In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Habbe Sara [Unani Medicine] Prescribed for Febrile Convulsions

Unani system of medicine (Unanipathy) originated in Greece, enriched by Persians and Arabs and now became an integral part of Alternative medicinal systems of Pakistan and India. Habbe Sara (HS) is a Unani medicine prescribed for liver damage and febrile convulsions. The drug was tested for antioxidant activity, as there is growing evidence of role of free radicals in disease progression in liver disorders and epilepsy and benefits of concomitant antioxidant administration. Currently available antiepileptic drugs either exacerbate or decrease free radicals. Habbe Sara was tested for free radical scavenging and metal chelating activity. It showed considerable in vitro antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner. Keywords: Unani, Ascorbic acid, Disodium ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, Free radical scavenging, Metal chelatio

Morphological Identification and Resistance Profile of Antibiotic and Heavy Metals-Resistant Bacteria in Hospital Sewage of Peshawar

Background: Increased resistance of microorganisms to commonly prescribed antibiotics has emerged as a significant hurdle in contemporary medical practice. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared antibiotic resistance as a " major threat to public health.". In the present study, bacterial isolates were selected based on high antibiotic and heavy metal tolerance from a water sample taken from hospital sewage.Methods: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were isolated through the disk diffusion method. Gram staining was done for morphological identification. For molecular identification, the 16s rDNA PCR amplification was done with universal primers. Results: The strain BC1 was found resistant to ampicillin (10μg/ml), and cefixime (5μg/ml). While, susceptible to kanamycin (30μg/ml), azithromycin (15μg/ml) and intermediate in response to amoxicillin (30μg/ml). The strain BC2 was resistant to ampicillin (10μg/ml), cefixime (5μg/ml) and kanamycin (30μg/ml). While, Susceptible to amoxicillin (30μg/ml), and intermediate in response to azithromycin (15μg/ml). The strains were also found resistant to heavy metals.Conclusion: The recent investigation on bacterial strains from hospital effluent found interesting candidates for understanding the AMR bacteria and developing novel active biomolecules to combat the antibiotics problem. The isolated strains could be a source of novel resistant genes however; a comprehensive molecular analysis is needed for advanced studies

Realized Heritability, Risk Assessment, and Inheritance Pattern in <i>Earias vittella</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Resistant to Dipel (<i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Kurstaki)

Earias vittella Fabricius is a potential cotton and okra pest in South Asia. The realized heritability, risk assessment, and inheritance mode of Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki (Btk) resistance were determined in the Dipel-selected (DIPEL-SEL) E. vittella. The DIPEL-SEL strain had a 127.56-fold rise in Dipel resistance after nine generations compared to the laboratory reference strain (LAB-PK). The overlapping of 95% fiducial limits in the median lethal concentrations (LC50s) of the F1 (DIPEL-SEL♂ × LAB-PK♀) and F1ǂ (DIPEL-SEL♀ × LAB-PK♂) suggested a lack of sex linkage and an autosomal Dipel resistance. The dominance (DLC) values for the F1 (0.86) and F1ǂ (0.94) indicated incompletely dominant resistance to Dipel. Backcrossing of the F1♀ × Lab-PK♂ revealed a polygenic response of resistance to Dipel. The realized heritability estimation (h2) of resistance to Dipel was 0.19. With 20% to 90% selection mortality, the generations required for a tenfold increase in LC50 of Dipel were 4.7–22.8, 3.1–14.9, and 2.3–11.1 at h2 of 0.19, 0.29, and 0.39, respectively, and a constant slope of 1.56. At slope values of 2.56 and 3.56 with a constant h2 = 0.19, 7.7–37.4 and 10.6–52.0 generations were needed to increase the tenfold LC50 of Dipel in the DIPEL-SEL E. vittella. It is concluded that the DIPEL-SEL E. vittella has an autosomal, incompletely dominant, and polygenic nature of resistance. The h2 of 0.19 suggested that a high proportion of phenotypic variation for the Dipel resistance in E. vittella was heritable genetic variation. The present results will support the creation of an effective and suitable resistance management plan for better control of E. vittella

Evaluation of antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Khamira Gaozaban Ambri Jadwar Ood Saleeb Wala (KGA)

Despite widespread use of Khamira Gaozaban Ambri Jadwar Ood Saleeb Wala (KGA) in the traditional medicine, there was a lack of scientific evidence on its efficacy and safety. The present investigation was designed to evaluate its ex vivo antioxidant and in vivo hepatoprotective properties against carbon tetrachloride toxicity in albino rats. At first phytochemicals analysis of test preparation was conducted to estimate its total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Then their antioxidant activity was determined by various tests and compared it with standards ascorbic acid and rutin. Afterwards, hepatoprotective activity was studied against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage by determining SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total cholesterol, bilirubin and total proteins contents in the serum of rats before and after treatment. This suggests that the hepatoprotective activity of formulation is possibly attributed to its free radical scavenging properties

Kinematic Modeling and Simulation of an Economical SCARA Manipulator by Pro-E and Verification using MATLAB/Simulink

SCARA (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) manipulators are among the most extensively used manipulators in industry due to high precision and their inherent rigidity. This research demonstrates mechanical design process of an economical SCARA manipulator with unique and competing industrial specifications using Pro-E software. Inverse kinematic equations are also derived using algebraic and geometric method to control the manipulator movement. The design process includes the design of joints, links and controller as well as the selection of its electrical and mechanical components. The selection of the actuators and the dimensions of the whole mechanical structure are selected in such a way to direct its center of gravity towards base and also reduce the vibration and backlash in its mechanical structure. The main task was to use readily available components with an eye on keeping the costs down. Finally the performance of SCARA system is examined in Pro-E and verified manipulators movement with MATLAB/Simulink which exhibits the effectiveness of the proposed model

Antioxidant and Organic Dye Removal Potential of Cu-Ni Bimetallic Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Gazania rigens Extract

Copper-nickel bimetallic nanoparticles (Cu-Ni BNPs) were fabricated using an eco-friendly green method of synthesis. An extract of synthesized Gazania rigens was used for the synthesis of BNPs followed by characterization employing different techniques including UV/Vis spectrophotometer, FTIR, XRD, and SEM. Spectrophotometric studies (UV-Vis and FTIR) confirmed the formation of bimetallic nanoparticles. The SEM studies indicated that the particle size ranged from 50 to 100 nm. Analysis of the BNPs by the XRD technique confirmed the presence of both Cu and Ni crystal structure. The synthesized nanoparticles were then tested for their catalytic potential for photoreduction of methylene blue dye in an aqueous medium and DPPH radical scavenging in a methanol medium. The BNPs were found to be efficient in the reduction of methylene blue dye as well as the scavenging of DPPH free radicals such that the MB dye was completely degraded in just 17 min at the maximum absorption of 660 nm. Therefore, it is concluded that Cu-Ni BNPs can be successfully synthesized using Gazania rigens extract with suitable size and potent catalytic and radical scavenging activities.Validerad;2021;Nivå 2;2021-09-27 (alebob);Funder: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (RSP-2021/243)</p

Elastické a optoelektronické vlastnosti CaTa2O6 sloučenin: Cubic a kosočtverečné fáze

Použití první hustotu zásady funkční teorie (DFT) simulace, strukturální, elektronické, optické a elastické vlastnosti oxidu CaTa2O6 pro kubických a kosočtverečnými fází jsou studovány velmi přesným způsobem (FPLAPW) v GGA+U aproximace.Vypočtené parametry mřížky jsou v souladu s dostupnými experimentálními daty. Elektronické výpočty pásové struktury ukázaly, že mezery skupinu v CaTa2O6 rovny 3,08 eV a 4,40 eV pro krychlových a kosočtverečnými struktury, v daném pořadí. U obou fází hlavní optické vlastnosti, například, absorpční koeficient, dielektrická konstanta, funkce energetické ztráty, odrazivosti jsou vypočteny a podrobněji popsány ve spektrálním rozmezí 0-14 eV. Cubic a kosočtverečné fáze vykazují významně odlišné optické vlastnosti. Elektronické spojovací znaky CaTa2O6 s různými symetrií jsou zkoumány pomocí mapování rozložení hustoty náboje. Silné kovalentní vazby charakter dominuje v obou fázích CaTa2O6. Elastické vlastnosti CaTa2O6 pro kubických a kosočtverečnými fází jsou také zkoumány. Způsob napětí kmene se použije pro stanovení elastických konstant v obou fázích. Převážná modul, modul pružnosti ve smyku, Youngův modul, spolu s důležitými elastické anizotropie faktorů a Poissonova poměru jsou studovány v detailu.Using first principles density functional theory (DFT) simulations, the structural, electronic, optical and elastic properties of CaTa2O6 oxide for cubic and orthorhombic phases are studied by highly accurate (FPLAPW) method within the GGA+U approximation. The calculated lattice parameters are consistent with available experimental data. The electronic band structure calculations have shown that the band gaps in CaTa2O6 are equal to 3.08 eV and 4.40 eV for the cubic and orthorhombic structures, respectively. For both the phases the main optical properties, e.g., absorption coefficient, dielectric constant, energy loss function, reflectivity are calculated and discussed in detail in the spectral range 0-14 eV. Cubic and orthorhombic phases exhibit significantly different optical characteristics. The electronic bonding characters of CaTa2O6 with different symmetries are explored via charge density distribution mapping. Strong covalent bonding character dominates in both the phases of CaTa2O6. Elastic properties of CaTa2O6 for cubic and orthorhombic phases are also investigated. The stress strain method is used for the determination of elastic constants in both the phases. The bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, along with the important elastic anisotropy factors and Poisson's ratio are studied in detail

Oxicams as Bioactive Ligand System in Coordination Complexes and Their Biological Applications

Oxicam is a class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that exhibits structural similarities to the enolic acid of 4-hydroxy-1,2-benzothiazine carboxamides. The oxicam derivatives have the ability to coordinate with different metal ions in a monodentate and bidentate fashion. The choice of ligand and reaction conditions played a key role for the synthesis of desired oxicam-based metal complexes. In this review, oxicam-based Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) transition metal complexes are being discussed. In all these complexes, the oxicams acted as N,O-coordinating chelators and stabilized metal complexes by forming six-membered ring systems. The coordination geometries of the metal complexes are dependent on the oxicam derivatives, co-ligands as well as selected metal ions. The octahedral, square pyramidal, square planar and tetrahedral geometries are concluded with the supported by electronic transitions and magnetic data of the oxicam functionalized metal complexes. The antibacterial, anticancer, and DNA interaction of the oxicam-based metal complexes have also been discussed. The antibacterial and anticancer activities indicated that some metal complexes are more potent as compared to free ligands. The DNA binding studies confirmed that the metal complexes interact with DNA via major grooves.</p

Humoral and T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 reveal insights into immunity during the early pandemic period in Pakistan

Background: Protection against SARS-CoV-2 is mediated by humoral and T cell responses. Pakistan faced relatively low morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 through the pandemic. To examine the role of prior immunity in the population, we studied IgG antibody response levels, virus neutralizing activity and T cell reactivity to Spike protein in a healthy control group (HG) as compared with COVID-19 cases and individuals from the pre-pandemic period (PP).Methods: HG and COVID-19 participants were recruited between October 2020 and May 2021. Pre-pandemic sera was collected before 2018. IgG antibodies against Spike and its Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) were determined by ELISA. Virus neutralization activity was determined using a PCR-based micro-neutralization assay. T cell - IFN-γ activation was assessed by ELISpot.Results: Overall, the magnitude of anti-Spike IgG antibody levels as well as seropositivity was greatest in COVID-19 cases (90%) as compared with HG (39.8%) and PP (12.2%). During the study period, Pakistan experienced three COVID-19 waves. We observed that IgG seropositivity to Spike in HG increased from 10.3 to 83.5% during the study, whilst seropositivity to RBD increased from 7.5 to 33.3%. IgG antibodies to Spike and RBD were correlated positively in all three study groups. Virus neutralizing activity was identified in sera of COVID-19, HG and PP. Spike reactive T cells were present in COVID-19, HG and PP groups. Individuals with reactive T cells included those with and without IgG antibodies to Spike.Conclusions: Antibody and T cell responses to Spike protein in individuals from the pre-pandemic period suggest prior immunity against SARS-CoV-2, most likely from cross-reactive responses. The rising seroprevalence observed in healthy individuals through the pandemic without known COVID-19 may be due to the activation of adaptive immunity from cross-reactive memory B and T cells. This may explain the more favourable COVID-19 outcomes observed in this population