Endophytic Fungus <i> Aspergillus japonicus</i> Mediates Host Plant Growth under Normal and Heat Stress Conditions

Ismail,Hamayun, Muhammad,Hussain, Anwar,Iqbal, Amjad,Khan, Sumera Afzal,Lee, In-Jung Hindawi 2018 BioMed research international Vol.2018 No.-

<P>We have isolated an endophytic fungus with heat stress alleviation potential from wild plant<I> Euphorbia indica</I> L. The phylogenetic analysis and 18S rDNA sequence homology revealed that the designated isolate was<I> Aspergillus japonicus</I> EuR-26. Analysis of<I> A. japonicus</I> culture filtrate displayed higher concentrations of salicylic acid (SA), indoleacetic acid (IAA), flavonoids, and phenolics. Furthermore,<I> A. japonicus</I> association with soybean and sunflower had improved plant biomass and other growth features under high temperature stress (40°C) in comparison to endophyte-free plants. In fact, endophytic association mitigated heat stress by negotiating the activities of abscisic acid, catalase, and ascorbic acid oxidase in both soybean and sunflower. The nutritional quality (phenolic, flavonoids, soluble sugars, proteins, and lipids) of the<I> A. japonicus</I>-associated seedlings has also improved under heat stress in comparison to endophyte-free plants. From the results, it is concluded that<I> A. japonicus </I>can modulate host plants growth under heat stress and can be used as thermal stress alleviator in arid and semiarid regions of the globe (where mean summer temperature exceeds 40°C) to sustain agriculture.</P>

Association between the Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and Essential Hypertension in Young Pakistani Patients

Ismail, Muhammad,Akhtar, Naveed,Nasir, Muhammad,Firasat, Sadaf,Ayub, Qasim,Khaliq, Shagufta Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biol 2004 Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology Vol.37 No.5

Several studies have demonstrated the importance of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of hypertension. This study sought to determine the association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and essential hypertension in young Pakistanis. The frequency of the ACE I/D polymorphism was established by a comparative cross-sectional survey of Pakistani patients suffering from essential hypertension and ethnically matched normotensive controls. Samples were collected from tertiary care hospitals in northern Pakistan. Hypertensive individuals were defined as those with a systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg on three separate occasions, or those currently receiving one, or more, anti-hypertensive agents. DNA samples obtained from hypertensive (n=211) and normotensive (n=108) individuals were typed by PCR. The frequency of the ACE I/I genotype was significantly higher in hypertensive patients, aged 20-40 years, than in normotensive controls of the same age group ($\chi^2$ = 4.0, P = 0.041). Whereas no overall significant differences were observed between the I/I, I/D and D/D ACE genotypes (One way ANOVA, F=0.672; P=0.413). The association between the ACE I/I genotype and essential hypertension in individuals aged $\leq$ 40 years suggests that ACE has a role in early onset essential hypertension in Pakistan.

Elimination of endurance degradation by oxygen annealing in bilayer ZnO/CeO2-x thin films for nonvolatile resistive memory

Muhammad Ismail,Shazia Jabeen,Tahira Akber,Ijaz Talib,Fayyaz Hussain,Anwar Manzoor Rana,Muhammad Hussain,Khalid Mahmood,Ejaz Ahmed,Dinghua Bao 한국물리학회 2018 Current Applied Physics Vol.18 No.8

Effect of oxygen annealing on bipolar resistive switching (BRS) properties of TiN/ZnO/CeO2-x/Pt devices was investigated. Bilayer ZnO/CeO2-x thin films were fabricated by rf-magnetron sputtering. It was observed that the improvement in cycle-to-cycle endurance degradation and uniformity of the bilayer ZnO/CeO2-x thin film is optimum at 400 °C annealing temperature due to decrease in oxygen vacancies during annealing, as confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The BRS could be caused by the formation of interfacial TiON layer, which is most likely to be accountable for creating an adequate quantity of oxygen vacancies necessary for the formation and rupture of conductive filaments. Smaller Gibbs free energy of the formation of interfacial TiON (−611 kJmol−1) layer as compared to bilayer film ZnO (−650 kJmol−1) and CeO2 (−1024 kJmol−1) results in an easier re-oxidation of the filaments through the oxygen exchange with TiN top electrode. The analysis of current– voltage characteristics shows that the charge transport mechanism is Schottky emission. Moreover, the temperature dependence of high resistance state (HRS) and low resistance state (LRS) revealed the physical origin of the RS mechanism, which entails the oxygen vacancies for the formation and rupture of conducting paths.

Whole-exome sequencing analysis reveals co-segregation of a COL20A1 missense mutation in a Pakistani family with striate palmoplantar keratoderma

Muhammad Ismail Khan,최소연,Muhammad Zahid,Habib Ahmad,Roshan Ali,Musharraf Jelani,강창수 한국유전학회 2018 Genes & Genomics Vol.40 No.7

Palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) is a rare group of excessive skin disorder characterized by thickness over the palms and soles. The striate palmoplantar keratoderma (PPKS) is a form in which hyperkeratotic lesions are restricted to the pressure regions extending longitudinally in the length of each finger to the palm. Dominantly inherited mutations in genes including desmoglein 1, desmoplakin and keratin 1 have been suggested as genetic causes of PPKS. In this study, we investigated a three-generation Pakistani family segregating PPKS phenotype in autosomal dominant fashion to identify genetic cause in this family. We have performed whole-exome and Sanger sequencing followed by in silico bioinformatics analysis to pinpoint candidate mutation associated with PPK. Revealed a novel heterozygous mutation (NM_020882.2, COL20A1 c. 392C > G; p.Ser131Cys) in the loop region close to fibronectin type III-1 domain of the c ollagen 20 α1. This variant was not found in our in-house 219 ethnically matched Pakistani unaffected controls and showed minor allele frequency of 3.4 × 10−5 in Exome Aggregation Consortium database containing exome data of 59,464 worldwide individuals. It was assigned as “pathogenic” by in silico prediction tools. Previously, association of mutation in the COL14A1, one of the paralogous gene of COL20A1, with PPK was reported in the study with a Chinese family. Our study proposes COL20A1 gene as another potential candidate gene for PPKS which expand the spectrum of collagen proteins in the pathogenicity of PPK.

On the enhancement of the fatigue fracture performance of polymer matrix composites by reinforcement with carbon nanotubes: a systematic review

Ismail A. H. Muhammad,AL-Oqla Faris M.,Risby M. S.,Sapuan S. M. 한국탄소학회 2022 Carbon Letters Vol.32 No.3

Rapid development of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced to polymer composites has been recently noticed in many aspects. In this work, the latest developments on fatigue and fracture enhancement of polymer composites with CNTs reinforcement with diverse methods are thoroughly compiled and systematically reviewed. The existing available researches clearly demonstrate that fatigue fracture resistance of polymer composites can be improved accordingly with the addition of CNTs. However, this work identifies an interesting research gap for the first time in this field. Based on the systematic reviewing approach, it is noticed that all previously performed experiments in this field were mostly focused upon studying one factor only at a time. In addition, it is also addressed that there were no previous studies reported a relationship or effect of one factor upon others during examining the fatigue fracture of carbon nanotubes. Moreover, there was no adequate discussion demonstrating the interaction of parameters or the influence of one parameter upon another when both were examined simultaneously. It is also realized that the scope of the conducted fatigue fracture studies of carbon nanotubes were mainly focused on microscale fatigue analysis but not the macroscale one, which can consider the effect of environment and service condition. In addition, the inadequacy of fatigue life predicting models via analytical and numerical methods for CNT-reinforced polymer composites have also been highlighted. Besides, barriers and challenges for future directions on the application of CNT-reinforced polymer composite materials are also discussed here in details.

Effect of Bilayer CeO _2−x /ZnO and ZnO/CeO _2−x Heterostructures and Electroforming Polarity on Switching Properties of Non-volatile Memory

Ismail, Muhammad,Talib, Ijaz,Rana, Anwar Manzoor,Akbar, Tahira,Jabeen, Shazia,Lee, Jinju,Kim, Sungjun Springer US 2018 NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS Vol.13 No.1

<P>Memory devices with bilayer CeO<SUB>2−x</SUB>/ZnO and ZnO/CeO<SUB>2−x</SUB> heterostructures sandwiched between Ti top and Pt bottom electrodes were fabricated by RF-magnetron sputtering at room temperature. N-type semiconductor materials were used in both device heterostructures, but interestingly, change in heterostructure and electroforming polarity caused significant variations in resistive switching (RS) properties. Results have revealed that the electroforming polarity has great influence on both CeO<SUB>2−x</SUB>/ZnO and ZnO/CeO<SUB>2−x</SUB> heterostructure performance such as electroforming voltage, good switching cycle-to-cycle endurance (~ 10<SUP>2</SUP>), and ON/OFF ratio. A device with CeO<SUB>2−x</SUB>/ZnO heterostructure reveals good RS performance due to the formation of Schottky barrier at top and bottom interfaces. Dominant conduction mechanism of high resistance state (HRS) was Schottky emission in high field region. Nature of the temperature dependence of low resistance state and HRS confirmed that RS is caused by the formation and rupture of conductive filaments composed of oxygen vacancies.</P>

Implementation of Random Forest on a Self-Diagnostic Monitoring System

Muhammad Ismail Mangrio,Intaek Kim 한국지능시스템학회 2015 한국지능시스템학회 학술발표 논문집 Vol.25 No.2

Effect of Palm Stearin on Rheological Properties of Metal Injection Molding (MIM) Feedstock

Ismail Muhammad Hussain,Omar Mohd Afian,Subuki Istikamah,Jumahat Aidah,Halim Zahurin 한국분말야금학회 2006 한국분말야금학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2006 No.1

In this paper, rheological characteristics of Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) feedstock using locally binder of palm stearin are presented. The feedstock consisted of 316L-grade stainless steel powder with three different particle sizes and the binders comprise palm stearin and polyethylene. The viscosity of MIM feedstock at different temperatures and shear rates was measured and evaluated. Results showed that, the feedstock containing palm stearin exhibited suitable rheological properties and suitable to produce a homogeneous feedstock that is favorable for injection molding process.

Association between the Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and Essential Hypertension in Young Pakistani Patients

( Muhammad Ismail ),( Naveed Akhtar ),( Muhammad Nasir ),( Sadaf Firasat ),( Qasim Ayub ),( Shagufta Khaliq ) 생화학분자생물학회 2004 BMB Reports Vol.37 No.5

Several studies have demonstrated the importance of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/ deletion (D) polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of hypertension. This study sought to determine the association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and essential hypertension in young Pakistanis. The frequency of the ACE I/D polymorphism was established by a comparative cross-sectional survey of Pakistani patients suffering from essential hypertension and ethnically matched normotensive controls. Samples were collected from tertiary care hospitals in northern Pakistan. Hypertensive individuals were defined as those with a systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg on three separate occasions, or those currently receiving one, or more, anti-hypertensive agents. DNA samples obtained from hypertensive (n = 211) and normotensive (n = 108) individuals were typed by PCR. The frequency of the ACE I/I genotype was significantly higher in hypertensive patients, aged 20-40 years, than in normotensive controls of the same age group (x²= 4.0, P = 0.041). Whereas no overall significant differences were observed between the I/I, I/D and D/D ACE genotypes (One way ANOVA, F = 0.672; P = 0.413). The association between the ACE I/I genotype and essential hypertension in individuals aged < 40 years suggests that ACE has a role in early onset essential hypertension in Pakistan.

Nutritional and biochemical evaluation of sorghum supplemented sourdough flat bread

Tariq Ismail,Saeed Akhtar,Muhammad Riaz,Orner Mukhtar Tarar,Amir Ismail 단국대학교 국제농업협력연구소 2012 단국대학교 국제농업협력연구소 학술대회 Vol.2012 No.1

Wheat flour supplemented with 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% sorghum flour and sourdough bread made thereof were evaluated for mineral contents, phytic acid, tannin, total phenols and in vitro protein digestibility. Effect of supplementation was assessed on nutritional quality of the sourdough flatbread. Analyses of the sorghum supplemented flours revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in crude fat(%), crude fiber(%) and NFE (%)with a decreasing pattern in crude protein and ash contents. Sourdough fermentation appeared to improve mineral contents in bread since the concentration of iron, zinc and manganese were increased from 3.07-4.41, 0.87-0.95 and 2.48-2.56 mg/100 g, respectively. Phytic acid (%) and tannin (%) were reduced from 1.14 to 0.57, and 0.40 to 0.22, respectively in flatbread. Total phenols of composite flour decreased from 342 to 104 mg/100 g in sourdough flatbread. Similarly, in vitro protein digestibility was shown to increase from 74.81 to 81.14% apparently due to reduction in concentration of chelating agents by fermentation process. Conclusively, composite flour technology in combination with lactic acid fermentation was found quite successfully exploited to reduce anti-nutritional compounds, enhance availability of minerals and improve the digestibility of non-conventional cereal grains.