Insufficient Acetyl-CoA Pool Restricts the Phototrophic Production of Organic Acids in Model Cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria are promising biological chassis to produce biochemicals such as carboxylic acids and their derivatives from CO. In this manuscript, we reflected on cyanobacterial acetyl-CoA pool and TCA cycle as an important source of precursor molecules for the biosynthesis of carboxylic acids such as 3-hydroxypropionate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, succinate, malate, fumarate and free fatty acids, each of which is an important platform chemical for bioeconomy. We further highlighted specific features of the cyanobacterial TCA cycle, how it differs in structure and function from widely described TCA cycles of heterotrophic model organisms, and methods to make it more suitable for the production of carboxylic acids from CO.

How to get green with agricultural footprint: A global analysis of carbon emissions, environmental taxes, and agrochemical use.

The agriculture sector, being highly vulnerable to climate change, plays a pivotal role in achieving green and sustainable economies. As the 2030 Agenda emphasizes the integrated development of environmental, social, and economic dimensions, it is crucial to understand how agricultural practices affect sustainability. This study investigates the environmental impact of the agricultural sector on the green economy by examining key environmental factors, such as agricultural energy emissions, environmental taxes, irrigated water use efficiency, fertilizer use, and pesticide application.

Correction to "Mitigation of Salinity Stress and Lead Toxicity in Maize by Exogenous Application of the Sorghum Water Extract".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09495.

Approach towards sustainable leather: Characterization and effective industrial application of proteases from Bacillus sps. for ecofriendly dehairing of leather hide.

Tanneries are one of the most polluted industries known for production of massive amount of solid and liquid wastes without proper management and disposal. In this project we demonstrated the ecofriendly single step dehairing of leather hides with minimum pollution load. In this study, Bacillus species (Bacillus paralicheniformis strain BL.

Mitigation of Salinity Stress and Lead Toxicity in Maize by Exogenous Application of the Sorghum Water Extract.

The increased concentration of lead (Pb) in soils is a serious threat to human beings and plants all over the world. Salinity stress is also a major issue across the globe, which limits crop productivity. The use of allelochemicals has become an effective strategy to mitigate the toxic effects of abiotic stresses.

Thermophilic cyanobacteria-exciting, yet challenging biotechnological chassis.

Thermophilic cyanobacteria are prokaryotic photoautotrophic microorganisms capable of growth between 45 and 73 °C. They are typically found in hot springs where they serve as essential primary producers. Several key features make these robust photosynthetic microbes biotechnologically relevant.

A genome-wide cytotoxicity screen of cluster F1 mycobacteriophage Girr reveals novel inhibitors of Mycobacterium smegmatis growth.

Over the past decade, thousands of bacteriophage genomes have been sequenced and annotated. A striking observation from this work is that known structural features and functions cannot be assigned for >65% of the encoded proteins. One approach to begin experimentally elucidating the function of these uncharacterized gene products is genome-wide screening to identify phage genes that confer phenotypes of interest like inhibition of host growth.

Si-enriched biochars improved soil properties, reduced Cd bioavailability while enhanced Cd translocation to grains of rice.

Biochar and silicon (Si) have been widely considered to play an important role in mitigating cadmium (Cd) toxicity. In this study, wild-type rice (WT, high-Si) and Si-deficient mutant rice (lsi1, low-Si) were used as raw materials to prepare biochar at 500℃; the Si concentrations of high- and low-Si biochar were 15.9% and 5.

Assessing bone density on MRI: comparison between routine MRI sequences and DEXA scans.

Purpose: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is frequently utilised to aid in the comprehensive assessment of back pain, while dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is the gold standard test for the assessment of bone density. Assessing bone density on MRI could reduce costs and avoid exposing patients to ionising radiation. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the relative signal intensity of vertebral bodies compared to other structures can detect osteoporosis on MRI.

Enhancing Sugarcane Yield and Sugar Quality through Optimal Application of Polymer-Coated Single Super Phosphate and Irrigation Management.

The judicious use of crop input is of prime importance for achieving a considerable output with a low-cost input. A two-year field experimentation was executed to assess the effect of varying polymer-coated single super phosphate (SSP) regimes on the yield and quality of sugarcane under differential water regimes. A two-factor study was executed under a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement.

Soil acidification and salinity: the importance of biochar application to agricultural soils.

Soil acidity is a serious problem in agricultural lands as it directly affects the soil, crop production, and human health. Soil acidification in agricultural lands occurs due to the release of protons (H) from the transforming reactions of various carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur-containing compounds. The use of biochar (BC) has emerged as an excellent tool to manage soil acidity owing to its alkaline nature and its appreciable ability to improve the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties.

nirS and nosZII bacterial denitrifiers as well as fungal denitrifiers are coupled with NO emissions in long-term fertilized soils.

Fertilizer application plays a critical role in soil fertility and crop yield and has been reported to significantly affect soil denitrification. However, the mechanisms by which denitrifying bacteria (nirK, nirS, nosZI, and nosZII) and fungi (nirK and p450nor) affect soil denitrification are poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of different fertilization treatments on the abundance, community structure, and function of soil denitrifying microorganisms in an agricultural ecosystem with long-term fertilization using mineral fertilizer or manure and their combination.

Exploring health-seeking behavior for non-communicable chronic conditions in northern Bangladesh.

Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) account for 67% of total deaths in Bangladesh. However, the Bangladeshi health system is inadequately prepared to tackle NCDs. Evidence on NCD-specific health-seeking behavior can help appropriately address the needs of people affected by NCDs in Bangladesh.

Construction of an artificial consortium of and cyanobacteria for clean indirect production of volatile platform hydrocarbons from CO.

Ethylene and isoprene are essential platform chemicals necessary to produce polymers and materials. However, their current production methods based on fossil fuels are not very efficient and result in significant environmental pollution. For a successful transition more sustainable economic model, producing these key polymeric building blocks from renewable and sustainable resources such as biomass or CO is essential.

Exogenous Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Application Induced Modulations in the Performance of Aromatic Rice Under Lead Toxicity.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid and has a multi-functional role in abiotic stress tolerance. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the role of exogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) application to modulate the growth, yield, and related physio-biochemical mechanisms in two aromatic rice cultivars, that is, Guixiangzhan (GXZ) and Nongxiang 18 (NX-18), under Pb toxic and normal conditions. The experimental treatments were comprised of Ck: without Pb and GABA (control), GABA: 1 mM GABA is applied under normal conditions (without Pb), Pb + GABA: 1 mM GABA is applied under Pb toxicity (800 mg kg of soil), and Pb= only Pb (800 mg kg of soil) is applied (no GABA).

Generation of miniploid cells and improved natural transformation procedure for a model cyanobacterium PCC 7942.

The biotechnologically important and naturally transformable cyanobacterium, PCC 7942, possesses multiple genome copies irrespective of its growth rate or condition. Hence, segregating mutations across all genome copies typically takes several weeks. In this study, 7942 cultivation on a solid growth medium was optimised using different concentrations of agar, the addition of antioxidants, and overexpression of the catalase gene to facilitate the rapid acquisition of colonies and fully segregated lines.

Current Insights into the Molecular Mode of Action of Seaweed-Based Biostimulants and the Sustainability of Seaweeds as Raw Material Resources.

Natural biostimulants, such as seaweed extracts, can stimulate plant growth and development in both model and crop plants. Due to the increasing demands for their use in agriculture, it is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the sources from which they are produced. Furthermore, some seaweed extracts were recently shown to prime and protect from adverse environmental factors such as drought, salinity and extreme temperatures, as well as from oxidative stress.

Effect of forage to concentrate ratio on growth performance and feeding behavior of Thalli lambs.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of forage to concentrate ratio (F:C) on growth performance and feeding behavior of Thalli lambs. For this purpose, twenty-one male Thalli lambs with initial live body weight (26.30 ± 3.

Lumbar discal cyst and post-operative discal pseudocyst: a case series.

Four cases of lumbar cyst (2 discal cysts and 2 post-operative discal pseudocysts) who presented predominantly with features of sciatica without any motor, sensory or sphincteric disturbances. The patients were treated conservatively, and the management was aimed to avert any untoward surgical intervention taking into consideration patient safety and care. Two had previous lumbar decompressive discectomy.

Discovery of Five New Ethylene-Forming Enzymes for Clean Production of Ethylene in .

Ethylene is an essential platform chemical with a conjugated double bond, which can produce many secondary chemical products through copolymerisation. At present, ethylene production is mainly from petroleum fractionation and cracking, which are unsustainable in the long term, and harmful to our environment. Therefore, a hot research field is seeking a cleaner method for ethylene production.

The Case for Early Antibiotic Commencement and Source Control in Paediatric Subdural Empyema: A Single-Centre Retrospective Case Series.

Background: Subdural empyema is a neurosurgical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. There is a debate between the benefits and risks of starting early antibiotics prior to surgical drainage as this is purported to reduce the rate of microbiological diagnosis. Here, we describe our experience of treating this potentially life-threatening condition, advocating for the early commencement of antibiotics and importance of source control in its treatment.

Conformance of sowing dates for maximizing heat use efficiency and seed cotton yield in arid to semi-arid cotton zone of Pakistan.

Pakistan is placed among the most vulnerable countries with relation to climate change and its impacts on agricultural productivity. Cotton is staged as the cash crop of the country and the main source of raw material for textile, oil, and feed industry. Varying environmental attributes have significant effects on the duration of vegetative and reproductive stages of cotton crop.