Computational and experimental approaches to explore defense related enzymes conferring resistance in Fusarium infected chilli plants by regulating plant metabolism through nutritional products.

Nutritional status being the first line of defense for host plants, determines their susceptibility or resistance against invading pathogens. In recent years, the applications of plant nutrient related products have been documented as one of the best performers and considered as alternatives or/and supplements in plant disease management compared to traditional chemicals. However, knowledge about application of plant nutrient related products for the management of destructive fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.

Relationships between activity monitoring device data and ovarian, uterine, hormonal, and pregnancy variables in beef cows.

Implementing accelerometer technologies in beef operations is an alternative to increase precision in estrous detection. We hypothesized that (1) the accelerometer algorithm has similar accuracy in detecting behavioral estrus as does visual observation of pressure-sensitive sensors (estrus patches) in grazing beef cows; (2) variables measured by the accelerometer, such as estrus intensity, are associated with hormonal, ovarian, and uterine variables monitored before, during, and after estrus; and (3) the accelerometer variables are associated with the probability of pregnancy in grazing beef cows submitted to embryo transfer (ET). Fifty cows were fitted with accelerometer and patches to detect estrus after a synchronization protocol in eight subsequent rounds.

A low concentration of choline chloride alters the developmental program of the bovine preimplantation embryo.

Choline is a known developmental programming agent of the bovine preimplantation embryo. Culture of the embryo with 1.8 mmol/L choline, a concentration much higher than in blood, alters development to cause increased weaning weight and other changes during the postnatal period.

Microbeads in personal care products sold in Pakistan: extraction, quantification, characterization, and buoyancy analysis.

Microbeads used in personal care products (PCPs) as an exfoliating agent or as a sorbent phase for delivering active ingredients are the most common sources of microplastics. The release of these plastic microbeads into aquatic environments has raised significant concerns due to their direct availability for ingestion by organisms upon entering the recipient waters. In this study, twelve personal care products (PCPs; 5 face washes and 7 scrubs) were analyzed for microbead content, size, polymer type, and buoyant behavior.

Effect of vitamin E, D-limonene, and their combination on nulliparous rabbit reproductive performance.

Oxidative status is important in reproductive performance and using two natural antioxidants is more beneficial than one in nulliparous rabbits. The goal, effect of vitamin E (VitE), D-limonene (DL), and VitE+DL on maternal LBW (MLBW), conception (CR), pregnancy (PR), and kindling rates (KR), gestation length (GL), total litter size at birth (TLSB) and weaning (TLSW), live kits at birth (LKB) and weaning (LKW), dead kits at birth (DKB) and weaning (DKW), kits mortality rate at weaning (KMRW), Kit weight at birth (KWB) and weaning (KWW), total kit weight at birth (TKWB) and weaning (TKWW), and concentrations of progesterone (P4) and Malondialdehyde (MDA), during first two pregnancies. A total of 24 healthy female WNZ rabbits were randomly selected and assigned into four groups (6/each).

Transcriptomic profiling of the bovine endosalpinx and endometrium to identify putative embryokines.

The objectives of the present study were to characterize the expression of genes encoding for cell signaling ligands in the bovine endosalpinx and endometrium and analyze spatial changes in gene expression. RNA sequencing was performed for the endosalpinx from the ampulla of the oviduct and endometrium from the upper and middle uterine horn and uterine body at after ovulation from ipsilateral and contralateral sides relative to the ovulatory ovary. Of the 17,827 unique mRNA transcripts mapped, 2,072 were affected by cranial-caudal position in the reproductive tract and 818 were affected by side (false discovery rate < 0.

Differential insecticide resistance in (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) field populations in the Punjab Province of Pakistan.

The cotton whitefly (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) has a propensity for developing high-level resistance to insecticides. Management of in cotton grown in Pakistan depends on insecticide use, resistance monitoring has become essential to minimize the development of resistance. In this study, resistance was monitored in adult whiteflies collected from cotton fields in the Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Lodhran, Multan, and Vehari districts of the Punjab Province, Pakistan during 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Effects of the bovine SLICK1 mutation in PRLR on sweat gland area, FOXA1 abundance, and global gene expression in skin.

The SLICK1 mutation in the prolactin receptor (PRLR) results in a short-hair coat and increased ability to regulate body temperature during heat stress. It is unclear whether the mutation affects capacity for sweating. The objective of this observational study was to evaluate whether the SLICK1 mutation in PRLR alters characteristics of skin related to sweat gland abundance or function.

Global impact and contributing factors in varicose vein disease development.

Varicose veins are convoluted, expanded, and stretched subcutaneous veins of the lower leg and are the most frequently reported medical condition. This condition has a higher prevalence in Western and developed countries. Inadequacy of the valves results in reflux of blood in the veins of the lower leg.

Validation of pregnancy associated glycoproteins-based ELISA kits to determine early pregnancy status in lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits utilizing whole blood, serum, or milk samples for diagnosis of early pregnancy status in lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes. Dairy buffaloes (n = 174) of mixed parity, 4-6 years of age, having mean (± standard deviation) days in milk 165 ± 87, and body condition score of 3.26 ± 0.

Evaluation and optimization of nanosuspensions of Chrysanthemum coronarium and Azadirachta indica using Response Surface Methodology for pest management.

The rapidly emerging field of nanotechnology is considered an important achievement in the agriculture sector to increase the pest mortality rate and improve the crop production. The present study evaluates the novel pesticidal and anti-microbial activities of Chrysanthemum coronarium and Azadirachta indica in the nano-suspensions form. The anti-solvent precipitation method was used to formulate nano-suspensions proposed by Response Surface Methodology (RSM).

Vitrification improves in-vitro embryonic survival in Bos taurus embryos without increasing pregnancy rate post embryo transfer when compared to slow-freezing: A systematic meta-analysis.

Objectives were to use meta-analytic approaches to compare slow-freezing (SF) and vitrification (VF) methods of cryopreservation on in-vitro (n = 12,211) and in-vivo (n = 3473) survival of Bos taurus embryos. The literature was systematically reviewed and data from 40 manuscripts including 78 experiments, and comprising 183 treatment means, were used for the analyses. The in-vitro parameters included rates of re-expansion, hatching, and survival of blastocysts either at 24 h or 72 h post-thawing/warming and total number (TN) of embryonic cells, whereas in-vivo parameters evaluated pregnancy rate between 35 and 60 d post embryo transfer (ET).

Residual Efficacy of Novaluron Applied on Concrete, Metal, and Wood for the Control of Stored Product Coleopteran Pests.

The residual efficacy of novaluron on concrete, metal and wood was evaluated against last-instar larvae of (L.), (Herbst), and Everts. The larvae and food provided for survival were exposed to surfaces pretreated at rates of 0.

Use of tunica vaginalis graft for repair of traumatic bilateral testicular rupture after gunshot: a case report.

Bilateral testicular injuries are rare. However, the incidence of these injuries has been increasing in wartime. We describe the case of gunshot wound of the both testicle caused by high velocity bullets.

Meta-analysis to determine effects of treatment with FSH when there is progestin-priming on in-vitro embryo production using ovum pick-up in Bos taurus cows.

Treatments with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to enhance ovarian follicular development before ovum pick-up (OPU) are important for improving in-vitro embryo production (IVEP) procedures in cows, however, their procedural efficacy needs to be evaluated. The objective of the present study was to use meta-analytic methods to determine the effects of FSH treatments prior to OPU when there is progestin-priming on ovarian functions and IVEP in parous Bos taurus cows (n = 243). The literature was systematically reviewed and data from eight experiments, with 23 treatment means including 448 OPU sessions, were used for analyses.

Effect of photoperiodicity and methods of follicular wave emergence on follicle turn-over, recovery and quality of oocytes, and early in-vitro developmental competence of embryos using ovum pick-up in Nili-Ravi buffaloes: Preliminary evidence.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of photoperiodicity, gauge (G) of ovum pick-up (OPU) needle, and two methods of follicular wave emergence on follicular turn-over, oocyte recovery (OR), quality of the oocytes (OQ), and early in-vitro developmental competence of embryos in Nili-Ravi buffaloes (n = 20). In 1 experiment, buffaloes (n = 12; 4 buffaloes/season) were randomly assigned to optimize the OPU's (n) either with 17 G or 18 G needle in one of the following seasons: 1) peak breeding season (PBS; Sep-Nov; n = 31), 2) transition breeding season (TBS; Dec-Feb; n = 32), and 3) low breeding season (LBS; Apr-June; n = 32). During 2 experiment, buffaloes (n = 8) were enrolled randomly in a 2 × 2 cross-over design to compare the two methods of wave emergence either using follicular ablation (FA; n = 4), or synchronization protocol (CIDR-EB; n = 4) during PBS.

Efficacy of Chrozophora plicata and Trianthema portuclacastrum weed plant extracts against Trogoderma granarium Everts under laboratory conditions.

The efficacy of Chrozophora plicata and Trianthema portuclacastrum extracts was investigated against Trogoderma granarium at 10%, 20% and 30% concentrations and 2, 4 and 6 days of exposure periods. It was found that T. portuclacastrum extract caused significantly higher larval mortality (37.

Culturable Aerobic and Facultative Anaerobic Intestinal Bacterial Flora of Black Cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) in Southern Pakistan.

Using morphological analysis and biochemical testing, here for the first time, we determined the culturable gut bacterial flora (aerobes and facultative anaerobes) in the venomous Black Cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) from South Asia. The findings revealed that these snakes inhabit potentially pathogenic bacteria including Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shewanella putrefaciens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella sp., Moraxella sp.

Black cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) lysates exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities.

It is hypothesized that animals living in polluted environments possess antimicrobials to counter pathogenic microbes. The fact that snakes feed on germ-infested rodents suggests that they encounter pathogenic microbes and likely possess antimicrobials. The venom is used only to paralyze the rodent, but the ability of snakes to counter potential infections in the gut due to disease-ridden rodents requires robust action of the immune system against a broad range of pathogens.

Association between chronic low back pain, anxiety and depression in patients at a tertiary care centre.

Objective: To observe the prevalence of anxiety and depression in chronic low back pain population at a tertiary care centre.

Methods: The prospective cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling at the Department of Neurosurgery, at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from January to June 2010. The prevalence of anxiety and depression in chronic low back pain patients was studied according to specified age and gender groups using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Prevalence of Acanthamoeba and superbugs in a clinical setting: coincidence or hyperparasitism?

Antibacterial strategies to eradicate superbugs from hospitals/nursing homes have had limited success, suggesting the need for employing innovative preventative measures and better understanding of the prevalence of microbial pathogens in close proximity of susceptible populations. A total of 120 environmental samples were collected from the Aga Khan University hospital. Amoebae were identified using morphological characteristics as well as PCR using genus-specific primers, while bacteria were identified using standard biochemical testing.

The type III secretion system is involved in Escherichia coli K1 interactions with Acanthamoeba.

The type III secretion system among Gram-negative bacteria is known to deliver effectors into host cell to interfere with host cellular processes. The type III secretion system in Yersina, Pseudomonas and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli have been well documented to be involved in the bacterial pathogenicity. The existence of type III secretion system has been demonstrated in neuropathogenic E.

Mathematical analysis of an integral equation arising from population dynamics.

In this paper, we establish the existence of travelling wave solution to an intrinsically non-linear differential-integral equation formed as a result of mathematical modelling of the evolution of an asexual population in a changing environment. This equation is first converted to a non-linear integral equation. The discretization and manipulation of the corresponding eigenvalue problem allows us to use the theory of positive matrices to get some very useful estimates and then to confirm the existence of solution.