It is indispensable to comprehend the mechanism that regulates plant responses to drought conditions to intensify the water use efficiency of stone fruits. The physiological, biochemical and molecular responses of drought-treated peach leaves were investigated. Results revealed that drought-treated plants manifested a significant attenuation in water potential as compared to control plants. Furthermore, sorbitol and proline contents were accumulated contrary to glucose, fructose, and sucrose that were dwindled significantly throughout the drought period. Similarly, the activities of antioxidant enzymes and expression pattern of related genes were hoisted to counter the lipid peroxidation in drought-treated plants. Moreover, reduced stomatal conductance has repressed the photosynthesis process and linked genes during drought stress. The expression level of regulatory genes (dehydration-responsive element-bindings and WRKYs) exhibited up-regulation in the drought-treated group. Overall, this study asserts that 'Yoshihime' peach cultivar possesses unique physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses under different spells of drought stress.

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In stacked reservoirs with limited accumulation, it's a practice to produce reservoirs commingled, but there are always challenges in the allocation of production and estimation of in-place for such reservoirs. This paper presents an analytical approach using Material Balance (MBALTM) reservoir allocation tool for allocating production and inplace estimates on individual basis for such reservoirs. MBALTM allocation tool, unlike the traditional allocation approach of using product of (kh), works in a twostep process; (i) Defining inflow for an individual well at each time step and (ii) Setting up Material Balance model that accounts for the rate of depletion which will correct inflows at each time step. This study highlights the approach of MBal reservoir allocation tool on a gas field with significant water production, producing from two different units of Sand-1. In this regard, determination of GIIP and aquifer strength was a great challenge. Production logging data was acquired which showed significant gas and water production from bottom unit of Sand-1. Bottom hole flowing pressure (BHFP) and individual zonal contribution in terms of rate acquired from production logging data was used as a history matching parameter. Regression of darcy and non-darcy parameters aids in matching production logging results, which in turn develops inflow performance for an individual layer at each time step. Apart from this, measured static bottom-hole pressure (SBHP) was used in order to determine the impact of depletion at each time step, further supplementing development of inflow performance. Finally, production data on individual reservoir level was determined based on production logging data calibration, supplemented by static pressures matched using gas and aquifer volume. Matched results estimated Sand-1 Unit-1 GIIP to be around 74 Bcf with depletion drive trend, whereas bottom unit exhibited weak to moderate water drive behavior with GIIP of around 19 Bcf. Based on these results, bottom unit wasn't isolated and left open to drain remaining potential, thereby outrunning the aquifer in order to maximize its recovery. In scenarios, where we are producing from multiple reservoirs, production from reservoir with inferior quality is masked by prolific reservoir, whereas on other side reservoirs with significant water production masks reservoir with water free production. It is necessary to plan development and depletion strategies for such reservoirs, but prior that price in terms of potential needs to be addressed. Using this technique, one can overcome challenges in multiple stacked reservoirs.

Objective: To see the association of platelet count, splenomegaly and development of oesophageal varices. Study Design: Observational study. Duration of study: One year from January 2010 to December 2010. Setting: Gastroenterology Department, Medical Unit III, Nishtar Hospital Multan. Methodology: One hundred ten cirrhotic patients were included. The record of these patients was scrutinized and data collected was entered and analyzed through SPSS 11. The patients were divided into three groups according to platelet count. Group I with platelet count less than 50000/mm3, group II with platelet count of 50000 to 100000/mm3 and group III with platelet count of 100000 to 150000/mm3. Similarly patients were also divided into three groups according to splenic size. Group I with splenic size 11 – 13 cm, group II with splenic size 13–16 cm and group III splenic size more than 16 cm. In each group presence of esophageal varices along with grading was noted. Results: The age of the patients varied from 15 to 80 years and mean age was 48.55 ± 13.88 years. Sixty five (59.1 %) were male and 45 (40.9%) were female. The hemoglobin level of these patients varied from 6.0 to 14.3 gm/100 ml with mean level of 9.23 ± 2.11gm/100ml. The platelet count varied from 22000 to 385000/mm3. The splenic size varied from 9 to 18 cm with mean of 12.53 ± 2.14 cm. Esophageal varices were detected in 102 cases. Seventeen cases were of grade I varices, 25 cases were of grade II varices, 40 cases were in grade III varices and 4 cases were in grade IV varices. Maximum number of grade-III (22 patients) and grade IV (3patients) esophageal varices occurred in patients having platelet count less than 50000/mm3. As the splenic size increases the grade of esophageal varices also increases. Maximum number of esophageal varices occur in grade II (25) followed by grade-III (37) in patients with splenic size in the range of 13 to 16 cm. Conclusions: A low platelet count and large splenic size are good non-invasive predictors of esophageal varices. These parameters can also accurately assess the presence of large varices. So a patient of cirrhosis with low platelet count and large spleen has an increased diagnostic yield of esophageal varices on upper GI endoscopy.