic section of Indus Hospital and Health Network.

Mixed-phenotype acute leukemia, T/megakaryoblastic: does it really exist?

Mixed-phenotype acute leukemias (MPAL) account for < 4% of all cases of acute leukemias. These are a heterogeneous group of leukemias grouped together by the WHO classification as "rare subtypes." The diagnosis and treatment of MPAL is extremely challenging particularly for low middle income countries.

Microplastic Quantification in Aquatic Birds: Biomonitoring the Environmental Health of the Panjkora River Freshwater Ecosystem in Pakistan.

Microplastic pollution has become a global concern, with potential negative impacts on various ecosystems and wildlife species. Among these species, ducks () are particularly vulnerable due to their feeding habits and proximity to aquatic environments contaminated with microplastics. The current study was designed to monitor microplastic (MP) pollutants in the freshwater ecosystem of the Panjkora River, Lower Dir, Pakistan.

Parkinsonism Sac domain mutation in Synaptojanin-1 affects ciliary properties in iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons.

Synaptojanin-1 (SJ1) is a major neuronal-enriched PI(4,5)P 4- and 5-phosphatase implicated in the shedding of endocytic factors during endocytosis. A mutation (R258Q) that impairs selectively its 4-phosphatase activity causes Parkinsonism in humans and neurological defects in mice (SJ1KI mice). Studies of these mice showed, besides an abnormal assembly state of endocytic factors at synapses, the presence of dystrophic nerve terminals selectively in a subset of nigro-striatal dopamine (DA)-ergic axons, suggesting a special lability of DA neurons to the impairment of SJ1 function.

Exploration of phenolic acid derivatives as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease and receptor binding domain: potential candidates for anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapy.

Severe acute respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological virus of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) which has been a public health concern due to its high morbidity and high mortality. Hence, the search for drugs that incapacitate the virus via inhibition of vital proteins in its life cycle is ongoing due to the paucity of drugs in clinical use against the virus. Consequently, this study was aimed at evaluating the potentials of natural phenolics against the Main protease (Mpro) and the receptor binding domain (RBD) using molecular modeling techniques including molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Sustaining the Earth: Unraveling the Synergy of Workplace Spirituality, Responsible Leadership, and Pro-Environmental Behavior in Pakistan's SMEs.

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the synergistic impact of workplace spirituality (WPS), responsible leadership (RL), and pro-environmental behavior (PEB) within the context of Pakistan's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) along with the mediating mechanism of Affective commitment (AC).

Methods: Our study utilizes structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze survey data collected from 390 employees within Pakistani SMEs. We develop a single unified framework to test the hypothesized relationships between RL, PEB, and AC as a mediator.