Tris-diamine-derived transition metal complexes of flurbiprofen as cholinesterase inhibitors

Purpose: To synthesize novel tris-diamine-derived transition metal  complexes of flurbiprofen M(C2H8N2)3 (fp)2 and M(C3H10N2)3 (fp)2, and to evaluate their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities.Method: Tris-diamine-derived transition metal complexes of Co(II),  Ni(II), and Mn(II) were synthesized and characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, conductivity  measurement and single crystal x-ray analysis. The synthesized  complexes were also evaluated for their AChE and BChE inhibitory activities.Results: Based on magnetic susceptibility and electronic studies, the synthesized complexes possessed distorted octahedral geometry.  Conductance measurements indicated that diamine-derived metal complexes of flurbiprofen were electrolytes, whereas, simple metal complexes of flurbiprofen were non-electrolytes. The structure of Ni (C2H8N2)3 (fp)2 was also confirmed by single crystal x-ray analysis. The synthesized metal complexes exhibited moderate-to-very good inhibition of AChE and BChE. In vitro assays revealed that Ni complexes were most active, with the least half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against AChE and BChE, compared to Co and Mn  complexes. Furthermore, 1, 2-diaminoethane-derived complexes were more potent, with lower IC50 values against both AChE and BChE, compared to 1,3-diaminopropane-derived complexes. Among the complexes, 4a and 5a revealed significant cholinesterase inhibitory activities relative to the standard drug, galantamine.Conclusion: All the synthesized metal complexes are active against  AChE and BChE, but only 4a and 5a are more active than the standard drug, galantamine, indicating their potential for drug development.Keywords: Flurbiprofen, Cholinesterase, Diamines, Galantamine, Metal complexes, Cholinesterase inhibitio

Interactive effects of vanadium and phosphorus on their uptake, growth and heat shock proteins in chickpea genotypes under hydroponic conditions

The present study was carried out to examine the interaction of vanadium and phosphorus and changes in heat shock genes to optimize the growth of chickpea genotypes. Two sets of hydroponic experiments were carried out using vanadium and phosphorus with five-level central composite design. Five levels of vanadium (0-1180 mu M) and phosphorus (0-100011 mu M) were used to evaluate their interactive effects. Plants fresh biomass and uptake of vanadium and phosphorus were influenced by vanadium and phosphorus application. Enhanced fresh biomass was most likely a result of increased phosphorus uptake by chickpea genotypes. Addition of vanadium induced toxic effects while, higher concentration of phosphorus alleviated its toxic effects. The obtained results also indicated that lower vanadium concentration promoted phosphorus absorption however; higher concentration of vanadium inhibited the phosphorus uptake. The morphological changes in leaves indicated that the cells were deformed and reduced in size when treated with higher vanadium levels with fixed phosphorus while, there was little deformation and reduction in cells size were observed when plants were treated with higher levels of phosphorus with fixed vanadium. Whereas, the proportion of deformation of cells were higher in Balkasar as compared to C-44 genotype. The results also showed that at elevated vanadium with fixed phosphorus, Hsp70 was expressed only in C-44 while, not in Balkasar however, Hsp90 and GAPDH showed non-significant results. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Acanthosis Nigricans in Obese and Non-Obese individuals

Aim: To determination of acanthosis nigricans frequency among the obese and non-obese patients.Place of study: The study was carried out in the Dermatology Department, General hospital, Lahore.Duration of study: The duration of the study was over a period of six months and the collection of data was performed from the November 2017 to March 2018.Methods: The study group consisted of 200 patients were obese and 200 patients were non-obese. Complete history was collected, complete clinical examination was performed and relevant investigations were conducted.Results: The mean age of obese patients was 32.3±11.1 years. The mean age of non-obese patients was 28.1±12.4 years. Females were the most common patients in the obese group i.e., 123 (61.5%) whereas males were 77 (38.5%). Males were the most common patients in the non-obese patients i.e. 143(71.5%) whereas females were 57(28.5%).Conclusion: Obese patients have high frequency of Acanthosis Nigricans as compared to non-obese patients.Keywords: Acamtjpsosmogrocams, obese, non-obes

Modified SERVQUAL model and effects of customer attitude and technology on customer satisfaction in banking industry: mediation, moderation and conditional process analysis

Banks are very important financial services sector, and in banking sector there is an intense competition amongst the local and foreign banks throughout the world. The objective of this research is to analyse the effects of perceived value and customer trust, and role of technology in banking service qualities and customers’ satisfaction in Pakistani context. For this purpose we employed modified SERVQUAL model with four dimensions such as empathy, competence, reliability, and online service. An adapted questionnaire was used to carry out this survey research, and collected 830 responses from the customers of Pakistani banking industry. We used factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and bootstrapping methods to carry out this research. The results of the study demonstrated that our four-dimensional model of modified SERVQUAL has a significant impact on overall customer satisfaction. It is further concluded from the bootstrapping method that modified SERVQUAL dimensions and customer satisfaction are positively mediated by the perceived value and trust. Finally, it is also concluded that the implementation of technology serves as moderating variable in the banking sector. The outcomes of this research are beneficial to the senior management of banking sector in order to implement the effective and customised online banking structure to gain competitive advantages, and provide vibrant online banking services that enhance the standard and ease of services to the customers and earn their confidence. The originality and novelty of this research provide a significant contribution in the application of SERVQUAL model specifically for the banking service quality dimensions and customer satisfaction in marketing research

Evaluation of nutritional amendments and fungicides against brown leaf spot of rice

Helminthosporium oryzae, the causal organism of bacterial leaf spot (BLS) has brought a tremendous loss of rice crop in the field. Rice seedlings of four commercial varieties (Nayab basmati, Kiran 434, Super basmati, and Pak 386) were screened against BLS in the field by using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The present experiment was encompassed the evaluation of fermented farmyard manure, leaf manure, Boron, and NPK solution against BLS. The effect of different fungicides (Score, Flumax, Melodyduo, and Polyram) was also checked on the mycelial growth of Helminthosporium oryzae in-vitro and in-vivo. The results showed that Pak 386 was highly resistant with 17.22% disease severity and Super Basmati was found moderately resistant with 22.31% disease severity; variety Kisan 434 was found moderately susceptible (24.15%) and Nayab Basmati (24.82%) was susceptible. Among all NPK solutions showed the best results in growth enhancement, plant vigor as well as reduction in disease severity followed by FFYM, boron and leaf manure. Under in-vitro conditions, all the fungicides performed best at 150 ppm in terms of colony growth reduction. The maximum growth inhibition was recorded in Score followed by Flumax, Melodyduo, and Polyram. Score gave a significant reduction in BLS disease severity and maximized the agronomic attributes. The fungicides performed best at 150 ppm in terms of colony growth reduction. The maximum growth inhibition was recorded in Score followed by Flumax, Melodyduo, and Polyram. Score gave a significant reduction in BLS disease severity and maximized the agronomic attributes

Does the Participation in CSR Activities Enhance Information Diffusion? Evidence from US Firms

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on firm-specific information diffusion from 1,219 non-financial US firms between 2000 and 2012. By using Arellano-Bond dynamic panel-data estimation, we found evidence that suggests that stock prices of socially responsible firms have higher levels of firm-specific information diffusion. However, the size of firms plays a negative moderating role in this relationship. There is a positive and significant relationship between primary (technical) CSR activities and information diffusion among larger firms, while this relationship is reversed for secondary (institutional) CSR activities for similar firms. This study contributes to existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the CSR-Informativeness relationship, the moderating role of firm size and identifying the importance of primary stakeholders’ CSR in US firms. This study has important policy implications for company management as it provides legitimacy to their CSR engagements, and to investors that CSR engagements should be considered as pricing factor

Comparison of Various Clinical Risk Assessment Tools in Predicting Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients Presenting in Emergency Department with Undifferentiated Cardiac Chest Pain

Objective: To compare the “HEART (History, ECG, Age, Risk factors, Troponin), GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events), and TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction)” scores in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients reporting with undifferentiated cardiac chest pain to the Emergency Department (ED). Study Design: Cross-sectional validation study Duration and place of Study: Emergency Department, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2021. Methodology: Two hundred and thirty-seven adult patients with atraumatic cardiac-like chest pain and non-diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) reporting to the ED were included in the study. HEART, GRACE and TIMI scores were calculated from the data. The number of patients with low risk was identified by each score and compared at a fixed safety level of minimum 95% sensitivity. The potential occurrence of MACE was confirmed using a telephonic follow-up six weeks after the presentation. Results: At an absolute safety level of minimum 95% sensitivity, the HEART score determined 101 patients as “low-risk” with 1.98% MACE missed. The GRACE score identified 49 “low-risk” patients with 4.08% MACE missed, and the TIMI score identified 66 “low-risk” patients with 3.03% MACE missed. Conclusion: Among the three scores under comparison, the HEART score performed better than the GRACE and TIMI scores at the same safety level and surpassed them in differentiating between those with MACE and without MACE

Frequency of Disc Degeneration at Different Levels of Lumbar Vertebrae in Adult Patients with Backache on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective:To Determine the Frequency of Disc Degeneration at Different Levels of lumbar Vertebrae in Adult Patients with lower back Pain on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Study Design: An analytical cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. Settings: The study was performed in Bashir Neurospine Institute and Al-Razi Healthcare center, Lahore. Period: An Analytical cross sectional study was conducted from 15 October,2020 to 15 January 2021. Material and Methods: In our study, all those adult patients with lower back pain, obese, dull ache, numbness, tingling, pins and needle sensations, muscles spasms were included. And those patients who were not giving consent, spondylosis, lumbar spine stenosis, cervical and thoracic abnormalities, paedes, and those who were uncooperative were excluded. Data was tabulated and analyze with the help of statistical package for the social science (SPSS version 24). The data was reported using cross sectional descriptive statistics. Results: In our research out of 160 patients 89 females and 51 males were those who  diagnosed with disc degeneration and 10 females and 10 male in which disc degeneration was absent. 10 patients out of 160 patients were those who diagnosed with disc degeneration at the level of L1 - L2 between the age of 24 to 87, 8 patients were those in which disc degeneration present at the level of L2- L3 between the age of 43 to 87, 31 patients were those in which disc degeneration present at the level of L3-L4 and  96 patients diagnosed with  disc degeneration present at the level of L4- L5 which is the lowest lumbar vertebra between the age of 55 to 80 years. Overall out of 160 patients only 3 patients were those who represent with mild pain (25yrs) and 102 were those who came with moderate pain (27-90yrs) and 55 patients who represent with severe backache (30 to 89yrs). In this research out of 160(100%) patients only 102  patients (63%) are those who present with moderate pain and 55 patients (34%)with severe pain .At L1-L2   disc degeneration only 5 patients (50%) were those who came with moderate and 5( 50% )with severe pain. At L2-L3 disc degeneration two patients (25%) with moderate and six patients (75%)with severe pain .At L3-L4 disc degeneration 11 patients (35.4%) with moderate and 20(64.5%) with severe pain. At L4-L5 disc degeneration 51 patients (53%) with moderate pain and 45 patients (46.8%) with severe pain. Our study also revealed that elevated BMI patients had high frequency of disc degeneration. Conclusion: This study conclude that lumbar disc degeneration was approximately in women than men who were represented with lower back pain. Minority of patients had normal lumbar MRI findings. Most of the degeneration occurs at the lowest lumbar vertebrae i.e. L4- L5 and patients who were presented with elevated BMI have increased risk of disc degeneration. Keywords: Lumbar vertebrae, Magnetic resonance imaging, lower back pain. Degenerative disc disease. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/90-17 Publication date:June 30th 2021

Big data acquired by Internet of Things-enabled industrial multichannel wireless sensors networks for active monitoring and control in the smart grid industry 4.0

Smart Grid Industry 4.0 (SGI4.0) defines a new paradigm to provide high-quality electricity at a low cost by reacting quickly and effectively to changing energy demands in the highly volatile global markets. However, in SGI4.0, the reliable and efficient gathering and transmission of the observed information from the Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled Cyber-physical systems, such as sensors located in remote places to the control center is the biggest challenge for the Industrial Multichannel Wireless Sensors Networks (IMWSNs). This is due to the harsh nature of the smart grid environment that causes high noise, signal fading, multipath effects, heat, and electromagnetic interference, which reduces the transmission quality and trigger errors in the IMWSNs. Thus, an efficient monitoring and real-time control of unexpected changes in the power generation and distribution processes is essential to guarantee the quality of service (QoS) requirements in the smart grid. In this context, this paper describes the dataset contains measurements acquired by the IMWSNs during events monitoring and control in the smart grid. This work provides an updated detail comparison of our proposed work, including channel detection, channel assignment, and packets forwarding algorithms, collectively called CARP [1] with existing G-RPL [2] and EQSHC [3] schemes in the smart grid. The experimental outcomes show that the dataset and is useful for the design, development, testing, and validation of algorithms for real-time events monitoring and control applications in the smart grid

Molekularna filogenija i karakterizacija mundri ovce (Ovis aries) u Pakistanu sekvenciranjem mitohondrijskog citokroma b i podjedinice I citokrom oksidaze

The main focus of this research is to determine the molecular phylogeny and characterization of Mundri Sheep (Ovis aries) through sequencing of mitochondrial Cytochrome b and Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI). This sheep breed appears morphologically different from other local sheep breeds of Pakistan. The current research is carried out to appraise the status of Mundri sheep whether it is aa different breed from other breeds or not. Blood samples of Mundri sheep were collected from Livestock Experiment Station, (LES) Fazilpur in district Rajanpur (Punjab). DNA was isolated and subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for amplification of Cytochrome b and COI genes using appropriate primers. PCR products were sequenced and analyzed by MEGA X software. The phylogeny analysis categorized Ovis aries including Mundri sheep into three and two groups for Cytochrome b and COI genes respectively. It showed Mundri sheep as a separate group and thus as a separate breed from all other local sheep breeds. Hence the study validates based on Cytochrome b and COI that Mundri sheep is a distinctive breed from the rest of the local sheep breed.Glavni je cilj ovog istraživanja bio odrediti molekularnu filogeniju i karakterizaciju mundri ovce (Ovis aries) sekvenciranjem mitohondrijskog citokroma b i podjedinice I citokrom oksidaze (COI). Ova se pasmina ovaca morfološki čini drugačijom od ostalih lokalnih pasmina ovaca u Pakistanu. Ovo je istraživanje provedeno da bi se procijenio status mundri ovce, da bismo mogli odrediti radi li se o pasmini drugačijoj od ostalih pasmina. Uzorci krvi mundri ovce prikupljeni su iz Stanice za eksperimente na stoci (engl. Livestock Experiment Station – LES) Fazilpur u okrugu Rajanpur (Punjab). DNK je izolirana i podvrgnuta lančanoj reakciji polimerazom (PCR) zbog pojačanja citokrom B i COI gena uporabom prikladnih primera. PCR proizvodi su sekvencirani i analizirani pomoću MEGA X softvera. Filogenetska analiza kategorizirala je Ovis aries uključujući mundri ovcu, u tri i dvije skupine za citokrom b, odnosno COI gene. Istraživanje je pokazalo da je mundri ovca posebna skupina i time zasebna pasmina ovaca u odnosu na ostale lokalne pasmine. Na temelju citokroma b i COI, naša je studija potvrdila da je mundri ovca zasebna pasmina i da se razlikuje od ostalih lokalne pasmine ovaca