Hybrid Nano-carriers for Potential Drug Delivery

Nanocarriers have provided the versatile platform for the delivery of various therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Liposome, niosomes, polymeric and solid lipid nanoparticles are the most promising nanocarriers that have been entered in the clinical trials and become commercially available. However, each system has been associated with some problems that can be minimized by using the combinatorial approach of hybrid nanocarriers. These hybrid systems combine the benefits of different structural components to synergize the outcome of the therapy. In this chapter, the different types of hybrid nanocarriers have been described with particular emphasis on the brief rationale for the development of these hybrid nanocarriers along with different fabrication approaches with greater emphasize on the lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles. A brief description factors governing the optimized response characteristics and their potential application of these hybrid nanoparticles are also presented

Temperature Extremes in Cotton Production and Mitigation Strategies

Cotton is an important cash crop, providing raw material for different industries and plays crucial role in the economy of several countries. It requires optimum temperature for economic production and causes reduced yield otherwise. Extreme temperature, more importantly, high temperature causes serious yield reduction in cotton by affecting its physiology, biochemistry and quality leading to poor agronomic produce. Freezing temperature also affect the germination percentage and seedling establishment. Several breeding and genomics based studies were conducted to improve the cotton production under high and low temperature stress in cotton. Here we overviewed several agronomic practices to mitigate the effect of extreme temperature, and multiple breeding and molecular approaches to enhance the genetic potential of cotton for temperature tolerance by Marker assisted selection or transgenic approach

Fungal diversity notes 929–1035: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungi

This article is the ninth in the series of Fungal Diversity Notes, where 107 taxa distributed in three phyla, nine classes, 31 orders and 57 families are described and illustrated. Taxa described in the present study include 12 new genera, 74 new species, three new combinations, two reference specimens, a re-circumscription of the epitype, and 15 records of sexualasexual morph connections, new hosts and new geographical distributions. Twelve new genera comprise Brunneofusispora, Brunneomurispora, Liua, Lonicericola, Neoeutypella, Paratrimmatostroma, Parazalerion, Proliferophorum, Pseudoastrosphaeriellopsis, Septomelanconiella, Velebitea and Vicosamyces. Seventy-four new species are Agaricus memnonius, A. langensis, Aleurodiscus patagonicus, Amanita flavoalba, A. subtropicana, Amphisphaeria mangrovei, Baorangia major, Bartalinia kunmingensis, Brunneofusispora sinensis, Brunneomurispora lonicerae, Capronia camelliaeyunnanensis, Clavulina thindii, Coniochaeta simbalensis, Conlarium thailandense, Coprinus trigonosporus, Liua muriformis, Cyphellophora filicis, Cytospora ulmicola, Dacrymyces invisibilis, Dictyocheirospora metroxylonis, Distoseptispora thysanolaenae, Emericellopsis koreana, Galiicola baoshanensis, Hygrocybe lucida, Hypoxylon teeravasati, Hyweljonesia indica, Keissleriella caraganae, Lactarius olivaceopallidus, Lactifluus midnapurensis, Lembosia brigadeirensis, Leptosphaeria urticae, Lonicericola hyaloseptispora, Lophiotrema mucilaginosis, Marasmiellus bicoloripes, Marasmius indojasminodorus, Micropeltis phetchaburiensis, Mucor orantomantidis, Murilentithecium lonicerae, Neobambusicola brunnea, Neoeutypella baoshanensis, Neoroussoella heveae, Neosetophoma lonicerae, Ophiobolus malleolus, Parabambusicola thysanolaenae, Paratrimmatostroma kunmingensis, Parazalerion indica, Penicillium dokdoense, Peroneutypa mangrovei, Phaeosphaeria cycadis, Phanerochaete australosanguinea, Plectosphaerella kunmingensis, Plenodomus artemisiae, P. lijiangensis, Proliferophorum thailandicum, Pseudoastrosphaeriellopsis kaveriana, Pseudohelicomyces menglunicus, Pseudoplagiostoma mangiferae, Robillarda mangiferae, Roussoella elaeicola, Russula choptae, R. uttarakhandia, Septomelanconiella thailandica, Spencermartinsia acericola, Sphaerellopsis isthmospora, Thozetella lithocarpi, Trechispora echinospora, Tremellochaete atlantica, Trichoderma koreanum, T. pinicola, T. rugulosum, Velebitea chrysotexta, Vicosamyces venturisporus, Wojnowiciella kunmingensis and Zopfiella indica. Three new combinations are Baorangia rufomaculata, Lanmaoa pallidorosea and Wojnowiciella rosicola. The reference specimens of Canalisporium kenyense and Tamsiniella labiosa are designated. The epitype of Sarcopeziza sicula is re-circumscribed based on cyto- and histochemical analyses. The sexual-asexual morph connection of Plenodomus sinensis is reported from ferns and Cirsium for the first time. In addition, the new host records and country records are Amanita altipes, A. melleialba, Amarenomyces dactylidis, Chaetosphaeria panamensis, Coniella vitis, Coprinopsis kubickae, Dothiorella sarmentorum, Leptobacillium leptobactrum var. calidus, Muyocopron lithocarpi, Neoroussoella solani, Periconia cortaderiae, Phragmocamarosporium hederae, Sphaerellopsis paraphysata and Sphaeropsis eucalypticola

Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study)

Background: This study provides a global overview of the management of patients with acute cholecystitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: CHOLECOVID is an international, multicentre, observational comparative study of patients admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on management were collected for a 2-month study interval coincident with the WHO declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared with an equivalent pre-pandemic time interval. Mediation analysis examined the influence of SARS-COV-2 infection on 30-day mortality. Results: This study collected data on 9783 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to 247 hospitals across the world. The pandemic was associated with reduced availability of surgical workforce and operating facilities globally, a significant shift to worse severity of disease, and increased use of conservative management. There was a reduction (both absolute and proportionate) in the number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 3095 patients (56.2 per cent) pre-pandemic to 1998 patients (46.2 per cent) during the pandemic but there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality after cholecystectomy comparing the pre-pandemic interval with the pandemic (13 patients (0.4 per cent) pre-pandemic to 13 patients (0.6 per cent) pandemic; P = 0.355). In mediation analysis, an admission with acute cholecystitis during the pandemic was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (OR 1.29, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 1.79, P = 0.121). Conclusion: CHOLECOVID provides a unique overview of the treatment of patients with cholecystitis across the globe during the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study highlights the need for system resilience in retention of elective surgical activity. Cholecystectomy was associated with a low risk of mortality and deferral of treatment results in an increase in avoidable morbidity that represents the non-COVID cost of this pandemic

جھوک سیال : دیہی پنجاب کا ثقافتی اظہار

Syed Shabbir Hussain Shah, a government officer, had a passion for fiction writing. His only novel "Jhok Sayal" was published in 1972 by his widow Malika Pukhraj, a renowned singer. It sheds light on the exploitation of the native population by politicians, feudal lords, and religious figures. The novel vividly portrays the rich diversity of rural Punjabi culture. Moreover, it also explores the social and political realities of its time, providing an insightful commentary on the challenges faced by the local community

Xerophorus pakistanicus M. Asif, Saba & M. Raza, sp. nov.

<i>Xerophorus pakistanicus</i> M. Asif, Saba & M. Raza, <i>sp. nov.</i> (Figs. 2, 3) <p>MycoBank: MB849110</p> <p>Fungi of Pakistan No. (FOP_5009)</p> <p> Etymology:—The specific epithet “ <i>pakistanicus</i> ” refers to the country in which the type specimen was collected.</p> <p>......continued on the next page</p> <p> Diagnosis:— <i>Xerophorus pakistanicus</i> differs from <i>X. olivascens</i> due to its brown to dull orange, parabolic to campanulate pileus, stipe turning yellowish brown on handling, amygdaliform to oblong basidiospores, welldifferentiated narrowly cylindrical to utriform cheilocystidia, pileipellis hyphae with clavate terminal cells, utriform to pyriform caulocystidia and presence of clamp connections only in the stipitipellis.</p> <p> Holotype:— PAKISTAN. Punjab, Pirowal Irrigated Forest, District Khanewal, 30°34′34″ N, 71°98′48″ E, 136 m elev., on nutrient-rich soil, 28 July 2022, SP-64, <i>Muhammad Asif</i> (LAH37886). GenBank accessions: ITS = OQ947795; 28 S = OQ947829.</p> <p> Description:— <i>Pileus</i> 0.8–1.3 cm diam., convex or parabolic to campanulate, brown (7.5YR4/4) at center, becoming dull orange (7.5Y7/4) towards margin, moderately depressed at center, dry and dull, tomentose or matted woolly, or fibrillose, margin straight and entire, rarely splitting at maturity, context thin. <i>Lamellae</i> pale yellow (2.5YR8/4), adnexed to sinuate, narrow to broad, margins entire rarely eroded, concolorous with faces, moderately crowded, 2 tiers of lamellulae. <i>Stipe</i> 1.4–2.8 × 0.3–0.5 cm, pale yellow (2.5YR8/4) near the cap becoming light brown (7.5YR6/3) towards the base, centrally attached, slightly bent or curved from middle, surface reticulate near the cap, becoming longitudinally striate towards the base, becoming light yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) on handling, cylindrical, hollow, dry and shiny near the cap becoming dull towards the base, slightly bulbous base, solid interior. <i>Annulus</i> and <i>Volva</i> absent.</p> <p> <i>Basidiospores</i> [50/2/2], (4.8–) 5.3–6.6 (–7.2) × (3.2–) 4–4.6 (–5.2) µm, avl × avw = 6 × 4.3 μm, Q = 1.1–1.8, Qav = 1.4, amygdaliform, rarely oblong, thin-walled, smooth, apiculus present or sometimes absent, hyaline in 5 % KOH, inamyloid, congophilous, mono-guttulate with greenish internal content. <i>Basidia</i> (26.7–) 26.9–31.8 (–36.1) × (5.8–) 6.1–7.5 (–8.3) µm, avl × avw = 29.3 × 6.8 µm, clavate, bi-sporic, thin-walled, hyaline in 5 % KOH, greenish oil droplets present, congophilous. <i>Cheilocystidia</i> (16–) 17.7–21.4 (–24.5) × (2.9–) 3.3–4.4 (–5.2) µm, avl × avw = 19.7 × 3.9 µm, narrowly cylindrical to flexuose, sometimes narrowly clavate or utriform, sometimes constricted at middle, short cells at the base, thin-walled, no internal content observed. <i>Pleurocystidia</i> absent. <i>Pileipellis</i> a trichoderm of erect hyphae, 2.2–5.1 μm in diam., avw = 3.2 μm, irregularly arranged, cylindrical and hollow, terminal cells rarely modified into clavate elements, thin-walled, septate, rarely constricted at septa, smooth, rarely branched. <i>Pileocystidia</i> absent. <i>Stipitipellis</i> a cutis, made up of long and cylindrical hyphae 2.3–6.8 μm diam., avw = 3.5 μm., rounded terminal cells or rarely modified into clavate elements, thick-walled, septate, rarely constricted at septa, regularly arranged, clamp connections present, rarely branched. <i>Caulocystidia</i> (15.4–) 18.7–24.9 (–30.5) × (6.1–) 6.6–10.8 (–14.7) µm, avl × avw = 7.6 × 2.9 µm, utriform to pyriform or clavate, hyaline, thin-walled. <i>Clamp connections</i> present only in stipitipellis.</p> <p> Habit and habitat:—Collybioid, saprotrophic, mostly in pairs, rarely solitary on nutrient-rich loamy soil under <i>Dalbergia sissoo</i>.</p> <p>Geographical distribution:—So far, known only from the type locality, District Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan.</p> <p> Additional specimen examined:— PAKISTAN. Punjab, Pirowal Irrigated Forest, District Khanewal, 30°34′34″ N, 71°98′48″ E, 136 m elev., on nutrient-rich soil, 30 July 2022, SP-77, <i>Muhammad Asif,</i> GenBank accessions: ITS = OQ947796; 28 S = OQ947830.</p>Published as part of <i>Asif, Muhammad, Saba, Malka & Raza, Mubashar, 2023, First report of the genus Xerophorus from Asia with the description of Xerophorus pakistanicus (Callistosporiaceae), a new species from Southern Punjab, Pakistan, pp. 38-48 in Phytotaxa 632 (1)</i> on pages 41-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.632.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10435188">http://zenodo.org/record/10435188</a&gt

Xerophorus Vizzini, Consiglio & M. Marchetti 2020

Key to the species of <i>Xerophorus</i> <p>1a. Caulocystidia absent......................................................................................................................................................................... 2.</p> <p>1b. Caulocystidia present.........................................................................................................................................................................3.</p> <p> 2. Pileus hemispherical to convex to flat, light pink; light cream with pinkish lamellae; stipe concolorous with pileus; basidiospores amygdaliform to rounded 8.3 × 6.1 μm, cheilocystidia cylindrical to clavate 21–44 × 3–5 µm; pileipellis a cutis, clamped hyphae..................................................................................................................................................................................... <i>X. dominicanus</i></p> <p>3a. Basidiomata with clamp connections................................................................................................................................................4.</p> <p>3b. Basidiomata with no clamp connection.............................................................................................................................................5.</p> <p>4. Pileipellis a trichoderm......................................................................................................................................................................6.</p> <p>5. Pileipellis a cutis................................................................................................................................................................................7.</p> <p> 6. Pileus convex to parabolic,campanulate, brown to dull orange; pale yellow lamellae, concolorous stipe; basidiospores amygdaliform, oblong, 6 × 4.3 μm; cheilocystidia polymorphic 16–24.5 × 2.9–5.2 μm; clamp connections only in stipitipellis..... <i>X. pakistanicus</i></p> <p>7a. Cheilocystidia poorly differentiated..................................................................................................................................................8.</p> <p>7b. Cheilocystidia well-developed..........................................................................................................................................................9.</p> <p> 8. Pileus hemispherical to convex, brown, ochraceous or olive grey, concolorous lamellae, creamy stipe, basidiospores amygdaliform to ellipsoid 9.2 × 5.2 μm, cheilocystidia cylindrical to flexuose 30–50 × 6–8.5 µm...................................................... <i>X. olivascens</i></p> <p> 9. Pileus convex to applanate, yellow-orange to vinaceous purple; pale yellowish brown lamellae and stipe; basidiospores amygdaliform to ovoid ellipsoid 8.3 × 5.1 μm; cheilocystidia narrowly cylindrical to slightly flexuose or clavate 29–45 × 7–11 μm..................................................................................................................................................................................... <i>X. donadinii</i></p>Published as part of <i>Asif, Muhammad, Saba, Malka & Raza, Mubashar, 2023, First report of the genus Xerophorus from Asia with the description of Xerophorus pakistanicus (Callistosporiaceae), a new species from Southern Punjab, Pakistan, pp. 38-48 in Phytotaxa 632 (1)</i> on page 47, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.632.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10435188">http://zenodo.org/record/10435188</a&gt

<i>Hymenagaricus brunneodiscus </i>M. Asif, Saba & M.Raza

Hymenagaricus brunneodiscus, growing in nutrient-rich soil on fallen leaves of Eucalyptus, is characterized by its large basidiomata (up to 9 cm diam), dark-brown disc, velvety threads on the surface, raptured margins, stipe pseudorrhiza, rarely lacrymoid basidiospores, clavate to sphaeropedunculate cheilocystidia, and pileipellis made of cylindrical and long hyphae.</p

Gitelman syndrome manifesting in early childhood and leading to delayed puberty: a case report

Abstract Introduction Gitelman syndrome is an inherited autosomal recessive renal salt-wasting disorder. It presents with variable clinical symptoms including muscle weakness and fatigue, and the diagnosis is based on metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and hypocalciuria. It is usually diagnosed incidentally in early adulthood. There are rare cases of Gitelman syndrome presenting in early childhood; however, to the best of our knowledge it has not previously been associated with delayed puberty. Case presentation A 17-year-old South Asian man with recurrent episodes of generalized muscle weakness, fatigue and cramps from the age of two years was admitted for further workup. Before the age of 12 years, the episodes had been mild, but they then got progressively worse. Other symptoms include polyuria, polydipsia, nocturia, paresthesia and occasional watery diarrhea. He also had a history of short stature, poor weight gain and delayed developmental landmarks. His family history was unremarkable except for the consanguineous marriage of his parents. An examination revealed a thin and lean man with blood pressure of 95/60mmHg. His height and weight were below the third percentile and his sexual development was at Tanner Stage II. Laboratory work revealed serum sodium of 124mmol/L, potassium 2.4mmol/L, calcium 6.5mmol/L and magnesium of 1.2mg/dL. His testosterone level was low (0.85ng/mL, normal for his age 2.67 to 10.12ng/mL) with normal levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. The sex hormone findings were attributed to delayed puberty. A 24-hour urinary analysis revealed decreased excretion of calcium (25.9mg/24 hours). Based on the findings of hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis without hypertension, severe hypomagnesemia and hypocalciuria, a diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome was made. Treatment was started with oral supplementation of potassium, magnesium and calcium along with spironolactone and liberal salt intake. Conclusion Diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome is usually made incidentally during adolescence or early adulthood based on clinical and biochemical findings. We report that Gitelman syndrome can present during the early childhood years. If undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to growth retardation and delayed puberty.</p

Assessing green financing with emission reduction and green economic recovery in emerging economies

The aim of the study is to assess the role of green financing on carbon emission reduction and green economic recovery in emerging economies context. The BCC DEA technique of data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to examine the nexus among variables by applying small input–output estimation parameters. Researchers found that green financing strategies like government subsidies and tax refunds for green financing are effective in cutting carbon emissions in developing nations. As a result, a panel of data from 2016 to 2020 is employed. Green financing measures assist reduces carbon emissions and prolong the green economic rebound, according to our research. Renewable energy companies had better ranges of total investment efficiency and size efficiency, and their levels of green economic recovery promotion were more than 0.457% percent, with a reduction in carbon emissions of 29.7 percent in developing countries backed by present government subsidies of 16 percent and taxes rebates of 11 percent. Green financing policies have a favorable impact on the green economy’s revival. The study’s policy implications include that green financing policies be implemented successfully to reduce carbon emissions more efficiently and to make climate change beneficial to countries in order to promote economic recovery over time