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This research paper aims to investigate the effect of frustum shape roughness geometry on the thermal characteristic (Nusselt no. and friction factor) of solar air heaters (SAH). The study includes experimental and numerical investigation of a solar air heater equipped with frustum roughened absorber plate under varying operating conditions. Frustum shape roughness element produced more disturbances and greater mixing of primary and secondary flow that resulted in greater augmentation in thermal characteristics of SAH. The investigation was conducted in varying Reynolds number range of 2500 -12,500. Dimensionless parameter for Frustrum shaped roughness is varied as relative frustum height (e/Dh) 0.013–0.054, relative frustum pitch (p/e) 8–14, Relative frustum height to base diameter (e/d1) 0.37–0.75 and relative frustum diametral ratio (d1/d2) 1–3. To save time and resources a three-dimensional numerical simulation was also performed. This simulation helped to visualize flow field behavior with the help of streamline, temperature, turbulence kinetic energy and pressure contours. Maximum performance for roughened system was obtained at optimum value of flow and geometric configuration within the range of investigated parameters. The geometric orientation of proposed roughness geometry produced tremendous rise in Nusselt number (Nu) with an acceptable rise in friction (f). Maximum enhancement in Nu for varying p/e, e/Dh, e/d1, and d1/d2 was, 4.58, 5.21, 6.62 and 6.09 times and that of friction was 5.59, 4.69, 4.92 and 4.66 times respectively over conventional smooth SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are human made chemicals widely used as plasticizers to enhance the flexibility of plastic products. Due to the lack of chemical bonding between phthalates and plastics, these materials can easily enter the environment. Deleterious effects caused by this chemo-pollutant have drawn the attention of the scientific community to remediate them from different ecosystem. In this context, many bacterial strains have been reported across different habitats and Sphingobium yanoikuyae strain P4 is among the few psychrotolerant bacterial species reported to biodegrade simple and complex phthalates. In the present study, biodegradation of three structurally different PAEs viz., diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) have been investigated by the strain P4. Quantitative analyses through High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that the bacterium completely degraded 1 g/L of DEP, DIBP, and BBP supplemented individually in minimal media pH 7.0 within 72, 54, and 120 h of incubation, respectively, at 28 °C and under shake culture condition (180 rpm). In addition, the strain could grow in minimal media supplemented individually with up to 3 g/L of DEP and 10.0 g/L of DIBP and BBP at 28 °C and pH 7.0. The strain also could grow in metabolites resulting from biodegradation of DEP, DIBP, and BBP, viz. n-butanol, isobutanol, butyric acid, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, and protocatechuic acid. Furthermore, phthalic acid and protocatechuic acid were also detected as degradation pathway metabolites of DEP and DIBP by HPLC, which gave an initial idea about the biodegradation pathway(s) of these phthalates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canal irrigation system, besides providing irrigation, generate many ecosystem services for command areas, viz. lesser groundwater extraction and carbon emissions, energy savings, groundwater recharge, recreational services for inhabitants, etc. However, existing studies primarily emphasize irrigation services provided by canals while overlooking other ecosystem services. Therefore, this study monetizes key ecosystem services rendered by the Eastern Yamuna Canal (EYC) and collates government expenditures incurred. The result shows that the ecosystem services delivered by EYC are worth Rs 1122.86 million, nearly 48.27% more than working expenses. Further, the result highlights that anchoring only on revenue generated to exchequer with water rates, to compare the performance of any canal will not be sufficient. The present study suggests that if the government facilitates the timely availability of canal water to the farms and collects water charges equal to working expenses from the water users, it could be a much better trade-off for the stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel roughness geometry frustum shape is investigated experimentally. • Maximum thermal efficiency obtained is 79 % for rough ducts at flow of 0.0486 kg/s. • The rise in thermal efficiency of rough to smooth duct was 1.9–3.6 times. • Heat removal and collector efficiency factor vary from 0.60 to 0.75 and 0.76–0.81. • Thermal efficiency varies in range of 42–79 % for different mass flow rates. Present work reports the findings of experimental investigation performed outdoors in real time conditions on a novel roughness geometry frustrum roughened solar air heater. The test rig was designed and fabricated at rooftop of Mechanical Engineering Department, MANIT Bhopal, India. The geometrical specification of frustrum geometry machined to the absorber was varied and tested. Two new roughness parameters to determine its impact on thermal performance is introduced namely relative diametral ratio (d 1 /d 2) and roughness height to base diameter ratio (e/d 1) and varied respectively as 1.33–3.00 and 0.16–0.75. Relative roughness pitch (p/e) and height (e/D h) is respectively varied as 8–14 and 0.013–0.054. Smooth and roughened absorbers are tested under varying range of geometrical and flow parameters (Reynolds number 3500–12500). The investigation revealed that thermal performance is strongly dependent upon flow Reynolds number and temperature rise parameter. Thermal efficiency is expressed in terms of collector efficiency factor and heat removal factor varying respectively in range of 0.76–0.81 and 0.60–0.75. Thermal efficiency varied in range of 42–79 % for different mass flow rates and roughness parameters. The maximum thermal efficiency obtained is 79 % at p/e = 12, e/D h = 0.040, e/d 1 = 0.75, d 1 /d 2 = 3 for mass flow rate of 0.0486 kg/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Design of Frustum roughened solar air heater are optimized. • RSM based Box-Behnman approach was used for optimization. • Simulation based contour plot explore flow behaviour of roughened SAH. • Maximum Nu = 256.77 and minimum f = 0.009 is obtained at optimum values of input parameters. • Optimum values of roughness parameters have been calculated. Artificial roughness on the absorber plate of the solar air heater increases its thermal characteristics, thermohydraulic performance, and overall performance of the solar air heater. The roughness and flow parameters selected for artificial roughness play a vital role. Along with selection of geometry, range of roughness parameter at optimum values creates keen interest in research field. The present investigation is in line with the previous work of the authors in which an experimental and numerical simulation was carried out to explore the thermal characteristics of a frustum roughness solar air heater. Roughness configuration such as the relative height of the roughness (e/D h), the relative diametral ratio(d 1 /d 2), and the roughness to the diameter of the base diameter (e/d 1) was calculated to optimize the thermal characteristic. To optimize thermal characteristics (Nusselt number and friction factor) a response surface optimization (RSM) was applied. The suggested design of the experiment (DOE) was performed experimentally and numerically. Data collected from experiment and simulation are used to develop mathematical model using analysis of variance (ANOVA) approach. Nusselt number achieves its maximum optimum value of 256.78 at e/D h = 0.043, d 1 /d 2 = 2.33, e/d 1 = 0.98 and Re = 12500. Friction factor achieves its minimum optimum value of 0.009 at e/D h = 0.014, d 1 /d 2 = 2.06, e/d 1 = 1.44 and Re = 12158. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policing is a stressful occupation which may have a negative impact on police personnel's mental and physical health, performance, and interactions with citizens. This research was conducted to explore the relationship between grit, anxiety, stress and depression in serving and retired Police personnel. DASS-42 and 12 item Grit scales were used for data collection. The results showed that the retired police personnel had higher levels of anxiety, stress and depression than serving police personnel. Grit was found higher in retired police personnel than serving police personnel. No significant association was found between retired/serving police personnel and grit, anxiety, stress & depression. Policy makers and police academies should focus and design special training programmes to address mental health issues faced by police personnel after retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is an important crop in Tanzania which contributes significant to the farmers, consumers, and the government. Recognising this importance, the government has made initiatives to attain rice self-sufficiency. These initiatives are crucial in contributing to regional self-sufficiency, enabling rice market leadership, and injecting productivity through significant improvements in the quality, quantity, and value of rice produced in Tanzania. We investigated the dynamics of rice area, production, and productivity and identified shifts in the land-use patterns in Tanzania, To analyse secondary data collected over a 33-year period from 1986/1987 to 2018/2019, we used compound annual growth rates, Cuddy-Della Valle Index and a first-order Markov chain approach. We found that the growth in the areas under rice cultivation, production and productivity were inconsistent as evidenced by the presence of instabilities. Rice remains the third most stable crop in the country in terms of area under production retention; however, this might decline in the next 2 years. Policies in future must enable strategies to increase productivity as well as promote high-yielding varieties, efficient input usage, and irrigation infrastructure development. Significance: * We investigated the spatial and temporal trends in rice area, production, and productivity as well as identified shifts in the crop land-use patterns after a series of government interventions. To achieve sustainability, it is essential to revisit agricultural crop growth strategies regularly at macro- and micro-levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A psychrotolerant Sphingobacterium sp. was isolated from the apple orchard situated in the Kufri region of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India using an enrichment culture technique having chlorpyrifos (CP) as the sole source of carbon and energy. Based on biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA analysis, the strain was identified as Sphingobacterium sp. C1B. The bacterium C1B was able to degrade chlorpyrifos ≥ 42 ppm and ≥ 36 ppm within 14 days at 20 °C and 15 °C, respectively. The strain was also able to degrade chlorpyrifos ≤ 35 ppm at 28 °C within 14 days. The enzyme organophosphorus hydrolase might be responsible for the initial degradation of CP by the strain C1B. Based on the HPLC and GCMS analysis, a probable degradation pathway has been proposed, which followed the path from chlorpyrifos to 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol to benzene, 1,3-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl) and then entered into the TCA cycle. Our current study revealed that the bacterium C1B was found to be a useful strain for the degradation of pesticide chlorpyrifos in the cold climatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new azamacrocylic complexes of divalent transition‐metal ions were synthesized by taking Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) metal ions as templates. The macrocyclic ligand (12Z,52Z,54E)‐11,12,13,14,15,16,51,52,53,54,55,56‐dodecahydro‐2,4,6,8‐tetraaza‐1 (2,4),5(4,2)‐pyrimidine‐3,7(1,2)‐dibenzenacyclooctaphane‐16,56‐dione was derived from o‐phenylenediamine (OPD) and 2‐thiobarbituric acid (TBA). All the complexes were fully characterized through spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. The structures of the macrocyclic complexes were determined by IR, UV–vis, ESI‐MS, TGA, molar conductance, magnetic moment, and electron spin resonance data. On the basis of the above studies, the complexes may be formulated as [MLX2], in which L is a macrocyclic ligand and X = CH3COO−. All the macrocyclic complexes were biologically screened to evaluate their antimicrobial efficacy. DNA binding study of two representative complexes was performed by UV–vis titrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present research work, four new 14‐membered tetraazamacrocylic complexes of Cobalt(II), Nickel(II), Copper(II) and Zinc(II) with (1E,14E)‐8,8,17,17‐tetramethyl‐2,5,11,14‐tetraazatricyclo[13.3.1.16,10]icosa‐1,5,10,14‐tetraene were synthesized using the template methodology that leads to the formation of a complex of type [MLX2] in which L is a macrocyclic ligand derived from ethylenediamine (ED) and 5,5‐dimethylcyclohexanedione (DCH) and X = Cl−/CH3COO−. Spectroscopic, physical, and analytical characterization of complexes was carried out with the assistance of infra‐red, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, Ultraviolet‐visible, powder X‐Ray diffraction, electron spray ionization ‐ mass spectroscopy (ESI‐MS), thermogravimetric analysis, magnetic susceptibilities, and carbon hydrogen nitrogen analysis. The information regarding the monomeric and nonelectrolytic behavior was elucidated from ESI‐MS and molar conductance values. Powder X‐Ray diffractogram studies point toward the crystalline or amorphous nature of the complexes. All the compounds exhibited the nonelectrolytic nature. Semiempirical calculations were performed using Gaussian 09 software and quantum chemical parameters were determined. Newly designed macrocyclic complexes were examined for their antifungal and antibacterial potency by the Agar well diffusion method. In‐vitro DNA binding studies were carried out in order to understand the extent and nature of binding shown by the complexes with the DNA. In addition to this, in‐silico absorption distribution metabolism excretion toxicity studies were also carried out for the interpretation of drug‐like properties in the newly synthesized complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podophyllotoxin is an aryltetralin lignan synthesized in several plant species, which is used in chemotherapies for cancers and tumor treatment. More potent semisynthetic derivatives of podophyllotoxin such as etoposide and teniposide are being developed and evaluated for their efficacy. To meet the ever increasing pharmaceutical needs, species having podophyllotoxin are uprooted extensively leading to the endangered status of selective species mainlySinopodophyllum hexandrum. This has necessitated bioprospection of podophyllotoxin from different plant species to escalate the strain on this endangered species. The conventional and non-conventional mode of propagation and bioprospection with the integration of biotechnological interventions could contribute to sustainable supply of podophyllotoxin from the available plant resources. This review article is focused on the understanding of different means of propagation, development of genomic information, and its implications for elucidating podophyllotoxin biosynthesis and metabolic engineering of pathways. In addition, various strategies for sustainable production of this valuable metabolite are also discussed, besides a critical evaluation of future challenges and opportunities for the commercialization of podophyllotoxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) are copper-containing industrially important enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of many commercially important products by using polyphenols as substrate. Camellia sinensis polyphenol oxidase (CsPPO) is interesting because it oxidizes epicatechins to yield theaflavins and thearubigins. The present study aimed to optimize the expression of CsPPO in Escherichia coli . Because CsPPO had a large number of E. coli rare codons, it yielded a poor quantity of protein in E. coli Rosetta™ 2 cells, which have additional tRNAs for E. coli rare codons. Thus, synthetically constructed codon-optimized CsPPO was cloned into pET-47b(+) vector and expressed in a bacterial host. Ectopic expression led to the formation of inclusion bodies. However, extensive standardization of buffers and methods of refolding such as dialysis, on-column refolding, and rapid dilution yielded active PPO from solubilized inclusion bodies with copper content of 0.880 ± 0.095 atom/molecule of protein. Experimental data produced maximum PPO activity in a rapid dilution buffer containing 0.5 M L-arginine. Refolded CsPPO had an optimum pH of 5.0 and K m values of 3.10, 0.479, and 0.314 mM, and a V max of 163.9, 82.64, and 142.8 U/mg of protein for catechol, catechin, and epicatechin, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sequence-independent single-primer amplification method and a modified enterovirus VP1 gene typing primer were used for identification of echovirus 19 and enterovirus 101, which remained undiagnosed by standard enterovirus molecular typing methods. Six different serotypes were identified during this study, with the predominance of ECV 19 (n = 20) followed by echovirus 21 (n = 3), EV 69 and EV 101 (n = 2 each), coxsackievirus B5 and ECV 27 (n = 1 each). To our knowledge, this is the first report of enteroviruses 69 and 101 in encephalitis cases in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of metal complexes derived from 1,8-diaminonaphthalene and 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione were evaluated. The complexes were synthesized by template method in the presence of trivalent metal salts, resulting in the formation of tetraaza macrocyclic complexes of the type [M (C 36 H 36 N 4 ) X] X 2 , where M = Cr(III), Fe(III) and X = Cl – , NO 3 – , CH 3 COO – . The synthesized complexes were characterized with the aid of elemental analyses, molar conductance measurements, magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic, IR, mass and powder XRD studies. Based on various studies, a five-coordinated square pyramidal geometry was proposed for these complexes. The X-ray diffraction studies suggest a monoclinic crystal system for the complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty isolates of Tilletia indica collected from sites in North and North-western India showed pathogenic variation on 18 host differentials. Sixteen aggressive pathotypes were identified on the basis of percent coefficient of infection (PCI). Two major clusters were apparent in the dendrogram; cluster 1 comprised 13 isolates and cluster two consisted of seven isolates. One of the isolate Kashipur had a high PCI on most of the host differentials compared to other isolates. Polymerase chain reaction-based random amplified polymorphic DNA (PCR - RAPD) analysis also divided isolates into two major clusters, one comprising of 5 isolates collected from hill and foot-hill sites and another group comprising of 15 isolates collected from plain sites. Thus, the clusters identified based on PCI did not match closely with those identified by molecular analysis based on RAPD. Although diversity among the isolates of T. indica was absent in the rDNA-ITS region, our study based on pathogenicity and molecular markers confirms the existence of great diversity in the pathogen, also shifting of 'hot spot' areas from one place to another within Karnal bunt prevailing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Donor workup in renal transplantation is extensive. Despite this, chyle leakage following donor nephrectomy, a rare complication, has been reported in the literature. We encountered two cases of chyle leak in kidney donors in our series of open donor nephrectomies. Summary of Cases. After complete workup, standard open retroperitoneal donor nephrectomy with drain placement was performed in 684 living renal donors. We encountered chyle leak in two cases. The first case was a 33-year-old female who underwent an otherwise uneventful left donor nephrectomy but continued to have high drain output (upto 300- 400 mL/24 hrs) in the postoperative period. The drain fluid was milky, raising the suspicion of chyle which was confirmed on biochemical analysis. The second case was a 42-year-old female with a similar case history. Both were managed conservatively with low-fat diet. The leak subsided spontaneously in three weeks and one week in the first and second patients, respectively. The drain was removed, and the patients remained symptom-free on followup. Conclusions. Both of our cases of chyle leak following open donor nephrectomy were managed successfully with conservative management. The management options and the experience of other centers are reviewed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA synthesis and decay counteract each other and therefore inversely regulate gene expression in pro- and eukaryotic cells by controlling the steady-state level of individual transcripts. Genetic and biochemical data together with recent in depth annotation of bacterial genomes indicate that many components of the bacterial RNA decay machinery are evolutionarily conserved and that their functional analogues exist in organisms belonging to all kingdoms of life. Here we briefly review biological functions of essential enzymes, their evolutionary conservation and multienzyme complexes that are involved in mRNA decay in Escherichia coli and discuss their conservation in evolutionarily distant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The synthesis of macrocyclic ligands and their metal complexes is a fast developing area of research in bioinorganic and inorganic chemistry as witnessed by biologically important systems. A new series of divalent copper, nickel, iron and cobalt complexes has been prepared templately with 2,2-dihydroxyindane-1,3-dione and isomeric diaminopyridines and efficacy of these complexes is studied against Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum. The complexes have been characterized by the aid of elemental analyses, molar conductance, electronic spectra, ESR, magnetic measurements and IR spectral data has been collected. The complexes are proposed to be distorted octahedral. The value of molar conductance (11–13Ω−1 cm2 mol−1) indicates them to be non-electrolytes. The fungicidal properties of these complexes has been compared with the standard indofil M-45 and bavistin. Some of the complexes have been found to be anti-fungal in nature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Whereas ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) are known primarily as components of the translational machinery, certain of these r-proteins have been found to also have extraribosomal functions. Here we report the novel ability of an r-protein, L4, to regulate RNA degradation in Escherichia coil. We show by affinity purification, immunoprecipitation analysis, and E. coil two-hybrid screening that L4 interacts with a site outside of the catalytic domain of RNase E to regulate the endoribonucleolytic functions of the enzyme, thus inhibiting RNase E-specific cleavage in vitro, stabilizing mRNAs targeted by RNase E in vivo, and controlling plasmid DNA replication by stabilizing an antisense regulatory RNA normally attacked by RNase E. Broader effects of the L4-RNase E interaction on E. coil transcripts were shown by DNA microarray analysis, which revealed changes in the abundance of 65 mRNAs encoding the stress response proteins HslO, Lon, CstA, YjiY, and YaeL, as well as proteins involved in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism and transport, transcription/translation, and DNA/ RNA synthesis. Analysis of mRNA stability showed that the half lives of stress-responsive transcripts were increased by ectopic expression of 14, which normally increases along with other r-proteins in E. coil under stress conditions, and also by inactivation of RNase E. Our finding that L4 can inhibit RNase E-dependent decay may account at least in part for the elevated production of stress-induced proteins during bacterial adaptation to adverse environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of macrocyclic complexes of type [M(TML)X]X2; where M = Cr(III), Mn(III), or Fe(III); TML is tetradentate macrocyclic ligand and X = Cl-1, NO3-1, CH3COO-1 for Cr(III), Fe(III), and X = CH3COO-1 for Mn(III) has been synthesized by template condensation of succinyldihydrazide and glyoxal. The complexes have been formulated as [M(TML)X]X2 due to 1:2 electrolytic natures of these complexes as shown by conductivity measurements. The complexes have been characterized with the help of elemental analyses, molar conductance, electronic, infrared, far infrared spectral studies and magnetic susceptibilities. On the basis of these studies, a five-coordinate distorted square-pyramidal geometry, in which two nitrogens and two carbonyl oxygen atoms are suitably placed for coordination toward the metal ion, has been proposed for all the complexes. The complexes were tested for their in vitro antibacterial activity. Some of the complexes showed remarkable antibacterial activities against some selected bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration shown by these complexes was compared with minimum inhibitory concentration shown by some standard antibiotics like linezolid and cefaclor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel series of complexes of the type [M(TML)X]X2, where TML is a tetradentate macrocyclic ligand, M = Cr(III), Mn(III) or Fe(III), X = Cl-, CH3COO- or NO3- , were synthesized by template condensation of dibenzoyl and thiocarbohydrazide in the presence of trivalent metal salts in a methanolic medium. The complexes were characterized with the help of elemental analyses, conductance measurements, molecular weight determination, magnetic measurements, electronic, NMR, infrared and far infrared spectral studies. The electronic spectra together with the magnetic moments suggest five coordinate square pyramidal geometry for these complexes. The molar conductance indicates them to be 1:2 electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variability in the organization of repeats of 5S rDNA is useful for phylogenetic studies in various crops. We found variable repeats of 5S rDNA gene in the genome of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) during Southern hybridization. Variability in the repeats of 5S rDNA with specific restriction endonuleases (Sau3AI, BamHI, and ApoI) was analyzed in 28 different tea clones representing 3 types of tea. Our results clearly show that the 5S rDNA gene in tea could be used as a molecular marker to distinguish C. sinensis Chinary tea from the other important types of tea, namely Assamica and Cambod. Upon analysis with restriction endonucleases, the 5S rDNA gene in the tea genome was found to be heavily methylated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 5S rRNA genes in the Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze (tea) genome are arranged as tandem repeat units of 300 and 325 bps. The 2 classes of tandem repeats were discovered by Southern hybridisation of tea genomic DNA with a 5S rRNA gene PCR product.Key words: Camellia species, 5S rDNA, multigene family, tandem repeats, spacers.Les gènes codant les ARNr 5S sont disposés en unités de 300 pb et de 325 pb répétées en tandem au sein du génome du Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze (le théier). Les deux classes d'ADN répétitif ont été découvertes par hybridation Southern de l'ADN génomique du théier avec un produit d'amplification PCR d'un gène codant pour un ARNr 5S.Mots clés : espèces du genre Camellia, ADNr 5S, famille multigénique, répétitions en tandem, espaceurs.[Traduit par la Rédaction] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, cyber-attacks are steadily increasing in the cloud network. TCP, ICMP, UDP protocolbased Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are the major contributors for making the cloudbased system unsafe. The rate of growth of DDoS cyber-attack is a severe and challenging problem in the network. In the literature, to handle such attacks, various feature selection, and classification techniques are used. In these methods, for the collection of optimal attributes, static thresholding methods are applied. However, when the various variant of DDoS causes a DDoS attack, the size of packets and attribute's value is significantly changed. Thus, the methods utilizing static statistics are not suitable for a dynamic network. Therefore, an adaptive threshold-based Mean Absolute Deviation technique (MAD) is used to overcome these drawbacks. Moreover, in this work, the Stacked Ensemble (SE) approach is utilized instead of the single classification algorithm for the classification purpose. The proposed approach comprises of three components; (1) data preprocessing, (2) optimal attribute selection, and (3) detection and prevention system from DDoS attacks. In this work, to evaluate the proposed approach, a standard NSL-KDD dataset is used. It is observed that MAD with SE beats all other combinations. In conventional methods, selecting a single classifier may not perform well because it works well on training data, but it poorly classifies the nonviewed new data. The stack ensemble approach removes this issue. Moreover TCP, UDP, and ICMPbased DDoS flooding attacks can also be easily noticed and classified by MAD-SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of 8×8 diallel crosses excluding reciprocal of Indian mustard along with their parents were evaluated in randomized block design with three replication in two set of environments. The estimates of gca effects on the basis of pooled analysis revealed that variety RH-8812 displayed greater potential as good general combiner for all the six characters, Bio-902 and RH-9304 also exhibited desirable gca effects for yield/ plant, days to 50 % flowering, primaries branches per plant and number of siliqua/plant. The results of sca revealed that the 10 crosses showed positive and significant sca for seed yield. Out of these crosses two crosses namely RH8812 × Pusa Jai Kisan and Pusa Jai Kisan × RH819 were observed as best cross combination for early flowering and oil content also.The ratio of gca /sca indicated predominance of additive gene effects for plant height, days to 50 % flowering and primaries branch /plant, however additive and non additive gene effects were equally importance for number of siliqua /plant, seeds yield/plant and oil content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli ribosomal protein (r-protein) L4 has extraribosomal biological functions. Previously, we described L4 as inhibiting RNase E activity through protein-protein interactions. Here, we report that from stabilized transcripts regulated by L4-RNase E, mRNA levels of tnaA (encoding tryptophanase from the tnaCAB operon) increased upon ectopic L4 expression, whereas TnaA protein levels decreased. However, at nonpermissive temperatures (to inactivate RNase E), tnaA mRNA and protein levels both increased in an rne temperature-sensitive [rne(Ts)] mutant strain. Thus, L4 protein fine-tunes TnaA protein levels independently of its inhibition of RNase E. We demonstrate that ectopically expressed L4 binds with transcribed spacer RNA between tnaC and tnaA and downregulates TnaA translation. We found that deletion of the 5' or 3' half of the spacer compared to the wild type resulted in a similar reduction in TnaA translation in the presence of L4. In vitro binding of L4 to the tnaC-tnaA transcribed spacer RNA results in changes to its secondary structure. We reveal that during early stationary-phase bacterial growth, steady-state levels of tnaA mRNA increased but TnaA protein levels decreased. We further confirm that endogenous L4 binds to tnaC-tnaA transcribed spacer RNA in cells at early stationary phase. Our results reveal the novel function of L4 in fine-tuning TnaA protein levels during cell growth and demonstrate that r-protein L4 acts as a translation regulator outside the ribosome and its own operon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacial and kettle lakes in the high-altitude Himalayas are unique habitats with significant scope for microbial ecology. The present study provides insights into bacterial community structure and function of the sediments of two high-altitude lakes using 16S amplicon and whole-genome shotgun (WGS) metagenomics. Microbial communities in the sediments of Parvati kund (glacial lake) and Bhoot ground (kettle lake) majorly consist of bacteria and a small fraction of archaea and eukaryota. The bacterial population has an abundance of phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobia. Despite the common phyla, the sediments from each lake have a distinct distribution of bacterial and archaeal taxa. The analysis of the WGS metagenomes at the functional level provides a broad picture of microbial community metabolism of key elements and suggested chemotrophs as the major primary producers. In addition, the findings also revealed that polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a crucial stress adaptation molecule. The abundance of PHA metabolism in Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria and less representation in other bacterial and archaeal classes in both metagenomes was disclosed. The metagenomic insights provided an incisive view of the microbiome from Himalayan lake's sediments. It has also opened the scope for further bioprospection from virgin Himalayan niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work is to synthesize multifunctional nanodendritic structural molecules that can effectively encapsulate hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic therapeutic agents. Four different types of fourth-generation lysine-citric acid based dendrimer have been synthesized in this work: PE-MC-Lys-CA-PEG, TMP-MC-Lys-CA-PEG, PE-MS-Lys-CA-PEG, and TMP-MS-Lys-CA-PEG. The antibacterial drug cefotaxime (CFTX) was further conjugated to these dendrimers. The dendrimer and drug-dendrimer conjugate structures were characterized with the help of FTIR,1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Zeta sizer, AFM, and HR-TEM techniques were used to investigate the particle size, surface topography, and structural characteristics of drug-dendrimer conjugates. In vitro drug release was then investigated using dialysis method. Various kinetic drug release models were examined to evaluate the type of kinetic drug release mechanism of the formulations. Cytotoxicity study revealed that the dendrimers encapsulated with CFTX exhibited 2-3% toxicity against healthy epithelial cells, indicating their safe use. Plain dendrimers show 10-15% hemolytic toxicity against red blood cells (RBC), and the toxicity was reduced to 2-3% when CFTX was conjugated to the same dendrimers. The 3rd and 4th generation synthesized drug-dendrimer conjugates exhibit a significantly effective zone of inhibition (ZOI) against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. For Gram-positive bacteria, the lower concentration of 0.1 mg/mL showed more than 98% inhibition of drug-dendrimer conjugate samples against B. subtilis and more than 50% inhibition against S. aureus using 0.2 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, samples with concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL exhibited more than 50% inhibition against S. typhimurium and E. coli, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional paddy varieties are climate resilient, local stress-tolerant, low-input intensive and valuable sources of genetic diversity that have been under the threat of extinction from rising preferences for high yielding varieties. However, farmers in few pockets of the globe continue to cultivate traditional paddy varieties. This study therefore is an attempt at investigating who cultivates them and why they do so, through the survey of 225 paddy farmers in Wayanad district of Kerala. Results revealed that traditional paddy varieties were grown mainly by marginal and tribal farmers for chief purposes of self-consumption, and for associated traditional values and conservation. Farmers’ varietal selection decisions were found to be influenced by varietal traits related to consumption aspects, consumer demand, pest and disease resistance. Therefore, by cultivating traditional paddy varieties, farmers have been conserving these valuable genetic resources on-farm. However, stronger concerted institutional interventions are required for fullfledged, systematic and sustained in situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-asparaginase is an important therapeutic biomolecule, used to treat lymphocytic leukemia. In the present study, Iodobacter sp. PCH194 genome was mined for new L-asparaginase (Id-ASNase II). In silico analysis including amino acid composition and pI revealed its sequence-based novelty and phylogenetic closeness to the commercial bacterial L-asparaginases. Subsequently, the gene was successfully cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli BL21 DE3). The monomeric molecular weight of Id-ASNase II was 38 kDa with a native size of 150 kDa. Maximum L-asparaginase activity (80 U mg− 1) was achieved in 25 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.2) at 37 °C after 10 min of incubation. The enzyme was active in wide pH (5.0–11.0) and temperature ranges (4–70 °C). The half-life (t1/2) of the enzyme at 37 °C was 13.54 h, whereas Km, Vmax, kcat, and kcat/Km were 1.2 mM, 128 µmoles min− 1, 82 s− 1, and 63.1 s− 1 mM− 1, respectively. Id-ASNase II exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cell line K562 (IC50 value 0.4 U mL− 1) leading to cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase after treatment. Furthermore, 10 U Id-ASNase II led to a 57% acrylamide reduction in potato chips. Thus, the study discovered and characterized Id-ASNase II with potential applications for treating leukemia and food processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthrobacter alpinus ERGS4:06, a yellow pigmented bacterium which exhibited tolerance to cold and UV radiations was isolated from the glacial stream of East Rathong glacier in Sikkim Himalaya. Here we report the 4.3 Mb complete genome assembly that has provided the basis for potential role of pigments as a survival strategy to combat stressed environment of cold and high UV-radiation and additionally the ability to produce cold active industrial enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superoxide dismutases are the enzymes involved in dismutation of superoxide radicals into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. The present work reports a thermostable Fe/Mn SOD of Geobacillus sp. strain PCH100 (GsSOD) isolated from glacial soil. Purified recombinant GsSOD is a dimeric protein of ~57 kDa that exhibited highest activity at a temperature of 10 °C and pH of 7.8. Maximum enzyme velocity and Michaelis constant of the GsSOD were 1098.90 units/mg and 0.62 μM, respectively. At 80 °C, thermal inactivation rate constant and half-life of GsSOD were 3.33 × 10−3 min−1 and 208 min, respectively. Interestingly, GsSOD tolerated a temperature of 100 °C and 130 °C up to 15 min and 5 min, respectively. Circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetry confirmed thermostable nature of GsSOD. Apoenzyme of GsSOD regained enzymatic activity in the presence of Fe2+ and Mn2+ as metal ion cofactors. GsSOD was stable under varying concentrations of chemicals, namely ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, potassium cyanide, hydrogen peroxide, chloroform-ethanol, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate, Tween-20, Triton X-100, urea, and guanidine hydrochloride. The enzyme exhibited >70% activity in presence of 10 mM metal ions. Owing to its thermostable nature and resistance to chemical inhibitors, GsSOD is a potential enzyme for industrial applications. • A thermostable SOD from Geobacillus sp. (GsSOD) was cloned and expressed in E. coli. • The V max and K m for GsSOD were 1098.90 units/mg and 0.62 μM, respectively. • GsSOD exhibited activity at wide range of pH, temperatures, and common inhibitors. • At 80 °C, K d and t 1/2 of GsSOD were 3.33 × 10−3 min−1 and 208 min, respectively. • CD spectroscopy and DSC validated thermal stability of GsSOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple agarose gel-based method for evaluating the homology between two DNA molecules has been developed. This procedure involves a simple in vitro assay where gene-targeting plasmid DNA vector and PCR amplified genomic fragment of the desired species are first denatured by heat treatment and later mixed in a solution to achieve gradual renaturation. The renatured DNA molecules are then resolved in an agarose gel to evaluate the degree of homology between desired DNA molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the complete genome sequence of Arthrobacter sp. ERGS1:01, a novel bacterium which produces industrial enzymes at low temperature. East Rathong glacier in Sikkim Himalayas is untouched and unexplored for microbial diversity though it has a rich source of glaciers, alpine and meadows. Genome sequence has provided the basis for understanding its adaptation under harsh condition of Himalayan glacier, its ability to produce cold active industrial enzymes and has unlocked opportunities for microbial bioprospection from East Rathong glacier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study estimates the social cost of growing paddy, wheat and legumes as Rs 9484, 8804 and 1281 per ha respectively. Monetized value of overall risk in paddy, wheat and legumes is Rs 716, 650 and 1738 per ha respectively. An economic incentive consisting of risk and social benefits, to the tune of Rs 8611 and 9225 per ha over wheat and paddy respectively, should be provided for the production of legumes. The study highlights the need to internalize environmental benefits of legumes vis-à-vis competing crops, and accordingly cultivation of legumes needs to be encouraged through a proper mechanism of incentivization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme niches are offered with unusual physiochemical conditions that impose stress to the life-forms including microbial communities. Microbes have evolved unique physiology and genetics to interact dynamically with extreme environments for their adaptation and survival. Amongst the several adaptive features of microbes in stressed conditions, polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesis is a crucial strategy of many bacteria and archaea to reserve carbon and energy inside the cell. Apart from the relevance of PHA to microbial world, these intracellular polyesters are seen as essential biological macromolecules for the bio-material industry owing to their plastic-like properties, biodegradable and eco-friendly nature. Recently, much attention has been attracted by the microbes of extreme habitats for a new source of industrially suited PHA producers and novel PHA with unique properties. Therefore, the current review is focused on the critical evaluation of microbes from extreme niches for PHA production and opportunities for the development of commercially feasible PHA bioprocess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dengue virus infection is an important emerging disease of the tropical and subtropical regions and is mainly diagnosed by serological detection of NS1 antigen and IgM antidengue antibodies. Since enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) facilities are not easily available at most diagnostic centers, so most of them use various commercially available rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) kits. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to access the diagnostic accuracy of four commercially available and widely used RDTs for serodiagnosis of dengue virus infection in Indian laboratories. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at Department of Microbiology, G.S.V.M Medical College, Kanpur, India, to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of following RDTs: (1) Dengue Cassette (Panbio, Australia), (2) Bioline Dengue Duo (SD Diagnostics, Korea), (3) Dengue Day 1 test (J Mitra and Co., India), and (4) Dengucheck Duo (Tulip Diagnostics, India) on 72 confirmed dengue serum samples that were positive by dengue reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, dengue NS1, and IgM ELISA along with 80 serum samples from nondengue febrile illness patients. RESULTS: The majority of the RDTs demonstrated low sensitivity but good specificity for detecting NS1 antigen. Detection of antidengue IgM antibodies by RDTs demonstrated low sensitivity ranging from 27.8% to 77.7%. However, specificity was generally higher (50%-86.2%) and more consistent across the assays. CONCLUSION: The study results differed markedly from the RDTs manufacturers' claimed performance characteristics. Therefore, the RDT results should be interpreted cautiously and ELISA should be performed as far as possible for serodiagnosis of dengue virus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EP) is a rare, severe gas forming infection of renal parenchyma and its surrounding areas and potentially life threatening condition that requires prompt evaluation and treatment. Although it commonly present with a fulminant clinical picture of sepsis, relatively mild symptoms can also be encountered. To our knowledge, incidentally detected emphysematous pyelonephritis has not been reported so far. We report a case of EP that was incidentally detected during evaluation for diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition, which can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and ill health, will disproportionately impact people. Biofortification is an initiative to ensure improved nutritional outcomes in developing countries, where approaches to food supplements and commercially marketed fortified foods are limited. A primary survey was carried out in and around the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, India. A total of 134 respondents from urban and 123 respondents from rural areas were interviewed. The results revealed that the majority of respondents in urban areas (72%) presumed that biofortified products were higher in micronutrients than those in rural areas (49%). The findings reveal that age and gender negatively impact consumer awareness of biofortification, while education, food habits and income exert a positive and significant impact. The policy implications drawn should enable the development of consumer-based food products by creating a niche market and using an appropriate marketing channel to increase consumer acceptance and WTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reports long term clonal fidelity validation of M. acuminata. • Determination of quercetin, p -coumaric acid and eugenol within various tissues using HPTLC. • Assessment of anti- bacterial activity of various plant parts against prominent strains. • Validation of genetic conformity using SCoT and CBDP-gene targeted markers. • Model approach for other terrestrial orchids. Malaxis acuminata D. Don [ = Crepidium acuminatum (D. Don) Szlach.] is one of the prized medicinal orchids with large-scale application in various nutraceutical and herbal preparations. However, due to paucity in the availability of plant materials, its usage is often restricted. In order to ensure continuous supply of raw material for the pharmaceutical and herbal industries, plant tissue culture plays a crucial role. In the present research, transverse thin cell layer (t -TCL) derived in vitro cultures of M. acuminata were initiated and maintained in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l meta -topolin (m T), 5.0 mg/l chitosan, 1.5 mg/l indole-3- butyric acid (IBA) and 5.0 mg/l phloroglucinol (PG) for three years time period under culture room conditions by regular intermittent sub-culturing. However, the success of in vitro propagated plant bio-resources are often adversely impacted due to the occurrence of clonal variations which is considered as a serious limitation for the commercial utilization. In order to ascertain the clonal fidelity of the long term - propagated in vitro lines of M. acuminata , genetic homogeneity amongst the regenerated plantlets was accessed using two advanced gene targeted molecular markers namely start codon targeted (SCoT) and CAAT box derived polymorphism (CBDP). The plants were found to exhibit 93.34% clonal fidelity in comparison to their mother plant. Keeping in consideration the therapeutic attributes of M. acuminata , the phytochemical makeup of the wild and in vitro - derived plant parts was compared using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique. Furthermore, M. acuminata is considered to be one the most precious medicinal orchids having rich reserves of biomolecules which can be used against various pathogenic bacterial strains. The antibacterial activities of various tissue extracts of M. acuminata were also evaluated against the opportunistic bacterial strains viz. Escherichia coli (MTCC43), Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC733), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC96) and Bacillus subtilis (MTCC121). The results of antibacterial assays demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of the in vitro - derived plant parts at identical magnitude with that of their wild counterparts. The present research provides a holistic insight into the clonal stability of the long term - propagated in vitro plants of M. acuminata with promising antibacterial activity. This study can also serve as a model approach for the maintenance of genetically stable in vitro lines of therapeutically important endangered orchid species over a period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report the first complete genome of a psychrotolerant and yellow-pigmented rhizobacteria Chryseobacterium cucumeris PCH239. It was obtained from the rhizospheric soil of the Himalayan plant Bergenia ciliata. The genome consists of a single contig (5.098 Mb), 36.3% G + C content, and 4899 genes. The cold adaptation, stress response, and DNA repair genes promote survivability in a high-altitude environment. PCH239 grows in temperature (10–37 °C), pH (6.0–8.0), and NaCl (2.0%). The genome derived plant growth-promoting activities of siderophore production (siderophore units 53 ± 0.6), phosphate metabolism (PSI 5.0 ± 0.8), protease, indole acetic acid production (17.3 ± 0.5 µg/ml), and ammonia (2.89 ± 0.4 µmoles) were experimentally validated. Interestingly, PCH239 treatment of Arabidopsis seeds significantly enhances germination, primary, and hairy root growth. In contrast, Vigna radiata and Cicer arietinum seeds had healthy radicle and plumule elongation, suggesting varied plant growth-promotion effects. Our findings suggested the potential of PCH239 as a bio-fertilizer and biocontrol agent in the challenging conditions of cold and hilly regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Review of Macrocyclic transition metal complexes synthesized in the last two decades. • Macrocyclic Schiff bases and metal complexes and pharmacological significance. • Different methods for synthesis of these complexes. • Cytotoxic properties of these complexes against various cancer cells. • Anti-microbial effects of the complexes against various bacterial and fungal strains. The World is facing an epidemic of various diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Apart from it, cancer, malaria, and diabetes are some major health problems. So, a need arises to discover novel molecules that can be used as therapeutic drugs for several diseases, including cancer and diabetes. Macrocyclic Schiff base (MSB) transition metal complexes are popularly studied organometallic compounds due to their vast biological applications in treating infectious diseases and various health problems. This attracts the researchers to the Chemistry of Schiff base metal complexes in pharmaceutical applications and areas like biochemical, bio-inorganic, environmental, industrial, photochemical, photophysical, photoelectronic etc. So, the Novel synthesis of Schiff base metal complexes will design and develop more effective therapeutic drugs. Even though the topic is quite old and exploited, many researchers are still globally working to find new MSB complexes and their applications. Based on the above considerations, we have reviewed the pharmaceutical properties of MSB transition metal complexes synthesized in the last two decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) from microbial sources is a commercially vital enzyme to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, the side effects associated with the commercial formulations of L-ASNases intrigued to explore for efficient and desired pharmacological enzymatic features. Here, we report the biochemical and cytotoxic evaluation of periplasmic L-ASNase of Pseudomonas sp. PCH199 isolated from the soil of Betula utilis, the Himalayan birch. L-ASNase production from wild-type PCH199 was enhanced by 2.2-fold using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Increased production of periplasmic L-ASNase was obtained using an optimized osmotic shock method followed by its purification. The purified L-ASNase was a monomer of 37.0 kDa with optimum activity at pH 8.5 and 60 ℃. It also showed thermostability retaining 100.0% (200 min) and 90.0% (70 min) of the activity at 37 and 50 ℃, respectively. The Km and Vmax values of the purified enzyme were 0.164 ± 0.009 mM and 54.78 ± 0.4 U/mg, respectively. L-ASNase was cytotoxic to the K562 blood cancer cell line (IC50 value 0.309 U/mL) within 24 h resulting in apoptotic nuclear morphological changes as examined by DAPI staining. Therefore, the dynamic functionality in a wide range of pH and temperature and stability of PCH199 L-ASNase at 37 ℃ with cytotoxic potential proves to be pharmaceutically important for therapeutic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study describes a novel species with the strain name ERMR1:05T isolated from the forefield soil of East Rathong Glacier in West Sikkim Himalaya (India). The isolate was facultatively anaerobic, gram-stain negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, and oxidase negative. Whole-genome-based bacterial core gene phylogenetic analysis placed the strain in the genus Rahnella, well separated from Rouxiella spp. The digital DNA–DNA hybridisation and average nucleotide identity values between strain ERMR1:05T and other members of genus Rahnella were below the proposed thresholds for the species delineation. Based on these results, a new species, Rahnella sikkimica sp. nov., is proposed with strain ERMR1:05T (CIP 111636T, MTCC 12598T) as the type strain. The bacterium showed upregulation of cold-stress genes in cold conditions. Additionally, the genome analysis of the bacterium showed the presence of plant growth-promotion factors suggesting its role in crop improvement in cold hilly regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigments are an essential part of life on earth, ranging from microbes to plants and humans. The physiological and environmental cues induce microbes to produce a broad spectrum of pigments, giving them adaptation and survival advantages. Microbial pigments are of great interest due to their natural origin, diverse biological activities, and wide applications in the foods, Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and textile industries. Despite noticeable research on pigment-producing microbes, commercial successes are scarce, primarily from higher, remote, and inaccessible Himalayan niches. Therefore, substantial bioprospection integrated with advanced biotechnological strategies is required to commercialize microbial pigments successfully. The current review elaborates on pigment-producing microbes from a Himalayan perspective, offering tremendous opportunities for industrial applications. Additionally, it illustrates the ecological significance of microbial pigments and emphasizes the current status and prospects of microbial pigment production above the test tube scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

l-Asparaginase (l-ASNase) is a key enzyme used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a childhood blood cancer. Here, we report on the characterization of a recombinant l-ASNase (Ps44-asn II) from Pseudomonas sp. PCH44. The gene was identified from its genome, cloned, and overexpressed in the host Escherichia coli (E. coli). The recombinant l-ASNase (Ps44-ASNase II) was purified with a monomer size of 37.0 kDa and a homotetrameric size of 148.0 kDa. The purified Ps44-ASNase II exhibited optimum activity of 40.84 U/mg in Tris–HCl buffer (50 mM, pH 8.5) at 45 °C for 15 min. It retained 76.53% of enzyme activity at 45 °C after 120 min of incubation. The half-life and Kd values were 600 min and 1.10 × 10–3 min−1, respectively, at 45 °C. The kinetic constants values Km and Vmax were 0.56, 0.728 mM, and 29.41, 50.12 U/mg for l-asparagine and l-glutamine, respectively. However, kcat for l-glutamine is more (30.91 s−1) than l-asparagine (18.06 s−1), suggesting that enzymes act more efficiently on l-glutamine than l-asparagine. The docking analysis of l-asparagine and l-glutamine with active site residues of the enzyme revealed a molecular basis for high l-glutaminase (L-GLNase) activity and provided insights into the role of key amino acid residues in the preferential enzymatic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Himalayan Viola species (Banksha) are traditionally important herbs with versatile therapeutic benefits such as antitussive, analgesic, antipyretic, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancerous ones. The current investigation was focused on exploring polyphenolic profiles, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potentials of wild viola species at 15 gradient locations (375–1829 m). Methods: Morphological, physiochemical, and proximate analyses were carried out as per WHO guidelines for plant drug standardization. Total polyphenolic and flavonoid content were carried out using gallic acid and rutin equivalent. UPLC-DAD was used to profile the targeted polyphenols (gallic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutin, quercetin, luteolin, caffeic acid, and epicatechin). Similarly, all samples were screened for antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Statistical analysis was used to correlate polyphenolic and targeted activities to assess Viola species adaptation behavior patterns. Results: Viola canescens (V. canescens) and Viola pilosa (V. pilosa) were found abundantly at their respective sites. Among flowers and leaves, flowers of V. canescens and V. pilosa showed higher total polyphenolic and flavonoid content (51.4 ± 1.13 mg GAE/g and 65.05 ± 0.85 mg RE/g, and 33.26 ± 0.62 mg GAE/g and 36.10 ± 1.41 mg RE/g, respectively). Furthermore, UPLC-DAD showed the uppermost content of p-coumaric acid in flowers and ferulic acid in leaves, while rutin was significant in both the tissues. Conclusions: The adaptive behavior of Viola species showed variability in morphological characters with the altitudes, while targeted polyphenols and activities were significant at mid-altitudes. This research helps in the selection of right chemotype for agrotechnological interventions and the development of nutraceutical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Macrocyclic trivalent transition metal complexes synthesis. [•] Template condensation reaction. [•] Antimicrobial activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]