Silica is deposited extra-and intracellularly in plants in solid form, as phytoliths. Phytoliths ... more Silica is deposited extra-and intracellularly in plants in solid form, as phytoliths. Phytoliths have emerged as accepted taxonomic tools and proxies for reconstructing ancient flora, agricultural economies, environment, and climate. The discovery of silicon transporter genes has aided in the understanding of the mechanism of silicon transport and deposition within the plant body and reconstructing plant phylogeny that is based on the ability of plants to accumulate silica. However, a precise understanding of the process of silica deposition and the formation of phytoliths is still an enigma and the information regarding the proteins that are involved in plant biosilicification is still scarce. With the observation of various shapes and morphologies of phytoliths, it is essential to understand which factors control this mechanism. During the last two decades, significant research has been done in this regard and silicon research has expanded as an Earth-life science superdiscipline. We review and integrate the recent knowledge and concepts on the uptake and transport of silica and its deposition as phytoliths in plants. We also discuss how different factors define the shape, size, and chemistry of the phytoliths and how biosilicification evolved in plants. The role of channel-type and efflux silicon transporters, proline-rich proteins, and siliplant1 protein in transport and deposition of silica is presented. The role of phytoliths against biotic and abiotic stress, as mechanical barriers, and their use as taxonomic tools and proxies, is highlighted.
The undersigned hereby declares to be the core author of this thesis, whereby, this systematicall... more The undersigned hereby declares to be the core author of this thesis, whereby, this systematically developed and categorically derived work has been reported entirely under the sole supervisions of Prof a .
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Diabetes is a rapidly growing disease that can be monitored at an individual level by controlling... more Diabetes is a rapidly growing disease that can be monitored at an individual level by controlling the blood glucose level, hence minimizing the negative impact of the disease. Significant research efforts have been focused on the design of novel and improved technologies to overcome the limitations of existing glucose analysis methods. In this context, nanotechnology has enabled the diagnosis at the single cell and molecular level with the possibility of incorporation in advanced molecular diagnostic biochips. Recent years have witnessed the exploration and synthesis of various types of nanomaterials with enzyme-like properties, with their subsequent integration into the design of biomimetic optical sensors for glucose monitoring. This review paper will provide insights on the type, nature and synthesis of different biomimetic nanomaterials. Moreover, recent developments in the integration of these nanomaterials for optical glucose biosensing will be highlighted, with a final discussion on the challenges that must be addressed for successful implementation of these nano-devices in the clinical applications is presented.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
The signal crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems direly need to be resolved i... more The signal crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems direly need to be resolved in the rapid development of modern microwave communication technology for a better working frequency and transmission power of electronic systems. Where the new absorbing materials such as molybdenum disul de (MoS 2)/titania (TiO 2)/Ti 2 CT x and MoS 2 /Ti 2 CT x composites could meet the requirement of "thin, strong, light weight, and wide band" for excellent absorbing performance. In this work, a lighter Ti 2 CT x material was selected as the matrix, and MoS 2 was in-situ grown on Ti 2 CT x matrix by traditional hydrothermal method and microwave solvothermal method. The fabricated composite exhibited synergic effect of two-dimensional heterostructural interface and double dielectric elements, where the small amount of TiO 2 and the certain proportion of TiO 2 (Ti 2 CT x oxide) with MoS 2 improve the impedance matching to-54.70 dB RL min and EAB max of 4 GHz. Polyethylene glycol 200 was used as the solvent instead of water to make Ti 2 CT x less oxidized during the composite process, where the microwave heating would attain fast speed, short time, high e ciency, and uniform product. Since, the MoS 2 /Ti 2 CT x composite without oxidizing possessed a wider EAB at a thinner thickness, thus resulting in the excellent microwave absorption performance and con rming the validity and rationality of new microwave absorption materials.
Pasteurella multocida is the primary causative agent of Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) in cattle and... more Pasteurella multocida is the primary causative agent of Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) in cattle and Buffalo. It is responsible for causing huge economic loses every year. The P. multocida vaccines are used for livestock, but because sensitive and specific serological tests are not available, sero-conversion in these animals is unknown. As a result, the vaccine and it’s the immune response cannot be evaluated. So, the present study was designed to evaluate immunogenic potential of OmpA gene of P. multocida. PCR primers designed to have restriction sites to cut amplicon and ligate product into expression vector. Purified PCR product was subjected to cloning PCR and the product was sequenced. The product was excised from cloning vector and ligated into expression vector (pET 40b (+)). Expression vector was transformed to chemically competent Escherichia coli strain DH5-α by heat shock method. Plasmid was extracted and ligation was confirmed by restriction digestion. IPTG was used to trig...
The signal crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems direly need to be resolved i... more The signal crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems direly need to be resolved in the rapid development of modern microwave communication technology for a better working frequency and transmission power of electronic systems. Where the new absorbing materials such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)/titania (TiO2)/Ti2CTx and MoS2/Ti2CTx composites could meet the requirement of “thin, strong, light weight, and wide band” for excellent absorbing performance. In this work, a lighter Ti2CTx material was selected as the matrix, and MoS2 was in-situ grown on Ti2CTx matrix by traditional hydrothermal method and microwave solvothermal method. The fabricated composite exhibited synergic effect of two-dimensional heterostructural interface and double dielectric elements, where the small amount of TiO2 and the certain proportion of TiO2(Ti2CTx oxide) with MoS2 improve the impedance matching to -54.70 dB RLmin and EABmax of 4 GHz. Polyethylene glycol 200 was used as the solvent inst...
To increase its operational stability and ongoing reusability, B. subtilis pectinase was immobili... more To increase its operational stability and ongoing reusability, B. subtilis pectinase was immobilized on iron oxide nanocarrier. Through co-precipitation, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive electron microscopy (EDEX) were used to analyze the nanoparticles. Pectinase was immobilized using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent on iron oxide nanocarrier. In comparison to free pectinase, immobilized pectinase demonstrated higher enzymatic activity at a variety of temperatures and pH levels. Immobilization also boosted pectinase’s catalytic stability. After 120 h of pre-incubation at 50 °C, immobilized pectinase maintained more than 90% of its initial activity due to the iron oxide nanocarrier, which improved the thermal stability of pectinase at various temperatures. Following 15 repetitions of enzymatic reactions, immobilized pectinase still exhibited 90% of its initial activity. According to the results, pectina...
Objective: To assess morbidity and success of transabdominal (O’Conor) repair of vesicovaginal fi... more Objective: To assess morbidity and success of transabdominal (O’Conor) repair of vesicovaginal fistula with orwithout interposition of flap between vagina and urinary bladder. Study Design: Prospective comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Urology, Rawalpindi, from Mar 2016 to Jan 2019. Methodology: Fifty five patients were randomized into group A & B by lottery method. An inclusion criterionwas single fistulous opening of ≤3cm. Complex and recurrent fistulae were excluded. Patients in group A underwent O’Conor repair without interpositional flap while in group B vesicovaginal fistulae were repaired with flap interposition. Results: Twenty two patients were randomized in group A while 27 in group B. Mean age of patients was 41.65± 11.93 years. Gynecological and obstetrical surgery was the main cause of fistula. Mean duration of surgerywas 162.7 ± 18.49 minutes. Per-operative ureteric catheterization was done in 9 (16.8%) patients. Seventeen(30.6%)...
Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2019
Now-a-days, electricity has become the most significant part of human life. For this purpose, ren... more Now-a-days, electricity has become the most significant part of human life. For this purpose, renewable energy sources as the emergent sources are introduced in the system. In Pakistan, in spite of having abundant renewable sources and favorable climate conditions, there are some remote areas where the extension of national grid is still absent. In this research paper, one of the remote area of Pakistan, Chak 6-DRB, a village of Cholistan, is considered for the hybrid renewable sources. This research has been implemented on HOMER (Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric and Renewable) software, in which two renewable sources; solar and anaerobic biogas have been implemented in terms of COE (Cost of Energy), NPC (Net Present Cost), costs of different equipment used and then find an optimal size and costs of the system. This HDRP (Hybrid Distributed Renewable Power) system contains anaerobic biogas, and solar system which yield most accurate and inexpensive results and are quite feasib...
Pakistan’s total estimated snow leopard habitat is about 80,000 km2 of which about half is consid... more Pakistan’s total estimated snow leopard habitat is about 80,000 km2 of which about half is considered prime. However, this preliminary demarcation was not always in close agreement with the actual distribution—the discrepancy may be huge at the local and regional level. Recent technological developments like camera trapping and molecular genetics allow for collecting reliable presence records that could be used to construct realistic species distribution based on empirical data and advanced mathematical approaches like MaxEnt. Current study followed this approach to construct accurate distribution of the species in Pakistan. Moreover, movement corridors, among different landscapes, were also identified through the circuit theory. The habitat suitability map, generated from 384 presence points and 28 environmental variables, scored the snow leopard’s assumed range in Pakistan, from 0 to 0.97. A large shear of previously known range represented low-quality habitat, including areas in ...
Recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) and fly ash (FA) are materials with least to very low global war... more Recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) and fly ash (FA) are materials with least to very low global warming potential. Considering long term strength and durability, various studies have suggested to use RCA in concrete with FA. This research paper deals with the strength and economic performance of concrete made with individual and combined incorporation of FA and RCA. Nine different mixtures of concrete were prepared by varying the incorporation levels of RCA and FA. 0% RCA, 50% RCA and 100% RCA were used in concrete with three different levels of FA (0%FA, 20%FA, and 40%FA). The compressive strength of each mixture of concrete was determined at the age of 3, 28, 90 and 180 days. To evaluate economic performance cost of 1 m3 of each mixture of concrete was compared to that of the control mixture having 0% RCA and 0% FA. Results showed that RCA was detrimental to the compressive strength of concrete at all ages, whereas, FA reduced early strength but improved the strength at later ages o...
Autotoxicity is a common problem being faced in protected vegetable cultivation system. Phytoreme... more Autotoxicity is a common problem being faced in protected vegetable cultivation system. Phytoremediation of plant autotoxicity is an emerging concept to minimize deterioration of soil environment and reduction of yield and quality of vegetable crops. Brassinosteroids (BRs) have been reported as a potential phytohormone to assist phytoremediation. However, the effects of BRs-induced autotoxicity stress on plant growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant defense system are poorly understood. Hence, we focused on the changes in physiological characteristics and ultrastructure of cucumber leaves in response to the application of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) under autotoxicity stress conditions. The results showed that leaf area, plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of cucumber were obviously decreased under autotoxicity stress conditions. EBR application obviously improved the phenotypic characteristics of cucumber seedlings. Chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductan...
Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 2017
With the development of molecular marker technology in the 1980s, the fate of plant breeding has ... more With the development of molecular marker technology in the 1980s, the fate of plant breeding has changed. Different types of molecular markers have been developed and advancement in sequencing technologies has geared crop improvement. To explore the knowledge about molecular markers, several reviews have been published in the last three decades; however, all these reviews were meant for researchers with advanced knowledge of molecular genetics. This review is intended to be a synopsis of recent developments in molecular markers and their applications in plant breeding and is devoted to early researchers with a little or no knowledge of molecular markers. The progress made in molecular plant breeding, genetics, genomic selection and genome editing has contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of molecular markers and provided deeper insights into the diversity available for crops and greatly complemented breeding stratagems. Genotyping-by-sequencing and association mapping based on next-generation sequencing technologies have facilitated the identification of novel genetic markers for complex and unstructured populations. Altogether, the history, the types of markers, their application in plant sciences and breeding, and some recent advancements in genomic selection and genome editing are discussed.
A fungus F. sp. (FON) is the causal organism of wilt in watermelon. In this study, we evaluated t... more A fungus F. sp. (FON) is the causal organism of wilt in watermelon. In this study, we evaluated the effect of wheat intercropping on the wilt of watermelon. Our results showed that wheat intercropping decreases the incidence of wilt of watermelon, likely due to the secretion of coumaric acid from the roots of wheat that dramatically inhibits FON spore germination, sporulation, and growth. The secretion of -hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid from the roots of watermelon stimulates FON spore germination, sporulation, and growth. The secretion of phenolic acids and organic acids from the roots of watermelon is also promoted by FON infection. However, secretion of phenolic acids and organic acids from the roots of watermelon is substantially reduced under wheat intercropping systems. FON infection increases the accumulation of free and conjugated salicylic acid (SA) in watermelon grown under wheat intercropping systems through isochorismate (ICS) and phenylalanine ammo...
Although anecdotally associated with local bears (Ursus arctos and U. thibetanus), the exact iden... more Although anecdotally associated with local bears (Ursus arctos and U. thibetanus), the exact identity of 'hominid'-like creatures important to folklore and mythology in the Tibetan Plateau-Himalaya region is still surrounded by mystery. Recently, two purported yeti samples from the Himalayas showed genetic affinity with an ancient polar bear, suggesting they may be from previously unrecognized, possibly hybrid, bear species, but this preliminary finding has been under question. We conducted a comprehensive genetic survey of field-collected and museum specimens to explore their identity and ultimately infer the evolutionary history of bears in the region. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences determined clade affinities of the purported yeti samples in this study, strongly supporting the biological basis of the yeti legend to be local, extant bears. Complete mitochondrial genomes were assembled for Himalayan brown bear (U. a. isabellinus) and black bear (U. t. ...
Plants have evolved a sophisticated network of K(+) transport systems to regulate growth and deve... more Plants have evolved a sophisticated network of K(+) transport systems to regulate growth and development. Limited K(+) resources are now forcing us to investigate how plant demand can be satisfied. To answer this complex question, we must understand the genomic and transcriptomic portfolio of K(+) transporters in plants. Here, we have identified 70 putative K(+) transporter genes from soybean, including 29 HAK/KT/KUP genes, 16 genes encoding voltage-gated K(+) channels, 9 TPK/KCO genes, 4 HKT genes, and 12 KEA genes. To clarify the molecular evolution of each family in soybean, we analyzed their phylogeny, mode of duplication, exon structures and splice sites, and paralogs. Additionally, ortholog clustering and syntenic analysis across five other dicots further explored the evolution of these gene families and indicated that the soybean data is suitable as a model for all other legumes. Available microarray data sets from Genevestigator about nodulation was evaluated and further con...
Silica is deposited extra-and intracellularly in plants in solid form, as phytoliths. Phytoliths ... more Silica is deposited extra-and intracellularly in plants in solid form, as phytoliths. Phytoliths have emerged as accepted taxonomic tools and proxies for reconstructing ancient flora, agricultural economies, environment, and climate. The discovery of silicon transporter genes has aided in the understanding of the mechanism of silicon transport and deposition within the plant body and reconstructing plant phylogeny that is based on the ability of plants to accumulate silica. However, a precise understanding of the process of silica deposition and the formation of phytoliths is still an enigma and the information regarding the proteins that are involved in plant biosilicification is still scarce. With the observation of various shapes and morphologies of phytoliths, it is essential to understand which factors control this mechanism. During the last two decades, significant research has been done in this regard and silicon research has expanded as an Earth-life science superdiscipline. We review and integrate the recent knowledge and concepts on the uptake and transport of silica and its deposition as phytoliths in plants. We also discuss how different factors define the shape, size, and chemistry of the phytoliths and how biosilicification evolved in plants. The role of channel-type and efflux silicon transporters, proline-rich proteins, and siliplant1 protein in transport and deposition of silica is presented. The role of phytoliths against biotic and abiotic stress, as mechanical barriers, and their use as taxonomic tools and proxies, is highlighted.
The undersigned hereby declares to be the core author of this thesis, whereby, this systematicall... more The undersigned hereby declares to be the core author of this thesis, whereby, this systematically developed and categorically derived work has been reported entirely under the sole supervisions of Prof a .
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Diabetes is a rapidly growing disease that can be monitored at an individual level by controlling... more Diabetes is a rapidly growing disease that can be monitored at an individual level by controlling the blood glucose level, hence minimizing the negative impact of the disease. Significant research efforts have been focused on the design of novel and improved technologies to overcome the limitations of existing glucose analysis methods. In this context, nanotechnology has enabled the diagnosis at the single cell and molecular level with the possibility of incorporation in advanced molecular diagnostic biochips. Recent years have witnessed the exploration and synthesis of various types of nanomaterials with enzyme-like properties, with their subsequent integration into the design of biomimetic optical sensors for glucose monitoring. This review paper will provide insights on the type, nature and synthesis of different biomimetic nanomaterials. Moreover, recent developments in the integration of these nanomaterials for optical glucose biosensing will be highlighted, with a final discussion on the challenges that must be addressed for successful implementation of these nano-devices in the clinical applications is presented.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
The signal crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems direly need to be resolved i... more The signal crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems direly need to be resolved in the rapid development of modern microwave communication technology for a better working frequency and transmission power of electronic systems. Where the new absorbing materials such as molybdenum disul de (MoS 2)/titania (TiO 2)/Ti 2 CT x and MoS 2 /Ti 2 CT x composites could meet the requirement of "thin, strong, light weight, and wide band" for excellent absorbing performance. In this work, a lighter Ti 2 CT x material was selected as the matrix, and MoS 2 was in-situ grown on Ti 2 CT x matrix by traditional hydrothermal method and microwave solvothermal method. The fabricated composite exhibited synergic effect of two-dimensional heterostructural interface and double dielectric elements, where the small amount of TiO 2 and the certain proportion of TiO 2 (Ti 2 CT x oxide) with MoS 2 improve the impedance matching to-54.70 dB RL min and EAB max of 4 GHz. Polyethylene glycol 200 was used as the solvent instead of water to make Ti 2 CT x less oxidized during the composite process, where the microwave heating would attain fast speed, short time, high e ciency, and uniform product. Since, the MoS 2 /Ti 2 CT x composite without oxidizing possessed a wider EAB at a thinner thickness, thus resulting in the excellent microwave absorption performance and con rming the validity and rationality of new microwave absorption materials.
Pasteurella multocida is the primary causative agent of Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) in cattle and... more Pasteurella multocida is the primary causative agent of Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) in cattle and Buffalo. It is responsible for causing huge economic loses every year. The P. multocida vaccines are used for livestock, but because sensitive and specific serological tests are not available, sero-conversion in these animals is unknown. As a result, the vaccine and it’s the immune response cannot be evaluated. So, the present study was designed to evaluate immunogenic potential of OmpA gene of P. multocida. PCR primers designed to have restriction sites to cut amplicon and ligate product into expression vector. Purified PCR product was subjected to cloning PCR and the product was sequenced. The product was excised from cloning vector and ligated into expression vector (pET 40b (+)). Expression vector was transformed to chemically competent Escherichia coli strain DH5-α by heat shock method. Plasmid was extracted and ligation was confirmed by restriction digestion. IPTG was used to trig...
The signal crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems direly need to be resolved i... more The signal crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems direly need to be resolved in the rapid development of modern microwave communication technology for a better working frequency and transmission power of electronic systems. Where the new absorbing materials such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)/titania (TiO2)/Ti2CTx and MoS2/Ti2CTx composites could meet the requirement of “thin, strong, light weight, and wide band” for excellent absorbing performance. In this work, a lighter Ti2CTx material was selected as the matrix, and MoS2 was in-situ grown on Ti2CTx matrix by traditional hydrothermal method and microwave solvothermal method. The fabricated composite exhibited synergic effect of two-dimensional heterostructural interface and double dielectric elements, where the small amount of TiO2 and the certain proportion of TiO2(Ti2CTx oxide) with MoS2 improve the impedance matching to -54.70 dB RLmin and EABmax of 4 GHz. Polyethylene glycol 200 was used as the solvent inst...
To increase its operational stability and ongoing reusability, B. subtilis pectinase was immobili... more To increase its operational stability and ongoing reusability, B. subtilis pectinase was immobilized on iron oxide nanocarrier. Through co-precipitation, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive electron microscopy (EDEX) were used to analyze the nanoparticles. Pectinase was immobilized using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent on iron oxide nanocarrier. In comparison to free pectinase, immobilized pectinase demonstrated higher enzymatic activity at a variety of temperatures and pH levels. Immobilization also boosted pectinase’s catalytic stability. After 120 h of pre-incubation at 50 °C, immobilized pectinase maintained more than 90% of its initial activity due to the iron oxide nanocarrier, which improved the thermal stability of pectinase at various temperatures. Following 15 repetitions of enzymatic reactions, immobilized pectinase still exhibited 90% of its initial activity. According to the results, pectina...
Objective: To assess morbidity and success of transabdominal (O’Conor) repair of vesicovaginal fi... more Objective: To assess morbidity and success of transabdominal (O’Conor) repair of vesicovaginal fistula with orwithout interposition of flap between vagina and urinary bladder. Study Design: Prospective comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Urology, Rawalpindi, from Mar 2016 to Jan 2019. Methodology: Fifty five patients were randomized into group A & B by lottery method. An inclusion criterionwas single fistulous opening of ≤3cm. Complex and recurrent fistulae were excluded. Patients in group A underwent O’Conor repair without interpositional flap while in group B vesicovaginal fistulae were repaired with flap interposition. Results: Twenty two patients were randomized in group A while 27 in group B. Mean age of patients was 41.65± 11.93 years. Gynecological and obstetrical surgery was the main cause of fistula. Mean duration of surgerywas 162.7 ± 18.49 minutes. Per-operative ureteric catheterization was done in 9 (16.8%) patients. Seventeen(30.6%)...
Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2019
Now-a-days, electricity has become the most significant part of human life. For this purpose, ren... more Now-a-days, electricity has become the most significant part of human life. For this purpose, renewable energy sources as the emergent sources are introduced in the system. In Pakistan, in spite of having abundant renewable sources and favorable climate conditions, there are some remote areas where the extension of national grid is still absent. In this research paper, one of the remote area of Pakistan, Chak 6-DRB, a village of Cholistan, is considered for the hybrid renewable sources. This research has been implemented on HOMER (Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric and Renewable) software, in which two renewable sources; solar and anaerobic biogas have been implemented in terms of COE (Cost of Energy), NPC (Net Present Cost), costs of different equipment used and then find an optimal size and costs of the system. This HDRP (Hybrid Distributed Renewable Power) system contains anaerobic biogas, and solar system which yield most accurate and inexpensive results and are quite feasib...
Pakistan’s total estimated snow leopard habitat is about 80,000 km2 of which about half is consid... more Pakistan’s total estimated snow leopard habitat is about 80,000 km2 of which about half is considered prime. However, this preliminary demarcation was not always in close agreement with the actual distribution—the discrepancy may be huge at the local and regional level. Recent technological developments like camera trapping and molecular genetics allow for collecting reliable presence records that could be used to construct realistic species distribution based on empirical data and advanced mathematical approaches like MaxEnt. Current study followed this approach to construct accurate distribution of the species in Pakistan. Moreover, movement corridors, among different landscapes, were also identified through the circuit theory. The habitat suitability map, generated from 384 presence points and 28 environmental variables, scored the snow leopard’s assumed range in Pakistan, from 0 to 0.97. A large shear of previously known range represented low-quality habitat, including areas in ...
Recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) and fly ash (FA) are materials with least to very low global war... more Recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) and fly ash (FA) are materials with least to very low global warming potential. Considering long term strength and durability, various studies have suggested to use RCA in concrete with FA. This research paper deals with the strength and economic performance of concrete made with individual and combined incorporation of FA and RCA. Nine different mixtures of concrete were prepared by varying the incorporation levels of RCA and FA. 0% RCA, 50% RCA and 100% RCA were used in concrete with three different levels of FA (0%FA, 20%FA, and 40%FA). The compressive strength of each mixture of concrete was determined at the age of 3, 28, 90 and 180 days. To evaluate economic performance cost of 1 m3 of each mixture of concrete was compared to that of the control mixture having 0% RCA and 0% FA. Results showed that RCA was detrimental to the compressive strength of concrete at all ages, whereas, FA reduced early strength but improved the strength at later ages o...
Autotoxicity is a common problem being faced in protected vegetable cultivation system. Phytoreme... more Autotoxicity is a common problem being faced in protected vegetable cultivation system. Phytoremediation of plant autotoxicity is an emerging concept to minimize deterioration of soil environment and reduction of yield and quality of vegetable crops. Brassinosteroids (BRs) have been reported as a potential phytohormone to assist phytoremediation. However, the effects of BRs-induced autotoxicity stress on plant growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant defense system are poorly understood. Hence, we focused on the changes in physiological characteristics and ultrastructure of cucumber leaves in response to the application of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) under autotoxicity stress conditions. The results showed that leaf area, plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of cucumber were obviously decreased under autotoxicity stress conditions. EBR application obviously improved the phenotypic characteristics of cucumber seedlings. Chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductan...
Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 2017
With the development of molecular marker technology in the 1980s, the fate of plant breeding has ... more With the development of molecular marker technology in the 1980s, the fate of plant breeding has changed. Different types of molecular markers have been developed and advancement in sequencing technologies has geared crop improvement. To explore the knowledge about molecular markers, several reviews have been published in the last three decades; however, all these reviews were meant for researchers with advanced knowledge of molecular genetics. This review is intended to be a synopsis of recent developments in molecular markers and their applications in plant breeding and is devoted to early researchers with a little or no knowledge of molecular markers. The progress made in molecular plant breeding, genetics, genomic selection and genome editing has contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of molecular markers and provided deeper insights into the diversity available for crops and greatly complemented breeding stratagems. Genotyping-by-sequencing and association mapping based on next-generation sequencing technologies have facilitated the identification of novel genetic markers for complex and unstructured populations. Altogether, the history, the types of markers, their application in plant sciences and breeding, and some recent advancements in genomic selection and genome editing are discussed.
A fungus F. sp. (FON) is the causal organism of wilt in watermelon. In this study, we evaluated t... more A fungus F. sp. (FON) is the causal organism of wilt in watermelon. In this study, we evaluated the effect of wheat intercropping on the wilt of watermelon. Our results showed that wheat intercropping decreases the incidence of wilt of watermelon, likely due to the secretion of coumaric acid from the roots of wheat that dramatically inhibits FON spore germination, sporulation, and growth. The secretion of -hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid from the roots of watermelon stimulates FON spore germination, sporulation, and growth. The secretion of phenolic acids and organic acids from the roots of watermelon is also promoted by FON infection. However, secretion of phenolic acids and organic acids from the roots of watermelon is substantially reduced under wheat intercropping systems. FON infection increases the accumulation of free and conjugated salicylic acid (SA) in watermelon grown under wheat intercropping systems through isochorismate (ICS) and phenylalanine ammo...
Although anecdotally associated with local bears (Ursus arctos and U. thibetanus), the exact iden... more Although anecdotally associated with local bears (Ursus arctos and U. thibetanus), the exact identity of 'hominid'-like creatures important to folklore and mythology in the Tibetan Plateau-Himalaya region is still surrounded by mystery. Recently, two purported yeti samples from the Himalayas showed genetic affinity with an ancient polar bear, suggesting they may be from previously unrecognized, possibly hybrid, bear species, but this preliminary finding has been under question. We conducted a comprehensive genetic survey of field-collected and museum specimens to explore their identity and ultimately infer the evolutionary history of bears in the region. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences determined clade affinities of the purported yeti samples in this study, strongly supporting the biological basis of the yeti legend to be local, extant bears. Complete mitochondrial genomes were assembled for Himalayan brown bear (U. a. isabellinus) and black bear (U. t. ...
Plants have evolved a sophisticated network of K(+) transport systems to regulate growth and deve... more Plants have evolved a sophisticated network of K(+) transport systems to regulate growth and development. Limited K(+) resources are now forcing us to investigate how plant demand can be satisfied. To answer this complex question, we must understand the genomic and transcriptomic portfolio of K(+) transporters in plants. Here, we have identified 70 putative K(+) transporter genes from soybean, including 29 HAK/KT/KUP genes, 16 genes encoding voltage-gated K(+) channels, 9 TPK/KCO genes, 4 HKT genes, and 12 KEA genes. To clarify the molecular evolution of each family in soybean, we analyzed their phylogeny, mode of duplication, exon structures and splice sites, and paralogs. Additionally, ortholog clustering and syntenic analysis across five other dicots further explored the evolution of these gene families and indicated that the soybean data is suitable as a model for all other legumes. Available microarray data sets from Genevestigator about nodulation was evaluated and further con...
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Papers by Muhammad nawaz