Bi-directional Causality Between Remittances and Poverty: An Empirical Evidence From Pakistan.

This study explores the two-way causality between poverty and remittances in Pakistan. The empirical evidence is based upon ARDL double bound approach for the long run relationship between remittances and poverty and VECM was used for direction and magnitude of causation. Furthermore, variance decomposition and Impulse response functions were used to capture the standard deviation shocks. Poverty (head count ratio) and remittances to GDP ratio were used from 1973-2006 for analysis purpose. In the study two equations were used interchangeably as dependent variable. It was found by using the Narayan (2005) test criteria for small sample there is co-integration found between poverty and remittances. The relationship is further supported by long run and short run analysis by ECM. Poverty and remittances are inversely and significantly related in the short run and long run by the estimates of ECM. VECM confirms the results by providing the short run and long run significant estimates. The results are also corroborated with variance decomposition and impulse response function. It could be concluded from the results that remittances are playing a vital role after the foreign direct investment. It is also found that due to altruistic behavior, inflow of remittances is increasing due to the poverty and it provides safety nets to poor and ultimately helping to reduces poverty. Key Words: Remittances, Poverty, ARDL, VECM and co-integration JEL classification: O11,O1

REPercussions: how geminiviruses recruit host factors for replication

Circular single-stranded DNA viruses of the family Geminiviridae encode replication-associated protein (Rep), which is a multifunctional protein involved in virus DNA replication, transcription of virus genes, and suppression of host defense responses. Geminivirus genomes are replicated through the interaction between virus Rep and several host proteins. The Rep also interacts with itself and the virus replication enhancer protein (REn), which is another essential component of the geminivirus replicase complex that interacts with host DNA polymerases α and δ. Recent studies revealed the structural and functional complexities of geminivirus Rep, which is believed to have evolved from plasmids containing a signature domain (HUH) for single-stranded DNA binding with nuclease activity. The Rep coding sequence encompasses the entire coding sequence for AC4, which is intricately embedded within it, and performs several overlapping functions like Rep, supporting virus infection. This review investigated the structural and functional diversity of the geminivirus Rep

Rare earth ions (La3+, Nd3+) substituted cobalt–strontium spinel ferrites for photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes

In the industrial sector, productive and effective treatment of toxic dye-based color pollutants is a key issue. Lanthanum and neodymium substituted cobalt–strontium (Co–Sr) spinel ferrite (Co0.5Sr0.5RExFe2-xO4, x = 0.00 and 0.06) catalysts were synthesized and used to degrade Congo red and rhodamine B dyes from an aqueous solution mixture in this study. For this specific purpose, RE3+ ions substituted Co–Sr spinel ferrite nanoparticles with photocatalytic degradation ability were prepared through sol–gel method. The degradation of CR and RhB in recently synthesized nanoferrites was also examined. SEM and XRD were used to characterize the prepared samples. The optical band gap values of synthesized spinel ferrites were examined with the help of Tauc plots by using UV-visible absorption. It was determined that the energy bandgap ranged from 2.91 to 2.52 eV. For Co0.5Sr0.5Fe2O4, Co0.5Sr0.5La0.06Fe1.94O4, and Co0.5Sr0.5Nd0.06Fe1.94O4 nanoferrites, the rates of CR and RhB dye degradation were 73–90% and 45–85%, respectively, at pH 5–7. The kinetics models successfully described the degradation reaction as pseudo-first-order kinetics. It was, therefore, concluded that the prepared samples can be used as effective photocatalysts in order to eliminate hazardous pollutants present in wastewater. HIGHLIGHTS Rare-earth ion substitution spinel ferrite.; Ferrite for degradation of dyes.; Suitable band gap for photocatalytic purpose.

MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF BOVINE MASTITIS CAUSED BY ESCHERICHIA COLI IN QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN

Objective: The following study aims at determine the prevalence of bacterial mastitis in dairy cows in Quetta, to isolate and identify E.coli from dairy cows in Quetta, characterize biochemically and test for antibiotic sensitivity along with DNA extraction and confirmation of E.coli via PCR. Methods and Materials: The milk samples were collected from different government and private dairy farms of Quetta city. The samples were streaked on MacConkey agar and kept in incubator at 37 ̊C for 24 hours. Antibiotic sensitivity test was performed by using disc diffusion Bauer technique and McFarland Turbidity Standard method 0.5 following CLSI protocols. The products were separated with 1% agarose gel electrophoresis and stained with ethidium bromide and images were documented during PCR. Results: The overall prevalence of bovine mastitis among cows and buffalos was 38% with 18 % in government and 8% in private dairy farms. Antibiotics result showed that resistant to Vancomycin ,Lincomycin , Carbenicillin, Kanamycin. The PCR amplification was positive for our isolation. Conclusion: Present study concluded that E.coli is responsible for the high rate of mastitis among cows and buffalos in Quetta city. The E.coli found in the dairy farms of the Quetta was found to be resistant to the five antibiotics. This is an alarming state indicating the rising antibiotic resistance of E.coli towards the various antibiotic drug classes. The lack of awareness of the proper cleanliness and hygiene measures at dairy farms could be denoted as the reason of the higher prevalence of the mastitis in the dairy farms of Quetta

In Silico Analysis of Plant Flavonoids as Potential Inhibitors of Newcastle Disease Virus V Protein

Newcastle disease is a viral infection causing serious economic losses to the global poultry industry. The V protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a pathogenicity determinant having various functions such as the suppression of apoptosis and replication of the NDV. This study was designed to assess the resistance potential of plant flavonoids against the V protein of Newcastle disease virus. Sequence analysis was performed using EXPASY and ProtParam tools. To build the three-dimensional structure of V protein, a homology-modeling method was used. Plant flavonoids with formerly reported therapeutic benefits were collected from different databases to build a library for virtual screening. Docking analysis was performed using the modeled structure of V protein on MOE software. Interaction analysis was also performed by MOE to explain the results of docking. Sequence analysis and physicochemical properties showed that V protein is negatively charged, acidic in nature, and relatively unstable. The 3D structure of the V protein showed eight β-pleated sheets, three helices, and ten coiled regions. Based on docking score, ten flavonoids were selected as potential inhibitors of V protein. Furthermore, a common configuration was obtained among these ten flavonoids. The interaction analysis also identified the atoms involved in every interaction of flavonoid and V protein. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation confirmed the stability of two compounds, quercetin-7-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-galactopyranoside] and luteolin 7-O-neohesperidoside, at 100 ns with V protein. The identified compounds through molecular docking and MD simulation could have potential as NDV-V protein inhibitor after further validation. This study could be useful for the designing of anti-NDV drugs

Patterns of Genetic Diversity among Alphasatellites Infecting Gossypium Species

Alphasatellites are small single-stranded circular DNA molecules associated with geminiviruses and nanoviruses. In this study, a meta-analysis of known alphasatellites isolated from the genus Gossypium (cotton) over the last two decades was performed. The phylogenetic and pairwise sequence identity analysis suggested that cotton-infecting begomoviruses were associated with at least 12 different alphasatellites globally. Three out of twelve alphasatellite were associated with cotton leaf curl geminiviruses but were not isolated from cotton plants. The cotton leaf curl Multan alphasatellite, which was initially isolated from cotton, has now been reported in several plant species, including monocot plants such as sugarcane. Our recombination analysis suggested that four alphasatellites, namely cotton leaf curl Lucknow alphasatellites, cotton leaf curl Multan alphasatellites, Ageratum yellow vein Indian alphasatellites and Ageratum enation alphasatellites, evolved through recombination. Additionally, high genetic variability was detected among the cotton-infecting alphasatellites at the genome level. The nucleotide substitution rate for the replication protein of alphasatellites (alpha-Rep) was estimated to be relatively high (~1.56 × 10−3). However, unlike other begomoviruses and satellites, the first codon position of alpha-Rep rapidly changed compared to the second and third codon positions. This study highlights the biodiversity and recombination of alphasatellites associated with the leaf curl diseases of cotton crops

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies in District Srinagar, northern India - A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundPrevalence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 infection provides essential information for deciding disease prevention and mitigation measures. We estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies in District Srinagar.Methods2906 persons >18 years of age selected from hospital visitors across District Srinagar participated in the study. We tested samples for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay-based serologic test.ResultsAge- and gender-standardized seroprevalence was 3.6% (95% CI 2.9% to 4.3%). Age 30-69 years, a recent history of symptoms of an influenza-like-illness, and a history of being placed under quarantine were significantly related to higher odds of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies. The estimated number of SARS-CoV-2 infections during the two weeks preceding the study, adjusted for test performance, was 32602 with an estimated (median) infection-to-known-case ratio of 46 (95% CI 36 to 57).ConclusionsThe seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies is low in the District. A large proportion of the population is still susceptible to the infection. A sizeable number of infections remain undetected, and a substantial proportion of people with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 are not tested

Efficacy and safety of two neutralising monoclonal antibody therapies, sotrovimab and BRII-196 plus BRII-198, for adults hospitalised with COVID-19 (TICO): a randomised controlled trial

We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of two neutralising monoclonal antibody therapies (sotrovimab [Vir Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline] and BRII-196 plus BRII-198 [Brii Biosciences]) for adults admitted to hospital for COVID-19 (hereafter referred to as hospitalised) with COVID-19. In this multinational, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, clinical trial (Therapeutics for Inpatients with COVID-19 [TICO]), adults (aged ≥18 years) hospitalised with COVID-19 at 43 hospitals in the USA, Denmark, Switzerland, and Poland were recruited. Patients were eligible if they had laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 symptoms for up to 12 days. Using a web-based application, participants were randomly assigned (2:1:2:1), stratified by trial site pharmacy, to sotrovimab 500 mg, matching placebo for sotrovimab, BRII-196 1000 mg plus BRII-198 1000 mg, or matching placebo for BRII-196 plus BRII-198, in addition to standard of care. Each study product was administered as a single dose given intravenously over 60 min. The concurrent placebo groups were pooled for analyses. The primary outcome was time to sustained clinical recovery, defined as discharge from the hospital to home and remaining at home for 14 consecutive days, up to day 90 after randomisation. Interim futility analyses were based on two seven-category ordinal outcome scales on day 5 that measured pulmonary status and extrapulmonary complications of COVID-19. The safety outcome was a composite of death, serious adverse events, incident organ failure, and serious coinfection up to day 90 after randomisation. Efficacy and safety outcomes were assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population, defined as all patients randomly assigned to treatment who started the study infusion. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04501978. Between Dec 16, 2020, and March 1, 2021, 546 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to sotrovimab (n=184), BRII-196 plus BRII-198 (n=183), or placebo (n=179), of whom 536 received part or all of their assigned study drug (sotrovimab n=182, BRII-196 plus BRII-198 n=176, or placebo n=178; median age of 60 years [IQR 50–72], 228 [43%] patients were female and 308 [57%] were male). At this point, enrolment was halted on the basis of the interim futility analysis. At day 5, neither the sotrovimab group nor the BRII-196 plus BRII-198 group had significantly higher odds of more favourable outcomes than the placebo group on either the pulmonary scale (adjusted odds ratio sotrovimab 1·07 [95% CI 0·74–1·56]; BRII-196 plus BRII-198 0·98 [95% CI 0·67–1·43]) or the pulmonary-plus complications scale (sotrovimab 1·08 [0·74–1·58]; BRII-196 plus BRII-198 1·00 [0·68–1·46]). By day 90, sustained clinical recovery was seen in 151 (85%) patients in the placebo group compared with 160 (88%) in the sotrovimab group (adjusted rate ratio 1·12 [95% CI 0·91–1·37]) and 155 (88%) in the BRII-196 plus BRII-198 group (1·08 [0·88–1·32]). The composite safety outcome up to day 90 was met by 48 (27%) patients in the placebo group, 42 (23%) in the sotrovimab group, and 45 (26%) in the BRII-196 plus BRII-198 group. 13 (7%) patients in the placebo group, 14 (8%) in the sotrovimab group, and 15 (9%) in the BRII-196 plus BRII-198 group died up to day 90. Neither sotrovimab nor BRII-196 plus BRII-198 showed efficacy for improving clinical outcomes among adults hospitalised with COVID-19. US National Institutes of Health and Operation Warp Spee