Resumo A cultura do milho é utilizada na alimentação humana, pecuária e avícola, bem como na panificação, flocos de milho, xarope de milho, amido de milho e óleos de milho. O estudo de campo consistiu em um ensaio experimental sobre a incidência desse complexo de insetos-praga na cultivar de milho Azam durante a temporada de Kharif 2020 na Estação de Pesquisa Agrícola, Baffa, Mansehra. O ensaio foi estabelecido no Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) e, em seguida, dividido em três repetições. O resultado obtido no ensaio mostrou que várias espécies de pragas foram registradas durante o período experimental; no entanto, foi observado um baixo nível da população. As espécies de insetos obtidas foram pulgão-da-folha-do-milho (6,90 ± 5,5) – por polegada quadrada –, cigarrinha-do-milho (1,32 ± 0,63), broca-do-caule-do-milho (0,63 ± 0,29), besouro-da-pulga-do-milho (0,43 ± 0,28), tripses (0,38 ± 0,22), lagarta-cabeluda (0,21 ± 0,22), gafanhoto (0,17 ± 0,11) e mosca (0,11 ± 0,08) ao longo da temporada

Abstract The maize crop is used as food for humans, livestock and poultries forms, it is also used in bread making, corn flakes, corn syrup, corn starch and corn oils. The field study consisted of one experimental trial, about the incidence of that insect pest complex on maize cultivar Azam during the Kharif season 2020 at the Agricultural, Research Station, Baffa, Mansehra. The trial was laid out in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), and then it was divided into three replications. The result obtained from the trial showed that a number of the pest species were recorded during the experimental period; however, the population was noticed at a low level. The obtained insect species were corn leaf aphid (6.90 ± 5.5) per square inch, corn leafhopper (1.32 ± 0.63), maize stem borer (0.63 ± 0.29), corn flea beetle (0.43 ± 0.28), Thrips (0.38 ± 0.22), Hairy caterpillar (0.21 ± 0.22), Grasshopper (0.17 ± 0.11) and shoot fly (0.11 ± 0.08) throughout the season

Abstract Introduction Laser uvulopalatoplasty is an established operation for the treatment of snoring with good results on a short-term basis, while long-term follow-up studies, in addition to their scarcity, had conflicting results regarding recurrence, the change of snoring quality, and complications. Objective To assess the long-term follow-up results of using nonablative 2,940 nm Erbium: YAG for the treatment of snoring regarding outcomes and recurrence. Methods This 2-year follow-up study was conducted on 76 patients operated upon by non-ablative 2940 nm Erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) using a PS01 patterned headpiece. Subjective evaluation of the treatment was performed relying on a smartphone application to record snoring in addition to a questionnaire specially designed to report recurrence and change in the quality of snoring reported by a patient’s spouse. The objective evaluation was done by computed tomography (CT) imaging of the soft palate. The patients were evaluated preoperatively, 6 weeks postoperatively and after a 2-year follow-up period. Results Six week after the procedure, there was a significant improvement in 52 patients (68.4%). Out of the 52 patients, only 43 completed the 2-year follow-up; however, 15 of them complained of recurrence. Nevertheless, the patients who suffered from recurrence showed subjective improvement in snoring quality. Conclusions The nonablative mode of Erbium: YAG 2,940 nm laser proved to be efficient in soft palate tightening for the management of snoring. However, there was recurrence in 34.8% of the patients who presented objective and subjective improvement of the complaints, 6 weeks postoperatively and after a 2-year follow-up period.

South Africa has a high burden of trauma related injuries with haemorrhage remaining a leading treatable complication of trauma. Expedient management of haemorrhage serves to reduce patient morbidity and mortality. Damage control surgery aims to minimise haemorrhage, contain contamination, and allow restoration of physiology in an intensive care unit (ICU) before proceeding to definitive surgery. Over time, damage control surgery has found favour in non-trauma-related surgeries in unstable patients. The Jehovah's Witness (JW) religion believes that blood is sacred and strictly do not consent to blood or blood product transfusions, including in emergency settings. Thus, the management of a bleeding or bled-out JW patient proves to be a unique challenge in modern medicine. For the JW patient who is undergoing damage control surgery, the primary goal is to win time for recovery of the haemoglobin level by maintaining adequate oxygen delivery to tissues. We review the multiple methods available to optimise haemodynamic stability in a bleeding JW patient. These include techniques aimed at (i) minimising blood loss, (ii) optimising oxygen delivery (DO2), (iii) optimising oxygen consumption (VO2), and (iv) correction of coagulopathy. The management of haemorrhage in the JW patient remains challenging. It is imperative for healthcare professionals to be aware of all options available when treating these patients in order to provide optimal treatment whilst maintaining respect for their beliefs.

Resumo Existem diferentes opiniões em todo o mundo a respeito da capacidade zoonótica dos vírus da influenza equina H3N8. Neste relatório, tentamos resumir os resultados de diferentes pesquisas e artigos de revisão da literatura científica chinesa, inglesa e mongol relatando as evidências de infecções pelo vírus da influenza equina em seres humanos. Diferentes mecanismos de busca, como CNKI, PubMed, ProQuest, Chongqing Database, Mongol Med e Web of Knowledge geraram 926 artigos, dos quais 32 atenderam aos critérios de inclusão para esta revisão. Analisando os dados epidemiológicos e filogenéticos desses artigos, encontramos uma considerável evidência experimental e observacional de vírus da influenza equina H3N8 infectando seres humanos em diferentes partes do mundo no passado. Artigos publicados recentemente no Paquistão e na China destacaram a ameaça emergente e a capacidade dos vírus da influenza equina para uma epidemia em seres humanos no futuro. Neste artigo de revisão, resumimos os relatórios científicos relevantes publicados sobre a epidemiologia dos vírus da influenza equina e seu aspecto zoonótico. Além disso, vários desenvolvimentos recentes no início do século 21, incluindo a transmissão e estabelecimento de vírus da influenza equina em diferentes espécies animais, ou seja, camelos e cães, e presumida encefalopatia associada aos vírus da influenza em cavalos, documentaram a natureza imprevisível dos vírus da influenza equina. Em suma, vários relatórios destacaram a natureza imprevisível de H3N8 EIVs destacando a necessidade de vigilância contínua para H3N8 em equinos e humanos em contato com eles para novas mutações ameaçadoras.

Abstract There are different opinions around the World regarding the zoonotic capability of H3N8 equine influenza viruses. In this report, we have tried to summarize the findings of different research and review articles from Chinese, English, and Mongolian Scientific Literature reporting the evidence for equine influenza virus infections in human beings. Different search engines i.e. CNKI, PubMed, ProQuest, Chongqing Database, Mongol Med, and Web of Knowledge yielded 926 articles, of which 32 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. Analyzing the epidemiological and Phylogenetic data from these articles, we found a considerable experimental and observational evidence of H3N8 equine influenza viruses infecting human being in different parts of the World in the past. Recently published articles from Pakistan and China have highlighted the emerging threat and capability of equine influenza viruses for an epidemic in human beings in future. In this review article we have summarized the salient scientific reports published on the epidemiology of equine influenza viruses and their zoonotic aspect. Additionally, several recent developments in the start of 21st century, including the transmission and establishment of equine influenza viruses in different animal species i.e. camels and dogs, and presumed encephalopathy associated to influenza viruses in horses, have documented the unpredictable nature of equine influenza viruses. In sum up, several reports has highlighted the unpredictable nature of H3N8 EIVs highlighting the need of continuous surveillance for H3N8 in equines and humans in contact with them for novel and threatening mutations.

Resumo O presente estudo relata variações sazonais e espaciais na diversidade, na distribuição e na abundância de dinoflegelados e indica a presença de espécies de HAB nas águas do Paquistão. Um total de 179 táxons, registrados nesse estudo de águas offshore e próximas à costa, pertence a 41 gêneros em 26 famílias e 10 ordens. A alta contagem de espécies (149 espécies) foi registrada na estação offshore da Ilha de Manora (MI-1) e 105 spp., 109 spp. e 115 spp. foram encontrados na estação offshore da vila de Mubarak (MV-1), Manora perto da estação costeira (MI- 2) e estação próxima à costa da Vila de Mubarak (MV-2), respectivamente. Tripos furca foi a espécie dominante e de ocorrência frequente (> 1 x103 a > 25 x103 células L-1 da costa e > 1x 105 células Ll de estações próximas à costa), além de Alexandrium catenella menos abundante, Alexandrium sp., Alexandrium minutum e Prorocentrum micans (> 103 a 25x 103 células/L). Outras 44 espécies ocorreram em números relativamente baixos (< 103 células L-1). Setenta espécies foram encontradas durante o período de estudo em todas as quatro estações. Foi registrado um alto número de espécies em três gêneros (Tripos (38), Protoperidinium (34) e Prorocentrum (20). Potencialmente tóxicos (16 gêneros e 43 espécies) e HAB relacionados (19 gêneros e 30 espécies), táxons de dinoflagelados também foram registrados. A contribuição percentual de dinoflagelados na população fitoplanctônica total geralmente permaneceu abaixo de 20%, exceto em alguns casos. As estações da Ilha de Manora tinham índice de Shannon comparativamente mais alto e equitabilidade e índice de dominância ligeiramente mais baixos. O gráfico de PCA mostrou forte correlação positiva entre concentração de clorofila-a e oxigênio dissolvido, número total de fitoplânctons e dinoflagelados.

Abstract The present study reports on seasonal and spatial variations in diversity, distribution and abundance of dinoflegellates and indicates the presence of HAB species in Pakistan waters. A total of 179 taxa, recorded in this study from offshore and near-shore waters, belong to 41 genera in 26 families and 10 orders. The high species count (149 species) was recorded from Manora Island offshore station (MI-1) and 105 spp, 109 spp and 115 spp were encountered from the Mubarak village offshore station (MV-1), Manora near shore station (MI-2) and Mubarak Village near-shore station (MV-2) respectively. Tripos furca was the dominant and frequently occurring species (> 1 x103 to > 25 x103 cells L-1 from coastal and >1x 105 cells L-l from near-shore stations) in addition to less abundant Alexandrium catenella, Alexandrium sp., Alexandrium minutum, and Prorocentrum micans (>103 to 25x 103cells/L). Another 44 species occurred in relatively low numbers (<103 cell L-l). Seventy species were found throughout the study period at all four stations. High number of species in three genera (Tripos (38), Protoperidinium (34) and Prorocentrum (20) was recorded. Potently toxic (16 genera 43 species) and HAB related (19 genera and 30 species) dinoflagellate taxa were also recorded. The percent contribution of dinoflagellates in total phytoplankton population generally remained below 20% except for a few instances. Manora Island stations had comparatively higher Shannon index and equitability and slightly lower dominance index. The PCA plot showed strong positive correlation among chlorophyll-a concentration, dissolved oxygen, total number of phytoplankton and dinoflagellates.

The copper, nickel and zinc complexes of isoniazid (ISO, isonicotinic acid hydrazide), an anti-tubercular drug, have been investigated to determine whether these metal-ions improve the permeability and bioavailability of the drug. Since such properties of isonazid depend on its solution speciation, the latter was investigated by determining the equilibrium constants for the reaction of H+, Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) with isonazid in aqueous solution at 25.00 ± 0.01 °C and 0.15 M (NaCl), using glass electrode potentiometry. The structure of the copper complex of isoniazid was investigated using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The results support the structures postulated from the potentiometric data. This study also considered membrane permeability using a Franz cell and octanol/water distribution coefficients. Distribution coefficient studies showed that ISO and its metal complexes are hydrophilic. The incorporation of a metal-ion improves the hydrophilicity of the ligand. The presence of a metal ion greatly enhanced the permeation of ISO through an artificial membrane in the order Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Zn(II) > ISO at pH 2 and Zn(II) > Ni(II) > ISO > Cu(II) at pH 4.

Abstract The design and study of the Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) approach for control and disturbance rejection for lower knee rehabilitation utilizing a domestic exoskeleton system are provided in this paper. Linear ADRC (LADRC) and Nonlinear ADRC (NADRC) are two controllers that are considered for control purposes based on the structure of ADRC. The contrasts between them are thoroughly discussed in this work. The LADRC is made up of a tracking differential (TD), a linear proportional derivative (LPD) controller, and a linear extended state observer (LESO), whereas the NADRC is made up of the same LESO but with a nonlinear PD (NPD) and a modified optimized TD (MTD). In terms of robustness against the ability to reject applied disturbances, a comparison of LADRC and NADRC has been done. The fundamental challenge with ADRC is that its constituent parameters must be fine-tuned. Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) has been proposed for tuning the parameters of ADRC to have the least amount of error variation in order to improve the controlled system's dynamic performance. When a prescribed disturbing torque is applied, the results of a MATLAB simulation show that the LADRC has greater disturbance rejection capabilities than the NADRC.

Death is a medical occurrence that has social, legal, religious and cultural consequences requiring common clinical standards for its diagnosis and legal regulation. This document compiled by the Critical Care Society of Southern Africa outlines the core standards for determination of death in the hospital context. It aligns with the latest evidence-based research and international guidelines and is applicable to the South African context and legal system. The aim is to provide clear medical standards for healthcare providers to follow in the determination of death, thereby promoting safe practices and high-quality care through the use of uniform standards. Adherence to such guidelines will provide assurance to medical staff, patients, their families and the South African public that the determination of death is always undertaken with diligence, integrity, respect and compassion, and is in accordance with accepted medical standards and latest scientific evidence. The consensus guidelines were compiled using the AGREE II checklist with an 18-member expert panel participating in a three-round modified Delphi process. Checklists and advice sheets were created to assist with application of these guidelines in the clinical environment (https://criticalcare.org.za/resource/death-determination-checklists/). Key points • Brain death and circulatory death are the accepted terms for defining death in the hospital context. • Death determination is a clinical diagnosis which can be made with complete certainty provided that all preconditions are met. • The determination of death in children is held to the same standard as in adults but cannot be diagnosed in children <36 weeks' corrected gestation. • Brain-death testing while on extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation is outlined. • Recommendations are given on handling family requests for accommodation and on consideration of the potential for organ donation. • The use of a checklist combined with a rigorous testing process, comprehensive documentation and adequate counselling of the family are core tenets of death determination. This is a standard of practice to which all clinicians should adhere in end-of-life care.

The CCSSA PBM Guidelines have been developed to improve patient blood management in critically ill patients in southern Africa. These consensus recommendations are based on a rigorous process by experts in the field of critical care who are also practicing in South Africa (SA). The process comprised a Delphi process, a round-table meeting (at the CCSSA National Congress, Durban, 2018), and a review of the best available evidence and international guidelines. The guidelines focus on the broader principles of patient blood management and incorporate transfusion medicine (transfusion guidelines), management of anaemia, optimisation of coagulopathy, and administrative and ethical considerations. There are a mix of low-middle and high-income healthcare structures within southern Africa. Blood products are, however, provided by the same not-for-profit non-governmental organisations to both private and public sectors. There are several challenges related to patient blood management in SA due most notably to a high incidence of anaemia, a frequent shortage of blood products, a small donor population, and a healthcare system under financial strain. The rational and equitable use of blood products is important to ensure best care for as many critically ill patients as possible. The summary of the recommendations provides key practice points for the day-to-day management of critically ill patients. A more detailed description of the evidence used to make these recommendations follows in the full clinical guidelines section.

RESUMO: A fitorremediação é uma ferramenta útil para recuperar solos contaminados com metais pesados. Este estudo foi realizado para testar dois cultivares de mamona (Ricinus communis) [Local e DS-30] quanto à fitoextração de metais pesados de solo contaminado por concentrações conhecidas de sete metais (Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb e Zn). Um ensaio em vasos foi instalado com um delineamento completamente casualizado. Cem dias após o plantio, foram analisadas amostras do solo e das plantas. Os dados referentes à absorção de metais pesados pelos tecidos vegetais (raízes, folhas e parte aérea) dos dois cultivares de mamona sugerem que quantidades consideráveis de metais (Fe = 27,18 mg L-1; Cu = 5,06 mg L-1; Cr = 2,95 mg L- 1; Mn = 0,22 mg L-1; Ni = 4,66 mg L-1; Pb = 3,33 mg L-1; Zn = 15,04 mg L-1) foram acumuladas na biomassa da planta. Foi observada redução significativa do teor de metais pesados no solo ao final do experimento com os dois cultivares, resultando em melhor qualidade do solo. Portanto, conclui-se que ambos os cultivares de mamona, Local e DS-30, podem ser utilizados para a fitorremediação de locais contaminados com metais pesados.

ABSTRACT: Phytoremediation is a useful tool to restore heavy metals contaminated soils. This study was carried out to test two castor (Ricinus communis) cultivars [Local and DS-30] for phytoextraction of heavy metals from the soil spiked by known concentrations of seven metals (Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn). A pot experiment was laid out by using a completely randomized design. Soil and plant samples were analyzed at 100 days after planting. The data on heavy metal uptake by plant tissues (roots, leaves and shoots) of the two castor cultivars suggested that a considerable amount of metals (Fe = 27.18 mg L-1; Cu = 5.06 mg L-1; Cr = 2.95 mg L-1; Mn = 0.22 mg L-1; Ni = 4.66 mg L-1; Pb = 3.33 mg L-1; Zn = 15.04 mg L-1) was accumulated in the plant biomass. The soil heavy metal content at the end of experiment significantly decreased with both cultivars, resulting in improved soil quality. Therefore, it is concluded that both castor cultivars, Local and DS-30, can be used for phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites.

Microbial communities are important for the functioning of the ecosystem, both in relation to direct interactions with the plants and with regard to nutrient and organic matter recycling. A study in field condition was undertaken in Kashmir valley to reveal the effect of various temperate fruit crops viz. apricot, peach, plum and cherry along with a control (no-plantation) on microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN), phosphorus (MBP) and dehydrogenase, phosphomonoesterase (acid and alkaline) and urease activities in soil at two different depths (0-20 and 21-40 cm). All the fruit crops showed a sharp decline in microbial biomass and enzyme activities with the increase in soil depth. Each of the four fruit crops showed significant (p<0.05) impact on MBC over the control and the maximum MBC was recorded in plum (1000 mg kg-1) and the lowest value was observed in control (457 mg kg-1), at the surface layer. Since there is a relationship between MBC and MBN, the similar trend was also observed in MBN as in case of MBC. For MBP, fruit crops showed any significant effect neither on surface soil, nor on subsurface soil layer over control. At the surface layer, unlike microbial biomass the highest dehydrogenase activity was observed in peach (318 mg TPF g soil-1 h-1) and the lowest value (166 mg TPF g soil-1 h-1) was attained at control plot. Maximum alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity was observed in peach (381 mg PNP g soil-1 h-1), although for acid phosphomonoesterase the highest value recorded in apricot (306 mg PNP g soil-1 hr-1), at surface soil. A significant positive correlation (p <0.01) was observed amongst MBC, MBN and MBP. Both the phosphomonoesterase activities were significantly (p <0.05) correlated with MBP in soil. It can be concluded that the influence of the studied fruit crops on the soil was not uniform, in terms of the measured parameters.

The current study aimed to provide the topography and renal biopsy of the standing mare kidneys by laparoscopy w ithout CO2 insufflation and to compare between the use of biopsy needle and forceps. Five clinically healthy adult nonpregnant mares weighing 250300 Kg and aging 79 years were used in the current work. The gasless laparoscopic renal biopsy appeared simple, safe, reliable, minimal invasive, timesaving and economical technique. The parallel biopsy portals provided easy and accessible biopsy procedure than dorsal or ventral portals. The biopsies taken from the lateral surface were less hemorrhagic than those taken from the caudal pole. This study recommended the laparoscopic forceps because the biopsy forceps provided satisfactory and representative specimens with minimal hemorrhage than Tru-cut needle.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo proporcionar la topografía y la biopsia renal de los riñones en la yegua de pie, por laparoscopía sin insuflación de CO2, y comparar entre el uso de la biopsia con aguja y pinzas. Fueron utilizadas en este studio cinco yeguas adultas no gestantes clínicamente sanas con un peso de 250300 Kg y edad de 79 años. La biopsia renal laparoscópica sin gas es un método seguro, confiable y mínimamente invasivo, económico y permite además ahorrar tiempo. Los portales de biopsia paralelas permiten un procedimiento de biopsia de fácil acceso. Las biopsias tomadas de la superficie lateral fueron menos hemorrágicas que aquellas obtenidas desde el polo caudal. Este estudio recomienda las pinzas laparoscópicas debido a que, a diferencia de la aguja Tru-cut, demostraron ser satisfactorias con una hemorragia mínima.

This paper deals with the study of the thermal radiation and chemical reaction effects on an unsteady MHD free convective mass transfer flow past an accelerated infinite vertical plate embedded in a porous medium. The Rosseland approximation is used to describe the radiative heat flux in the energy equation. The dimensionless governing equations of motion are solved by using Laplace transform technique in closed form. Expressions for the velocity, temperature and concentration are obtained. The resulting velocity and temperature profiles as well as the skin-friction, rate of heat and mass transfer are shown graphically for different values of the physical parameters viz., Grashof number, Prandtl number, Schmidt number, Chemical reaction parameter, Radiation parameter, Magnetic parameter and Porosity parameter.

Over the past several decades, digital information science has emerged to seek answers to the question: can any technique ensure tamper-resistance and protect the copyright of digital contents by storing, transmitting and processing information encoded in systems where digital content can easily be disseminated through communication channels? Today it is understood that the answer is yes. This paper reviews the theoretical analysis and performance investigation of representative watermarking systems in transform domains and geometric invariant regions. Digital watermarking is a technology of embedding watermark with intellectual property rights into images, videos, audios, and other multimedia data by a certain algorithm. The basic characteristics of digital watermark are imperceptibility, capacity, robustness and false positive of watermarking algorithm and security of the hiding place. Moreover, it is concluded that various attacks operators are used for the assessment of watermarking systems, which supplies an automated and fair analysis of substantial watermarking methods for chosen application areas.

An attempt has been made to study the Soret effect on an unsteady free convective flow past a vertical plate in slip-flow regime with periodic temperature variation. Analytical solution of the problem has been obtained depending on the physical parameters including the Prandtl number Pr , the Grashof number for heat transfer Gr , the Grashof number for mass transfer Gm , the Schmidt number Sc , the Soret number So etc. The influence of these parameters on velocity field, species concentration field, temperature field, skin-friction and the rate of heat and mass transfer at the plate are discussed graphically