WRKY transcription factors (TFs): Molecular switches to regulate drought, temperature, and salinity stresses in plants.

The WRKY transcription factor (TF) belongs to one of the major plant protein superfamilies. The WRKY TF gene family plays an important role in the regulation of transcriptional reprogramming associated with plant stress responses. Change in the expression patterns of WRKY genes or the modifications in their action; participate in the elaboration of numerous signaling pathways and regulatory networks.

Preparation of stimuli responsive microgel with silver nanoparticles for biosensing and catalytic reduction of water pollutants.

Herein, we report poly(-isopropylacrylamide/2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) microgel fabricated with silver nanoparticles. The identification of copolymerization and functional groups in the bare microgel and those fabricated with silver nanoparticles was examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The pH and temperature sensitivity of microgels was studied using dynamic light scattering.

A simulation study: Improved ratio-in-regression type variance estimator based on dual use of auxiliary variable under simple random sampling.

In this article, we proposed an improved finite population variance estimator based on simple random sampling using dual auxiliary information. Mathematical expressions of the proposed and existing estimators are obtained up to the first order of approximation. Two real data sets are used to examine the performances of a new improved proposed estimator.

Syntaxin 4 is essential for hearing in human and zebrafish.

Congenital hearing impairment (HI) is a genetically highly heterogeneous disorder in which prompt recognition and intervention are crucial to optimize outcomes. In this study, we used exome sequencing to investigate a large consanguineous Pakistani family with eight affected individuals showing bilateral severe-to-profound HI. This identified a homozygous splice region variant in STX4 (c.

Hydrogen peroxide modified and bismuth vanadate decorated titanium dioxide nanocomposite (BiVO@HMT) for enhanced visible light photocatalytic growth inhibition of harmful cyanobacteria in water.

The persistence of harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms in aquatic ecosystems leads to health damage for various life forms. In this study, a photocatalyst active in the visible light range was prepared by combining BiVO with hydrogen peroxide modified titanium dioxide (BiVO@HMT; for short), using an impregnation method. The catalyst was used to photocatalytically inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria collected from a bloom site.

Investigation on synthesis of ternary g-CN/ZnO-W/M nanocomposites integrated heterojunction II as efficient photocatalyst for environmental applications.

The rapid industrialization of the world is disparagingly manipulating our environment and natural ecosystem. The researchers are taking keen interest to invent novel material as photocatalyst for non-degradable organic pollutants. Solar energy-driven practices employing semiconductors are a novel approach towards wastewater remediation.

Electrocatalytic water oxidation on CuO-CuO modulated cobalt-manganese layered double hydroxide.

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) are potential electrocatalysts to address the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of water splitting. In this work, copper oxide (CuO/CuO) nanoparticles are integrated with cobalt-manganese layered double hydroxide (CoMn-LDH) to enhance their performance towards OER. The catalyst is synthesized by growing CoMn-LDH nanosheets in the presence of CuO/CuO nanoparticles that were obtained by the calcination of the copper containing metal-organic framework (HKUST-1).

Three-dimensional NiO-cubane metal-organic framework as a high-performance electrocatalyst for urea oxidation.

The urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is considered to be a replacement of the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in overall water-splitting. A three-dimensional (3D) nickel-containing metal-organic framework {[Ni (pdaa)(OH)(HO)] (MOF 1) (where, Hpdaa = 1,4-phenylene diacetic acid) was investigated as a robust and highly efficient electrocatalyst for the UOR. MOF 1 comprised 1D nickel(ii) chains crosslinked through NiO cubane units to form a 3D extended network.

Polycaprolactone based pharmaceutical nanoemulsion loaded with acriflavine: optimization and burn wound healing activity.

Cutaneous burn wounds are a common and troublesome critical issue of public health. Over the last decade, many researchers have investigated the development of novel therapeutic modalities which are capable of fully regeneration and reinstatement of structure and function of the skin with no or limited scar formation. Novel pharmaceutical carriers are offering a potential platform to deliver the drug effectively and to overcome the limitation associated with conventional wound dressings.

Immunoinformatics Approach to Design Multi-Epitope-Based Vaccine against Machupo Virus Taking Viral Nucleocapsid as a Potential Candidate.

The family members of Arenaviridae include members of the genus Machupo virus, which have bi-segmented negative sense RNA inside the envelope and can be transferred to humans through rodent carriers. Machupo virus, a member of the mammarenavirus genus, causes Bolivian hemorrhage fever, its viral nucleocapsid protein being a significant virulence factor. Currently, no treatment is available for Bolivian hemorrhage fever and work to develop a protective as well as post-diagnosis treatment is underway.

Influence of HRM on CSR and performance of upscale hotels in developed and developing countries.

The researchers showed their increased interest in linking human resource management (HRM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in recent studies. HRM is a critical factor in how CSR should be enacted, developed, and understood at a broader level to achieve organizational benefits. Hence, it is evident that current studies are asking for more studies on HRM-CSR nexus, and we argue that such a relationship is necessary and relevant.

A novel variant in AFF3 underlying isolated syndactyly.

Isolated syndactyly is a common limb malformation with limited known genetic etiology. We used exome sequencing to discover a novel heterozygous missense variant c.2915G > C: p.

Facile synthesis, crystal structure, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling studies of -((4-acetyl phenyl) carbamothioyl) pivalamide as the multitarget-directed ligand.

The crystal structure of -((4-acetylphenyl)carbamothioyl)pivalamide (3) was synthesized by inert refluxing pivaloyl isothiocyanate (2) and 4-aminoacetophenone in dry acetone. The spectroscopic characterization (H-NMR, CNMR, FT-IR) and single crystal assays determined the structure of synthesized compound (3). Systematic experimental and theoretical studies were conducted to determine the molecular characteristics of the synthesized crystal.

A novel homozygous variant in homologous recombination repair gene ZSWIM7 causes azoospermia in males and primary ovarian insufficiency in females.

Infertility is a common, clinically heterogeneous reproductive disorder worldwide with a prevalence of about 15%. To date about eighty genes have been discovered to cause non-syndromic infertility, affecting males and females equally, though traditionally the genetic analysis of each group has been conducted separately. Here, we report the clinical and genetic characterization of a consanguineous family of Pakistani origin with multiple individuals, including male and female, affected with infertility.

Magnetoelectric core-shell CoFeO@BaTiO nanorods: their role in drug delivery and effect on multidrug resistance pump activity .

Nanoparticle mediated targeted drug delivery has become a widespread area of cancer research to address premature drug delivery problems. We report the synthesis of magneto-electric (ME) core-shell cobalt ferrite-barium titanate nanorods (CFO@BTO NRs) to achieve "on demand" drug release . Physical characterizations confirmed the formation of pure CFO@BTO NRs with appropriate magnetic and ferroelectric response, favorable for an externally controlled drug delivery system.

On the qualitative study of a two-trophic plant-herbivore model.

The coexistence of plant-herbivore populations in an ecological system is a fundamental topic of research in mathematical ecology. Plant-herbivore interactions are often described by using discrete-time models in the case of non-overlapping generations: such generations have some specific time interval of life and their old generations are replaced by new generations after some regular interval of time. Keeping in mind the dynamical reliability of continuous-time models we presented two discrete-time plant-herbivore models.

Mechanistic efficacy assessment of selected novel methanimine derivatives against vincristine induced Neuropathy: In-vivo, Ex-vivo and In-silico correlates.

Vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is a serious untoward side effect suffered by cancer patients, which still lacks an adequate therapeutic approach. This study examined the alleviating potential of novel methanimine derivatives i.e.

Response of mixed bacterial culture towards dibenzothiophene desulfurization under the influence of surfactants and microscopically (SEM and TEM) characterized magnetic Fe O nanoparticles.

Excessive emission of sulfur dioxides from the combustion of coal and other fossil fuels for thermal and industrial purposes has been associated with serious environmental hazards. Biodesulfisation (BDS) can be an effective approach for reducing the impact of toxic gases to its inbuilt operational feasibility under ambient environmental conditions. In the present research, two strategies for BDS of a standard organosulfur compound such as dibenzothiophene (DBT) were investigated under laboratory conditions.

Executive Function Touch battery: Translation and preliminary measure validation for Pakistani preschoolers.

Keeping in mind the importance of measuring early executive function (EF) skills in low and middle-income countries, the present study examined the feasibility and preliminary psychometric properties of a performance-based computerized EF measure; EF Touch, to be used with Pakistani preschoolers. Review of the content and Urdu translation of verbal instruction EF Touch battery was carried out by subject matter experts before data collection from the 120 preschoolers aged between 3.1 to 5.

Green synthesis of biocompatible core-shell (Au-Ag) and hybrid (Au-ZnO and Ag-ZnO) bimetallic nanoparticles and evaluation of their potential antibacterial, antidiabetic, antiglycation and anticancer activities.

The fabrication of bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) using plant extracts is applauded since it is an environmentally and biologically safe method. In this research, leaf extract was utilized to bioreduce metal ions for the production of therapeutically important core-shell Au-Ag and hybrid (Au-ZnO and Ag-ZnO) BNPs. The phytochemical profiling of the leaf extract in terms of total phenolic and flavonoid content is attributed to its high free radical scavenging activity.

Light-emitting diode (LED)-directed green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and evaluation of their multifaceted clinical and biological activities.

The trend of using plant extracts for the synthesis of nanoparticles has increased in recent years due to environmental safety, low cost, simplicity and sustainability of the green route. Moreover, the morphology of NPs can be fine-tuned by applying abiotic factors such as LEDs, which enhance the bio-reduction of the precursor salt and excite phytochemicals during their green synthesis. Considering this, in present study, the green synthesis of AgNPs was carried out using leaf extract under the illumination of red, green, blue, yellow and white LEDs.

Biological Applications of Ball-Milled Synthesized Biochar-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite Using L.

Nanotechnology is one of the vital and quickly developing areas and has several uses in various commercial zones. Among the various types of metal oxide-based nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are frequently used because of their effective properties. The ZnO nanocomposites are risk-free and biodegradable biopolymers, and they are widely being applied in the biomedical and therapeutics fields.

Non-edible plant seeds of as a new and effective source for biofuel production.

Currently, the energy crisis is a hot topic for researchers because we are facing serious problems due to overpopulation and natural energy sources are vanishing day-by-day. To overcome the energy crisis, biofuel production from non-edible plant seeds is the best solution for the present era. In the present study, we select the non-edible seeds of for biofuel production from different areas of Pakistan with better oil production results.

Soft Substructures in Quantales and Their Approximations Based on Soft Relations.

The aim of this research article is to derive a new relation between rough sets and soft sets with an algebraic structure quantale by using soft binary relations. The aftersets and foresets are utilized to define lower approximation and upper approximation of soft subsets of quantales. As a consequence of this new relation, different characterization of rough soft substructures of quantales is obtained.