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A series of 2,5-disubstituted benzimidazole derivatives was synthesized with the aim to identify compounds with potent anti-TB activity. All the compounds were screened in vitro against cultured Mycobacterium tuberculosis H

PurposeEmotional labour is an important area of research in organizational psychology especially in the context of service industry. Past research in this area has primarily focused on the negative consequences of emotional labour. The present study is carried out to explore whether professors working in higher educational institutes experience emotional labour and how does it impact them.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a qualitative approach. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted.FindingsThree broad themes emerged from the study: (1) work environment leading to emotional labour (2) factors facilitating emotional regulation and (3) consequences of emotional labour. The findings revealed that the consequences of emotional labour are context specific and in the context of educational setting, it has interesting positive outcomes.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study provide critical insights regarding how to deal with employees who experience emotional labour at work.Originality/valueThe study adopts an inductive approach to explore the experiences of emotional labour of professors in higher educational institutes.

PurposeThe different perspectives of diversity have until recently ignored emotional diversity primarily because emotions were discounted as “irrational.” To highlight the need for a broader integrative view of emotions in the workplace, the question addressed in the study was whether inclusive leadership helped emotionally reactive employees improve their performance and whether these employees displayed potential leadership qualities for future roles.Design/methodology/approachThe study was qualitative. This cross-sectional study applied qualitative methods to gather the required information. Sixteen business heads across different sectors in India were purposively chosen for in-depth interviews with respondents. The interviews were semi-structured. The approach of theoretical sampling was adopted. From the initial set of questions, the next set of questions was evolved and the itineration was continued until saturation was achieved.FindingsThe results showed that mentoring and empowerment helped emotionally reactive employees improve their performance. On the question of their potential leadership role, the results were mixed.Research limitations/implicationsThe follower (protégé) perception, if also taken, can validate whether the person-centered style helped in the performance improvement of the followers. The responses of the leaders were based on their memory and no reports were checked from their office records to corroborate the same.Practical implicationsResearchers have argued that worker behavior and productivity are directly affected by employee affect and emotional states. The study contributes significantly to creating emotionally inclusive workplaces.Originality/valueThe study is focused on the role of diversity of emotions in the workplace impacting productivity. Emotions are vital and affect the workplace significantly. The study focused on what organizations could do to handle emotionally reactive employees at work. The study showed that inclusive leadership through mentoring and empowerment helped in assimilating difficult employees into the mainstream work.

Among the global coordinated patterns in soil temperature and methane emission from wetlands, a declining trend of optimal soil temperature for methane emissions from low to high latitudes has been witnessed, while the corresponding trend along the altitudinal gradient has not yet been investigated. We therefore selected two natural wetlands located at contrasting climatic zones from foothill and mountainside of Nepal Himalayas, to test: (1) whether the optimal temperature for methane emissions decreases from low to high altitude, and (2) whether there is a difference in temperature sensitivity of methane emissions from those wetlands. We found significant spatial and temporal variation of methane emissions between the two wetlands and seasons. Soil temperature was the dominant driver for seasonal variation in methane emissions from both wetlands, though its effect was perplexed by the level of standing water, aquatic plants, and dissolved organic carbon, particularly in the deep water area. When integrative comparison was conducted by adding the existing data from wetlands of diverse altitudes, and the latitude-for-altitude effect was taken into account, we found the baseline soil temperatures decrease whilst the altitude rises with respect to a rapid increase in methane emission from all wetlands, however, remarkably higher sensitivity of methane emissions to soil temperature (apparent Q10 ) was found in mid-altitude wetland. We provide the first evidence of an apparent decline in optimal temperature for methane emissions with increasing elevation. These findings suggest a convergent pattern of methane emissions with respect to seasonal temperature shifts from wetlands along altitudinal gradient, while a divergent pattern in temperature sensitivities exhibits a single peak in mid-altitude.

Continuously monitored magnetotelluric (MT) time series data were used to identify the short-term earthquake co-seismic and pre-seismic electromagnetic phenomenon. The co-seismic behavior of the MT time series data recorded at 15 Hz sampling frequency is analyzed for the earthquake that occurred on November 24, 2007, of Mw = 4.6. The wavelet analysis of the MT time series data shows significant enhancement at 3–6 Hz frequency band in the scalogram during the earthquake in comparison with pre- and post-time. The significant enhancement in the scalogram is related to the onset of the main shock of the earthquake. In this paper, we have also shown the precursory signatures of several earthquake magnitudes (Mw) ranging from 3.9 to 4.9 and the focal depth extending from 5 to 10 km mainly dominated by normal and strike-slip faulting. The spectral polarization ratio technique was implemented on these events to identify the precursory signatures. A few days before the earthquake, a significant anomaly was identified for most of the earthquakes using this technique. This prominent anomaly is correlated with Dst index, which provides information about the ionosphere and magnetosphere responses in the presence of the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field. We inferred the unusual behavior prior to the earthquake is related to the precursory signature, but not related to the solar-terrestrial effect. The complex tectonic settings in the study region suggest that both electrokinetic and seismic dynamo mechanisms are the probable mechanisms playing an important role in generation of co- and pre-seismic electromagnetic signals.

Development and progression of metastasis comprises synchronized erroneous expressions of several composite pathways, which are difficult to manage simultaneously with the representative anticancer molecules. The emergence of the drug resistance and the complex interplay between these pathways further potentiates cancer related complexities. Barbiturates and their derivatives present a commendable anticancer profile by attenuating the cancer manifesting metabolic and enzymatic pathways including, but not limited to matrix metalloproteinases, xanthine oxidase, amino peptidases, histone deacetylases, and Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase. The derivatization and conjugation of barbiturates with pharmacophores delivers a suitable hybrid profile in containing the anomalous expression of these pathways. The present report presents a succinct collation of the barbiturates and their derivatives in managing the various cancer causing pathways.

The copper vapor laser (CVL) is the most powerful and efficient resonance metastable metal-vapor laser having widespread applications. Jitter requirements are very stringent when the CVL is operated in the oscillator–amplifier configuration. Jitter in the laser affects proper synchronization and thereby affects the output power and its stability. Although thyratron-based power supplies have low jitter, it has limited operational life. So, solid-state switch-based pulse power supply is preferable. In the solid-state switch-based pulse power supply of CVL, several parameters simultaneously contribute to jitter in the laser optical output. To observe the parameter-affecting jitter and its contribution, we carry out MATLAB simulations, which are experimentally validated. We demonstrate by simulation and experiments that variations in the laser load impedance significantly contribute to jitter and, by minimizing the effect of laser load variations on the power supply, jitter in the laser can be significantly reduced.

A high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for the simultaneous quantitative determination and validation of scopoletin and gallic acid in the methanolic fraction of Jatropha glandulifera L. was developed for the first time. For achieving good separation, the mobile phase of toluene‒ethyl acetate‒glacial acetic acid (7.5:2.5:0.1, V/V) was used. Densitometric determination was carried out at 254 nm for scopoletin and gallic acid, in reflection/absorption mode; the calibration curves were linear in the range of 100‒600 ng per spot. During the analysis, the methanolic fraction of J. glandulifera L. showed the presence of scopoletin (0.08%) and gallic acid (0.04%). The proposed method is simple, precise, specific, and accurate. The obtained data can be used for the routine analysis of reported biomarkers in crude drug and extracts. The simultaneous quantification and method validation of these biomarkers have not yet been reported in J. glandulifera L. which may be utilized for the proper standardization of the plant.

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the variation in nutritive contents in wild-growing fruits of Emblica officinalis. Fruits of E. officinalis were collected from twenty-eight naturally growing populations in different parts of Garhwal-Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Several fruit properties including number of fruits kg⁻¹, fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit volume, pulp weight, pulp:stone ratio, specific gravity, moisture percent, total soluble solid, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, vitamin C, and sugar contents were analyzed to observe the variations among different populations. The results of the study revealed that the average fruit weight varied significantly (P

Underground surge pool cavern for the storage and lifting of water is being constructed in the part of Telangana State of India. For better rock mass characterization and support design, 3D engineering geological mapping was carried for the heading portion of the surge pool. 3D geologic mapping of heading portion is very important for large underground cavern to know about the cavern behavior during benching down. The direction of the longest axis of the cavern was finalized based on the in-situ hydrofracturing testing inside the deep borehole. The assessment of tunnel quality index ‘Q’ for the exposed granitic rock mass was done based on the information available of the rock joints and their nature, 3D geological mapping and in-situ stress measurement. Roof support and wall support pressure was estimatedbased on Q-values, and in this case applicable for the non-squeezing ground condition. For structural stability of crown and walls, rock support arrangement was recommended based on NMT technology and geological conditions of site, which includes steel fibre reinforced shotcrete, grouting, rock bolt and drainage hole provisions. The capacity of support system is determined to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed support system.

Indenoisoquinolines, a noncamptothecin class of synthetic compounds, show a wide range of biological activities, and some of the compounds have shown potent anticancer activity and entered into clinical trials. This stimulated the interest of medicinal chemists to develop new synthetic methodologies for the synthesis of this promising pharmacophore. In order to develop an environmentally benign synthetic method for the synthesis of indenoisoquinolines, a novel CuO@NiO nanocatalyst was prepared by simple calcination of a mixture of malachite as a sustainable copper source and nickel oxalate. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by PXRD, FESEM, TEM, EDAX, XPS, and BET techniques. The obtained CuO@NiO nanocatalyst was used for the synthesis of indenoisoquinolines using 2-iodobenzamide and 1,3-indanedione as a starting material and ethylene glycol as a green solvent. In comparison to the reported methods, the present methodology has several advantages, such as a wide substrate scope, excellent yield, shorter reaction time, no usage of additive/base, and better values of green chemistry metrices like a low E factor (0.76), high reaction mass efficiency (56.75%), low process mass efficiency (1.76), and a high turnover number (36.69), and the catalyst was recycled up to six times without a major loss in its catalytical activity. Further, a very low-level leaching of copper ions (5.85 ppm) and nickel ions (4.83 ppm) was observed, which is much less than the tolerance limit as per WHO guidelines.

Cabbage and cauliflower are extensively cultivated Cole vegetables all around the world. These are highly prone to the most notorious insect pest Plutella xylostella (diamondback moth), causing huge yield losses to the growers. Conventional breeding for host plant resistance against this pest is limited due to lack of resistance source in the available germplasm. The chemical control measures are cumbersome, costly, health hazardous and environment unfriendly. Therefore, using quaternary gene pool for incorporation of resistance genes from unrelated sources such as bacterial derived insecticidal Bt toxins through genetic engineering is a viable option. Genetic manipulation of plants through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is limited by a multitude of factors resulting in poor transformation efficiency. Hence, optimization of plant transformation method suitable for a particular crop is highly essential. Here in we report the optimization of plant transformation protocol for cabbage and cauliflower by the manipulation of various key parameters, including the type of explants, Agrobacterium strains, bacterial cell density, age of the explant, preculture period, media formulations etc. The binary vector pPIPRA560 containing stacked Bt genes (Cry1B/Cry1C) and npt II/Basta as selectable marker was chosen for plant transformation. As a proof of concept, initially the effectiveness of the Bt genes against diamondback moth was validated in transgenic Arabidopsis. Insect bioassay revealed 100% mortality within 48 h of feeding. Based on the exciting results, the same construct was used for transforming Indian popular cultivars of cabbage (‘Golden Acre’) and cauliflower (‘Pusa Meghna’ and ‘Pusa Snowball K1’). The presence of the Bt genes in the transgenic lines was confirmed by PCR and expression through RT-qPCR. Insect bioassay revealed 100% mortality in some of the plants tested so far.

Ternary bismuth halides are interesting functional materials closely related to Pb halide perovskite photovoltaic material, and are widely sought after due to reduced toxicity of Bi compared to Pb. There are several reports on synthesis of Cs3Bi2Br9 nanocrystals (NCs) due to its being relatively stable compared to lead perovskite. Cs3Bi2Br9 nanocrystals have been synthesised using benzoyl bromide as an precursor using hot injection process at two different temperatures of 120 °C and 160 °C. Samples have been characterized for its structural, optical, microstructural and luminescent properties using X-ray diffraction, (XRD) UV-Vis spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescent spectroscopy. XRD showed formation of Cs3Bi2Br9 phase with mono-crystalline structure. UV-Vis showed two types of band gap in the visible region which shows that the material can be used for photovoltaic applications. HRTEM confined the particles to be composed of nanocrystals with ˜5 nm particles in the samples grown at 120 °C and it the particles joined together yield various structures composed of nanoparticles. The time resolved photoluminescence shows average life times of 3.067 ns and 4.761 ns for samples grown at two different temperatures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report where benzoyl halide has been used as alternative precursor for the synthesis of lead free double perovskite Cs3Bi2Br9 nanocrystals which have many applications.

Recently, the development of hybrid nano catalyst involving earth abundant transition metals for photosensitization and multi-component reaction in industry and academia has been a matter of intens...

The study aimed to assess dry matter dynamics of forests along treeline ecotone concerning environmental variability, and four representative forests, birch, kharsu oak, Himalayan fir and mixed forest along treeline ecotone (3250–3400 m asl) were selected in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalaya. Temperature, precipitation and humidity data were recorded for complete 3 years (2008–2010). Field inventory for assessment of forest structure and dry matter was carried out in a 200 m transect in each forest along treeline using quadrats of different sizes for tree, shrub and herb layers. The biomass and net primary productivity (NPP) of woody vegetation was estimated using region-specific allometric equations and of the herb layer, by harvesting. Litter quantity and decomposition rates were assessed using litter traps and litter bags, respectively. The dry matter budget of treeline ecotone was represented using a compartment model. The mean annual temperature at treeline was recorded 6.6 ± 0.68 °C with warmest month average temperature of 12.6 ± 1.2 °C. The average forest biomass at ecotone was 33.27 ± 16.97 Mg/0.1 ha, ranged between 8.87 Mg/0.1 ha in open and early successional birch forest to 44.98 Mg/0.1 ha in dense canopy mixed forest. NPP ranged from 1.49 to 2.11 Mg/0.1 ha year−1. The birch forest exhibited the highest efficiency in annual dry matter accumulation in the canopy layer among all forests. The leaf litter decomposition rates (% weight loss) was highest for kharsu oak (74%) after 3 years. The study revealed that Western Himalayan treeline exhibit warmer summer and higher amounts of dry matter storage, production and decomposition rates. These treeline forests showed a higher dry matter assimilation rate and so the potential for carbon sequestration under a warming climate.

The sensing of composite of two p-type materials; Single Walled Carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and Copper Phthalocyanine (CuPc) towards ammonia gas is studied. Maximum increase in response of SWCNT after CuPc functionalization has been found to be ≈ 56% with 83% increase in saturation responses. The average crystallite size corresponding to characteristic CuPc has been decreased with SWCNT doping by 44% with negligible shift in its characteristic peak corresponding to β phase. The successive intercalation of CuPc and strong π-π stacking interaction with SWCNT has been confirmed in structural, surface and spectroscopic results of SWCNT doped CuPc.

The dynamic structure of the magnetosphere present in the Jovian environment can be explored by detecting magnetic field of the Jovian moon. The present study provides the evidence of magnetic field variation in the Jovian moon (Callisto). The raw data of magnetic field (.lbl format) obtained from planetary plasma interactions node, at NASA’s portal has been used. Magnetic field vector and time series data were used to determine the magnetic field of the Callisto. Magnetic variation in the moon was assessed using contour plots. MATLAB has been used to generate the time series magnetic graphs of the Callisto moon. Findings revealed that magnetic field varied with changes in time in Callisto. Reverse swept in the magnetic field was observed towards the magneto tail of Jupiter. The methodology adopted in this study can be extended to assess the magnetic field of other Jovian moons also.

A detailed crystal structure analysis, temperature and field dependence of magnetic characteristics and phonon instabilities for different compositions (0.1 ⩽

Analytical Physics Section, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehra Dun Manuscript received 24 August 1982, revised 11 March 1983, accepted 28 April 1983 The mean amplitudes of vibration of isotopic species of disulfur monoxides viz., 32S2 16O, 32S218O,34S216O,34S32S16O have been computed in the temp range 0-1000 K. The isotopic effect of sulphur and oxygen atoms over bonded S—S, S —O and non bonded S...Odistances have been studied using Muller's method of characteristic vibration. Results are discussed in the light of molecular structure and bonding in disulfur monoxides.

Background Antimicrobial resistance is a growing menace, claiming millions of lives all over the world. In this context, drug repurposing is one approach gaining interest as a suitable alternative to conventional drug discovery and development. Methods Whole-cell assays were used to screen FDA-approved drugs to identify novel antimicrobial agents active against bacterial pathogens. Following identification of nitazoxanide, its various characteristics, such as antimicrobial activity against MDR isolates, time–kill kinetics, ability to synergize with approved drugs, antibiofilm activity and ability to generate resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, were determined, followed by determination of its in vivo potential against MDR S. aureus. Results Nitazoxanide demonstrated a potent in vitro antistaphylococcal profile, including equipotent activity against clinical drug-resistant S. aureus and Enterococcus spp. Nitazoxanide exhibited concentration-dependent killing, significantly eradicated preformed S. aureus biofilm and S. aureus did not generate resistance to it. Nitazoxanide strongly synergized with linezolid both in vitro and in vivo against linezolid-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus, displaying superior activity to untreated control and drug-alone treatment groups. Conclusions Nitazoxanide can be utilized in combination with linezolid against infections caused by linezolid-resistant S. aureus as it exhibits strong synergism in vitro and in vivo.

Climate change causes an unprecedented increase in glacial retreats. The melting ice exposes land for colonization and diversification of bacterial communities leading to soil development, changes in plant community composition, and ecosystem functioning. Although a few studies have focused on macro-level deglaciation impacts, little is known about such effects on the bacterial community succession. Here, we provide meta-barcoding-based insight into the ecological attributes of bacterial community across different retreating periods of the Gangotri glacier, western Himalaya. We selected three sites along a terminal moraine representing recent (~ 20 yrs), intermediate (~ 100 yrs), and late (~ 300 yrs) deglaciation periods. Results showed that the genus Mycobacterium belonging to phylum Actinobacteria dominated recently deglaciated land. Relative abundance of these pioneer bacterial taxa decreased by 20-50% in the later stages with the emergence of new and rising of the less abundant members of the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Candidatus TM6, and Chloroflexi. The community in the recent stage was less rich and harbored competitive interactions, while the later stages experienced a surge in bacterial diversity with cooperative interactions. The shift in α-diversity and composition was strongly influenced by soil organic carbon, carbon to nitrogen ratio, and soil moisture content. The functional analyses revealed a progression from a metabolism focused to a functionally progressive community required for bacterial co-existence and succession in plant communities. Overall, the findings indicate that the bacterial communities inhabit, diversify, and develop specialized functions post-deglaciation leading to nutrient inputs to soil and vegetation development, which may provide feedback to climate change.

Biochemical characterization of metabolism provides molecular insights for understanding biology in health and disease. Over the past decades, metabolic perturbations have been implicated in cancer, neurodegeneration, and diabetes, among others. Isotope tracing is a technique that allows tracking of labeled atoms within metabolites through biochemical reactions. This technique has become an integral component of the contemporary metabolic research. Isotope tracing measures substrate contribution to downstream metabolites and indicates its utilization in cellular metabolic networks. In addition, isotopic labeling data are necessary for quantitative metabolic flux analysis. Here, we review recent work utilizing metabolic tracing to study health and disease, and highlight its application to interrogate subcellular, intercellular, and in vivo metabolism. We further discuss the current challenges and opportunities to expand the utility of isotope tracing to new research areas.