Phenotypic Diversity among Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) Germplasm of Pakistan

Fennel is facing continuous challenge with reference to biotic and abiotic stresses that can be solved with the knowledge of available germplasm of fennel in the country or worldwide. Selection of fennel genotype on the basis of research interest can never been accomplished without gene pool. The aim of the present study was to explore the phenotypic diversity among selective fennel accession and identify lines having high yielding potential. In the present study thirty fennel accessions were sown in PGRI, NARC. Irrigation practice was carried out during the growing period. Data was recorded during different growth stages and after harvesting. Nine morphological parameters under study include plant height, number of umbels/plant, umbel diameter, rays produced/umbel, fruits produced/umble, fruit color and fruit shape. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, Tukey Honest Significance Test and Multivariate cluster Analysis using Minitab Software version 20.0. High diversity was observed among the quantitative traits of thirty accessions. Qualitative traits of accessions from similar region had considerable resemblance. Fennel germplasm collected from Punjab gives outstanding performance with reference to phenotypic traits. Accessions were identified as potential sources including: 21293 (maximum plant height, Punjab, Jhang, Chiniot), 21209 ( great height, Punjab, Faisalabad), 21737 (short height, Punjab, Layyah, Karore Chak-84) 21699 (maximum number of rays/umbel, Punjab, Pakpattan) and 21722 (maximum number of umbels , Punjab, Narowal, Talwandi Bhandran in short 21722 due to high yield was identified as potential sources to be included in future breeding programs for the improvement of fennel varieties

ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF ESCHRICHIA COLI ISOLATES FROM CLINICAL SPECIMENS AT PIMS, ISLAMABAD

Background: E. coli is the most common producer of extended spectrum beta lactamase enzyme (ESBL) which confers broad spectrum resistance to antibiotics like penicillin, cephalosporin and monobactum. Methods and Materials: The present study was carried out at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. The marked resistance was viewed against amoxicilline-clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime. The most effective drugs established were sulbactum-cefoparazone, amikacin, pepircillin-tazobactum. A total of 220 samples of wide range were selected, i.e., blood, urine, pus, sputum, etc. and were analyzed using various techniques of Gram staining and biochemical identification. Results: After performing antibiotic sensitivity tests, 83% samples came out to be ESBL positive and 17% were ESBL negative. Conclusion: It was concluded that to ensure adequate treatment of infections arising especially from urinary pathogens and controlling spread of bacterial resistant strains, the continuous monitoring by bacterial susceptibility testing is essential

The Implementation of Tele-Health Physiotherapy Services for Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review

It is obvious how the COVID-19 pandemic changed the whole aspects of our lives in the recent period. The health services are one of the most affected services during this pandemic. However, these services are vital and cannot be over missed in any context or situation. One of the most recent terms or services which has been used to overcome the challenges of the current pandemic is the " Tele-Health' or "Tele- Medicine" or "Tele-Rehabilitation" which refer in all cases to the using of technology such as video calls or smart applications to provide the health care services to the patients distally. The main goal of the current systematic review is to study the implementation of the Tele-health services in physiotherapy specifically for the musculoskeletal cases in terms of its effectiveness, challenges and barriers, and the implementation guidelines. Review of 32 articles from different databases (Springer, Scopus, and PMC) in the last ten years period (2011-2021) revealed that this topic is dramatically increased in the literature last year with the rise of COVID-19 pandemic. The current review is showing the methodology, theories, results, in addition to the details of countries and journals in which the articles were published. The current study could help in providing the guidelines to implement the Tele-health services in physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions, with concentrating on the effectiveness and challenges

Professionalismc is the key to create public value

Public value is a new and important concept in the public management research. This concept give a new idea of public management with theme of peoples first approach to facilitate them. Public value creation is the main concern of public mangers in today’s public sector organizations. Public value is based on three building blocks of public value that are services, trust and social outcome. Professionalism is an esential requirement to achieve these building blocks of public value. A professional public manager by virtue of his possition will be in a better position to create public value. The important attributes of a professional public manger includes honesty, competency, accountability, self regulation and specialized knowledge of his field and duties. These attributes of public managers will create public value and ultimately establish the trust of public on the organization and as a result, the country will become a welfare state

Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation of Physcion Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oral Bioavailability: An Attempt to Improve Its Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential

This study aims to enhance the dissolution rate of a poorly water-soluble drug physcion by producing its nanoparticles (NPs) using an antisolvent precipitation with a syringe pump (APSP) method and to assess its antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. The NPs were prepared using a simple and cost-effective APSP method and subsequently characterized by different analytical techniques including dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD). They were also subjected to solubility and dissolution studies, and different parameters such as dissolution efficiency (DE), mean dissolution time (MDT), and difference (f1) and similarity factors (f2) were determined. Furthermore, physcion and its NPs were investigated for antioxidant and cytotoxic effects using various in vitro assays. SEM and DLS analysis indicated that the average size of physcion NPs was 110 and 195 ± 5.6 nm, respectively. The average ζ-potential and polydispersibility index (PDI) of the prepared NPs were −22.5 mV and 0.18, respectively, showing excellent dispersibility. XRD confirmed the amorphous nature of physcion NPs. The solubility and dissolution rates of NPs were significantly higher than those of the original powder. The antioxidant potential studied by the (DPPH), FRAP, and H2O2 assays was greater for physcion NPs than that for the raw powder. The IC50 values of physcion NPs against the aforementioned models were 57.56, 22.30, and 22.68 μg/mL, respectively. Likewise, the cytotoxic potential investigated through the MTT assay showed that physcion NPs were more cytotoxic to cancer cell lines A549 (IC50 4.12 μg/mL), HepG2 (IC50 2.84 μg/mL), and MDA-MB-231 (IC50 2.97 μg/mL), while it had less effect on HPAEpiC (IC50 8.68 μg/mL) and HRPTEpiC (IC50 10.71 μg/mL) normal human epithelial cells. These findings have proved that the APSP method successfully produced physcion NPs with enhanced solubility, dissolution rate, and antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

Enhancement of solar cell efficiency via luminescent downshifting by an optimized coverglass

A novel approach to enhance the solar cell efficiency via employing a luminescent downshifting mechanism is presented in this work. Gold metal ions were diffused into a commercially available sodalime silicate glass using a versatile field-assisted solid-state ion diffusion technique under different experimental conditions. Some of these samples were irradiated with ns-laser to segregate the diffused ions into dimers and trimers to enhance their luminescence characteristics. The consequent structural modifications in the glass matrix were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Optical absorption and luminescence measurements were performed to check the presence of resonant plasmonic absorption of nanoclusters and suitability of the samples as luminescent downshifters, respectively. At UV excitation wavelengths (260 and 340 nm), the doped samples downshifted the solar spectrum compared to their undoped counterparts. Furthermore, ns-laser irradiation of the doped samples significantly enhanced the luminescence intensity in comparison to the unirradiated samples. Real-time performance of these samples was tested by measuring the output power of a Si solar cell covered with the treated coverglass when illuminated with a solar simulator. Finally, the Vicker's micro-indentation was applied to conclude that ionic diffusion increased the glass hardness as well