Toxicity induced by Solanapyrone A in Chickpea shoots and its metabolism through Glutathione/Glutathione-S-Transferase system

Solanapyrone A and C were isolated from a Pakistani isolate of Ascochyta rabiei, Pk-1. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the phytotoxic effects of the most potent toxin, solanapyrone A on chickpea cultivars and its subsequent detoxification through glutathion/glutathion-s-transferase(GST) system. When the shoots of cultivars were fed solanapyrone A, symptoms mimicking to Ascochyta blight appeared and extent of manifestation of symptoms varied with the cultivar. In the first experiment, the effect of three different plant ages of 2 cultivars with different levels of resistance to toxin was determined in terms of GST activity unit. GST activity in Balkasar-2000 (a resistant cultivar) increased 1.92 times, 1.72 and 1.65 times in two-week-old seedling, eight-week-old and adult plants (all treated) respectively as compared to their respective controls. In the highly susceptible cultivar, AUG-424, a slight increase (1.14 times) over control was noticed in GST activity at all the three ages. In the second experiment, where shoots of three cultivars were tested against 2 doses of the toxin, an increase in GST activity in Noor-91 (a moderately susceptible cultivar) and AUG-424 was significantly less than resistant cultivar, Balkasar-2000 showing direct relationship between resistance and activity of the enzyme. It may be concluded that it is a reason for difference in response of cultivars to the disease

Iron deficiency in parkinsonism : region-specific iron dysregulation in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy

Alpha synuclein pathology is widespread and found in diverse cell types in multiple system atrophy (MSA) as compared to Parkinson's disease (PD). The reason for this differential distribution is unknown. Regional differences in the distribution of iron are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, and here we characterize the relationship between iron homeostasis proteins and regional concentration, distribution and form of iron in MSA and PD. In PD substantia nigra, tissue iron and expression of the iron export protein ferroportin increased, while the iron storage protein ferritin expression was unchanged. In the basis pontis of MSA cases, increased total iron concentration coupled with a disproportionate increase in ferritin in dysmorphic microglia and a reduction in ferroportin expression. This is supported by isothermal remanent magnetisation evidence consistent with elevated concentrations of ferritin-bound iron in MSA basis pontis. Conventional opinion holds that excess iron is involved in neurodegeneration. Our data support that this may be the case in PD. While region-specific changes in iron are evident in both PD and MSA, the mechanisms of iron dysregulation appear quite distinct, with a failure to export iron from the MSA basis pontis coupling with significant intracellular accumulation of ferritin iron. This pattern also occurs, to a lesser extent, in the MSA putamen. Despite the excess tissue iron, the manner of iron dysregulation in MSA is reminiscent of changes in anemia of chronic disease, and our preliminary data, coupled with the widespread pathology and involvement of multiple cell types, may evidence a deficit in bioavailabile iron

Developing an ESP-Based Language Learning Environment to Help Students Improve Critical Thinking Skills in Written Output

In recent years, as a result of both research discoveries in the fields of foreign language acquisition and learning, the concept of teaching and learning has undergone a significant transformation. English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is a learner-centered approach to teaching English as a foreign language that emphasizes developing communicative proficiency in niche industries such agronomy, commerce, academia, accountancy, education, engineering, and information technology. This concept of English-for-Teaching as a restricted form of ESP for the classroom builds on the knowledge that instructors already have about teaching while also introducing and validating specific classroom terminology. When students interact and cooperate with one another, ESP practice emerges naturally in a language learning setting. Two major aspects that ESP highlights are the growth of dialogical interaction and the establishment of ecologically complete learning environments. In this essay, we create an ESP to aid students in the development of their critical thinking (CT) abilities in written output. We combine the Synergy model, Brain-based learning, and the Flipped Classroom models to create an ESP environment. Students CT abilities and academic success served as the studys criteria. The Course Satisfaction Questionnaire and placement exams were used to obtain the statistical data. Using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient (CAC) and Spearman correlation coefficient, the test on CT data was interpreted, and the combined data was examined using SPSS (V 26.0). By immersing students in problem-solving- based learning (PBL), this paradigm helps students develop their CT skills. It also helps students achieve academically by elevating their sense of accountability for learning outcomes and promoting the use of a variety of learning strategies

Role of Values and Environmental Concerns for the Sustainable Purchasing Behavior: Evidence From Pakistan

Sustainable purchasing is an attempt to purchase greener, healthier, and more economical items from greener, more sustainable organizations. It is based on the idea that each and every buy has shrouded human wellbeing through natural and social effects and that it is possible to decrease unfavourable effects by purchasing better items. The motive of the present study was to identify the role of values and environmental concerns for sustainable purchasing behaviour of buyers in the Pakistani green market. With the help of reliable and valid Likert type self-administered questionnaires, data was collected from the sample of the people who claim to live green lifestyles and purchase green products. Results of Smart PLS path model confirm that values and environmental concerns have an influence on sustainable purchasing behaviour in the Pakistani green market. This study provides a greater insight to improve purchaser behaviour in the green market of Pakistan and will help to increase the trust of buyers towards the green market

Particulate pollution in urban residential built environments during winter and summer seasons in Lahore, Pakistan

Indoor air pollution in urban residential areas of developing countries is of growing public health concern. The seasonal variation in mass concentration of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10was investigated in a residential built environment in Lahore, Pakistan by two DustTrak aerosol monitor (model 8520, TSI Inc.) during the winter and summer season. The measurements were carried out in the kitchen and living room simultaneously.The 24-hr meanconcentrationsfor PM1, PM2.5 and PM10in the kitchen and living room during the winter season were 157μg/m3 (±54), 733 μg/m3(±243), 409 μg/m3(±177) and 135μg/m3 (±39), 240 μg/m3 (±87), 300 μg/m3 (±115), respectively.During the summer the 24-hr mass concentration, for the same size fraction, in the kitchen and living room fell to 37μg/m3 (±4), 74μg/m3 (±11), 100 μg/m3 (±22) and31μg/m3 (±4), 71 μg/m3 (±19), 190 μg/m3 (±21), respectively. Apart from a higher concentration in winter than summer, a vast variation in 24hr and hourly mean concentration was also observed in the latter than in the former.Moreover background concentrations (hourly minimum) were also higher in winter than summer. These clearly highlight the impact of ventilation on indoor particulate matter as the sampling spaces (kitchen and living room) were more ventilated in summer than winter. The higher concentrationof the coarse size fraction in the living room than in the kitchen during summer time also shows the contribution from outdoor sources. These findings highlightthe impact of location, use and management of a residential built environment on exposure to indoor air pollutants

Genotoxic damage in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes of oral contraceptive users

Synthetic progestins and estrogens have been reported to be toxic in various experimental models. Their prolonged use has been reported to induce cancer in humans. In the present study the effects of oral contraceptives were studied among users using chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges and DNA damage as a parameter, in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The study was performed on 25 women (users) and 25 age match controls. No significant difference was observed in chromosomal aberrations and DNA damage. A significant increase was observed in sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) Cell among users. The results obtained and the risk of oral contraceptives (OCs) genotoxicity have been discussed.Keywords: Oral contraceptives; Chromosomal aberrations; DNA damage; Sister chromatid exchanges; Human lymphocyte

Monetary Policy and Financial Asset Prices: Empirical Evidence From Pakistan

Monetary transmission mechanism assumed to be significantly influenced by the effect of policy decisions on financial markets. However, various previous studies have come up with different outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of monetary policy on different asset classes (shares and bonds) in Pakistan. This study using stock price and bond yield as dependent variable and discount rate, money supply, inflation, and exchange rate are independent variables. Data of all variables have collected from 2010 to 2016, and Vector Autoregressive (VAR) technique has applied. The empirical results indicate that there is an impact of monetary policy components on both stock and bond market as an increase in policy rate causes decline in stocks prices and bonds yields. The findings of this study will help the potential investors in making long-term (in general) and short-term (in particular) investment strategies concerning monetary policy.DOI: 10.15408/sjie.v7i2.709

Seed storage protein polymorphism in ten elite rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes of Sindh

Seed protein profiling is the most promising tool in determining the molecular polymorphism and genetic homology. Seed storage proteins help in cultivar identification by avoiding the external environmental influences. Electrophoretically detectable proteins in rice grains possess the potential of characterizing the germplasms by their taxonomic and evolutionary aspects. This study was aimed at exploiting the genetic variations among ten elite rice genotypes of Sindh through  electrophoretical separation of grain proteins by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacryamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE). In conclusion, the investigation revealed negligible polymorphism, with reference to the total seed protein profiles, among the rice genotypes of Sindh, Pakistan used in this study. Hence, it is highly important to include a significant number of rice genotypes to explore their existing genotypic diversity for future rice breeding programs. The SDS-PAGE in combination with 2-D electrophoresis is further suggested for documenting contrasting variations of isoforms of protein peptides.Key words: Seed storage proteins, polymorphism, Oryza sativa, Sindh, SDS-PAG

Dynamic Euler-Bernoulli Beam Equation: Classification and Reductions

We study a dynamic fourth-order Euler-Bernoulli partial differential equation having a constant elastic modulus and area moment of inertia, a variable lineal mass density g(x), and the applied load denoted by f(u), a function of transverse displacement u(t,x). The complete Lie group classification is obtained for different forms of the variable lineal mass density g(x) and applied load f(u). The equivalence transformations are constructed to simplify the determining equations for the symmetries. The principal algebra is one-dimensional and it extends to two- and three-dimensional algebras for an arbitrary applied load, general power-law, exponential, and log type of applied loads for different forms of g(x). For the linear applied load case, we obtain an infinite-dimensional Lie algebra. We recover the Lie symmetry classification results discussed in the literature when g(x) is constant with variable applied load f(u). For the general power-law and exponential case the group invariant solutions are derived. The similarity transformations reduce the fourth-order partial differential equation to a fourth-order ordinary differential equation. For the power-law applied load case a compatible initial-boundary value problem for the clamped and free end beam cases is formulated. We deduce the fourth-order ordinary differential equation with appropriate initial and boundary conditions