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Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is one of the most important medicinal herbs in Asia. Its pharmacological activity comes from ginsenosides, and its roots are produced commercially for traditional and Oriental medicine. Though 17 Panax species are available around the world, there was a need to develop cultivars adapted to different climatic conditions and resistant to various diseases while still producing high-quality, high-yield roots. Thus, 12 and 9 commercial P. ginseng cultivars have been registered in South Korea and China, respectively. Those varieties show superiority to local landraces. For example, Chunpoong is more highly resistant to rusty rot disease than the local Jakyungjong landrace and has a good root shape; it is highly cultivated to produce red ginseng. The Chinese cultivar Jilin Huangguo Renshen has higher ginsenoside content than its local landraces. This review provides information about P. ginseng cultivars and offers directions for future research, such as intra- and interspecific hybridization.

Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles has attracted research attention as a sustainable method of avoiding the destructive effect of chemicals. We synthesized a flower-shaped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflower (NF) from sea buckthorn fruit (SBT) by co-precipitation and characterized it using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photo electronic microscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL), field emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The ability of the ZnO/NF to degrade cationic and anionic dyes, including malachite green (MG), Congo red (CR), methylene blue (MB), and eosin Y (EY), under ultraviolet illumination was studied. The photocatalyst degraded approximately 99% of the MG, MB, CR and EY dyes within 70, 70, 80, and 90 min of contact time, respectively, at a dye concentration of 15 mg/L, 5 mg/L, SBT-ZnO/NF degraded 100% of the MG, MB, CR and EY dyes within 23, 25, 28, and 30 min, respectively. The results indicate that SBT-ZnO/NFs as synthesized is an inexpensive, non-toxic, rapid, and reusable photocatalyst that can play an enhanced role in wastewater treatment.

Chrysanthemum indicum L. is a traditional oriental medicinal herb prepared as a tea from flowers that have been used in China and South Korea since ancient times. It has a long history in the treatment of hypertension, inflammation, and respiratory diseases. Among Chrysanthemum species, C. indicum has more active chemical components as well as better therapeutic effects, and C. indicum is mostly used for medicinal purposes in South Korea. However, the usage of C. indicum has become problematic over the years due to the abundance of adulterated Chrysanthemum and confusion with morphologically related species such as C. morifolium, C. boreale, and Aster spathulifolius . Thus, here we developed a method for molecular authentication using chloroplast universal region rpoC2 and morphological authentication based on T-shaped trichomes of the adaxial leaf surface. By using a species-specific primer derived from the rpoC2 region, we established a multiplex allele-specific PCR for the discrimination of C. indicum . Amplicons of 675 bp for C. indicum and 1026 bp for other Chrysanthemum species were produced using both rpoC2 -specific and common primers. These primers can be used to analyze dried samples of Chrysanthemum . Morphological discrimination was performed using T-shaped trichomes present only on the adaxial leaf surface of C. indicum species, and then molecular markers were utilized to authenticate C. indicum products from adulterant samples available in the market. Our results indicate that these molecular markers in combination with morphological differentiation can serve as an effective tool for identifying C. indicum .

Tropical theileriosis is a lymphoproliferative disease caused by Theileria annulata and is transmitted by Ixodid ticks of the genus Hyalomma . It causes significant losses in livestock, especially in exotic cattle. The existing methods for controlling it, chemotherapeutic agents and a vaccine based on an attenuated schizont stage parasite, have several limitations. A promising solution to control this disease is the use of molecular vaccines based on potential immunogenic proteins of T. annulata . For this purpose, we selected five antigenic sequences of T. annulata , i.e. SPAG-1, Tams, TaSP, spm2, and Ta9. These were subjected to epitope prediction for cytotoxic T lymphocytes, B-cells, and helper T lymphocytes. CTL and B-cell epitopes with a higher score whereas those of HTL with a lower score, were selected for the construct. A single protein was constructed using specific linkers and evaluated for high antigenicity and low allergenicity. The construct was acidic, hydrophobic, and thermostable in nature. Secondary and tertiary structures of this construct were drawn using the PSIPRED and RaptorX servers, respectively. A Ramachandran plot showed a high percentage of residues in this construct in favorable, allowed, and general regions. Molecular docking studies suggested that the complex was stable and our construct could potentially be a good candidate for immunization trials. Furthermore, we successfully cloned it into the pET-28a plasmid and transformed it into the BL21 strain. A restriction analysis was performed to confirm the transformation of our plasmid. After expression and purification, recombinant protein of 49 kDa was confirmed by western blotting. An ELISA detected increased specific antibody levels in the sera of the immunized animals compared with the control group, and flow cytometric analysis showed a stronger cell-mediated immune response. We believe our multi-epitope recombinant protein has the potential for the large-scale application for disease prevention globally in the bovine population. This study will act as a model for similar parasitic challenges.

PurposeThe presence of heavy metals in milk causes many acute and chronic physiological dysfunctions in human organs. The present study aims to investigate the heavy metals in cow's and buffalo's milk of two major cities, Karachi and Gujranwala, Pakistan to estimate metal intake by humans from this source.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 48 milk samples from 2 cities were drawn from animals' udder to avoid contamination. Each sample was digested with nitric acid at 105 oC (degree Celsius) on a pre-heated electric hot plate to investigate the metals by atomic absorption spectroscopy (flame type). Air-acetylene technique analyzed chromium, cadmium and lead, and the hydride method analyzed arsenic in the milk samples.FindingsThe results revealed the highest mean lead concentration (19.65 ± 43.86 ppb) in the milk samples, followed by chromium (2.10 ± 2.33 ppb) and arsenic (0.48 ± 0.73 ppb). Cadmium was not detected in any sample, assuming cadmium's occurrence was below the detection level. The concentrations of all the metals in the samples of the two cities do not differ statistically. Lead concentrations in the buffalo's milk were higher than in cow's milk (p < 0.05). However, the concentrations of arsenic and chromium between buffalo's and cow's milk do not differ statistically. The present study reveals a lower level of metals in the milk than those conducted elsewhere. The mean concentrations of all the metals met the World Health Organization's (WHO) safety guidelines (1993).Research limitations/implicationsAlthough cadmium causes toxicity in the human body, cadmium could not be measured because cadmium's concentration was below the detection level, which is 1 ppb.Practical implicationsThis study will help reduce the toxic metals in our environment, and the sources of heavy metals, particularly from the industrial sector could be identified. The feed and water consumed by the milking animals could be carefully used for feeding them.Social implicationsThis study will help reduce the diseases and malfunction of human organs and organ systems since these heavy metals cause toxicity and carcinogenicity in humans. Arsenic and chromium cause cancer while lead causes encephalopathy (a brain disease).Originality/valueThe study reports heavy metal concentrations in the two attributes of four independent variables of raw milk samples that were scarcely reported from Pakistan.

Accurate prediction of student performance is essential for the creation of adaptive learning frameworks and the best utilization of educational strategies. In this work, we apply ensemble learning and neural networks to investigate data from multiple sources about students, two real educational datasets from Kaggle, and two synthetically generated datasets. A Python-based generative script was used to create one synthetic dataset; another synthetic dataset is created by augmenting a smaller Kaggle dataset while keeping its original statistical distribution. The Integrated Synthetic Data will make the model more robust, mitigate class imbalance, and generalize predictively in a much better way across heterogeneous educational data. In this paper, we implement several ensemble models-AdaBoost, Gradient Boosting, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost-and deep learning architectures such as Deep Neural Networks (DNN), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN). These models are evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and ROC-AUC to assess their predictive effectiveness. Experimental results demonstrate that CatBoost outperforms other ensemble models with an accuracy of 0.7143 and an F1-score of 0.7338, while CNN achieves the highest performance for sequential data (accuracy: 0.6786). ROC-AUC analysis confirms CatBoost and XGBoost as top-performing classifiers, while CNN and DNN exhibit superior capability in handling temporal patterns. The study highlights the impact of dataset augmentation and synthetic data generation on improving predictive accuracy in educational data mining, reinforcing the importance of data-centric approaches for building intelligent, and evidence-driven educational systems. The learning feedback has been made available via a user-friendly webserver at: https://khan-learning-feedback.streamlit.app/ .

Among ferrites materials, M-type hexaferrites are very important due to their excellent technological applications. In the present investigation, Eu 3+ and Co 2+ -doped Sr-hexaferrite at the sites of strontium and iron (Sr 1−x Eu x Fe 12− y Co y O 19 ) were fabricated using normal micro-emulsion process. Magnetoplumbite single-phase material was approved with the help of X-ray diffraction analysis with crystallite sizes ranging from 35 to 57 nm. Magnetic characteristics like remanence ( M r ), coercivity ( H c ), and saturation magnetization ( M s ) were estimated using hysteresis loop data. The concentration of Eu–Co increases the M s and M r values while reducing the value of H c . To determine the DC electrical resistivity the method of two points probe was used which increases with the Eu–Co content. The reduction in values of coercivity, dielectric constant, and loss while enhancement in M s , M r , and resistivity against Eu–Co content, indicating that these materials are acceptable for commercial application in microwave appliances and recording media.

Background Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that damages the central nervous system through inflammation, loss of myelin, and progressive neurodegeneration. Its prevalence has been increasing worldwide, with variations that reflect genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and immune system dysregulation. Main Body Advances in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and the use of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers have enhanced the ability to detect early disease activity, monitor progression, and evaluate therapeutic response. Despite these improvements, challenges remain in understanding the mechanisms driving disease progression, particularly in progressive forms of multiple sclerosis where treatment options are limited. Barriers such as unequal access to therapies, variable long-term efficacy, and incomplete knowledge of disease pathways continue to hinder effective management. Current research emphasizes the need for personalized approaches that incorporate genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. Efforts are also being directed toward identifying neuroprotective and remyelinating agents, alongside integrating biomarkers into treatment strategies, in order to better tailor therapies and improve monitoring of disease activity. Conclusion Future directions in multiple sclerosis research should focus on precision medicine, the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, and the integration of biomarkers into clinical care. These strategies hold the potential to improve long-term outcomes, reduce disease burden, and enhance the quality of life for affected individuals. This review explores global epidemiological patterns, recent diagnostic innovations, and the effectiveness of emerging treatment strategies in multiple sclerosis.

Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a growing treatment for aortic stenosis, but anatomical variations exist across populations. Asians tend to have smaller aortic annuli and higher bicuspid valve morphology compared to Westerners, potentially impacting TAVI valve selection and outcomes. This study analyzes aortic root parameters in Pakistani patients undergoing TAVI. Results We conducted a retrospective analysis of 78 patients who underwent TAVI at the Peshawar Institute of Cardiology from January 2021 to March 2024. Pre-procedural CT scans were analyzed for aortic annulus diameters, area, and other relevant parameters. The mean age was 72.41 years (SD ± 11.99), and 61.5% were male. Aortic annulus diameters (minimum, mean, maximum) were 21.18 mm (SD ± 3.99), 24.21 mm (SD ± 3.93), and 27.49 mm (SD ± 4.43), respectively. Bicuspid aortic valves were present in 34.61% of patients. Conclusions Our findings suggest that Pakistani patients undergoing TAVI may have aortic root dimensions comparable to Western populations, with a substantial prevalence of bicuspid valves. However, coronary heights were similar to those reported in Asian populations with smaller annuli. Further studies are needed to assess TAVI outcomes in Pakistani patients and determine if tailored valve sizing strategies are required.

Water electrolysis can be used to generate hydrogen, petrochemical fuel with high efficiency for use in power generation and a high gravimetric energy density that can be utilized to battle the exhaustion and pollution produced by current fossil fuels. The use of transition metal chalcogenides (TMC) as a potential alternative to precious metals in the water splitting process has recently sparked much attention. Hence, developing the future of the hydrogen economy depends on how well and reliably non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts can be made for the oxygen evolution reaction. Here, in the present work, a two-step hydrothermal method was employed to construct 3-dimensional (3D) Mn-doped iron selenide with microsphere architecture. The electrode’s distinctive 3D microsphere-like morphology leads to more active sites and faster electron movement over the perfect electrode, making it easier to release O 2 bubbles generated during oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysis. As a result, 10% Mn-doped iron selenide outperforms the lower overpotential of (133 mV) at a benchmark current density (j) deposited on the graphite pencil electrode (GPE). Hence, Mn-based electrocatalyst is one of the most intriguing possible applications. Graphical abstract Highlights In the present study, 3-dimensional mesoporous Mn-doped iron selenide microspheres morphology was fabricated by employing a two-step hydrothermal route. These remarkable 3-dimensional microsphere structures of 10% Mn-doped iron selenide release the O 2 bubbles produced during OER catalysis. The 10% Mn-doped iron selenide exhibits an outstanding OER activity having an ultralow overpotential of 133 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA/cm 2 . The 10% Mn-doped iron selenide exhibits the highest stability of 30 h in alkaline solutions.