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A key barrier to crop production is soil salinity, which is a serious and growing problem world-wide due to inadequate water drainage, saline ground water, or inadequate rainfall to wash away soil salts. There is substantial promise for plant-associated microbes isolated from halophytes (salt-tolerant plants) to enhance growth of salt-sensitive crop plants in salty soils. The objective of this study was to identify salt-tolerant bacteria from native halophytes and characterize their ability to stimulate the growth of alfalfa in salty soil conditions. Several halotolerant bacteria, including Kushneria, Halomonas, and Bacillus , were identified from the rhizosphere or roots of three halophyte species ( Salicornia rubra, Sarcocornia utahensis, and Allenrolfea occidentalis ) in a saline area south of Utah Lake, Utah, USA. Biochemical properties, including indole acetic acid production, biofilm formation, phosphate solubilization and siderophore production activities, which have been associated with plant growth promoting (PGP) activity, were characterized for several isolates. Selected strains were screened for the ability to stimulate growth of alfalfa in controlled laboratory experiments. Among these strains, two independent isolates of the genus Kushneria were found to have significant growth-promoting activity for inoculated alfalfa plants grown under saline conditions (0.205 M or 1.2% NaCl) that mimic common salinity levels of affected soils. Plants inoculated with a combination of two Kushneria strains that have salt-tolerant PGP (ST-PGP) properties exhibited a statistically significant increase in plant growth over uninoculated plants. A GFP marker confirmed presence of Kushneria in the roots of inoculated plants. Bacteria with ST-PGP activity will be a key resource to facilitate increased crop yield from land affected by salinity, and the data presented here for two Kushneria isolates are promising.

Juglans regia Linn. is a valuable medicinal plant that possesses the therapeutic potential to treat a wide range of diseases in humans. It has been known to have significant nutritional and curative properties since ancient times, and almost all parts of this plant have been utilized to cure numerous fungal and bacterial disorders. The separation and identification of the active ingredients in J. regia as well as the testing of those active compounds for pharmacological properties are currently of great interest. Recently, the naphthoquinones extracted from walnut have been observed to inhibit the enzymes essential for viral protein synthesis in the SARS-CoV-2. Anticancer characteristics have been observed in the synthetic triazole analogue derivatives of juglone, and the unique modifications in the parent derivative of juglone have paved the way for further synthetic research in this area. Though there are some research articles available on the pharmacological importance of J. regia, a comprehensive review article to summarize these findings is still required. The current review, therefore, abridges the most recent scientific findings about antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, and anticancer properties of various discovered and separated chemical compounds from different solvents and different parts of J. regia.

Genetic improvement of temperate fruit and nut crops through conventional breeding methods is not sufficient alone due to its extreme time-consuming, cost-intensive, and hard-to-handle approach. Again, few other constraints that are associated with these species, viz ., their long juvenile period, high heterozygosity, sterility, presence of sexual incompatibility, polyploidy, etc., make their selection and improvement process more complicated. Therefore, to promote precise and accurate selection of plants based on their genotypes, supplement of advanced biotechnological tools, viz ., molecular marker approaches along with traditional breeding methods, is highly required in these species. Different markers, especially the molecular ones, enable direct selection of genomic regions governing the trait of interest such as high quality, yield, and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses instead of the trait itself, thus saving the overall time and space and helping screen fruit quality and other related desired traits at early stages. The availability of molecular markers like SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism), DArT (Diversity Arrays Technology) markers, and dense molecular genetic maps in crop plants, including fruit and nut crops, led to a revelation of facts from genetic markers, thus assisting in precise line selection. This review highlighted several aspects of the molecular marker approach that opens up tremendous possibilities to reveal valuable information about genetic diversity and phylogeny to boost the efficacy of selection in temperate fruit crops through genome sequencing and thus cultivar improvement with respect to adaptability and biotic and abiotic stress resistance in temperate fruit and nut species.

Considering that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global challenge, there is a dire need to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of clinicians in AMR endemic countries. The current multicenter, cross-sectional study aimed at highlighting gaps in antimicrobial (AM) stewardship and AMR among practicing doctors working in public tertiary care teaching hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. A KAP survey, based on a self-administered questionnaire containing 45 questions, was distributed among 336 clinicians in 6 randomly selected hospitals. Overall, 92% of the clinicians considered AMR as a worldwide problem but only 66% disagreed that cold and flu symptoms require antibiotics. Moreover, around 68% of the doctors felt confident about their practice in AM but still, 96% felt the need to get more knowledge about AM drugs. The need for refresher courses on rational antibiotic use was expressed by 84% of the participants. The main contributing factors considered for AMR by the doctors included excessive AM usage in the medical profession (87.1%) and multiple antibiotics per prescription (76.4%). Pharmacologically, AM spectrum was accurately chosen by 1.4% for Ampicillin, 0.003% for Erythromycin and 0% for Levofloxacin. Clinically, more than 50% of the clinicians used miscellaneous AM for empirical therapy of respiratory tract infection and cholecystitis. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. It is concluded that the knowledge of clinicians is relatively poor for AM spectrum and drugs of choice for certain infections. However, the clinicians are aware of their shortcomings and desire for improvement.

The knowledge about the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) helps in sustainable land-use management and ecosystem functioning. No such study has been attempted in the complex topography and land use of Himalayas, which is associated with great spatial heterogeneity and uncertainties. Therefore, in this study digital soil mapping (DSM) was used to predict and evaluate the spatial distribution of SOCS using advanced geostatistical methods and a machine learning algorithm in the Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Eighty-three soil samples were collected across different land uses. Auxiliary variables (spectral indices and topographic parameters) derived from satellite data were used as predictors. Geostatistical methods—ordinary kriging (OK) and regression kriging (RK)—and a machine learning method—random forest (RF)—were used for assessing the spatial distribution and variability of SOCS with inter-comparison of models for their prediction performance. The best fit model validation criteria used were coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) with resulting maps validated by cross-validation. The SOCS concentration varied from 1.12 Mg/ha to 70.60 Mg/ha. The semivariogram analysis of OK and RK indicated moderate spatial dependence. RF (RMSE = 8.21) performed better than OK (RMSE = 15.60) and RK (RMSE = 17.73) while OK performed better than RK. Therefore, it may be concluded that RF provides better estimation and spatial variability of SOCS; however, further selection and choice of auxiliary variables and higher soil sampling density could improve the accuracy of RK prediction.

Objectives The objective of the study is to measure the efficacy of ionic-iodine polymer complex [ 1 ] for clinical and radiological improvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Trial design The trial will be closed label, randomized and placebo-controlled with a 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio and superiority framework. Participants All PCR confirmed COVID-19 adult patients including non-pregnant females, with mild to moderate disease, will be enrolled from Shaikh Zayed Post-Graduate Medical Complex, Ali Clinic and Doctors Lounge in Lahore (Pakistan). Patients with any pre-existing chronic illness will be excluded from the study. Intervention and comparator In this multi-armed study ionic-iodine polymer complex with 200 mg of elemental iodine will be given using three formulations to evaluate efficacy. Patients will be receiving either encapsulated iodine complex of 200 mg (arm A), iodine complex syrup form 40 ml (arm B), iodine complex throat spray of 2 puffs (arm C) or empty capsule (arm D) as placebo; all three times a day. All the 4 arms will be receiving standard care as per version 3.0 of the clinical management guidelines for COVID-19 established by the Ministry of National Health Services of Pakistan. Main outcomes Primary outcomes will be viral clearance with radiological and clinical improvement. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and HRCT chest scans will be done on the admission day and then after every fourth day for 12 days or till the symptoms are resolved. RT-PCR will only be shown as positive or negative while HRCT chest scoring will be done depending on the area and severity of lung involvement [ 2 ]. Time taken for the alleviation of symptoms will be calculated by the number of days the patient remained symptomatic. 30-day mortality will be considered as a secondary outcome. Randomisation Stratification for initial COVID-19 status (or days from initial symptoms as a proxy), age groups, gender, baseline severity of symptoms and co-morbidities will be used to ensure that the study arms remain balanced in size for the 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio. Randomization will be done using the lottery method. As patients are being admitted at different times, they will be recruited after obtaining their voluntary written informed consent following all standard protocols of the infection, control and disinfection. Blinding (masking) This is a quadruple (participants, care providers, investigators and outcomes assessors) blinded study where only the study’s Primary Investigator will have information about the arms and their interventions. Numbers to be randomised (sample size) 200 patients will be randomized into four groups with three experimental and one placebo arm. Trial Status Protocol Version Number is 2.3 and it is approved from IRB Shaikh Zayed Hospital with ID SZMC/IRB/Internal0056/2020 on July 14 th , 2020. The recruitment is in progress. It was started on July 30, 2020, and the estimated end date for the trial is August 15, 2021. Trial registration Clinical Trial has been retrospectively registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov with registration ID NCT04473261 dated July 16, 2020. Full protocol The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1 ). With the intention of expediting dissemination of this trial, the conventional formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol. The study protocol has been reported in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Clinical Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines.

Objectives The study objective is to quantify the effectiveness of ivermectin (subcutaneous/oral IVM) in the presence or absence of zinc (Zn) for clinical and radiological improvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with moderate severity. Trial design This quadruple-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial will be a multiarmed multi-centered study with superiority framework. Participants Quinquagenarian and sexagenarian patients with moderate COVID-19 symptoms and positive severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR will be included. Participants with co-morbidities and pregnant women will be excluded. Patient recruitment will be done in Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Doctors Lounge and Ali Clinic in Lahore (Pakistan). Intervention and comparator The registered patients will be allocated in 6 groups (30 participants each). Patients will be taking subcutaneous IVM at 200 μg/kg/48 h (Arm A) or subcutaneous IVM at 200 μg/kg/48 h and oral Zn 20mg/8 h (Arm B) or oral IVM at 0.2 mg/kg/day (Arm C) or oral IVM at 0.2 mg/kg/day and oral Zn 20mg/8 h (Arm D) or alone oral Zn 20mg/8 h (Arm E) or placebo alone (Arm X). Patients in all arms will receive standard care and respective placebo (empty capsule 8 hourly and/or subcutaneous normal saline 2ml/48 h). Main outcomes Primary endpoints will be duration of symptomatic phase and SARS-CoV-2 clearance along with high resolution CT (HRCT) chest score and clinical grade scale (CGS) on day 6. 30-day mortality will be documented as a secondary endpoint. SARS-CoV-2 clearance will be calculated by second PCR on day 7. HRCT chest score will be measured by the percentage and lung lobes involvement on day 6 with a maximum score of 25. CGS will be recorded on a seven-point scale; grade 1 (not hospitalized, no evidence of infection and resumption of normal activities), grade 2 (not hospitalized, but unable to resume normal activities), grade 3 (hospitalized, not requiring supplemental oxygen), grade 4 (hospitalized, requiring supplemental oxygen), grade 5 (hospitalized, requiring nasal high-flow oxygen therapy and/or noninvasive mechanical ventilation), grade 6 (hospitalized, requiring ECMO and/or invasive mechanical ventilation) and grade 7 (death). Randomisation A simple lottery method will be used to randomly allocate scrutinized patients in 1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio in 6 groups. Blinding (masking) Patients, primary care physicians, outcome assessors and the data collection team will be blinded. Numbers to be randomised (sample size) 180 participants will be randomized into six arms with five investigational and one placebo group. Trial Status Institutional Review Board Shaikh Zayed Post-Graduate Medical Complex, Lahore, Pakistan has approved the protocol (version 2.3) with ID SZMC/IRB/Internal0056/2020. The trial was approved on July 14, 2020, and enrolment started on July 30, 2020. The estimated completion date is October 30, 2021. Trial registration Clinical Trial has been retrospectively registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov with registration ID NCT04472585 dated July 16, 2020. Full protocol The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). With the intention of expediting dissemination of this trial, the conventional formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol. The study protocol has been reported in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Clinical Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines.

Main conclusionDrought may be efficiently managed using the following strategies: prevention, mitigation, readiness, recovery, and transformation. Biotechnological interventions may become highly important in reducing plants’ drought stress in order to address key plant challenges such as population growth and climate change.Drought is a multidimensional construct with several triggering mechanisms or contributing factors working at various spatiotemporal scales, making it one of the known natural catastrophes. Drought is among the causes of hunger and malnutrition, decreasing agricultural output, and poor nutrition. Many deaths caused in children are due to hunger situations, and one in four children face stunted growth. All this hunger and malnutrition may be responsible for the reduction in agricultural productivity caused due to the drought situations affecting food security. Global Hunger Index has been accelerating due to under-nutrition and under-5 deaths. Drought has been covering more than 20% of the world's agricultural areas, leading to significantly less food production than what is required for consumption. Drought reduces soil fertility and adversely affects soil biological activity reducing the inherent capacity of the soil to support vegetation. Recent droughts have had a much greater effect on people’s lives, even beyond causing poverty and hunger. Drought may have substantial financial consequences across the globe it may cause a severe impact on the world economy. It is a natural feature of the environment that will appear and disappear as it has in history. Due to increasing temperatures and growing vulnerabilities, it will undoubtedly occur more often and seriously in the coming years. To ensure sustainable socio-economic and social development, it is critical to reducing the effects of potential droughts worldwide using different biotechnological interventions. It’s part of a long-term growth plan, and forecasting is essential for early warnings and global hunger management.

Inclusive education is a way of reducing exclusion and increasing participation in such a way that responds effectively to the diverse needs of all learners without differentiating on the basis of their weaknesses and strengths. This approach with the use of cooperative learning strategies provides an ample opportunity to learners by developing a sense of community where their voices are heard and responded. This qualitative inquiry was planned to look at prospects of cooperative learning instructional strategies to foster inclusion in the learning environment.