Atomic diffusion in liquid gallium and gallium-nickel alloys probed by quasielastic neutron scattering and molecular dynamic simulations

The atomic mobility in liquid pure gallium and a gallium-nickel alloy with 2 at% of nickel is studied experimentally by incoherent quasielastic neutron scattering. The integral diffusion coefficients for all-atom diffusion are derived from the experimental data at different temperatures. DFT-basedab-initiomolecular dynamics (MD) is used to find numerically the diffusion coefficient of liquid gallium at different temperatures, and numerical theory results well agree with the experimental findings at temperatures below 500 K. Machine learning force fields derived fromab-initiomolecular dynamics (AIMD) overestimate within a small 6% error the diffusion coefficient of pure gallium within the genuine AIMD. However, they better agree with experiment for pure gallium and enable the numerical finding of the diffusion coefficient of nickel in the considered melted alloy along with the diffusion coefficient of gallium and integral diffusion coefficient, that agrees with the corresponding experimental values within the error bars. The temperature dependence of the gallium diffusion coefficientDGa(T)follows the Arrhenius law experimentally for all studied temperatures and below 500 K also in the numerical simulations. However,DGa(T)can be well described alternatively by an Einstein-Stokes dependence with the metallic liquid viscosity following the Arrhenius law, especially for the MD simulation results at all studied temperatures. Moreover, a novel variant of the excess entropy scaling theory rationalized our findings for gallium diffusion. Obtained values of the Arrhenius activation energies are profoundly different in the competing theoretical descriptions, which is explained by different temperature-dependent prefactors in the corresponding theories. The diffusion coefficient of gallium is significantly reduced (at the same temperature) in a melted alloy with natural nickel, even at a tiny 2 at% concentration of nickel, as compared with its pure gallium value. This highly surprising behavior contradicts the existing excess entropy scaling theories and opens a venue for further research.

Screening and validation of salt-stress responsive cg-SSR markers in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm of Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Soil salinity has been affecting wheat production worldwide over past few decades. Evaluation of wheat genotypes for salinity tolerance at germination and vegetative growth level is crucial. Marker assisted selection is a technique used extensively for choosing salt-tolerant genotypes from breeding populations to introduce novel genes.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The current study's main goal was to discover salt-stress resistant genes; genetic divergence and genome-wide connection by using recently designed candidate gene-based simple-sequence-repeat markers (cg-SSRs). The phenotypic connection of morphological features during the germination growth stage i.e., germination period, root length/weight and shoot length/weight, and vegetative growth stages i.e., root length/weight and shoot length/weight were tested in a group of 50 wheat genotypes. Significant difference was observed in germination rate, root length and weight among control and saline treatments.

CONCLUSION

Total 30 SSR markers were utilized to test salinity resistance genes in wheat genotypes. Three (10%) of which were monomorphic, one (3.34%) showed no result, and the other 26 (86%) were polymorphic. Using 30 polymorphic markers discovered total 37 alleles. The polymorphic information content (PIC), quantifies each SSR locus capacity to discriminate between wheat, varied from 0.00 to 0.38 with an average of 0.19. Association analysis revealed that 26 primers were associated with morphological features, 03 with root length and the remaining 23 with germination. Utilizing morphological data, stress tolerance index (STI) was designed concluding that Auqab-2000, Margala-99 and Ufaq showed better resistance against salinity among other wheat genotypes. Cluster analysis demonstrated that wheat genotypes have vast genetic variability.

Molecular characterization of Aeromonas hydrophila isolates from diseased fishes in district Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract Pakistan is an agricultural country and fisheries play a very important role in the economic development of the country. Different diseases are prevalent in Pakistani fish but information related to the causative agents is not well-known. Keeping in view the significance of bacterial pathogens as the causative agents of multiple fish diseases, the present study was conducted for identification, characterization and analysis of virulence genes of Aeromonas spp. isolated from diseased fishes. A total of fifty fish samples having multiple clinical indications were collected from different fish farms of district Kasur, Punjab Pakistan. For isolation of Aeromonas spp. samples were enriched and inoculated on Aeromonas isolation medium. Isolates were identified and characterized by different biochemical tests, Analytical Profile Index (API) 20E kit and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assays. All isolates were screened for three putative virulence genes including aerolysin (aer), haemolysin (hyl) and heat labile cytotonic enterotoxin (alt). Seven isolates of Aeromonas (A.) hydrophila were retrieved and identified based on API 20E. These isolates were further confirmed as A. hydrophila on the basis of PCR assays. Three isolates were detected positive for the presence of virulence genes (alt and hyl). Whereas aerolysin (aer) gene was not present in any of A. hydrophila isolates. The present study confirmed A. hydrophila as the causative agent of epizootic ulcerative syndrome and motile Aeromonas septicemia in fish farms of district Kasur, Punjab Pakistan. Moreover, detection of two virulence genes (alt and hyl) in A. hydrophila isolates is a threat for fish consumers of study area.

Characterization of wheat-Thinopyrum bessarabicum genetic stock for stripe rust and Karnal bunt resistance

Utilization of modern breeding techniques for developing high yielding and uniform plant types ultimately narrowing the genetic makeup of most crops. Narrowed genetic makeup of these crops has made them vulnerable towards disease and insect epidemics. For sustainable crop production, genetic variability of these crops must be broadened against various biotic and abiotic stresses. One of the ways to widen genetic configuration of these crops is to identify novel additional sources of durable resistance. In this regard crops wild relatives are providing valuable sources of allelic diversity towards various biotic, abiotic stress tolerance and quality components. For incorporating novel variability from wild relative's wide hybridization technique has become a promising breeding method. For this purpose, wheat-Th. bessarabicum amphiploid, addition and translocation lines have been screened in field and screen house conditions to get novel sources of yellow rust and Karnal bunt resistant. Stripe rust screening under field conditions has revealed addition lines 4JJ and 6JJ as resistant to moderately resistant while addition lines 3JJ, 5JJ, 7JJ and translocation lines Tr-3, Tr-6 as moderately resistant wheat-Thinopyrum-bessarabicum genetic stock. Karnal bunt screening depicted addition lines 5JJ and 4JJ as highly resistant genetic stock. These genetic stocks may be used to introgression novel stripe rust and Karnal bunt resistance from the tertiary gene pool into susceptible wheat backgrounds.

Impact of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on Cry1Ac protein contents in transgenic cotton

Application of different fertilizers to check the efficiency of expression of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) gene in one of the leading commercialized crops (cotton) against Lepidopteran species is of great concern. The expression of Cry protein level can be controlled by the improvement of nutrients levels. Therefore, the myth of response of Cry toxin to different combinations of NP fertilizers was explored in three Bt cotton cultivars. Combinations include three levels of nitrogen and three levels of phosphorus fertilizers. Immunostrips and Cry gene(s) specific primer based PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis were used for the presence of Bt gene that unveiled the presence of Cry1Ac gene only. Further, the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit was used to quantify the expression of Cry1Ac protein. Under various NP fertilizers rates, the level of toxin protein exhibited highly significant differences. The highest toxin level mean was found to be 2.3740 and 2.1732 µg/g under the treatment of N150P75 kg ha-1 combination while the lowest toxin level mean was found to be 0.9158 and 0.7641 µg/g at the N50P25 kg ha-1 level at 80 and 120 DAS (Days After Sowing), respectively. It was concluded from the research that the usage of NP fertilizers has a positive relation with the expression of Cry1Ac toxin in Bt cotton. We recommend using the N150P50 kg ha-1 level as the most economical and practicable fertilizer instead of the standard dose N100P50 kg ha-1 to get the desired level of Cry1Ac level for long lasting plant resistance (<1.5). The revised dose of fertilizer may help farmers to avoid the cross-resistance development in contradiction of insect pests.

Prescription understanding among out-patients in government and private hospitals: A cross-sectional study in Lahore, Pakistan

INTRODUCTION

Like many other countries, Pakistan's healthcare system is divided into the public and the private sector. According to some studies and the mindset of many Pakistani people, private hospitals provide better services than government hospitals.

PURPOSE

The paucity of research studies compelled us to compare the understanding of prescription among outpatients of the government and private hospitals since the understanding of prescription by the patient is an important patient care indicator according to WHO.

METHOD

A cross sectional study was conducted by virtue of convenience sampling. The study included 365 patients; 182 from the government sector and 183 from the private sector. The study was conducted over a period of 3 months. A structured questionnaire was prepared to gather data that was analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0.

RESULTS

Patients from both government and private hospitals got no counseling while only 45.9% of the government hospital patients and 65.9% of private hospital patients were satisfied with the counseling they received. Our study concluded that the role of a pharmacist must be extended besides dispensing only, in counseling and educating patients to reduce the burden on the physicians and hospitals as well.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that although the patients of private hospitals scored somewhat better at answering the questions than the government hospital patients but they failed to hit the benchmark. Their slightly better results were attributed to higher education levels and better socioeconomic status rather than better services of the hospital.

Predictors of major bleeding following an acute coronary event: insights from a national study of 5,116 consecutive patients in clinical practice

Background

Major bleeding after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) predicts a poor outcome. Although predictors of major bleeding following ACS have been validated, these have been mostly in clinical trial populations and few contemporary analyses have been undertaken in clinical practise

Methods

Major bleeding was assessed in a national study of ACS and antiplatelet choice. A total of 5116 consecutive patients [Clopidogrel (n 2,491, 2011–13) and Ticagrelor (n 2,625, 2013–16)] were enrolled in 5 UK hospitals. Clinical outcomes were identified from a national coding database (n=59.5 million) with bleeding events tracked to 11 health care facilities. Bleed severity was independently adjudicated by 2 consultant cardiologists, blinded to antiplatelet, sequence and year. Bleeding events were categorised using BARC 3–5 and PLATO criteria. A logistic regression analysis was used to define independent predictors of bleeding.

Results

The median age was 68 (IQR57–78, 30.5%&gt;75), 34% were female. 39% underwent PCI and 13% coronary artery bypass surgery. Clinical outcome data was 100% complete. 1-year mortality was 12.9%. Of 1193 icd10 codes for bleeding or anaemia 165 (3.2%) and 193 (3.8%) patients were adjudicated to have suffered a BARC 3–5 and PLATO major bleeding respectively. Independent predictors common between PLATO major and BARC 3–5 bleeding, in the year following ACS, were CRUSADE score &gt;40 (OR 1.63, CI 1.1–2.4, p=0.008) moderate left ventricular systolic dysfunction (OR, 1.65, CI: 1.2–2.4, p=0.006), age (OR per year increase in age 1.03, CI 1.02–1.05, p&lt;0.001) and subsequent coronary artery bypass surgery (OR 2.6, CI 1.8–3.8, p&lt;0.001)

Conclusion

In a broad real-world population of ACS, CRUSADE score &gt;40, incorporating simple clinical and laboratory criteria, remained an independent predictor of major bleeding using 2 internationally recognised bleed criteria

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Liverpool university hospitals; North-West Educational Cardiac Group

Application of 0D model of blood flow to study vessel abnormalities in the human systemic circulation: An in-silico study

In this paper, a multi-compartment 0D model of the blood flow is considered to study the vessel abnormalities (stenoses and aneurysms) in the human systemic circulation (SC). In the complete SC, different levels of stenosis and aneurysms are artificially created by decreasing and increasing the vessel diameters respectively and their effects on pressure and flow are studied using sensitivity analysis (SA). Normalized local sensitivity analysis (LSA) is used to study the impact of stenosis and aneurysms on pressure and flow wave pattern. Furthermore, global sensitivity analysis (GSA), Sobol’s method is used to quantify the overall influence of stenoses and aneurysms in the complete SC.

The results of global sensitivity analysis revealed that the impact of both stenoses and aneurysms is strong within the individual structures (arm, legs, carotid bifurcation, aorta), while, aortic stenoses and aneurysms have effect on almost all downstream nodes. Moreover, the study could be useful for medical doctors, teachers and students to observe the hemodynamical changes in the SC with respect to vessel abnormalities, which could further help in making any clinical decision for patients having different levels of vessel abnormalities in any part or structure of the SC.

Report-Physicochemical and Antimicrobial properties of canola (Brassica napus L.) seed oil

Canola oil has been used in the Pakistan for the treatment of various diseases and skin infections. Oil was extracted with n-hexane from the seeds of canola (Brassica napus L.) and was evaluated for free fatty acid value. Four microorganisms namely; Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas originals, and Klebsiella pneumonia, has known to cause some infections treatable with these oils were investigated. The results showed that all oil shown inhibitory effects against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas originals but no inhibitory effects was found against Staphylococcus aureus.

Genetic Variation for Salinity Tolerance in Pakistani Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Germplasm

Soil salinity is one of the major production constraints. Development and planting of salt‐tolerant varieties can reduce yield losses due to salinity. We screened 185 rice genotypes at germination stage in petri dishes under control, 50, 100 and 150 mm salt stress, and at seedling stage in Yoshida's hydroponic nutrient solution under control, 50 and 100 mm salt stress. At germination stage, 15 genotypes including Nona Bokra, Sonahri Kangni, 7421, 7423 and 7467, whereas at seedling stage, 28 genotypes including Nona Bokra, Jajai‐77, KSK‐133, KSK‐282, Fakhr‐e‐Malakand, Pakhal, IR‐6, Khushboo‐95, Shahkar and Shua‐92 were found salt tolerant. Basmati‐370, Mushkan, Homo‐46 and accessions 7436, 7437 and 7720 were sensitive to salinity at both germination and seedling stage. We further screened a subset of 33 salt‐tolerant and salt‐sensitive genotypes with SSR markers. Four SSR markers (RM19, RM171, RM172 and RM189) showed significant association with two or more of the studied traits under 50, 100 and 150 mm salt stress. These markers may be further tested for their potential in marker‐assisted selection. The salt‐tolerant genotypes identified in this study may prove useful in the development of salt‐tolerant rice varieties in adapted genetic background.

Kushneria pakistanensis sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from rhizosphere of a plant (Saccharum spontaneum) growing in salt mines of the Karak area in Pakistan

The taxonomic position of a Gram-stain negative, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated NCCP-934(T), was investigated using polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain NCCP-934(T) was isolated from rhizosphere of a plant (Saccharum spontaneum, family Poaceae) growing in salt mines area in the Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Cells of strain NCCP-934(T) are rod shaped and motile. The bacterium is strictly aerobic, can grow at a temperature range of 10-40 °C (optimum at 30-33 °C) and in a pH range of 6.0-10.5 (optimum pH 7.0-9.0). The strain can tolerate 1-30 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal growth occurs in the presence of approximately 3-9 % NaCl). The phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, showed that strain NCCP-934(T) belongs to the genus Kushneria with the highest sequence similarity to K. marisflavi SW32(T) (98.9 %), K. indalinina CG2.1(T) (98.7 %), K. avicenniae MW2a(T) (98.4 %) and less than 97 % similarity with other related species (94.7 % with the type species of the genus, K. aurantia A10(T)). DNA-DNA relatedness between strain NCCP-934(T) and the type strains of the closely related species was lower than 18 %. The chemotaxonomic data (major respiratory quinone, Q9; predominant fatty acids, C18:1 ω7c and C16:0 followed by C12:0 3-OH and Summed features 3 (C16:1 ω7c/iso-C15:0 2-OH); major polar lipids, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol and three polar lipid of unknown structure) supported the affiliation of strain NCCP-934(T) within the genus Kushneria. The DNA G+C content of strain NCCP-934(T) was 59.2 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain NCCP-934(T) can be distinguished from the closely related taxa and thus represents a novel species in the genus Kushneria, for which the name Kushneria pakistanensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain NCCP-934(T) (=LMG 28525(T) = KCTC 42082(T) = JCM 18802(T)).

A novel optimized parallelization strategy to accelerate microwave tomography for breast cancer screening

Microwave tomography has been proven to successfully reconstruct the dielectric profile of a human breast when used in breast imaging applications, thereby providing an alternative to other imaging modalities. However, the method suffers from high computational requirements which restrict its use in practical imaging systems. This paper presents a novel parallelization strategy to accelerate microwave tomography for reconstruction of the dielectric properties of the human breast. A Time Domain algorithm using this parallelization strategy has been validated and benchmarked against an optimized sequential implementation on a conventional high-end desktop Central Processing Unit (CPU), and a comparison of throughput is presented in this paper. The gain in computational throughput is shown to be significantly higher compared with the sequential implementation, ranging from a factor of 26 to 58, on imaging grid sizes of up to 25 cm square at 1 mm resolution.

Proteomics analysis of sensitive and tolerant barley genotypes under drought stress

Drought is a severe environmental constraint to plant productivity and an important factor limiting barley yield. To investigate the initial response of barley to drought stress, changes in protein profile were analyzed using a proteomics technique. Three-day-old barley seedlings of sensitive genotype 004186 and tolerant genotype 004223 were given two treatments, one with 20 % polyethylene glycol and the second with drought induced by withholding water. After 3 days of treatments, proteins were extracted from shoots and separated by 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Metabolism related proteins were decreased in the sensitive genotype under drought; however, they were increased in the tolerant genotype. Photosynthetic related proteins were decreased and increased among the three sensitive and three tolerant genotypes, respectively. In addition, amino acid synthesis and degradation related proteins were increased and decreased among the three tolerant genotypes. These results suggest that chloroplastic metabolism and energy related proteins might play a significant role in the adaptation process of barley seedlings under drought stress.

Evaluation of wheat landrace genotypes for salinity tolerance at vegetative stage by using morphological and molecular markers

Identification of new sources of salt tolerance is particularly important to develop crop varieties suitable for saline soils. We evaluated 129 Pakistani and 58 exotic wheat landraces/cultivars grown in Hoagland's hydroponic nutrient solution, under control (tap water equivalent to 10 mM salt) and salt stress (200 mM NaCl) conditions. Forty-four genotypes were also tested under 250 mM NaCl stress. High heritability and positive correlations suggested that number of tillers per plant, root length, root fresh and dry weights, and shoot fresh and dry weights are associated with salt tolerance and could be used as selection criteria. SSR markers revealed high genetic variation in the wheat genotypes. Twelve SSR markers (cfd 1, cfd 9, cfd 18, cfd 46, cfd 49, cfd 183, wmc 11, wmc 17, wmc 18, wmc 154, wmc 432, and wmc 503) were found to be associated with salt tolerance because they were amplified in tolerant genotypes only. Five markers, cfd 9, cfd 18, cfd 183, wmc 96, and wmc 405, were identified as most suitable to evaluate salt tolerance because they were associated with four or more salt tolerance traits studied. Cultivars Pasban 90, accessions 10790, 10828, 10823, and 4098805 from Pakistan and Sakha-92 from Egypt performed best at both stress levels.

Silicone Foley catheters outperform latex Foley catheters for post-nasal packing: an in-vitro study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the best Foley catheter and inflation fluid for post-nasal packing.

DESIGN

Experimental study.

SETTING

District General Hospital (Wexham Park Hospital).

MATERIALS

108 latex and 108 silicone catheters were directly compared.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Catheters were analysed according to the inflation fluid instilled and the use of an umbilical clamp. Analysis occurred at 24, 36, 48 and 72 h periods after being placed in humidified incubator at 37 degrees C. The main outcome measure was whether deflation was possible at specified times. The secondary outcome measure was an attempt to identify the failure point in those catheters that failed to deflate.

RESULTS

Air was found to be an unsuitable inflation fluid for either silicone or latex catheters due to a 100% spontaneous deflation rate within a 24-h period. Silicone catheters were found to be 100% reliable when inflated with water or saline, irrespective of the use of a clamp. Latex catheters were unreliable with an overall failure rate of 30%. This high failure rate was related both to the use of an umbilical clamp to secure the catheter and to the use of saline as the inflation medium.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Firstly, air should not be used for inflation of catheters unless specified in manufacturer's instructions. Secondly, when Foley catheters are used for post-nasal packing, silicone should be considered the first choice of catheter type. If not available, latex ones may be used but should be inflated with water and secured with a non-crushing clamp at the alar rim.

Prevalence of seromarkers of HBV and HCV in health care personnel and apparently healthy blood donors

Ninety-five health care workers and 91 controls were screened for seromarkers of both HBV (HBsAg, HBeAg, Anti-HBc) and HCV (anti-HCV) by ELISA. The control group showed a much higher frequency of seromarkers for both the viruses. HBsAg was positive in 5% of study group (health care personnel) and 14% of controls. Anti-HBc as a marker of past HBV-exposure was positive in 28% of study group as compared to 36% of controls. Overall, 33% of study group and 48% of control showed one or the other marker of HBV Anti-HCV was positive in 4% of study group and 14% of controls. This study suggests that health care workers are not particularly a high risk group as compared to rest of the population.

Sero-diagnosis for viral hepatitis in 93 patients admitted with acute hepatitis in three different teaching hospitals in Lahore

Serodiagnosis was done in 93 patients admitted with acute viral hepatitis (AVH) to three teaching hospitals in Lahore. Five (5.4%) had hepatitis A, 39 (41.9%) hepatitis B (2 of these were anti delta positive) [see erratum notice], 44 (47.3%) probable hepatitis E and 3(3.2%) had HAV/HBV co-infection. Antibody to hepatitis C (anti HCV) was detected in 6 patients (6.4%); 2 with HBV and 4 with probable HEV infection. Excluding 39 patients with hepatitis B and 3 with HBV as part of co-infection, there was evidence of previous HBV infection in 39 out of the remaining 51 patients. In the subset of 6 children, 3 had hepatitis A and 3 hepatitis E. Of these, 5 had evidence of previous exposure to HBV and one was also positive for anti HCV. Our results are suggestive of a strong background of HBV infection raising concern about its chronic sequelae in the community.