In this study, the suitability of four earthen, seawater ponds located in the Thatta district of Sindh province (Pakistan) was evaluated for the purpose of semi-intensive mariculture, which remains to be a severely underdeveloped branch of the agricultural industry of this populous Asian country. Initial pond soil probes were promising, as they showed a high clay and silt content. Monthly water samples were obtained in the year 2019 (from January to December), which allowed for the monitoring of water parameters, as well as the identification and relative quantification of planktic populations. As a result, the monthly variations of basic water parameters were found within optimal ranges for planktic growth (water temperature, salinity, pH, transparency, and dissolved oxygen). Bacillariophyta was the largest phytoplanktic group, with the most dominant species being Sundstroemia setigera, followed by the cyanobacteria Oscillatoria limosa. Copepoda was the most numerous group of identified zooplankton, followed by tintinnids and foraminiferans. Total suspended solids (TSS) calculations indicated up to nine-fold month-to-month reductions of planktic biomass, observed in the form of diminishing Bacillariophyta (December) and Copepoda (June and December). In conclusion, the studied ponds appear to be suitable for semi-intensive mariculture activity due to the abundance of diverse planktic forms (mainly Copepoda—preferable natural food for commercially important fish species), which was achieved even without the use of fertilizers. However, significant drops of planktic biomass may still occur, which implies the need for regular water monitoring procedures, which would in turn allow fish producers to implement periodical adjustments to the administered feeding rates with artificial diets.

Infectious diseases remain a significant global health challenge, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for innovative solutions to prevent, detect, and manage infectious diseases effectively. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in healthcare, offering opportunities to enhance disease surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and public health response. This research paper explores the potential of AI in combating infectious diseases, emphasizing its challenges and opportunities. A mixed-methods approach, incorporating literature review, case studies, and expert interviews, is used to identify key applications, limitations, and strategies for leveraging AI in global health. Recommendations for ethical implementation, data integration, and capacity building are provided to maximize the impact of AI in addressing infectious diseases.

| In order to analyze the effects of OxyAqua organic product used for fish health management, improve water quality and high survival ratio, research was conducted for 60 days in seawater cemented cisterns at CEMB, University of Karachi. Two commercially important fish species ( Orechromis niloticus and Acanthopagrus berda ) were used for this study and kept in two different treatment tanks with their replicates (n=10 each) designated as T1= OxyAqua and T2= simple aeration. Juveniles were fed on supplementary pelleted diet thrice daily at 2% of their total body weight. Results showed that WG and SGR were significantly higher in T1, in which we applied Oxy Aqua organic® product without aeration than T2, whereas no significant difference (p>0.05) was found in FCR between treatments. No mortality was occurring during the whole experimental period. Comparative growth analysis of both fish species revealed that OxyAqua organic is highly suitable for enhancing the biological performance of fish in captivity. This study is recommended for intensive and semi-intensive fish cultivation technology development, water quality improvement and fish health management in aquaculture.

| This research focuses on the biological performance in blackfin seabream, Acanthopagrus berda (Forsskal, 1775) by using different protein-containing diet i.e., soybean meal and fishmeal. The dietary efficacy was monitored in seawater earthen ponds designated into four nylon meshed hapa (3.7×9.5×9.5 feet) for 60 days. Juveniles (35.75±3.2g) were collected with the help of cast net from Sakro creek and transferred into the earthen fish ponds located at Garho, Thatta, Sindh. Juveniles were acclimatized for more than two weeks (15 days) to the experiment conditions. After acclimatization period, juveniles (n=15) were distributed into each treatment hapa (T1 and T2) with two replicates. Two iso-nitrogenous diets were prepared consisting of Diet-1 soybean meal was used as main source and Diet-2 consist of fishmeal. Feed was given twice daily by 3% of total wet body weight. Results indicated a slightly higher weight gain (WG) in T2 (44.6±0.42g) than T1 (41.6±0.49g). The condition factor was non-significant (p ˃ 0.05) among both treatment groups, whereas, food conversion ratio was significantly different (p<0.05). No mortality was observed (100% survival ratio) in both treatments. Relative growth of black fin seabream juveniles ( A. berda ) remained significantly different while regression values were found to be non-significant (P>0.05; R2= 0.95) among both treatments. The physiochemical parameters of seawater ponds were found in the optimum range throughout the trial period. Therefore, it is suggested that soybean meal can be replaced and used as an alternative cost-effective source of fishmeal in the fish diet.

| The current study focuses on the physicochemical parameters including phytoplankton and zooplankton diversity of marine water ponds at Thatta district, Sindh, Pakistan. Water samples were collected monthly (Jan-Dec, 2019) from different sites of the ponds and studied the total abundance of plankton in each month. During the study, physicochemical parameters of the pond water like temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, transparency, ammonia, phosphates, nitrates, potassium, calcium, total alkalinity and total hardness were determined. Overall, 61 species of plankton have been recorded from the studied ponds and categorized into 19 groups; of which 25 phytoplankton species belonged to four major groups, whereas, 36 zooplankton species belonged to 15 groups. Among them, Bacillariophyta (69.815%) and copepods (78.927%) were “most abundant” as compared to other groups of phytoplankton and zooplankton, respectively. Monthly abundance of phytoplankton and zooplankton was observed and the highest percentage was found in the month of November (18.559%) and July (16.560%), respectively. The optimal range of physicochemical parameters of the pond water with planktonic diversity indicates the productivity of water which is crucial for the growth of pond biota during pisciculture activities.