Improving the performance of bread wheat genotypes by managing irrigation and nitrogen under semi-arid conditions

<p>Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) productivity is generally affected by water limitation and inadequate nitrogen supply especially under semi-arid environment. The current study was conducted to determine whether the crop yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) could be manipulated through alteration of nitrogen and irrigation application. To meet the desired objectives, a two-year field study was carried out in 2013–2014 and 2014–2015, in a split-split plot arrangement with three factors <i>i)</i> irrigation in main plots, <i>ii)</i> nitrogen in sub-plots, and <i>iii)</i> twenty genotypes in sub-sub plots on a sandy loam soil. The analysis of variance revealed that the wheat performance was affected by genotypes and alteration of irrigation and nitrogen application with respect to IWUE and final grain yield. IWUE under water stress conditions was observed 56% higher than normal irrigated. Much higher values of IWUE under water stress indicated that the existing optimum water requirements of the crop needs to be revaluated. The regression model indicated that addition of nitrogen and irrigation patterns along with morphological traits cannot explain variation in yield related traits more than 65% under semi-arid conditions. Therefore, for better crop yields in semi-arid environment, more physiological parameters should be considered in evaluation of yield.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Knowledge, Attitude, Awareness, and Barriers Toward Influenza Vaccination Among Medical Doctors at Tertiary Care Health Settings in Peshawar, Pakistan–A Cross-Sectional Study.docx

<p>Objective: This study intends to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and awareness of medical doctors toward influenza vaccination and the reasons for not getting vaccinated.</p><p>Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among medical doctors in three major tertiary care health settings in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. A web-based, pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection.</p><p>Results: A total of (n = 300) medical doctors were invited, however only (n = 215) participated in the study with a response rate of 71.7%. Among the participants, 95.3% (n = 205) were males with a mean age of 28.67 ± 3.89 years. By designation, 121(56.3%) were trainee medical officers and 40 (18.6%) were house officers. The majority 102(47.4%) had a job experience of 1–2 years. Of the total sample, 38 (17.7%) doctors reported having received some kind of vaccination, whereas only 19 (8.84%) were vaccinated against influenza. The results identified that the major barriers toward influenza vaccinations included (1) Unfamiliarity with Influenza vaccination availability (Relative Importance Index RII = 0.830), (2) Unavailability of Influenza vaccines due to lack of proper storage area in the institution (RII = 0.634), (3) Cost of vaccine (RII = 0.608), and (4) insufficient staff to administer vaccine (RII = 0.589). Additionally, 156 (72.6%) of doctors were not aware of the influenza immunization recommendation and guidelines published by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Physicians obtained a high score (8.27 ± 1.61) of knowledge and understanding regarding influenza and its vaccination followed by medical officers (8.06 ± 1.37). Linear Regression analysis revealed that gender was significantly associated with the knowledge score with males having a higher score (8.0± 1.39) than females (6.80 ± 1.61 β = −1.254 and CI [−2.152 to −0.355], p = 0.006).</p><p>Conclusion: A very low proportion of doctors were vaccinated against influenza, despite the published guidelines and recommendations. Strategies that address multiple aspects like increasing awareness and the importance of the influenza vaccine, the international recommendations and enhancing access and availability of the vaccine are needed to improve its coverage and health outcomes.</p

Factors affecting injury severity in motorcycle crashes: Different age groups analysis using Catboost and SHAP techniques

Motorcycle crashes often result in severe injuries on roads that affect people’s lives physically, financially, and psychologically. These injuries could be notably harmful to drivers of all age groups. The main objective of this study is to investigate the risk factors contributing to the severity of crash injuries in different age groups. This Objective is achieved by developing accurate machine learning (ML) based prediction models. This research examines the relationship between potential risk factors of motorcycle-associated crashes using (ML) and Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) technique. The SHAP technique further helped interpreting ML methods for traffic injury severity prediction. It indicates the significant non-linear interactions between dependent and independent variables. The data for this study was collected from the Provincial Emergency Response Service RESCUE 1122 for the Rawalpindi region (Pakistan) over three years (from 2017 to 2020). The Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) is employed to balance injury severity classes in the pre-processing phase. The results demonstrate that age, gender, posted speed limit, the number of lanes, and month of the year are positively associated with severe and fatal injuries. This research also assesses how the modeling framework varies between the ML and classical statistical methods. The predictive performance of proposed ML models was assessed using several evaluation metrics, and it is found that Catboost outperformed the XGBoost, Random Forest (RF) and Multinomial Logit (MNL) model. The findings of this study will assist road users, road safety authorities, stakeholders, policymakers, and decision-makers in obtaining substantial and essential guidance for reducing the severity of crash injuries in Pakistan and other countries with prevailing conditions.</p

Development of oral self nano-emulsifying delivery system(s) of lanreotide with improved stability against presystemic thiol-disulfide exchange reactions

<p><b>Objectives</b>: To develop a self nano-emulsifying delivery system (SNEDS) for model peptide lanreotide providing a protective effect towards thiol-disulfide exchange reactions.</p> <p><b>Methods</b>: Ion-paired complexes of lanreotide with surfactants were prepared. In the following, Log P (octanol/water) of these complexes was determined. Lanreotide-loaded SNEDS (Lan/Deo-SN2 and Lan/Deo-SN3) were characterized for payload, droplet size and zeta potential. Lan/Deo-SN2 and Lan/Deo-SN3 were incubated with reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiol-enriched casein peptones for the assessment of thiol-disulfide exchange reactions. Ultra-centrifugation was used for separation of lanreotide released from SNEDS.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: A maximum payload of 6.4% was achieved for Lan/Deo-SN2. Mean droplet size of Lan/Deo-SN2 and Lan/Deo-SN3 was 45 ± 0.20 nm and 37 ± 0.02 nm, respectively. Both formulations showed significant protection towards thiol-disulfide exchange reactions. After 3 h of incubation with GSH, 48% and 80% of lanreotide remained intact when incorporated in Lan/Deo-SN2 and Lan/Deo-SN3, respectively. Furthermore, Lan/Deo-SN2 and Lan/Deo-SN3 showed 47% and 51% protection against thiol enriched casein peptones, respectively. Both formulations showed sustained lanreotide release over a period of 3 h.</p> <p><b>Conclusion</b>: Owing to the results, the above-mentioned approach might be a useful tool to overcome the sulfhydryl barrier of the GI-tract.</p

pH-sensitive docetaxel-loaded chitosan/thiolated hyaluronic acid polymeric nanoparticles for colorectal cancer - supplementary material

Supplementary figure 1Supplementary Table S1. Thiol group quantification assaySupplementary Table S2. Kinetic characteristics of DTX release from formulations of CS/SH-HA nanoparticlesSupplementary Table S3. An acute oral toxicity investigation for SH-HA nanoparticles with clinical outcomesSupplementary Table S4. Stability study of the thiolated NP formulation at different storage conditions for three months</p

Can thiolation render a low molecular weight polymer of just 20-kDa mucoadhesive?

<p>The objective was to investigate whether even low-molecular weight polymers (LMWPs) can be rendered mucoadhesive due to thiolation. Interceded by the double catalytic system carbodiimide/<i>N</i>-hydroxysuccinimide, cysteamine was covalently attached to a copolymer, poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSA-MA) exhibiting a molecular weight of just 20 kDa. Depending on the amount of added <i>N</i>-hydroxysuccinimide and cysteamine, the resulting PSSA-MA–cysteamine (PC) conjugates exhibited increasing degree of thiolation, highest being “PC 2300” exhibiting 2300.16 ± 149.86 μmol thiol groups per gram of polymer (mean ± SD; <i>n</i> = 3). This newly developed thiolated polymer was evaluated regarding mucoadhesive, rheological and drug release properties as well from the toxicological point of view. Swelling behavior in 100 mM phosphate buffer pH 6.8 was improved up to 180-fold. Furthermore, due to thiolation, the mucoadhesive properties of the polymer were 240-fold improved. Rheological measurements of polymer/mucus mixtures confirmed results obtained by mucoadhesion studies. In comparison to unmodified polymer, PC 2300 showed 2.3-, 2.3- and 2.4-fold increase in dynamic viscosity, elastic modulus and viscous modulus, respectively. Sustained release of the model drug codeine HCl out of the thiomer was provided for 2.5 h (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas the drug was immediately released from the unmodified polymer. Moreover, the thiomer was found non-toxic over Caco-2 cells for a period of 6- and 24-h exposure. Findings of the present study provide evidence that due to thiolation LMWPs can be rendered highly mucoadhesive as well as cohesive and that a controlled drug release out of such polymers can be provided.</p

MAT, ELISA and Western blot analysis of the serum sample used in this study.

<p>MAT, ELISA and Western blot analysis of the serum sample used in this study.</p

Sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA test when a single protein was evaluated in comparison to the MAT result.

<p>Sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA test when a single protein was evaluated in comparison to the MAT result.</p

Western blot analysis of canine serum.

<p>Sera that were MAT negative but ELISA positive (A) and MAT positive, but ELISA negative (B) were further tested by Western blotting. Purified recombinant proteins rLipL21, rLoa22, rLipL32 and rLigACon4-8 of <i>L. interrogans</i> were transferred from the SDS-PAGE separation gel to a nitrocellulose membrane. After washing with TBS, the membranes were blocked and then subjected to assay using the serum to be tested as the primary antibody and l∶3,000-diluted, alkaline phosphatase-labeled goat anti-dog IgG (KPL, Inc., MD) as the secondary antibody. After this, the membranes were incubated in freshly prepared BCIP-NBT color development solution (Invitrogen) for 10 to 30 min to see the <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0111367#s3" target="_blank">results</a>. The number is the dog serum number that was ELISA positive.</p

Graph of the ELISA samples showing the IgG ELISA reactivity of 305 canine sera.

<p>The <i>x</i> axis indicates the MAT titers of the tested sera. The <i>y</i> axis indicates the ELISA reading at OD450. A. LipL21; B. Loa22; C, LipL32; D, LigACon4-8.</p