Six cultivars of safflower which were (PI-387820, PI-251978, PI-170274, PI-387821, PI-386174 and Thori-78) grown in net house of NIAB under salinity (10 ds m⁻¹) and drought (60% field capacity) conditions and compared to their oxidative damage and antioxidative responses. Plant samples (leaves) were collected for the determination of malonidialdehyde (MDA), antioxidative enzymes (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and peroxidase), proline, and photosynthetic pigments. Salinity and drought decreased the chlorophyll a and b contents but a decrease in chlorophyll a and b was less in safflower variety (THORI-78) which could be a useful marker for selecting a stress tolerant variety. Both stresses considerable increases the accumulation of proline in PI-251978, PI-170274, PI-387821, PI-386174 and THORI-78 varieties of safflower whereas the proline accumulation did not appear to be an essential part of the protection mechanism against salinity and drought in variety PI-387820. Enzyme activity measurements revealed that THORI-78 can tolerate salinity and drought stress well by increasing the activity of catalase and APX enzymes whereas variety PI- 386174 showed increased activity of glutathione reductase enzyme under salinity and drought and appear to be very crucial antioxidative defenses during intense stress conditions. The results indicate that the photosynthetic pigments, proline and activities of the enzymes are important mechanism for the stress tolerance in safflower plant and can be considered as genetic improvement for the plant in salinity and drought soil conditions.

Seven indigenously isolated fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium notatum, Pleurotus ostreatus and Trichoderma viradae) were tested for their potential to produce cholesterol lowering drug lovastatin by using different agro-industrial wastes (Corn cobs, corn stover, banana stalk, wheat straw, wheat bran, bagasse) in submerged as well as solid state fermentation. Aspergillus terreus showed maximum production of 18.74 mg/100 mL by wheat bran in solid state fermentation. The fermentation parameters (pH, temperature, Inoculum size, moisture contents and fermentation time) were also optimized for optimum production of lovastatin. It was found that Aspergillus terreus could produce 27.14 mg/100 mL lovastatin under optimum condition of pH (6), temperature (30°C), Inoculum size (2 mL), moisture contents (60%) and fermentation time (120 hrs) in solid state fermentation. The optimized lovastatin was extracted from fermented broth and orally administered to rats. The hypocholesterolemic effect of fermented lovastatin was evaluated on serum ALT, AST, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG and TC level of rats. It was concluded from the study, fermented lovastatin effectively lower the cholesterol level of rats.

This research aims to describe and to define the importance of spirituality as a mediator in the global pandemic situation of COVID-19 in Pakistan while having positive correlation with resilience and inverse with hopelessness. The correlational research design was used and data was gathered by simple random sampling and there was a use of standardized psychological instruments to measure the variables. The participants were (N=540) Pakistani general population (male and female) with the age range of 18–60. The outcomes revealed that resilience was positively correlated with spirituality (r=0.72; p <0.01) while spiritualty is negatively correlated with hopelessness (r=-0.76; p <0.01) and resilience was negatively correlated with hopelessness (r=-0.78, p <0.01). Mediation analysis shows that spirituality performed a strong intermediating role between resilience and hopelessness the direct effect of hopelessness  on resilience  was -5.9** whereas the indirect effect through spirituality was       -1.7** and the total effect size was – 7.6**. It is revealed that spirituality has a strong impact on the resilience behavior and reduces the hopelessness even in the worldwide disastrous situation. This study enhances the literature related to the psychological research and prompts the role of spiritual coping strategies especially in the state of uncertainty like coronavirus pandemic.

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Calcium salt of fatty acid was prepared by adding 3 different levels of saturated solution of calcium chloride (CaCl2) to soybean oil. It was found that fat content was not significantly affected by calcium chloride. However, calcium chloride had significant effect on other parameters like dry matter, fat, ash and sodium. The highest calcium and fat was obtained when 3.5 parts CaCl2 were added (p<0.01). It was also observed that "sun drying" and "drying at room temperature" had no significant effect on any parameter except dry matter content. Calcium salt of fatty acid had significant anti-protozoal effect (p<0.01) in sheep. Treated group showed reduced protozoal number without affecting the rumen pH and rumen ammonia nitrogen. It was also found that the number of rumen protozoa in rumen liquor was less at 12:00 p.m. than that at 3:30 p.m. when sheep were fed 3% calcium salt.