Metagenomic approaches in bioremediation of environmental pollutants.

Metagenomics has emerged as a pivotal tool in bioremediation, providing a deeper understanding of the structure and function of the microbial communities involved in pollutant degradation. By circumventing the limitations of traditional culture-based methods, metagenomics enables comprehensive analysis of microbial ecosystems and facilitates the identification of new genes and metabolic pathways that are critical for bioremediation. Advanced sequencing technologies combined with computational and bioinformatics approaches have greatly enhanced our ability to detect sources of pollution and monitor dynamic changes in microbial communities during the bioremediation process.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior perceptions in overweight and obese adults: A systematic review of qualitative study.

Background: One of the largest hazards to human health is obesity, which is intimately related to sedentarism and physical inactivity. Understanding the perspectives and attitudes of adults with overweight or obesity towards their lifestyle choices related to sedentary behavior and physical activity is essential for mitigating associated health risks.

Objective: This systematic review aims to collate the extent of qualitative research on the perception of sedentary behavior and physical activity among adults with overweight and obesity.

Surface enhanced raman spectroscopy based sensitive and onsite detection of microplastics in water utilizing silver nanoparticles and nanodendrites.

Plastics, of the order of microns in size, being not visible to the naked eye, are one of the significant contributors to pollution in the environment. Thus, the detection of micron-sized plastics (microplastics (MPs)) is crucial because of its hazardous toxic effects on our surroundings. In this work, we have proposed a quick and on-site detection of MPs, such as, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polystyrene (PS) at ultra trace level using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Gold-Deposited Graphene Nanosheets for Self-Cleaning Graphene Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy with Superior Charge-Transfer Contribution.

The interaction of graphene with metals initiates charge-transfer interaction-induced chemical enhancements, which critically depend on the doping effect from deposited metallic configurations. In this paper, we have explored the gold nanoparticle-decorated monolayer graphene nanosheets for the large graphene-induced Raman enhancement of adsorbed analytes, indicating the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) capabilities of metal-doped graphene (G-SERS). Here, the systematically sputtered Au thickness optimization procedure revealed noticeable modifications in the graphene Raman spectra and photoluminescence (PL) background quenching, which indicated favorable charge transfer through n-type doping of chemical vapor deposition-grown graphene nanosheets.

Biogas from lignocellulosic feedstock: current status and challenges.

The organic wastes and residues generated from agricultural, industrial, and domestic activities have the potential to be converted to bioenergy. One such energy is biogas, which has already been included in rural areas as an alternative cooking energy source and agricultural activities. It is produced via anaerobic digestion of a wide range of organic nutrient sources and is an essential renewable energy source.

Bioaugmentation: an approach to biological treatment of pollutants.

Industrial development and the associated generation of waste requires attention for their management, treatment, and reduction without further degrading the quality of life. Microbes and plant-based bioremediation approaches are some of the sustainable strategies for the biodegradation of harmful pollutants instead of chemical-based treatment. Bioaugmentation is one such approach where microbial strains with the ability to degrade the targeted pollutant are introduced in a polluted environment.

Development and Validation of a New Tool to Measure Performance Knowledge and Communication Skill of Multidisciplinary Health Science Learners on Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Response Management.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to design, develop, and validate a newer tool on radiation emergency preparedness responses (RadEM-PREM IPE tool) to measure communication, knowledge, performance skills in multidisciplinary health science learners.

Methods: The study design is a prospective, single centric, pilot study. Five subject experts designed, analyzed, and selected items of the instrument for relevant content and domain.

Indian Himalayan natural Arabidopsis thaliana accessions with abolished miR158 levels exhibit robust miR173-initiated trans-acting cascade silencing.

Small RNAs (sRNAs) such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are short 20-24-nucleotide non-coding RNAs. They are key regulators of gene expression in plants and other organisms. Several 22-nucleotide miRNAs trigger biogenesis cascades of trans-acting secondary siRNAs, which are involved in various developmental and stress responses.

Global mapping of exercise interventions among COVID-19 survivors: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unparalleled threat to all dimensions of human health and well-being. The Pan American Health Organization has acknowledged the crucial role of rehabilitation therapies for COVID-19 and emphasised the importance of exercise programmes for COVID-19 survivors. This scoping review outlines our strategy for systematically reviewing published and unpublished literature to investigate the volume of evidence for exercise interventions for COVID-19 survivors.

India's efforts to achieve 1.5 billion COVID-19 vaccinations: a narrative review.

The initial case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in India was reported on January 30, 2020, and subsequently, the number of COVID-19-infected patients surged during the first wave of April 2020 and the second wave in the same month of 2021. The government of India imposed a strict nationwide lockdown in April 2020 and extended it until May 2020. The second wave of COVID-19 in India overwhelmed the country's health facilities and exhausted its medical and paramedical workforce.

Professional Quality of Life Among Medical Imaging Technologists and Radiologists During COVID-19 Pandemic in India.

Background: Professional quality of life is one of the growing concerns among healthcare workers especially during COVID-19 pandemic. Presence and work of radiologist and medical imaging technologist for prolonged hours with patients could be stressful and painful.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the professional quality of life among the radiologist and medical imaging technologist by analyzing professional satisfaction, compassion, and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prevalence of COPD among population above 30 years in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: By 2030, Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 aims to reduce the premature mortality caused by non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the second leading cause of mortality and disability-adjusted life years in India.

Novel FtsZ inhibitor with potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

Objectives: FtsZ is an essential bacterial protein and an unexplored target for the development of antibacterial drugs. The development of a novel inhibitor targeting FtsZ offers a potential opportunity to combat drug resistance. DS01750413, a new derivative of PC190723, is a novel FtsZ inhibitor with improved in vitro and in vivo activity.

Novel azoles with potent antileishmanial activity.

To investigate the antileishmanial activity of novel azole compounds against , which causes deadly visceral leishmaniasis disease. A focused azole-based library was screened against both promastigotes and amastigotes forms of strains in flat-bottomed 96-well tissue culture plates and J774A.1 macrophage cell-line infected with .

Role of extremophiles and their extremozymes in biorefinery process of lignocellulose degradation.

Technological advances in the field of life sciences have led to discovery of organisms that live in harsh environmental conditions referred to as extremophiles. These organisms have adapted themselves to thrive in extreme habitat giving these organisms an advantage over conventional mesophilic organisms in various industrial applications. Extremozymes produced by these extremophiles have high tolerance to inhospitable environmental conditions making them an ideal enzyme system for various industrial processes.

Burden of COPD among population above 30 years in India: protocol for a systematic review and proposed meta-analysis.

Background: The Sustainable Development Goals and the National Health Policy of India aim to reduce premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCD) by one-third in the next decade and by 25% by 2025, respectively. Among NCDs globally, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major contributor to death and disability. This underscores the need to understand the burden of COPD at the national level by synthesizing evidence and collating the state-wise COPD data to estimate the prevalence of COPD and to highlight the associated risk factors to inform policymakers.

Innovations in CAZyme gene diversity and its modification for biorefinery applications.

For sustainable growth, concept of biorefineries as recourse to the "fossil derived" energy source is important. Here, the Carbohydrate Active enZymes (CAZymes) play decisive role in generation of biofuels and related sugar-based products utilizing lignocellulose as a carbon source. Given their industrial significance, extensive studies on the evolution of CAZymes have been carried out.

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on professional practices of audiologists and speech-language pathologists in India: A knowledge, attitude and practices survey.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread throughout the world and become a global pandemic. This has hampered and led to drastic changes in the functioning of healthcare services, forcing the professionals to adapt and work efficiently. The present study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the professional practices of audiologists and speech-language pathologists in India using a cross-sectional knowledge, attitude and practices survey.

Silver nanodendrites for ultralow detection of thiram based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Metal nanostructures with highly branched morphologies are attractive due to their fascinating plasmonic properties which are related to their unique morphological features. In this work a simple fabrication methodology is used for fabrication of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates composed of branched silver nanostructures with dendritic morphology. The high Raman intensity enhancement factor of the order ∼10 was achieved which allows the detection of ∼zeptomole thiram molecules by SERS substrates.

Modulation of miRNA expression in natural populations of A. thaliana along a wide altitudinal gradient of Indian Himalayas.

Plant populations growing along an altitudinal gradient are exposed to different environmental conditions. They are excellent resources to study regulatory mechanisms adopted by plants to respond to different environmental stresses. Regulation by miRNA is one of such strategies.

Identification and synthesis of novel inhibitors of mycobacterium ATP synthase.

A non-diaryl quinoline scaffold 6,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-4-one was identified by screening of diverse set of compounds against M. smegmatis ATP synthase. Herein, we disclose our efforts to develop the structure activity relationship against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb.

Fast and long acting neoflavonoids dalbergin isolated from Dalbergia sissoo heartwood is osteoprotective in ovariectomized model of osteoporosis: Osteoprotective effect of Dalbergin.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the skeletal effects of dalbergin (DBN), isolated from Dalbergia sissoo heartwood, in ovariectomized (OVx) BALB/c mice, a postmenopausal osteoporosis model of bone loss.

Methods: Adult BALB/c mice were used and randomly assigned in to six groups with 6 animals (n=6) in each group: sham (surgery operated without ovariectomy) with vehicle, ovariectomy with vehicle, ovariectomy (OVx) with estradiol (E2 5.0μgkg1day), or ovariectomy with dalbergin at three different doses of DBN (1.

Pharmacological profile of AW-814141, a novel, potent, selective and orally active inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase.

The p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a key signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in the progression of various inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of a p38 MAPK inhibitor, AW-814141. AW-814141 inhibited enzymatic activity of recombinant p38-alpha and beta isoforms with IC(50) value of 100nM and 158nM, respectively.

Probing lipid- and drug-binding domains with fluorescent dyes.

A series of 2- and 3-OH Nile red dyes was prepared in order to generate water-soluble probes that could be used to probe lipid binding to proteins. Various substitutions in positions 2-/3-, 6-, and 7-shifted wavelengths while maintaining the environmental sensitivity of Nile red. In order to increase the solubility of the dyes in aqueous solutions, we attached butyric acid groups to the 2- or 3-OH position.