Abstract Background Quinclorac- main herbicide targeting to barnyard grass, has been used for decades in rice fields. Echinochloa species have been reported evolving into quinclorac resistance.Objective: Quinclorac resistance and its mechanism remain undisclosed in Echinochloa oryzoides (Ard.) Fritsch that needs to be uncovered. Methods Dose-response assays were performed, followed by ethylene synthesis, and related enzyme activities along with gene transcription were studied. β-CAS activity and its molecular docking were investigated. Results E. oryzoides evolved into 21 times resistance to quinclorac from Jiangsu province of China. The increment in ethylene levels in this biotype was correlated negatively with the level of resistance and positively with quinclorac-induced growth inhibition. Ethylene response pathway determination showed that resistant biotype decreased 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) contents, related enzyme activities, and transcription of ACS and ACO genes. These results indicated that ethylene biosynthesis inhibition and quinclorac resistance possessed a positive correlation. Resistant biotype exhibited ~ 2-fold more β-CAS activity than susceptible ones. Resistant EcCAS gene depicted nucleotide changes as compared to susceptible ones, which resulted in two amino acid substitutions (Met-287-Lys and Thr-352-Ala). Consequently, resistant β-CAS enzyme exhibited an increase in binding residue in active site (simulation modelling); that can be the probable reason for higher enzyme activity in the resistant biotype. Conclusions The study concludes that variation in response pathway of auxin and potentially improved cyanide degradation were plausible mechanisms endowing quinclorac resistance in E. oryzoides .

ABSTRACT A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the vaccination status and barriers to vaccination among the university students by utilizing a simple random sampling technique in the largest public sector university of Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The participants comprised 380 university students. Data was collected by a self-designed questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. Chi-square Test and Fischer Exact test were applied to assess the impact of demographics on vaccination status, and barriers to vaccination. Out of 380 participants, 328 (86.31%) were males and 52 (13.68) females. The immunization status of university students against various diseases was variable: 97.10% (n=369) were vaccinated against poliomyelitis, 58.68% (n=223) against BCG, 44.21% (n=168) against hepatitis B, 49.21% (n=187) against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus and 55.26% (n=210) against measles vaccine. The barriers to vaccination were unwillingness 15.0% (n=57), inaccessibility 17.10% (n=65), financial issues 4.47 % (n=17) and unawareness 63.42% (n=241). Moreover, 31% (n=118) of the participants considered that the use of vaccines is unsafe. The vaccination status of the university students in Southern Punjab, Pakistan is alarming as most of the students were unvaccinated. The unawareness and perception of the unsafety of vaccines were the biggest barriers to vaccination.

RESUMEN Se realizó un estudio transversal para determinar el estado de vacunación y las barreras a la vacunación entre los estudiantes universitarios, mediante la utilización de una técnica de muestreo aleatorio simple, en la universidad más grande del sector público del sur de Punjab, Pakistán. Los participantes fueron 380 estudiantes universitarios. Los datos se recopilaron mediante un cuestionario de diseño propio. Se utilizó el Paquete Estadístico para Ciencias Sociales (SPSS) para el análisis de datos. Se aplicaron la prueba de chi-cuadrado y la prueba exacta de Fischer para evaluar el impacto de la demografía en el estado de vacunación y las barreras para la vacunación. De 380 participantes, 328 (86,31%) fueron hombres y 52 (13,68%) mujeres. El estado de inmunización de los estudiantes universitarios frente a diversas enfermedades fue variable: 97,10% (n = 369) fueron vacunados contra poliomielitis, 58,68% (n = 223) contra BCG, 44,21% (n = 168) contra hepatitis B, 49,21% (n = 187) contra la difteria, tos ferina y tétanos y 55,26% (n = 210) contra la vacuna contra el sarampión. Las barreras para la vacunación fueron la falta de voluntad 15,0% (n = 57); la inaccesibilidad 17,10% (n = 65); los problemas económicos 4,47% (n = 17) y el desconocimiento 63,42% (n = 241). Además, el 31% (n = 118) de los participantes consideró que el uso de vacunas no es seguro. El estado de vacunación de los estudiantes universitarios en el sur de Punjab, Pakistán, es alarmante ya que la mayoría de los estudiantes no estaban vacunados. El desconocimiento y la percepción de la inseguridad de las vacunas fueron las mayores barreras para la vacunación.