Sugarcane: Diseases Due to Pests, Pest Management Strategies and Factors Influencing the Production of Sugarcane

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum, L.) is the second major crop of Pakistan. It is not merely a significant sugar crop but also a resource of inclement notes for different agro-based industries in Pakistan. Sugarcane yields have been rigorously abridged in various parts of Asia as attacked by enormous number of insect pests and diseases. Changes in cropping patterns including the cultivation of high yielding varieties and hybrids have added to the problem in some areas. Plant breeding has been successful to some extent in keeping up with new and evolving diseases and pests. Innovation in agronomic practices, advent of chemicals for control, and more recently genetic engineering tools have been providing new opportunities for reduction of crop losses due to biotic pressures. Insect control is even more important as many viral diseases are transmitted by insects

Epidemiology of Onychomycosis in Gujranwala Division-Pakistan

Onychomycosis is a common fungal infection of nails. It is usually further divided into four types which are Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO), white superficial onychomycosis (WSO), proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO) and candidal onychomycosis (CO). The main causative agents of onychomycosis are three fungal forms: dermatophytes, yeasts, and non-dermatophytes molds. In current study, occurrence frequency of various types of onychomycosis was observed in a selected region of Pakistan. Collected data were statistically analyzed at 0.001% significance level by using single factor ANOVA for comparative examination on the basis of gender, age and onychomycosis types. Results indicated that males suffer more than females, adults are more prone to get onychomycosis attack and DLSO is frequently occurring than other forms. The root causes of this epidemiological trend were lack of personal hygiene and health care awareness among masses and knowledge about symptoms and effects of onychomycosis meanwhile poverty was also found as a leading indirect reason for the spread of this nail disorder. Future researchers should find out cost effect local alternatives for treatment and control of onychomycosis along with some general public awareness program

Shift to Online Learning: Response of Pakistani Visual Art Teachers During Pandemic and Post-Covid Era

This study aims to investigate the response of Visual art teachers to educational lockdown and shift to online learning at art institutions. The study employed qualitative phenomenological research design to investigate visual artists i.e., painters, sculptors, textile designers, graphic designers, and performing artists who were faculty members in five leading art institutions of Lahore. Data were collected by conducting a total of 15 interviews from each mentioned discipline. These interviews were conducted preferably in their studios, at their homes, or at times online through WhatsApp video calls. The data was analyzed thematically by using NVIVO 12 software. Findings – It was observed that new methodologies were devised by the faculty and art institutions to mitigate the pandemic upshot, however, virtual learning made it hard for the faculty to teach practice-based subjects. As a result, the assessment criteria were also affected. The study findings provide insight for art institutions and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to start preparing their systems to offer effective online teaching as a substitute for regular classes in Visual Arts. The researchers could not find any such study in the local context, and very few globally. Therefore, this study may serve as a baseline for further research

Psychological and psychotherapeutic challenges of COVID-19

Coronavirus is a deadly disease, classified on 30th January 2020, by the World Health Organization (WHO) that acknowledged the outburst of coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19), after several cases were reported from China’s 34 regions. In 2020 the virus originated from the wholesale seafood market in Wuhan (China)spreading life all around the world. Quarantine, restraints, and economic closure can change a whole psychological environment in all the countries having coronavirus. affect Although this situation should give several opportunities for personal growth and family unity, disadvantages may compensate for these benefits affecting the psychological health of children and adolescents. But in this difficult time anxiety, and stress are common due to lake of relationships and also due to a reduction in other opportunities other risk includes parents’ mental illness, domestic violence, and lack of treatment for the child during an illness. This was especially common in adolescents and children because they need special care thus causing disabilities, traumatic experiences, and mental health problems. With all these above-mentioned problems this was definitely a challenging time. In Italy where Covid-19 had severe effects on physical health but on mental health also and psychological issues are long-term and main challenges for our healthcare systems where mental health gain not as much important as other physical illnesses

Evolving visual arts’ faculty pedagogical skills through technology integration in higher education

This study is about the current status of technology’s usage by visual arts’ faculty members to enhance their pedagogical skills. It explores the impact of using technology in visual arts and the constraints in its integration. Researchers used qualitative research design to conduct this study. Data was collected, through semi-structured interviews, from faculty working in painting department of four institutions of Lahore, Pakistan. The findings of the study showed that faculty members were using technology for different purposes such as for art making, research and communications. However, at the same time, the use of technology was limited due to various factors, such as, insufficient funding, lack of training, teachers’ un-willing attitude and deficiency in curriculum regarding technology integration

Directly printable moisture sensor tag for intelligent packaging

A compact, flexible 24-b dual-polarized chipless radio frequency identification tag with a size of 20.6mm × 19.9mm is realized. The tag structure is optimized and analyzed for Taconic, Kapton TIN and organic substrate. The prototype fabricated on TIP photopaper with silver nanoparticles-based conductive ink is exhibiting a behavior of moisture sensor. The proposed moisture sensor tag has a bandwidth of 13.5GTIz. The direct printability of moisture sensor tag makes it suitable for intelligent packaging and various low-cost applications

Drought-induced changes in plant-yield interlinked biochemistry of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) by exogenously applied alpha-tocopherol

To assess the potential of exogenously-applied vitamin E commonly known as alpha-tocopherol (α-TOC) in drought stress tolerance, an experiment was performed on cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) plants. Two cultivars (TCF-605 and White Figer) of cauliflower were subjected to control and drought stress conditions. After thirty days of drought stress treatment, cauliflower plants were treated with α-TOC (150 and 300 mg/L) as a foliage spray. Drought stress markedly inhibited the plant biomass, leaf characteristics such as relative water contents (RWC), chlorophyll pigments (a and b), proline, ascorbic acid (AsA), GB, however it elevated RMP, total phenolics, activities of antioxidant enzymes e.g., CAT, SOD and POD. Drought stress also adversely affected curd characteristics including its fresh weight, GB, proline, total phenolics and enzymes activities (SOD and CAT). Exogenously applied α-TOC considerably suppressed RMP, while it improved plant growth, yield, RWC, total phenolics, ascorbic acid and POD, SOD, and CAT enzyme activities in the leaves of the cauliflower. Exogenous application of α-TOC also raised curd total phenolics, AsA and the activities of all observed enzymes under water deficiency. The cv. TCF-605 was better in shoot weight, shoot length, RWC, proline as well as GB contents, while cv. White Figer was higher in leaf RMP, proline and AsA levels under drought stress conditions. Overall, the results exhibited that cauliflower cv. TCF-605 was relatively tolerant to water stress in relation to growth and yield outcomes, which was interlinked with α-TOC-induced improved leaf and curd osmoprotection and antioxidative defense system. So, exogenous application of α-TOC can be suggested for improving growth and yield potential of crops subjected to drought stress