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The present study reports the metabolic profiling and antimicrobial evaluation of Vitex negundo seed extract. UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis identified seventeen bioactive phytoconstituents, correlated with the observed antimicrobial and antifungal activities. Among them, isoorientin (–7.3 kcal mol ⁻ ¹), quercetin (–7.8 kcal mol ⁻ ¹), and orientin (–7.4 kcal mol ⁻ ¹) exhibited strong binding affinities towards Staph Gyrase B (24 kDa). Similarly, isoorientin (–8.1 kcal mol ⁻ ¹), quercetin (–8.4 kcal mol ⁻ ¹), and orientin (–8.3 kcal mol ⁻ ¹) displayed significant interactions with secreted aspartic proteinase (SAP2) enzyme, confirming their antimicrobial potential. The aqueous-methanolic seed extract demonstrated notable inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus (26.4 ± 0.3 mm; 44.08% inhibition) and Candida albicans (25.7 ± 0.4 mm; 29.73% inhibition). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at B3LYP/6-31G level were used to optimize the ground state geometries of the identified phytochemicals and analyze their frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) and global reactivity descriptors. Time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G level (solvent: DMSO) further explored their biological relevance and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, including ionization potential (IP), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and HOMO-LUMO energy gaps. These quantum chemical parameters provided mechanistic insights into the antimicrobial potential of the identified constituents. Molecular docking simulations further confirmed strong geometric complementarity and favorable binding affinities, highlighting the Vitex negundo seed extract as a promising source of a novel medicinal agent with previously unreported antifungal and antibacterial activities.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0343965.].

High Asian mountain water resources, which serve as a lifeline for downstream communities, are vulnerable to warmer future climates. Following the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP) 3b protocol, the future changes in the mean and extreme streamflow of the Jhelum River under the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) of SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 were quantified. For this, successful calibration and validation of the eco-hydrological Soil and Water Integrated Model (SWIM) against observed streamflow for 1999–2004 and 1994–1999, respectively was completed. Then, the SWIM was forced with bias-adjusted ISIMIP3b historical (1985–2014) and future (2016–2100) datasets. Climate change analysis suggests a warming of 0.9 ºC, 5.7 ºC, and 7.5 ºC per century under SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5, whereas substantial wetting of 329 mm, 665 mm, and 1258 mm per century under SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5, relative to the historical period. Seasonal temperature changes reveal that during the monsoon temperature increase was more pronounced specifically 5.78 ºC whereas precipitation also increased markedly 20.84% during the monsoon season for the far future climate under the high-end warming scenario of SSP5-8.5. Subsequently, the mean ensemble changes suggest an increase in low flows (89% in February) but a decrease in high flows (37% in June) under all SSP scenarios, more pronounced under the high-end warming scenario of SSP5-8.5. Further, the 30-year return level will decrease for the near-future (2016–2043), mid-future (2044–2071) and far-future (2072–2100) climates under SSP1-2.6, ranging from −7.01% to −9.87%, under SSP3-7.0, ranging from − 7.22% to − 13.35%, and under SSP5-8.5, ranging from − 9.41% to − 26.60% for the ensemble of five models under consideration which imply a reduction in the likelihood or magnitude of extreme river flow events. The outcomes of this study will advance our knowledge of the discharge dynamics of the Jhelum River Basin under climate change, which will facilitate the better management of precious water resources.

Abstract Pre-school education is offered in the government primary schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Very little attention is given to the pre-school aged children in these schools. Therefore, this study was carried on to explore teaching activities and facilities for Pre-school Children in district Karak. The objectives of the study were to explore the availability of teaching facilities and to investigate teachers’ teaching activities while teaching pre-school children in the government primary schools. The population of the study were all the 438 head teachers of government primary schools for boys of district Karak, KP,Pakistan. Total 216 head teachers were selected as sample through proportionate cluster random sampling technique. The study was descriptive and survey method was adopted. Self-developed questionnaire was used for the collection of data. Data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and the use of Chi Square (X2) test. Non availability of Audio-Visual (AV) aids, unavailability of specialized teachers and the absence of separate classroom for preschool children were major findings of the study. Ensuring of AV aids, construction of additional classroom, recruitment of specialized preschool teachers and arrangement of refresher courses for teachers of preschool children are the major recommendations of the study. Keywords: Preschool, Primary Schools, Audio Visual Aids, Teaching activities, facilities

Amid a heated debate on what are possible and what are plausible climate futures, ascertaining evident changes that are attributable to historical climate change can provide a clear understanding of how warmer climates will shape our future habitability. Hence, we detect changes in the streamflow simulated using three different datasets for the historical period (1901–2019) and analyze whether these changes can be attributed to observed climate change. For this, we first calibrate and validate the Soil and Water Integrated Model and then force it with factual (observed) and counterfactual (baseline) climates presented in the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3a protocol. We assessed the differences in simulated streamflow driven by the factual and counterfactual climates by comparing their trend changes ascertained using the Modified Mann–Kendall test on monthly, seasonal, and annual timescales. In contrast to no trend for counterfactual climate, our results suggest that mean annual streamflow under factual climate features statistically significant decreasing trends, which are − 5.6, − 3.9, and − 1.9 m3s−1 for the 20CRv3-w5e5, 20CRv3, and GSWP3-w5e5 datasets, respectively. Such trends, which are more pronounced after the 1960s, for summer, and for high flows can be attributed to the weakening of the monsoonal precipitation regime in the factual climate. Further, discharge volumes in the recent factual climate dropped compared to the early twentieth-century climate, especially prominently during summer and mainly for high flows whereas earlier shifts found in the center of volume timings are due to early shifts in the nival regime. These findings clearly suggest a critical role of monsoonal precipitation in disrupting the hydrological regime of the Jhelum River basin in the future.

A survey research was carried on for exploring preschool teachers’ beliefs about children’s play at their pre-school aged level. Major objective of the study was to investigate preschool teachers’ beliefs about children’s play at their preschool aged level. The sub objectives of the study were finding difference between male and female teachers’ beliefs and examining association between teachers’ beliefs regarding Personality Support and Academic Focus of preschool children’s play. These objectives were addressed through research question of what are male and female teachers’ beliefs about children’s play at preschool age level? Null hypotheses that there is no significance difference between the beliefs of male and female teachers, and there is no association between teachers’ beliefs regarding Personality Support an Academic Focus of children’s play were also framed. All the 2713 primary school teachers, 1773 male and 940 female of district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa comprised the population of the study. At the rate 35% of the population, total 950 teachers consisting 621 male and 329 female teachers were selected through random sampling techniques. The standardized Parent Play Belief Scale (PPBS) of five points Likert’s Scale ranging from Disagree =1 to very much agree =5 ( Fogle & Mendez, 2006), was adapted. It was edited and modified keeping in view the local circumstances and was validated through Cronbach alpha and its value was 0.87. Data was analyzed through SPSS using descriptive statistics of means and standard deviation and inferential statistics of independent sample t-test and Pearson Correlation. Findings of the study were that male teachers had level of positive beliefs and female teachers had negative beliefs about students’ play at preschool aged level. There was significant difference between male and female teachers’ beliefs. Integration of play materials in the curriculum, arranging short and long duration courses for enlightening preschool teachers about the value and importance of play in the early childhood programs and awareness programs for the elders, women and female teachers were recommendations of the study.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses pose a serious economic threat to the poultry industry both in terms of high mortality and productivity losses. Currently, majority of the industry relies on imported vaccines and small-scale vaccine manufacturing is carried out from locally isolated strains. Vaccine development using locally isolated strains and preventing inoculation stress using bivalent vaccines is highly desirable. In the present study, we compared the efficacy of monovalent vaccines prepared from local LPAI (H9N2) and HPAI (H5N8) isolates with a bivalent vaccine containing both isolates. Immunogenic response of bivalent and monovalent vaccines was checked in 3-week-old layer chickens. The hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers were measured on day14, 28, 42, 56, and 70 post-booster. Monovalent vaccines were inoculated at 0.3 ml/bird, whereas bivalent vaccine was administered at 0.3 ml/bird and 0.5 ml/bird. Both monovalent and bivalent vaccines at both dose rates induced protective titers. However, higher titers were observed in chicks inoculated with 0.5 ml/bird dose. No antigen dominance was observed among both strains. All the vaccines remained stable for a period of 1 year. Our findings suggest that bivalent vaccine containing H9 and H5 strains is equally effective and can be a good replacement of monovalent vaccines in order to minimize the inoculation stress to the birds and cost of production.

ABSTRACT Assessment is the essential part in the teaching learning process. The study explores the mathematics teachers' assessment techniques at secondary level in the province of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakistan. Survey research was conducted in which a five point Likert scale questionnaire was used for data collection from the target population. The questionnaire was validated through research experts and reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.80. After validity and reliability of the questionnaire, 681 mathematics teachers were surveyed through multistage cluster sampling method. In these, 16 teachers were from urban areas and 465 were from rural areas. Findings of the study show that mathematics teachers did not use informal assessment techniques such as observation in the classroom. Projects, peer review and classroom presentation were also not in practice for the assessment of students in teaching of mathematics. Mostly mathematics teachers assessed their students through conventional teacher made test and review of homework. The lack of using multiple techniques in mathematics classroom is probably referred to insufficient training of teachers regarding use of various techniques for students' assessment, overloaded classrooms and workload of teachers.

Iran is currently regarded as a \"rogue\" nation due to its overt ideological hostility towards the United States and Israel, and the perceived threat it poses to regional stability in the Middle East by pursuing ambitious conventional rearmament and weapons of mass destruction programs. This thesis explores Iran's foreign and security policies through the prism of its involvement in a host of arms control initiatives. The thesis classifies Iran's behavior as either radical, conservative, or pragmatic. This effort attempts to strike a balance between assessing the sincerity of Iran's arms control positions and broader approaches to reintegrating itself into the global order, and the serious evidence that, despite these commitments, Iran is continuing to advance its strategic objectives through weapons acquisitons. The thesis concludes that Iran's foreign and security policies will most likely reflect the conservative approach, which straddles the line between adherence to and violation of those commitments.