Synthesis and Characterization of a Titanium-Based Functionally Graded Material-Structured Biocomposite using Powder Metallurgy.

This investigation aims at synthesizing and characterizing a biocomposite of hydroxyapatite (HA) and titanium (Ti) as a functionally graded material (FGM) via an economical powder metallurgy route. Ti particles were produced through drilling and chipping, followed by compaction and sintering. Ti foams, so obtained, were then infused with varying volume fractions of HA.

Health Risk and Metal Contamination Assessment in Orange (Citrus aurantium) of Pakistan: a Multivariate Study.

Toxic metals (TMs) are serious health hazard and are known to accumulate in fruits, which are consumed by people, owning to their distinct sweet flavor and potential health benefits. In the present study, arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and mercury (Hg) were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) techniques in orange samples from 11 farmhouses of Sargodha, Pakistan. Principal component analysis (PCA) is a very useful analysis and data-reducing tool.

Efficacy of an anti-bullying video literacy program in Pakistani primary school children.

With a scarcity of research looking at violent and extremist tendencies in primary school children in Pakistan, this study aimed to look at the effects of emotional resilience education through the means of cartoon-based learning. Children have a limited attention span and research on video/cartoon-based literacy projects has indicated greater efficacy with more retention and engagement. The cartoon based on the theme of anti-bullying was used in a 6-week intervention program in an experimental design setup with 120 experimental and 40 control group students recruited from the Islamabad/Rawalpindi area (ages 9-11).

Synthesis of Geopolymer from a Novel Aluminosilicate-Based Natural Soil Precursor Using Electric Oven Curing for Improved Mechanical Strength.

Natural soil (NS)-based geopolymers (GPs) have shown promise as environmentally friendly construction materials. The production of ordinary Portland cement is known to release significant amounts of greenhouse gas (CO) into the atmosphere. The main objective of this work is to synthesize a geopolymer (GP) from an uncommon aluminosilicate-based NS and a sodium silicate (SS) activating solution that would not only minimize the emission of harmful gases, but also offer improved mechanical strength.

Development and Characterization of Chitosan and Chondroitin Sulfate Based Hydrogels Enriched with Garlic Extract for Potential Wound Healing/Skin Regeneration Applications.

Hydrogels can provide instant relief to pain and facilitate the fast recovery of wounds. Currently, the incorporation of medicinal herbs/plants in polymer matrix is being investigated due to their anti-bacterial and wound healing properties. Herein, we investigated the novel combination of chitosan (CS) and chondroitin sulfate (CHI) to synthesize hydrogels through freeze gelation process and enriched it with garlic (Gar) by soaking the hydrogels in garlic juice for faster wound healing and resistance to microbial growth at the wound surface.

Development and Characterization of Zein/Ag-Sr Doped Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles Coatings for Biomedical Applications.

Implants are used to replace damaged biological structures in human body. Although stainless steel (SS) is a well-known implant material, corrosion of SS implants leads to the release of toxic metallic ions, which produce harmful effects in human body. To prevent material degradation and its harmful repercussions, these implanted materials are subjected to biocompatible coatings.

Process Parameter Optimization of a Polymer Derived Ceramic Coatings for Producing Ultra-High Gas Barrier.

Silica is one of the most efficient gas barrier materials, and hence is widely used as an encapsulating material for electronic devices. In general, the processing of silica is carried out at high temperatures, i.e.

A mechanistic study on the inhibition of bacterial growth and inflammation by Nerium oleander extract with comprehensive in vivo safety profile.

Background: Nerium oleander (L.) is well known traditionally used medicinal plant with several pharmacological activities. However, the anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory activity and in vivo toxicity potential of floral parts of this plant are not reported.

Analysis of treatment adherence and cost among patients with epilepsy: a four-year retrospective cohort study in Pakistan.

Background: The adherence pattern of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) among patients with epilepsy is relatively lower in the United States and different European countries. However, adherence and cost analysis of AEDs in Asian countries have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the cost and adherence of AEDs and its associated factors in patients followed in Pakistan.

Graphene oxide decorated with cellulose and copper nanoparticle as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of malachite green.

In this study, the graphene oxide surface was modified by grafting of nanocellulose and copper nanoparticles to promote the surface charge and adsorption efficiency for malachite green (MG). The structural and configurational properties of GO-CEL-Cu were verified by UV/Vis, SEM, TEM, EDX and FTIR spectroscopy and confirmed the electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding between GO, CEL and Cu-NPs. TEM images confirmed the deposition of Cu-NPs size between 24 and 37 nm on the GO surface.

Antibacterial, anticoagulant and cytotoxic evaluation of biocompatible nanocomposite of chitosan loaded green synthesized bioinspired silver nanoparticles.

Present work reports the green synthesis of chitosan functionalized silver nanoparticles (CS-AgNPs) using ethanolic buds extract of Sygyzium aromaticum. CS-AgNPs were characterized physically, evaluated for antibacterial, anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities, and toxicity profile. The physical characterization of CS-AgNPs was done by UV/vis, SEM, TEM, FTIR and EDX.

Green synthesized and characterized copper nanoparticles using various new plants extracts aggravate microbial cell membrane damage after interaction with lipopolysaccharide.

In the present study, commercially available six plants leave extracts such as Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Azadirachta indica, Murraya koenigii, Avicennia marina, Rosa rubiginosa and Datura stramonium were utilized for the production of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs). The characterization of particles was performed by UV/Vis, TEM, SEM, EDX and FTIR spectroscopy. TEM images showed the creation of CuNPs having mean size ranged from 48 to 29 nm corresponding to different plant extracts.

Microbial biotransformation of bioactive and clinically useful steroids and some salient features of steroids and biotransformation.

Steroids are perhaps one of the most widely used group of drugs in present day. Beside the established utilization as immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, progestational, diuretic, sedative, anabolic and contraceptive agents, recent applications of steroid compounds include the treatment of some forms of cancer, osteoporosis, HIV infections and treatment of declared AIDS. Steroids isolated are often available in minute amounts.

Observations of black carbon aerosols characteristics over an urban environment: Radiative forcing and related implications.

With observations of black carbon (BC) aerosol concentrations, optical and radiative properties were obtained over the urban city of Karachi during the period of March 2006-December 2008. BC concentrations were continuously measured using an Aethalometer, while optical and radiative properties were estimated through the Optical Properties of Aerosols and Clouds (OPAC) and Santa Barbra DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (SBDART) models, respectively. For the study period, the measured BC concentrations were higher during January, February and November, while lower during May, June, July and August.

Impact of seawater on distribution of fluoride and other ions in groundwater of Diplo area, Thar Desert Pakistan.

The role of seawater dilution, along with other water-quality components, has been studied to determine the causes of spatial distribution of high fluoride concentrations in the groundwater of the Diplo sub-district, Thar Desert, Pakistan. Fluoride ion concentration ranges of up to 7.60 mg/L were discovered, with mean and median values of 1.

Characterization of high molecular weight dextran produced by Weissella cibaria CMGDEX3.

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing Weissella cibaria CMGDEX3 was isolated from cabbage on sucrose containing De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar. Dextransucrase activity and dextran yield was found to be 7.1 DSU ml(-1) and 2.

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the occipital bone.

A 13 years boy presented with a painless hard and fixed swelling in occipital region for the last three months. Plain X-ray, CT scan and MRI showed an expansile multi loculated cystic lesion in occipital bone. Histopathological examination revealed it to be an aneurysmal bone cyst.

LC-ESI-MS characterisation of phytoalexins induced in chickpea and pea tissues in response to a biotic elicitor of Hypnea musciformis (red algae).

A simple extraction procedure and HPLC method was developed to analyse the major and minor components of induced phytoalexins of elicited tissues (seeds) of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and peas (Pisum sativum L.) treated with a biotic elicitor (k-carrageenan) of Hypnea musciformis (red algae) from the Karachi coast.

Geochemical factors controlling the occurrence of high fluoride groundwater in the Nagar Parkar area, Sindh, Pakistan.

Fluoride concentrations in groundwater near Nagar Parkar in the Thar Desert of southeastern Pakistan range from 1.13 to 7.85 mg/l, and roughly 78% of the samples contain fluoride in concentrations that exceed the drinking water standard of 1.

Effect of some trace elements on the nucleic acid metabolising enzymes level of germinating wheat seeds.

Wheat seeds were grown in the presence and absence of some trace elements like Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn in non-toxic limits. The level of enzyme activities involved in nucleic acid metabolism were measured by spectrophotometric methods. The level of certain RNA metabolising enzymes increased manyfold in trace element-treated seeds, while the level of AMP-deaminase was increased manyfold in Co-treated seeds.

Tertiary amines promoted synthesis of symmetrical 1,3-disubstituted ureas.

Symmetrical 1,3-disubstituted ureas and cyclic ureas have been synthesized from corresponding isocyanates and diisocyanates by a new versatile, simple and quick method in the presence of tertiary amines at room temperature. The method under investigation has several advantages over the existing techniques, as it is simple to carry out; does not require complicated equipment; work-up is simple, as it does not use expensive chemicals. Moreover, the yields are almost quantitative.

Analytical characterization of Salicornia bigelovii seed oil cultivated in Pakistan.

Seeds of Salicornia bigelovii (hybrid variety sos-10) were collected from five coastal areas of Pakistan on the Arabian Sea. Hexane-extracted oil content was 27.2-32.