The present research work was carried out to investigate the effect of sulphur- nitrogen nutrition and varying plant population on productivity of sunflower hybrid at the agronomic research Area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Two years field oriented research experiments were conducted for 2006 and 2007. In the first experiment sunflower hybrid Hysun-33, was subjected to four sulphur level (0, 40, 80, 120 Kg ha -1 ) and four nitrogen levels (0, 40, 80,120Kg ha -1 ). The experiment was laid out in RCBD factorial with three replications. In the second experiment three sunflower hybrid viz., FH-331 (early maturing), SF187 (medium maturing) and Hysun-33 (late maturing) were tested at three row spacing (45cm, 60cm and 75cm).The variation in agronomic and physiological characteristics of sunflower was analyzed with varying levels of sulphur and nitrogen. During both years of study sulphur and nitrogen application @ 80 and 140 Kg ha -1 produced maximum achene yield (3167-3000Kg ha - 1 ), which was the out come of better yield contributing attributes (higher leaf area, maximum crop growth rate, better light interception, dominant head size, higher 1000- achene weight).On an average maximum oil yield of 1090 and 1121 Kg/ha were obtained with the application of 80 and 140 Kg ha-1 sulphur and nitrogen, respectively. An increase in protein contents (%) was experienced with increasing sulphur levels, and vice versa with enhancing the nitrogen levels. Radiation utilization efficiency for dry mater and grain was also significantly increased with higher nitrogen rate and sulphur application @ 80 Kg ha -1 . Computation of benefit cost ratio (BCR) revealed that the highest BCR 2.38 was also pertinent to the same treatment in sunflower are 80 and 140 Kg/ha -1 , respectively. In the second experiment the hybrid Hysun-33, which was a late maturing hybrid, not only recorded highest leaf area index, but also experienced maximum crop growth rate, highest plant height, greatest number of achenes, and maximum achene yield. On an average Hysun-33(late maturing type) produced significantly higher achene yield (3033-2888Kg ha -1 ), planted at 60cm apart rows, and SF-187(medium maturing hybrid) harvested maximum achene yield(2783-2740Kg ha - 1 ), when sown at 45 cm wider rows. The early maturing (FH-331,a local hybrid) responded well to the row distance of 45 cm and produced highest achene yield of xv2633-2533 Kg ha -1 . Although, with increasing rows spacing from 45-75cm, the sunflower crop resulted in larger heads, possessing more achenes per head, and heavier individual achene, but the boost in yield of the hybrids FH-331 and SF-187 with decreasing the row spacing (increasing plant population) was principally associated with more achene number per unit area, higher leaf area index and maximum crop growth rate. Therefore, it is concluded that under tropical to semi-arid region like the experimental area (located at 73.09 o East longitude and 31.25 o North latitude and at an altitude of 184 m), the best sulphur and nitrogen doses to get maximum achene yield. Highest achene yield 3084 kg ha -1 was recorded where sulphur was applied at the rate of 80 kg ha -1 for along with 140 kg ha -1 nitrogen. Computation of benefit cost ratio (BCR) revealed that the highest BCR 2.38 was also pertinent to the same treatment in sunflower are 80 and 140 Kg/ha -1 , respectively. Regarding hybrids and their planting density, late maturing hubris like Hysun-33 should be planted at 60 cm apart rows with plant to plant distance of 22.5. Medium and early maturing sunflower hybrids may be preferred to be sown at 45 cm apart rows with plant to plant distance of 22.5 cm.
Background and Objective: Aging is influenced by culture, individual experiences, and socio-demographic characteristics along with societal expectations. Cognitive functioning and activity level in geriatric population may alter their participation in daily life activities thus this study aims to explore the required physical and social activities for cognitive alertness among Pakistani Geriatric population.
Methodology: An observation based study of 169 aging individuals who performed on MoCA for cognitive functioning and interviewed on IPAQ for duration of physical activity in everyday life.
Results: It is an observational study, conducted among the geriatric population of different areas of Pakistan. A total number of 169 individuals participated out of which 59 % were males and 40 % were females with a majority of the population 74% falling between 65-75 years of age. It was found that 59% of the male and only 19% of the female had 22 score on MoCA for cognitive functioning and these individuals were practicing physical activities such as brisk walk for 3 days a week for more than 40 minutes and are involve at least once a week in social activities.
Conclusion: The research finding concluded that physical activities and social gathering both has impact on cognitive function of geriatric population to participate actively in daily activities.
The human Gram-negative enteropathogen Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of gastroenteritis, with 25% of the cases worldwide being attributed to this organism. C. jejuni, due to emergence of multidrug resistances, has also been classified as “high priority pathogens” thus making surveillance system as an essential key for the control of disease. However, in developing countries like Pakistan, the prevalence and source prediction of MDR C. jejuni isolates has been under reported due to lack of proper surveillance program. Therefore, the first section of the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of C. jejuni isolates among pediatric diarrheal cases in Pakistan, their origin through source tracking as well as associated antibiotic resistance patterns. C. jejuni was detected in 54.6% of the total samples and more than 75% of the isolated strains were resistant to panel of 8 out of 13 antibiotics tested however; high level of susceptibility was observed against imipenem (12.2%) and tigecycline (9.7%). Moreover, six isolates (7.3%) were metallo-beta lactamase (MBL) producer and were positive for at least one of the five screened metallo-beta lactamase genes. Source tracking using source predictive PCR, showed that 57.3% of the isolates belonged to livestock associated cluster (C1 to C6) and 42.8% were assigned to nonlivestock/environmental clusters (C7-C9). Isolates belonging to livestock cluster had high MAR index as compared to non-livestock suggesting possible transmission of antimicrobial resistant C. jejuni strains to human population via food chain. Moreover, it also suggests that extensive use of antibiotics for disease control and growth promotion in livestock especially in poultry industry results in the emergence and spread of AMR C. jejuni and the genes associated with resistance. C. jejuni, although being a fastidious microorganism, is able to survive and maintain its pathogenesis in the harsh environments. However, the mechanisms of stress adaptations and pathogenesis is C. jejuni are not fully elucidated. Type VI secretion system among several gram-negative bacteria have been associated with virulence and stress xii adaptations but its role in stress tolerance and pathogenesis of C. jejuni is still unknown. Moreover, in contrast to the other T6SS positive bacteria, C. jejuni has only one hemolysin coregulated protein (Hcp) protein, the hallmark of a functional T6SS system, whose structure and secretory function was not known. Therefore, the second aim of this study was to determine the role of type VI secretion system in biofilm formation (a stress adaptive mechanism) and pathogenesis. Moreover, the structure and function of Hcp protein was also elucidated. Comparative analysis of effect of different sub-lethal stresses on biofilm forming potential of isolates having fully functional T6SS (Hcp+) and those lacking functional T6SS (Hcp-) showed that the biofilm formation was significantly more enhanced in T6SS positive (Hcp+) groups as compared to T6SS negative (Hcp-) group under heat (55ºC) and oxidative stresses (8mM of H2O2). Structural analysis of Hcp showed similarities between the hexameric ring structure of Hcp-Cj and that of Hcp3 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Through functional studies, two roles for Hcp-Cj were identified i.e., in cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells and in biofilm formation in C. jejuni. Structure-based mutational analyses showed that an Arginine to Alanine mutation at position 30 within the extended loop of Hcp-Cj resulted in a significant decrease in cytotoxicity. However, biofilm formation function remained unaffected by this mutation. Collectively, this study supports the dual role of Hcp-Cj as a structural and effector protein in C. jejuni. High prevalence of C. jejuni associated diarrhea in both developed and developing countries can be attributed towards three major factors i) emergence of multidrug resistant C. jejuni isolates making WHO recommended antibiotics ineffective for treatment; ii) lack of control strategies at poultry level (as poultry meat consumption is the major source of infection in human); iii) persistence of C. jejuni as biofilm in poultry processing units and water reservoirs.. Therefore, third part of the present study was to develop control strategies against C. jejuni at three different levels i.e., 1) In-silico drug target identification was done using comparative proteomics and metabolomics approach by which ten essential non-homologous drug targets were identified which can be used in future to develop safe and effective drug against MDR C. jejuni ; 2) pH sensitive alginate coated chitosan nanoparticles were designed for targeted delivery of anti-campylobacter hexane fraction (PE-CANP) of Trachyspermum ammi (ajwain) into the chicken caecum without loss of its activity in gizzard to control C. jejuni at poultry farm level. The PE-CANP nanoparticles were able to reduce C. jejuni load to 6 logs (in CFU/g of caecal content) as compared to control group in chicken after 21 days of post infection and can therefore be used as a good alternative to conventional antibiotics for on-farm control of C. jejuni; 3) Three different metallic nanoparticles i.e., Silver/Graphene/TiO2, Erbium doped Li-Ni Ferrites and ZnO nanoparticle were tested for their antibacterial activity against C. jejuni which showed excellent antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity. All these nanoparticles can serve as an excellent coating material for control of C. jejuni biofilms in food processing setups and hence may control the transmission of C. jejuni to humans. Overall the present study helps in better understanding the disease transmission patterns and associated drug resistance traits as well as provides a better insight into the role of T6SS in C. jejuni in stress adaptation and thereafter developing control strategies for tackling C. jejuni both at farm and food processing level to reduce the burden of campylobacteriosis in humans.