Plant-Derived bioactive compounds as Skin Photo protection Agents

Exposure to the sun is unavoidable in daily life. Ultra-violet radiations are the major component of sunlight and play a significant role in damaging the skin. They induce many skin problems like erythema, sun burn, rashes as well as skin cancer. Although the protective layer of earth, the ozone layer, filters most of the damaging radiations from the sun, with the dramatic rise in pollution, global warming is reaching at its peak point. These pollutants deteriorate the protective ozone layer of earth, resulting in its thinning which in turn allows the passage of hazardous solar radiations to the earth. These radiations act as the most potent irritant for the skin cells. In order to avoid these hazardous effects of UV radiations, there is an emerging demand for the use of photo protectants. Manufacturers of various cosmetic and skin care companies are focusing on natural compounds to deal with skin problems caused by UV radiations. It includes phytochemicals and bioactive compounds from the plants. As these are natural and economic, they don’t leave any damaging effect on the body and are the best photo protectants against UV radiations. There are several plants with their chemical compounds derived and studied for their photoprotective role. Most of them are proven best for cosmetic remedies. This review will provide a look over the plant-derived bioactive compounds of Southeast Asia with their photo protectant effect

Development and application of spectrophotometric method for the determination of cefaclor in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple, fast and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of cefaclor in pharmaceutical raw and dosage forms based on reaction with ninhydrin is developed, optimized and validated. The purple color (Ruhemenn's purple) that resulted from the reaction was stabilized and measured at 560 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 4-80 µg mL-1 with molar absorptivity of 1.42 × 10(5) L mole-1 cm-1. All variables including the reagent concentration, heating time, reaction temperature, color stability period, and cefaclor/ninhydrin ratio were studied in order to optimize the reaction conditions. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical adjuvant. The developed method is easy to use, accurate and highly cost-effective for routine studies relative to HPLC and other techniques

An Evaluation of Growth Characteristics of Faba Bean Cultivars

Resistance to herbicides and the lack of new herbicide options have led researchers to explore alternate methods to manage weed populations in large-scale cropping systems. Crop competition is an effective weed management approach that can reduce the pressure on herbicides. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important winter legume crop in Australia. Crop traits such as, height, biomass, growth rate, tillering capacity, leaf area, and root growth have been suggested as indicators of the competitive ability of crops against weeds. Based on pot studies at Narrabri and Toowoomba, we assessed the growth traits (biomass, height, leaf area, relative growth rate, and branch number) of six faba bean cultivars and ranked them for their potential ability to compete with weeds. PBA Marne and PBA Zahra were identified as highly competitive faba bean cultivars based on their higher overall ranking score achieved at both locations. PBA Nasma and PBA Samira were ranked highly and moderately competitive at Narrabri and Toowoomba sites, respectively. At Narrabri, PBA Nanu was ranked poorly competitive based on its lower biomass, height, and leaf area than the other cultivars. The weed suppressive ability of these cultivars needs to be assessed in the presence of weeds under field conditions

Climate Changes and its Impact on the Agriculture Sector in Selected South Asian Countries

This study depicts an inclusive estimation of climate variation and its effects on agriculture sector in theselected South Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri-Lanka) over the period of 1990-2014. Agriculture sector plays vigorous role in the economy of selected South Asian states because more than 60%people work in this sector. The rapid growth of industrialization and weather variation causes the raise of thetemperature level by which reduce production of agriculture crops and the people face heavy losses. Therefore, mainobjective of this study is to detect the influence of the global weather variation in agriculture sector of selected SouthAsian countries. Agriculture sector is used as dependent variable. CO2 emission, gross capital formation, labor forceand temperature are used as explanatory variables. Auto regressive distributed lag model is employed to examine theinfluence of climate variation on the agricultural sector. For analysis panel data were collected from selected SouthAsian countries. The existence of the short and long term relationship between dependent and independent variables isalso assessed by this model. Thus, findings show the climate variation has significant effect on the agricultural sector.In a policy recommendation, government should use sector-wise policies and friendly environmental policies whichminimize the negative effect of climate change

Perceived Stress among Students in Medical/Dental and Allied Health Universities in Pakistan due to COVID-19 Pandemic

  Objective: Aim of the study was to explore the perceived stress in students at various medical and dental universities across Pakistan during the COVID 19 pandemic, using a validated scale.Materials and Methods: The study took place at the Institute of Psychiatry (IOP) Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU). Results: About 400 medical students participated countrywide. The final analysis was conducted on 333 participants who completed the survey form. Study participants comprised 69.1% female and 30.9% male students. About 74.5% of the participants represented Punjab province, 1.2% were from Sindh, another 1.2% belonged to Baluchistan, 2.4% were from KPK, and 1.5% were from AJK while 19.2% of them resided in Islamabad. The majority of participants were enrolled in MBBS (78.4%) while the rest were from BDS (3%), Allied Health Sciences (12.9%), Clinical Psychology (3.6%), and Pharm D (2.1%).The mean perceived stress score was 21.34, SD=4.90 suggesting high perceived stress levels. Approximately 4.5% of students perceived low levels of stress, 80.2% perceived moderate stress, whereas 15.3% scored high on the perceived stress scale. Male students had statistically significant (p=0.38) lower stress levels (M=19.99, SD=5.91) as compared to females (M= 21.95, SD= 4.26). Conclusions: Perceived stress level in medical students was alarmingly high and requires urgent intervention by the Medical and Dental Universities for immediate action and policy guidance for early identification and effective management. This can be achieved by delivering targeted e-workshops and evidence-based e-trainings for stress management like psychological first aid and mindfulness techniques

The Relationship between Product Nature and Supply Chain Strategy; An empirical evidence

Abstract The purpose of the paper is to explore the relationship between the nature of product and respective supply chain strategy of the firms operation in manufacturing sector. The relationship is investigated by using the fishers model as conceptual framework. Data was collected through questionnaire-based self-administered survey. The results of the survey were analysed by testing the fishers model related to Supply Chain Strategy and product characteristics. The results of the study indicated that there is a significant relationship between nature of the product and supply chain strategy in manufacturing sector of Pakistan. The practical implication can be derived by the policy makers and practitioners of the supply chain strategy domain that characteristics of the product can have an impact of the decision to device supply chain strategy. Furthermore, this study is conducted in special context of underdeveloped country like Pakistan. Therefore, results of this study enhanced the existing literature on underdeveloped economies

The additive effect of a stem galling moth and a competitive plant on parthenium weed under CO2 enrichment

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) is a highly invasive plant that has invaded many parts of world including Australia. The present study reports on the effects of rising [CO2] on the performance of one of its biological control agents, stem-galling moth (Epiblema strenuana) when combined with a competitive plant, buffel grass (Cenchrus cilliaris). The study was carried out under controlled environment facilities during 2010–11. P. hysterophorus when grown under elevated [CO2] of 550 µmol mol−1, produced a greater biomass (27%), attained greater stature (31%), produced more branches (45%) and seeds plant−1 (20%), than those grown at ambient [CO2] of 380 µmol mol−1. Buffel grass reduced the biomass and seed production of P. hysterophorus plants by 33% and 22% under ambient [CO2] and by 19% and 17% under elevated [CO2], respectively. The combined effect of buffel grass and E. strenuana reduced dry biomass and seed production by 42% and 72% under ambient [CO2] and 29% and 37% elevated [CO2], respectively. Although the suppressive effect was different between ambient and elevated [CO2], the effect is likely to be retained. Stem gall formation by E. strenuana significantly enhanced the lateral branch production in plants grown under both [CO2]. Epiblema strenuana did not reduce the seed production of P. hysterophorus under the elevated [CO2] nevertheless, our earlier study had confirmed that many of the seeds produced under such conditions are not filled. This study has highlighted that the additive suppressive effect of E. strenuana and buffel grass on P. hysterophorus growth would be retained under future atmospheric CO2 enrichment

The additive effect of a stem galling moth and a competitive plant on parthenium weed under CO2 enrichment

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) is a highly invasive plant that has invaded many parts of world including Australia. The present study reports on the effects of rising [CO2] on the performance of one of its biological control agents, stem-galling moth (Epiblema strenuana) when combined with a competitive plant, buffel grass (Cenchrus cilliaris). The study was carried out under controlled environment facilities during 2010–11. P. hysterophorus when grown under elevated [CO2] of 550 µmol mol−1, produced a greater biomass (27%), attained greater stature (31%), produced more branches (45%) and seeds plant−1 (20%), than those grown at ambient [CO2] of 380 µmol mol−1. Buffel grass reduced the biomass and seed production of P. hysterophorus plants by 33% and 22% under ambient [CO2] and by 19% and 17% under elevated [CO2], respectively. The combined effect of buffel grass and E. strenuana reduced dry biomass and seed production by 42% and 72% under ambient [CO2] and 29% and 37% elevated [CO2], respectively. Although the suppressive effect was different between ambient and elevated [CO2], the effect is likely to be retained. Stem gall formation by E. strenuana significantly enhanced the lateral branch production in plants grown under both [CO2]. Epiblema strenuana did not reduce the seed production of P. hysterophorus under the elevated [CO2] nevertheless, our earlier study had confirmed that many of the seeds produced under such conditions are not filled. This study has highlighted that the additive suppressive effect of E. strenuana and buffel grass on P. hysterophorus growth would be retained under future atmospheric CO2 enrichment