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Agricultural soil of the Sutlej River basin was evaluated for its natural attenuation efficacy for arsenic (As) under the field variables of pH, competitive anions, contact time and varied As contents. The role of layered double hydroxides (HTLDH) and gypsum on uptake efficiency and long-term stability of entrapped As demonstrates rapid As uptake by both geosorbents without mineral structure altering. Arsenic retention by gypsum is poorer than that by HTLDH and greater uptake (∼100% within 2 h) was achieved in the co-precipitation process than adsorption on HTLDH. Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model fits of the data demonstrate the multilayer rate-limiting sorption process. NO3– and PO43– hardly affected As retention capacity of HTLDH and gypsum with greater retention at pH 6 and high sorbate concentrations. Studied soil shows a strong potential for As (0.68 g kg−1) which enhanced upon adding HTLDH, while gypsum lowered As retention efficiency of soil except at pH 6.0. Gypsum exhibited relatively greater desorption than HTLDH where almost no As was desorbed in the latter case within seven days of exposure, but ∼30% sorbed As gets desorbed from gypsum which was further enhanced by NO3–+PO43− and soil mixing. Identical behaviour was observed from the soil and HTLDH/gypsum mixture at variable ratios as well. This study shows that MgFe-based HTLDH can efficiently retard arsenic mobilization from the soil with competitive anions and wide pH ultimately limiting As bioavailability in the environment and can be successfully used as a potential scavenger for As remediation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent floods are a severe threat to the well-being of people the world over. This is particularly severe in developing countries like India where tropical monsoon climate prevails. Recently, flood hazard susceptibility mapping has become a popular tool to mitigate the effects of this threat. Therefore, the present study utilized four distinctive Machine Learning algorithms i.e., K-Nearest Neighbor, Decision Tree, Naive Bayes, and Random Forest to estimate flood susceptibility zones in the Agartala Urban Watershed of Tripura, India. The latter experiences debilitating floods during the monsoon season. A multicollinearity test was conducted to examine the collinearity of the chosen flood conditioning factors, and it was seen that none of the factors were compromised by multicollinearity. Results showed that around three-fourths of the AUW area was classified as moderate to very high flood-prone zones, while over 20 percent was between low and very low flood-prone zones. The models applied performed well with ROC-AUC scores greater than 70 percent and MAE, MSE, and RMSE scores less than 30 percent. DT and RF algorithms were suggested for places with similar physical characteristics based on their outstanding performance and the training datasets. The study provides valuable insights to policymakers, administrative authorities, and local stakeholders to cope with floods and enhance flood prevention measures as a climate change adaptation strategy in the AUW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds play various crucial roles in the ecosystem including pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control. Assemblages of bird species in a particular landscape are useful predictors in various ecosystem services, this is evident from studies of forest bird assemblages, aquatic bodies and agro ecosystems. For developing conservation strategies, information on bird species assemblages in a particular geographical area is important. Diversity in aquatic ecosystem support a diversity of water bird species. In the present study, around 45 bird species were recorded in 21 aquatic bodies in Bankura, West Bengal, India, in which two species, namely, Leptoptilos javanicus and Aythya ferina declared 'Vulnerable' and three species such as Mareca falcata, Threskiornis melanocephalus, and Limosa limosa considered as 'Near Threatened' according to the IUCN Red list. Dendrocygna javanica and Nettapus coromandelianus were found to be the most abundant. In those 21 study areas, site6 has the highest species richness and site2 has the lowest. The dominance index was highest for site2 and lowest for site6. Pielou's index of evenness was highest for site20. The rarefaction curve showed species abundance was highest for site1. Classical cluster analysis for species abundance showsthat site20, site21, site3, site8, site4, site19, site5, site14, site12, site15, site7, site 10 site11, and site13 are closely related. This paper is aimed to generate interest among people to conserve aquatic birds and their habitats and to document baseline information for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out during a bird race organized in Karanja- Sohol Wildlife sanctuary Karanja, district Washim Maharashtra, India. The objective of this study was to assess the avifauna of wildlife sanctuaries. Due to the geological and ecological complexity of the area, it has become imperative to conduct research on the region's avian diversity. It is challenging to conduct this assessment, as the wildlife sanctuary is divided into numerous patches by the state highway running through it. Sanctuary is surrounded by numerous villages and agricultural land, which creates human interference and livestock grazing. This checklist will serve as a baseline for further study, as there is no published checklist of this area. In the present investigation, we reported a total of 151 bird species during the exhaustive survey by the authors and accompanied volunteers during the census organized by the wildlife department. The observed species of birds belong to 55 families and 17 orders. They also recorded their residential and IUCN red data status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infections by multidrug‐resistant organisms (MDRO) are a major hurdle in hematopoietic stem‐cell transplants (HSCTs). Conditioning regimens lead to mucosal barrier injury, which in‐turn leads to transmigration of gut bacteria and sepsis. Pre‐transplant stool and throat surveillance cultures can guide empirical antibiotic policy during the neutropenic period. In this paper, we document colonization with MDRO in pre‐transplant surveillance cultures and the correlation with bloodstream infections in HSCT patients and analyze transplant outcomes with respect to these infections. Methods: A single‐center, retrospective study on HSCT was performed between January 2021 and December 2021. The incidence of bacterial infections, percentage of MDROs, correlation with pre‐transplant stool/throat surveillance cultures, and their impact on overall 100‐day and post‐100‐day to 6‐month post‐transplant survival were analyzed. Results: Sixty‐four patients were included in the study. Pre‐transplant stool surveillance cultures were positive for MDRO in 85.9% of patients. Almost half (48.5%) of the isolates were positive for carbapenemase‐producing genes (mainly New Delhi metallo‐beta‐lactamase‐1 [NDM‐1] and oxacillinase‐48 [OXA‐48]). Eighteen patients (18/64, 28%) had a positive blood culture for MDRO in the peri‐engraftment neutropenic period. Correlation between surveillance and blood cultures was seen in 61% (11/18) of patients. All‐cause mortality was 14.1% (9/64) and 25% (16/64) in patients at 100 days and 6 months post‐HSCT, respectively. The 100‐day and post‐100‐day all‐cause mortality rates were higher in patients with Gram‐negative MDRO bloodstream infections (p <.012 and <.008, respectively). Conclusion: MDRO infections can adversely affect HSCT outcomes. Pre‐transplant stool and throat surveillance cultures may guide empirical antibiotic policy and lead to favorable transplant outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before proceeding with any type of analysis, the condition of preservation of microfossil shells must be determined. Preservation of the shell affects tasks, such as holotype specimen selection, distribution chart, and specimen selection for geochemical analysis. The typical way to determine the degree of alteration is to use a visual examination under the stereo microscope. The deviation of visual characteristics such as colour and smoothness of the shell surface from unaltered shells depicts the alteration status. However, our eyes are frequently misled by the roughness of the shell created by tiny crystals that form due to recrystallization during the diagenesis process and are perceived to be smooth. In turn, the shell is regarded as well-preserved. To address these limitations, we have analyzed scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of ostracod shells using ImageJ, an image processing software, to determine the roughness parameters based on the grey value of the image. In addition, we compared the values of several parameters with different types of alterations, such as recrystallization and dissolution. This study aims to characterize the surface roughness of eight selected ostracod specimens from Middle Callovian to Upper Oxfordian beds of the southern part of Mainland Kachchh. The selected eight species - Cytherella masuguluensis, Progonocythere sp. A, Progonocythere jaisalmerensis, Bythocypris rajasthanensis, Paracypris contermia, Galliaecytheridea remota, Cytherelloidea sp. A, Cytherelloidea sp. B - belong to six genera and five families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis is a large nocturnal bird of prey that has a vast distribution range. However, there is a significant literature gap on the ecology of this species in the Western Ghats ecoregion, particularly in regard to its food spectrum. In the present study, we assessed the diet composition of this species in the foothills of the Western Ghats of Goa, India. The diet was evaluated by analysing the undigested prey remains in regurgitated pellets obtained from the banks of forest streams and roosting sites. A total of 104 pellets were collected from two localities that exhibited similar landscape characteristics. Our analysis indicated that crabs contributed to a significant proportion of the diet of the species (75.47%), followed by amphibians (frogs, 8.02%), fishes (7.08%), reptiles (snakes, 2.83%), birds (2.36%), scorpions (1.89%), and insects (Odonata, 0.47%). Additionally, 1.89% (n = 4) of the prey items could not be identified due to their disintegrated nature. Furthermore, an assessment of Food Niche Breadth (FNB) indicated that K. zeylonensis exhibited a high degree of specialization in terms of its diet in the study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cefiderocol and ceftazidime-avibactam plus aztreonam (CZA-ATM) are preferred treatment regimens for New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing infections. Methods We report the case of a US patient who traveled to India to receive a renal transplant. He subsequently experienced pyelonephritis by an NDM-producing Escherichia coli. Broth microdilution and the broth disk elution method indicated resistance to all β-lactams, including cefiderocol and CZA-ATM. Whole-genome sequencing investigations were undertaken to identify resistance mechanisms. Results An E. coli isolate belonging to sequence type (ST) 167 containing a bla NDM-5 gene was identified on a plasmid of the IncFIA/IncFIB/IncFIC replicon groups. When compared with the genome of another ST167 E. coli clinical isolate containing bla NDM-5 and exhibiting susceptibility to cefiderocol and CZA-ATM, a 12–base pair insertion in ftsI , translating to a 4–amino acid duplication in PBP3, was identified. Moreover, a bla CMY-59 gene was harbored on an IncI-γ replicon type, and frameshift mutations were identified in the cirA iron transport gene. Conclusions This is the first clinical case of a US patient harboring an NDM-producing isolate exhibiting resistance to all available β-lactam agents. The isolate's unexpected resistance to cefiderocol and CZA-ATM was likely due to a combination of (1) a modified PBP3 (increased MICs to both regimens), (2) truncated iron-binding protein (increased cefiderocol MIC), and (3) a bla CMY gene (reduced CZA-ATM activity). E. coli ST167 clinical isolates harboring bla NDM-5 genes are a recognized international high-risk clone. When coupled with the additional mechanisms identified in our patient's isolate, which is not uncommon for this high-risk clone, pan-β-lactam resistance may occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study interprets the distribution and geochemical behavior of As in groundwaters of different regions along the floodplains of Ganga river (Varanasi, Ghazipur, Ballia), Ghaghara river (Lakhimpur Kheri, Gonda, Basti), and Rapti river (Balrampur, Shrawasti) in the middle Gangetic basin, India for risk assessment (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic). The concentration of As in groundwaters of these floodplains ranged from 0.12 to 348 μg/L (mean 24 μg/L), with around ~ 37% of groundwater samples exceeding the WHO limit of 10 μg/L in drinking water. Highest As concentration (348 μg/L) was recorded in groundwater samples from Ballia (Ganga Floodplains), where 50% of the samples had As > 10 μg/L in groundwater. In the study area, a relatively higher mean concentration was recorded in deep wells (28.5 μg/L) compared to shallow wells (20 μg/L). Most of the high As-groundwaters were associated with the high Fe, bicarbonate and low nitrate and sulfate concentrations indicating the release of As via reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides. The saturation index values of the Fe minerals such as goethite, hematite, ferrihydrite, and siderite showed the oversaturation to near equilibrium in groundwater, suggesting that these mineral phases may act as source/sink of As in the aquifers of the study area. The health risk assessment results revealed that a large number of people in the study area were prone to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks due to daily consumption of As-polluted groundwater. The highest risks were estimated for the aquifers of Ganga floodplains, as indicated by their mean HQ (41.47) and CR (0.0142) values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy is one of the most common and intractable nutritional problems in the world as well as in India today. Traditional treatment for anemia based on either oral iron or blood transfusion or both, has had drawbacks. Thus iron sucrose and recombinant human erythropoietin can become promising management options. Objective To assess improvement in anaemic state and the duration required for the improvement in hematological parameters with or without injection erythropoietin in pregnant females receiving iron sucrose. Method And Materials Randomized control trial was conducted on 212 anaemic pregnant women (Hb < 11 gm%) for analysing the comparison of patient response to parenteral iron sucrose alone (Group A = 104 patients) with Inj. Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (rhEPO) along with routine tab iron (Group B = 108 patients), from November 2020 to October 2022. Data related to demography, clinical history along with various blood parameters were collected, analyzed and compared between the two groups. Result Mean pre- and post-treatment Hb was 8.86 ± 0.79 gm% and 9.77 ± 0.56 gm% in group A re. in comparison to 8.71 ± 1.06 gm% 9.79 ± 0.07 gm% in group B respectively. No significant difference was seen in rise in Hb, MCHC, serum iron and serum ferritin and fall in TIBC in treatment while significant increase in MCV, MCH within both the groups post treatment. Mean duration for improvement in Hb by 1gm% in group A was 5.850 ± 0.983 days post-treatment while 12.390 ± 1.528 days in group B. Conclusion We noticed that mean duration required for improvement in haemoglobin level by 1gm% in group A was significantly lesser i.e. 5.850 ± 0.983 days following treatment than mean duration in group B was 12.390 ± 1.528 days (p < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main focus of this work was to study the use of freshwater wetlands by 12 waterbirds (4 resident species and 8 Palearctic migrant species) during the wintering period in West Bengal, India. From morning to evening hours, the time budget of waterbirds changed significantly. The differences in diurnal activities between migrants and residents were statistically significant. Foraging niche overlaps were calculated based on foraging habitats and techniques; five migrant species had exceedingly high niche overlaps (habitats 0.80–0.99; techniques 0.79–0.99). Overlap among resident birds or migrant species was much lower (habitats 0.01–0.56; techniques 0.01–0.66). Niche dimensions like the foraging habitats (1.26–3.47) and foraging techniques (1.13–4.54) and these two dimensions together (1.64–8.63) calculated the niche breadths. A mean Euclidean distance of 5.63 in Cluster analysis constructed on two niche dimensions reliably defined four distinct guilds. The post hoc test highlighted significant differences between the intra-guild niche breadths. Proportional differences in the uses of foraging habitats and techniques and temporal variations in foraging activities accommodated residents and winter migrants in the study sites. Such information would be crucially important for the conservation and effective management strategies of Indian waterbirds and their habitats, situated along the East Asian-Australian and Central Asian Flyways, which are significant tropical wintering grounds for migratory waterbirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Micronutrient deficiency (MD) is associated with deficits in cognitive functioning of children. However, no comprehensive multicentric study has been conducted in India to explore the role of multiple MD in cognition of children and adolescents. The present study aimed to explore association of MD with level of general intelligence and specific cognitive functions, in urban school-going children and adolescents across ten cities of India. Method: Cross-sectional multicentric study, enrolled participants aged 6–16 years. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, folate, vitamin A, D and B12. Colored Progressive Matrices / Standard Progressive Matrices (CPM/SPM), Coding, Digit Span and Arithmetic tests were used for the assessment of cognitive functions of participants. Height and weight measures were collected along with socio-economic status. Results: From April-2019 to February-2020, 2428 participants were recruited from 60 schools. No MD was found in 7.0% (134/1918), any one MD in 23.8% (457/1918) and ≥ 2 MD in 69.2% (1327/1918) participants. In presence of ≥ 2 MD, adjusted odds ratio (OR) for borderline or dull normal in CPM/SPM was 1.63, (95% CI: 1.05–2.52), coding was 1.66 (95% CI: 1.02–2.71), digit span was 1.55 (95% CI: 1.06–2.25) and arithmetic was 1.72 (95% CI: 1.17–2.53), controlling for gender, socioeconomic status and anthropometric indicators. Conclusion: Since ≥ 2 MD were found in more than 2/3rd of participants and was associated with impairment in cognitive function, attempts must be made to ameliorate them on priority in school going children in India. Trial registration number: CTRI/2019/02/017783. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional survey was carried out among medical internees (n = 92) and nursing students (n = 228) to investigate their attitudes towards euthanasia. The data was collected by administering a Euthanasia Attitude questionnaire. The findings revealed that a majority (61%) of the participants were in support of euthanasia. Yet ethical dilemmas prevail among students about active and passive euthanasia and legalization of euthanasia. Further, age, gender, religion, education and exposure to patients who require euthanasia were significantly differed with euthanasia attitudes (p < 0.05). Therefore, it is strongly recommended that health care students should receive ethics education to prepare them in dealing with euthanasia related issues in their professional practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cefiderocol (CFDC), a novel semi-synthetic siderophore cephalosporin has been developed to combat the menace of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) including Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and Carbapenem-resistant Nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli (CR-NFGNB). Methods: We determined the in vitro activity of CFDC against a contemporary collection of 503 CR-GNB isolates by the reference broth microdilution method (BMD) using Iron depleted cation adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth (ID-CAMHB). Performance of CFDC disk diffusion (DD) was evaluated against the reference BMD, as an alternative convenient testing method. Molecular characterization of carbapenemase in CR-GNB was performed by PCR targeting blaNDM-1, blaOXA-48like alleles, blaKPC, blaIMP, and, blaVIM. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) distribution of CFDC in CR-GNB harbouring different carbapenemase enzymes was also analyzed. Results: In our study, 81.7% (411/503) of CR-GNB isolates [81.3%, (278/342) CRE and 82.6% (133/161) CR-NFGNB] were susceptible to CFDC (p 0.05). Categorical agreement (CA) of DD ranged from 79.8% to 87.5%, Minor error (mE) ranged from 0 to 14%, Major error (ME) ranged from 0 to 3.5%, and Very Major error (VME) ranged from 0 to 12.5% with variations by species tested. Overall CFDC MIC50 and MIC90 values of CR-GNB isolates without any carbapenemase genes were higher as compared to those with the presence of carbapenemase genes (4 μg/mL and 128 μg/mL versus 2 μg/mL and 16 μg/mL respectively). Discussion: CFDC is not yet available for clinical use in India. Hence, multicentric studies are the need of the hour in India for standardization of CFDC susceptibility using disks and CAMHB from different manufacturers as well as understanding mechanisms of high MIC values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hyperbilirubinaemia in newborns is a common and serious condition, and it is also one of the most common causes of neonatal readmission to the hospital. It is challenging to diagnose or predict the onset of hyperbilirubinaemia in newborns. Therefore, identifying neonates with maternal risk factors is useful for early prediction of hyperbilirubinaemia, enabling effective management and prevention of complications such as acute bilirubin encephalopathy or kernicterus. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and its association with various maternal risk factors such as parity, maternal diseases, blood group incompatibility, mode of delivery, etc. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. D.Y. Patil Hospital in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, from December 2021 to December 2022. A total of 500 healthy full-term neonates and their mothers were screened. Neonates with hyperbilirubinaemia during follow-up were evaluated. Data on maternal factors (e.g., parity, maternal diseases, polyhydramnios, premature rupture of membranes, ABO and Rh incompatibility) were collected, and their association with neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia was assessed. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the Chi-square test to determine prevalence and significance. Results: Out of the 500 babies studied, 95 had serum total bilirubin levels beyond the acceptable normal level of 13 mg/dL at 72 hours of life. The prevalence of hyperbilirubinaemia was 19%. Among the 95 babies, 40 (42.1%) were born to primigravida mothers, while 55 (57.9%) were born to multigravida mothers. In the present study, the authors observed that out of the 26 mothers suffering from hypothyroidism, 14 babies developed hyperbilirubinaemia. Similarly, out of the 24 mothers with preeclampsia, eight babies developed hyperbilirubinaemia. Furthermore, out of the 15 mothers with diabetes mellitus, six babies developed hyperbilirubinaemia. Additionally, out of the 11 mothers with polyhydramnios, two babies developed hyperbilirubinaemia, and out of the 10 mothers with Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM), one baby developed hyperbilirubinaemia. Among the 208 male neonates, 58 developed hyperbilirubinaemia, while among the 292 female neonates, 37 developed hyperbilirubinaemia. ABO incompatibility was seen in 23 (24.2%) neonates, and Rh incompatibility was seen in 3 (3.2%) neonates, both of which were identified as important risk factors. A higher incidence of hyperbilirubinaemia was observed in neonates born via Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) compared to normal vaginal delivery. Conclusion: In the present study, the prevalence of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia was 19%. Male babies, babies born via LSCS, those with ABO incompatibility, and mothers with hypothyroidism were significantly more prone to develop hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the adoption studies in catfish culture were restricted to feeding habits, growth rate and morphological studies, neglecting the social factors and adoption of phase-specific technologies (pre-stocking, stocking, and post-stocking) developed for the culture system. This study aims at assessing the extent of adoption of the scientific culture practices of Pabda (Ompok bimaculatus) fish in different phases (pre-stocking, stocking, and post-stocking) of culture and identifying the factors influencing the adoption behaviour. The study was conducted in ex-post-facto research design in Tripura, a northeastern state in India with 100 sample respondents, determined by Cochran's formula. The adoption behaviour was quantified with scores assigned 2 and 1 for full and partial adoption respectively, while 0 for discontinuance or rejection. An exploratory factor analysis model was administered to identify the factors. The study unfolds that experienced farmers (48%) had higher adoption levels, and young farmers (12%) were lesser involved. Adoption behaviour differs with phases of stocking at micro-level (district-wise) study with the indication of negligence in the stocking phase. Exploratory factor analysis identifies seven factors that formed the determinants of adoption behaviour of fish farmers and explained 55.97% of the variance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prepared a checklist of avian species recorded from two western districts (Mandsaur and Ratlam) of Madhya Pradesh, situated in a semi-arid region with comments on their habitat preference, feeding habits, migratory, and conservation status; 133 bird species belonging to 47 families were recorded during the present study. About 30% of the species were migratory in status. In terms of habitat fidelity, 74 avian species were found only in a single habitat. Habitat-wise avian richness varied widely. Among five habitats identified during the present study, wetland supported the highest number (69) of avian species of which 58 species were exclusively recorded from this habitat. Eight foraging guilds were identified among which omnivores were dominant. Six species of globally threatened and seven species of near-threatened species were recorded during the present study. The presence of significant numbers of winter migrants and globally threatened species indicated the importance, both ecologically and biologically, of the semi-arid landscape for breeding and migratory birds. Therefore, this work will provide baseline information to conservationists for the development of conservation and management policies for the two districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of infertility is rapidly growing in India. Increased stress is one major cause of this. Pulling from the study of epigenetics, the Manashakti Research Centre developed the Pre-Conception Education (PCE) program--its main objective is to increase fertility among participants. The PCE has been conducted bimonthly since January 2010. This article studies the effectiveness and outcomes of practicing PCE in correlation with increasing fertility for couples by using feedback from surveys of couples who have participated in PCE from January 2016 to December 2018. Analysis revealed that from within the heteronormative, cis-gender couples, when the potential mother is under stress, practicing PCE increased fertility rates for the couple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of global urbanization, the cities across the world are experiencing significant change in the climate pattern. However, analysing the trend and pattern of rainfall over the urban areas has a number of challenges such as availability of long-term data as well as the uneven distribution of rain-gauge stations. In this research, the rainfall regionalization approach has been applied along with the advanced statistical techniques for analysing the trend and pattern of rainfall in the Delhi metropolitan city. Fuzzy C-means and K-means clustering techniques have been applied for the identification of homogeneous rainfall regions while innovative trend analysis (ITA) along with the family of Mann-Kendall (MK) tests has been applied for the trend analysis of rainfall. The result shows that in all rain-gauge stations of Delhi, an increasing trend in rainfall has been recorded during 1991-2018. But the rate of increase was low as the trend slope of ITA and Sen's slope in MK tests are low, which varies between 0.03 and 0.05 and 0.01 and 0.16, respectively. Furthermore, none of the rain-gauge stations have experienced a monotonic trend in rainfall as the null hypothesis has not been rejected (p value > 0.05) for any stations. Furthermore, the study shows that ITA has a better performance than the family of MK tests. The findings of this study may be utilized for the urban flood mitigation and solving other issues related to water resources in Delhi and other cities., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the ability of two bioactive compounds, namely, eugenol and linalool, purified from leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum for eradication of biofilm produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods and Results: The phytoextract of O. tenuiflorum (KT), a common ethno‐botanical plant of India, was purified through high‐performance liquid chromatography and was analysed using ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Eugenol and linalool were found to be the most active amongst all phytocompounds present in phytoextract and showed a significant reduction in the viability of sessile cells of P. aeruginosa and the minimum revival after withdrawal of phyto‐challenge. They could bring about notable reduction in the protein and carbohydrate content of exopolysaccharide of biofilm. Eugenol and linalool could affect the synthesis of quorum sensing (QS) proteins like LasA and LasB as well as virulence factors such as pyocyanin, and rhamnolipids, which seriously hamper the formation of biofilm. The biofilm framework was extremely affected by the phytocompounds through the reduction of protein and carbohydrate content of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Another interesting found out was that they brought about maximum inhibition to the genomic DNA and RNA content. The studies were supported by in silico interaction between eugenol and linalool with the QS proteins. The antibiofilm efficacies of eugenol, linalool and phytoextract (KT) were further confirmed by microscopic studies with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy and fluorescence confocal microscopy microscopic studies. Conclusions: The phytocompounds are proved to be more effective than conventional antibiotics in inhibiting the biofilm forming sessile cells and can be used as a replacement for antibiotic. Significance and Impact of the Study: Pure eugenol extracted from common basil leaves can be used as a safe substitute for common antibiotic for treatment of chronic infections caused by P. aeruginosa. It will be cost effective, devoid of notable side effects and will not generate antibiotic resistance in host body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the use of bacteriophages (or 'phages') against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa has drawn considerable attention, globally. In this work, we report the isolation and detailed characterization of a highly lytic Pseudomonasphage DRL-P1 isolated from wastewater. Under TEM, DRL-P1 appeared as a member of the phage family Myoviridae. DRL-P1 featured rapid adsorption (~ 5 min), short-latency (~ 30 min), and large burst size (~ 100 PFU per infected cell). DRL-P1 can withstand a wide temperature range (4 °C to 40 °C) and pH (5.0 to 10.0) conditions. The 66,243 bp DRL-P1 genome (MN564818) encodes at least 93 ORFs, of which 36 were functionally annotated based on homology with similar phage proteins available in the databases. Comparative analyses of related genomes suggest an independent evolutionary history and discrete taxonomic position of DRL-P1 within genus Pbunavirus. No toxin or antibiotic resistance genes was identified. DRL-P1 is tolerant to lyophilization and encapsulation techniques and retained lytic activity even after 18 months of storage. We also demonstrated decontaminating potentials of DRL-P1 in vitro, on an artificially contaminated cover-slip model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Pbunavirus to be reported from India. Our study suggests DRL-P1 as a potential candidate for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand State and known for the presence of dense forest habitats and rich avifauna. In the present study, one hundred and fifty seven species of birds belonging to 16 orders and 54 families were recorded in different habitats of Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining Reserve Forests. Most dominant family was Muscicapidae represents 14 species, followed by family Columbidae (8 species) and Accipitridae (8 species). More than half species (55.8%) were passerine birds (songbirds), while 44.2% species were non-passerines. Out of 157 species, 128 species (81.5 %) were resident in the area, and about 18.5 % were migratory. Habitats in the area comprised of mixed dense forests, small grassy patches, water bodies and riverine, thus support for the occurrence of rich avian diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent reports reveal the emergence of Escherichia coli isolates harbouring a novel resistance mechanism based on four-amino-acid inserts in PBP3. These organisms concomitantly expressed ESBLs or/and serine-/metallo-carbapenemases and were phenotypically detected by elevated aztreonam/avibactam MICs.Objectives: The in vitro activities of the investigational antibiotic cefepime/zidebactam and approved antibiotics (ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, imipenem/relebactam and others) were determined against E. coli isolates harbouring four-amino-acid inserts in PBP3.Methods: Whole-genome sequenced E. coli isolates (n = 89) collected from a large tertiary care hospital in Southern India (n = 64) and from 12 tertiary care hospitals located across India (n = 25) during 2016-18, showing aztreonam/avibactam MICs ≥1 mg/L (≥4 times the aztreonam epidemiological cut-off) were included in this study. The MICs of antibiotics were determined using the reference broth microdilution method.Results: Four-amino-acid inserts [YRIK (n = 30) and YRIN (n = 53)] were found in 83/89 isolates. Among 83 isolates, 65 carried carbapenemase genes [blaNDM (n = 39), blaOXA-48-like (n = 11) and blaNDM + blaOXA-48-like (n = 15)] and 18 isolates produced ESBLs/class C β-lactamases only. At least 16 unique STs were noted. Cefepime/zidebactam demonstrated potent activity, with all isolates inhibited at ≤1 mg/L. Comparator antibiotics including ceftazidime/avibactam and imipenem/relebactam showed limited activities.Conclusions: E. coli isolates concurrently harbouring four-amino-acid inserts in PBP3 and NDM are an emerging therapeutic challenge. Assisted by the PBP2-binding action of zidebactam, the cefepime/zidebactam combination overcomes both target modification (PBP3 insert)- and carbapenemase (NDM)-mediated resistance mechanisms in E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater arsenic (As) contamination is a health threat for millions of people in the Gangetic plains of India. It is, therefore, critical to understand the mechanism of As enrichment to reduce the As exposure. Geochemical analysis of 30 groundwater samples collected across the banks of River Sharda was performed for the identification of major geochemical processes controlling groundwater geochemistry. Shallow wells (3-10 m) are found to be contaminated with As and is confined to newer alluvium of Holocene age. The average temporal decline of the groundwater level was observed across 10 monitoring stations is 0.067 m/yr. Decreasing rainfall, lesser recharge and huge groundwater extraction for irrigation might have impacted the groundwater to flow faster, while the increase in temperature and weathering regime favoured arsenic mobilisation. The long-term trends of rainfall show a decline of 1.97 mm/yr and the temperature increase is observed to be 0.0049°C/yr. These changes in rainfall and temperature also might have impacted the As mobilisation in groundwater. NO3- was found to be low in samples with low As concentrations, indicating the prevalence of reducing conditions. Whereas high concentrations of Fe were observed for high As samples, indicating their common source of origin. Also, the alkaline nature of aquifer and high concentrations of HCO3- might have contributed to As enrichment. Results from scatter plots and correlation matrix also support this sequential reduction leading to the reductive dissolution of iron oxyhydroxides and thus enriching the concentration of As in the groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of infectious diseases in blood donors by individual donor nucleic acid testing (ID-NAT). Safe blood transfusion practices can save people from being exposed to the risk of transfusion transmittable infections. Serum samples from voluntary and replacement donors were tested for infectious diseases like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) by ID-NAT and the results were analysed statistically. Majority of the donors were in the 3rd decade of life,15770 (59.6%); followed by in 4th decade of life, 5218 (19.7%).There were 24113(91.1%) males as compared to 2354(8.9%) female donors, with male-female ratio of 29.9:1. Replacement donations were 24583 (92.9%) and voluntary donations were 1884 (7.1%). The seroprevalence of HIV was 19(0.07%), HCV was 173(0.7%), HbsAg was 705(2.6%) and 25570(96.6%) donors were non reactive by ID-NAT. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy by ID-NAT was 99.2%, 96.7% and 99.8% respectively. ID-NAT is a very sensitive testing modality of infectious blood, which decreases the window period of infections, and thus enhances the safety of blood transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present survey based study involves the qualitative diversity of flora and fauna. The diversity assessment was carried out at two campuses of Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College. This extensive study reveals the presence of 256 floral species and 165 faunal species in and around college campuses. The huge faunal diversity is mainly due to high level of floral diversity, which establishes the area as resource-rich habitat with promising reservoir of species. This is the very first effort in exploring the natural wealth of Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flat pebbles and edge‐wise fabric in the Mesoproterozoic Rohtas Limestone Formation (RLF) and the Chikkshelikere Limestone Member (CLM), India, generate a new insight into their formation. Simple stacks of alternating dark micritic and light‐coloured microsparite planar layers in the targeted sedimentary successions manifest a low‐energy depositional background, disturbed only occasionally by weak storms. While the dark layers are homogeneous, light‐coloured layers are generally planar, wavy ripple laminated, and bear frequent load casts. The dark layers often display varieties of 2‐D microbial mat structures little known from carbonate formations. In compliance with their identity, they are comparatively enriched in carbon, a large part of which is organic and kerogen. The said structures with their intrinsic deformations indicate delayed cementation. Notwithstanding delayed cementation, the flat clasts in these formations are readily traceable to the dark laminae possibly because of early acquisition of their selective cohesiveness. Resultant stress led to brittle deformation in the mat layers, while the light‐coloured layers underwent ductile deformation. All the studied breccias bodies are in situ, but this fact does not preclude either the possibility of reworking of the clasts while exposed to high‐energy current or generation of intraclasts by high‐energy currents eroding the depositional surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A Panchvalkal formulation (Pentaphyte P-5®) mentioned in ancient texts of Indian traditional medicine was investigated for its anti-infective potential against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: Effect of the test formulation on bacterial growth and pigment production was evaluated by broth dilution assay. In vivo efficacy was evaluated using Caenorhabditis elegans as the model host. Whole transcriptome approach was taken to study the effect of test formulation on bacterial gene expression. Results: This formulation in vitro was found to be capable of affecting quorum sensing (QS)-regulated traits (pyocyanin, pyoverdine, biofilm) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In combination with antibiotics, it enhanced susceptibility of the test bacterium to antibiotics like cephalexin and tetracycline. Effect of Panchvalkal formulation (PF) on QS-regulated traits of P. aeruginosa was not reversed even after repeated exposure of the bacterium to PF. In vivo efficacy of PF was demonstrated employing Caenorhabditis elegans as the model host, wherein PF-treated bacteria were able to kill lesser worms than their extract-unexposed counterparts. Whole transcriptome study revealed that approximately 14% of the P. aeruginosa genome was expressed differently under the influence of PF. Conclusions: Major mechanisms through which Panchvalkal seems to exert its anti-virulence effect are generation of nitrosative and oxidative stress, and disturbing iron and molybdenum homeostasis, besides interfering with QS machinery. This study is a good demonstration of the therapeutic utility of the 'polyherbalism' concept, so common in ayurved. It also demonstrates utility of the modern 'omics' tools for validating the traditional medicine i.e. ayuromics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the species richness of birds along the elevation gradient of the Sutlej River basin in Himachal Pradesh in the western Himalaya of India. Birds were sampled at 318 sites categorized into 16 elevation bands ranging from 498 to 3700 m between June 2012 and April 2013. A total of 203 bird species were recorded. Species richness showed a monotonic decline with increasing elevation, with 27% of species recorded within a narrow elevation range. We tested the roles of explanatory variables such as environment (temperature, precipitation, area, & Mid-domain Effect (MDE) richness) and habitat (Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI): July, November & March) on the observed distribution pattern. The observed species richness pattern was strongly correlated with temperature, while three other variables--precipitation, area, and MDE richness-contributed negligibly to the observed pattern. The present study indicates that climatic conditions and vegetation are the major contributors for determining species richness along the Sutlej River basin. Thus, a customized approach is crucial for conservation of species in the elevation range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia is a common and in most cases, benign problem in neonates. Data in term and near-term infants with respect to the pattern of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia from South India are lacking, hence this study. Aim: The aim was to compare the incidence of significant hyperbilirubinemia between near terms and term neonates. Materials and Methods: A prospective case–control study done in a Tertiary Care Hospital, in South India over a period of 18 months (October 2012–April 2014) involving two hundred and sixty-four infants (cases 132 near-term babies, and 132 terms controls). Setting: Tertiary Care Hospital, in South India over a period of 18 months (October 2012–April 2014). Participants: Two hundred and sixty-four infants, cases 132 near-term babies, and 132 terms controls. Exclusion Criteria: Babies with hemolytic jaundice, polycythemia, hypothyroidism, culture-proven sepsis, major congenital anomalies. Cord and 24 h total serum bilirubin was done on cases and controls and all babies were followed up till 72 h or till discharge for significant hyperbilirubinemia. Results: Mean cord blood bilirubin values were significantly different between the near terms and terms 1.9 ± 1.41 and 1.46 ± 0.50 mg/dl (P = 0.0001). Mean 24 h serum bilirubin was higher in near terms, but the difference was not statistically significant (6.89 ± 0.41 and 6.83 ± 0.34, P = 0.764). Incidence of significant hyperbilirubinemia was statistically higher in the near terms as compared to terms (23/109 vs 7/125, P = 0.002). Conclusion: Although cord blood bilirubin was higher in near-term infants, the 24 h bilirubin did not show any significant difference between the two groups. Clinically, however, significant hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy was significantly higher in near-term infants. There is clearly a requirement for at-risk assessment for severe hyperbilirubinemia before discharge and close follow-up thereafter for near-term infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing trend of urban floods in India from past several years causes major damages on Indian cities. By 2050, more than half of the population in the developing countries like India are expected to migrate to urban regions. Urbanization is triggered in developing countries as people migrate to cities in search of employment opportunities resulting in formation of new slums. With high density of population concentration in cities, urban floods are triggered leading to a significant impact of human life and economy of the country. The review focuses on addressing the urban flood occurrence in India and its relationship with population growth climate change. The study also describes the impact of urban floods to the environment and integrated methodologies adopted over decades for the prediction and effective mitigation and management during a disaster event., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The paper in an attempt to develop an inventory of faunal diversity of Dibru-Saikhwa Biosphere Reserve (DSBR) of Assam which is one of the important Biosphere Reserves of the Eastern Indian Himalaya and to highlight the threats that the BR is facing over the years so as to decisively support the need for conservation efforts. After compilation and analysis from various data sources the BR depicts the presence of 503 species of birds, 37 species of mammals, 42 species of reptiles, 17 species of amphibian, 104 species of fishes, 105 species of butterfly and 91 globally threatened faunal species, while the Soil microbial diversity in the BR is contributed by 26 soil micro-fungal forms. The rich biodiversity of the BR is under stress due to natural and human pressures. As per the recent studies, the BR has lost an area of 77.14km² due to revirine stress and 3.71km² has been encroached as per the State Forest Report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterlogging is a complex phenomenon, the severity of which depends on a number of natural as well as anthropogenic factors. The present study pertains to the evaluation of control exerted by various factors, viz geomorphology, relief, groundwater fluctuation, rainfall, catchment area and canal-road network density, on waterlogging in the north Bihar region of Gangetic Plains. Satellite images IRS P6 LISS III acquired in the years 2005 and 2006 were used to map temporal variability in surface waterlogging which revealed a reduction of 52 % in the waterlogging area during the pre-monsoon. The seasonal groundwater fluctuation was examined using 2005-2006 pre- and post-monsoon water level data. It clearly indicated that a large portion of the area was also under highly critical groundwater level occurring at a depth of less than 1 m belowground surface during the post-monsoon periods. The percentage of waterlogged area per square kilometer in each geomorphological unit clearly depicts that the Kosi megafan (Lower), because of a high density of paleochannels, comprises the highest post-monsoon waterlogged area. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data were analyzed for the period 1998-2009 to examine the spatial variability of rainfall over the entire catchment during the monsoon period. The high incidence of post-monsoon surface waterlogging delineated through satellite data and high average rainfall (>1,100 mm) in the same area indicates a positive relationship between rainfall and surface waterlogging. Waterlogging is more prominent in the lower relief zones, but anomalous relative rise in waterlogging within 40-50 m of relief zone was attributed to anthropogenic factors primarily related to the development of canal network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flagship species are often key in marketing ecotourism. Such flagships, however, are frequently perceived differently by local communities and tourists, which could undermine the function of flagships in conservation. This article investigated the differences between locals' and tourists' perceptions about potential bird and tree flagships in sacred groves in the north Western Ghats, India, by surveying 154 villagers and 148 tourists. Tourists generally appreciated aesthetic value, but villagers had species-specific views that incorporate use, cultural, and aesthetic values of these species. The results imply that the views of tourists potentially complement the existing values of these species for villagers by promoting ecotourism. Our results suggest the importance of considering both tourists' and locals' perspectives if conservationists aim to promote ecotourism using flagships, and if they are to harness the support of local communities and strive for both biological and social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The study reported here is a part of an attempt to establish a comprehensive hydrochemical and isotopic baseline for a tropical wetland system as background data for a range of applications. Surface water samples of Vembanad Lake were collected from 20 stations in three seasons during the period 2007-2009. The analytical results were subjected to different chemical classification techniques to understand processes affecting the chemical concentration of waters. The Piper diagram classified the water samples as 100% alkali group in pre-monsoon followed by 15% in monsoon and 85% in post-monsoon, and for anions 100% samples were of strong acids followed by 90% in monsoon and 100% in post-monsoon season. The plot to decipher the mechanism controlling water chemistry placed the Vembanad Lake in the region of precipitation and rock dominance in the monsoon season and in the field of saline water dominance in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season. The positive values for the chloro-alkaline indices in pre and post-monsoon season promoted cation exchange in the system. The stable isotopes of water samples ranged from −20.21 to +17.0‰ and −5.6 to +3.34‰ for δH and δO, respectively. The most depleted δ values observed in the monsoon are due to the amount effect. The high enrichment observed in pre-monsoon is primarily due to evaporation and salinity mixing. The variation of isotopes in the whole system point toward the fact that salinity mixing can be indicated by the δO variation and δH indicates the evaporation effect. The plot of δO with chloride concentration showed precipitation dominance in the monsoon season, mixing of saline water and evaporation in pre-monsoon season, whereas the post-monsoon samples plot in both fresh and saline region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avifaunal diversity and abundance were studied in two wetlands of Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal, India, in relation to eight wetland characteristics supposedly directly or indirectly affected by human activities. Although the climatic and geophysical conditions of both the wetlands are almost similar, a total of 80 bird species were recorded from one wetland and the other supported only 42 species. The relationship between habitat characteristics and community structure varied throughout the year, suggesting that the birds respond differently to one or other habitat characteristic depending on the season. Larger wetland size supported higher bird diversity and abundance as far as resident and local migrants are concerned. Winter migrant density and diversity, however, reached higher values in structurally more heterogeneous wetlands having fewer submerged aquatic vegetation. All these habitat characteristics become highly influenced by intense agricultural practices in the wetland with fewer bird diversity and density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic intervention has led to conversion of much of the global diversity by means of habitat alterations. The present study was carried out to investigate the importance of habitat quality and habitat heterogeneity for the diversity, distribution and abundance of avifauna in and around Neora Valley National Park (NVNP) during April-May 2010. A total of 73 bird species belonging to 25 families were recorded during the present study applying a modified point count method. Forest edges were found to be most diverse with a total count of 54 bird species having an abundance of 172.53 number of birds ha-1. Study areas with human settlements was represented by a total species count of 24 with an abundance of 130.39 number of birds ha-1 while a total species count of 22 with an abundance of 69.32 number of birds ha-1 was recorded from thick vegetation assemblage with close canopy cover. This site specific occurrence pattern for avifauna was reflected in the study of diversity indices. The highest Shannon-Wiener general diversity score of 3.77 was recorded for bird species from forest edges. Study areas with dense canopy closure were found to support more habitat specialist bird species while areas having human settlements harboured more opportunistic bird species. An overall negative influence of human settlements on bird diversity, distribution and abundance was evidenced from the present study and needs further investigation. Moreover, intensive studies will certainly enrich our knowledge of avian diversity and distribution pattern from the present study location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral content was quantified in Oroxylum indicum L.(Vent.) collected from two different geographic regions of India viz. Western Ghats (Maharashtra) and Northern Uttar Pradesh. The main aim of this study was determination of elemental composition in different parts of the plant Oroxylum indicum L.(Vent.), which is extensively used in Ayurvedic preparations. Specific parts (leaves, stem and root) often used in Indian ayurvedic system were analyzed for 10 elements viz Cu,Na,Ca,Cr,Mn,Fe,Ni,Cd,Zn and Pb by employing ICPES techniques. All of the detected values for metallic elements in plant studied here were found to be below the WHO permissible levels. The elemental concentration in different part of medicinal plants and their biological effects on human beings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which investigated the bird community of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary in Jharkhand, India, the seasonal variations of the birds, and conservation challenges. It states that a combination of transect method and variable radius point count method was used for bird sampling. The study observed 71 bird species from the sanctuary, which illustrates that a high diversity of birds is supported by this sanctuary.

Winter raptor migration and movement is poorly documented for peninsular India, mainly due to the lack of geographical bottlenecks. We describe, for the first time, the use of a garbage dump in a metropolitan city as an alternative visual winter raptor monitoring station. The daily count, adult to juvenile ratios and species composition of three migratory raptor species, Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis, Black-eared Kite Milvus migrans lineatus and Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax are presented. Ground temperatures at the garbage dump site and surrounding area, and the wing beat rate of migratory raptors before and after arrival in the early morning were measured. A total of 355 raptors migrating over a period of six observation days with 250 adults and 105 juveniles were recorded. The temperature of the garbage dump was significantly higher than the surrounding area, while the wing flapping rate was significantly lower over the garbage dump area. It is possible that migrating raptors use garbage dump thermals in the early morning to save energy with soaring and gliding flight (versus flapping flight). We propose that such sites may be used as visual winter migration monitoring stations in metropolitan cities in peninsular India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The occurrence of Late Pleistocene dolomite crusts that occur at 64 m depth on the carbonate platform off western India is documented. Dolomite is the most predominant mineral in the crusts. In thin section, the crust consists of dolomitized microlaminae interspersed with detrital particles. Under scanning electron microscopy, these laminae are made up of tubular filaments or cellular structures of probable cyanobacterial origin. Dolomite crystals encrust or overgrow the surfaces of the microbial filaments and/or cells; progressive mineralization obliterates their morphology. Well-preserved microbial mats, sulphide minerals (pyrrhotite and marcasite) and the stable isotope composition of dolomite in the crusts indicate hypersaline and anoxic conditions during dolomite formation. The crusts are similar to dolomite stromatolites, and biogeochemical processes related to decaying microbial mats under anoxic conditions probably played an important role in dolomite precipitation. The dolomite is therefore primary and/or very early diagenetic in origin. The dolomite crusts are interpreted to be a composite of microbial dolomite overprinted by early burial organic dolomite. The results of this study suggest that a microbial model for dolomite formation may be relevant for the origin of ancient massive dolomites in marine successions characterized by cryptalgal laminites. The age of the crusts further suggests that the platform was situated at shallow subtidal depths during the Last Glacial Maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P. aeruginosa is the most common Gram-negative organism causing bacterial keratitis. Pseudomonas utilizes various virulence mechanisms to adhere and colonize in the host tissue. In the present study, we examined virulence factors associated with thirty-four clinical P. aeruginosa isolates collected from keratitis patients seeking care at L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. The virulence-associated genes in all the isolates were genotyped and characteristics such as antibiotic susceptibility, biofilm formation, swarming motility, pyoverdine production and cell cytotoxicity were analyzed. All the isolates showed the presence of genes related to biofilm formation, alkaline proteases and elastases; however, there was a difference in the presence of genes related to the type III secretion system (T3SS). A higher prevalence of exoU+ genotype was noted in the drug-resistant isolates. All the isolates were capable of forming biofilms and more than 70% of the isolates showed good swarming motility. Pyoverdine production was not associated with the T3SS genotype. In the cytotoxicity assay, the presence of exoS,exoU or both resulted in higher cytotoxicity compared to the absence of both the genes. Overall, our results suggest that the T3SS profile is a good indicator of P. aeruginosa virulence characteristics and the isolates lacking the effector genes may have evolved alternate mechanisms of colonization in the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been delineated for its disreputable charisma in nosocomial infections leading to pulmonary pneumonia. The recent developments in multi-drug resistance accelerate the need of alternative antibacterial strategies. In this study we analysed the efficacy of quorum quenching mediated bacterial silencing in effective immunological clearance upon pulmonary infected rat models. Results: Quorum sensing inhibitor was extracted from Solanum torvum which is a native plant in Kerala, India. The in vitro pilot studies upon Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain jb07 revealed the ability of Solanum torvum root extract (STRE) to successfully inhibit quorum sensing controlled virulent factors such as chromogenesis and biofilm formation; though the bacterial growth was unaffected. In vivo analysis upon Sprague Dawley rats shown the potential of STRE in aiding successful bacterial clearance where in cent percentage of survival was evident that compared with untreated group. Subjects treated with STRE possessed natural immunological response with inflammation, MNC infiltration and BALT (bronchus associated lymphoid tissue) hyperplasia unlike the Ciprofloxacin treated comparative group. Conclusions: The observations of this study suggests that STRE is not having any bactericidal activity rather its silencing the infectant in a system which in turn disables the virulence of bacteria and remain attenuated; therefore immune system get adequate time for successful countermeasures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nilgiri Hills in the Western Ghats of India constitute a region of high biological and cultural diversity, and include an endangered shola forest-grassland mosaic ecosystem. A mosaic ecosystem is one consisting of adjacent, coexisting patches of highly distinct naturally occurring land states (in this case, shola forest and natural grassland). Changes in the landscape since the nineteenth century have severely impacted the shola-grassland mosaic and challenged the traditional lifestyles of the indigenous Toda people. However, the responses of traditional Toda socio-ecological perspectives and landscape management to these changes have not been explored through population surveys. Here, using a survey method, the article explores traditional Toda perspectives of ecosystem value and landmanagement practices. The survey consists of interviews of 50 respondents belonging to 24 munds (villages), covering ten clans, neighbouring mosaic lands, plantations and agricultural areas. The findings show that traditional socio-ecological landscape management is robust and has persisted despite marked ecological and socio-economic changes during the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries, and despite frequent gathering of land management advice from non-Toda. Elements of traditional socio-ecological knowledge that have persisted include prevalent collective traditional decision-making and long-held preferences for a landscape composition with a strong mosaic component. The highly robust nature of Toda socio-ecological culture and land management suggests that the Todas have a valuable role to play in supporting the long-term persistence of the shola-grassland mosaic. Increasing their stewardship role would help conserve this endangered and highly biodiverse ecosystem, while at the same time preserving a unique indigenous culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]