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  1. Does meat consumption exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions? Evidence from US data
    Shafiullah M, Khalid U, Shahbaz M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Mar;28(9):11415-11429.
    PMID: 33118073 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11331-9
    This study empirically investigates the effect of meat consumption on greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) in the USA. The impact of meat consumption on greenhouse gas emissions is examined by controlling for economic growth and energy consumption. The empirical analysis finds that all these variables are cointegrated for the long run. Moreover, meat consumption aggravates greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, meat consumption (except for beef) has a U-shaped relationship with carbon emissions and an inverted U-shaped relationship with methane and nitrous oxide emissions. The causality analysis indicates a unidirectional causality running from meat consumption to greenhouse gas emissions. These empirical findings indicate that the US livestock sector has the potential to become more environmentally friendly with careful policy formulation and implementation.
  2. Disaggregated renewable energy sources in mitigating CO2 emissions: new evidence from the USA using quantile regressions
    Sharif A, Bhattacharya M, Afshan S, Shahbaz M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Nov;28(41):57582-57601.
    PMID: 34089449 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13829-2
    A key objective of renewable energy development in the USA is to reduce CO2 emissions by decreasing reliance on fossil fuels in the coming decades. Using quantile-on-quantile regressions, this research examines the relationship between disaggregated sources of renewable energy (biomass, biofuel, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, wind, wood, and waste) and CO2 emissions in the USA during the period from 1995 to 2017. Our findings support the deployment of various types of renewables in combating CO2 emissions for each quantile. In particular, a negative effect of renewable energy consumption on CO2 emissions is observed for the lower quantiles in almost all types of renewables. The effect of all the renewable energy sources taken together is significant for the lower and upper quantiles of the provisional distribution of CO2 emissions. The effect of renewable energy becomes stronger and more significant in the middle quantiles, where a pronounced causal effect of return and volatility is detected for the lower and upper middle quantiles. At the same time, heterogeneity in the findings across various types of renewable energy sources reveals differences in the relative importance of each type within the energy sector taken as a whole. Future US initiatives in renewable energy deployment at both the federal and the state levels should take into consideration the relative importance of each type, so as to maximize the efficacy of renewable energy policies in combating CO2 emissions.
  3. The impact of biomass energy consumption on pollution: evidence from 80 developed and developing countries
    Solarin SA, Al-Mulali U, Gan GGG, Shahbaz M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2018 Aug;25(23):22641-22657.
    PMID: 29846898 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2392-5
    The aim of this research is to explore the effect of biomass energy consumption on CO2 emissions in 80 developed and developing countries. To achieve robustness, the system generalised method of moment was used and several control variables were incorporated into the model including real GDP, fossil fuel consumption, hydroelectricity production, urbanisation, population, foreign direct investment, financial development, institutional quality and the Kyoto protocol. Relying on the classification of the World Bank, the countries were categorised to developed and developing countries. We also used a dynamic common correlated effects estimator. The results consistently show that biomass energy as well as fossil fuel consumption generate more CO2 emissions. A closer look at the results show that a 100% increase in biomass consumption (tonnes per capita) will increase CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) within the range of 2 to 47%. An increase of biomass energy intensity (biomass consumption in tonnes divided by real gross domestic product) of 100% will increase CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) within the range of 4 to 47%. An increase of fossil fuel consumption (tonnes of oil equivalent per capita) by 100% will increase CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) within the range of 35 to 55%. The results further show that real GDP urbanisation and population increase CO2 emissions. However, hydroelectricity and institutional quality decrease CO2 emissions. It is further observed that financial development, foreign direct investment and openness decrease CO2 emissions in the developed countries, but the opposite results are found for the developing nations. The results also show that the Kyoto Protocol reduces emission and that Environmental Kuznets Curve exists. Among the policy implications of the foregoing results is the necessity of substituting fossil fuels with other types of renewable energy (such as hydropower) rather than biomass energy for reduction of emission to be achieved.
  4. Decomposing the trade-environment nexus for Malaysia: what do the technique, scale, composition, and comparative advantage effect indicate?
    Ling CH, Ahmed K, Binti Muhamad R, Shahbaz M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Dec;22(24):20131-42.
    PMID: 26300360 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5217-9
    This paper investigates the impact of trade openness on CO2 emissions using time series data over the period of 1970QI-2011QIV for Malaysia. We disintegrate the trade effect into scale, technique, composition, and comparative advantage effects to check the environmental consequence of trade at four different transition points. To achieve the purpose, we have employed augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) unit root tests in order to examine the stationary properties of the variables. Later, the long-run association among the variables is examined by applying autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration. Our results confirm the presence of cointegration. Further, we find that scale effect has positive and technique effect has negative impact on CO2 emissions after threshold income level and form inverted U-shaped relationship-hence validates the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. Energy consumption adds in CO2 emissions. Trade openness and composite effect improve environmental quality by lowering CO2 emissions. The comparative advantage effect increases CO2 emissions and impairs environmental quality. The results provide the innovative approach to see the impact of trade openness in four sub-dimensions of trade liberalization. Hence, this study attributes more comprehensive policy tool for trade economists to better design environmentally sustainable trade rules and agreements.
  5. Does foreign direct investment influence carbon emission-related environmental problems? Contextual evidence from developing countries across Sub-Saharan Africa
    Khan MN, Shahbaz M, Murshed M, Khan S, Hosen M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024 Feb 19.
    PMID: 38372919 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32276-3
    Sub-Saharan African nations face multifaceted environmental problems, especially those associated with carbon discharges. Hence, this study calculates a composite carbon index in the context of 39 developing nations from this region and uses it as a proxy for the carbon emission-related environmental problems they have faced during the 2000-2020 period. This index is estimated by utilizing data regarding annual carbon dioxide discharges, output-based carbon productivity rates, and energy consumption-based carbon intensity levels in the concerned countries. Hence, policy takeaways from this study have critical relevance for the selected sub-Saharan African nations to help them achieve the objectives related to the Sustainable Development Goals agenda and the Paris Accord. Overall, the findings from the econometric analyses verify that more receipt of foreign direct investment initially raises but later on reduces environmental problems. Thus, the nexus concerning these variables depicts an inverse U-shape. Besides, the results endorse that greening the energy consumption structures of the sampled sub-Saharan African countries helps to abate their environmental problems in the long run while financial development aggravates the extent of environmental adversities that take place. Lastly, improving the quality of regulatory agencies enables the Sub-Saharan African nations to further mitigate their environmental problems. Moreover, these aforementioned findings are observed to be heterogeneous across low- and middle-income categories of the selected Sub-Saharan African countries. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of the findings is also confirmed by the outcomes derived from the country-specific analyses. Nevertheless, these nations should attract clean energy-embodying foreign direct investment, make their energy consumption structures greener by amplifying renewable energy adoption rates, introduce green funds to develop their financial sectors, and make their environmental regulatory agencies more transparent with their activities.
  6. Improving the environmental impact of palm kernel shell through maximizing its production of hydrogen and syngas using advanced artificial intelligence
    Rezk H, Nassef AM, Inayat A, Sayed ET, Shahbaz M, Olabi AG
    Sci Total Environ, 2019 Mar 25;658:1150-1160.
    PMID: 30677979 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.284
    Fossil fuel depletion and the environmental concerns have been under discussion for energy production for many years and finding new and renewable energy sources became a must. Biomass is considered as a net zero CO2 energy source. Gasification of biomass for H2 and syngas production is an attractive process. The main target of this research is to improve the production of hydrogen and syngas from palm kernel shell (PKS) steam gasification through defining the optimal operating parameters' using a modern optimization algorithm. To predict the gaseous outputs, two PKS models were built using fuzzy logic based on the experimental data sets. A radial movement optimizer (RMO) was applied to determine the system's optimal operating parameters. During the optimization process, the decision variables were represented by four different operating parameters. These parameters include; temperature, particle size, CaO/biomass ratio and coal bottom ash (CBA) with their operating ranges of (650-750 °C), (0.5-1 mm), (0.5-2) and wt% (0.02-0.10), respectively. The individual and interactive effects of different combinations were investigated on the production of H2 and syngas yield. The optimized results were compared with experimental data and results obtained from Response Surface Methodology (RSM) reported in literature. The obtained optimal values of the operating parameters through RMO were found 722 °C, 0.92 mm, 1.72 and 0.06 wt% for the temperature, particle size, CaO/biomass ratio and coal bottom ash, respectively. The results showed that syngas production was significantly improved as it reached 65.44 vol% which was better than that obtained in earlier studies.
  7. Optimization of hydrogen and syngas production from PKS gasification by using coal bottom ash
    Shahbaz M, Yusup S, Inayat A, Patrick DO, Pratama A, Ammar M
    Bioresour Technol, 2017 Oct;241:284-295.
    PMID: 28575792 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.05.119
    Catalytic steam gasification of palm kernel shell is investigated to optimize operating parameters for hydrogen and syngas production using TGA-MS setup. RSM is used for experimental design and evaluating the effect of temperature, particle size, CaO/biomass ratio, and coal bottom ash wt% on hydrogen and syngas. Hydrogen production appears highly sensitive to all factors, especially temperature and coal bottom ash wt%. In case of syngas, the order of parametric influence is: CaO/biomass>coal bottom ash wt%>temperature>particle size. The significant catalytic effect of coal bottom ash is due to the presence of Fe2O3, MgO, Al2O3, and CaO. A temperature of 692°C, coal bottom ash wt% of 0.07, CaO/biomass of 1.42, and particle size of 0.75mm are the optimum conditions for augmented yield of hydrogen and syngas. The production of hydrogen and syngas is 1.5% higher in the pilot scale gasifier as compared to TGA-MS setup.
  8. Fulltext Estimation of the risk of COVID-19 transmission through aerosol-generating procedures
    Manzar S, Kazmi F, Bin Shahzad H, Qureshi FA, Shahbaz M, Rashid S
    Dent Med Probl, 2022;59(3):351-356.
    PMID: 36128802 DOI: 10.17219/dmp/149342
    BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was associated with the provision of multiple guidelines for the dental profession. All elective procedures were restricted, and only emergency procedures were performed. There was fear and anxiety among dentists while performing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs), as they were considered to pose a high risk of COVID-19 transmission.

    OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during AGPs, and to examine the association between risk severity and the number of AGPs performed per day. The efficacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) was also assessed.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional cohort study was based on an online questionnaire form completed by 629 general and specialized dentists between January 1 and February 28, 2021. The collected data referred to the sources of COVID-19 infection, the type of PPE used and the number of AGPs performed each day by dental healthcare professionals (DHCPs). For each question, the absolute numbers of responses as well as percentages were calculated.

    RESULTS: Among the 629 DHCPs, 113 (17.97%) contracted COVID-19. The risk of contracting COVID-19 during AGPs was the same as in the case of non-AGPs, and the infection risk was not associated with the number of AGPs performed per day. The efficacy of a surgical mask with a face shield/eye goggles was higher in comparison with all other types of PPE. Differences in the infection risk across the different types of PPE used were statistically significant (p < 0.001).

    CONCLUSIONS: The risk of COVID-19 transmission during AGPs is the same as in the case of non-AGPs. Thus, restrictions on the performance of elective AGPs should be lifted. On the other hand, the best protection during AGPs is provided by a surgical mask with a face shield/eye goggles.

  9. Heat and Wheat: Adaptation strategies with respect to heat shock proteins and antioxidant potential; an era of climate change
    Abasi F, Raja NI, Mashwani ZU, Ehsan M, Ali H, Shahbaz M
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Jan;256(Pt 1):128379.
    PMID: 38000583 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128379
    Extreme changes in weather including heat-wave and high-temperature fluctuations are predicted to increase in intensity and duration due to climate change. Wheat being a major staple crop is under severe threat of heat stress especially during the grain-filling stage. Widespread food insecurity underscores the critical need to comprehend crop responses to forthcoming climatic shifts, pivotal for devising adaptive strategies ensuring sustainable crop productivity. This review addresses insights concerning antioxidant, physiological, molecular impacts, tolerance mechanisms, and nanotechnology-based strategies and how wheat copes with heat stress at the reproductive stage. In this study stress resilience strategies were documented for sustainable grain production under heat stress at reproductive stage. Additionally, the mechanisms of heat resilience including gene expression, nanomaterials that trigger transcription factors, (HSPs) during stress, and physiological and antioxidant traits were explored. The most reliable method to improve plant resilience to heat stress must include nano-biotechnology-based strategies, such as the adoption of nano-fertilizers in climate-smart practices and the use of advanced molecular approaches. Notably, the novel resistance genes through advanced molecular approach and nanomaterials exhibit promise for incorporation into wheat cultivars, conferring resilience against imminent adverse environmental conditions. This review will help scientific communities in thermo-tolerance wheat cultivars and new emerging strategies to mitigate the deleterious impact of heat stress.
  10. Fulltext Perceived Threat of COVID-19 Contagion and Frontline Paramedics' Agonistic Behaviour: Employing a Stressor-Strain-Outcome Perspective
    Shahzad F, Du J, Khan I, Fateh A, Shahbaz M, Abbas A, et al.
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 Jul 15;17(14).
    PMID: 32679748 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17145102
    Historically, infectious diseases have been the leading cause of human psychosomatic strain and death tolls. This research investigated the recent threat of COVID-19 contagion, especially its impact among frontline paramedics treating patients with COVID-19, and their perception of self-infection, which ultimately increases their agonistic behaviour. Based on the stressor-strain-outcome paradigm, a research model was proposed and investigated using survey-based data through a structured questionnaire. The results found that the perceived threat of COVID-19 contagion (emotional and cognitive threat) was positively correlated with physiological anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion, which led toward agonistic behaviour. Further, perceived social support was a key moderator that negatively affected the relationships between agonistic behaviour and physiological anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion. These findings significantly contributed to the current literature concerning COVID-19 and pandemic-related effects on human behaviour. This study also theorized the concept of human agonistic behaviour, which has key implications for future researchers.
  11. Nanotechnology for controlling mango malformation: a promising approach
    Shahbaz M, Seelan JSS, Abasi F, Fatima N, Mehak A, Raza MU, et al.
    J Biomol Struct Dyn, 2024 Feb 12.
    PMID: 38344816 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2312449
    Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most important fruit crops in the world with yields of approximately 40 million tons annually and its production continues to decrease every year as a result of the attack of certain pathogens i.e. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Erythricium salmonicolor, Amritodus atkinsoni, Idioscopus clypealis, Idioscopus nitidulus, Bactrocera obliqua, Bactrocera frauenfeldi, Xanthomonas campestris, and Fusarium mangiferae. So F. mangiferae is the most harmful pathogen that causes mango malformation disease in mango which decreases its 90% yield. Nanotechnology is an eco-friendly and has a promising effect over traditional methods to cure fungal diseases. Different nanoparticles possess antifungal potential in terms of controlling the fungal diseases in plants but applications of nanotechnology in plant disease managements is minimal. The main focus of this review is to highlight the previous and current strategies to control mango malformation and highlights the promising applications of nanomaterials in combating mango malformation. Hence, the present review aims to provide brief information on the disease and effective management strategies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
  12. Thermogravimetric kinetic modelling of in-situ catalytic pyrolytic conversion of rice husk to bioenergy using rice hull ash catalyst
    Loy ACM, Gan DKW, Yusup S, Chin BLF, Lam MK, Shahbaz M, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2018 Aug;261:213-222.
    PMID: 29665455 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.04.020
    The thermal degradation behaviour and kinetic parameter of non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis of rice husk (RH) using rice hull ash (RHA) as catalyst were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis at four different heating rates of 10, 20, 50 and 100 K/min. Four different iso conversional kinetic models such as Kissinger, Friedman, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW) were applied in this study to calculate the activation energy (EA) and pre-exponential value (A) of the system. The EA of non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis was found to be in the range of 152-190 kJ/mol and 146-153 kJ/mol, respectively. The results showed that the catalytic pyrolysis of RH had resulted in a lower EA as compared to non-catalytic pyrolysis of RH and other biomass in literature. Furthermore, the high Gibb's free energy obtained in RH implied that it has the potential to serve as a source of bioenergy production.
  13. Synergistic effect on co-pyrolysis of rice husk and sewage sludge by thermal behavior, kinetics, thermodynamic parameters and artificial neural network
    Naqvi SR, Hameed Z, Tariq R, Taqvi SA, Ali I, Niazi MBK, et al.
    Waste Manag, 2019 Feb 15;85:131-140.
    PMID: 30803566 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2018.12.031
    This study investigates the thermal decomposition, thermodynamic and kinetic behavior of rice-husk (R), sewage sludge (S) and their blends during co-pyrolysis using thermogravimetric analysis at a constant heating rate of 20 °C/min. Coats-Redfern integral method is applied to mass loss data by employing seventeen models of five major reaction mechanisms to calculate the kinetics and thermodynamic parameters. Two temperature regions: I (200-400 °C) and II (400-600 °C) are identified and best fitted with different models. Among all models, diffusion models show high activation energy with higher R2(0.99) of rice husk (66.27-82.77 kJ/mol), sewage sludge (52.01-68.01 kJ/mol) and subsequent blends (45.10-65.81 kJ/mol) for region I and for rice husk (7.31-25.84 kJ/mol), sewage sludge (1.85-16.23 kJ/mol) and blends (4.95-16.32 kJ/mol) for region II, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters are calculated using kinetics data to assess the co-pyrolysis process enthalpy, Gibbs-free energy, and change in entropy. Artificial neural network (ANN) models are developed and employed on co-pyrolysis thermal decomposition data to study the reaction mechanism by calculating Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2). The co-pyrolysis results from a thermal behavior and kinetics perspective are promising and the process is viable to recover organic materials more efficiently.
  14. Fulltext Evaluation of Selenium Nanoparticles in Inducing Disease Resistance against Spot Blotch Disease and Promoting Growth in Wheat under Biotic Stress
    Shahbaz M, Akram A, Mehak A, Haq EU, Fatima N, Wareen G, et al.
    Plants (Basel), 2023 Feb 08;12(4).
    PMID: 36840109 DOI: 10.3390/plants12040761
    In the present study, SeNPs were synthesized using Melia azedarach leaf extracts and investigated for growth promotion in wheat under the biotic stress of spot blotch disease. The phytosynthesized SeNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The in vitro efficacy of different concentrations of phytosynthesized SeNPs (i.e., 100 μg/mL, 150 μg/mL, 200 μg/mL, 250 μg/mL, and 300 μg/mL) was evaluated using the well diffusion method, which reported that 300 μg/mL showed maximum fungus growth inhibition. For in vivo study, different concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L) of SeNPs were applied exogenously to evaluate the morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters under control conditions and determine when infection was induced. Among all treatments, 30 mg/L of SeNPs performed well and increased the plant height by 2.34% compared to the control and 30.7% more than fungus-inoculated wheat. Similarly, fresh plant weight and dry weight increased by 17.35% and 13.43% over the control and 20.34% and 52.48% over the fungus-treated wheat, respectively. In leaf surface area and root length, our findings were 50.11% and 10.37% higher than the control and 40% and 71% higher than diseased wheat, respectively. Plant physiological parameters i.e., chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content, were increased 14, 133, and 16.1 times over the control and 157, 253, and 42 times over the pathogen-inoculated wheat, respectively. Our findings regarding carotenoid content, relative water content, and the membrane stability index were 29-, 49-, and 81-fold higher than the control and 187-, 63-, and 48-fold higher than the negative control, respectively. In the case of plant biochemical parameters, proline, sugar, flavonoids, and phenolic contents were recorded at 6, 287, 11, and 34 times higher than the control and 32, 107, 33, and 4 times more than fungus-inoculated wheat, respectively. This study is considered the first biocompatible approach to evaluate the potential of green-synthesized SeNPs as growth-promoting substances in wheat under the spot blotch stress and effective management strategy to inhibit fungal growth.
  15. Investigation of tribo-mechanical performance of alkali treated rice-husk and polypropylene-random-copolymer based biocomposites
    Rabbani FA, Sulaiman M, Tabasum F, Yasin S, Iqbal T, Shahbaz M, et al.
    Heliyon, 2023 Nov;9(11):e22028.
    PMID: 38034731 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22028
    This study was based on the experimental performance evaluation of a wood polymer composite (WPC) that was synthesized by incorporating untreated and treated rice husk (RH) fibers into a polypropylene random copolymer matrix. The submicron-scale RH fibers were alkali-treated to modify the surface and introduce new functional groups in the WPC. A compatibilizer (maleic anhydride) and a thermos-mechanical properties modifier (polypropylene grafted with 30 % glass fiber) were used in the WPC. The effects of untreated and treated RH on the WPC panels were studied using FESEM, FTIR, and microscope images. A pin-on-disk setup was used to investigate the bulk tribological properties of PPRC and WPC. The complex relationship between the friction coefficient of different loading of RH fibers in the WPC, as a function of sliding distance, was analyzed along with the temperature and morphology of the surface. It was observed that untreated RH acted as a friction modifier, while treated RH acted as a solid lubricant. Microhardness was calculated using the QCSM module on nanoindentation. It was found that untreated RH led to an increase in microhardness, while treated RH caused a decrease in hardness compared to PPRC.
  16. Biochar amendment improves alpine meadows growth and soil health in Tibetan plateau over a three year period
    Rafiq MK, Bai Y, Aziz R, Rafiq MT, Mašek O, Bachmann RT, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2020 May 15;717:135296.
    PMID: 31839318 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135296
    Previous biochar research has primarily focused on agricultural annual cropping systems with very little attention given to highly fragile, complex and diverse natural alpine grassland ecosystems. The present study investigated the effect of biochar on the growth of alpine meadows and soil health. This study was conducted in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau over a three year period to investigate the effect of three rice husk biochar application rates alone and combination with high and low NPK fertilizer dosages on alpine meadow productivity, soil microbial diversity as well as pH, carbon and nitrogen content at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depth. At the end of the 3rd year soil samples were analysed and assessed by combined analysis of variance. The results showed that biochar application in combination with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer had a significant increase in fresh and dry biomass during the second and third year of the study as compared to control and alone biochar application (p ≤ 0.05). Biochar alone and in combination with NPK fertilizer resulted in a significant increase in the soil pH and carbon contents of the soil. XPS results, the SEM imaging and EDS analysis of aged biochar demonstrated that the biochar has undergone complex changes over the 3 years as compared to fresh biochar. This research suggests that biochar has positive effect on alpine meadow growth and soil health and may be an effective tool for alpine meadow restoration.
  17. Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles enhanced wheat resistance to Bipolaris sorokiniana
    Bibi S, Raza M, Shahbaz M, Ajmal M, Mehak A, Fatima N, et al.
    Plant Physiol Biochem, 2023 Oct;203:108067.
    PMID: 37832369 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108067
    Agronomic crops can benefit from the application of nanoscale materials in order to control phytopathogens and improve plant growth. Bipolaris sorokiniana, a soil- and seed-borne fungus, causes severe yield losses in wheat. In order to determine the physio-chemical changes in wheat under biotic stress of B. sorokiniana, the current study aimed to synthesis silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Allium sativum bulb extract. Herein, we applied the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a foliar spray on two wheat varieties (Pakistan-2013, and NARC-2011) at the concentrations of 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L to suppress B. sorokiniana. Among all the applied concentrations of AgNPs, the 40 mg/L concentration demonstrated the most effective outcome in reduction of the intensity of spot blotch and improved the morphological, physiological, biochemical parameters, as well as antioxidant activity in wheat plant. Foliar application of AgNPs at 40 mg/L Pakistan-2013 and NARC-2011 wheat varieties significantly increased chlorophyll a 84.8% and 53.4%, chlorophyll b 28.9% and 84.3%, total chlorophyll content 294.3% and 241.2%, membrane stability index 7.5% and 6.1%, relative water contents 25.4% and 10.5%, proline content 320.5% and 609.9%, and soluble sugar content 120% and 259.4%, respectively, compared to control and diseased plant. This is the first study provides important insights into the role of phyto-mediated AgNPs in increasing resistant of wheat infected with B. sorokiniana. These findings offers valuable new insights that may be useful for reducing disease incidence in wheat fields.
  18. An overview of biomass thermochemical conversion technologies in Malaysia
    Chan YH, Cheah KW, How BS, Loy ACM, Shahbaz M, Singh HKG, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2019 Aug 25;680:105-123.
    PMID: 31100662 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.211
    The rising pressure on both cleaner production and sustainable development have been the main driving force that pushes mankind to seek for alternative greener and sustainable feedstocks for chemical and energy production. The biomass 'waste-to-wealth' concept which convert low value biomass into value-added products which contain high economic potential, have attracted the attentions from both academicians and industry players. With a tropical climate, Malaysia has a rich agricultural sector and dense tropical rainforest, giving rise to abundance of biomass which most of them are underutilized. Hence, the biomass 'waste-to-wealth' conversion through various thermochemical conversion technologies and the prospective challenges towards commercialization in Malaysia are reviewed in this paper. In this paper, a critical review about the maturity status of the four most promising thermochemical conversion routes in Malaysia (i.e. gasification, pyrolysis, liquefaction and hydroprocessing) is given. The current development of thermochemical conversion technologies for biomass conversion in Malaysia is also reviewed and benchmarked against global progress. Besides, the core technical challenges in commercializing these green technologies are highlighted as well. Lastly, the future outlook for successful commercialization of these technologies in Malaysia is included.
  19. Fulltext Global, Regional, and National Cancer Incidence, Mortality, Years of Life Lost, Years Lived With Disability, and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years for 29 Cancer Groups, 1990 to 2017: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study
    Global Burden of Disease Cancer Collaboration, Fitzmaurice C, Abate D, Abbasi N, Abbastabar H, Abd-Allah F, et al.
    JAMA Oncol, 2019 Dec 01;5(12):1749-1768.
    PMID: 31560378 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.2996
    IMPORTANCE: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data.

    OBJECTIVE: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning.

    EVIDENCE REVIEW: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence.

    FINDINGS: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572 000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542 000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819 000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601 000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596 000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414 000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs).

    CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care.

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