Boosting of Magnetic, Ferroelectric, Energy Storage Efficiency, and Piezoelectric Properties of Zn Intercalated SrBi4Ti4O15-Based Ceramics.

An appropriate amount of Zn-ions are incorporated into the high Curie temperature bismuth layer-structure ferroelectric material to fabricate Sr0.2Na0.4Pr0.4Bi4Ti4O15:xwt%ZnO; (SNPBT:xZn), with x = 0, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 ceramic series to investigate the magnetic, ferroelectric, and energy storage efficiency and piezoelectric properties. Pure SNPBT and SNPBT:xZn ceramics have maintained their structure even after the intercalation of Zn-ions at the lattice sites of SNPBT. The addition of ZnO in SNPBT has improved the multifunctional properties of the material at x = 0.15. At room temperature, SNPBT:0.15Zn has shown a high relative density of 96%, exhibited weak ferromagnetic behavior along with a low saturation magnetization (Ms) of 0.028 emu/g with a low coercive field of 306 Oe, a high remnant polarization (Pr) of 9.04 µC/cm2, a recoverable energy density (Wrec) of ~0.5 J/cm3, an energy conversion efficiency (η) of ~41%, a high piezoelectric co-efficient (d33) of 21 pC/N, and an impedance of 1.98 × 107 Ω, which are much improved as compared to pure SBT or pure SNPBT ceramics. Dielectric Constant (ɛr) versus temperature plots present the sharp peak for SNPBT:0.15Zn ceramic at a Curie temperature (TC) ~ 605 °C, confirming the strong ferroelectric nature of the ceramic. Moreover, SNPBT:0.15Zn ceramic has shown strong, piezoelectric, thermally stable behavior, which remains at 76% (16 pC/N) of its initial value even after annealing at 500 °C. The achieved results clearly indicate that SNPBT:0.15Zn ceramic is a promising candidate for future wide-temperature pulse power applications and high-temperature piezoelectric devices.

Exploration of physiological and biochemical processes of canola with exogenously applied fertilizers and plant growth regulators under drought stress.

Environmental stresses may alter the nutritional profile and economic value of crops. Chemical fertilizers and phytohormones are major sources which can enhance the canola production under stressful conditions. Physio-biochemical responses of canola altered remarkably with the use of nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium (N/P/K) fertilizers and plant growth regulators (PGRs) under drought stress. The major aim of current study was to evaluate nutritional quality and physio-biochemical modulation in canola (Brassica napus L.) from early growth to seed stage with NPK and PGRs in different water regimes. To monitor biochemical and physiological processes in canola, two season field experiment was conducted as spilt plot under randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments (Control, Chemical fertilizers [N (90 kg/ha), P and K (45 kg ha-1)], PGRs; indole acetic acid (IAA) 15g ha-1, gibberellic acid (GA3) 15g ha-1 and the combination of NPK and PGRs] under different irrigations regimes (60, 100, 120, 150 mm evaporations). Water stress enhanced peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), soluble sugar, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline contents as well as leaf temperature while substantially reduced leaf water contents (21%), stomatal conductance (50%), chlorophyll contents (10-67%), membrane stability index (24%) and grain yield (30%) of canola. However, the combined application of NPK and PGR further increased the enzymatic antioxidant pool, soluble sugars, along with recovery of leaf water contents, chlorophyll contents, stomatal conductance and membrane stability index but decreased the proline contents and leaf temperature at different rate of evaporation. There is positive interaction of applied elicitors to the water stress in canola except leaf area. The outcomes depicted that the combination of NPK with PGRs improved the various morpho-physiological as well as biochemical parameters and reduced the pressure of chemical fertilizers cost about 60%. It had also reduced the deleterious effect of water limitation on the physiology and grain yield and oil contents of canola in field experiments.

Environmental risk assessment of diclofenac residues in surface waters and wastewater: a hidden global threat to aquatic ecosystem.

Pharmaceuticals are chemical compounds employed as medicinal drugs. They have severe physic-chemical properties which make them destructive for non-target species. Consequently, their continuous addition in the environment may pose hazardous effects. Among these, diclofenac (DCF), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is extensively used in Pakistan which may lead to its accumulation in both terrestrial and aquatic environment. Present study aims to assess the presence and concentration of pharmaceutically active drug (DCF) in surface water and wastewater of twin cities of Pakistan (Rawalpindi and Islamabad). For this purpose, a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was adopted involving solid-phase extraction procedure. Wastewater samples were collected from various sites of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Results of HPLC analysis revealed that DCF was extant with considerably high concentration, not only in wastewater but also in surface water samples. Concentrations as high as 216 µg L-1 was detected in Rawat industrial area and low as 8 µg L-1 was detected in dairy farm wastewater samples collected from Taramri. However, maximum DCF levels in residential wastewater and hospital wastewater were detected to be 105 µg L-1 and 34 µg L-1, respectively. Moreover, the highest detected level (116 µg L-1) was found in surface water of Sawan River. Further, results of ecological risk assessment revealed its possible toxic effects of DCF on various aquatic organisms.

Pathophysiology of peste des petits ruminants in sheep (Dorper & Kajli) and goats (Boer & Beetal).

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), an economically important viral transboundary disease of small ruminants is not only prevalent in Pakistan but also in other countries where people rely on agriculture and animal products. The present study was aimed at describing the pathology and antigen localization in natural PPR infections in local (Kajli sheep; Beetal goats) as well as imported small ruminant breeds (Dorper sheep; Australian Boer goat). Morbidity and mortality rates were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in indigenous Kajli sheep (75.37 and 32.80%) and Beetal goats (81.10 and 37.24%) as compared to Dorper sheep (6.99 and 1.48%) and Australian Boer goat (5.01 and 2.23%). Affected animals exhibited high fever, severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, respiratory distress and nodular lesions on lips and nostrils. Thick mucous discharge was oozing out from nostrils. On necropsy, lungs were congested and pneumonic, with nodular and cystic appearance. Intestines were hemorrhagic with zebra stripping. Characteristic histopathological lesions of PPR were noted in intestines, lymphoid organs and lungs. In GI tract, stunting and blunting of villi, necrotic enteritis, and infiltration of mononuclear cells in duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Small intestines exhibited diffuse edema of the submucosa along with proliferation of fibrocytes leading to thickened submucosa which has not been reported previously. Lymphoid organs showed partial to complete destruction of lymphoid follicles. Lesions of the respiratory tract included depictive of bronchopneumonia, severe congestion of trachea and apical lobe of lungs with deposition of fibrinous materials. Histopathological lesions of respiratory tract were severe and characteristic of broncho-interstitial pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, interstitial pneumonia and fibrinous pneumonia. The alveoli were filled with edematous fluid mixed with fibrinous exudate, numerous alveolar macrophages, mononuclear cells along with thickened interalveolar septa and presence of intranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies. One-Step RT-PCR using NP3 and NP4 primers confirmed a PPR virus of 352 bp size in spleen, lungs and mesenteric and brachial lymph node samples. It was concluded that morbidity and mortality due to PPR were significantly higher in indigenous breeds of sheep and goat as compared to imported sheep and goat breeds. PPR has rendered various lesions in GI and respiratory tract which are characteristic in nature for the diagnosis of the disease under field condition.

Patho-bacteriological investigation of an outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis infection in calves - Emerging stealth assault.

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) is an important bacterium, causing severe respiratory infection, and arthritis in dairy animals worldwide. This study is based on 50 suckling calves among which 15 showed respiratory distress, lameness and swollen joints and died later. M. bovis was isolated and identified from all dead (n = 15) and live (17.14%; 06 out of 35) calves on the basis of bacteriological examination. In morbid calves, the carpus and stifle joints were severely affected, while necropsy revealed multiple well-circumscribed calcified abscesses and caseous exudates in cranio-ventral and diaphragmatic lobes of lungs. Suppurative polyarthritis, fibrino-suppurative, teno-synovitis and otitis media were the common and striking lesion observed at postmortem examination. Histopathological examination revealed broncho-interstitial pneumonia and necrotic fibrino-purulent broncho-pneumonia in lungs. Similarly, synovial membranes and joints revealed presence of multiple foci of liquefactive necrosis surrounded by lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages and peripheral fibroplasia. In the bacteriological investigations, the characteristic fried egg colonies of M. bovis further confirmed this infection in all suspected cases. In conclusion, the current clinico-histo-pathological features are the depictive picture, and is the first report of M. bovis infection in calves in Pakistan.

Determination of essential fatty acid composition among mutant lines of Canola (Brassica napus), through high pressure liquid chromatography.

The present study aimed to quantify the methyl esters of lenoleic acid (LA), gamma-lenolenic acid (LNA) and oleic acid (OL) in the oil of Brassica napus mutants. Five stable mutants (ROO-75/1, ROO-100/6, ROO-125/12, ROO-125/14, and ROO-125/17) of B. napus cv. 'Rainbow' (P) and three mutants (W97-95/16, W97-0.75/11 and W97-.075/13) of B. napus cv. 'Westar' (P) at M6 stage, exhibiting better yield and yield components, were analyzed for essential fatty acids. The highest seed yield was observed in the mutant (ROO-100/6) followed by ROO-125/14 of Rainbow, that is, 34% and 32% higher than their parent plants, respectively. Westar mutant W97-75/11 also showed 30% higher seed yield than its parent plant. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of the composition of fatty acids indicated that OL was the most dominant fatty acid, ranging from 39.1 to 66.3%; LA was second (15.3-41.6%) and LNA was third (18.1-28.9%). Mutant ROO-125/14 showed higher OL contents than parent (Rainbow). These results are expected to support the approval of ROO-125/14 in the National Uniform Varietal Yield Trials (NUVYT) as a new variety based on high oil quality.