Monetary Policy Channels and Industrial Production in Pakistan: Evidences based on ARDL Approach

Monetary policy is a significant component of economic management, with which we can control higher inflation, boost the economic growth and stabilize the other macroeconomic activities. This study investigates the channels of monetary policy affecting the industrial production using monthly data of Pakistan. In this regard, we have applied Bound test for co-integration to investigate the dynamic behaviour of the variables. Our results indicate that the consumer prices, money supply and money market rates are negatively effective for industrial production in the short-run. On the other hand, exchange rate has positive effect in short-run. The results also indicate that there is statistically significant and positive relationship between industrial output and money supply in the long-run, too. The adjustment mechanism suggests stability in the system and is statistically significant. Our results imply that the authorities should use expansionary monetary stance through money supply channel to boost the industrial sector

Superhydrophobic micro-nanofibers from PHBV-SiO2 biopolymer composites produced by electrospinning

Electrospinning is a relatively simple technique for producing continuous fibers of various sizes and morphologies. In this study, an intrinsically hydrophilic poly(3-hydroxybutarate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) biopolymer strain was electrospun from a solution under optimal processing conditions to produce bilayers of beadless micro-fibers and beaded nano-fibers. The fibrous mats produced from the pure PHBV solution exhibited hydrophilicity with complete wetting. Incorporation of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) treated silica into the electrospinning solutions resulted in a non-wetting state with increased fiber roughness and enhanced porosity; however, the fiber mats displayed high water droplet-adhesion. The SiO2–incorporated fibrous mats were then treated with stearic acid at an activation temperature of 80 °C. This treatment caused fiber surface plasticization, creating a tertiary hierarchical roughness owing to the interaction of PHBV chains with the polar carboxyl groups of the stearic acid. Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess the influence of the electrospinning process parameters and the incorporation of nanoparticles on surface morphology of the fibers; energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence of SiO2 nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was performed to study the incorporation of SiO2 and the interaction of stearic acid with PHBV at various concentrations. The chemical interaction between stearic acid and PHBV was confirmed, while SiO2 nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into the PHBV fibers at concentrations up to 4.5% by weight. The incorporation of nanoparticles and plasticization altered the thermal properties of PHBV and a decrease in crystalline fraction was observed. The stearic acid modified bilayers produced from the micro-nano-fibrous composites showed very low water droplet sticking, a roll off angle of approximately 4° and a high static contact angle of approximately 155° were achieved

Interaction of anthracyclines with iron responsive element mRNAs

Double-stranded sections of mRNA are often inviting sites of interaction for a wide variety of proteins and small molecules. Interactions at these sites can serve to regulate, or disrupt, the homeostasis of the encoded protein products. Such ligand target sites exist as hairpin–loop structures in the mRNAs of several of the proteins involved in iron homeostasis, including ferritin heavy and light chains, and are known as iron responsive elements (IREs). These IREs serve as the main control mechanism for iron metabolism in the cell via their interaction with the iron regulatory proteins (IRPs). Disruption of the IRE/IRP interaction could greatly affect iron metabolism. Here, we report that anthracyclines, a class of clinically useful chemotherapeutic drugs that includes doxorubicin and daunorubicin, specifically interact with the IREs of ferritin heavy and light chains. We characterized this interaction through UV melting, fluorescence quenching and drug–RNA footprinting. Results from footprinting experiments with wild-type and mutant IREs indicate that anthracyclines preferentially bind within the UG wobble pairs flanking an asymmetrically bulged C-residue, a conserved base that is essential for IRE–IRP interaction. Additionally, drug–RNA affinities (apparent Kds) in the high nanomolar range were calculated from fluorescence quenching experiments, while UV melting studies revealed shifts in melting temperature (ΔTm) as large as 10°C. This anthracycline–IRE interaction may contribute to the aberration of intracellular iron homeostasis that results from anthracycline exposure

Training during the COVID-19 lockdown : knowledge, beliefs, and practices of 12,526 athletes from 142 countries and six continents

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to explore the training-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices of athletes and the influence of lockdowns in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS Athletes (n = 12,526, comprising 13% world class, 21% international, 36% national, 24% state, and 6% recreational) completed an online survey that was available from 17 May to 5 July 2020 and explored their training behaviors (training knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, and practices), including specific questions on their training intensity, frequency, and session duration before and during lockdown (March–June 2020). RESULTS Overall, 85% of athletes wanted to “maintain training,” and 79% disagreed with the statement that it is “okay to not train during lockdown,” with a greater prevalence for both in higher-level athletes. In total, 60% of athletes considered “coaching by correspondence (remote coaching)” to be sufficient (highest amongst world-class athletes). During lockdown, < 40% were able to maintain sport-specific training (e.g., long endurance [39%], interval training [35%], weightlifting [33%], most (83%) training for “general fitness and health maintenance” during lockdown. Athletes trained alone (80%) and focused on bodyweight (65%) and cardiovascular (59%) exercise/training during lockdown. Compared with before lockdown, most athletes reported reduced training frequency (from between five and seven sessions per week to four or fewer), shorter training sessions (from ≥ 60 to < 60 min), and lower sport-specific intensity (~ 38% reduction), irrespective of athlete classification. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19-related lockdowns saw marked reductions in athletic training specificity, intensity, frequency, and duration, with notable within-sample differences (by athlete classification). Higher classification athletes had the strongest desire to “maintain” training and the greatest opposition to “not training” during lockdowns. These higher classification athletes retained training specificity to a greater degree than others, probably because of preferential access to limited training resources. More higher classification athletes considered “coaching by correspondence” as sufficient than did lower classification athletes. These lockdown-mediated changes in training were not conducive to maintenance or progression of athletes’ physical capacities and were also likely detrimental to athletes’ mental health. These data can be used by policy makers, athletes, and their multidisciplinary teams to modulate their practice, with a degree of individualization, in the current and continued pandemic-related scenario. Furthermore, the data may drive training-related educational resources for athletes and their multidisciplinary teams. Such upskilling would provide athletes with evidence to inform their training modifications in response to germane situations (e.g., COVID related, injury, and illness).A specific funding was provided by the National Sports Institute of Malaysia for this study.The National Sports Institute of Malaysia.https://www.springer.com/journal/40279am2023Sports Medicin

COVID-19 lockdown : a global study investigating athletes’ sport classification and sex on training practices

PURPOSE : To investigate differences in athletes’ knowledge, beliefs, and training practices during COVID-19 lockdowns with reference to sport classification and sex. This work extends an initial descriptive evaluation focusing on athlete classification. METHODS : Athletes (12,526; 66% male; 142 countries) completed an online survey (May–July 2020) assessing knowledge, beliefs, and practices toward training. Sports were classified as team sports (45%), endurance (20%), power/technical (10%), combat (9%), aquatic (6%), recreational (4%), racquet (3%), precision (2%), parasports (1%), and others (1%). Further analysis by sex was performed. RESULTS : During lockdown, athletes practiced body-weight-based exercises routinely (67% females and 64% males), ranging from 50% (precision) to 78% (parasports). More sport-specific technical skills were performed in combat, parasports, and precision (∼50%) than other sports (∼35%). Most athletes (range: 50% [parasports] to 75% [endurance]) performed cardiorespiratory training (trivial sex differences). Compared to prelockdown, perceived training intensity was reduced by 29% to 41%, depending on sport (largest decline: ∼38% in team sports, unaffected by sex). Some athletes (range: 7%–49%) maintained their training intensity for strength, endurance, speed, plyometric, change-of-direction, and technical training. Athletes who previously trained ≥5 sessions per week reduced their volume (range: 18%–28%) during lockdown. The proportion of athletes (81%) training ≥60 min/session reduced by 31% to 43% during lockdown. Males and females had comparable moderate levels of training knowledge (56% vs 58%) and beliefs/attitudes (54% vs 56%). CONCLUSIONS : Changes in athletes’ training practices were sport-specific, with few or no sex differences. Team-based sports were generally more susceptible to changes than individual sports. Policy makers should provide athletes with specific training arrangements and educational resources to facilitate remote and/or home-based training during lockdown-type events.https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/ijspp-overview.xmlhj2023Sports Medicin

Implantable MEMS Electrode for Neuroprosthesis

In this thesis, we are microfabricating neural cuff electrodes that will be implanted in the human upper limb and will be utilized for neuroprosthesis. This is a research-based thesis that has been conducted in collaboration with the EEA Grants named “ARMIN”. The goal of this project is to design a neuroprosthesis arm, which can mimic the human upper limb’s motor actions and sensations. The whole prosthesis is the integration of neural implantable electrode including its fabrication, electronics interface, low power wireless communication, a mechanical arm, and its control system. Parts of the mechanical hand will be equipped with artificial skin which will help to receive sensorial feedback. Having many integral parts, this work set its center of attention on the fabrication of MEMS implantable nerve cuff electrodes. In this thesis, the fabrication of the nerve cuff electrode is described briefly. The task was assigned for the microfabrication of implantable electrodes for neural signals acquisition in the upper limb (arm) neuroprosthesis. For that, three different microfabrication methods are described with the experiments conducted in the cleanroom. For the fabrication material, Pure gold was chosen due to its 100% continuity and conductivity and PDMS was used as substrate material for the electrode. PDMS is used due to its high tensile modulus, physical toughness, elongation, and also it is a good biocompatible material. After the fabrication of the electrode, laboratory functionality tests were conducted where the electrode was tested with measuring its conductivity, adhesion, rolling test, and biocompatibility test. Different fabrication methods showed different results where the final test showed acceptable results. The adhesion test showed good adhesion between PDMS and gold also conductivity was also measured all over the electrode. Moreover, the biocompatibility test also showed positive results

Superhydrophobic and icephobic polyurethane coatings: Fundamentals, progress, challenges and opportunities

Engineering icephobic coatings has been a long standing effort to address the challenges caused by ice formation and accumulation in our daily lives and in several industrial applications. Therefore, this review summaries trends in the progress of high performance hydrophobic and superhydrophobic polyurethane (PU) based coatings, their potential to be used as icephobic surfaces, applicability in passive anti-icing and consequent drawbacks/challenges. Meanwhile, numerous industrial coatings are recommended, a wide variety of PU based coatings can be produced from a broad range of diisocyanates, polyols and other additives. This makes it possible to obtain various types of tailored coatings from PUs that can serve many specific applications as top coats in different industries due to their specific properties. PU based coatings offer excellent mechanical strength and durability, toughness, good abrasion resistance, etc. However, owing to the fact that they have a lot of polar groups on the surface, PU based coatings are rather hydrophilic in nature. Therefore, achieving superhydrophobic and icephobic PU based coatings remains an important issue for current research and development. The present review aims to shed light on superhydrophobic and icephobic mechanisms that have been pursued to design PU based coatings. At first, a short introduction of the general overview of PU chemistry is presented, followed by a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art methods that have been used by several researchers to modify and design superhydrophobic and icephobic PU coatings. Finally, the challenges and urgent issues facing further development in this field are discussed

Genetic Divergence in Brassica napus L. Germplasm as Determined by Quantitative Attributes

Brassica napus L., a candidate with high yield and good quality oil potential was evaluated for genetic divergence for two years on two locations. A collection of 328 lines belonging to various origins along with a check variety Faisal Canola was sown in the field following augmented design and phenotyped for eighteen quantitative traits. The recorded data when statistically analyzed inferred that, days to flower initiation, 50 % flowering, flower completion, 50 % maturity were main contributors of variations in the germplasm and were highly related with pod dehiscence and yield. Furthermore, BN328, BN371, BN494, BN618, BN625 and BN627 were found diverse lines in both years. The outcomes from this study are very helpful to proceed for any Oilseed rape breeding programs to improve yield

Polymorphism of the renalase gene in gestational diabetes mellitus

Renalase is considered as a novel candidate gene for type 2 diabetes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of serum renalase and two single nucleotide polymorphisms with gestational diabetes mellitus. One hundred and ninety-eight normotensive pregnant females (n=99 gestational diabetes mellitus; n=99 euglycemic pregnant controls) were classified according to the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study criteria. Fasting and 2-h post glucose load blood levels and anthropometric assessment was performed. Serum renalase was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas DNA samples were genotyped for renalase single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2576178 and rs10887800 using Polymerase chain reaction-Restriction fragment length polymorphism method. In an age-matched case control study, no difference was observed in the serum levels of renalase (p\u3e0.05). The variant rs10887800 showed an association with gestational diabetes mellitus and remained significant after multiple adjustments (p\u3c0.05), whereas rs2576178 showed weak association (p=0.030) that was lost after multiple adjustments (p=0.09). We inferred a modest association of the rs10887800 polymorphism with gestational diabetes. Although gestational diabetes mellitus is self-reversible, yet presence of this minor G allele might predispose to metabolic syndrome phenotypes in near the future