Browsing by Author "Ilyas, Muhammad"

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Leaf Functional Traits of Invasive Grasses Conferring High-Cadmium Adaptation Over Natives
(Daffodil International University, 2022-06-20) Ilyas, Muhammad; Shah, Sakhawat; Lai, Ya-Wen; Sher, Jan; Bai, Tao; Zaman, Fawad; Bibi, Farkhanda; Koul, Monika; Wani, Shabir Hussain; Majrashi, Ali; Alharby, Hesham F.; Hakeem, Khalid Rehman; Wang, Yong-Jian; Rather, Shabir A.
Heavy metal (HM) contamination resulting from industrialization and urbanization during the Anthropocene along with plant invasion can severely threaten the growth and adaptation of local flora. Invasive alien plant species generally exhibit a growth pattern consistent with their functional traits in non-contaminated environments in the introduced range. However, it remains unclear whether invasive alien plants have an advantage over native plants in contaminated environments and whether this growth pattern is dependent on the adaptation of their leaf functional traits. Here, we selected two congeneric pairs of invasive alien and native grasses that naturally co-exist in China and are commonly found growing in contaminated soil. To evaluate the effect of cadmium (Cd) on the structural and physiological leaf traits, we grew all four species in soil contaminated without or with 80 mg/kg Cd. Invasive plants contained significantly higher concentrations of Cd in all three organs (leaf, stem, and root). They displayed a higher transfer factor and bioconcentration factor (BCF) of shoot and root than natives, indicating that invasive species are potential Cd hyperaccumulators. Invasive plants accumulated polyphenol oxidase (PPO) to higher levels than natives and showed similar patterns of leaf structural and physiological traits in response to changes in Cd bioconcentration. The quantifiable leaf structural traits of invasive plants were significantly greater (except for stomatal density and number of dead leaves) than native plants. Leaf physiological traits, chlorophyll content, and flavonoid content were also significantly higher in invasive plants than in natives under Cd stress conditions after 4 weeks, although nitrogen balance index (NBI) showed no significant difference between the two species. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters decreased, except for the quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) and the proportion of open photosystem II (qP), which increased under Cd stress conditions in both species. However, invasive plants exhibited higher fluorescence parameters than natives under Cd stress, and the decrement observed in invasive plants under Cd stress was greater than that in natives. High Cd adaptation of invasive grasses over natives suggests that invasive plants possess optimal leaf structural and physiological traits, which enable them to adapt to stressful conditions and capture resources more quickly than natives. This study further emphasizes the potential invasion of alien plants in contaminated soil environments within the introduced range. To a certain extent, some non-invasive alien plants might adapt to metalliferous environments and serve as hyperaccumulator candidates in phytoremediation projects in contaminated environments.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dental Trauma in Ha’il, Saudi Arabia
(Daffodil International University, 2022-06-23) Alshammary, Freah; Alhur, Thamer; Alshammari, Khalid N; Siddiqui, Ammar A; Abideen, Malik Zain Ul; Alghaythi, Khalid S; Ilyas, Muhammad; Alam, Mohammad K.
Aim: This study will aid in determining the prevalence and risk factors for dental trauma. This will assist in developing a treatment budget plan, thereby, fend off complications. Materials and methods: This study was an observational study, having a cross-sectional design, in which information was obtained from 555 participants. Data were obtained using a non-probability convenient sampling technique. A validated questionnaire was used as a study tool. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS, version 20). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Data were displayed as numbers and percentages, and the Chi-squared test was used to measure the association. Results: Dental trauma was found to be 44% prevalent. Most of the injuries occurred in the 6-9-years age-group (19.1%) and were more common in boys (54.13%) than in girls. The majority of respondents (61%) identified "falls" as the most common cause of dental trauma, and the frequent location for the occurrence of dental injuries was found to be "home" (64.44%). Only 18% of parents reported that their kid's experienced nail-biting concerns, with the majority claimed that their kids never developed oral habits. Most dental injuries occurred during the summer season (48%). Conclusion: Young aged group and male gender group were more prone to dental injuries; dental injuries along with fall were found as the most common cause of dental trauma, whereas most of the dental traumas were reported to have occurred at home. Clinical significance: The study evaluated risk factors and the prevalence of dental trauma in the population of Ha'il, Saudi Arabia. It will be an effective tool for determining the need for treatment facilities.
Seasonal Variations of Fine Root Dynamics in Rubber-Flemingia Macrophylla Intercropping System in Southwestern China
(Scopus, 22-10-12) Bibi, Farkhanda; Balasubramanian, Durairaj; Ilyas, Muhammad; Sher, Jan; Hamz Ali, Samoon; Hayder Bin Khalid, Muhammad; Alharby, Hesham F.; Majrashi, Ali; Alghamdi, Sameera A.; Hakeem, Khalid Rehman; Shah, Muddaser
Intercropping cover crops with trees enhance land productivity and improves the soil’s physio-chemical properties while reducing the negative environmental impact. However, there is a lack of quantitative information on the relationships between fine root biomass and available soil nutrients, e.g., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), especially in the rubber-Flemingia macrophylla intercropping system. Therefore, this study was initiated to explore the seasonal variation in fine root biomass and available soil nutrients at different stand ages (12, 15, and 24 years) and management systems, i.e., rubber monoculture (mono) and rubber-Flemingia macrophylla intercrop- ping. In this study, we sampled 900 soil cores over five seasonal intervals, representing one year of biomass. The results showed that the total fine root biomass was greater in 12-year-old rubber monoculture; the same trend was observed in soil nutrients P and K. Furthermore, total fine root biomass had a significant positive correlation with available N (p < 0.001) in rubber monoculture and intercropping systems. Thus, it suggests that fine root growth and accumulation is a function of available soil nutrients. Our results indicate that fine root biomass and soil nutrients (P and K) may be determined by the functional characteristics of dominant tree species rather than collective mixed-species intercropping and are closely linked to forest stand type, topographic and edaphic factors. However, further investigations are needed to understand interspecific and complementary interactions between intercrop species under the rubber-Flemingia macrophylla intercropping system.
Study of the comparison of the exergy and energy analyses of the 𝑪��𝑶��𝟐��/𝑵��𝑯��𝟑�� and 𝑪��𝑶��𝟐��/R134a cascade refrigeration system to be used in supermarkets
(2016-11-20) Ismail, Motapon Njikam Ismail; Ali Sidi, Bashir; Ilyas, Muhammad
Various techniques are being researched to refrigerate our stored products at a desired temperatures in supermarkets. In this report, via the exergy and energy analyses, the 𝐶𝑂2/𝑁𝐻3 and 𝐶𝑂2/R134a cascade refrigeration systems were compared to determine which of the system suited best the supermarket application. The coefficient of performance (COP) was calculated as a measure of the energy analysis while on the other side the sum of the individual exergy destructions in each of the components which is equivalent to the total exergy destruction was a measure of the exergy analysis. The cascade refrigeration comprised of two refrigeration systems connected in series in which one of the system will in lower temperature circuit (LTC) while the other will be in the higher temperature circuit. The cooling space temperature and cooling capacity employed in this report were -40°C and 40 kW. In both the exergy and energy analyses the temperature at the LTC evaporator and condenser, cascade condenser temperature difference and HTC condenser were varied individually to obtain the desired results. The analyses result showed that 𝐶𝑂2/𝑁𝐻3 cascade refrigeration system was more efficient than the 𝐶𝑂2/R134a system as it had lower values for the total exergy destruction and higher COP values. Furthermore, in both cascade systems maximum exergy destruction occurred in the condenser followed by the compressor.