Photosynthesis and biomass allocation of cotton as affected by deep-layer water and fertilizer application depth

Available water stored in deep soil layers could increase the photosynthetic capacity of cotton. It was hypothesized that the photosynthesis of cotton would be enhanced by changing the fertilizer application depth under different deep-layer water conditions. We examined two deep-layer water levels, i.e., well-watered (W₈₀) and not watered (W₀), combined with surface application (F₁₀) and deep application (F₃₀) of basal fertilizer. Compared to W₀, W₈₀ resulted in increased leaf area (LA), photosynthetic pigment contents, maximal PSII efficiency (F_v/F_m), effective quantum yield of PSII (Y_II) and PSI (Y_I), electron transport rate of PSII (ETR_II) and PSI (ETR_I). W₈₀ also increased the aboveground and root dry mass by 39 and 0.6%, respectively, and decreased the root/shoot ratio by 40–73%. Under the W₀ condition, higher values of F_v/F_m, Y_II, Y_I, ETR_II, and ETR_I were measured for F₁₀ compared to F₃₀ after 69 d from emergence. Under the W₈₀ condition, cotton plants with F₁₀ showed higher LA, F_v/F_m, Y_II, Y_I, ETR_II, and ETR_I, but there were no significant differences in the photosynthetic pigments compared to F₃₀. Our results suggest that sufficient water in deeper soil layers and the surface application of basal fertilizer could increase photosynthetic activity and efficiency, which promoted aboveground dry mass accumulation and partitioning towards reproductive organs.     

Polymicrobial infection in Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in Karachi

Between September 1984 and April 1985, 210 stool specimens from patients with acute enteritis, in the city of Karachi, Pakistan were cultured for the presence of different enteropathogenic bacterial agents.Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 62 (29.5%) of these specimens from children under 2 years of age. The highest incidence of C. jejuni was found among infants from birth to 6 months of age. The frequency of isolation gradually decreased among the 7–12-month-old infants and again among children from 13–24 months of age, respectively. C. jejuni was more frequently isolated in stool specimens from males (61.2%) and reflected the higher incidence of illness caused by C. jejuni in males. Our results emphasise the importance of this newly recognised enteropathogen, C. jejuni, in the etiology of diarrhoeal disease in Pakistan.     

Health System Barriers to Access and Use of Magnesium Sulfate for Women with Severe Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia in Pakistan: Evidence for Policy and Practice

Severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are rare but serious complications of pregnancy that threaten the lives of mothers during childbirth. Evidence supports the use of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) as the first line treatment option for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Eclampsia is the third major cause of maternal mortality in Pakistan. As in many other Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), it is suspected that MgSO4 is critically under-utilized in the country. There is however a lack of information on context-specific health system barriers that prevent optimal use of this life-saving medicine in Pakistan. Combining quantitative and qualitative methods, namely policy document review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and direct observation at health facility, we explored context-specific health system barriers and enablers that affect access and use of MgSO4 for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Pakistan. Our study finds that while international recommendations on MgSO4 have been adequately translated in national policies in Pakistan, the gap remains in implementation of national policies into practice. Barriers to access to and effective use of MgSO4 occur at health facility level where the medicine was not available and health staff was reluctant to use it. Low price of the medicine and the small market related to its narrow indications acted as disincentives for effective marketing. Results of our survey were further discussed in a multi-stakeholder round-table meeting and an action plan for increasing access to this life-saving medicine was identified.     

Population structure and dynamics oi Juniperus excelsa in Balouchistan,Pakistan

Abstract. 60 monospecific stands of Juniperus excelsa were sampled at four locations in Balouchistan. Density, basal area and height of individuals were recorded. Soils were analysed for selected physical and chemical characteristics and the degree of disturbance due to logging and burning was noted. The density of juniper trees (> 6 cm dbh) ranged from 56 to 332 stems / ha (average 174 stems / ha). Higher densities were recorded for relatively undisturbed stands and on west facing slopes. Density of seedlings and saplings (< 6 cm dbh) was strongly correlated with tree density and tree basal area. Among the edaphic variables CaC0₃ was correlated with juniper density and basal area. Diameter distributions within stands were mostly skewed and unimodal with gaps appearing in large size classes. The male to female ratio was close to 1. Cross-sections of 16 trees were used to determine age and growth rate. Number of rings in trees with 20 to 30 cm dbh ranged from 95 to 221 (x = 160 ± 38). Diameter and age were not related. Mean annual diameter increment ranged from 6 to 16 yr / cm x = 10 ± 3 yr / cm). It is concluded that size class gaps and low seedling / sapling densities are the consequence of anthropogenic disturbance.     

Virtual screening and pharmacophore studies for ftase inhibitors using Indian plant anticancer compounds database

Farnesyl transferase (FTase) is an enzyme responsible for post-translational modification in proteins having a carboxy-terminal CaaX motif in human. It catalyzes the attachment of a lipid group in proteins of RAS superfamily, which is essential in signal transduction. FTase has been recognized as an important target for anti cancer therapeutics. In this work, we performed virtual screening against FTase with entire 125 compounds from Indian Plant Anticancer Database using AutoDock 3.0.5 software. All compounds were docked within binding pocket containing Lys164, Tyr300, His248 and Tyr361 residues in crystal structure of FTase. These complexes were ranked according to their docking score, using methodology that was shown to achieve maximum accuracy. Finally we got three potent compounds with the best Autodock docking Score (Vinorelbine: -21.28 Kcal/mol, Vincristine: -21.74 Kcal/mol and Vinblastine: -22.14 Kcal/mol) and their energy scores were better than the FTase bound co-crystallized ligand (L- 739: -7.9 kcal/mol). These three compounds belong to Vinca alkaloids were analyzed through Python Molecular Viewer for their interaction studies. It predicted similar orientation and binding modes for these compounds with L-739 in FTase.Thus from the complex scoring and binding ability it is concluded that these Vinca alkaloids could be promising inhibitors for FTase. A 2-D pharmacophore was generated for these alkaloids using LigandScout to confirm it. A shared feature pharmacophore was also constructed that shows four common features (one hydogen bond Donar, Two hydrogen bond Acceptor and one ionizable area) help compounds to interact with this enzyme.     

Eggs Distribution Behaviour of Dubas Bug (Ommatissus Lybicus: Homoptera: Tropiduchidae) in Relation to Seasons and Some Physico- Morphic Characters of Date Palm Leaves

Dubas bug, Ommatissus lybicus, is a major pest of date palm in Panjgur Balochistan. Both the nymphs and adults suck the sap from fruit stalk, leaves and may cause about 50 % of economic losses. Chlorophyll contents and leaf thickness was measured by using SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter and vernier caliper respectively. Eggs distribution density was highly significant in different frond rows and within frond during spring (1^st) and summer (2^nd) generations. In both generations number of eggs per leaflet decreased towards the apex fronds rows and within frond number of eggs decreased towards the terminal leaflets. Eggs distribution had negative correlation with leaf thickness; chlorophyll contents (SPAD value) and frond row (bottom to top). Apparently shade affect the eggs laying behaviour of dubas bug.     

Solvent Effect on the Photolysis of Riboflavin

The kinetics of photolysis of riboflavin (RF) in water (pH 7.0) and in organic solvents (acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, ethyl acetate) has been studied using a multicomponent spectrometric method for the assay of RF and its major photoproducts, formylmethylflavin and lumichrome. The apparent first-order rate constants (k_obs) for the reaction range from 3.19 (ethyl acetate) to 4.61 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹ (water). The values of k_obs have been found to be a linear function of solvent dielectric constant implying the participation of a dipolar intermediate along the reaction pathway. The degradation of this intermediate is promoted by the polarity of the medium. This indicates a greater stabilization of the excited-triplet states of RF with an increase in solvent polarity to facilitate its reduction. The rate constants for the reaction show a linear relation with the solvent acceptor number indicating the degree of solute–solvent interaction in different solvents. It would depend on the electron-donating capacity of RF molecule in organic solvents. The values of k_obs are inversely proportional to the viscosity of the medium as a result of diffusion-controlled processes.KEY WORDS: dielectric constant, kinetics, photolysis, riboflavin, solvent effect, viscosity     

Zoonotic and non-zoonotic helminths in black rats of rain-fed and irrigated areas of Swat,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan

Present study was conducted to get information on helminth parasites of zoonotic importance among the black rats of district Swat, Pakistan. Two hundred and sixty nine rats were captured from agricultural ecosystem of the district using live captured traps from 2011 to 2013. Captured rats were anesthetized and surveyed for the presence of ectoparasites, then were carefully dissected for investigation of endoparsites. Helminth parasites of 8 species were identified. Presence of parasite was noticed in 23.7% of sampled rats. The infection rates of sampled rats was given in order of their infectivity as Syphacia obvelata 13(4.83%), Aspiculuris tetraptera 13(4.83%), Heterakis spumosa 12 (4.46%), Hymenolepis spp. 9(3.34%), H.diminuta 8(2.97%), Hymenolepis fusa 4(1.48%), Lutziella microacetabularae 4(1.48%) and Lutziella spp. 1 (0.37%). No significant difference (P < 0.4289) was found in prevalence of parasites among areas, crops, crop stages and sex of the host while adult rats were found more infected than sub-adults. S. obvelata and A. tetraptera were the most common species of helminths while Lutziella sp., 1 (0.37%) was found only in one host. Rattus rattus (the black rat) was regarded as the host of helminth parasites of zoonotic importance, therefore the hidden health hazards of this rodent species needed to be considered to prevent infectivity of humans. Current study was concluded that Rattus rattus harbored a wide variety of helminth parasites which shows a hidden risk to inhabitants of the region. Monitoring rats’ population in settle areas and educating the local community about the risk of rat borne parasitic diseases transmission through rats appears to be absolutely essential.