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This study was undertaken to address how near-surface soil water content (SWC) patterns have varied across diverse agroecological regions (AERs) of mainland India from 1979 to 2022 (44 years) and how these variations relate to environmental factors. Grid-wise trend analysis using the Mann–Kendall (MK) trend test and Sen’s slope was conducted to determine the trends and their magnitudes. Additionally, we used Spearman’s rank correlation (ρ) to explore the relationships of ESA CCI’s near-surface SWC data with key environmental variables, including rainfall, temperature, actual evapotranspiration, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The results revealed significant variations in SWC patterns and trends across different AERs and months. The MK trend test indicated that 17.96% of the area exhibited a significantly increasing trend (p < 0.1), while7.6% showed a significantly decreasing trend, with an average annual Sen’s slope of 0.9 × 10−4 m3 m−3 year−1 for mainland India. Areas with the highest decreasing trends were AER-16 (warm per-humid with brown and red hill soils), AER-15 (hot subhumid to humid with alluvium-derived soils), and AER-17 (warm per-humid with red and lateritic soils). In contrast, increasing trends were the most prominent in AER-5 (hot semi-arid with medium and deep black soils), AER-6 (hot semi-arid with shallow and medium black soils), and AER-19 (hot humid per-humid with red, lateritic, and alluvium-derived soils). Significant increasing trends were more prevalent during monsoon and post-monsoon months while decreasing trends were noted in pre-monsoon months. Correlation analysis showed strong positive correlations of SWC with rainfall (ρ = 0.70), actual evapotranspiration (ρ = 0.74), and NDVI (ρ = 0.65), but weak or negative correlations with temperature (ρ = 0.12). This study provides valuable insights for policymakers to delineate areas based on soil moisture availability patterns across seasons, aiding in agricultural and water resource planning under changing climatic conditions.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of biosolids-derived biochar on the remediation of Australian soil contaminated with diesel while investigating the role of biochar in the remediation. To achieve the latter aim, sodium azide (NaN3) was added to a separate biochar treatment (BN) to alter the bacterial community structure. Biochar (B) reduced detectable hydrocarbons by 2353 mg/kg compared to the control (C) treatment at week 24. However, the BN treatment reduced the hydrocarbon concentration by 3827 and 6180 mg/kg, relative to B and C, respectively. Soil toxicity significantly decreased at week 24 compared to the start of the remediation in B, but not in the control. Biochar and control treatments generally showed a similar bacterial community structure throughout the incubation, while the bacterial community structure in BN differed significantly. Biodegradation was found to play a significant role in hydrocarbon removal, as the variation in the bacteria community coincided with differences in hydrocarbon removal between B and BN. The increased removal of hydrocarbons in the BN treatment relative to B coincided with increased and reduced relative abundances of Gordonia and JG30-KF-CM45 genera, respectively. This study showed that NaN3 led to a transient and selective inhibition of bacteria. This study makes an important contribution towards understanding the use of NaN3 in examining the role of biochar in the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. Overall, we conclude that biochar has the potential to enhance the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil and that biodegradation is the dominant mechanism.

The immobilisation of bacteria on biochar has shown potential for enhanced remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the effect of bacterial immobilisation on biosolids-derived biochar for the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. This current study aimed to assess the impact of the immobilisation of an autochthonous hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria, Ochrobacterium sp. (BIB) on biosolids-derived biochar for the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. Additionally, the effect of fertiliser application on the efficacy of the BIB treatment was investigated. Biochar (BC) application alone led to significantly higher hydrocarbon removal than the control treatment at all sampling times (4887–11,589 mg/kg higher). When Ochrobacterium sp. was immobilised on biochar (BIB), the hydrocarbon removal was greater than BC by 5533 mg/kg and 1607 mg/kg at weeks 10 and 22, respectively. However, when BIB was co-applied with fertiliser (BIBF), hydrocarbon removal was lower than BIB alone by 6987–11,767 mg/kg. Quantitative PCR (q-PCR) analysis revealed that the gene related to Ochrobacterium sp. was higher in BIB than in the BC treatment, which likely contributed to higher hydrocarbon removal in the BIB treatment. The results of the q-PCR analysis for the presence of alkB genes and FTIR analysis suggest that the degradation of alkane contributed to hydrocarbon removal. The findings of this study demonstrate that bacterial immobilisation on biosolids-derived biochar is a promising technique for the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. Future studies should focus on optimising the immobilisation process for enhanced hydrocarbon removal.

With the increasing water scarcity and the demand for sustainable agriculture, precise estimation of crop evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for effective irrigation management, crop yield assessment, and equitable water distribution, particularly in semi-arid regions. In this study, a large aperture scintillometer (LAS) was used to validate the remote sensing-based ET model SETMI (Spatial Evapotranspiration Modeling Interface) in an irrigated maize-wheat cropping system in a semi-arid region at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Results obtained by the SETMI model depicted modeled surface energy fluxes compared well with LAS field data, showing a very high R2 (0.83–0.95) and NRMSE (8–29%). The SETMI model performed better in the case of the maize crop than the wheat crop in field experiments. Further, the SETMI model was employed at the regional level using high-resolution Sentinel-2 to estimate the regional water productivity of wheat crops over a semi-arid region in India. The estimated regional, seasonal wheat actual ET mainly ranged between 101 mm and 325 mm. The regional wheat water productivity varied from 0.9 kg m−3 to 2.20 kg m−3. Our research reveals that the SETMI model can give reliable estimates of regional wheat water productivity by examining its spatial and temporal fluctuations and facilitating the creation of regional benchmark values.

Waterborne diseases are known as a leading cause of illness and death in both developing and developed countries. Several pathogens can be present in contaminated water, particularly waters containing faecal material; however, routine monitoring of all pathogens is not currently possible. Enterococcus faecalis, which is present in the microflora of human and animals has been used as a faecal indicator in water due to its abundance in surface water and soil. Accurate and fast detection methods are critical for the effective monitoring of E. faecalis in the environment. Although conventional and current molecular detection techniques provide sufficient sensitivity, specificity and throughput, their use is hampered by the long waiting period (1–6 days) to obtain results, the need for expensive laboratory equipment, skilled personnel, and cold-chain storage. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a detection system for E. faecalis that would be simple, rapid, and low-cost, using an isothermal DNA amplification assay called recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), integrated with a lateral flow assay (LFA). The assay was found to be 100% selective for E. faecalis and capable of detecting rates as low as 2.8 × 103 cells per 100 mL from water and wastewater, and 2.8 × 104 cells per 100 mL from saline water. The assay was completed in approximately 30 min using one constant temperature (38 °C). In addition, this study demonstrated the quantitation of E. faecalis using a lateral flow strip reader for the first time, enhancing the potential use of RPA assay for the enumeration of E. faecalis in wastewater and heavily contaminated environmental waters, surface water, and wastewater. However, the sensitivity of the RPA-LFA assay for the detection of E. faecalis in tap water, saline water and in wastewater was 10–1000 times lower than that of the Enterolert-E test, depending on the water quality. Nevertheless, with further improvements, this low-cost RPA-LFA may be suitable to be used at the point-of-need (PON) if conjugated with a rapid field-deployable DNA extraction method.

The detection of both viable and viable but non-culturable (VBNC) Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a crucial part of food safety. Traditional culture-dependent methods are lengthy, expensive, laborious, and unable to detect VBNC. Hence, there is a need to develop a rapid, simple, and cost-effective detection method to differentiate between viable/dead E. coli O157:H7 and detect VBNC cells. In this work, recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) was developed for the detection of viable E. coli O157:H7 through integration with propidium monoazide (PMAxx). Initially, two primer sets, targeting two different genes (rfbE and stx) were selected, and DNA amplification by RPA combined with PMAxx treatment and the lateral flow assay (LFA) was carried out. Subsequently, the rfbE gene target was found to be more effective in inhibiting the amplification from dead cells and detecting only viable E. coli O157:H7. The assay’s detection limit was found to be 102 CFU/mL for VBNC E. coli O157:H7 when applied to spiked commercial beverages including milk, apple juice, and drinking water. pH values from 3 to 11 showed no significant effect on the efficacy of the assay. The PMAxx-RPA-LFA was completed at 39 °C within 40 min. This study introduces a rapid, robust, reliable, and reproducible method for detecting viable bacterial counts. In conclusion, the optimised assay has the potential to be used by the food and beverage industry in quality assurance related to E. coli O157:H7.

Microorganisms including actinomycetes, archaea, bacteria, fungi, yeast, and microalgae are an auspicious source of vital bioactive compounds. In this review, the existing research regarding antimicrobial molecules from microorganisms is summarized. The potential antimicrobial compounds from actinomycetes, particularly Streptomyces spp.; archaea; fungi including endophytic, filamentous, and marine-derived fungi, mushroom; and microalgae are briefly described. Furthermore, this review briefly summarizes bacteriocins, halocins, sulfolobicin, etc., that target multiple-drug resistant pathogens and considers next-generation antibiotics. This review highlights the possibility of using microorganisms as an antimicrobial resource for biotechnological, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications. However, more investigations are required to isolate, separate, purify, and characterize these bioactive compounds and transfer these primary drugs into clinically approved antibiotics.

Oxidative stress originates from an elevated intracellular level of free oxygen radicals that cause lipid peroxidation, protein denaturation, DNA hydroxylation, and apoptosis, ultimately impairing cell viability. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, which further helps to prevent cellular damage. Medicinal plants, fruits, and spices are the primary sources of antioxidants from time immemorial. In contrast to plants, microorganisms can be used as a source of antioxidants with the advantage of fast growth under controlled conditions. Further, microbe-based antioxidants are nontoxic, noncarcinogenic, and biodegradable as compared to synthetic antioxidants. The present review aims to summarize the current state of the research on the antioxidant activity of microorganisms including actinomycetes, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microalgae, and yeast, which produce a variety of antioxidant compounds, i.e., carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and sterol, etc. Special emphasis is given to the mechanisms and signaling pathways followed by antioxidants to scavenge Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), especially for those antioxidant compounds that have been scarcely investigated so far.

Aims and objectives: The cost of antibiotic therapy for the treatment of pneumonia in the inpatient paediatric population can have a major impact on the healthcare expenditure. We planned to assess the direct and indirect costs of diagnosis and medical treatment of paediatric patients with community acquired pneumonia who are hospitalized in a tertiary care hospital in India. Methods: 125 children with a diagnosis of pneumonia who were admitted to the inpatient department of a paediatric hospital receiving antibiotic treatment were observed. Data on clinical presentation and resources consumed were collected and the costs of pneumonia treatment were calculated. Descriptive statistics (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) were used to evaluate data regarding demographics, drugs prescribed and cost (direct and indirect cost). Multivariate regression analysis was used to find out predictors of direct and indirect cost. Results: Among all pneumonia admissions, mild-to-moderate pneumonia constitutes 76.8%, and 23.2% children were admitted with severe pneumonia; 105 children out of 125 (84%) were suffering from associated disorders along with pneumonia. The majority of antibiotics prescribed belonged to beta lactams (52%) followed by aminoglycosides (19%), macrolides (13%) and peptides (11%). Parenteral routes of administration were used in a majority of patients as compared to oral. The average cost per patient in management of pneumonia was 12245 ± 593 INR ($187.34 ± 9.07).