Indo-US Strategic Partnership: Implications for Pakistan

In the scheme of American grand strategy for the ‘new world order’, India has emerged as the most powerful regional ally. The emerging “strategic partnership” between the US and India is based on a shared view for democracy and concerns about the threat of global terrorism as well as mutual unease considering the long-term implications of the rise of China in Asia and beyond. US and India have complementary economic and strategic security interests as the former desires to maintain her economic and military supremacy in the world. India on her part wants to develop security ties with America to facilitate her becoming dominant regional and global power in the foreseeable future. Shared perception about ‘terrorism’ has further cemented their relations where India promptly endorses US stance on “War on Terrorism” with a hope to turn US interests to its advantage by labeling freedom struggle in Kashmir as Pakistan sponsored insurgency. Reflections of converging interests include: US-India Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) initiative, signing of 123 Nuclear Agreement, missile defense, and ten-year defense framework agreement that calls for expanding bilateral security cooperation. Pakistan cannot afford to remain oblivious to these developments due to their security implications. Enhanced capacity building of Indian armed forces and nuclear collaborations may undermine the deterrent value of Pakistan's conventional and nuclear weapons. A combination of pragmatic foreign policy backed with credible conventional and nuclear deterrence could serve desired national security interests. While remaining strategically relevant to US, Islamabad will have to continue to cultivate good relationship with Beijing. On internal front, Pakistan must revive her economy and achieve more national cohesion so as to offset the negative effects of Indo-US strategic convergence

Trends in traumatic brain injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic: a single-center review of patient charts from Pakistan

Introduction: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of injury-related deaths, making it a public health concern of extreme importance. In a developing country such as Pakistan, TBIs are significantly underreported, with the treatment frequently being delayed and inadequate, especially in rural healthcare setups all across the country. This concern is further magnified by insufficient epidemiological data on TBIs available in Pakistan. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought consequential changes to the healthcare system with the priority shifting toward COVID-19 patients, resulting in considerable changes to the workflow and management of TBIs. The primary objective of this study is to offer valuable insights into the epidemiology of TBIs in Pakistan and its relationship with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care center in a metropolitan city in Pakistan. Patient charts were reviewed from January to August 2020, and data was extracted including demographics, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes for cases of TBI. Results: The total number of patients is 2126, male 78% and female 21.4%. The mean age of the patients was 28.85. The state of admissions at the hospital is at 99.7% for EME admissions and 0.282% for OPD admissions. Participants presented with loss of consciousness (70.7%), nosebleeds, (53.2%), vomiting (69.0%), and seizures (11.5%). The majority (51.1%) were related to road traffic accidents, followed by falls (20.7%), and assaults (4%). While 1202 (58.5%) of these were managed conservatively, others underwent surgical treatment in the form of craniotomy (28.0%), Burr holes (3.20%), and fracture elevation and repair (10.5%). A decrease in the number of reported TBI cases was observed with lockdown implementation in Pakistan. Conclusion: The transportation sector in Pakistan was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a decline in road traffic injuries and TBIs. Stringent mobility constraints and changes in societal and cultural norms have contributed to this reduction

Experimental and in silico evaluation of Carthamus tinctorius L. oil emulgel: a promising treatment for bacterial skin infections

PurposeThe current study aimed to develop a topical herbal emulgel containing Carthamus tinctorius L. (CT) oil extract, which has been scientifically proven for its antibacterial and antioxidant activities for the ailment of bacterial skin infections.MethodThe CT emulgel was formulated by response surface methodology (RSM) and was evaluated by various parameters like extrudability, spreadability, pH, viscosity, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Molecular docking was also performed using AutoDock.ResultsAmong all formulated CT emulgels, F9 and F8 were optimized. Optimized formulations had shown good spreadability and extrudability characteristics. Sample F8 had % inhibition of 42.131 ± 0.335, 56.720 ± 0.222, and 72.440 ± 0.335 at different concentrations. Sample F9 had % inhibition of 26.312 ± 0.280, 32.461 ± 0.328, and 42.762 ± 0.398 at concentrations of 250 µg/ml, 500 µg/ml, and 1,000 µg/ml, respectively, which shows that both samples F8 and F9 have significant antioxidant potential. Optimized CT emulgels F8 and F9 had significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at p-value = 0.00, the Emulgel-F8 shows zone of inhibition of 24 mm for E-coli and 19 mm for S-aureus. Emulgel-F9 shows zone of inhibition of 22 mm for E-coli and 15 mm for S-aureus while pure CT- Oil extract shows zone of inhibition of 25 mm for E-coli and 20 mm for S-aureus and ciprofloxacin used as standard shows 36mm zone of inhibition against both E-coli and S-aureus. The comparative investigation through molecular docking binding affinities and interactions of ligands with various target proteins provides insights into the molecular processes behind ligand binding and may have significance for drug discovery and design for the current study.ConclusionThe current study suggests that C. tinctorius L.-based emulgel has good antioxidant and antibacterial activities against E. coli for the treatment of bacterial skin infections

Exogenous γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) mitigated salinity-induced impairments in mungbean plants by regulating their nitrogen metabolism and antioxidant potential

BackgroundIncreasing soil salinization has a detrimental effect on agricultural productivity.Therefore, strategies are needed to induce salinity-tolerance in crop species for sustainable foodproduction. γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays a key role in regulating plant salinity stresstolerance. However, it remains largely unknown how mungbean plants (Vigna radiata L.) respondto exogenous GABA under salinity stress.MethodsThus, we evaluated the effect of exogenous GABA (1.5 mM) on the growth and physiobiochemicalresponse mechanism of mungbean plants to saline stress (0-, 50-, and 100 mM [NaCland Na2SO4, at a 1:1 molar ratio]).ResultsIncreased saline stress adversely affected mungbean plants' growth and metabolism. Forinstance, leaf-stem-root biomass (34- and 56%, 31- and 53%, and 27- and 56% under 50- and 100mM, respectively]) and chlorophyll concentrations declined. The carotenoid level increased (10%)at 50 mM and remained unaffected at 100 mM. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde(MDA), osmolytes (soluble sugars, soluble proteins, proline), total phenolic content, andenzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase(POD), glutathione reductase (GTR), and polyphenol oxidation (PPO) were significantlyincreased. In leaves, salinity caused a significant increase in Na+ concentration but a decrease inK+ concentration, resulting in a low K+/Na+ concentration (51- and 71% under 50- and 100- mMstress). Additionally, nitrogen concentration and the activities of nitrate reductase (NR) andglutamine synthetase (GS) decreased significantly. The reduction in glutamate synthase (GOGAT)activity was only significant (65%) at 100 mM stress. Exogenous GABA decreased Na+, H2O2,and MDA concentrations but enhanced photosynthetic pigments, K+ and K+/Na+ ratio, Nmetabolism, osmolytes, and enzymatic antioxidant activities, thus reducing salinity-associatedstress damages, resulting in improved growth and biomass.ConclusionExogenous GABA may have improved the salinity tolerance of mungbean plants by maintaining their morpho-physiological responses and reducing the accumulation of harmfulsubstances under salinity. Future molecular studies can contribute to a better understanding of themolecular mechanisms by which GABA regulates mungbean salinity tolerance

Patates Kültürlerinde Virüs Dirençliliği: Patojen Köken Viral Dirençlilik Üzerine Strateji Belirlemesi

Patates önemli bir gıda ürünü olmasından ötürü daima pek çok bölgede geniş araştırma konularına sahiptir. Çeşitli patojenler arasında virüsler patateste devamlı bir tehdit unsurudur. Virüslere karşı dirençliliği arttırmamıza yönelik Patojen türevli direnç (PTD) uygulaması yapılmaktadır. Pek çok PTD üretim stratejisi kullanılmaktadır. Bunlar arasında transkripsiyonal ve post transkripsiyonal gen susturuculu protein ilişkili direnç, nukleotid ilişkili direnç (DNA/RNA) gelmektedir. Bu derleme patates bitkisinde, konunun tartışılmasında geçmiş ve geleceğe ilişkin yaklaşımlara ışık tutmaktadır

Cardiovascular Response to Head Down Crooked Kneeling Position Among Type 2 Diabetic Patient

Background: Factors like emotions, lifestyle choices, and physical activities, including posture changes, have a significant impact on cardiovascular indicators like blood pressure and heart rate. The study aims to examine the cardiovascular reactions in individuals with type 2 diabetes while performing the head-down crooked kneeling (HDCK) or Sujood position, resembling poses found in hatha yoga. This position emphasizes relaxation, body awareness, and meditation. Those with type 2 diabetes who engage in yoga have reported enhancements in their management of blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. Methodology:  A cross-sectional study was conducted in different hospitals. The sample size was 312 which was calculated by using the Rao soft calculator. The participants were selected by non-probability convenience sampling technique. Inclusion Criteria were male and Female diagnosed with Type 2 DM, Subjects with a history of smoking, Cognitive Impairment, Sepsis, Cardiac pathology, Respiratory disorders, and Malignancy were excluded. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored initially, during the Crooked Down Kneeling position, and after the Crooked Down Kneeling Position. A Digital Sphygmomanometer was used to measure blood pressure and a pulse rate-demographic Assessment form was used to collect data. Ethical consideration is maintained. Informed consent was taken from participants. Results: The result shows a significant effect of head down crooked kneeling position on cardiovascular response in type 2 diabetic patients (p < .001). Systolic, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate before, during, and after HDCK were significantly increased (p < .001) as compared to the baseline value, and after 5 min returning to the upright position it reverted to the initial value. Conclusion: This study revealed a significant increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressures and an increase in pulse rate during HDCK. Also, our findings showed no significant gender difference in the effect of HDCK on all the other cardiovascular parameters except systolic bp

CRISPR-Cas System, a Possible “Savior” of Rice Threatened by Climate Change: An Updated Review

Abstract Climate change has significantly affected agriculture production, particularly the rice crop that is consumed by almost half of the world’s population and contributes significantly to global food security. Rice is vulnerable to several abiotic and biotic stresses such as drought, heat, salinity, heavy metals, rice blast, and bacterial blight that cause huge yield losses in rice, thus threatening food security worldwide. In this regard, several plant breeding and biotechnological techniques have been used to raise such rice varieties that could tackle climate changes. Nowadays, gene editing (GE) technology has revolutionized crop improvement. Among GE technology, CRISPR/Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein) system has emerged as one of the most convenient, robust, cost-effective, and less labor-intensive system due to which it has got more popularity among plant researchers, especially rice breeders and geneticists. Since 2013 (the year of first application of CRISPR/Cas-based GE system in rice), several trait-specific climate-resilient rice lines have been developed using CRISPR/Cas-based GE tools. Earlier, several reports have been published confirming the successful application of GE tools for rice improvement. However, this review particularly aims to provide an updated and well-synthesized brief discussion based on the recent studies (from 2020 to present) on the applications of GE tools, particularly CRISPR-based systems for developing CRISPR rice to tackle the current alarming situation of climate change, worldwide. Moreover, potential limitations and technical bottlenecks in the development of CRISPR rice, and prospects are also discussed

Sugarcane bagasse as a novel low/no cost organic carbon source for growth of Chlorella sp. BR2

The most sustainable and eco-friendly approaches for biodiesel production now a days is microalgae farming due to its prompt growth rate, not affecting food chain and high oil yields. However, pilot scale harvesting is not economically feasible. Cultivating microalgae on food wastes/food industrial wastes will help improving the problem significantly. Microalgae have been employed on various wastes/industrial effluents which have been proved to be valuable nutrient sources. Sugarcane bagasse was utilized as low-cost carbon source in the present study which is one of abundantly available, biodegradable and cheap agro-industrial food waste. The highest productivity of 0.056 g L d , lipid contents of 13.55% and protein contents of 31.5% were observed when Chlorella sp. BR2 was grown mixotrophically in bagasse. Fatty acids analyzed via GCMS, showed that the C16 and C18 were predominating fatty acids in Chlorella grown mixotrophically in bagasse and hence make it a suitable feedstock for the production of a good quality biodiesel. Thus the present study proved that Chlorella sp. BR2 appears potential candidate for biodiesel production while utilizing sugarcane bagasse as an organic carbon substrate

Genome-wide analysis of plant specific YABBY transcription factor gene family in carrot (Dacus carota) and its comparison with Arabidopsis

Abstract YABBY gene family is a plant-specific transcription factor with DNA binding domain involved in various functions i.e. regulation of style, length of flowers, and polarity development of lateral organs in flowering plants. Computational methods were utilized to identify members of the YABBY gene family, with Carrot (Daucus carota) ‘s genome as a foundational reference. The structure of genes, location of the chromosomes, protein motifs and phylogenetic investigation, syntony and transcriptomic analysis, and miRNA targets were analyzed to unmask the hidden structural and functional characteristics YABBY gene family in Carrots. In the following research, it has been concluded that 11 specific YABBY genes irregularly dispersed on all 9 chromosomes and proteins assembled into five subgroups i.e. AtINO, AtCRC, AtYAB5, AtAFO, and AtYAB2, which were created on the well-known classification of Arabidopsis. The wide ranges of YABBY genes in carrots were dispersed due to segmental duplication, which was detected as prevalent when equated to tandem duplication. Transcriptomic analysis showed that one of the DcYABBY genes was highly expressed during anthocyanin pigmentation in carrot taproots. The cis-regulatory elements (CREs) analysis unveiled elements that particularly respond to light, cell cycle regulation, drought induce ability, ABA hormone, seed, and meristem expression. Furthermore, a relative study among Carrot and Arabidopsis genes of the YABBY family indicated 5 sub-families sharing common characteristics. The comprehensive evaluation of YABBY genes in the genome provides a direction for the cloning and understanding of their functional properties in carrots. Our investigations revealed genome-wide distribution and role of YABBY genes in the carrots with best-fit comparison to Arabidopsis thaliana