Microbial consortia-mediated rice residue decompositon for eco-friendly management.

Burning rice straw contribute to Atmospheric Pollution, which makes it unsustainable in the long-run, but are still opted by farmers due to faster removal of residue. Lignocellulose Degrading Microorganisms, facilitating sustainable management, may accelerate the breakdown of various crop residues. A study comprised of twenty-one treatments including fungal strains, bacterial strains and microbial consortia.

Exploration of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Production Potential of Photosynthetic Microbes: A Sustainable Source of Bioplastic.

Introduction: The present study examined Polyhydroxy butyrate production (PHB) potential of different photosynthetic microbes such as Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus and Rhodobacter capsulatus-PK under different nutrient conditions. Biodegradable bioplastics, such as Poly-β-hydroxybutyrates (PHB), derived from these microbes provide a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based nondegradable plastics.

Background: As the demand for clean and sustainable alternatives rises, bio-plastic is gaining attention as a viable substitute to conventional plastics.

Influence of terminal moiety on PCE of DSSCs: An In Silico study based on triazatruxene-benzothiadiazole dye.

Our study utilized an experimentally synthesized dye as a reference molecule, employing a donor-π linker-acceptor (D-π-A) framework for organic solar cells. The molecule featured a triazatruxene group linked with alkyl branches as the donor and ethynyl benzoic acid as the acceptor, connected through a derivative of benzothiadiazole as the π linker. To improve optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties, ten theoretically designed dyes (ZA1-ZA10) are proposed, differing from the reference (R) by modifying the terminal acceptor moiety.

Optimizing Nitrogen Sources in Top Dressing for Wheat: Field Study on Growth, Yield, and Ammonia Volatilization.

In alkaline calcareous soils, ammonia volatilization is the primary nitrogen (N) loss process, resulting in the reduced N use efficiency of crops. This study aimed at assessing the impact of different N sources for top dressing on ammonia volatilization, as well as their effects on wheat growth and yield over two years. In each year, half of the recommended N was applied as a basal dose using diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea.

Safety and efficacy of lasers compared to cold knife in direct visual internal urethrotomy: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

Cold knife urethrotome was introduced in 1971 and it had an 80% success rate. New advancements in this field have shed light on the use of various lasers such as carbon dioxide, Nd: YAG, KTP, Argon, Ho: YAG, and excimer lasers. It has been observed that cold knife urethrotomy has a higher recurrence rate than laser urethrotomy, but the superiority of either treatment modality has not been established yet.

Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms isolated from medicinal plants improve growth of mint.

The current research project involves isolation and characterization of PSM (phosphate solubilizing microorganisms) from the rhizospheric soil of certain medicinal plants and to determine their effect on plant growth. Medicinal plants, and were selected for the isolation of PSMs. Soil status of the selected medicinal plants was also checked.

Scanning electron microscopy for identification of local strain of Aspergillus Parasiticus and its larvicidal efficacy against Aedes Aegypti and non-target toxicity testing on fingerlings of Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix.

Scanning electron microscopy proved to be helpful in identification of Aspergillus parasiticus. A. parasiticus has a worldwide occurrence with high entomopathogenic efficacy against Aedes aegypti.

ZnO nanoparticles produced in the culture supernatant of Bacillus thuringiensis ser. israelensis affect the demographic parameters of Musca domestica using the age-stage, two-sex life table.

Background: Indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum insecticides can have deleterious effects on insects and the environment. The use of nanoparticles synthesized from microbes has recently gained importance as a safe alternative to conventional insecticides. Recently, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles synthesized using Bacillus thuringiensis have shown insecticidal potential; however, in addition to its acute toxicity, it is necessary to determine possible sublethal effects at the organismal level to understand the toxicity of a new insecticide.

Silicon-mediated growth promotion in maize (Zea mays L.) occurs via a mechanism that does not involve activation of the plasma membrane H-ATPase.

Silicon (Si)-mediated growth promotion of various grasses is well documented. In the present study, Si-induced changes in maize shoot growth and its underlying mechanisms were studied. Maize plants were grown with various concentrations of Si (0-3 mM) in the nutrient solution.

Occupational health surveillance: pulmonary function testing and oxidative stress among photocopying workers in Pakistan.

Background: The photocopying occupation contributes to various health issues in workers. Elevated levels of oxidative stress have been found to be associated with respiratory problems in occupational workers. The intention of the current research is to evaluate the association between the pulmonary function parameters, a biomarker of oxidative stress, and the photocopying occupation in Lahore, Pakistan.

Resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in house flies, Musca domestica L., (Diptera: Muscidae) collected from urban areas in Punjab, Pakistan.

House flies are one of the major public health pests in urban settings. People usually use insecticides containing pyrethroids for the management of house flies; however, there is a lack of information on pyrethroid resistance in house flies from urban areas. In the present study, resistance to four pyrethroids (beta-cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, permethrin, transfluthrin) was assessed in house flies collected from urban areas of Punjab, Pakistan.

Impact of copper toxicity on stone-head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) in hydroponics.

Arable soils are frequently subjected to contamination with copper as the consequence of imbalanced fertilization with manure and organic fertilizers and/or extensive use of copper-containing fungicides. In the present study, the exposure of stone-head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) to elevated Cu(2+) levels resulted in leaf chlorosis and lesser biomass yield at ≥2 µ M.

Modulatory ATP binding to the E2 state of maize plasma membrane H+-ATPase indicated by the kinetics of vanadate inhibition.

P-type ATPases, as major consumers of cellular ATP in eukaryotic cells, are characterized by the formation of a phosphorylated enzyme intermediate (E2P), a process that is allosterically coupled to translocation of cations against an electrochemical gradient. The catalytic cycle comprises binding of Mg-ATP at the nucleotide-binding domain, phosphorylation of the E1 state (E1), conformational transition to the E2P state, and dephosphorylation through the actuator domain and re-establishment of the E1 state. Recently, it has been suggested that, for several P-type ATPases, Mg-ATP binds to the phosphorylated enzyme, thereby accelerating the transition to the E1 state, before then becoming the enzyme's catalytic substrate.

Changes in cytosolic Mg2+ levels can regulate the activity of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase in maize.

Plant PM (plasma membrane) H+-ATPase, a major consumer of cellular ATP, is driven by the MgATP complex which may dissociate at low cytosolic Mg2+ activity. We investigated whether hydrolytic activity of PM H+-ATPase is inhibited at ATP concentrations exceeding the Mg2+ concentration. Activity in isolated maize PMs was measured at pH 6.