Effect of resveratrol on post-thaw motility, kinematics, structural parameters and antioxidant/oxidant status of Kamori buck spermatozoa.

Resveratrol is a polyphenol compound showing strong antioxidant properties. It is believed that semen cryopreservation causes significant sperm losses which eventually affects sperm quality. Improving antioxidant status of semen may reduce this damage and enhance sperm fertilizing potential.

Unveiling the physicochemical, photocatalytic, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of MWCNT-modified AgO/CuO/ZnO nanocomposites.

Water pollution, oxidative stress and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains are significant global threats that require urgent attention to protect human health. Nanocomposites that combine multiple metal oxides with carbon-based materials have garnered significant attention due to their synergistic physicochemical properties and versatile applications in both environmental and biomedical fields. In this context, the present study was aimed at synthesizing a ternary metal-oxide nanocomposite consisting of silver oxide, copper oxide, and zinc oxide (ACZ-NC), along with a multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified ternary metal-oxide nanocomposite (MWCNTs@ACZ-NC).

Effects of Zinc-Biofortified Wheat Intake on Plasma Markers of Fatty Acid Metabolism and Oxidative Stress Among Adolescents.

Background/objective: Zinc deficiency is common worldwide and has been linked to reduced growth and immune function, increased risk of and slower recovery from infections, and increased risk of non-communicable diseases. To address the issue, zinc biofortification of wheat has been proposed as a sustainable approach to increase dietary zinc intake in countries like Pakistan, where zinc deficiency rates are high and wheat is the primary staple crop. Since plasma zinc concentration (PZC) does not reliably respond to small changes in zinc intake, biomarkers sensitive to small changes in zinc intake achievable though biofortification are needed.

AneRBC dataset: a benchmark dataset for computer-aided anemia diagnosis using RBC images.

Visual analysis of peripheral blood smear slides using medical image analysis is required to diagnose red blood cell (RBC) morphological deformities caused by anemia. The absence of a complete anaemic RBC dataset has hindered the training and testing of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for computer-aided analysis of RBC morphology. We introduce a benchmark RBC image dataset named Anemic RBC (AneRBC) to overcome this problem.

Unravelling the Signature Follicular Fluid Metabolites in Dairy Cattle Follicles Growing Under Negative Energy Balance: An In Vitro Approach.

The astringent selection criteria for milk-oriented traits in dairy cattle have rendered these animals prone to various metabolic disorders. Postpartum lactational peak and reduced feed intake lead to negative energy balance in cattle. As a compensatory mechanism, cattle start mobilizing fat reserves to meet the energy demand for vital body functions.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Peptides in Saliva as Potential Therapeutic Agents Against Oral Pathogens in Pakistan.

Background: Maintaining optimal oral health is essential for overall well-being; however, conditions such as dental caries and gingivitis remain prevalent in Pakistan and are further worsened by increasing antibiotic resistance.

Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial properties of salivary peptides as potential therapeutic agents against common oral pathogens in Pakistan.

Methodology: A one-year cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, at Sharif Medical and Dental College and Akhter Saeed Medical and Dental College, involving 384 participants aged 18-65 years.

From greenwashing to genuine sustainability: Insights from FinTech and banking executives in emerging market experience.

Greenwashing is the practice of deceiving stakeholders by making inflated or fraudulent promises about environmental responsibility. This study investigates greenwashing challenges in FinTech and banking industries, identifying effective strategies to foster genuine sustainability. The study employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 respondents from the FinTech and banking sectors in Pakistan.

Impact of gibberellic acid GA3, quantum dot biochar, and rhizosphere bacteria on fenugreek plant growth and stress responses under lead stress.

Lead (Pb) is a stress that can cause problems with several aspects of a plant's metabolism, potentially impeding the plant's ability to grow and develop. The use of gibberellic acid (GA3), quantum dot biochar (QDBC), and rhizobacteria (RB) can be effective methods to overcome this problem. Gibberellic acid is a crucial plant hormone that regulates plant growth, cell division, tissue differentiation, flowering, photosynthesis, and transpiration rate.

Sufficient manganese supply is necessary for OsNramp5 knockout rice plants to ensure normal growth and less Cd uptake.

The development of crop cultivars with less Cd uptake in roots and accumulation in shoots is a most efficient and environment-friendly approach to deal with soil Cd contamination. Recently repression of Nramp5 expression or its knockout is commonly recognized to be efficient for reducing Cd accumulation in plants, but such mutant plants suffer from manganese deficiency. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of exogenous Mn addition in mitigating Cd stress in a japonica rice cultivar Xidao 1 (Wild Type, WT) and its OsNramp5 knockout mutant.

Cultural Competency in Dental Practice: Navigating the Experiences and Perspectives of Dentists in South Punjab, Pakistan.

Introduction Cultural competence in healthcare embraces the principles of equal access and nondiscriminatory services in healthcare delivery. Dentists as significant healthcare professionals should definitely have the skills needed to diagnose and treat patients' conditions, but it is crucial to also address nontechnical skills such as cross-cultural communication, the ability to empathize, and inclusive-mindedness. Globally, cultural competency training has been included in healthcare educational programs; however, national practices reportedly have revolved around patients' clinical competencies and thus entailed overlooking the cultural dimensions of dental education that include diverse sociocultural factors that influence how dental practices are taught, learned, and delivered.

Identification and Epidemiological Analysis of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in the Oral Microbiome of the Population in Pakistan.

Background Antibiotic resistance in the oral microbiome poses serious health risks worldwide, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan. Public health efforts are challenged by the potential of the oral cavity to serve as a reservoir for resistant bacteria due to its frequent exposure to antibiotics. Objective This study aimed to identify and analyze the prevalence and epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant bacteria within the oral microbiome of the Pakistani population.

A comprehensive review of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and their derivatives in environmental pollution control.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have gained considerable attention due to their design possibilities as the molecular organic building blocks that can stack in an atomically precise spatial arrangement. Since the inception of COFs in 2005, there has been a continuous expansion in the product range of COFs and their derivatives. This expansion has led to the evolution of three-dimensional structures and various synthetic routes, propelling the field towards large-scale preparation of COFs and their derivatives.

Computational insights of double perovskite NaCaCdH hydride alloy for hydrogen storage applications: a DFT investigation.

Prospective use of perovskite hydride materials in H storage a crucial element of clean energy systems has drawn a lot of attention. The structural, electrical, mechanical, thermodynamic, and H storage qualities of NaCaCdH hydride alloys were examined in this work using DFT. According to the structural properties, NaCaCdH has space group 225 (Fm3m), and optimized lattice parameters and volume of NaCaCdH are 3.

Regional integration and export performance of Pakistan: Empirical evidence from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The study examines export impact of Pakistan's integration into Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on its export's performance. We apply Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood (PPML) on augmented gravity model to estimate trade data from the period before and after permanent membership with Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2017. The study aims to explore changes in exports volume and analyze the key mechanism through which Shanghai Cooperation Organization promotes exports.

PDCD4 deficiency in hepatocytes exacerbates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through enhanced MHC class II transactivator expression.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a primary cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, presenting a significant and unmet medical challenge. The necessity to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying NASH is highlighted by the observed decrease in programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) expression in NASH patients, suggesting that PDCD4 may play a protective role in maintaining liver health. In this study, we identify PDCD4 as a natural inhibitor of NASH development in mice.

Technoeconomic analysis of solar PV electrification to remote areas of Dera Ghazi Khan: A case study.

With the increase in population at an immense rate, electricity demand is growing exponentially. Researchers and policymakers are seeking alternating means of power generation to meet the load demand. These resources should be cost-effective, environmentally friendly and least carbon emissions.

Regularity and wave study of an advection-diffusion-reaction equation.

In this paper, we investigate the optimal conditions to the boundaries where the unique existence of the solutions to an advection-diffusion-reaction equation is secured by applying the contraction mapping theorem from the study of fixed points. Also, we extract, traveling wave solutions of the underlying equation. To this purpose, a new extended direct algebraic method with traveling wave transformation has been used.

16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data from the gut microbiota of adolescent Afghan refugees.

The gut microbiota residing in the distal ileum and colon is the most complex, diverse, and densest microbial ecosystem in the human body. Despite its known role in human health and disease, gut microbiome diversity and function are rarely explored in vulnerable populations such as refugees. The current study aimed to explore gut microbiota diversity and sources of variation among adolescent Afghan refugees residing in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Computational investigation on physical properties of lead based perovskite RPbBr (R = Cs, Hg, and Ga) materials for photovoltaic applications.

In the modern era, the major problem is solving energy production and consumption. For this purpose, perovskite materials meet these issues and fulfill energy production at a low cost. Density functional theory and the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP) are used to examine the characteristics of the cubic inorganic perovskites RPbBr (R = Cs, Hg, and Ga).

Effect of stakeholder pressure on environmental performance: Do virtual CSR, green credit, environmental and social reputation matter?

In today's globalized and interconnected world, businesses operate within an interconnected network with various stakeholders. Among these stakeholders, the pressure from consumers, investors, regulators, and communities for corporations to adopt environmentally responsible practices has intensified significantly. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between stakeholder pressure and environmental performance (EP) in Pakistan's manufacturing sector while examining the potential moderating roles of environmental reputation, social reputation, virtual CSR, and green credit.

Green Synergy: Interplay of corporate social responsibility, green intellectual capital, and green ambidextrous innovation for sustainable performance in the industry 4.0 era.

This study delves into the interconnections among corporate social responsibility, green intellectual capital, green ambidextrous innovation, and sustainable performance, particularly in the context of Industry 4.0 and sustainability. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted, and a sample of 317 small and medium enterprises was collected.

Optimum study of fractional polio model with exponential decay kernel.

This study introduces a fractional order model to investigate the dynamics of polio disease spread, focusing on its significance, unique results, and conclusions. We emphasize the importance of understanding polio transmission dynamics and propose a novel approach using a fractional order model with an exponential decay kernel. Through rigorous analysis, including existence and stability assessment applying the Caputo Fabrizio fractional operator, we derive key insights into the disease dynamics.

An analysis of the effect of agriculture subsidies on technical efficiency: Evidence from rapeseed production in China.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of agricultural subsidies on the technical efficiency of agricultural production technology and on factor input. It utilized a random frontier production function, instrumental variable method, and threshold regression model. The data used for this analysis consisted of 609 field yield measurements from the National Rapeseed Industry Technology System in 2020.