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Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are one of the commonest maladies, affecting 5%-10% of pregnancies worldwide. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) identifies four categories of HDP, namely gestational hypertension (GH), Preeclampsia (PE), chronic hypertension (CH), and CH with superimposed PE. PE is a multisystem, heterogeneous disorder that encompasses 2%-8% of all pregnancy-related complications, contributing to about 9% to 26% of maternal deaths in low-income countries and 16% in high-income countries. These translate to 50 000 maternal deaths and over 500 000 fetal deaths worldwide, therefore demanding high priority in understanding clinical presentation, screening, diagnostic criteria, and effective management. PE is accompanied by uteroplacental insufficiency leading to vascular and metabolic changes, vasoconstriction, and end-organ ischemia. PE is diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women who were previously normotensive or hypertensive. Besides shallow trophoblast invasion and inadequate remodeling of uterine arteries, dysregulation of the nonimmune system has been the focal point in PE. This results from aberrant immune system activation and imbalanced differentiation of T cells. Further, a failure of tolerance toward the semi-allogenic fetus results due to altered distribution of Tregs such as CD4+FoxP3+ or CD4+CD25+CD127(low) FoxP3+ cells, thereby creating a cytotoxic environment by suboptimal production of immunosuppressive cytokines like IL-10, IL-4, and IL-13. Also, intracellular production of complement protein C5a may result in decreased FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. With immune system dysfunction as a major driver in PE pathogenesis, it is logical that therapeutic targeting of components of the immune system with pharmacologic agents like anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating molecules are either being used or under clinical trial. Cholesterol synthesis inhibitors like Pravastatin may improve placental perfusion in PE, while Eculizumab (monoclonal antibody inhibiting C5) and small molecular inhibitor of C5a, Zilucoplan are under investigation. Monoclonal antibody against IL-17(Secukinumab) has been proposed to alter the Th imbalance in PE. Autologous Treg therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors like anti-CTLA-4 are emerging as new candidates in immune horizons for PE management in the future.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor-enhancing food additive widely used in Asian cuisine. It is one of the common ingredients used in curry and other tinned food that is believed to bring out the "umami" meat flavor and enhance the savory taste of the food. It is the sodium salt of the naturally occurring amino acid Glutamate. Due to its massive consumption as part of fast-food culture along with concerns about its possible effect on health in general and pregnancy in particular, we undertook this study to address its impact on placental trophoblast cells. We investigated the effect of MSG on placental trophoblast cells. Our studies confirmed that short and long-term exposure to MSG has a profound influence on trophoblast invasion and differentiation, two of the most critical and dispensable functions during placentation. Our results showed an acute short-term MSG-treatment enhanced trophoblast invasion and cell motility along with an increased expression in trophoblast cell differentiation markers. However, a long-term chronic MSG stimulation in these cell types showed an opposite effect with both reduced invasion and differentiation. Further, MSG-treated placental explants displayed signs of an elevated oxidative stress. These effect of MSG on trophoblast cells along with an increased ROS production indicates that short and long-term usage of MSG as part of food additive might have adverse health consequences on the fetus by compromising the trophoblast and placental function.

In this article, we have considered the estimation of the probability density function and cumulative distribution function of the one-parameter polynomial exponential family of distributions. A nu...

Mitochondria play a key role in cellular signalling, metabolism and energetics. Proper architecture and remodelling of the inner mitochondrial membrane are essential for efficient respiration, apoptosis and quality control in the cell. Several protein complexes including mitochondrial contact site and cristae organising system (MICOS), F1 FO -ATP synthase, and Optic Atrophy 1 (OPA1), facilitate formation, maintenance and stability of cristae membranes. MICOS, the F1 FO -ATP synthase, OPA1 and inner membrane phospholipids such as cardiolipin and phosphatidylethanolamine interact with each other to organise the inner membrane ultra-structure and remodel cristae in response to the cell's demands. Functional alterations in these proteins or in the biosynthesis pathway of cardiolipin and phosphatidylethanolamine result in an aberrant inner membrane architecture and impair mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial dysfunction and abnormalities hallmark several human conditions and diseases including neurodegeneration, cardiomyopathies and diabetes mellitus. Yet, they have long been regarded as secondary pathological effects. This review discusses emerging evidence of a direct relationship between protein- and lipid-dependent regulation of the inner mitochondrial membrane morphology and diseases such as fatal encephalopathy, Leigh syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and cancer.

The source of fluids and their mechanism of metal precipitation in sediment-hosted, disseminated orogenic gold deposits are ambiguous. Pyrite texture, trace element, S, Pb, and He-Ar isotope compositions of sulfides and C-O isotope data of calcite from Chang'an orogenic gold deposit in the Ailaoshan orogenic belt, southwest (SW) China, were studied to provide a new genetic model for the sediment-hosted orogenic gold deposit, furthering knowledge of the source of fluids and their mechanism of metal precipitation. Orebodies at Chang'an are mainly hosted by Ordovician turbidite with a few in Oligocene syenite. Two stages of mineralization have been identified in the deposit: stage I disseminated quartz-arsenopyrite-pyrite and stage II veined quartz-calcite-polymetallic sulfides. Five generations of pyrite have been identified in turbidite: pre-ore syn-sedimentary pyrite, pyI-1, and pyI-2 in stage I, and pyII-1 and pyII-2 in stage II, and an unzoned pyrite population developed in syenite. PyI-1 commonly overgrows syn-sedimentary pyrite with irregular boundaries and contains arsenopyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, and electrum inclusions along the boundaries. PyI-1 is overgrown by thin and inclusion-free pyI-2, and crosscut by pyII-1, which is rimmed by pyII-2.The syn-sedimentary pyrite is distributed parallel to the sedimentary bedding and contains As (620.8 ppm), Pb (61.6 ppm), Ni (59.8 ppm), Mo (54.4 ppm), Co (23.4 ppm), and Cu (13.0 ppm) with low-Au content of 0.06 ppm. This pyrite has δ34S values of −18.1 to +30.4‰ and high-radiogenic Pb isotope ratios (average 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb of 19.05, 15.86, and 39.87, respectively). PyI-1 and coexisting arsenopyrite are enriched in invisible Au (up to 227.1 and 353.3 ppm, respectively), As, Ni, Cu, and Pb, while pyI-2 contain much lower trace element abundances relative to pyI-1 and arsenopyrite. Partial replacement of syn-sedimentary pyrite by pyI-1 plus arsenopyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, and electrum, and similar Pb isotope ratios between syn-sedimentary pyrite and pyI-1 indicate that reaction of external deep Au-rich fluids with syn-sedimentary pyrite is responsible for gold precipitation in stage I. PyI-1, arsenopyrite, and pyI-2 show a narrower δ34S range of −3.2 to 7.1‰ relative to syn-sedimentary pyrite, demonstrating that the fluid-pyrite interaction has homogenized the sulfur. The unzoned pyrite in syenite has similar mineral inclusions (arsenopyrite, galena, etc.), δ34S values (+0.6 to 6.3‰) and Pb isotope ratios to pyI-1, but much lower trace element abundances relative to pyI-1. It may be attributed to different reactions of similar fluids with different wall-rocks. PyII-1 and pyII-2 in stage II contain elevated As, Pb, Cu, Sb, Zn, and Ag with low mean Au content (3.3 ppm) and have δ34S ranges of −2.8 to +1.2‰ and −6.2 and −0.8‰, respectively. Galena in stage II has lower radiogenic Pb isotope ratios than stage I pyrites, indicative of a different Pb source or fluid evolution. The gases released from a mixture of pyII-1-pyII-2 have R/Ra of 0.38 to 0.98 and 40Ar*/4He of 0.50 to 1.34, falling between the fields of mantle-derived and crustal fluids. Late ore calcites have δ13CPDB of −8.7 to 2.7‰ and δ18OSMOW of 8.05 to 25.58‰, also plotting between sedimentary carbonate and mantle fields. These signatures indicate that ore fluids in stage II are base metal-rich fluids with a small amount of contribution from the mantle. Different ore assemblages, trace element composition and isotope data between stages I and II at Chang'an suggest that the deposit experienced an evolution from early Au-rich fluids to late base metal-rich ones. This study highlights that ore metals in sediment-hosted disseminated orogenic gold deposits may be sourced from both deep fluids and local wall-rock, and that fluid-rock interaction behaved as a key control on ore precipitation.

Mega volcanic eruptions associated with the formation of Large Igneous Provinces (LIPS) pump vast amounts of carbon dioxide and sulfur-rich gases into the atmosphere and stratosphere with the potential to totally change the chemistry of the global ocean. Here we investigate the sedimentary pyrite sulfur isotope record of black shales through time and demonstrate two coherent populations termed P1 and P2. Population P1 dominates the Archean pyrites, has a mean of δ34S = +3.7‰, standard deviation of 5.3‰, and is considered to represent S of mantle origin. Population P2 appears toward the start of the Proterozoic, dominates the Phanerozoic, has a mean around +25‰ and standard deviation of 13.5‰, and is considered to represent S of seawater sulfate origin. Population P1 can be identified in sedimentary pyrite at certain times in the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic, which correspond, within error, with the timing of 25 major LIP events. Our data suggest that at regular times through the Proterozoic, coinciding with major LIP events, the oceans contained a mixture of seawater sulfate and dissolved mantle sulfide derived from the LIPs. LA-ICP-MS analyses of the sedimentary pyrite indicate that metals, particularly gold, nickel, cobalt, and PGE were also enriched in the oceans at these times. The long periods between major LIP eruptions enabled the oceans to return to a seawater sulfate background equilibrium with a decrease in the mantle-derived metals.

Implantation in humans is a multistep process that involves apposition, adhesion, and invasion of the developing blastocyst into the receptive maternal endometrium. Though significant volume of research in this direction has identified important players orchestrating this delicate process, there are still gaps in our understanding of all the sequence of events during embryo implantation. Also, the early pregnancy-related complications that lead to fetal loss and miscarriage often occur in this critical window of implantation, which is primarily defined as the time when the maternal endometrium is supposed to be most receptive to the free blastocyst that emerges out from the zona pellucida. Studies in humans and rodents have identified several mediators like folliculin, LIF, IL11Ra, splicing factor SC35, etc. to be essential for early implantation. Trophoblasts, that form the outer epithelial layer of the blastocyst, participate in the formation of the placenta. During placentation, invasive extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs), migrate into the endometrium, and a transient epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and remodel the uterine arteries for blood and nutrient exchange.

The study evaluated the sources and controlling factors of the groundwater contaminants in an agroeconomic region of Lower Ganga Basin using principal component analysis (PCA), multivariable linear regressions (MLR), correlation analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis, and evaluated the public health risks using the Latin Hypercube Sampling, goodness-of-fit statistics, Monte Carlo simulation and Sobol sensitivity analysis based on the 1000 samples collected in two sampling cycles (N = 1000). The study reveals that the dissolution of fluoride-bearing minerals and semi-arid climate regulate the fluoride concentrations (0.10–18.25 mg/L) in groundwater. Extensive application of inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers and livestock manure mainly contributed to elevated nitrate levels (up to 435.0 mg/L) in groundwater. The health risks analysis indicates that fluoride exposure is more prevalent in the residents of each age group than the nitrate and both contaminants exhibited higher non-carcinogenic health risks on the infant and child (minor) age groups compared to adolescents and adults. Based on the cokriging interpolation mapping, the minor residents of 17.88%–23.15% of the total area (4545.0 km2) are vulnerable to methemoglobinemia whereas the residents of all age-groups in 38.47%–44.45% of the total area are susceptible to mild to severe dental/skeletal fluorosis owing to consumption of untreated nitrate and fluoride enriched groundwater. The Sobol sensitivity indices revealed contaminant levels, groundwater intake rate and their collective effects are the most influential factors to pose potential health risks on the residents. Artificial recharge and rainwater harvesting practices should be adopted to improve the groundwater quality and the residents are advised to drink purified groundwater.

Membrane remodeling is a critical process for many membrane trafficking events, including clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Several molecular mechanisms for protein-induced membrane curvature have been described in some detail. Contrary, the effect that the physico-chemical properties of the membrane have on these processes is far less well understood. Here, we show that the membrane binding and curvature-inducing ENTH domain of epsin1 is regulated by phosphatidylserine (PS). ENTH binds to membranes in a PI(4,5)P2-dependent manner but only induces curvature in the presence of PS. On PS-containing membranes, the ENTH domain forms rigid homo-oligomers and assembles into clusters. Membrane binding and membrane remodeling can be separated by structure-to-function mutants. Such oligomerization mutants bind to membranes but do not show membrane remodeling activity. In vivo, they are not able to rescue defects in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) endocytosis in epsin knock-down cells. Together, these data show that the membrane lipid composition is important for the regulation of protein-dependent membrane deformation during clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00018-020-03647-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The significance of trace elements in initiating origins and driving evolution of life on Earth is indisputable. Trace element (TE) trends in the oceans through time broadly reflect their availability and allow speculation on all possible influences on early life. A comprehensive sedimentary pyrite–TE database, covering 3000 m.y. of the Precambrian, has improved our understanding of the sequence of bio-essential TE availability in the ocean. This study probed how changing availability (and scarcity) of critical TEs in the marine environment influenced early life. The pyrite-shale matrix TE sequence shows relatively elevated concentrations of Ni, Co, Cu, and Fe, Cr, respectively, in the Archean and Paleoproterozoic. Abundances of these elements in the Archean potentially facilitated their widespread utilization by prokaryotes. The Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic saw increases in Zn and Mo but a marked decline in Ni, Co, Cu, Se, and Fe. Our data suggest the evolution of the first complex cell in the Paleoproterozoic was probably triggered by this major change in TE composition of the oceans. A decline of elements prompted alternative utilization strategies by organisms as a response to TE deficits in the middle Proterozoic. An overall increase in a multitude of elements (Ni, Co, Cu, Cr, Se, V, Mo, and P) in the Neoproterozoic and Cambrian was highly advantageous to the various micro– and macro–life forms. Without questioning the importance of macronutrients and atmosphere-ocean redox state, multi-TE availability would have induced substantial heterogenous biological responses, owing to the effects of optimal, deficient, toxic, lethal, and survival levels of TEs on life.

Pyrite is a common mineral in sedimentary rocks and is the major host for many chalcophile trace elements utilized as important tracers of the evolution of the ancient hydrosphere. Measurement of trace element composition of pyrite in sedimentary rocks is challenging due to fine-grain size and intergrowth with silicate matrix and other sulfide minerals. In this contribution, we describe a method for calculation of trace element composition of sedimentary pyrite from time-resolved LA-ICP-MS data. The method involves an analysis of both pyrite and pyrite-free sediment matrix, segmentation of LA-ICP-MS spectra, normalization to total, regression analysis of dependencies between the elements, and calculation of normalized composition of the mineral. Sulfur is chosen as an explanatory variable, relative to which all regressions are calculated. The S content value used for calculation of element concentrations from the regressions is calculated from the total, eliminating the need for independent constraints. The algorithm allows efficient measurement of concentrations of multiple chalcophile trace elements in pyrite in a wide range of samples, including quantification of detection limits and uncertainties while excluding operator bias. The data suggest that the main sources of uncertainties in pyrite composition are sample heterogeneity and counting statistics for elements of low abundance. The analysis of regression data of time-resolved LA-ICP-MS measurements could provide new insights into the geochemistry of the sedimentary rocks and minerals. It allows quantification of ratios of elements that do not have reference material available (such as Hg) and provides estimates on the content of non-sulfidic Fe in the silicate matrix. Regression analysis of the mixed LA-ICP-MS signal could be a powerful technique for deconvolution of phase compositions in complex multicomponent samples.

Redox-sensitive trace elements and sulfur isotope compositions obtained via in situ analyses of sedimentary pyrites from marine black shales are used to track atmosphere-ocean redox conditions between ∼1730 and ∼1360 Ma in the McArthur Basin, northern Australia. Three black shale formations within the basin (Wollogorang Formation 1730 ± 3 Ma, Barney Creek Formation 1640 ± 3 Ma, and Upper Velkerri Formation 1361 ± 21 Ma) display systematic stratigraphic variations in pyrite trace-element compositions obtained using LA-ICP-MS. The concentrations of several trace elements and their ratios, such as Se, Zn, Se/Co, Ni/Co, Zn/Co, Mo/Co, Se/Bi, Zn/Bi, Ni/Bi, increase from the stratigraphically lower Wollogorang Formation to the Upper Velkerri Formation. Cobalt, Bi, Mo, Cu, and Tl show a consistent decrease in abundance while Ni, As, and Pb show no obvious trends. We interpret these trace element trends as a response to the gradual increase of oxygen in the atmosphere-ocean system from ∼1730 to 1360 Ma. Elements more mobile during erosion under rising atmospheric oxygen show an increase up stratigraphy (e.g., Zn, Se), whereas elements that are less mobile show a decrease (e.g., Co, Bi). We also propose the increase of elemental ratios (Se/Co, Ni/Co, Zn/Co, Mo/Co, Ni/Bi, and Zn/Bi) up stratigraphy are strong indicators of atmospheric oxygenation. Sulfur isotopic compositions of marine pyrite (δ34Spyrite) from these formations, obtained using SHRIMP-SI, are highly variable, with the Wollogorang Formation exhibiting less variation (δ34S = –29.4 to +9.5‰; mean –5.03‰) in comparison to the Barney Creek (δ34S = –13.8 to +41.8‰; mean +19.88‰) and Velkerri Formations (δ34S = –14.2 to +52.8‰; mean +26.9‰). We propose that the shift in mean δ34S to heavier values up-section corresponds to increasing deep water oxygenation from ∼1730 to 1360 Ma. Incursion of oxygenated waters possibly caused a decrease in the areal extent of anoxic areas, at the same time, creating a possibly efficient reducing system. A stronger reducing system caused the δ34S of the sedimentary pyrites to become progressively heavier. Interestingly, heavy δ34S in pyrites overlaps with the increase in the concentration of certain trace elements (and their ratios) in sedimentary pyrites (Se, Zn, Se/Co, Ni/Co, Zn/Co, Mo/Co, Ni/Bi, and Zn/Bi). This study concludes that there was a gradual increase of atmospheric oxygen accompanied by ocean oxygenation through the first ∼400 million years of the Boring Billion (1800–1400 Ma) in the McArthur Basin.

Redox sensitive trace elements in pyrite, including nodules, are increasingly used to infer the chemical conditions of ancient oceans - but considerable uncertainty remains regarding the mechanism and timing of nodule formation. Resolving these uncertainties is important because pyrite nodules must form in connection with the overlying water column, rather than during late diagenesis, to reflect the composition of the global ocean. Existing models for pyrite nodule formation have been specific to pyrite textures from individual sites, and we lack a unified model that can explain the compositional and textural diversity observed in nodules from different localities. In this study we examine ten pyrite nodules from several geological periods (Neoarchean to Carboniferous) using in situ LA-ICP-MS and SHRIMP-SI analyses. We present transects of spot analyses of trace elements (As, Ag, Cu, Co, Ni, Sb and Se) and S isotope ratios for each nodule. The pyrite nodules can be classified according to three main categories: those with (1) little to no trace element or isotopic zonation of the nodule from core to margin, (2) strong zonation from core to margin, and (3) minor zonation near the core but more significant zonation near the margin of the nodule. We further illustrate this zonation with a NanoSIMS element map from an additional pyrite nodule. These results are interpreted to indicate nodule formation along a spectrum between two end-member mechanisms. We suggest that the absence of trace element or isotopic zonation reflects nodule growth by a pathway that is analogous to the pervasive growth mechanism for carbonate nodules. This model involves the production of many nucleation sites that are evenly distributed within the volume that the nodule eventually occupies. Consequently, this mechanism results in a chemically homogenous nodule. Pyrites formed this way are suitable for paleoceanographic reconstruction. The other end-member mechanism is analogous to the concentric growth model for carbonate concretions. In this scenario, the core of the nodule forms first and is followed by the addition of concentric layers - each with a progressively different trace element content and δ34S signature as diagenesis progresses. Despite having limited utility for reconstructing ancient seawater, these late forming nodules may track the evolving availability of bioessential trace elements for the subsurface biosphere with important implications for global biogeochemical cycles. Spatial trends in trace elements and S isotopes thus speak to the mechanisms of pyrite nodule formation and provide a framework for evaluating nodule suitability for a range of paleoenvironmental studies.

A variety of structurally heterogeneous nanostructured systems are known to exhibit nonlinear field emission characteristics (Fowler-Nordheim Plot). This behavior has earlier been ascribed to various reasons such as the emitter morphology or the state of aggregation of the individual components constituting the nanostructure. Here, we consider a random mesh of Cu2O nanorods as a model system, and investigate – both experimentally and analytically – the field emission from the sidewalls of this multi-layered nano-mesh. We show that the strongly non-linear emission characteristics (that is observed experimentally) can be simply and accurately simulated by summing over the emission from the successive layers of a model, multi-layer structure. The successive monolayers are shown to “turn on” at different values of applied voltage, naturally leading to a field-dependent enhancement factor.

Variations in atmosphere oxygen and ocean sulfate concentrations through time are regarded as important controls on the cycles of sediment-hosted and volcanic-hosted ore deposits. However, estimates of atmosphere oxygen in the Proterozoic have been frustrated by the lack of a direct measurement method and conflicting evidence from various proposed geochemical proxies. Studies in the 1970s to 1990s suggested a relatively oxygenated atmosphere (> 3 wt% O2) in the Proterozoic. However, since the late 1990s, new proxies and modelling have suggested very much lower levels of oxygen (

Background Though a large number of pregnant females have been affected by COVID-19, there is a dearth of information on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on trophoblast function. We explored in silico, the potential interactions between SARS-CoV-2 proteins and proteins involved in the key functions of placenta. Methods Human proteins interacting with SARS-CoV-2 proteins were identified by Gordon et al. (2020). Genes that are upregulated in trophoblast sub-types and stages were obtained by gene-expression data from NCBI-GEO and by text-mining. Genes altered in pathological states like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus were also identified. Genes crucial in placental functions thus identified were compared to the SARS-CoV-2 interactome for overlaps. Proteins recurring across multiple study scenarios were analyzed using text mining and network analysis for their biological functions. Results The entry receptors for SARS-CoV-2 – ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are expressed in placenta. Other proteins that interact with SARS-CoV-2 like LOX, Fibulins-2 and 5, NUP98, GDF15, RBX1, CUL3, HMOX1, PLAT, MFGE8, and MRPs are vital in placental functions like trophoblast invasion and migration, syncytium formation, differentiation, and implantation. TLE3, expressed across first trimester placental tissues and cell lines, is involved in formation of placental vasculature, and is important in SARS-CoV (2003) budding and exit from the cells by COPI vesicles. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 can potentially interact with proteins having crucial roles in the placental function. Whether these potential interactions identified in silico have effects on trophoblast functions in biological settings needs to be addressed by further in vitro and clinical studies., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • The effects of the SARS-CoV-2 infection on the functions of placenta remains largely unknown. • A large number of human proteins have been found to interact with SARS-CoV-2 proteins. • Proteins involved in crucial placental functions were found to be present in the human SARS-CoV-2 interactome. • Placenta expresses entry receptors for SARS-CoV-2. • It is plausible that SARS-CoV-2 infection can have an impact on diverse and key placental functions.

Corrosion leads to premature deterioration and often a dramatic reduction in the service life and increase in life-cycle maintenance costs of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Non-destructive testing (NDT) of incipient corrosion has been an impending task in this domain. In this paper, we report the development of a low cost sensing platform based on eddy current detection using anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor to measure the extent of corrosion in steel reinforcing bars (rebars). The scheme employs phase-sensitive detection, whereby the phase shift in the sensor output (proportional to surface conductivity of the rebar) measured by a lock-in amplifier is used to distinguish corroded rebars from non-corroded rebars. The proof-of-concept scanning sensor demonstration is able to resolve varying extents of rebar corrosion and can find potential applications as an NDT tool in construction and pipelines and several other industries.

Groundwater irrigation has evolved the monocropping cultivation pattern to multi-cropping, especially in many arid/semi-arid tracts globally. Irrigation practices with the groundwater of poor quality can limit the selection of the crop, reduce crop yields and degrade the soil quality. The present study has been undertaken to identify the hydrogeochemical phenomena of groundwater systems in the south-western Birbhum district, India and to analyze groundwater suitability for irrigation during the pre-and post-monsoon cycles by adopting the Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) using Multivariate Factor Analysis along with some traditional methods viz. sodium adsorption ratio, sodium percentage, magnesium hazards, residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC) and carbonate (RSC), Wilcox's and USSL diagrams, permeability index and Kelly's index. The hydrogeochemical analysis revealed that chemical weathering and evaporation are predominant in the aquifer systems. Groundwater quality reflected soil salinity, sodicity and magnesium hazards risks and water toxicity to the sensitive plants at 0-46.4% of the post-monsoon samples and 0-38.4% of the pre-monsoon samples based on the individual traditional methods whereas about 97.73-98.88% of the total area was classified as moderate to severely unsuitable for irrigation during both seasons when integrated multiple parameters using the IWQI method. Prolonged use of such groundwater for irrigation is susceptible to causing moderate to severe infiltration problems at a greater extent of the study area. The study recommends adaptation of salinity, sodicity and RSC/RSBC reduction procedures (e.g., the use of acid and gypsum amendments in the irrigation lands and through water blending) and advanced irrigation practices (viz. drips, sprinklers and micro irrigations) to prevent soil degradation and increase crops productivity. Adopting Managed Aquifer Recharge procedures as well as rainwater harvesting in the areas bearing unsuitable water quality can dilute the ionic concentrations of the groundwater facies which in turn will improve the groundwater quality for irrigation.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are one of the largest groups of positive-sense RNA virus families within the Nidovirales order, which are further classified into four genera: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Coronaviruses have an extensive range of natural hosts and are known to be responsible for a broad spectrum of diseases in multiple species. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has unleashed a global threat to public health and the economy. Coronaviruses are extensively present in birds and mammals, with horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus affinis), being the reservoir for the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 that seems to have resulted from a zoonotic spillover to the human host, causing respiratory infections, lung injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome(ARDS). About six coronavirus serotypes are linked with the disease in humans, namely HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 is the seventh CoV to infect humans. We analyzed the genome sequence of CoV-2 from isolates derived from China as well from India and encountered minute variations in their sequence. A cladogram analysis revealed the predominant strain circulating in India belongs to the A2a clad. We took one such strain (MT012098) and performed a rigorous in-silico genotypic and antigenic analysis to identify its relatedness to other strains. Further, we also performed a detailed prediction for B and T cell epitopes using BepiPred 2.0 server and NetCTL 1.2 server (DTU Bioinformatics), respectively. We hope this information may assist in an effective vaccine designing program against SARS-CoV-2.

Additional information on seawater-pyrite link and method.

The Vindhyan Basin in central India preserves a thick (~5 km) sequence of sedimentary and lesser volcanic rocks that provide a valuable archive of a part of the Proterozoic (~1800&ndash, 900 Ma) in India. Here, we present an analysis of key sedimentary pyrite textures and their trace element and sulfur isotope compositions in the Bijaigarh Shale (1210 &plusmn, 52 Ma) in the Vindhyan Supergroup, using reflected light microscopy, LA-ICP-MS and SHRIMP-SI, respectively. A variety of sedimentary pyrite textures (fine-grained disseminated to aggregates, framboids, lags, and possibly microbial pyrite textures) are observed reflecting quiet and strongly anoxic water column conditions punctuated by occasional high-energy events (storm incursions). Key redox sensitive or sensitive to oxidative weathering trace elements (Co, Ni, Zn, Mo, Se) and ratios of (Se/Co, Mo/Co, Zn/Co) measured in sedimentary pyrites from the Bijaigarh Shale are used to infer atmospheric redox conditions during its deposition. Most trace elements are depleted relative to Proterozoic mean values. Sulfur isotope compositions of pyrite, measured using SHRIMP-SI, show an increase in ծ34S as we move up stratigraphy with positive ծ34S values ranging from 5.9&permil, (lower) to 26.08&permil, (upper). We propose limited sulphate supply caused the pyrites to incorporate the heavier isotope. Overall, we interpret these low trace element signatures and heavy sulfur isotope compositions to indicate relatively suppressed oxidative weathering on land during the deposition of the Bijaigarh Shale.

COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving medical emergency that has drawn global attention, unprecedented in any disease of its kind in recent times. The magnitude of the health crisis emerging from this pandemic has overwhelmed health care workers worldwide and called in for extraordinary measures to contain this virus. A simple Pubmed query on “COVID-19” returned with 12214 articles (as on May 17th, 2020), published just within a few months. A detailed survey revealed around 250 clinical reports, 8 clinical trials, 9 meta-analyses, and 906 reviews that were published during this time span. Combining the strings “COVID-19 and Pregnancy” yielded a total of 132 reports while querying “COVID-19 and Placenta” returned with just 11 articles Even taking into considerations that few materials are in the PrePrint Server, we still have a gross under-representation of studies addressing the effect of this disease on pregnancy outcome and maternal & child health. An essential aspect of a successful pregnancy is proper placentation, where transiently invasive placental trophoblast cells invade the maternal endometrium to establish a functional feto-maternal communication. Based on the elegant study by David. E. Gordon, et al. published in Nature (April 30, 2020), which identified 332 human host proteins interacting with SARS-nCoV2 using an affinity-based purification, we interrogated several gene expression data sets available at NCBI-GEO related to trophoblast invasion and differentiation. Both of these processes are indispensable for placentation and fetal survival. Our analysis showed several overlaps with the interactome proteins implying that SARS-CoV-2 infection can affect several proteins, which are crucial for trophoblasts function. GeneMANIA and STRING based functional analysis further revealed that several of that SARS-CoV-2 interacting trophoblast proteins as a hub for the protein-protein interaction network. Our study thus elucidates the possible effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on placenta formation and pregnancy outcome.

espanolEste articulo se propone trazar una cartografia del “becoming” (proceso) en el film Angry Indian Goddesses como nomadismo transnacional, con el fin de reconsiderar la amistad femenina desde una perspectiva fisica y material que va mas alla de los sistemas binarios. Todas las amigas son profesionales conectadas a nivel global, cuyas mentes pensantes y cuerpos insumisos se alejan de cualquier modo normativo de pertenencia en sus ambitos personales y profesionales. Estas amigas cartografian una espacialidad post-humanista de conexiones rizomaticas con otras entidades animadas e inanimadas, proponiendo una nueva etica del afecto nomada y la responsabilidad. La pelicula empieza con una mirada panoramica del paisaje de Goa al que se superponen rapidas imagenes de diosas hindues con sus mascotas animales, mientras que la banda sonora consiste en la poderosa pieza de rap “Kattey”, de Haard Kaur, en interseccion con la energica version folk que Bhanwari Devi hace de la tradicion mistica del siglo XV de Mirabai. La combinacion de la musica y la violencia del rechazo que sufren las mujeres pone en evidencia un becoming angry goddesses mediante un pastiche de las diosas enfadadas y las mujeres que habitan un eje de diferencia re/desvalorizada. Goa se convierte en un potencial tercer espacio imbricado con todo lo anterior, pues aparece como elemento redentor dentro del marco contemplativo de esta cartografia, y propone una re-humanizacion de objetos fragmentados y esquizofrenicos mediante el amor y el afecto. EnglishThis paper attempts to draw a cartography of becoming Angry Indian Goddesses as transnational nomadism towards an embodied and material rethinking of women’s friendships from outside the constraints of systemic binaries. The friends are all professional women who are globally wired, whose thinking minds and non-docile bodies detach themselves from any normative modes of belonging in their respective personal and professional realms. They map a post-humanist spatiality of rhizomic linkages with other animate and non-animate entities, throwing up a new ethics of nomadic affect and responsibility. The film begins with a panoramic gaze of the Goan landscape, overlapped with flash images of Hindu goddesses and their animal escorts framed within a power packed song “Kattey”, which intersects Bhanwari Devi’s powerful folk composition of Meera Bai’s 15th century mystic tradition with Haard Kaur’s rap. The crossing of the song and the violent events of rejection that the women face, unbridle a becoming angry goddesses through a pastiche of the anxious goddesses and women sited on an axis of re/de-valorised difference. Goa becomes a potential third space entangled with all of the above, as it dwells on the contemplative scope of this cartography as redemptive and suggests a re-humanization of schizophrenic splintered objects through love and affect.