Pyrethroid-Induced Reproductive Toxico-Pathology in Non-Target Species

Pesticides used against agricultural pests and ecto-parasite infestation in animals may also induce injurious effects in humans, pets and farm animals. The pyrethroid pesticides are rapidly replacing other insecticides due to relatively lower toxicity for mammals. However, they have now become an environmental issue due to excessive use in agriculture, livestock production, leather industry and shampoos etc. In addition to various clinical, hemato-biochemical, immunosuppressive and neuro-toxicological effects of pyrethroids, more danger has been suspected with respect to reproductive toxicity. The fetal resorption and early fetal mortality rate were found to be significantly increased in female animals allowed mating with males exposed to pyrethroids. The testicular and epididymal sperm counts and serum testosterone concentrations in pyrethroid treated animals were decreased. Moreover, abnormal spermatozoa, degenerated spermatozoa, arrested spermatogenesis and connective tissue proliferation in testes, and tailless spermatozoa in epididymis were reported with pyrethroid exposure. A decrease in pregnancy rate, number of implantation sites and total number of recovered fetuses have also been reported in female animals receiving pyrethroid treatment during gestation and allowed mating with untreated male rabbits. The progeny of pyrethroid exposed parents also showed toxic effects. Disruption of certain steroidogenic enzymes and nuclear receptors in has been reported in pyrethroid exposed animals. This review concludes that pyrethroid exposure is responsible for endocrine disruption and decreases fertility in both sexes of various non-target species and produces fetal mortality, which may be prevented by vitamin E supplementation due to its anti-oxidant potential

Synthesis and characterization of CoFe2O4/MWCNTs nanocomposites and high-frequency analysis of their dielectric properties.

Nanoparticles of CoFe2O4 were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. The CoFe2O4/MWCNT nanocomposites were synthesized with increasing contents of MWCNTs, i.e., 0.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0% by weight via ultrasonication method in a dispersive medium using ortho-xylene. The synthesized cobalt ferrite nanoparticles and their nanocomposites were characterized by impedance analyzer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The XRD indexed patterns confirmed the face-centered cubic structure of CoFe2O4/MWCNT nanocomposites. The average crystallite size in all the samples was in the range of 15 to 35 nm. The decorations of CoFe2O4 on MWCNTs were confirmed by SEM images. The FTIR results showed two vibrational bands. With the increasing contents of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the cobalt ferrite/MWCNT nanocomposites, the dielectric properties were also enhanced. At 1 MHz, dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and tangent loss factor were increased from 26, 15.1, and 0.580 for pure cobalt ferrite to 47, 28.9, and 0.614 for loading of 5% MWCNTs, respectively. At 1 GHz, dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and tangent loss factor were increased from 11.6, 0.33, and 0.028 for pure cobalt ferrite to 19.4, 0.61, and 0.031 for loading of 5% MWCNTs, respectively. Such a huge increase in the dielectric properties of cobalt ferrite and multi-walled carbon nanocomposites exploited their applications at high frequency

Generalization of majorization theorem via Abel-Gontscharoff polynomial

In this paper we use Abel-Gontscharoff formula and Green function to give some identities for the difference of majorization inequality and present the generalization of majorization theorem for the class of n-convex. We use inequalities for the Čebyšev functional to obtain bounds for the identities related to generalizations of majorization inequalities. We present mean value theorems and n-exponential convexity for the functional obtained from the generalized majorization inequalities. At the end we discuss the results for particular families of functions and give means

How Consumer Confidence, Corruption and Credit Rating Effect the Exchange Rate: Emerging Market Perspective

The paper empirically examines whether the international rating influences the rate of exchange of an economy in the long run? The paper employs Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds testing methodology on the exchange rate of China and contemporary international rating, using time series data from 1996Q1 to 2016Q4. The empirical analysis confirms the presence of a cointegration relationship between country rating and the exchange rate. To be more specific; corruption index, credit rating, and inflation are significantly and negatively cointegrated with the exchange rate of China. Conversely, consumer confidence is uncorrelated with the exchange rate over the long run. The paper focuses only on the exchange rate of CNY-USD; this may limit the generalizability of results for exchange rate with other nations. Nevertheless, the results add to the exchange rate determinants literature by including country-rating indicators in the analysis. Prior literature documents that there is some relationship between inflation and exchange rate. This research is novel in the application of robust ARDL and bounds testing to examine the long and short-run association of country rating of China with its exchange rate, after controlling for inflation

6G wireless systems : a vision, architectural elements, and future directions

Internet of everything (IoE)-based smart services are expected to gain immense popularity in the future, which raises the need for next-generation wireless networks. Although fifth-generation (5G) networks can support various IoE services, they might not be able to completely fulfill the requirements of novel applications. Sixth-generation (6G) wireless systems are envisioned to overcome 5G network limitations. In this article, we explore recent advances made toward enabling 6G systems. We devise a taxonomy based on key enabling technologies, use cases, emerging machine learning schemes, communication technologies, networking technologies, and computing technologies. Furthermore, we identify and discuss open research challenges, such as artificial-intelligence-based adaptive transceivers, intelligent wireless energy harvesting, decentralized and secure business models, intelligent cell-less architecture, and distributed security models. We propose practical guidelines including deep Q-learning and federated learning-based transceivers, blockchain-based secure business models, homomorphic encryption, and distributed-ledger-based authentication schemes to cope with these challenges. Finally, we outline and recommend several future directions. © 2013 IEEE

A Review: An Insight into the Potential of Biological Control of Ticks in Domestic and Wild Animals

Ticks are hematophagous arthropods that transmit pathogens to humans, animals and poultry birds, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions globally, causing considerable economic and health losses by serving infectious vectors. In endemic locations of the world, tick-borne diseases have become a public health issue. Ticks biting causes anemia in animals and also impair their hide quality. Therefore, the current review article focused on the biological control of ticks. Ticks, like any other creature, are susceptible to various infectious agents (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia bigemina, B. gibsoni, Hepatozoon canis, H. americanum, Theileria annulate, T. taurotragi etc). Ticks can become infected with rickettsia, spirochetes, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Some protozoans and worms infiltrate ticks and reproduce inside them, killing them. Fungus (Metarhizium anisopliae, Verticiliium lecanii, Beauveria bassiana), bacteria (Bacillus), nematodes (Steinernema glaseri, S. carpocapsae), and parasitoids (Ixodiphagus species.) have proved effective biological agents to control ticks. Insects are also a type of natural tick enemy. Ticks that are engorged with blood and while moulting are the most vulnerable to insect predation and eaten by spiders, ants, beetles, dragonflies, and wasps (Ixodiphagus). Ticks are also preyed upon by amphibians and reptiles. Birds such as yellow-billed oxpecker (Buphagus africanus), helmeted guineafowl and Galliformes are good predators of ticks. Biological agents affect only target pests (ticks), do not destroy beneficial natural enemies and are safer for the ecosystem and humans. By keeping in view, the significance of biological agents, we highly recommend them in integrated tick management program that could minimize the tick population

Rational Use of Antibiotics and Requisition of Pharmacist

ABSTRACT Background: Direct consequence of microbes developing resistance against antibiotics is prolonged hospitalization, increased treatment cost and duration. Increased duration of hospitalization causes prolonged use antibiotics which results towards side effects. Primary Study Objective: The purpose of antibiotics use is either to kill the microbes (bactericidal) or slows down their growth (bacteriostatic). Irrational use of antibiotics makes them do their exact opposite. Instead of killing microbes or slowing down their growth, it allows microbes to develop resistance against antibiotics. Methods/Design: An observational concurrent study was performed in which data was collected. Individuals were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Percentage of rationality and irrationality of antibiotics use was observed. Additionally percentage of prescribed class of antibiotics was also observed in patients. Setting: Health care system includes: Quaid e Azam International Hospital Islamabad, Benazir Hospital Rawalpindi, CMH Rawalakot AJK, Amna Hospital Rawalakot AJK, DHQ Kotli AJK Pakistan. Participants: This study was conducted on 100 patients of different health care systems, to whom antibiotics were prescribed. Most patients interviewed were female with UTI aged above 30 and adults male with RTI or chest infection. Intervention: Different patients were interviewed in different hospital settings to evaluate the rational use of antibiotics Primary Outcome Measures: Rational use of antibiotics is using antibiotics according to the guidelines provided by WHO. Major guidelines include:  patient receives medication according to their clinical needs, dosage appropriate to the individual requirements and for specific duration of time with low cost. Results: 47 percent of these patients were using antibiotics rationally and 53 percent were taking antibiotics medication irrationally. The most prevalent form of irrational use was patients without counseling about the antibiotics use. Patients with poor knowledge about the use of antibiotics were 84 among the 100. Irrational use of antibiotics in the form of pre-mature discontinuation was reported 56 patients among the 100. Patient who irrationally use antibiotics as OTC or Self medications were 38 among the 100. Conclusion: Major form of irrationality found in the study was no proper counseling provided to the patients by specialist physician or Pharmacists. The reason we critically observed for this is the burden of patients on physicians due to which they are not able to properly guide patients. The community on which this study was conducted has a major absence of pharmacist. Dispensers and pharmacy technicians are performing pharmacist’s tasks. Absence of pharmacist leads to dosage dispensing errors, lack of professional medical counseling, and no drug utilization revie