Draft Genome Sequences of Bacillus velezensis Strains AF_3B and OS2, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Strain BS9, Bacillus halotolerans Strain A1, and Bacillus sp. Strain BS3, Producing Biosurfactants with Antimicrobial Potential

Five environmental Bacillus strains were sequenced, of which three were isolated from the rhizosphere of agricultural soil and one each from Attock Oil Refinery and Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan. The strains can be used for plant growth promotion and biosurfactant activity brought about by secondary metabolites

Effect of growing degree days on autumn planted sunflower

Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) having high degree of adaptability under wide range of climatic conditions, allow the crop to be productive in broad range of environments. Field experiments in autumn were laid out at Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan for two years (2007 and 2008), to document the effect of growing degree days (GDD) on the performance of sunflower hybrids. Four sunflower hybrids, Alisson-RM, Parasio-24, MG-2 and S-278 were planted in randomized complete block design with four replications during autumn season. The data on growing degree days accumulation during autumn and their effect on achene, oil yield and yield components of sunflower like number of achenes per head, hundred achenes weight, biological and achene yield was recorded. All these agronomic characters as well as oil characteristics were influenced by prevailing temperature. GDD collected during autumn season was the same for both years of study. Amongst hybrids, the hybrid MG-2 showed the maximum values for all the agronomic as well as oil parameters during the autumn season. At the late planting of sunflower during autumn season, crop completes its life cycle in short duration and accumulates less heat units, thus, achene and oil yield along with yield attributes are affected accordingly.Key words: Growing degree days (GDD), yield and yield components, sunflower

Potential materials for food packaging from nanoclay/natural fibres filled hybrid composites

The increasing demand for new food packaging materials which satisfy people requirements provided thrust for advancement of nano-materials science. Inherent permeability of polymeric materials to gases and vapours; and poor barrier and mechanical properties of biopolymers have boosted interest in developing new strategies to improve these properties. Research and development in polymeric materials coupled with appropriate filler, matrix-filler interaction and new formulation strategies to develop composites have potential applications in food packaging. Advancement in food packaging materials expected to grow with the advent of cheap, renewable and sustainable materials with enhanced barrier and mechanical properties. Nanoparticles have proportionally larger surface area and significant aspect ratio than their micro-scale counterparts, which promotes the development of mechanical and barrier properties. Nanocomposites are attracting considerable interest in food packaging because of these fascinating features. On the other hand, natural fibres are susceptible to microorganisms and their biodegradability is one of the most promising aspects of their incorporation in polymeric materials. Present review article explain about different categories of nanoclay and natural fibre based composite with particular regard to its applications as packaging materials and also gives an overview of the most recent advances and emerging new aspects of nanotechnology for development of hybrid composites for environmentally compatible food packaging materials

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in an antenatal clinic in Durban, South Africa

Background: Mass administration of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the most efficient intervention against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Recently, vaccinations were shown to be safe and effective during pregnancy. However, vaccination rates are low in low- and middle-income countries, and vaccine hesitancy is a major limiting factor. Objectives: To investigate the rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women. Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based investigation of 313 unvaccinated pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in Durban, South Africa (SA). The questionnaire included clinical and socio-demographic data, and reasons for vaccine hesitancy were recorded and evaluated. Results: Of 313 women participating, 126 (40.3%) were vaccinated against COVID-19, 21/313 = 6.7%; for those unvaccinated, 21/187 (13.9%) were planning to be vaccinated. However, most unvaccinated women, 174 of 187 (93%), showed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: The COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among pregnant women in Durban, SA, is exceptionally high. This requires urgent attention by the relevant health authorities (both professional health organisations and the SA Department of Health) as many countries experience different waves of the variants of SARS-CoV-2 and herd immunity may not have been achieved. Contribution: This study showed a high vaccine acceptance hesitancy rate among pregnant women in SA