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Background: The Facial anthropometrics have wide implications in determining the age, sex for identification in forensics and cosmetic pre-surgical assessments. The studies on comparisons of face indices with north and south Indian population were cited routinely but not within the south Indian population. Thus, the current study had attempted to characterise facial anthropometrics and correlate with sexual dimorphism. Aims/Objectives: To characterise the facial anthropometrics and correlate with sexual dimorphism in south Indian population. Methodology: An observational study was conducted on 200 subjects, recruited by convenient sampling after meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The “Facial index”(FI) was calculated after measurement of face height (FH), Upper face height(UFH), Lower face height (LFH), Face width (FW)using digital vernier calliper. The facial anthropometrics and face types were evaluated for differences in male and females. The state of origin from south India was also evaluated for similar significant implications. The t-test and ANOVA or chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis as needed. Results: The study population of 200 subjects, 45%(n= 90) were males and 55% (n=110) were females. The FH (p

Summary: Microbial plant pathogens deploy amphipathic cyclic lipopeptides to reduce surface tension in their environment. While plants can detect these molecules to activate cellular stress responses, the role of these lipopeptides or associated host responses in pathogenesis are not fully clear. The gramillin cyclic lipopeptide is produced by the Fusarium graminearum fungus and is a virulence factor and toxin in maize. Here, we show that gramillin promotes virulence and necrosis in both monocots and dicots by disrupting ion balance across membranes. Gramillin is a cation-conducting ionophore and causes plasma membrane depolarization. This disruption triggers cellular signaling, including a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), transcriptional reprogramming, and callose production. Gramillin-induced ROS depends on expression of host ILK1 and RBOHD genes, which promote fungal induction of virulence genes during infection and host susceptibility. We conclude that gramillin’s ionophore activity targets plant membranes to coordinate attack by the F. graminearum fungus.

Abstract Vacuolar malic acid accumulation largely determines fruit acidity, a key trait for the taste and flavor of apple and other fleshy fruits. Aluminum‐activated malate transporter 9 (ALMT9/Ma1) underlies a major genetic locus, Ma, for fruit acidity in apple, but how the protein transports malate across the tonoplast is unclear. Here, it is shown that overexpression of the coding sequence of Ma1 (Ma1α) drastically decreases fruit acidity in “Royal Gala” apple, leading to uncovering alternative splicing underpins Ma1's function. Alternative splicing generates two isoforms: Ma1β is 68 amino acids shorter with much lower expression than the full‐length protein Ma1α. Ma1β does not transport malate itself but interacts with the functional Ma1α to form heterodimers, creating synergy with Ma1α for malate transport in a threshold manner (When Ma1β/Ma1α ≥ 1/8). Overexpression of Ma1α triggers feedback inhibition on the native Ma1 expression via transcription factor MYB73, decreasing the Ma1β level well below the threshold that leads to significant reductions in Ma1 function and malic acid accumulation in fruit. Overexpression of Ma1α and Ma1β or genomic Ma1 increases both isoforms proportionally and enhances fruit malic acid accumulation. These findings reveal an essential role of alternative splicing in ALMT9‐mediated malate transport underlying apple fruit acidity.

Global climate change may have a significant effect on several environmental components in many different nations worldwide. Variations in the pattern of precipitation have an immediate impact on the management of water resources. To improve water resource management techniques, it is critical to investigate differences in the temporal and geographical rainfall patterns. The current study looks at rainfall patterns in the Kuzhithuraiyar sub-basin of the Kodayar basin, Kanyakumari District. Utilizing the mean monthly data from four distinct rain gauge locations, we have comprehensively compiled and analysed rainfall statistics over an extensive timespan of 30 years (1991–2020). For precision in temporal categorization, this data was meticulously divided into four seasonal classifications: pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, southwest monsoon (SW), and northeast monsoon (NE). Using ArcGIS 10.8, the rainfall pattern was analysed, and spatial distribution maps for the four seasons listed above were created using the inverse distance weighting (IDW) approach. The region receives an average of 1456.78 mm of precipitation each year, with the post-monsoon, pre-monsoon, SW monsoon, and NE monsoon providing 32.87 mm, 335.28 mm, 538.67 mm, and 549.97 mm, respectively. The results reveal that the model correlates mean rainfall and rainfall variability over areas of Tamil Nadu's Kuzhithuraiyar sub-basin with some accuracy in terms of the number of rainfall extremes and their spatial distribution maps.

The Pangong Tso lake is a high-altitude freshwater habitat wherein the resident microbes experience unique selective pressures, i.e., high radiation, low nutrient content, desiccation, and temperature extremes. Our study attempts to analyze the diversity of culturable bacteria by applying a high-throughput amplicon sequencing approach based on long read technology to determine the spectrum of bacterial diversity supported by axenic media. The phyla Pseudomonadota, Bacteriodetes, and Actinomycetota were retrieved as the predominant taxa in both water and sediment samples. The genera Hydrogenophaga and Rheinheimera, Pseudomonas, Loktanella, Marinomonas, and Flavobacterium were abundantly present in the sediment and water samples, respectively. Low nutrient conditions supported the growth of taxa within the phyla Bacteriodetes, Actinomycetota, and Cyanobacteria and were biased towards the selection of Pseudomonas, Hydrogenophaga, Bacillus, and Enterococcus spp. Our study recommends that media formulations can be finalized after analyzing culturable diversity through a high-throughput sequencing effort to retrieve maximum species diversity targeting novel/relevant taxa.

Abstract The security of most early fully homomorphic encryption schemes was based on the hardness of the Learning with Errors (LWE) problem. These schemes were inefficient in terms of per gate computations and public‐key size. More efficient schemes were later developed based on the hardness of the Ring‐LWE (RLWE) problem. While the hardness of the LWE problem is based on the hardness of the approximate shortest vector problem (GapSVPγ) over regular lattices, the hardness of the RLWE problem is based on the hardness of the approximate shortest vector problem over ideal lattices. As of now, it has not been proved that the (GapSVPγ) problem over ideal lattices is as difficult as the corresponding problem over regular lattices. In this work, the authors propose a multi‐bit levelled fully homomorphic encryption scheme using multivariate polynomial evaluations whose security depends on the hardness of the LWE problem. In terms of per gate computation cost, this scheme is more efficient than existing LWE‐based schemes. Further, for an appropriate choice of parameters, the per computation cost for homomorphic multiplication can be made asymptotically comparable to RLWE‐based schemes in a parallel computing environment. For homomorphic multiplication, the scheme uses a polynomial‐based technique that does not require relinearization (and key switching).

Diarrhoea is a considerable agent of disease and loss of life in children below age five in South Africa. Soweto, South Africa is an urban township in Johannesburg, with most of its population living in informal settlements. Informal settlements in areas such as Soweto are often impoverished communities that do not get water easily, inadequate sanitation is pervasive, and poor hygiene common (risk factors for diarrhoeal diseases). Among the age groups, infants are most vulnerable to diarrhoeal infection, mainly through the ingestion of food and water. The presence of undesirable microbiota is a food safety and health challenge. This study investigated the microbiome of infant food samples collected from formal (n = 19) and informal (n = 11) households in Soweto. A non-culture-dependent technique was used to characterise the bacterial diversity and composition of the infant food samples. The results indicated that household type did not influence microbial diversity and composition in Soweto. South Africa. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Tenericutes dominated the phyla rank in food samples from formal and informal households. Potential pathogens of public health significance, including diarrhoeal disease agents such as Salmonella spp., E. coli, and Campylobacter spp., were detected within the foods. We concluded that the infant food samples showed rich bacterial diversity, and the presence of potential pathogens of public health significance suggests a disease risk that infants may face upon consuming the foods.

In this paper, we propose and evaluate a method for generating key-dependent feedback configurations (KDFC) for $\sigma $ -LFSRs. $\sigma $ -LFSRs with such configurations can be applied to any stream cipher that uses a word-based LFSR. Here, a configuration generation algorithm uses the secret key(K) and the Initialization Vector (IV) to generate a new feedback configuration after the initialization round. It replaces the older known feedback configuration. The keystream is generated from this new feedback configuration and the FSM part. We have mathematically analysed the feedback configurations generated by this method. As a test case, we have applied this method on SNOW 2.0 and have studied its impact on resistance to algebraic attacks. Besides, as a consequence of resisting algebraic attacks, SNOW 2.0 can also withstand some other attacks like Distinguishing Attack, Fast Correlation Attack, Guess and Determining Attack and Cache Timing Attack. Further, we have also tested the generated keystream for randomness and have briefly described its implementation and the challenges involved in the same.

Background: Anemia in the elderly is a cause of concern. It is not merely physiological due to aging and requires appropriate evaluation. Anemia has a significant negative impact on cardiac function, cognition, sleep, frequent hospitalization, mobility, morbidity, and mortality. Anemia in the elderly is attributable to many causes: nutrient deficiencies, chronic inflammatory diseases, thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal (GI) tumors and bleeding, chemotherapy-induced anemia, and drug-induced hemolysis. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the clinical and hematological profile of anemia in 100 patients aged above 60 years. Methods and Material: We performed a cross-sectional type of study in a tertiary care center including male and female patients aged 60 years and above and whose hemoglobin was less than 13 g/dl and less than 12 g/dl, respectively. Clinical history, complete blood picture, and peripheral smear were obtained in all patients. Serum iron profile was done in patients with micro-normocytic anemia. Vitamin B12 and folate assays were done in patients with normo-macrocytic anemia and those with pancytopenia. Bone marrow studies and endoscopies were done in cases wherever deemed appropriate. Results: The majority of the patients had either severe or moderate anemia. 49% of the patients had normocytic anemia. The commonest cause for anemia was nutritional deficiencies (45%) followed by anemia of chronic inflammation (40%) and unexplained anemia (8%). Conclusions: It is essential that anemia deserves its due attention in clinical practice in older patients and is not normal always.

Developing an efficient multi-functional electrocatalyst with high efficiency and low cost to replace noble metals is significantly crucial for the industrial water electrolysis process and for producing sustainable green hydrogen (H2) fuel. Herein, ultrathin CuCo2S4 nanosheets assembled into highly open three-dimensional (3D) nanospheres of CuCo2S4 (Cu/Co = 33:67) were prepared by a facile one-pot solvothermal approach and utilized as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for efficient overall water splitting. The as-prepared CuCo2S4 is characterized structurally and morphologically; the BET surface area of the CuCo2S4 (Cu/Co = 33:67) catalyst was found to have a larger specific surface area (21.783 m2g−1) than that of other catalysts with a Cu/Co ratio of 67:33, 50:50, and 20:80. Benefiting from a highly open structure and ultrathin nanosheets with excellent exposure to catalytically active sites, CuCo2S4 (Cu/Co = 33:67) is identified as an efficient catalyst for the proton reduction and oxygen evolution reactions in 1 M KOH with an overpotential of 182 and 274 mV at 10 mA cm−2, respectively. As expected, a low cell voltage of 1.68 V delivers a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Stability and durability are also greatly enhanced under harsh alkaline conditions. Therefore, this work provides a simple strategy for the rational design of spinel-based transition metal sulfide catalysts for electrocatalysis.

Abstract Background and Aim Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are prevalent conditions sharing common pathogenic factors. We performed a systematic literature review and meta‐analysis aiming to investigate the association between NAFLD and PCOS among premenopausal PCOS patients. Methods Relevant studies were systematically identified from scientific databases until 2019. We calculated pooled odds ratio (OR) using a random‐effect model, and heterogeneity was addressed through I2. Subgroup analyses and meta‐regression for various covariates were performed. Results Of the 1833 studies retrieved, 23 studies with 7148 participants qualified for quantitative synthesis. The pooled result showed that women with PCOS had a 2.5‐fold increase in the risk of NAFLD compared to controls (pooled OR 2.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.20–2.82). In subgroup analyses comparing PCOS to controls, South American/Middle East PCOS patients had a greater risk of NAFLD (OR 3.55, 95% CI 2.27–5.55) compared to their counterpart from Europe (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.85–2.67) and Asia (OR 2.63, 95% CI 2.20–3.15). Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome were more frequent in the PCOS group (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.44–2.71 and OR 3.39, 95% CI 2.42–4.76, respectively). Study quality and body mass index (BMI) were the only covariates that showed a relationship with the outcome in the meta‐regression, with a regression coefficient of −2.219 (95% CI −3.927 to −0.511) and −1.929 (95% CI −3.776 to −0.0826), respectively. Conclusions This meta‐analysis indicates that premenopausal PCOS patients are associated with 2.5‐fold increase in the risk of NAFLD, and BMI seems to be the main cofactor.

Nowadays, to reach progressive growth although being competitive in the market, the manufacturing industries are using advanced technologies such as cloud computing, the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, 3D printer, nanotechnology, cryogenics, robotics, and automation in smart manufacturing sectors. One such subclass of artificial intelligence is machine learning, which uses a computer system for making predictions and performing definite tasks without any use of specific instructions to enhance the quality of the product, and rate of production, and to optimize the processes and parameters in machining operations. A broad category of manufacturing that is technology-driven utilizes internet-connected machines to monitor the performances of manufacturing processes referring as smart manufacturing. The current paper presents a comprehensive survey and summary of different machine learning algorithms which are being employed in various traditional and nontraditional machining processes, and also, an outlook of the manufacturing paradigm is presented. Subsequently, future directions in the machining industry were proposed based on trends and challenges that are accompanying machine learning.

Adsorption behavior of Reactive Red 120 from aqueous solutions onto rice husk-derived biochar was examined in batch mode of operation. To obtain the optimized conditions, various adsorption variables including temperature, initial dye concentration, biochar dosage, pH, and contact time were studied for effective remediation of the dye. The results showed that biochar uptake capacity varied linearly with biochar dosage and pH, but varied nonlinearly with temperature. The optimum value of pH, temperature, and a dosage of biochar was obtained as 2.0, 35°C, and 1 g/L, respectively, for reactive red 120 adsorption. TG analysis, FTIR, and SEM were used to investigate biochar characterization, and the results revealed that dye sorption onto biochar caused biochar variation. The possibility of reusing the biochar was examined from desorption studies, and they are conducted by studying different elutants and by altering the ratio of solid to liquid. From the results of experiments, the rice husk-derived biochar was reported to remediate reactive red 120 with the maximum removal efficiency of 75%.

The decolorization of reactive yellow 145 from wastewater in batch mode of operation using groundnut shell-based biochar was studied in the present research. The adsorption process was studied by investigating the effects of different adsorption variables such as temperature, initial dye concentration, pH, and biochar dosage. The results showed that biochar dosage had a substantial impact on dye absorption potential. The equilibrium biochar dosage was determined to be 1 g/L, with an absorption capacity of 7.33 mg/g. The effect of pH was examined by varying between 2.0 and 5.0, and equilibrium pH was obtained at pH 2.0. The effect of temperature was examined by varying temperature ranges from 30 to 45°C, and the optimum condition was identified as 35°C. The characteristics of biochar were studied using analytical instruments, and results concluded that dye sorption onto biochar resulted in variation of biochar. Desorption studies were carried out to evaluate the biochar potential by examining various elutants and altering the solid to liquid ratio. Groundnut shell-generated biochar was reported to remediate dye-bearing Remazol wastewater with a removal effectiveness of about 62% based on the experimental data.

A comparison of concrete solar dryer (CSD) to stainless steel solar dryer (SSSD) in terms of the effect of drying and 10% vinegar pretreatment on antioxidant activities of ginger rhizome using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity method, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) Assay, and total antioxidant methods was investigated. The effect of the two solar dryers and open-sun drying (OSD) on bioactive compound composition of the 10% vinegar pretreated sliced ginger using ethanol and aqueous extracts with GCMS/MS identification was also evaluated. The antioxidant activities of ethanol and aqueous extract of the 10% vinegar pretreated ginger using FRAP, DPPH, and total antioxidant methods were all higher than that of the dried samples, with CSD having the highest antioxidant activities among the dried methods. Drying reduced the main bioactive compound, which is gingerol, from 47.97% in the fresh sample to 32.49% in the OSD sample. The CSD sample demonstrated close likeness to the fresh sample with regard to retaining the highest gingerol and α-zingiberene. Hence, CSD can be adopted for commercial processing of ginger to reduce postharvest losses of the crop.

Chitin (CT), an abundant biopolymer, next to cellulose, constitutes a vital renewable resource obtained from diverse biological sources. Chitosan (CS), its main derivative, is valued for its ‘tunable’ feature that facilitates numerous optimizable applications in multiple industrial sectors. The CS market is escalating exponentially, while crustaceans are majorly exploited to meet the growing demand. From the sustainability perspective, exploring alternative sources rich in CT is essential for an economical route for CS production; this can also offer a new range of functionalities and applications. This work attempts to review the properties and applications of CT and CS, based on their source (marine, terrestrial, and fungi), chemistry (structural modifications, molecular weight, and degree of deacetylation), and extraction method (chemical and biological). Critical comparisons have been made considering research reports published during the past decade. While the existing application-range for CT and CS is vast, this work concludes with future research challenges and perspectives.

The macroalgae surface allows specific bacterial communities to colonize, resulting in complex biological interactions. In recent years, several researchers have studied the diversity and function of the epiphytic bacteria associated with algal host, but largely these interactions remain underexplored. In the present study we analysed the cultivable diversity and polymer degradation potential of epiphytic bacteria associated with five different marine macroalgae (Sargassum, Ulva, Padina, Dictyota and Pterocladia sp.) sampled from the central west coast of India. Out of the total 360 strains isolated, purified and preserved, about 238 strains were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and processed for polymer (cellulose, pectin, xylan and starch) degrading activities. Phylogeny placed the strains within the classes Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Alpha-proteobacteria, and Gamma-proteobacteria and clustered them into 45 genera, wherein Vibrio, Bacillus, Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, Staphylococcus and Kocuria spp. were the most abundant with 20 strains identified as potentially novel taxa within the genera Bacillus, Cellulosimicrobium, Gordonia, Marinomonas, Vibrio, Luteimonas and Pseudoalteromonas. In terms of polymer hydrolysis potential, 61.3% had xylanase activity, while 59.7%, 58.8%, and 52.2% had amylase, cellulase, and pectinase activity, respectively. Overall, 75.6% of the strains degraded more than one polysaccharide, 24% degraded all polymers, while nine strains (3.8%) degraded raw sugarcane bagasse. This study showed great potential for seaweed-associated bacteria in the bio-remediation of agro-waste based raw materials, which can be employed in the form of green technology.

Context: Common mental disorders (CMD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) frequently co-occur. Productivity losses due to these diseases are substantial in high-income countries. Similar data from the developing world are lacking. Aims: This study aims to quantify productivity losses among individuals with comorbid CMD and CVD in rural Karnataka, India. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was done among patients with a dual diagnosis of a comorbid CMD and CVD in a district in Karnataka, India. Subjects and Methods: Three hundred and three patients were administered the iMTA Productivity Cost Questionnaire to measure losses of productivity at paid work (absenteeism and presenteeism) and unpaid work. Statistical Analysis Used: Valuation of productivity losses was done by multiplying the number of days of lost productivity by the standard value of productivity based on the minimum wage for agricultural work. Results: Among individuals with dual CMD and CVD, 76% had productivity losses. These losses were higher at unpaid (62%) than at paid work (32%). At paid work, losses due to presenteeism were greater than those due to absenteeism. The total days of productivity loss were 1204, amounting to 14.2% of the available person-days. The total productivity loss among 303 individuals with mental illness and comorbid CVD over a 4-week period amounted to 30.3 INR (0.47 USD) per person per day, representing 9.9% of total potential productivity. Conclusions: Productivity losses due to common mental illnesses and CVDs are high. There is a need to conduct more studies in this field.

Most of the research on bioremediation and estimation of microbial diversity in waste contaminated sites is focused on the domain Bacteria, whereas details on the relevance of Archaea are still lacking. The present study examined the archaeal diversity and predicted metabolic pathways in two discrete sites (SITE1 and SITE2) contaminated with explosives (RDX and HMX) by amplicon-targeted sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. In total, 14 soil samples were processed, and 35,758 OTUs were observed, among which 981 OTUs were classified as Archaea, representing ~2.7% of the total microbial diversity in our samples. The majority of OTUs belonged to phyla Euryarchaeota (~49%), Crenarchaeota (~24%), and Thaumarchaeota (~23%), while the remaining (~4%) OTUs were affiliated to Candidatus Parvarchaeota, Candidatus Aenigmarchaeota, and Candidatus Diapherotrites. The comparative studies between explosives contaminated and agricultural soil samples (with no history of explosives contamination) displayed significant differences between the compositions of the archaeal communities. Further, the metabolic pathways pertaining to xenobiotic degradation were presumably more abundant in the contaminated sites. Our data provide a first comprehensive report of archaeal communities in explosives contaminated sites and their putative degradation role in such ecosystems which have been as yet unexplored.

We present two unusual cases of microvascular thrombosis in the immediate posttransplant period resulting in graft loss. The first was a 20-year-old female with a cadaveric renal transplant with immediate graft dysfunction due to microthrombi of probable donor origin, with nonrecovery of renal function nine months’ posttransplant. The second was a 23-year-old male with unrelated live kidney transplant with hyperacute rejection due to anti-endothelial antibodies.

Immune deficiency is usually the underlying predisposing factor for cryptococcal meningitis, though there have been case reports of immunocompetent patients presenting with same. The portal of entry for Cryptococcus neoformans is the respiratory tract, and by hematogenous spread, it causes systemic symptoms. The presence of CSF leak is described to have predisposed our immunocompetent patient to infection by this organism possibly through direct spread. The gold standard for diagnosing CSF leak is by cisternography. In this case, we added a technique where nasal gauze is inserted during the procedure and scanned afterwards for dye, thus increasing the confidence of diagnosis of CSF leak through the nares. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is key to prevent adverse outcomes, and we propose that in patients with cryptococcal meningitis without any identifiable risk factor, evaluation for CSF leak should be considered especially with history of head trauma.

Introduction: In a world of fast moving vehicles, heavy machinery and industries crush injury to limbs with vascular compromise and soft tissue defect is common. The traditional treatment is a 2 step one dealing with vascular repair and soft tissue cover separately, in the same operation. We report a series of single step vascular repair and soft tissue cover with flow through anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) flap for limb salvage. Materials and Methods: Ten patients with soft tissue defect and vascular injury were included in this study. A two team approach was used to minimise operative time, team one prepared the vessels and team 2 harvested the flap. Observations and Results: Of the ten patients operated (8 males), eight flaps were done for upper limb and two for lower limb salvage. Six anastomosis were done with ulnar vessels, two with radial and two with posterior tibial vessels. Nine extremities could be salvaged while one patient developed progressive thrombosis leading to amputation. Conclusion: The ALT flow-through flap is a versatile single step procedure that can be used to salvage an ischemic limb with soft tissue loss avoiding the need for interpositional vein graft.

Pseudoaneurysm of the visceral arteries is a rare condition. The common causes for pseudoaneurysm are pancreatitis, infection, autoimmune disorders, vascular intervention, surgery, and blunt trauma. Pseudoaneurysm is usually noticed during investigation in an emergency situation. Such rare cases involving superior mesenteric artery, gastroduodenal artery, and splenic artery were managed recently using endovascular techniques.

A novel yellow colony-forming bacterium, strain P3B162T was isolated from the pokkali rice rhizosphere from Kerala, India, as part of a project study aimed at isolating plant growth beneficial rhizobacteria from saline tolerant pokkali rice and functionally evaluate their abilities to promote plant growth under saline conditions. The novel strain P3B162T possesses plant growth beneficial traits such as positive growth on 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), production of indole acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore. In addition, it also showed important phenotypic characters such as ability to form biofilm and utilization of various components of plant root exudates (sugars, amino acids and organic acids), clearly indicating its lifestyle as a plant rhizosphere associated bacterium. Taxonomically, the novel strain P3B162T was affiliated to the genus Arthrobacter based on the collective results of phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses. Moreover, molecular analysis using 16S rRNA gene showed Arthrobacter globiformis NBRC 12137T, Arthrobacter pascens DSM 20545T and Arthrobacter liuii DSXY973T as the closely related phylogenetic neighbours, showing more than 98% 16S rRNA similarity values, whereas the recA gene analysis displayed Arthrobacter liuii JCM 19864T as the nearest neighbour with 94.7% sequence similarity and only 91.7% to Arthrobacter globiformis LMG 3813T and 88.7% to Arthrobacter pascens LMG 16255T. However, the DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain P3B162T, Arthrobacter globiformis LMG 3813T, Arthrobacter pascens LMG 16255T and Arthrobacter liuii JCM 19864T was below 50%. In addition, the novel strain P3B162T can be distinguished from its closely related type strains by several phenotypic characters such as colony pigment, tolerance to NaCl, motility, reduction of nitrate, hydrolysis of DNA, acid from sucrose, cell wall sugars and cell wall peptidoglycan structure. In conclusion, the combined results of this study support the classification of strain P3B162T as a novel Arthrobacter species and we propose Arthrobacter pokkalii sp.nov.as its name. The type strain is P3B162T (= KCTC 29498T = MTCC 12358T).

In addition to gap junctional channels that mediate cell-to-cell communication, connexins form hemichannels that are present at the plasma membrane. Since hemichannels are permeable to small hydrophilic compounds, including metabolites and signaling molecules, their abnormal opening can cause or contribute to cell damage in disorders such as cardiac infarct, stroke, deafness, skin diseases, and cataracts. Therefore, hemichannels are potential pharmacological targets. A few aminoglycosides, well-known broad-spectrum antibiotics, have been shown to inhibit hemichannels. Here, we tested several commercially available aminoglycosides for inhibition of human connexin hemichannels using a cell-based bacterial growth complementation assay that we developed recently. We found that kanamycin A, kanamycin B, geneticin, neomycin, and paromomycin are effective inhibitors of hemichannels formed by connexins 26, 43, and 46 (Cx26, Cx43, and Cx46). Because of the >70 years of clinical experience with aminoglycosides and the fact that several of the aminoglycosides tested here have been used in humans, they are promising starting points for the development of effective connexin hemichannel inhibitors.

Gap-junction channels (GJCs) communicate the cytoplasm of adjacent cells and are formed by head-to-head association of two hemichannels (HCs), one from each of the neighbouring cells. GJCs mediate electrical and chemical communication between cells, whereas undocked HCs participate in paracrine signalling because of their permeability to molecules such as ATP. Sustained opening of HCs under pathological conditions results in water and solute fluxes that cannot be compensated by membrane transport and therefore lead to cell damage. Mutations of Cx26 (connexin 26) are the most frequent cause of genetic deafness and it is therefore important to understand the structure–function relationship of wild-type and deafness-associated mutants. Currently available connexin HC expression systems severely limit the pace of structural studies and there is no simple high-throughput HC functional assay. The Escherichia coli-based expression system presented in the present study yields milligram amounts of purified Cx26 HCs suitable for functional and structural studies. We also show evidence of functional activity of recombinant Cx26 HCs in intact bacteria using a new growth complementation assay. The E. coli-based expression system has high potential for structural studies and high-throughput functional screening of HCs.

The bioflocculant producing bacterial strain - UKD24 was isolated from the domestic sewage treatment plant. The isolated strain was identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The K. pneumoniae UKD24 showed remarkable flocculation rates when grown with the carbon sources namely glucose, sucrose and lactose, and many commercial nitrogen sources. Furthermore, the fish waste extract (FE) was used to enhance the productivity of the bioflocculant as a nitrogen supplement and it showed a significant level of flocculation rate similar to the commercial nitrogen sources. The Box-Behnken experiments were designed to predict the optimal conditions for bioflocculant production and it suggested that glucose - 3.247 g L -1 , FE - 0.5 g L -1 and inoculum size - 1% are the suitable levels for bioflocculant production. The FTIR analysis of the bioflocculant showed the functional groups related to the polysaccharides and the EEM analysis showed the fluorescence components related to the proteins and humic acids. The biochemical composition of the bioflocculant was identified as polysaccharides (24.36 ± 1.5%) and protein (12.15 ± 0.2%). The tested optimum conditions of the bioflocculant to induce flocculation were tested in the kaolin wastewater and it showed that the optimum dosage of the flocculant was 5 mg L -1 and the pH range was broad as 5-10. The cation dependency tests revealed that the monovalent and divalent cations are highly suitable for flocculation while the trivalent cations showed moderate flocculation. The Cr(VI) removal efficiency of the bioflocculant showed that ∼35% of heavy metal is trapped into flocks during the flocculation.