Fungi - an Amalgam of Toxins and Antibiotics: a Mini- Review

Fungi are eukaryotes with many functions. Earlier, fungi were classified in the plant kingdom but were later classified as a separate kingdom due to their unique cell walls. Fungi are heterotrophs like animals and are more closely related to animals. The perception of fungi is inconspicuous due to their small sizes and their ability to grow symbiotically in plants, animals, other fungi, and parasites. Fungi are used for their nutrition, fermentation potential, and bactericidal potential. However, fungi are also toxic due to certain bioactive compounds known as mycotoxins. Candida and Aspergillus are invasive species that contribute to a high percentage of mycoses in oncological and haematological patients. The mortality rate due to invasive aspergillosis and candidiasis is high, at 4% and 2%, respectively. In the agriculture sector, a significant contributor to damage to crops globally is the invasion of filamentous fungi. Fungi invasion destroys over 125 million tons of wheat, rice, soybeans, potatoes, and maize annually. If prevented, 600 million people may be fed. Therefore, it is vital to consider the dual role of fungi, therapeutic, and pathogenic

Solutions for the Power Distribution System of Karachi Electric (K- Electric) to Prevent Deaths in Rainy Season

Karachi is the metropolitan city of Pakistan. In rainy or flood season many deaths occurred due to electric shock. For the prevention, we suggest here to K-Electric (Karachi Electric Supply Distribution company) to control death casualties due to electric shock in rainy season. In suggestion paper providing some suggestions to the big power supplier of Karachi (K-Electric) about safety, maintenance, and monitoring for the prevention from deaths occur in metropolitan city due to electric shock. Those deaths occur due to faults in electric pole and touch the fallen live wire. When people touch the pole, they got electric shock in rainy and storm condition due to these electric faults occur in this condition provides enough loss to humans in the form to lose their lives. For the prevention or overcome the loss of life and danger here are giving some suggestions, if do work on following safety, maintenance and monitoring system then get the control on that loss will occur in heavy rain or flood

Supplier Development Literature Review and Key Future Research Areas

The purpose of this paper is to develop a Supplier Development (SD) literature framework and identify the main focus areas in SD research. To this end, a comprehensive review of the existing SD academic literature has been undertaken, which includes 62 research papers. These papers are classified according to their research content and the research methodology employed. A comprehensive list of future research areas is also presented. Thus, this paper will also briefly explore proposed future research. The review of the SD literature presented here identifies the following main areas of focus: Supplier Development Activities, Practices and Success Factors; Direct or Indirect Supplier Development; Supplier Development as a Reactive or Strategic Process; Supplier Development in a Lean Six Sigma & SME context

Antibacterial efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against metallo-β-lactamase and extended spectrum β-lactamase producing clinically procured isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract Resistance to carbapenems is a global threat, especially in developing countries with limited health resources. Prevalence, antibiogram, PCR detection of antibiotic resistance genes, and potency of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa were studied. Kirby-Bauer disc method and PCR were used to study antibiogram and drug resistance genes respectively in 255 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa obtained from a tertiary care hospital. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) precursor salts were reacted with Aspergillus flavus culture filtrate to trigger the extracellular mycosynthesis of AgNPs. Mycosynthesis was first monitored regularly by visible ultraviolet spectroscopy that recorded AgNP peaks of approximately 400–470 nm. Confirmation by Transmission electron micrographs provided confirmation of AgNPs formed within a range of 5–30 nm. Individual and combined antibacterial activity of ten antibiotics and AgNPs was analyzed. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated for phenotypic and genotypic multidrug resistance. Data were evaluated using SPSS version 20. p-value  amikacin + AgNPs (25 mm) > aztreonam + AgNPs (23 mm) > meropenem + AgNPs (22 mm) > imipenem + AgNPs (20 mm) > gentamycin + AgNPs (17 mm) > ciprofloxacin + AgNPs (16 mm) > cefoperazone/sulbactam + AgNPs (14 mm) ≥ ceftazidime + AgNPs (14 mm). The conjugated effect of AgNPs plus antibiotics showed a 0.15–3.51 (average of 2.09) fold-area augmentation of antimicrobial activity. AgNPs conjugated with antibiotics effectively inhibited MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To the best of our understanding, this is an inaugural report from Punjab Pakistan enlisting co-expression of Metallo-β-lactamases, extended-spectrum β-lactamases, and AmpC-β-lactamase plus activity of antibiotic-AgNPs

Cellulose Blended Membranes for High-Salinity Water Pervaporation Desalination

In the current study, cellulose acetate (CA)/cellulose triacetate (CTA) nanocomposite membranes blended with zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) are prepared via phase inversion for pervaporation desalination performance. ZrO2 nanoparticles are added to enhance the hydrophilicity and porosity of the nanocomposite membranes. The fabricated nanocomposite membranes are characterized by SEM, FTIR, TGA, and DSC to study the surface morphology, chemical composition, thermal stability and strength. Nanocomposite membranes’ performance for pervaporation desalination is assessed as a function of feed concentration. Pervaporation results revealed that the nanocomposite membrane consisting of 2% ZrO2 achieved a maximum water flux of 6.5 kg/m2h, whereas the salt rejection was about 99.8%

Cellulose Triacetate/Zinc Oxide Membrane for Bioethanol Recovery via Pervaporation

In this study, cellulose triacetate (CTA) hybrid membrane is successfully prepared via the phase-inversion method for bioethanol recovery through pervaporation. Nano zinc oxide (ZnO) particles are mixed into the polymer matrices of CTA to enhance the pervaporation membrane’s performance. The fabricated hybrid membrane is characterized using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to reveal the surface morphology and thermal resistance, respectively. The pervaporation performance of the hybrid membrane is assessed for recovering bioethanol from its dilute solution. Pervaporation results show that the hybrid membrane prepared with 3 wt.% ZnO achieved a permeation flux of 1065.71 g/m2h, while the separation factor was around 1038 at 50 °C operating temperature

Exploring the Potential of Interferon Gamma Gene as Major Immune Responder for Bovine Tuberculosis in River Buffalo

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a widespread zoonotic infection targeting the livestock sector, especially in developing countries, and posing a risk to humans and animal populations. Its recent prevalence in river buffaloes has been estimated as higher as 33.7%. In emergent countries like Pakistan, there is likeliness of human-livestock interfaces extensively and lacking of effective preventive measures that illustrate the risk of spreading the infection at a remarkable rate. The river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is an upkeep host of Mycobacterium bovis and is responsible for disease transmission among buffaloes and other livestock species. In this study, potential molecular biomarkers in the Interferon-gamma gene (IFNg) were identified after genomic screening of river buffaloes. Unique genomic loci in river buffalo proved the novelty of the genomic structure of this phenomenal animal but also highlighted its significance in natural immunity against the Mycobacterium. A total of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in the coding region of IFNg. The SNPs in the exonic region were all transitions, i.e., the conversion of purines to purines. These SNPs were analyzed for Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium, chi2 test, gene diversity, and protein structural conformation. Pathway analysis in tuberculosis revealed that IFNg inhibits the antigen-presenting cells (APC) through JAK and STAT pathways. Network analysis of IFNg proteins in both species showed strong associations among the immunity-related proteins (interleukins, tissue necrosis factors) and receptors of interferons. The identified polymorphic sites might be novel-potentiated markers for the selection of animals with superior immune response against bTB and can be exploited as promising genomic sites for breeding the resistant animal herds to combat Mycobacterium infection in a long run

A Framework for Quantifying the Strength of Partnerships between Agricultural Cooperatives and Development Actors: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia

The issue of the agricultural cooperatives’ sustainability in developing their businesses is gaining increasing prominence. Building partnerships between development actors and agricultural cooperatives has been considered an effective strategy for supporting financial capital and addressing sustainability issues collectively. Therefore, this study aimed to address the features and strengths of 33 partnerships established between the Beekeeping Cooperative Association in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, and other actors between 2016 and 2021. The analysis of the collaborations was based on six criteria: motivations, partnership planning, outputs, governance practices, outcomes, and sustainability of a partnership. Furthermore, we developed a weighted scoring model to control variable selection and submit the strength of each partnership. The findings indicated that most collaborations (45.5%) were signed with the private sector. Furthermore, the honey value chain development was the most frequent reason (69.7%) attracting the partners to engage in the partnerships. Some of the most critical environmental objectives targeted by the partnerships examined were enhancing bee habitat by the diversification of pasture species, management to increase the flowering period, and proper grazing management. All partners achieved their individual goals jointly in 54.5% of the partnerships analyzed. In terms of a partnership’s strength, the findings also revealed that only three partnerships (9.1%) were characterized as strong partnerships. This study provides a better understanding of how agricultural cooperatives collaborate with other actors and a basis for assessing the strength of the partnerships. Such information is crucial for developing relevant policies to encourage cooperatives to engage in future sustainability partnerships

Awareness and adoption level of fish farmers regarding recommended fish farming practices in Hafizabad, Pakistan

Food security for human beings on globe is becoming increasingly important on a worldwide level. Factors responsible for low fish production are lack of information, poor fisheries extension services, feed adulteration, low water quality, high construction cost and non-availability of irrigation water. The present study was designed to investigate the adoption level of recommended fish production practices by the fish farmers in district Hafizabad. The data were collected from 135 fish farmers of Tehsil Hafizabad through validated and reliable interview schedule. The data were analyzed through SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for computing results and drawing conclusions. From results, significant association was observed between socio-economic characteristics such as age, education and size of land holdings of fish farmers and their awareness and adoption level regarding recommended fish farming practices. The interviewed respondents were mostly young, educated with sufficient resource capitals that are related to fisheries and agriculture. Most of the population (about 90%) were aware of basic fish farming practices (nursery, feed, intercultural, fish rate, rice powder, fertilizer, harvest), and about half population was aware about the technicalities of quality production (water and soil quality) from which half had adopted that. All of the population was aware about and adopted recommended water application to pond. They were little known to few fish diseases (spot and kidney disease), as compared to having good knowledge and adoption about other major insects and pest attack. Constraining factors found were lack of information, poor fisheries extension services, uncertainty in the market, load-shedding problem, impaired soil and water quality, feed adulteration, limited credit facilities, high construction cost, and non-availability of irrigation water, which implies immediate efforts and enforced policies by the Fisheries Department to educate and facilitate fish farming process starting right from the farm development till marketing. Keywords: Fish farming, Advanced practices, Awareness, Adoption, Hafizaba