GROWTH COMPARISON OF EXOTIC SPECIES FOR GREEN FORAGE

Abstract Growth of exotic fodder crops (grasses and clovers) were compared in pots at Agronomy Research Farm, Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa Agricultural University, Peshawar. Initially 20 seeds was planted on 22.10.2005 and thinned out after emergence by leaving 10 seedlings pot -1 (30 x 50 cm). Clover's seeds were soaked overnight (>14 h) before sowing. Compound fertilizer (100, 60, 30) and (30, 60, 30) kg ha -1 N, P, and K were applied to grasses and clovers, respectively after thinning. Pots were manually irrigated. Biomass of pots was periodically harvested for dry matter after taking measurements of green leaf area index (GLAI) and light interception. Crop growth rate (CGR) was derived as ratio of dry matter and time-taken as growing degree days (GDD O C). LAI was measured non-destructively using LI-2000, LI-COR, USA. Radiation use efficiency (RUE) was derived from weather data and measurements made during the crop growth. The highest dry matter (1685 g m -2 ) was observed for Lolium multiflorum, followed by Lolium perenne (791 g m -2 ) and Dactylis glomerata (631 g m -2 ). GLAI were also recorded the highest for the species Lolium multiflorum (4.07) and Lolium perenne (3.93) with non-significant difference from each other. The highest dry matter of the grasses was in agreement to higher CGR and RUE. Grass species Lolium multiflorum yielded the highest CGR (1.06 g DM O C GDD) and RUE (3.41 g DM MJ -1 PAR absorbed) with strong positive relationship (r 2 = 0.95). Lolium perenne was next to yield 0.47 g DM GDD -1 ( O C) and RUE 1.63 g DM MJ -1 PAR absorbed. Rests of the grass species were found un-comparable for any observed parameter. Among the clovers, Trifolium repense was higher in dry matter (510 g m -2 ) yielded 1.10 g DM GDD -1 and RUE 0.71 g DM MJ -1 PAR absorption. From the study, it can be concluded that ryegrasses has potential to plant as green fodder in mix cultivation with local clovers on irrigated rangelands. Moreover, slow growth of fodder on arable land in early winter months can be improved through selection of an appropriate exotic grass/clover to be sown in combination with local types for the area

Measuring the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries : a baseline analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

Background In September, 2015, the UN General Assembly established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs specify 17 universal goals, 169 targets, and 230 indicators leading up to 2030. We provide an analysis of 33 health-related SDG indicators based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 (GBD 2015). Methods We applied statistical methods to systematically compiled data to estimate the performance of 33 health-related SDG indicators for 188 countries from 1990 to 2015. We rescaled each indicator on a scale from 0 (worst observed value between 1990 and 2015) to 100 (best observed). Indices representing all 33 health-related SDG indicators (health-related SDG index), health-related SDG indicators included in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG index), and health-related indicators not included in the MDGs (non-MDG index) were computed as the geometric mean of the rescaled indicators by SDG target. We used spline regressions to examine the relations between the Socio-demographic Index (SDI, a summary measure based on average income per person, educational attainment, and total fertility rate) and each of the health-related SDG indicators and indices. Findings In 2015, the median health-related SDG index was 59.3 (95% uncertainty interval 56.8-61.8) and varied widely by country, ranging from 85.5 (84.2-86.5) in Iceland to 20.4 (15.4-24.9) in Central African Republic. SDI was a good predictor of the health-related SDG index (r(2) = 0.88) and the MDG index (r(2) = 0.2), whereas the non-MDG index had a weaker relation with SDI (r(2) = 0.79). Between 2000 and 2015, the health-related SDG index improved by a median of 7.9 (IQR 5.0-10.4), and gains on the MDG index (a median change of 10.0 [6.7-13.1]) exceeded that of the non-MDG index (a median change of 5.5 [2.1-8.9]). Since 2000, pronounced progress occurred for indicators such as met need with modern contraception, under-5 mortality, and neonatal mortality, as well as the indicator for universal health coverage tracer interventions. Moderate improvements were found for indicators such as HIV and tuberculosis incidence, minimal changes for hepatitis B incidence took place, and childhood overweight considerably worsened. Interpretation GBD provides an independent, comparable avenue for monitoring progress towards the health-related SDGs. Our analysis not only highlights the importance of income, education, and fertility as drivers of health improvement but also emphasises that investments in these areas alone will not be sufficient. Although considerable progress on the health-related MDG indicators has been made, these gains will need to be sustained and, in many cases, accelerated to achieve the ambitious SDG targets. The minimal improvement in or worsening of health-related indicators beyond the MDGs highlight the need for additional resources to effectively address the expanded scope of the health-related SDGs.Peer reviewe

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Homology modeling – a step towards vaccine development by analyzing structure of haemophilus influenza protein, transcriptional regulator H10994

Introduction: Haemophilus influenza is a type of bacterium that is non motile, gram negative and causes poisoning and infection including pneumonia,bronchitis etc. In order to study the resistivity of H.influenza protein, transcription regulator: HI0433, homology modeling is an important step to predict structure. Material and methods: Bioinformatics such as CMR, BLAST, modeller Prcheck and Prosa was carried out to find 3D structure of protein. Results and Discussion: H.influenza has 1792 proteins. Out of these, 456 hypothetical proteins were found. Homology modeling of transcriptional regulator H10994 was done it consists of 8 helices and 7 beta sheets. Ramachandran plot has shown that it consists of 95.2% particles in maximum allowed regions, 2.9 % particles in fewer allowed region, 1.4% particles in inadequate allowed region, 5% particles in disallowed region. Conclusion: By homology modeling of H. influenza, transcriptional regulator protein (HI0433), structure was designed which has provided enough information for vaccine development to control its transcription for causing disease

Homozygous GRID2 missense mutation predicts a shift in the D-serine binding domain of GluD2 in a case with generalized brain atrophy and unusual clinical features

BACKGROUND: Spinocerebellar ataxias comprise a large and heterogeneous group of disorders that may present with isolated ataxia, or ataxia in combination with other neurologic or non-neurologic symptoms. Monoallelic or biallelic GRID2 mutations were recently reported in rare cases with cerebellar syndrome and variable degree of ataxia, ocular symptoms, hypotonia and developmental delay. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on a consanguineous family with autosomal recessive childhood onset of slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia and delayed psychomotor development in three siblings. MRI of an adult and affected family member revealed slightly widened cerebral and cerebellar sulci, suggesting generalized brain atrophy, and mild cerebellar atrophy. Using whole exome sequencing we identified a novel homozygous missense variant [c.2128C &gt; T, p.(Arg710Trp)] in GRID2 that segregates with the disease. The missense variant is located in a conserved region encoding the extracellular serine-binding domain of the GluD2 protein and predicts a change in conformation of the protein. CONCLUSION: The widespread supratentorial brain abnormalities, absence of oculomotor symptoms, increased peripheral muscle tone and the novel missense mutation add to the clinical and genetic variability in GRID2 associated cerebellar syndrome. The neuroradiological findings in our family indicate a generalized neurodegenerative process to be taken into account in other families segregating complex clinical features and GRID2 mutations.Zafar Ali, Shumaila Zulfiqar and Joakim Klar contributed equally</p

Synthesis of Starch-Grafted Polymethyl Methacrylate via Free Radical Polymerization Reaction and Its Application for the Uptake of Methylene Blue

In this research, a new biodegradable and eco-friendly adsorbent, starch-grafted polymethyl methacrylate (St-g-PMMA) was synthesized. The St-g-PMMA was synthesized by a free radical polymerization reaction in which methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto a starch polymer chain. The reaction was performed in water in the presence of a potassium persulfate (KPS) initiator. The structure and different properties of the St-g-PMMA was explored by FT-IR, 1H NMR, TGA, SEM and XRD. After characterization, the St-g-PMMA was used for the removal of MB dye. Different adsorption parameters, such as effect of adsorbent dose, effect of pH, effect of initial concentration of dye solution, effect of contact time and comparative adsorption study were investigated. The St-g-PMMA showed a maximum removal percentage (R%) of 97% towards MB. The other parameters, such as the isothermal and kinetic models, were fitted to the experimental data. The results showed that the Langmuir adsorption and pseudo second order kinetic models were best fitted to experimental data with a regression coefficient of R2 = 0.93 and 0.99, respectively