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Keeping in view the potential role of plants in pollution abatement, reclamation of urban forest cover and carbon sequestration, fifteen (15) plant species growing along 7 busiest roads in the city of Lahore were ecologically evaluated using analytical tools such as Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). Leaf area, dust content, ascorbic acid content, total chlorophyll content, relative water content and pH of leaf extract were determined along with some morphological, biological and socio-economic parameters of the selected species in control as well as experimental sites and significant variations were noted. S. cumini showed highest dust capturing potential followed by F. benghalensis , F. benjamina , M. elengi , A. scholaris , P. longifolia and F. religiosa . M. indica (APTI = 17.88) was the most tolerant species, E. milii , F. benghalensis and H. rosa-sinensis were intermediate performers (APTI values 11.08, 13.15 and 12.28, respectively) and all other species such as A. scholaris , A. indica , B. spectabilis , C. erectus , E. citriodora , F. benjamina , F. religiosa , M. elengi , M. alba , P. longifolia and S. cumini were assessed as sensitive plants. F. benghalensis and M. indica secured API grade 6 (excellent), A. indica , F. religiosa , H. rosa-sinensis , M. alba and P. longifolia scored API grade 4 (good) whereas API grade 3 (moderate) was associated with A. scholaris , E. citriodora , F. benjamina and S. cumini . The remaining species with API grades 2, 1 and 0 fall into poor, very poor and not recommended categories, respectively. Plants belonging to API rating grades 3 (moderate), 4 (good), 5 (very good), 6(excellent) and 7 (best) are recommended for cultivation in polluted sites.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), belonging to the Flaviviridae family, is transmitted to humans via infected tick bites, leading to serious neurological complications and, in some cases, death. The available vaccines against the TBEV are reported to have low immunogenicity and are associated with adverse effects like swelling, redness and fever. Moreover, these vaccines are whole-organism-based, carry a risk of reactivation and potential for significant mortality. Consequently, to design a potential antigenic and non-allergenic multi-epitope subunit vaccine against the TBEV, we used an immunoinformatic approach to screen the Tick-borne virus proteome for highly antigenic CTL, HTL and B cell epitopes. The proper folding of the constructed vaccine was validated by a molecular dynamic simulation. Additionally, the molecular docking and binding free energy (−87.50 kcal/mol) further confirmed the strong binding affinity of the constructed vaccine with TLR-4. The vaccine exhibited a CAI value of 0.93 and a GC content of 49%, showing a high expression capability in E coli. Moreover, the analysis of immune simulation demonstrated robust immune responses against the injected vaccine and clearance of the antigen with time. In conclusion, our vaccine candidate shows promise for both in vitro and in vivo analyses due to its high immunogenicity, non-allergenicity and stable interaction with the human TLR-4 receptor.

The authors would like to make the following correction to this published paper [...]

Primary-school children in low- and middle-income countries are often deprived of microbiologically safe water and sanitation, often resulting in a high prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases and poor school performance. We used Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) to predict the probability of infection in schoolchildren due to consumption of unsafe school water. A multistage random-sampling technique was used to randomly select 425 primary schools from ten districts of Sindh, Pakistan, to produce a representative sample of the province. We characterized water supplies in selected schools. Microbiological testing of water resulted in inputs for the QMRA model, to estimate the risks of infections to schoolchildren. Groundwater (62%) and surface water (38%) were identified as two major sources of drinking water in the selected schools, presenting varying degrees of health risks. Around half of the drinking-water samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli (49%), Shigella spp. (63%), Salmonella spp. (53%), and Vibrio cholerae (49%). Southern Sindh was found to have the highest risk of infection and illness from Campylobacter and Rotavirus. Central and Northern Sindh had a comparatively lower risk of waterborne diseases. Schoolchildren of Karachi were estimated to have the highest probability of illness per year, due to Campylobacter (70%) and Rotavirus (22.6%). Pearson correlation was run to assess the relationship between selected pathogens. V. cholerae was correlated with Salmonella spp., Campylobacter, Rotavirus, and Salmonella spp. Overall, the risk of illness due to the bacterial infection (E. coli, Salmonella spp., V. cholerae, Shigella, and Campylobacter) was high. There is a dire need for management plans in the schools of Sindh, to halt the progression of waterborne diseases in school-going children.

Insects have evolved highly sensitive olfactory sensory systems to detect plant hosts and mates, with plant volatiles playing an important role in informing insect behavior. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are thought to play a key role in this process, but in this respect, there is limited information on brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, one of the most destructive pests of rice. To expand our understanding of CSP function in N. lugens we explored expression profiles and binding characteristics of NlugCSP3. The ligands with higher binding affinity were also validated by molecular docking and behavioral assays. NlugCSP3 mRNA was expressed at relatively higher levels in antennae and abdomen of 3-day-old unmated macropterous males as well as in antennae of 3-day mated macropterous and brachypterous females. Fluorescence competitive binding assays revealed that 5 out of 25 candidate volatiles are strong binders (Ki < 10 μM). Behavioral assays revealed that nonadecane and 2-tridecanone, which have high binding affinities in fluorescence competition-binding assays, displayed strong attractiveness to N. lugens. Pursuing this further, molecular docking analysis identified key amino acid residues involved in binding volatile compounds. Overall, our data provide a base for further investigation of the potential physiological functions of CSP3 in Nilaparvata lugens, and extend the function of NlugCSP3 in chemoreception of N. lugens.

In this study, a wet chemical method was used to produce iron-doped CuO nanostructures. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to record sensor signals in a saline phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.3. Iron added into CuO nanostructures contributed electrons to the conduction band of CuO, showing a well-resolved electro-oxidation peak for uric acid. The developed sensor exhibits a wide linear range of uric acid concentrations from 0.05 mM to 4 mM. The limit of detection for the sensor was found to be 0.01 mM. The sensor is highly selective, sensitive, and stable. The results of the in vitro analysis of uric acid motivated the researchers to measure the uric acid from the marine shellfish Perna viridis and razor clam Solen dactylus. The obtained results reveal that the proposed sensor will help to avoid the gout and could be used as an early safeguard of human health.

In the original article Magnus Willander’s last name is spelled incorrectly. It is correct as reflected here.

Background Gossypium arboreum is a cotton crop native to tropical and subtropical regions that are naturally resistant to cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV). However, its cultivation is unfavorable due to the lower quality and shorter fiber length of cotton when compared to the market leading G. hirsutum . Plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2 (PIP2) is an aquaporin responsible for the transport of water and small molecules across cellular membranes. This fluid transport influences cell elongation and cotton fibre development. Hence, increased PIP2 expression may yield plants with enhanced fiber qualities including length. Methods and results To test this hypothesis, G. arboreum was transformed with a PIP2 gene construct ( 35SCpPIP2 ) using the Agrobacterium -mediated shoot apex cutting method. Relative expression of the CpPIP2 gene in transgenic plants increased up to 35-fold when compared with non-transgenic controls. Transgenic plants displayed a corresponding increase of staple length (up to 150%) when compared with non-transgenic controls. Transgene integration was examined using FISH and karyotyping and revealed the presence of a single transgene located on chromosome 6. Conclusion Since G. arboreum is naturally whitefly and CLCuV resistant, this improvement of fiber length evidenced for CpPIP2 transgenic plants renders their crop production more economically viable.

Skeletal relationships in the sagittal plane do not always correspond with dental relationships. The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of correlation between a dental parameter (overjet) and a skeletal (ANB) angle. Eighty nine patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the study ( 22 males and 69 females, aged 12-35). Overjet was measured on casts with a standard ruler. Lateral cephalograph was taken to measure the ANB angle. The correlation analysis of overjet with ANB angle in the three malocclusion classes showed, that there was a weak correlation of overjet with ANB angle in all three groups of malocclusion with \"r\" value of 0.257 whereas P value was statistical insignificance (P-value 0.05). This study concluded that overjet is not a good predictor for sagittal skeletal relationship and therefore could not be used for better assessment of sagittal jaw relation which is critical in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

Esthetic features are different from one race to another and this should be considered during the treatment planning. The great variance in soft tissue drape of the human face complicates accurate assess- ment. The noselipchin relationships are exceedingly important in determining the facial esthetics. One important soft tissue parameter in orthodontic diagnosis is the nasolabial angle. The purpose of this study was to establish norms for nasolabial angle in the local population. Normative data for the nasolabial angle was produced from a sample of 50 (25 male and 25 female) adults (18-25 yrs) with well-balanced faces. Mean and standard deviation values from this pooled sample demonstrated a nasolabial angle of 105.8 3.95. No statistically significant difference was demonstrated between the values for men and women in this study but men did have a slightly larger nasolabial angle.