The goal of this research was to investigate the echotextural parameters, numerical pixel values (NPVs), and pixel heterogeneity (PSDs) of the lymph node and udder parenchyma, as well as the correlation between echotextural parameters and electrical conductivity (EC), in order to develop it as an alternative to laboratory testing for mastitic animal diagnosis and prognosis. The ultrasonographic images of each quarter were processed using digital image analyses to obtain mean NPVs and mean PSDs of mammary gland and lymph node parenchyma. The mean EC increased with the progression of infection. The mean NPVs of lymph node parenchyma decreased, whereas the mean NPVs of udder parenchyma increased from healthy to subclinical and clinical cows, respectively. The mean PSDs of lymph node and udder parenchyma increased with the progression and severity of infection from healthy to subclinical and clinical cows, respectively. It was concluded that, in dairy cattle, the variation in echotextural variables (NPVs and PSDs) of mammary gland and supramammary lymph node parenchyma and electrical conductivity appeared to be good indicators for the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of sub-clinical and clinical mastitis in animals and simultaneously assists in the evaluation of udder health status.

ABSTRACT White-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera Horváth (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) is a migratory and serious pest of rice crop worldwide including Pakistan. The current experiment was carried out to assess the antixenosis and antibiosis level of flfteen rice genotypes against S. furcifera under greenhouse conditions. In antixenosis studies, proportion of nymphs and adults settled was recorded in relation to control. Less preferred varieties by nymphs were RPP49 (3.80), N22 (5.60), IR 64 (6.20), IR 72 (6.60), Basmati Pak (6129) (5.40), and Super Basmati (5.00) as compared to TN1 (12.00). Lower number of eggs were laid on RPP49, N22, IR 64, Super Basmati and PKBB 8. Based on feeding marks the genotypes ranked from highest to lowest as RPP49, N22, IR 64, IR 72 and Basmati Pak. In antibiosis tests, RPP49, N22, IR64, IR 72, Super Basmati and Basmati Pak varieties performed well as compared to TN1. Minimum feeding rate (47.8 mm2) was recorded on RPP49 followed by N22, IR 64, IR74, Basmati Pak, Super Basmati, PKBB 8, PK 10684 and PK 10436 as compared to TN1(470.8 mm2). The results revealed that RPP49 emerged as the new resistant source against S. furcifera. Super Basmati, Basmati Pak have shown a moderate level of resistance while PKBB 8, PK 10684 and PK 10436 are new varieties with a moderate level of resistance to S. furcifera which can be used as resistance source in breeding programs against S. furcifera.

RESUMEN La falsa chicharrita del arroz, Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) es una plaga migratoria y grave para los cultivos de arroz en todo el mundo, incluso Pakistán. El presente experimento se llevó a cabo para evaluar el nivel de antixenosis y antibiosis de quince genotipos de arroz contra S. furcifera en condiciones de invernadero. En los ensayos de antixenosis, la proporción de ninfas y adultos asentados se registró en relación con el grupo control. Las variedades menos preferidas por las ninfas fueron RPP49 (3.80), N22 (5.60), IR 64 (6.20), IR 72 (6.60), Basmati Pak (6129) (5.40) y Super Basmati (5.00) en comparación con TN1 (12.00). Se depositó un número menor de huevos en RPP49, N22, IR 64, Super Basmati y PKBB 8. Con base en la huella de alimentación, los genotipos ordenados de mayor a menor fueron RPP49, N22, IR 64, IR 72 y Basmati Pak. En ensayos de antibiosis, las variedades RPP49, N22, IR64, IR 72, Super Basmati y Basmati Pak obtuvieron buenos resultados en comparación con TN1. La menor velocidad de alimentación (47.8 mm2) se observó en RPP49, seguida por N22, IR 64, IR74, Basmati Pak, Super Basmati, PKBB 8, PK 10684 y PK 10436, en comparación con TN1 (470.8 mm2). Los resultados revelaron que RPP49 se ha convertido en la nueva fuente de resistencia contra S. furcifera. Super Basmati y Basmati Pak han mostrado un nivel moderado de resistencia, en tanto que PKBB 8, PK 10684 y PK 10436 son nuevas variedades con nivel moderado de resistencia, capaces de ser utilizadas como fuente de resistencia en programas de reproducción contra S. furcifera.

Abstract The present study was designed to characterize oat bran for their biological attributes. The results showed that bran of Avon variety contained high TDF, SDF, β-glucan and extractability of β-glucan than bran of oat variety Sargodha-81. The extrusion process exhibited the highest extractability of β-glucan (45.37%) followed by cooking (37.28%) and baking methods (32.45%). Moreover, the glucose level reduction was found significantly different when raw and processed oat bran diets fed to normal, hypercholesterolemic and diabetic rats. The highest reduction was recorded when fed on diet containing 30% processed oat bran. The processed oat bran exhibited more reduction as compared to raw oat bran. Furthermore, addition of 20% oat bran in wheat grits porridge was found to have significant effect (p < 0.05) on appearance, mouth feel and overall acceptability. Convincingly, it is recommended that processed oat bran may be introduced in diet-based remedy to rheostat lifestyle-related disorders.

Abstract The present research was planned to analyze the toxic effects of thimerosal on rat liver. Mercury and mercury compounds are universally known toxicants for animals and humans. Thimerosal is widely used in the vaccines as a preservative which contains 49.6% mercury. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were distributed into four groups (n=6). The first group was considered as a control group. While, second, third and fourth groups were intoxicated with 0.5, 10 and 50 µg/kg thimerosal (i.m.) respectively. After 30 days, rats were slaughtered to analyze the liver tissues. The results of the experiment exposed that thimerosal instigated significant (p<0.05) increase in alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminotransferase (AST) levels. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) activities and Glutathione (GSH) and protein levels were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. Furthermore, significant increases in Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level and DNA damage was observed. Histopathological study revealed severe damages, e.g. fatty alterations, deterioration of lobular structure and degeneration of nuclei in hepatic tissues of thimerosal treated rats. Results of present investigation revealed that thimerosal induces hepatotoxicity at different levels.

Resealed erythrocytes have been explored in various dimensions of drug delivery, owing to their high biocompatibility and inability to initiate immune response. The present research was designed to evaluate the drug delivery potential of erythrocytes by loading a hydrophobic anti-malarial drug, Artemether. Three different loading techniques were applied to achieve maximum optimized drug loading. A HPLC method was validated for drug quantification in erythrocytes. The relatively high loading was achieved using hypotonic treatment was 31.39% as compared to other two methods. These, drug loaded erythrocytes were characterized for membrane integrity via ESR showing higher ESR values for drug loaded cells as compared to normal cells. Moreover, microscopic evaluation was done to observe morphological changes in erythrocytes after successful loading which showed swollen cells with slight rough surface as compared to smooth surface of normal cells. Drug release was studied for 8 h which showed more than 80% release within 3-7 h from erythrocytes treated with different hypotonic methods. Overall, the study revealed a potential application of erythrocytes in delivery of hydrophobic drugs using hypotonic treatment as compared to other methods.

Abstract This study was aimed to investigate the effect of bio-organic phosphate either alone or in combination with phosphorus solubilizing bacteria strain (Bacillus MWT-14) on the growth and productivity of two wheat cultivars (Galaxy-2013 and Punjab-2011) along with recommended (150–100 NP kg ha−1) and half dose (75–50 NP kg ha−1) of fertilizers. The combined application of bio-organic phosphate and the phosphorous solubilizing bacteria strain at either fertilizer level significantly improved the growth, yield parameters and productivity of both wheat cultivars compared to non-inoculated control treatments. The cultivar Punjab-2011 produced the higher chlorophyll contents, crop growth rate, and the straw yield at half dose of NP fertilizer; while Galaxy-2013, with the combined application of bio-organic phosphate and phosphorous solubilizing bacteria under recommended NP fertilizer dose. Combined over both NP fertilizer levels, the combined use of bio-organic phosphate and phosphorous solubilizing bacteria enhanced the grain yield of cultivar Galaxy-2013 by 54.3% and that of cultivar Punjab-2011 by 83.3%. The combined application of bio-organic phosphate and phosphorous solubilizing bacteria also increased the population of phosphorous solubilizing bacteria, the soil organic matter and phosphorous contents in the soil. In conclusion, the combined application of bio-organic phosphate and phosphorous solubilizing bacteria offers an eco-friendly option to harvest the better wheat yield with low fertilizer input under arid climate.

This study aims to assess the perceived practice and barriers towards the provision of asthma management services among urban community pharmacists in Selangor, Malaysia. The study also highlights both pharmacist and patient-related barriers in asthma counseling. One hundred fifty urban community pharmacists in Selangor, Malaysia, were randomly selected and recruited for the present cross sectional baseline study. Previous studies have explored pharmacists’ perception on their roles in asthma management in different parts of the world. The data was collected through self-explanatory questionnaires (containing 47 items). The extracted data from the completed questionnaires were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 19. Results showed that pharmacists perceived their roles in asthma management along three major dimensions: ‘patient self-management’, ‘medication use’ and ‘asthma control’, mean (±SD) score of the perception towards asthma management was 99.29 ± 4.58 over a maximum possible score of 110 with 90.26%. There were significant differences between the pharmacy education level and perceived practice of asthma management while there were insignificant differences between age, gender, ethnicity, number of practicing year and perceived practice of asthma management among respondents. Most common barriers towards asthma counselling including lack of time, lack of asthma knowledge, lack of counselling space and cost of asthma drugs. Conclusively, urban community pharmacists in Selangor, Malaysia, demonstrate good perceived practice of better management of asthma with multidimensional dimensional role against in disease care.

ABSTRACT Indole-based tetraarylimidazoles were prepared by multicomponent reaction of substituted 2-arylindole-3-carbaldehydes, benzil, substituted anilines and ammonium acetate in acetic acid. The new compounds were evaluated for their antiurease and antioxidant activity. The synthesized compounds exhibited potent antiurease activity.

Under rainfed conditions, farmers rarely use micro-nutrients for crop production, due to which soils become deficient especially in zinc (Zn) and boron (B). Secondly, farmers apply nutrients through soil application but scarcity/less availability of moisture make the nutrients unavailable for crop plants. Under such circumstances, foliar application of Zn and B may play a key role for better crop growth and yield. Therefore this field study was conducted to investigate the role of Zn and B application alone and in combination through seed, soil and foliar application methods on growth, yield and net returns of maize grown under rainfed conditions. Results showed that combined application of Zn and B on foliage improved relative water contents, SPAD chlorophyll values, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and grain yield due to substantial expansion in entire yield related traits. Combined foliar application of Zn and B harvested 12% and 45% more yield compared with seed priming and control treatments, respectively. The foliar application of Zn and B in combination counteracted the low rainfall effect by producing higher relative water contents that helped in improving SPAD-chlorophyll values, LAI and CGR. Higher net returns and benefit: cost ratio was also obtained by foliar application of Zn and B in combination. In conclusion, combined foliar application of B and Zn improved maize yield due to significant expansion in allometric and yield related traits and thus improved net returns of maize grown under rainfed conditions of Pothwar plateu in Pakistan.

O valor da marca é considerado o aspecto mais importante da marca, que é um conjunto de responsabilidades e ativos das marcas, seu símbolo ou nome que subtraem de ou adicionam o valor fornecido por um produto ou serviço para uma empresa e clientes. Dessa forma, o esforço da pesquisa atual foi identificar a inter-relação das dimensões de valor da marca baseadas no cliente (reconhecimento da marca, fidelidade à marca, imagem da marca e qualidade do serviço) na indústria hoteleira paquistanesa. Os dados foram coletados de 821 consumidores que experimentaram os serviços dos hotéis cinco estrelas paquistaneses de vários locais. Mediar a regressão e as análises de regressão em etapas foram aplicada para investigação das hipóteses do estudo. Os resultados apontaram as influências significativas e positivas da qualidade do serviço em todas as outras dimensões do valor da marca, enquanto as mediações parciais foram aprovadas entre as variáveis. As implicações dos pesquisadores e profissionais são discutidas.

Brand equity is considered as the most important aspect of branding, which is a set of brands' assets and liabilities, its symbol or name that subtracts from or adds the value provided by a product or service to a firm and customers. The current research endeavor was to identify the interrelationship of customer-based brand equity dimensions (brand awareness, brand loyalty, brand image, and service quality) in Pakistani hotel industry. Data was collected from 821 consumers who experienced the services of Pakistani five star hotels from multiple locations. Mediating regression and stepwise regression analyses were applied for investigation of study hypotheses. Results pointed out positive and significant influences of service quality on all other dimensions of brand equity whereas partial mediations were endorsed among the variables. Researchers and practitioners implications are discussed.

El valor de marca es considerado como el aspecto más importante de la marca que es un conjunto de activos y pasivos marcas, su símbolo o nombre que restar / añadir el valor proporcionado por un producto o servicio a una empresa y los clientes. Por lo tanto, la corriente de esfuerzo de investigación fue identificar la interrelación de las dimensiones de valor de marca basado en los clientes (conocimiento de la marca, la lealtad de marca, imagen de marca y la calidad de servicio) en Pakistán industria hotelera. Se recogieron datos de 821 consumidores que han experimentado los servicios de paquistaníes hoteles de cinco estrellas de varias ubicaciones. Mediar regresión y análisis de regresión escalonada se aplicaron para la investigación de las hipótesis del estudio. Los resultados indicaron una influencia positiva y significativa de la calidad del servicio en todas las demás dimensiones de valor de marca, mientras que las mediaciones parciales fueron aprobados entre las variables. Se discuten los investigadores y los profesionales de las implicaciones.

Current study investigates the service quality offered by Pakistani news channels through employing a modified SERVQUAL scale. Further to this, the SERVQUAL and its applicability to measure the service quality of news channels has been presented. A 29-item SERVQUAL based instrument was administered to a sample of 318 randomly selected respondents. The descriptive analysis revealed a ‘gap analysis’ model to infer meaningful results. The results reveal several gaps between expected and perceived service quality. In particular, ‘Responsiveness and Assurance’ dimensions had the highest gaps. However, the SERVQUAL scale has been a good fit while measuring the service quality of news channels in a developing country context. This research originally contributes to the existing service quality literature as the SERVQUAL scale has never been used to measure service quality of TV channels. The recommendations will be helpful in minimizing the service quality gaps and also can trigger channel loyalty by offering services in accordance with the viewer expectations.