How Vegetation Spatially Alters the Response of Precipitation and Air Temperature? Evidence from Pakistan

Afed Ullah Khan Waqar Ahmad,Muhammad Far Fayaz Ahmad Khan,Baig Ammar Ahmad,Shah Liaqat Ali,Khan Jehanzeb 한국대기환경학회 2020 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment (AJAE) Vol.14 No.2

Precipitation, air temperature and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data of 32 sites for a period of 1983 to till date in Pakistan were collected with the objective of studying the effects of vegetation on precipitation and air temperature in Pakistan. Spatial trends were assessed for NDVI, precipitation and air temperature (maximum and minimum). Increasing trends were observed at 18, 20, 24 and 26 number of monitoring stations for NDVI, precipitation and maximum and minimum temperature respectively. The trends of NDVI were compared with the trends of precipitation and maximum and minimum temperature in hilly and urban areas. NDVI and precipitation showed parallel trends in hilly areas at 64% of the monitoring stations. Whereas, only 53% of the stations displayed parallel trends in urban areas. 71% of the stations showed opposite NDVI and maximum temperature trends and 79% of the stations showed opposite NDVI and minimum temperature trends in hilly areas. However, in urban areas only 47% and 41% of the stations showed opposite trends of NDVI and maximum temperature and NDVI and minimum temperature respectively. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the effects of vegetation on precipitation and air temperature (maximum and minimum) in hilly and urban areas. The results showed that there exists positive relationship between NDVI and precipitation and negative relationship between NDVI and temperature (maximum and minimum) in most of the hilly areas. However, in urban areas, the positive relationship between NDVI and precipitation exists only in 47% of the stations and negative relationships between NDVI and maximum temperature and between NDVI and minimum temperature exist only in 47% and 41% of the stations respectively. Results of the current study suggest afforestation practices at country level to reduce climate change effects.

The XRCC1 Arg399Gln Gene Polymorphism and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: a Study in Kashmir

Khan, Nighat Parveen,Pandith, Arshad Ahmad,Yousuf, Adfar,Khan, Nuzhat Shaheen,Khan, Mosin Saleem,Bhat, Imtiyaz Ahmad,Nazir, Zahoor Wani,Wani, Khursheed Alam,Hussain, Mahboob Ul,Mudassar, Syed Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Background: The DNA repair gene XRCC1 Arg399Gln gene polymorphism has been found to be implicated in the development of various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), in different populations. We aimed to determine any association of this polymorphism with the risk of CRC in Kashmir. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 confirmed cases of CRC and 146 healthy cancer free controls from the Kashmiri population were included in this study. Genotyping was carried out by the polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: Genotype frequencies of XRCC1 Arg399Gln observed in controls were 34.2%, 42.5% and 23.3% for GG (Arg/Arg), GA (Arg/Gln), AA( Gln/Gln), respectively, and 28.3%, 66.7% and 5% in cases, with an odds ratio (OR)=5.7 and 95% confidence interval (CI) =2.3-14.1 (p=0.0001). No significant association of Arg399Gln SNP with any clinicopathological parameters of CRC was found. Conclusions: We found the protective role of 399Gln allele against risk to the development of CRC. The XRCC1 heterozygote status appears to be a strong risk factor for CRC development in the Kashmiri population.

Therapeutic Effects of Botanicals Used in Management of Dhiq al-Nafas (Bronchial Asthma): An Evidence Based Review

Ahmad, Taufiq,Parray, Shabir Ahmad,Ahmad, Naseem,Khan, Javed Ahmad,Zohaib, Sharique Cellmed Orthocellular Medicine and Pharmaceutical 2019 셀메드 (CellMed) Vol.9 No.1

Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases globally and currently affects approximately 300 million people worldwide. As per scientific data, approximately 10-12% of adults; and 15% of children are affected by the disease. The increasing global prevalence of the disease imposes a high health care costs into its mechanisms and treatment. Unani system of medicine (USM) is a well known traditional therapy for number of diseases since ancient times. Time has proved that USM has a special role in treatment of chronic diseases, due its special Usooleillaj (Line of treatment). Dhiq al-Nafas (bronchial asthma) is also considered as a chronic disease. Since ancient times, the disease was cured by number of single as well as compound formulations by renowned Unani scholars. This review provides a comprehensive summary of medicinal plant throughout the world, with reference to renowned Unani scholars and physicians for treatment of Dhiq al-Nafas. A number of Unani single and compound drugs, highly efficacious and safe drugs are available for the asthma. The data were taken from classical literature of USM, Modern reference books & electronic journals. The recent information was collected from different authentic search engines. This review will provide the centuries therapeutic information's of classical literature and recent scientific studies of 12 herbal drugs mentioned in USM, which will help the academia, clinicians, research scholars and post graduate students from Unani Medicine, Traditional & Complementary Medicine and other related disciplines, having research interest or work in the Unani medicine.

Fasad (Venesection): An important regimental therapy in Unani System of Medicine

Khan, Javed ahmad,Nikhat, Shagufta,Ahmad, Naseem,Zohaib, Sharique,Parray, Shabir ahmad Cellmed Orthocellular Medicine and Pharmaceutical 2017 셀메드 (CellMed) Vol.7 No.4

Fasad i.e. venesection is an old classical method of treatment in the Unani system of medicine. Fasad is Arabic word which means "to open". In the process, complete evacuation which drains out blood and dominating humours mixed with blood from veins. Fasad is carried out when the kamiyat (quantity) of the blood is excess in the body and patient is either exposed to the risk of developing a disease or has actually developed one. In classical literature of Unani system of medicine, physicians wrote a lot about this procedure. The details of venesection is mentioned in the given paper on the basis of classical literature including history, indications, types, amount of blood to be venesected, time, person, procedure, complications and special focus has been made on the number of vessels to be venesected and their benefits with respected to disease and condition.

Neonatal Intracranial Ischemia and Hemorrhage : Role of Cranial Sonography and CT Scanning

Khan, Imran Ahmad,Wahab, Shagufta,Khan, Rizwan Ahmad,Ullah, Kkram,Ali, Manazir The Korean Neurosurgical Society 2010 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.47 No.2

Objective : To evaluate the role of cranial sonography and computed tomography in the diagnosis of neonatal intracranial hemorrhage and hypoxic-ischemic injury in an Indian set-up. Methods : The study included 100 neonates who underwent cranial sonography and computed tomography (CT) in the first month of life for suspected intracranial ischemia and hemorrhage. Two observers rated the images for possible intracranial lesions and a kappa statistic for interobserver agreement was calculated. Results : There was no significant difference in the kappa values of CT and ultrasonography (USG) for the diagnosis of germinal matrix hemorrhage/intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH/IVH) and periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) and both showed good interobserver agreement. USG, however detected more cases of GMH/IVH (24 cases) and PVL (19) cases than CT (22 cases and 16 cases of IVH and PVL, respectively). CT had significantly better interobserver agreement for the diagnosis of hypoxic ischemic injury (HII) in term infants and also detected more cases (33) as compared to USG (18). CT also detected 6 cases of extraaxial hemorrhages as compared to 1 detected by USG. Conclusion : USG is better modality for imaging preterm neonates with suspected IVH or PVL. However, USG is unreliable in the imaging of term newborns with suspected HII where CT or magnetic resonance image scan is a better modality.

Authorization Estimation Model : An Object Oriented Design Complexity Perspective

Suhel Ahmad Khan,Raees Ahmad Khan 보안공학연구지원센터 2014 International Journal of Security and Its Applicat Vol.8 No.5

Algal extracts based biogenic synthesis of reduced graphene oxides (rGO) with enhanced heavy metals adsorption capability

Shahbaz Ahmad,Aftab Ahmad,Sikandar Khan,Shujaat Ahmad,Idrees Khan,Shah Zada,Pengcheng Fu 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.72 No.-

Efficient reduction of GO was performed, using cellular extracts of three algal strains. The rGO werecharacterized by SEM, TEM, UV-Visible spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, Zeta potential andredox potentials. The rGO were then used as decontaminating agents for heavy metals (Cu and Pb), inwaste water. GO reduced via JSC-1 have removed up to 93% Cu and 82% Pb (adsorption capacity of93 mg g 1 and 82 mg g 1, respectively), by 211-9a have removed 74% (74 mg g 1) Cu and 89% (89 mg g 1)Pb, while by 211-11n have adsorbed 91% (91 mg g 1) Cu and 95% Pb (95 mg g 1), within 30 min.

Association of a VDR Gene Polymorphism with Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Kashmir

Rasool, Sabha,Kadla, Showkat Ahmad,Khan, Tanzeela,Qazi, Falak,Shah, Nisar Ahmad,Basu, Javed,Khan, Bilal Ahmad,Ahktar, Qulsum,Sameer, Aga Syed,Ganai, Bashir Ahmad Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Roles of the vitamin D receptor in etiology of cancers, including colorectal cancer, have been repeatedly stressed in different parts of the world. A case control study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the two was therefore initiated in Kashmir, known both for its increasing incidence of gastrointestinal cancers and deficiency of micro-nutrients especially vitamin D. The study included a total of 617 subjects (312 colorectal cancer cases and 305 controls), with sampling carried out over a period of 5 years. DNA samples from the blood of the subjects were analyzed for start codon Fok I VDR polymorphism. We obtained a 1.3 fold increased risk among individuals homozygous for f variants as compared to subjects homozygous for F allele (odds ratio OR 1.3, 95%CI, 0.861-1.65). Our study also showed statistically significant results when dwelling and tumor location characteristics were stratified with Fok I polymorphism, all of which suggests a possible role of Fok I polymorphism in the etiology of CRC in Kashmir.

Hybrid organic-inorganic functionalized polyethersulfone membrane for hyper-saline feed with humic acid in direct contact membrane distillation

Khan, Aftab Ahmad,Siyal, Muhammad Irfan,Lee, Chang-Kyu,Park, Chansoo,Kim, Jong-Oh Elsevier 2019 Separation and purification technology Vol.210 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this study, hybrid organic-inorganic functionalized polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was prepared for treating hyper-saline feed solutions containing humic acid (HA) foulant. The membrane modification was carried out by dip-coating with silica nanoparticles, followed by vacuum filtration coating with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl triethoxysilane and polydimethylsiloxane. The membranes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, Fourier transform infrared, and thermal gravimetric analyses. The evaluation of membranes with water contact angle, liquid entry pressure, direct contact membrane distillation (DCDM), and stability tests, proved the durable amphiphobic nature of the modified PES membrane (PDMS-FAS/SiNPs). The membrane performance was respectively better from that of commercial polypropylene (PP) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes. In the DCMD of a feed solution of 1 M NaCl and 10 mg L<SUP>−1</SUP> HA, the flux of the PDMS-FAS/SiNPs membrane remained consistent (17 LMH), with a permeate conductivity of 33.96 µS cm<SUP>−1</SUP>. The optimized modified membrane showed better performance in terms of permeate flux, salt rejection, and anti-fouling behavior in DCMD. These wonderful results of functionalized PDMS-FAS/SiNPs PES membrane are attributed to the step-wise simple, and inexpensive dip-coating followed by vacuum filtration coating using efficient hybrid organic-inorganic material combination.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> PES membrane functionalization using hybrid organic-inorganic material. </LI> <LI> Dip and vacuum filtration coating methods were used for membrane modification. </LI> <LI> Consistent rejection of hyper-saline feed solution containing humic acid. </LI> <LI> Functionalized PES membrane performance compared with other membranes. </LI> <LI> Modified PES membrane was more durable than commercially available PP and PVDF. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Optimization of membrane modification using SiO₂ for robust anti-fouling performance with calcium-humic acid feed in membrane distillation

Khan, Aftab Ahmad,Khan, Imtiaz Afzal,Siyal, Muhammad Irfan,Lee, Chang-Kyu,Kim, Jong-Oh Elsevier 2019 Environmental research Vol.170 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The goal of this study was to prepare a robust anti-wetting and anti-fouling polyethersulfone (PES) membrane for the rejection of a highly saline (NaCl and CaCl<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O) feed solution containing humic acid (HA) in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimum formulation of the used materials. The variable factors selected were polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) and silica (SiO<SUB>2</SUB>); liquid entry pressure (LEP) and contact angle (CA) were selected as responses. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the SiO<SUB>2</SUB> deposition and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) test evidenced the new functional groups i.e., Si–OH, siloxane, and C–F bond vibrations at 3446, 1099 cm<SUP>−1</SUP>, and 1150–1240 cm<SUP>−1</SUP> respectively on the membrane surface. The average roughness (Ra) was increased four times for the coated membranes (0.202–0.242 µm) as compared to that for pristine PES membrane (0.053 µm). The optimum PES-13 membrane exhibited consistent flux of 12 LMH and salt rejection (> 99%) with anti-fouling characteristic in DCMD using the feed solution of 3.5 wt% NaCl + 10 mM CaCl<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O + 10 mg L<SUP>−1</SUP> HA. The PES-13 membrane may therefore be a key membrane for application in DCMD against CaCl<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O-containing salty solutions with HA.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> PES membrane was prepared for application in DCMD using silica nanoparticles. </LI> <LI> Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the coating formulation. </LI> <LI> Modified membranes were resistant to fouling against calcium-humic acid feed. </LI> <LI> The high fluxes for PES-13 membrane were recorded with all three feed solutions. </LI> </UL> </P>