Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder and general public usually show unfavorable attitudes towards the patients. Objective: The study assesses the extent of public knowledge about Schizophrenia, a mental illness, among Pakistan's educated population and to recommend ways to create a better society for the patients and caretakers. Methods: 500 participants voluntarily took part in the study. A questionnaire was developed and a cross-sectional survey was conducted among the respondents. Participants were asked questions related to general, medical, socioeconomic, and treatment information of schizophrenia. Data analysis was done using SPSS software via T/F tests and Chi-square analysis. Results: It was revealed that overall females were more aware of mental illness as compared to males. The age groups of 18-22, 23-27 and 33-37 and participants with graduate and post-graduate degrees were having more knowledge regarding general, medical, socioeconomic, and treatment categories. Upon analysis via chi-square using SPSS, null hypotheses were accepted. Conclusions: Despite of the people having knowledge regarding schizophrenia, there is a significant percentage of populace which is not aware. Seminars, workshops, and campaigns must be conducted to enhance the knowledge of the general public to put an end to this stigma from society which will help in giving better care to the patients.

SummaryThe antioxidant property of rosemary extract as a natural antioxidant on the oxidation process of canola oil has been reported and compared with the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (at 200 mg Lˉ1). The effect of free and liposomal encapsulated rosemary extract at concentrations of 200, 600 and 1000 mg Lˉ1 was evaluated on improving the oxidative stability of canola oil at 120°C using the Rancimat method. The changes in peroxide value, anisidine, TOTOX and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) have been determined by the Schaal oven test at 60°C. Liposomal rosemary extracts were prepared by the Mozafari method. Then physicochemical properties (Z‐potential, particle size and encapsulation efficiency (EE)) were determined. EE and the Z‐potential of liposomes were obtained at 54.59% and −65.1 mV, respectively. The particle size of empty and extract containing liposomes was determined 583.5 nm and 265.4 nm, respectively. The total polyphenol content of the rosemary extract by reagent of the Folin–Ciocalteu's phenol was determined as 164.2 mg gallic acid gˉ1 extract. Also, the activity of free radical scavenging of both liposomal encapsulated and free extracts, by the 2‐2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, were 84.57% and 92.5%, respectively. The induction periods of oil containing liposomal rosemary extract at 600, 1000 mg Lˉ1 and free extract in level 1000 mg Lˉ1 was higher in comparison with samples containing BHT and blank (P ≤ 0.05). The incorporation of rosemary extract especially in liposome form into oil delayed the oxidation process. Based on the results of this study, to inhibit oil oxidation, rosemary extract, especially in the liposomal form, can be applied instead of synthetic antioxidants such as BHT.

Rhizoremediation is a cost effective and aesthetically pleasing technology for the remediation of diesel polluted environment. The influence of diesel fuel contamination on Lolium perenne with bacterial consortium (Microbacterium schleiferi and Bacillus subtilis) on plant growth and hydrocarbon degradation was investigated. In this study, three different bacterial strains were grown at varying diesel oil concentration i.e. 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5%. Bacteria were also screened for biosurfactant, indole 3-acetic acid production, phosphate solubilization, and antifungal bioassay. Microbacterium schleiferi and Bacillus subtilis were able to grow at 2% diesel oil concentration and exhibited plant growth promoting activities. Green house analysis revealed that augmentation with biosurfactant producing and plant growth promoting bacteria enhanced the plant growth and diesel oil degradation (80%) as compared to the treatments in which bacteria and plants were separately used. Therefore, the study concludes that application of selected strains with the Lolium perenne is a better approach for successful remediation of diesel oil contaminated soil.

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