Diagnostic Accuracy Of Placental Thickness Measured By Ultrasonography In The Detection Of Intrauterine Growth Restricted (IUGR) Babies Keeping Actual Birth Weight As Gold Standard

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the placental thickness measured by ultrasound in detecting IUGR babies keeping actual birth weight as the gold standard. Methods: This cross-sectional validation study was conducted in the Department of Radiology P.O.F Hospital Wah Cantt. The data was gathered over a period of six months, from 06-19-2017 to 12-18-2017. A total of 125 patients were included in this study. All pregnant women were examined by the greyscale and Doppler ultrasonography using a color Doppler scanner with a 5.0 MHz convex probe. Placental thickness was measured as the distance between the echogenic line of the chorionic plate and the hypoechoic myometrium. The pregnant females were followed till childbirth and the weight of the baby at birth was recorded. Results: Patients ranged between 20-35 years of age. The average age of the study participants was 27.6±3.3 years, the mean gestational age was 34.2±3.0 weeks, the mean BMI was 23.5±1.3 (kg/m2), and the mean parity was 1.1±1.0. We found a sensitivity of 65.5%, specificity of 83.3%, Positive Predictive Value( PPV) of 98.7%, Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 10.8%, and diagnostic accuracy of 66.4% for antenatal prediction of IUGR based on placental thickness measurement. Stratification for age and gestational age was also carried out. Conclusion: Placental thickness on ultrasonography can be used as a reliable marker for detecting IUGR babies with an accuracy of 6.4%

Characterization of cypermethrin degrading bacteria: A hidden micro flora for biogeochemical cycling of xenobiotics

 Background: Cypermethrin is a Synthetic Pyrethroid (SP) having widespread applications in agriculture and industrial sector especially in sheep dip formulations and tanneries. Rhizoremediation offers a sustainable, environment-friendly and cost-effective means to carry out remediation of contaminated soils.Methods: Six bacterial strains were screened out and characterized at various doses of cypermethrin, heavy metal salts and antibiotics. The optimum growth conditions were determined for these bacterial isolates. The degradation of cypermethrin was confirmed through the growth of bacteria on minimal media (BHB) with cypermethrin and thin layer chromatographic analysis; retention factor values (Rf) were calculated and compared with standard Rf values.Results: Growth curve experiments revealed that three bacterial isolates were able to grow in the presence of cypermethrin. Tolerance to the high concentration of heavy metal salts (300µgmL-1) and resistance towards different antibiotics was observed in all three bacterial isolates indicating a positive correlation between pesticide degradation and tolerance to metals and antibiotics. Bacterial strains A-C1 and B-B2 were identified as Xanthomonas maltophilia and B-C2 as Acinetobacter sp. Cypermethrin degradation occurred concomitant with bacterial growth reaching an optical density (OD600) up to 0.869.Conclusion: Microbes present in rhizosphere have potential to mineralize the pesticides. A significant biodegradation of the cypermethrin was observed based on above mentioned lab parameters. These results paved the way for designing a multi-resistant bacterium that can be used to reverse the altered environment

Effect of Simulated Chemistry Practicals on Students’ Performance at Secondary School Level

The study was conducted to compare the performance of students working in chemistry laboratory with those working in chemistry laboratory supplemented with simulations at secondary school level. The study was experimental in nature and post-test only control group design was used. The sample comprised of 55 males and 60 female students and 02 Chemistry teachers of class IX of Public schools. At the end of the treatment, practical examination was conducted on the pattern of Peshawar Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. The scores of both control and experimental groups were compared by using independent sample t-test in three main areas i.e. written, viva voce and notebook. The result of independent sample t test of school No 1(male) indicated that there is a significance difference between the performance of control group (M=8.9, SD=2.13) and experimental group (M=10.5, SD=3.04) at α=0.05 and df=53. The result of independent sample t test of school No 2(female) indicated that there is a significance difference between the performance of control group (M=10, SD=1.91) and experimental group (M=11.7, SD=2.13) at α=0.05 and df=58. The qualitative data was collected by means of interviews from chemistry teachers. Both the interviewees were motivated and showed keen interest in the simulated software. The performance of the students of experimental groups showed improvement results in the rejection of hypotheses that there is no significant difference between the performance of students taught by conventional demonstration in laboratory and laboratory work facilitated with simulation

Relationship of Sociodemographic Variables and Psychosocial Stressors in Dissociative(Conversion) Disorder Patients

Background: To assess the relationship of sociodemographic variables with the psychosocial stressors in dissociative (conversion) disorder patients. Metohds: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 diagnosed patients of conversion disorder. Participating patients underwent detailed assessment which included, application of consent form, physical examination, ICD-10 criteria of conversion disorder, demographic profile assessment and psychosocial assessment based on 1CD-10. Results: Majority of the patients were young, female, formally educated, rural residents, unmarried and were unemployed. Among all variables only adolescent patients between age of 13-19 years were having problems associated with education and literacy and all others were facing difficulties associated with primary support group. p value of significance(<0.05) was found to be non significant in all the variables. Conclusion: Majority of the patients have difficulties with primary support group including family circumstance

Response of Integrated Nutrient Management on Soil Physico-chemical Properties of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) var. Samrat

The field experiment was conducted at central research farm Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, SHUATS Prayagraj, (U.P.) on sandy loam soil to see response of Integrated nutrient management on soil properties of green gram (Vigna radiata L.) var. Samrat during Zaid season of 2022. There are nine treatment combinations were comprised in randomized block design with three replications. The soil samples were taken in two depth (0-15 cm & 15-30 cm) for analysis. The results showed that the application of NPK, Vermicompost and neem cake had a significant and non-significant effect on soil physico-chemical properties. The maximum bulk density 1.53 and 1.52 Mg-3, particle density 2.60 Mg m-3 and 2.61 Mg m-3, pH (7.33 and 7.35) and EC 0.33 and 0.32 dS m-1 was recorded in T1 (Absolute control) at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth respectively. Similarly, the maximum percentage pore space 48.82 and 48.16%, water holding capacity 45.20 and 44.75%, percentage organic carbon 0.52 and 0.50%, available nitrogen 286.66 and 285.66 kg ha-1, phosphorus 29.60 and 28.85 kg ha-1 and potassium 192.74 and. 191.87 kg ha-1 was recorded in T9 [100 % NPK + 100 % Vermicompost + 100 % NC]

Influence of Phosphorus and Zinc on Physio-chemical Properties of Soil on Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

The field experiment was conducted at the central research farm Soil Science Research Farm of SHUATS Prayagraj, (U.P.) on, sandy loam soil to “Influence of Phosphorus and Zinc on Physio-chemical Properties of Soil on Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)” during Kharif season of 2022. There are nine treatment combinations comprised in randomized block design with three replications making a total of 27 experimental plots. The soil samples were taken in two depths (0-15 cm & 15-30 cm) for analysis. The results showed that the application of Phosphorus and Zinc had a significant and non-significant effect on soil physico-chemical properties. The maximum bulk density (1.52 and 1.52 Mg-3), particle density (2.61 and 2.63 Mg m-3), and pH (7.20 and 7.25) were recorded in T1 (Absolute control) at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth. Similarly, the maximum percentage EC (0.48 and 0.49 dS m-1), pore space (48.49 and 47.99%), water holding capacity (44.75 and 44.03%), percentage organic carbon (0.47 and 0.46%), available nitrogen (288.14 and 287.68 kg ha-1), phosphorus (29.60 and 28.85 kg ha-1) and potassium (192.41 and. 191.54 kg ha-1) was recorded in T9 (P2O5 @100% + Zn @ 100%

A Comparative Assessment of Nanotoxicity Induced by Metal (Silver, Nickel) and Metal Oxide (Cobalt, Chromium) Nanoparticles in <i>Labeo rohita</i>

In the present in vivo study, we provide a comparison of toxicological consequences induced by four different types of spherical nanoparticles (NPs)&#8212;silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, 40 &#177; 6 nm), nickel (NiNPs, 43 &#177; 6 nm), cobalt oxide (Co3O4NPs, 60 &#177; 6 nm), and chromium oxide (Cr3O4NPs, 50 &#177; 5 nm)&#8212;on freshwater fish Labeo rohita. Fish were exposed to NPs (25 mg/L) for 21 days. We observed a NPs type-dependent toxicity in fish. An altered behavior showing signs of stress and a substantial reduction in total leukocyte count was noticed in all NP-treated groups. A low total erythrocyte count in all NP-treated fish except for Co3O4NPs was discerned while a low survival rate in the case of Cr3O4NP-treated fish was observed. A significant decrease in growth and hemoglobin were noticed in NiNP- and Cr3O4NP-treated fish. A considerable total protein elevation was detected in NiNP-, Co3O4NP-, and Cr3O4NP-treated groups. An upgrading in albumin level was witnessed in Co3O4NP- and Cr3O4NP-treated groups while a high level of globulin was noted in NiNP- and Co3O4NP-exposed groups. In all NP-treated groups, a depleted activity of antioxidative enzymes and pathological lesions in liver and kidney were noticed

Random mutagenesis to enhance the toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensisCcry proteins against Earias vittella (F.)

Insecticidal proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are widely utilized in a variety of insect control applications, including sprays and transgenic crops. The development of resistance in pests, on the other hand, can lessen the effectiveness of Bt toxins. In this study, we made efforts to enhance the toxicity of two cry proteins Cry1Ac and Cry2Aa through random mutagenesis against cotton bollworm (Earias vitella), one of the most destructive cotton pests in Pakistan. Random mutagenesis is an important tool for elucidating protein structure-function relationships and for modifying proteins to enhance or change their characteristics. We focused on whole cry proteins for random mutagenesis through error-prone PCR and constructed a recombinant library of cry proteins. Sequence analysis of eight mutants showed the mutations of 34 different nucleotides in Cry1Ac and Cry2Aa genes. All mutants were spared for toxicity bioassays against 2nd instar larvae of spotted bollworm. Cry1Ac mutant RM1AcM4 (D242E) and Cry2Aa mutants RM2AaM2 (T354A, T492R, F511L, G585E, D606Y) showed enhanced toxicity as compared to proteins without mutation. These two mutants comprise the mutations in domain-II of cry proteins important in specificity determining regions on midgut receptors in insect pests