Ochrobactrum, bacillus and Enterobacter isolates of Hot Water Spring Augment the Growth of Zea Mays Seedlings

Hot springs situated at high altitudes is a kind of remarkable ecosystem for the exploration of microbial flora. It was hypothesized that hot springs can harbor bacteria with plant growth-promoting and exopolysaccharides (EPS) producing ability that can favour the growth of plants. For the investigation of this hypothesis, seven EPS producing bacterial isolates were isolated from a water sample of hot water spring of Tattapani, Azad Kashmir and characterized morphologically and biochemically. Three out of seven isolates (BE1, BN1 and BN3) showed significant production of EPS (14-15 mg / 100 ml). Growth kinetics study revealed that optimum EPS production was attained at pH 9, with fructose as a carbon source and peptone as a nitrogen source. Inoculation of these isolates caused augmentation in seed germination (27-38 %), shoot length (27-35 %), seedling length (10-14 %), number of roots (12-25 %) of Zea mays (variety-MMRI yellow) seedlings and significant rise in auxin (28-51 %) and soluble protein content (50-68 %) as compared to non-inoculated treatment. Alcian blue staining unveiled the good colonization potential of these isolates on inoculated roots. Bacterial isolates were identified as Ochrobactrum intermedium (BE1), Bacillus pumilus (BN1) and Enterobacter cloacae (BN3), respectively through 16S rRNA analysis. Bacterial strain BN3 showed promising results for plant growth promotion along with EPS production. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of EPS produced by strain BN3 revealed the complex composition of EPS. We concluded that hot springs can be the possible home for EPS producing bacteria with plant growth promotion capability

Three-dimensional vortex dipole solitons in self-gravitating systems

We derive the nonlinear equations governing the dynamics of three-dimensional (3D) disturbances in a nonuniform rotating self-gravitating fluid under the assumption that the characteristic frequencies of disturbances are small compared to the rotation frequency. Analytical solutions of these equations are found in the form of the 3D vortex dipole solitons. The method for obtaining these solutions is based on the well-known Larichev-Reznik procedure for finding two-dimensional nonlinear dipole vortex solutions in the physics of atmospheres of rotating planets. In addition to the basic 3D x-antisymmetric part (carrier), the solution may also contain radially symmetric (monopole) or/and antisymmetric along the rotation axis (z-axis) parts with arbitrary amplitudes, but these superimposed parts cannot exist without the basic part. The 3D vortex soliton without the superimposed parts is extremely stable. It moves without distortion and retains its shape even in the presence of an initial noise disturbance. The solitons with parts that are radially symmetric or/and z-antisymmetric turn out to be unstable, although at sufficiently small amplitudes of these superimposed parts, the soliton retains its shape for a very long time.Comment: will be published in Phys. Rev.

New host record for parasitic copepod, Lamproglena chinensis Yü, 1937 from marine fish Pampus argenteus

A copepod parasite, Lamproglena chinensis Yü, 1937 was recorded first time from its new marine host Pampus argenteus captured from the coastal waters of Pakistan. This is the first report on the occurrence of Lamproglena chinensis in marine fish in the World. Lamproglena chinensis was reported to parasitize only freshwater fishes in many countries of the world. This species was reported previously to parasitize freshwater fish from Pakistan. The present paper provides the description of Lamproglena chinensis collected from the gill filaments of Pampus argenteus

Serum Phosphate Level in Patients with Severe Acute Malnutrition at Nutrition Stabilization Centre, Children Hospital, and Institute of Child Health Multan

Objective: To evaluate the serum phosphate level of children with severe acute malnutrition and effect of therapeutic feeds (F75 and F100) on serum phosphate levels. Study Design: Prospective Observational Study. Place and Duration of Study : The study was conducted at Stabilization center of Children's Hospital and Institute of Child Health Multan from 1 March 2018 to 30 March 2019. Materials and Methods: The total 270 children with severe acute malnutrition, who were under 5 years of age and admitted to the stabilization center for complicated SAM during study duration were included in the study. Initial management of the patients were started by following WHO protocols for Severe Acute Malnutrition management and the baseline labs along with serum phosphate levels were sent for evaluation. Patients were admitted at Stabilization Centre for the management plan as per guidelines. Once the patients were stabilized in one week approximately the transition towards rehabilitation phase of severe acute management started. Serum phosphate levels were assessed at admission, at stabilization (day 7 of admission) and at the time of discharge. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: The mean age of our patients was 22 ± 2 months. The male to female ratio were 1:2. Hypophosphatemia was documented in 180 (66%) patients with mean 0.96 ± 0.40 mmol/ltr < (1.45 –1.78mmol/ltr) serum phosphate levels at the time of admission. During transition phase the phosphate levels were 1.1± 0.45 mmol/l and after rehabilitation phase 1.45 ± 0.45 mmol/l on average of 15 days of management. After using F75 and F100 therapeutic feeds in stabilization, transition, and rehabilitation phase 178 (98.9%) children were treated and had normal serum phosphate level at the time of discharge. Conclusion: Hypophosphatemia is commonly present in SAM children. Introduction of therapeutic feeds F75 and F-100 during stabilization phase and rehabilitation phase significantly improves phosphate levels in SAM children with low phosphate levels

Treatment Outcome of Kwashiorkor in Children as Per World Health Organization Guideline at Nutrition Stabilization Center Multan, Pakistan

Objective: To assess the treatment outcomes and associated factors among children with kwashiorkor (Edematous Severe Acute Malnutrition) at Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre the Children Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan. Study Design: Retrospective Descriptive research. Place and Duration of Study: This study was planned at the nutritional rehabilitation center of The Children Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan from 01 January 2012 till 30 December 2020. Materials and Methods: The record register of stabilization center was utilized to gather the required information for the study. Baseline statistics and medical signs and symptoms of kwashiorkor, complications and treatment outcome of children were recorded. Patients of age 1 month to 60 months with kwashiorkor (weight/height less than -3SD with edema) were included who were treated according to WHO guidelines for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Results: during the year 2012-2020, a total of 2393 children were admitted with severe acute malnutrition out of which 222 (9.4%) were edematous SAM (Kwashiorkor). 222 kwashiorkor patients 25 (11.2%) were less than 6 months while 197(88.7%) were more than 6 months old. 120 (54%) were males and 102 (46%) were females. Out of total kwashiorkor patients, 40% presented with diarrhea, about 30% had pneumonia, hypoglycemia was recorded in 10% children, Urinary Tract Infection 15% and other diseases like celiac disease nephrotic syndrome and complication included the 5% of total. Almost 90% of patients recovered and got discharged and 8% passed away, only (2%) patients left against medical advice (LAMA). Conclusions: Kwashiorkor is the second most prevalent form of severe acute malnutrition in south Punjab and usually difficult to diagnose due to masking effects of edema. Kwashiorkor can be successfully managed by using the WHO guidelines for sever acute malnutrition. WHO guidelines also show treated patients discharged mostly with a lower percentage of mortality and comorbidities

A Study of Rural Females of Faisalabad with Reference to their Knowledge and Practices about Personal Hygiene

Purpose: This study was designed to understand knowledge level and practice of personal hygiene of rural women. Methodology:This study was conducted in District Faisalabad. Multistage random sampling was used to select the sample. At initial stage of sampling, two towns (Samundari Town and Tandlianwala Town) were selected randomly out of eight towns of District, Faisalabad. Later on, two union councils from each town were finalized and 2 villages were selected from each (four) union councils. Total eight villages were selected for collecting final sample for study. Sample of four hundred respondents was selected from 8 villages by using Solvin formula. At final stage, convenient sampling technique was used to select the respondents from eight villages of District, Faisalabad. A well established interview schedule was used to collect data from respondents. Data analysis was done by using SPSS. 25 and descriptive statistical techniques were applied to describe summaries of visible characteristics of the dataset. Findings: It was found that majority of rural women have not enough knowledge about personal hygiene and its practice was missed out due to lack of sufficient knowledge. Implications:Keeping in view the importance of personal hygiene practices, it is necessary to take measures to improve the situation. Hygiene and sanitation education at the individual or household level needs to be clear and simple.&nbsp;&nbsp

Nexuses between Malnutrition, Social Exclusion of Children and Human Capital: A Qualitative Study

The present study describes the parents’ attitude towards malnutrition, social exclusion of children, and human capital in three districts of South Punjab, Pakistan. The qualitative research approach is applied with three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with parents of children. The interview guide was used to collect data and thematic analysis approach was done. It was concluded that malnutrition made the children socially excluded by damaging their health, academic achievements, and losing their interests in games. It was also concluded that no education and skills of malnourished children become socially excluded from their workplaces. Finally, it was concluded that this situation of malnutrition leads them toward social exclusion. Therefore, this social capital of the future in the shape of social exclusion of children increases the economic burden of family and ultimately nation. To overcome this issue, steps should be taken by the government and community level

Antilisterial Effect of Rosa damascena and Nymphaea alba in Mus musculus

The present study was proposed to investigate the toxicological and prophylactic potential of ethanolic extracts of Rosa damascena and Nymphaea alba and their mixture in albino mice. For toxicity study, three different doses of plant extracts were orally administrated to three groups of mice for 14 successive days. Blood biochemistry and histological examinations of liver and kidney revealed that these extracts had no harmful effects up to 1000 mg/kg. To determine the prophylactic effects of Rosa damascena, Nymphaea alba, and their mixture, an infection model of Listeria monocytogenes was established in a pilot study. Establishment of infection was confirmed by changes in haematological parameters and reisolation of Listeria monocytogenes from different tissues. Results showed that these extracts alone or in combination could restrict the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in different organs. Neutrophils were high in positive control group but remained in normal range in all treated groups. Listeria monocytogenes was recovered in low numbers from animals treated with extract of single plant but was negligible in group treated with mixture of extract of plants. Platelets count was increased in treated groups as compared to control. Results confirmed that these extracts are potent source of antimicrobial compounds and that they have synergistic effect in combined form