As the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) began spreading globally with no clear treatment in sight, prevention became a major part of controlling the disease and its effects. COVID-19 spreads from the aerosols of an infected individual whether they are showing any symptoms or not. Therefore, it becomes nearly impossible to point exactly where the patient is. This is where personal protective equipment (PPE) comes in. These are masks, respirators, gloves, and in hospitals where the contact with the infected and confirmed patient is direct, also gowns or body covers. The PPEs play a major role in the prevention and control of the COVID-19. The PPE is able to prevent any invasion of the virus particles into the system of an individual which is why it is an essential item to have for healthcare workers. Due to the high demand for PPEs all around the world, it is important to optimize the use of protective gear and ration the supplies so that the demand are met. However, there are guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to maintain the supply in the wake of this increased demand of PPE, how the manufacturers should track their supplies, and how the recipients should manage them. Various strategies can be used to increase the re-use of PPEs during the COVID-19 pandemic that has modified the donning and doffing procedure.

The current study on the traditional use of medicinal plants was carried out from February 2018 to March 2020, in Gokand Valley, District Buner, Pakistan. The goal was to collect, interpret, and evaluate data on the application of medicinal plants. Along with comprehensive notes on individual plants species, we calculated Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Report (UR), Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (FCI), as well as Family Importance Value (FIV). During the current study, a total of 109 species belonging to 64 families were reported to be used in the treatment of various ailments. It included three families (four species) of Pteridophytes, 58 families (99 species) of angiosperm, one family (three species) of Gymnosperms, and two families (three species) of fungi. The article highlights the significance of domestic consumption of plant resources to treat human ailments. The UV varied from 0.2 (Acorus calamus L.) to 0.89 (Acacia modesta Wall.). The RFC ranged from 0.059 (Acorus calamus L. and Convolvulus arvensis L.) to 0.285 (Acacia modesta Wall.). The species with 100% FL were Acacia modesta Wall. and the fungus Morchella esculenta Fr., while the FCI was documented from 0 to 0.45 for gastro-intestinal disorders. The conservation ranks of the medicinal plant species revealed that 28 plant species were vulnerable, followed by rare (25 spp.), infrequent (17 spp.), dominant (16 spp.), and 10 species endangered. The traditional use of plants needs conservation strategies and further investigation for better utilization of natural resources.

Germination models are quite helpful in predicting emergence times, dormancy periods, and their applications in crop management. This study investigated the germination behaviors of Eruca sativa Mill. in response to fluctuations in temperatures (Ts) and water potentials (ψs). Germination percentage (GP) increased 95% with rising temperature within the range of 20–30 °C, and decreased 25% at 5 °C. Moreover, each ψ and T resulted in a decrease in GP as ψ decreased. Further, we noted that the θT1 value was substantially high at 30 °C and in (0 MPa), whereas the θT2 value was maximum at 10 °C (−0.02 MPa) and it decreased with decreasing Ψ. The maximum hydrothermal time constant (θHTT) and hydrotime (θH) values were obtained at 10 and 30 °C, respectively. In addition, a linear increase in the GR(g) pattern was observed at Tb and a decrease below the To. The calculated cardinal Ts was 5 °C for the base T, and 30 °C for both the optimum and ceiling T. The germination characteristics were higher at 30 °C having (0 MPa). Therefore, using cardinal temperatures, germination results, and the hydrothermal time model (HTT) could reveal the independent and interactive impacts of both T and the Ψ on the response of seed germination subjected to diverse environmental conditions.

This paper presents the Mechanical Ventilator Milano (MVM), a novel intensive therapy mechanical ventilator designed for rapid, large-scale, low-cost production for the COVID-19 pandemic. Free of moving mechanical parts and requiring only a source of compressed oxygen and medical air to operate, the MVM is designed to support the long-term invasive ventilation often required for COVID-19 patients and operates in pressure-regulated ventilation modes, which minimize the risk of furthering lung trauma. The MVM was extensively tested against ISO standards in the laboratory using a breathing simulator, with good agreement between input and measured breathing parameters and performing correctly in response to fault conditions and stability tests. The MVM has obtained Emergency Use Authorization by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and Health Canada Medical Device Authorization for Importation or Sale, under Interim Order for Use in Relation to COVID-19. Following these certifications, mass production is ongoing and distribution is under way in several countries. The MVM was designed, tested, prepared for certification, and mass produced in the space of a few months by a unique collaboration of respiratory healthcare professionals and experimental physicists, working with industrial partners, and is an excellent ventilator candidate for this pandemic anywhere in the world.

Desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), swarms during outbreaks, and plagues can invade many countries across vast regions of Africa and Asia, consuming substantial quantities of crops and rangeland vegetation. In the most recent desert locust episode, which originated in Saudi Arabia’s remote interior in June 2018, and swarms entered Pakistan in March 2019, devastating important crops, such as cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L.; wheat, Triticum aestivum L.; and maize, Zea mays L., in >60 districts of Baluchistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh provinces. A national emergency was declared on 1 February 2020. A national emergency was declared on 1 February 2020 and the Department of Plant Protection responded by conducting surveillance and control operations with the assistance of other Pakistani organizations, and multilateral and bilateral international aid agencies. Surveillance and control operations were performed by ground and by air, applying mostly oil-based ultra-low volume insecticide formulations combined with some nonconventional control tactics. The Pakistan government also established a detailed multi-phased locust control policy and a National Locust Control Center with rapid response units deployed to vulnerable districts. To prevent or mitigate desert locust-associated agricultural damage, additional improvements to surveillance and control approaches are needed. The desert locust’s unique behaviors, and the magnitude and intermittency of swarming episodes, pose challenges to the development and implementation of coherent integrated pest management strategies. The status of a possible integrated approach to desert locust management, including proactive and preventive intervention strategies, is discussed.