Laal (2019-2020 Annual Report)

In the same spirit of striving for change within one's community, Laal conducted a thorough needs-based assessment in Norwood, from March to August of 2019, where we surveyed 200 Bangladeshi and South Asian womxn. These surveys asked qualitative and quantitative questions to determine what resources the community needed and what the most prominent problems facing the community were. These surveys were also imperative in establishing a rapport with the local community members and laying a foundation within a community that has historically been overlooked and underserved for over 30 years. Through programming and resources, Laal aims to create an active community of womxn who can empower themselves and one another through direct action and deliberative dialogue. Historically, immigrant Bangladeshi womxn in New York City have lacked the necessary space and resources to learn English, obtain a job, or vote because they have been treated as second-class citizens-- culturally, systematically, and institutionally. Laal is eradicating a stigma that has been culturally, traditionally, and religiously interwoven into this community's foundation; in following Septima Clark's legacy, we too, believe that Bangladeshi womxn will find liberation through literacy.

Optimization of single step multiplex PCR for detection of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix from commercial broilers

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was optimized for detection of 2 important species of Eimeria (Eimeria tenella and E. necatrix). This optimized protocol was used to screen 100 fecal samples collected from broiler birds in Lahore periphery. Out of 100 samples we found 6 tenella and only 1 E. necatrix positive by this method. The detection limit of oocysts by this method was as leastas 16 oocysts. This optimized multiplex PCR method can be used as routine diagnostic tool for detection of E. tenella and E. necatrix and can be extended up to the detection of 7 Eimeria species in future

Assessment of nematodes in Punjab Urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) population in Kalabagh game reserve: development of a DNA barcode approach

Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) is a wild sheep of Pakistan, considered a vulnerable species by IUCN. Major threats to urial populations include habitat loss and poaching, causing severe declines in its population. Nematode infections may also compromise urial survival, but little is known about Punjab urial gastrointestinal nematodes. In this study, a novel DNA barcoding approach was developed using ITS-I as a target region, with a primer pair designed to amplify frequently reported nematode species for small ruminants. The novel primer pair was validated in silico and in vitro and subsequently used to determine the presence of nematodes in Punjab urial samples from Kala Bagh Game Reserve, District Mianwali (Pakistan). DNA barcoding revealed a higher prevalence of Haemonchus contortus (73.91%), Trichuris ovis (16.30%) and Trichostrongylus axei (3.26%) in Punjab urial. This study demonstrates that the novel DNA barcoding approach is a robust tool to detect nematode parasites from faecal samples of Punjab urial. This method can be used to detect nematode infections in wild and domestic hosts for surveillance and population conservation

The Performance of Satellite-Based Actual Evapotranspiration Products and the Assessment of Irrigation Efficiency in Egypt

Monitoring of crop water consumption, also known as actual evapotranspiration (ETa), is crucial for the prudent use of limited freshwater resources. Remote-sensing-based algorithms have become a popular approach for providing spatio-temporal information on ETa. Satellite-based ETa products are widely available. However, identifying an adequate product remains a challenge due to validation data scarcity. This study developed an assessment process to identify superior ETa products in agricultural areas in Egypt. The land cover product (MCD12Q1) from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) was evaluated and used to detect agricultural areas. The performances of three ETa products, namely: Earth Engine Evapotranspiration Flux (EEFlux), USGS-FEWS NET SSEBop ETa monthly product, and MODIS ETa monthly product (MOD16A2), were evaluated. The ETa values of these products were compared to previous ETa observations and evaluated using the integrated Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (iNDVI) on a seasonal and annual basis. Finally, the irrigation efficiency throughout Egypt was calculated based on the annual Relative Water Supply (RWS) index. Results reveal that the SSEBop monthly product has the best performance in Egypt, followed by the MOD16A2. The EEFlux overestimated ETa values by 36%. RWS had a range of 0.96–1.47, indicating high irrigation efficiency. The findings reported herein can assist in improving irrigation water management in Egypt and the Nile Basin

Physical Therapist’s Prescription Regarding Benefits of Active Life Style of Patients

Physical activity is advantageous for several diseases like heart problem, diabetes & cancer as well. The complete load of diseases depends upon the physical inactivity. The significance of physical life style is to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes as well as hypertension. The aim of the study was to determine the physical therapist’s prescription regarding benefits of active life style among patients. A cross sectional study with 150 sample size was conducted in different universities of Karachi. Valid questionnaire was used to collect data to examine the prescription of active lifestyle for patients. Data was analyzed through SPSS 20 version, frequency and percentage was calculated. The result of this study showed that majority physical therapist agreed with the prescription of short time exercises on most of the day is good for patient’s health. This study concluded that majority of physical therapist agreed for the implementation of benefits of active life style among patients. The recommendation of this study is that the governing body of physical therapy should be organized different programs like workshops and seminars regarding fitness training

DNA Amplification Techniques for the Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Tissue Cysts in Meat Producing Animals: A Narrative Review Article

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite, which infects one-third population of world. Humans and animals acquire infection by ingesting oocytes from feces of cats or by meat of other animals having cysts that may lead to congenital, ocular or cephalic toxoplasmosis. Either it is important to detect T. gondii from meat of food animals from retail shops or directly at slaughterhouses, which is meant for export. Methods: The current research was done without time limitation using such terms as follows: “Toxoplasma gondii”, “Meat”, “Tissue cyst”, “PCR”, “LAMP”, “Screening” and “Immunological assay” alone or in combination, in English language. The used electronic databases for searching included as follows: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Science Direct. The searches were limited to the published papers to English language. Results: Sensitivity of different molecular techniques for diagnosis of Toxoplasma is real-time PCR > LAMP > conventional PCR. In addition to these DNA analysis tools, bioassay in mice and cats is considered as “gold standard” to detect T. gondii. Conclusion: This review article will help the readers for grasping advantages and limitations of different diagnostic tools for screening meat samples for T. gondii. This review also makes bibliography about the type of meat sample to be processed for diagnosis and different primers or sequences to be targeted for T. gondii by number of researches for its detection from meat or tissue sample using DNA amplification techniques

Demographic history of the Punjab urial and implications for its management

The Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) is endemic to Northern Punjab, Pakistan, and is categorized as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. The urial population has declined by 30% over the last 3 generations. We used non-invasive fecal samples to identify individuals and estimate population size of Punjab urial in the Kalabagh Game Reserve, Pakistan. We genotyped samples using 12 microsatellite markers to assess genetic variation, population structure, and demographic changes. Microsatellite analysis revealed high levels of genetic variation in urials in terms of expected and observed heterozygosity and allelic diversity. The population structure of the Punjab urial in the Kalabagh Game Reserve, based solely on microsatellite variation using Bayesian clustering, indicated 3 different clusters in the reserve. Results revealed that the urial population may be facing inbreeding pressure because its ancestral effective population size has declined from between 20,000 and 50,000 to ≤1,000 animals today. This reduction has partly occurred because of a bottleneck that occurred about 10,000 years ago. Results also indicate that 1 urial population cluster has the signature of a bottleneck, which may be due to population isolation. The 3 urial clusters are small and broadly dispersed in a large territory, meaning they could be extirpated without any opportunity for natural re-population through dispersion. The results of our study support a management strategy that encourages maintaining connectivity between urial localities within the Kalabagh Game Reserve, increased diversity so the effective population size may recover from the historical decline, and the use of data generated here as a baseline of urial genetic diversity in the reserve for monitoring diversity over the long term

Preparation, characterization and evaluation of hydrogels from different fractions of diverse medicinal plants for management of pain and inflammation

ABSTRACTDamage to body tissue either deeply or superficially causes pain sensation in response to which Inflammation occurs which is a normal protective natural response of the body to a variety of hostile agents. Different treatment options, including conventional and herbal therapies, are available for pain and inflammation. This study was designed to evaluate the polyherbal n-hexane and methanolic extracts and their hydrogel formulations prepared from commonly available medicinal plants for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. Cinnamomum verum J. (bark), Moringa oleifera L. (leaves), Nigella sativa L. (seed), and Trigonella foenum graecum L. (seed) were collected and purchased from the vicinity and local market of Multan Punjab, Pakistan. After drying, extraction was carried out by maceration separately with two different solvents (methanol and n-hexane). An equal quantity of all methanolic and n-hexane extracts was used to formulate polyherbal methanolic and n-hexane extracts separately. Then 1%, 3%, and 5% pH-based hydrogel formulations of methanolic and n-hexane polyherbal extract were prepared. All prepared six formulations were evaluated for pH, rheological study, spreadability, extrudability, stability study, texture, color, and for toxicological study.Then analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of methanol and n-Hexane polyherbal extracts at (200, 400 and 800.0 mg/kg) in comparison with diclofenac sodium (100 mg/kg) and prepared gel formulations (1%, 3%, and 5%) were also evaluated in comparison to diclofenac sodium 1% gel (standard drug). Both polyherbal extracts and their gel formulations have significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential but methanolic extract and its hydrogel have slightly more potential as compared to n-hexane extracts and its prepared hydrogel. Results also revealed that their gel formulations have more significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials as compared to extracts. All pH-based gels have good texture, spreadability, extrudability, stability, and are safe to use. It is concluded that methanolic polyherbal extract and hydrogel prepared from methanolic extract have more analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential as compare to n-Hexane extract and hydrogel prepare from n-Hexane extract