525 research outputs found
Improving the performance of bread wheat genotypes by managing irrigation and nitrogen under semi-arid conditions
No full textFREQUENCY OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AMONG PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS
No full textDr. Hina Iqbal*, Dr. Muhammad Naeem Akhtar and Dr. Muhammad Nadim Saqi
Correction to: Understanding the process of meanings, materials, and competencies in adoption of mobile banking
Get PDFCorrection to: Electronic Markets (2022) 32: pp.2445-2469: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-022-00610-7. The original article was published on 28 November 2022. In the original article the affiliation of authors Wilson Ozuem, Kerry Howell and Silvia Ranfagni are missing. Given here are the complete affiliations.
Muhammad Naeem: School of Business & Management, Arden University, Arden House, Coventry, CV3 4FJ, UK.
Wilson Ozuem: Institute of Business, Leadership and Industry, University of Cumbria, Lancaster, LA1 1QD, UK.
Kerry Howell: Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, UK.
Silvia Ranfagni: Department of Economics and Business, University of Florence, Via delle Pandette, 9, Florence, 50127, Italy.
Corresponding author: Correspondence to Muhammad Naeem
Management of Vegetable Leaf Miner, <i>Liriomyza</i> Spp., (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Vegetable Crops
No full textVegetables are considered high value crops based on their growing areas and productivity, even if they are affected by a variety of insect pests throughout the whole growing season. Leaf miner is an immature of an insect that lives inside and consumes the leaf tissues of vegetable plants. Adult females of leaf miner puncture the leaf with their ovipositor, forming tube pattern, and feed on the punctured parts. Host plants survey of leaf miner in Multan (Pakistan) area was conducted. Twenty host plants were found in 2017, whereas twenty-four host plants were found infested with Liriomyza spp. (Diptera) in 2022 i.e., watermelon (24% infestation), long melon (75%), pumpkin (71%), round gourd (67%), snake melon (70%), bitter gourd (50%), long gourd (89%), bottle gourd (93%), pointed gourd (80%), snap gourd (86%), ridge gourd (83%), cucumber (98%), mung bean (98%), eggplant (60%), Petunia alba (88%), Zinnia elegies (30%), cotton (10%), okra (5%), berseem (7%), tomato (89%), Pea (52%) and Canola (28%). No infestation of leaf miners was observed on potato, chilies, and sweet potatoes. Color attraction results in 2017 and 2022 showed that there was maximum attraction of tomato leaf miner towards yellow sticky cards as compared to blue sticky cards. Varietal preference of tomato crop showed that Baby red variety was the most preferred by leaf miner (Liriomyza spp.), and comparatively Sehar was the least preferred variety. Field efficacy of four different insecticides against leaf miner were also tested. Insecticidal effects attributed as percent reduction of leaf miner infestation that showed the highest reduction values were observed after 7 DOA for Spinetoram (76.98%), whereas Bifenthrin (57%). Deltaphos (43 %) was the least toxic insecticide against Liriomyza spp. Integrated approaches are recommended to manage vegetable leaf miner like application of yellow sticky traps, discouraging preferred host plants, application of insecticides with novel modes of actions like spintoram and spinosad for effective management
RETRACTED ARTICLE: In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility study of polyacrylate TiO2@Ag coated nanoparticles for the radiation dose enhancement
No full textWe, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article:Ateeque Ur Rehman, Muhammad Hassan, Sadia Bano, Khizir Farooq, Aun Raza & Muhammad Naeem Anjum (2021) In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility study of polyacrylate TiO2@Ag coated nanoparticles for the radiation dose enhancement. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 49(1), 185–193, DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2021.1889574Since publication, concerns were raised about the methods and some images in this article. Specifically, some images in Figure 7 have been duplicated and rotated. When approached for an explanation, the authors were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for this. The corresponding author has been informed of our decision to retract.We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions.The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”
اقبال کی مکانیت:تجزیۂ کلامِ اردو
No full textIt is almost half a century ago, when spatial turn took place in humanities in western theory. Exploring the spatiality and mapping out the landscapes of literature and literary production has been on the go since. But spatiality and mapping could not attract the attention of Urdu research and literary analysis. Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan, who remains always in literary, political and everyday discussions, has never been, to the best of my knowledge, studied spatially. This article uses the methods of geocriticism and maps out the space and places in Urdu poetry of Iqbal. By analyzing the quantitative data of places referenced in Iqbal’s poetry, this study aims to delineate his mental geography. The historical contexts of these places within the Urdu literary world are examined to understand their evolution. This study demonstrates how Iqbal utilized places to evoke the past, comprehend the present, and situate the Islamic public
Calicnemia fortis Dow, Zia, Naeem & Rafi, 2014, sp. nov.
No full textCalicnemia fortis sp. nov. (Figs. 1 – 7) Type material. Holotype: ♂ (ODO/ZYG/ 217), Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Noseri, 11 v 2005, leg. S. A. Zia, deposited in the National Insect Museum, Islamabad, Pakistan. Paratype: ♂ (ODO/ZYG/ 218), data as holotype. Etymology. The species is named fortis, an adjective, meaning robust, referring to the strong build and relatively large size of the species. Description of holotype male. Head: labium dark brown. Labrum black, clypeus black except for 2 small pale, widely separated spots on postclypeus. Mandible bases black. Genae dark brown adjacent to mandible bases, elsewhere dark with irregular pale markings. An indistinct pale area at junction of frons and clypeus, frons otherwise matte black, vertex and occiput same, antennae with scape and pedicel black with brown sections at top, flagellum missing. Ocelli yellowish. Thorax (Fig. 1): Prothorax matte black with grey pruinesence covering most of propleuron, anterior lobe of pronotum and lateral anterior part of middle lobe. Synthorax matte black except for a narrow irregular yellowish stripe on metepisternum, broadest near legs where extending slightly onto mesepimeron, running above and over spiracle, tapering toward but not reaching antealar carina. A broad, irregular yellow stripe occupies much of metepimeron. Legs with coxae pale with obscure dark areas anteriorly and laterally, otherwise mostly dark brown and black with sparse grey pruinosity on trochanters and femora. Wings (Figs. 2 – 3) with 5 postquadrangular cells in Fw, 4 in Hw. 18 Px in Fw, 16 (left) and 15 (right) Px in Hw. Pt pale, covering ca 2 underlying cells, approximately rhombic, but with costal side a little shorter than anal side. Abdomen: S 1 black dorsally, laterally mostly yellow. S 2 mostly black with obscure rusty red markings in apical two thirds. S 3 – 6 red, darkening with each successive segment, black behind posterior carina dorsally and in upper part laterally. S 7 dark red dorsally except at apical extremity, same colour lower laterally, with a poorly defined black stripe between, except in basal ca one-fifth. S 8 black with obscure dark red markings lower laterally and in basal half dorsally. S 9 black except for apical red lower lateral mark. S 10 black. Genital ligula (Fig. 4) typical for group 2 Calicnemia, terminal segment with two broad apical lobes, almost square at ends. Anal appendages of typical form for the genus, as shown in Figs. 5–7 with interior ventral tooth located basally on cercus, bifurcated terminally. Measurements (mm): Abdomen without anal appendages 37, paraprocts ca 1.5; Hw 28.5. Female. Unknown. Variation in paratype male. The paratype male (Fig. 8) does not differ from the holotype in any significant way except that two full length pruinose antehumeral stripes are present, and there is more extensive pruinosity on the prothorax and laterally on the synthorax. Additionally abdominal S 1 – 2 are largely pruinose grey. Measurements (mm): Abdomen without anal appendages 35; Hw 28.5; 18 Px in Fw, 14 (right) or 16 (left) Px in Hw. Diagnosis. A robust group 2 Calicnemia with synthorax black with yellow lateral marks and abdomen with S 2 – 7 wholly or partly red. Separated from all other species of group 2 of Calicnemia except C. hasik Wilson & Reels, 2003, C. mortoni (Laidlaw, 1917), C. nipalica Kimmins, 1958, C. pulverulans (Selys, 1886) and C. rectangulata Laidlaw, 1932 by the black mesepisternum lacking antehumeral markings or with only pruinose blue antehumeral markings. Distinguished from C. pulverulans by the entirely black abdomen and the more rounded ends of the lobes of the terminal segment of the ligula of that species. Distinguished from C. hasik by more extensive red colouration on the abdomen, broader lobes of the terminal segment of the ligula and shorter tooth on the cercus in lateral view. C. rectangulata differs in the extent of the red markings in the abdomen and in having a much larger tooth on the cercus, very prominent in lateral view. C. nipalica has the terminal segment of the ligula deeply divided. C. mortoni has a longer but less broad tooth on the cercus and the terminal segment of the ligula deeply divided. Remarks. In his PhD thesis (Zia 2010) the second author gave this species a name, Indocnemis ahmedi, and presented a (composite) description, but also issued a disclaimer, citing article 8.2 of the International code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 2012), to the effect that “description of new species i.e. Indocnemis ahmedi provided in this dissertation is not issued for public and permanent scientific record or for purposes of zoological nomenclature”. The name ahmedi is therefore not available; in any case it would not have been available because no holotype was designated (article 16.4.1). Calicnemis fortis was found flying within tall grassy vegetation around an open spring which runs into a fast flowing stream. Calicnemia eximia was common at the same site. Unfortunately following the devastating earthquake in October 2005 the spring at the type locality dried up, and the species has not been relocated in that area despite repeated searches by the second author in the following three years. However, Zia (2010) lists two additional males from a location in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. These specimens have not been seen by the first author and in the view of the second author might represent a different species, because they differ quite substantially in colouration and some other characters as well; therefore they are left out of consideration here. The species should be searched for not just in neighbouring regions of Pakistan, but also in the neighbouring Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In life the markings on the abdomen were pinkish red, becoming darker on S 6–7; in the holotype they have faded considerably with preservation. The colour of the paratype male (Fig. 8) is better preserved than that of the holotype, as is the extensive pruinosity on the thorax and abdominal S 1–2. In the holotype there is no indication of any antehumeral markings, but pruinose antehumeral stripes are present in the paratype. Possibly, as is the case in males of some other Calicnemia species, e.g. C. soccifera Yu & Chen, 2013, yellow antehumeral markings are present in immature individuals but later these markings become completely pruinose (Yu & Chen 2013). In the case of C. fortis, possibly the underlying marking fades completely, leading to the condition now seen in the holotype. Calicnemia fortis comes closest to C. pulverulans, from which it differs principally in the colour of the abdomen and details of the genital ligula. Calicnemia pulverulans has been recorded as far west as the Nanda Devi Bisophere Reserve in Uttar Pradesh, India (Kumar 1997), but this is more than 600 km from the type locality of C. fortis. Differences from C. pulverulans and other species most closely resembling the available material of C. fortis are given in the diagnosis. Considering the remaining species in group 2 of Calicnemia, C. fortis males are easily separated from those of C. chaseni (Laidlaw in Campion & Laidlaw, 1928), C. miles (Laidlaw, 1917), C. miniata (Selys, 1886), C. chaoi Wilson, 2004, and C. zhuae Zhang & Yang, 2008, which have bright red or orange antehumeral stripes as well as differences in the anal appendages and genital ligula; uniquely in the genus C. chaoi possesses amber wings (Wilson 2004). Of three Chinese species with males possessing yellow or pruinosed antehumeral stripes: C. gulinensis Yu & Bu, 2008, C. porcata Yu & Bu, 2008 and C. soccifera, C. soccifera has the terminal segment of the genital ligula with much narrower lobes and legs with a red or yellow femur contrasting with a black tibia. Calicnemia gulinensis has an orange abdomen and far more extensive pale markings on labrum and clypeus and C. porcata differs in the colouration of the head, details of the tooth on the cercus and in the ligula, which bears a distinctive ridge centrally on the terminal segment, and has the lobes almost square ended. This leaves two species that have not been placed in either of Lieftinck’s groups within Calicnemia; these are dealt with below. The species group to which C. uenoi Asahina, 1997, from Vietnam belongs is unclear because Asahina provided no illustration of the ligula. Asahina (1997: 22) stated that C. uenoi is “One of the typical Calicnemia species...”, but judging from the illustrations it seems atypical in the form of the tooth on the cercus, a narrow median spine rather than the robust tooth, normally with a bifid tip, and typically placed more basally, that is usual in Calicnemia. The type series of C. uenoi was deposited in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan, but at the present time it cannot be located (Akihiko Sasamoto and Takuya Kiyoshi, personal communication). However, in the collection of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (RMNH), Leiden, there is a male labelled as C. uenoi from the area of the type locality, donated from the collection of Matti Hämäläinen and originally collected by Haruki Karube. It is difficult to reconcile the anal appendages of the RMNH specimen with Asahina’s illustrations, and this specimen seems close to C. hasik. When describing C. hasik, Wilson & Reels (2003: 266) commented on Asahina’s description of C. uenoi and, understandably, concluded that their species was distinct; the RMNH specimen suggests that further study of this matter is needed. It is to be hoped that the type series of C. uenoi will become available in the near future. In any case, C. uenoi as illustrated by Asahina is clearly distinguished from C. fortis by the form and position of the tooth on the cercus, and C. hasik and the RMNH specimen differ from C. fortis in the details of the ligula, anal appendages and colouration. Calicnemia sudhaae Mitra, 1994, known from Mizoram in northeast India and which is said (Mitra 2002) to resemble C. pulverulans, does not appear to have been assigned to either species group within Calicnemia. This species is illustrated in Mitra (2002: figs. 54-56) where the ligula appears to have ribbon-like flagellae, an impression confirmed by the text “flagella one pair, long ribbon like with pointed apex” (Mitra 2002: 56). Therefore C. sudhaae belongs to group 1 of Calicnemia and need not be considered further here. The large size and long wing length of this species partly accounts for the high count of postquadrangular cells in C. fortis, a character that Fraser (1933), following Laidlaw (1917), used to separate Calicnemia from Indocnemis Laidlaw, 1917. Recent authors have seldom or never given counts of the postquadrangular cells in their descriptions of Calicnemia species, but the illustration of the Hw of C. chaoi shows 4 postquadrangular cells (Wilson 2004: 429, fig. 21). Lieftinck (1977: 20, 22) stated that C. miniata males from northern India and Nepal examined have 3 – 4 postquadrangular cells and that even the holotype male of C miles has 3 – 3 - 1 / 2 postquadrangular cells. In fact the wing photograph of C. pulverulans in Laidlaw (1917: plate XV, fig. 3), the same publication where Indocnemis was described and where the count of postquadrangular cells was first used to distinguish Calicnemia from Indocnemis, shows almost 4 postquadrangular cells in the left Fw. It is to be hoped that these examples will finally lay to rest the idea that the count of postquadrangular cells is a character of value for distinguishing Calicnemia from related genera. With the addition of C. fortis, Calicnemia consists of 22 named species, unless C. pyrrhosoma Lieftinck, 1984 is recognised; this name persists on some world Odonata checklists although it was established as a junior synonym of C. doonensis Sangal & Tyagi, 1984 by Hämäläinen (1989). Yu & Bu (2008) commented on the extent of variability of markings with age and possibly location in C. sinensis Lieftinck, 1984, and geographical variation in markings may occur in other species, so that caution is needed in separating species based entirely on colour patterns. However, structural differences in ligula and caudal appendages are also often subtle, rendering Calicnemia a difficult genus to work on. As noted by Yu & Chen (2013), some of the Chinese species “seem to be closely related, and more detailed studies are needed to clarify their true relationships”; we can only extend this statement to the whole genus.Published as part of Dow, Rory A., Zia, Ahmed, Naeem, Muhammad & Rafi, Muhammad Ather, 2014, Calicnemia fortis sp. nov. from Pakistan (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae), pp. 338-342 in Zootaxa 3869 (3) on pages 338-342, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3869.3.7, http://zenodo.org/record/22935
Sensitive detection of pre-existing BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations in CD34+ cells of newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients is associated with imatinib resistance: implications in the post-imatinib era
Get PDFBACKGROUND BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations are infrequently detected in newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Recent studies indicate the presence of pre-existing BCR-ABL mutations in a higher percentage of CML patients when CD34+ stem/progenitor cells are investigated using sensitive techniques, and these mutations are associated with imatinib resistance and disease progression. However, such studies were limited to smaller number of patients. METHODS We investigated BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations in CD34+ cells from 100 chronic-phase CML patients by multiplex allele-specific PCR and sequencing at diagnosis. Mutations were re-investigated upon manifestation of imatinib resistance using allele-specific PCR and direct sequencing of BCR-ABL kinase domain. RESULTS Pre-existing BCR-ABL mutations were detected in 32/100 patients and included F311L, M351T, and T315I. After a median follow-up of 30 months (range 8–48), all patients with pre-existing BCR-ABL mutations exhibited imatinib resistance. Of the 68 patients without pre-existing BCR-ABL mutations, 24 developed imatinib resistance; allele-specific PCR and BCR-ABL kinase domain sequencing detected mutations in 22 of these patients. All 32 patients with pre-existing BCR-ABL mutations had the same mutations after manifestation of imatinib-resistance. In imatinib-resistant patients without pre-existing BCR-ABL mutations, we detected F311L, M351T, Y253F, and T315I mutations. All imatinib-resistant patients except T315I and Y253F mutations responded to imatinib dose escalation. CONCLUSION Pre-existing BCR-ABL mutations can be detected in a substantial number of chronic-phase CML patients by sensitive allele-specific PCR technique using CD34+ cells. These mutations are associated with imatinib resistance if affecting drug binding directly or indirectly. After the recent approval of nilotinib, dasatinib, bosutinib and ponatinib for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia along with imatinib, all of which vary in their effectiveness against mutated BCR-ABL forms, detection of pre-existing BCR-ABL mutations can help in selection of appropriate first-line drug therapy. Thus, mutation testing using CD34+ cells may facilitate improved, patient-tailored treatment.Zafar Iqbal, Aamer Aleem, Mudassar Iqbal, Mubashar Iqbal Naqvi, Ammara Gill, Abid Sohail Taj, Abdul Qayyum, Najeeb ur-Rehman, Ahmad Mukhtar Khalid, Ijaz Hussain Shah, Muhammad Khalid, Riazul Haq, Mahwish Khan, Shahid Mahmood Baig, Abid Jamil, Muhammad Naeem Abbas, Muhammad Absar, Amer Mahmood, Mahmood Rasool, Tanveer Akhta
Dairy Sience Park connecting Rumi, Iqbal, Tolerance and SDGs
No full textThis paper presented at the Fourth International Conference and Industrial Exhibitoion on Dairy Science Park IV, Nov 1-5, 2017, Konya, Turkey, has reviewed the philosophy of Mevlana Jalal ud Din Rumi regarding love, tolerance, respect and spiritualism; appreciating each others and knowing the value of each other. Rumi (1230) told Iqbal (1930) that, “Downfall is fate of those who fail to safeguard their identity”. Iqbal urged for Quranic interpretation, respecting ego, restraint and tolerance and looking at the East for the rising sun as sign of Hope. The year 2000 saw the War on Terror associated with competition, fanaticism, indifference and materialism. The United Nations defined Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to protect the future generations. The “Fourth International Conference and Industrial Exhibition on Dairy Science Park” was held at Selcuk University Konya, the city of Mevlana Rumi, to connect the glorious Past with the Future of the Islamic Era, through SDGAction9671 changed to SDGAction40154
Particulate Matter Concentration in Ambient Air at Gulshan e Iqbal, Karachi
Get PDFThe aim of this study is to measure the PM concentration (PM2.5, PM10) at different times and at different locations of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal town and comparison of the obtained results with the permissible limits of Pak-EPA for assessment of the air quality. A total of 12 sampling locations were selected in different blocks of Gulshan-e-Iqbal town. The PM 2.5 concentration in the study area ranged from 47 to 81.3 µg/m3, with a mean value of 65.4 µg/m3. The results revealed that values of PM2.5 at all the sampling stations were above the permissible limits (35 µg/m3) set by Environmental Protection Agency Pakistan (Pak-EPA). The PM 10 concentration in the study area ranged from 55.6 to 99.0 µg/m3, with a mean value of 79.9 µg/m3. The results revealed that values of PM10 at all the sampling stations were within the permissible limits (150 µg/m3) set by Environmental Protection Agency Pakistan (Pak-EPA). The concentration of PM (PM2.5, PM10) was found to vary with time at all the sampling stations. Maximum concentrations were recorded at 2 PM and 7 PM while minimum concentrations were recorded at 12 AM. The worst air quality in terms of particulate matter concentration in the study area was observed at Block 11 of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, whereas better air quality in terms of PM was recorded at Block
- …
