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Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) accounts for the majority of complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections. The use of phytomolecules in the treatment of UTI is fast gaining attention. The current report identifies a multidrug-resistant strain (QSLUPEC7), which is a strong biofilm producer, among the considered clinical isolates. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity was evaluated for the phytomolecule, Type A procyanidin (TAP) from Cinnamomum zeylanicum against QSLUPEC7. TAP treatment did not affect the growth of the MDR strain but affected the biofilm formation (~70% inhibition). The confocal microscopic examination reveals the biofilm inhibition and the live cells in the biofilm corroborates the antimicrobial results. Further, the synergy studies of TAP and nitrofurantoin (NIT) were carried out at different pH. TAP acts synergistically with nitrofurantoin at different pH considered. A closer look in the results reveals that at pH 5.8, maximum growth inhibition is recorded. The gene expression analysis shows that TAP alone and in combination with NIT downregulates the major fimbriae adhesins of UPEC. The results conclude that the TAP has an antibiofilm activity against the multidrug-resistant strain of UPEC, without affecting the growth. Also, TAP reciprocally cooperates with nitrofurantoin at different pH by downregulating the adhesins of UPEC.

We have herein computationally examined binding affinities and specificity of 2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitrobenzamide (HDNB), a small chemical molecular BH3-mimetic identified by means of peptidodynmimetic method, on the BH3-binding grooves of six anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-B, Bcl-W, Bcl-XL, Bfl-1 and Mcl-1) from human beings. The HDNB ligand was found to interact on the BH3-binding grooves of Bcl-2, Bcl-B, Bcl-XL, Bfl-1 and Mcl-1, whereas it did not act as BH3-mimetic to Bcl-W. Moreover, binding affinities of the HDNB towards the anti-apoptotic proteins were significantly different from each other. The differential binding affinities and specificity of the HDNB towards the anti-apoptotic proteins have been chiefly attributed to the differences in the chemical properties of BH3-binding grooves of the proteins. Implications of the study to design efficient de novo antagonists to the anti-apoptotic proteins using the HDNB as seed molecule have been discussed.

This review discusses the potential of afforestation in mitigating climate change by capturing atmospheric Carbon dioxide (CO2) and storing it in biomass and soil. It elaborates on the distinction between biological and geological carbon sequestration, with a focus on afforestation a biological method where trees and vegetation absorb CO2 through photosynthesis. Wastelands, characterized by poor soil quality, low vegetation cover, and minimal economic value, are significant contributors to atmospheric CO2 due to the degradation of soil organic matter. The article highlights the global distribution of wastelands, with notable examples in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices are prevalent. Afforestation is presented as a viable strategy for reclaiming these degraded lands. Historical and contemporary examples, such as the Loess Plateau in China and the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, demonstrate the success of afforestation projects in sequestering carbon, restoring land productivity, and providing socio-economic benefits. The mechanisms of carbon sequestration in afforested wastelands are explained, including photosynthesis, soil organic carbon sequestration, and the role of mycorrhizal fungi. Factors influencing the effectiveness of carbon sequestration are also discussed, such as tree species selection, soil characteristics, climate conditions, and management practices. Challenges to afforestation include harsh environmental conditions, water scarcity, socio-economic issues, and potential ecological risks. The article suggests mitigation strategies like soil amendments, efficient water management, community engagement, and sustainable forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prevalence studies on major depression and dysthymia are plentiful at the community level in India. Hospital-based studies are few and none in Puducherry. This study aims to find the proportions of major depression and dysthymia and their association with socio-demographic characteristics among the patients attending the psychiatry outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 896 patients above 18 years were assessed between June 2019 to March 2020. A qualified psychiatrist diagnosed patients with depressive episodes and dysthymia according to the ICD-10 classification. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was used for the severity assessment of depressive episodes. Socio-demographic data were collected from all the participants. The Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to analyse differences in proportions. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations. A p-value

Antibacterial materials are preferable for water treatment a medical applications. In the present study, to improve the antimicrobial performance of flexible polyurethane (PU) foams, copper nanoparticles were in situ generated. The Cu nanoparticles were formed on the surface of polyurethane cell walls with sizes of 100–130 nm, and exhibited high affinity with the PU matrix. Although the cell structure of the nanocomposite PU foams was not greatly influenced, the open cell content decreased slightly from 97.42 to 96.64%. The bound metal nanoparticles on the cell walls could strengthen the cell skeleton improved the mechanical strength of the resulting foams. The mechanical parameters were dramatically improved, such as tensile and compressive strength of the nanocomposite PUs were improved from 78.1 to 94.2 kPa and from 3.80 to 5.63 kPa, respectively. Besides, these nanocomposite foams showed great antibacterial activity that can be considered for antibacterial applications in water treatment and medical fields.

It has recently been shown that the -dimensional reduced adder graph (RAG- ) technique is beneficial for many DSP applications such as for FIR and IIR filters, where multipliers can be grouped in multiplier blocks. This paper highlights the importance of DFT and FFT as DSP objects and also explores how the RAG- technique can be applied to these algorithms. This RAG- DFT will be shown to be of low complexity and possess an attractively regular VLSI data flow when implemented with the Rader DFT algorithm or the Bluestein chirp- algorithm. ASIC synthesis data are provided and demonstrate the low complexity and high speed of the design when compared to other alternatives.