Thanks to the growing interests of metal oxide sensors in environmental and industrial uses, this study presents the sensing mechanism of methane gas (CH) on recently synthesized two-dimensional form of ZnO, ZnO nano sheets (ZnO-NS). The adsorption energy of CH on pristine ZnO-NS, calculated by means of van der Waals corrected first-principles calculations, is found to be insufficient restricting its application as an efficient nano sensor. However, the creation of (O/Zn) vacancies and the substitution of foreign dopants into ZnO-NS considerably intensify the binding energy of CH. Through a comprehensive energetic analysis, it is observed that among all the substituents, boron (B), sulphur (S) and gallium (Ga) improves the binding of CH to 2.75, 6.1 and 7.5 times respectively than its values on pristine ZnO-NS. In addition to the CH binding energies falling ideally between physisorption and chemisorption range, a prominent variation in the electronic properties before and after CH exposure indicates the promise of substituted Zn-NS as a useful nano sensors.

This study was aimed to investigate Carbofuran (CF)-induced pathological changes in cattle egret. Two hundred cattle egrets were reared and equally divided into four groups and given different CF concentrations (0.03 mg/L, 0.02 mg/L, 0.01 mg/L and 0 mg/L (control group)). Hematology, serum biochemistry, histopathology, and immunological markers were studied. Our results confirm that CF induces anemic conditions, leukocytosis, elevated liver enzymatic activity, and alterations in renal biomarkers. Moreover, specific microscopic lesions such as multifocal necrosis, pyknotic nuclei, hemorrhages, congestion, and inflammatory cell proliferation were observed in the liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus. These findings suggest that CF can induce harmful effects, so the application of this pesticide in the field must be strictly monitored to mitigate the possibility of exposure to non-target species.

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NEPRA approved the Implementation Roadmap of Competitive Trading Bilateral Contracts Market (CTBCM) in November, 2020 to channelize competition in the power sector under power sector reforms. The financial statements of all 10 Distribution Companies (DISCOs) reveal their financial unviability to procure power without sovereign guarantees of government. This conclusion begs the question that even after reveling 20 years of monopoly, DISCOs have failed to establish themselves as a financially viable utility, would they be able to absorb competitive market regime? This study attempts to analyze whether DISCOs will continue as bleeding financially protected by government or will they participate in the competitive market efficiently. Keywords: Reforms, DISCOs, Financial Viability, Performance, Zombies, ICR.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dietary protein levels on digestive enzyme activities, nutrient assimilation as well as growth performance in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Fish were fed with four semi-purified formulated diets with increasing levels of protein: 30% (CP30), 35% (CP35), 40% (CP40) and 45% (CP45) for 12 weeks. At the end of the feed trial, the highest weight gain (29.88 g fish-1), specific growth rate (3.58%) and lower feed conversion ratio (1.91) were observed in fish that were fed with a 40% protein diet while CP30 treatment group had the poorest growth performance indicators (P<0.05). Proximate analysis revealed that fish fed with either CP40 (18.50%) or CP45 (19.33%) diets had the highest protein content in comparison to that fed CP30 (17.13%) and CP35 (17.00%) diets. Similarly, the highest body lipid content was CP35 (4.20%) treatment group and the lowest in CP40 (3.83%). The amino acid in the harvested fillets was also significantly higher (P<0.05) in both CP40 and CP45 dietary treatments. The increasing dietary protein level also elevated both protease and amylase activity, while lipase activity significantly decreased (P<0.05). The study revealed that a 40 % protein level diet produced from regional ingredients in the Middle East had yielded optimal growth performance and higher muscle quality in striped catfish.