On Computations for Thermal Radiation in MHD Channel Flow with Heat and Mass Transfer

This study examines the simultaneous effects of heat and mass transfer on the three-dimensional boundary layer flow of viscous fluid between two infinite parallel plates. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and thermal radiation effects are present. The governing problems are first modeled and then solved by homotopy analysis method (HAM). Influence of several embedded parameters on the velocity, concentration and temperature fields are described.     

Biochemical and molecular identification of Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa causing bacterial leaf streak of wheat in Punjab,Pakistan

Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa, (Xtu.), causal agent of Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) of wheat, was characterised through pathogencity, hypersensitivity, biochemical and molecular assays. Fifty symptomatic leaves of wheat were collected from eight agro-ecological zones of Punjab out of which 25 were isolated and purified. Maximum incidence and severity in Faisalabad were followed by Multan and Rahim Yar Khan. The pathogen isolated from diseased leaves was identified on the basis of colonies pattern, colour, biochemical and pathogencity test as X. translucens pv. undulosa and confirmed its pathogencity through pathogencity test. For molecular characterization, the bacterial 16S–23S rDNA spacer fragments were amplified by PCR with conserved primers (C1 and C2) and then in combination with specific primers (T1 & T2). 300?bp product amplified by C1 and C2 primer pair confirmed the presence of Xanthomonas, while specific primers T1 and T2 amplified a product of 200?bp, confirmed the presence of X. translucens pv. undulosa. This work will be quite helpful for wheat pathologist and breeders for future management strategy for this disease.     

Thienopyrimidine-based P2Y12 platelet aggregation inhibitors

Herein we describe the design and synthesis of a novel series of potent thienopyrimidine P2Y₁₂ inhibitors and the negative impact protein binding has on the inhibition of platelet aggregation.     

Design,synthesis and anti-melanogenic effect of cinnamamide derivatives

Pigmentation disorders are attributed to excessive melanin which can be produced by tyrosinase. Therefore, tyrosinase is supposed to be a vital target for the treatment of disorders associated with overpigmentation. Based on our previous findings that an (E)-β-phenyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl scaffold can play a key role in the inhibition of tyrosinase activity, and the fact that cinnamic acid is a safe natural substance with a scaffolded structure, it was speculated that appropriate cinnamic acid derivatives may exhibit potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Thus, ten cinnamamides were designed, and synthesized by using a Horner-Emmons olefination as the key step. Cinnamamides 4 (93.72% inhibition), 9 (78.97% inhibition), and 10 (59.09% inhibition) with either a 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl, or 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl substituent showed much higher mushroom tyrosinase inhibition at 25?µM than kojic acid (18.81% inhibition), used as a positive control. Especially, the two cinnamamides 4 and 9 having a 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl group showed the strongest inhibition. Docking simulation with tyrosinase revealed that these three cinnamamides, 4, 9, and 10, bind to the active site of tyrosinase more strongly than kojic acid. Cell-based experiments carried out using B16F10 murine skin melanoma cells demonstrated that all three cinnamamides effectively inhibited cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin production in the cells without cytotoxicity. There was a close correlation between cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content, indicating that the inhibitory effect of the three cinnamamides on melanin production is mainly attributed to their capability for cellular tyrosinase inhibition. These results imply that cinnamamides having the (E)-β-phenyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl scaffolds are promising candidates for skin-lighting agents.     

Precise editing of CLAVATA genes in Brassica napus L. regulates multilocular silique development

Multilocular silique is a desirable agricultural trait with great potential for the development of high‐yield varieties of Brassica. To date, no spontaneous or induced multilocular mutants have been reported in Brassica napus, which likely reflects its allotetraploid nature and the extremely low probability of the simultaneous random mutagenesis of multiple gene copies with functional redundancy. Here, we present evidence for the efficient knockout of rapeseed homologues of CLAVATA3 (CLV3) for a secreted peptide and its related receptors CLV1 and CLV2 in the CLV signalling pathway using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and achieved stable transmission of the mutations across three generations. Each BnCLV gene has two copies located in two subgenomes. The multilocular phenotype can be recovered only in knockout mutations of both copies of each BnCLV gene, illustrating that the simultaneous alteration of multiple gene copies by CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis has great potential in generating agronomically important mutations in rapeseed. The mutagenesis efficiency varied widely from 0% to 48.65% in T₀ with different single‐guide RNAs (sgRNAs), indicating that the appropriate selection of the sgRNA is important for effectively generating indels in rapeseed. The double mutation of BnCLV3 produced more leaves and multilocular siliques with a significantly higher number of seeds per silique and a higher seed weight than the wild‐type and single mutant plants, potentially contributing to increased seed production. We also assessed the efficiency of the horizontal transfer of Cas9/gRNA cassettes by pollination. Our findings reveal the potential for plant breeding strategies to improve yield traits in currently cultivated rapeseed varieties.     

Serum organochlorine pesticides residues and risk of cancer: A case-control study

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are frequently used worldwide as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and termiticides and have been associated with a variety of cancers in animal and human studies. In the present study, we examined residues of fourteen OCPs in the serum samples of diagnosed cancer patients and healthy residents of Karachi, Pakistan. A random collection of fasting blood samples was carried out from the donors with informed consent. Serum was separated within 2?h of blood collection and was then subjected to extraction with organic solvents followed by purification with florisil column. The final organic extract of each serum sample was processed with Gas Chromatograph coupled with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD). OCPs were detected in 97.59% of the cancer cases and 93.75% of the healthy subjects. Mean concentrations of total OCPs (ΣOCPs) was found elevated in the cancer group (0.606?mg/kg) compared with the control group (0.322?mg/kg). Endosulfan was the highest prevalent OCP with a mean concentration of 0.214?mg/kg in the cancer group and 0.166?mg/kg in the control group. The second most prevalent OCP was 4,4-DDE with a mean concentration of 0.131?mg/kg in the cancer group and 0.019?mg/kg in the control group. Highest level of ΣOCPs was detected in the breast cancer cases (20.411?mg/kg) with a mean level of (2.041?mg/kg). In light of the obtained results and available literature on the subject, it has been concluded that OCPs are positively associated with the risk of various cancers in humans.     

Floristic inventory of wild plants of Peshawar university campus

Floristic inventory of wild plants comprised of total 129 plant species belonging to 42 families and 101 genera. Location wise UAP contributed greater amount of plant species (53%), followed by PFI (29%), UoP (15%) and Islamia College (3%). Majority of the plants were annual herbs (58%), followed by perennial herbs (29%), trees (10%) and shrubs (3%), respectively. The leading families included Poaceae, contributed 18% of all the plant species. Habitat wise, 44% of them grew in grassy plains, abandoned lands and mismanaged lawns, followed by roadsides (34%), undulating grassy plains (15%) and stony grounds with uneven topography along with stream banks and drainage ditches (7%). Still some of plant species were used as ornamentals, while some shrubs were use in fencing around fields; others were utilized as green manure, for fishing, sheltering and religious purposes. Exploring and identifying the wild flora of the campus and compiling as a handbook would help to monitor new plants introductions particularly of noxious invasive weeds in the campuses in future.     

Small Interfering RNA-Mediated Control of Virus Replication in the CNS Is Therapeutic and Enables Natural Immunity to West Nile Virus

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Current status and future possibilities of molecular genetics techniques in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis>

As PCR methods have improved over the last 15 years, there has been an upsurge in the number of new DNA marker tools, which has allowed the generation of high-density molecular maps for all the key Brassica crop types. Biotechnology and molecular plant breeding have emerged as a significant tool for molecular understanding that led to a significant crop improvement in the Brassica napus species. Brassica napus possess a very complicated polyploidy-based genomics. The quantitative trait locus (QTL) is not sufficient to develop effective markers for trait introgression. In the coming years, the molecular marker techniques will be more effective to determine the whole genome impairing desired traits. Available genetic markers using the single-nucleotide sequence (SNP) technique and high-throughput sequencing are effective in determining the maps and genome polymorphisms amongst candidate genes and allele interactions. High-throughput sequencing and gene mapping techniques are involved in discovering new alleles and gene pairs, serving as a bridge between the gene map and genome evaluation. The decreasing cost for DNA sequencing will help in discovering full genome sequences with less resources and time. This review describes (1) the current use of integrated approaches, such as molecular marker technologies, to determine genome arrangements and interspecific outcomes combined with cost-effective genomes to increase the efficiency in prognostic breeding efforts. (2) It also focused on functional genomics, proteomics and field-based breeding practices to achieve insight into the genetics underlying both simple and complex traits in canola.