Exploring the potential of Bacillus for crop productivity and sustainable solution for combating rice false smut disease.

Rice false smut, which is caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens (U. virens), is one of the most threatening diseases in most of the rice-growing countries including India that causes 0.5-75% yield loss, low seed germination, and a reduction in seed quality. The assessment of yield loss helps to understand the relevance of disease severity and facilitates the implementation of appropriate management strategies. This study aimed to mitigate biotic stress in rice by employing a rhizobacterial-based bioformulation, which possesses diverse capabilities as both a plant growth promoter and a biocontrol agent against U. virens. Rhizobacteria were isolated from the soil of the rice rhizospheres from the healthy plant of the false smut affected zone. Furthermore, they were identified as Bacillus strains: B. subtilis (BR_4), B. licheniformis (BU_7), B. licheniformis (BU_8), and B. vallismortis (KU_7) via sequencing. Isolates were screened for their biocontrol potential against U. virens under in vitro conditions. The antagonistic study revealed that B. vallismortis (KU_7) inhibited U. virens the most (44.6%), followed by B. subtilis BR_4 (41.4%), B. licheniformis BU_7 (39.8%), and B. licheniformis BU_8 (43.5%). Various biochemical and plant growth promoting attributes, such as phosphate and Zn solubilization, IAA, ammonium, siderophore, and chitinase production, were also investigated for all the selected isolates. Furthermore, the potential of the isolates was tested in both in vitro and field conditions by employing talc-based bioformulation through bio-priming and root treatment. The application of bioformulation revealed a 20% decrease in disease incidence in plants treated with B. vallismortis (KU_7), a 60.5% increase in the biological yield, and a 45% increase in the grain yield. This eco-friendly approach not only controlled the disease but also improved the grain quality and reduced the chaffiness.

A techno-economic perspective on efficient hybrid renewable energy solutions in Douala, Cameroon's grid-connected systems.

Cameroon is currently grappling with a significant energy crisis, which is adversely affecting its economy due to cost, reliability, and availability constraints within the power infrastructure. While electrochemical storage presents a potential remedy, its implementation faces hurdles like high costs and technical limitations. Conversely, generator-based systems, although a viable alternative, bring their own set of issues such as noise pollution and demanding maintenance requirements. This paper meticulously assesses a novel hybrid energy system specifically engineered to meet the diverse energy needs of Douala, Cameroon. By employing advanced simulation techniques, especially the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) Pro program, the study carefully examines the intricacies of load demands across distinct consumer categories while accommodating varied pricing models. The paper offers a detailed analysis of the proposed grid-connected PV/Diesel/Generator system, aiming to gauge its performance, economic feasibility, and reliability in ensuring uninterrupted energy supply. Notably, the study unveils significant potential for cost reduction per kilowatt-hour, indicating promising updated rates of $0.07/kW, $0.08/kW, and $0.06/kW for low, medium, and high usage groups, respectively. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of overcoming operational challenges and constraints such as temperature fluctuations, equipment costs, and regulatory compliance. It also acknowledges the impact of operational nuances like maintenance and grid integration on system efficiency. As the world progresses towards renewable energy adoption and hybrid systems, this investigation lays a strong foundation for future advancements in renewable energy integration and energy management strategies. It strives to create a sustainable energy ecosystem in Cameroon and beyond, where hybrid energy systems play a pivotal role in mitigating power deficiencies and supporting sustainable development.

Deeper Insights into Mixed Crowding through Enzyme Activity, Dynamics, and Crowder Diffusion.

Given the fact that the cellular interior is crowded by many different kinds of macromolecules, it is important that in vitro studies be carried out in the presence of mixed crowder systems. In this regard, we have used binary crowders formed by the combination of some of the commonly used crowding agents, namely, Ficoll 70, Dextran 70, Dextran 40, and PEG 8000 (PEG 8), to study how these affect enzyme activity, dynamics, and crowder diffusion. The enzyme chosen is AK3L1, an isoform of adenylate kinase. To investigate its dynamics, we have carried out three single point mutations (A74C, A132C, and A209C) with the cysteine residues being labeled with a coumarin-based solvatochromic probe [CPM: (7-diethylamino-3-(4-maleimido-phenyl)-4-methylcoumarin)]. Both enzyme activity and dynamics decreased in the binary mixtures as compared with the sum of the individual crowders, suggesting a reduction in excluded volume (in the mixture). To gain deeper insights into the binary mixtures, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy studies were carried out using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Dextran 70 and tetramethylrhodamine-labeled AK3L1 as the diffusion probes. Diffusion in binary mixtures was observed to be much more constrained (relative to the sum of the individual crowders) for the labeled enzyme as compared to the labeled crowder showing different environments being faced by the two species. This was further confirmed during imaging of the phase-separated droplets formed in the binary mixtures having PEG as one of the crowding agents. The interior of these droplets was found to be rich in crowders and densely packed, as shown by confocal and digital holographic microscopy images, with the enzymes predominantly residing outside these droplets, that is, in the relatively less crowded regions. Taken together, our data provide important insights into various aspects of the simplest form of mixed crowding, that is, composed of just two components, and also hint at the enhanced complexity that the cellular interior presents toward having a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the same.

Knowledge and practice of breastfeeding among lactating mothers in AIIMS, Bhubaneswar - A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: 44% of infants under 6 months of age worldwide are only adequately breastfed. It is also found that only 41.6% of women breastfeed their child within one hour of birth and less than 50% of women continue breastfeeding up to 2 years. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding practice, to explore the knowledge and practices about breastfeeding among lactating mothers, and to find the effect of breastfeeding on the nutritional status of the child. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based study was conducted among 160 lactating mothers of infants below six months of age presenting to the immunization clinic at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. A semi-structured questionnaire based on the CDC breastfeeding questionnaire was administered to assess the knowledge and practice. The nutritional status of the infant was assessed by plotting the weight for age and length for age of the infant in the WHO growth charts. RESULTS: 102 (75%) of mothers had initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of delivery. Adequate knowledge and practice of breastfeeding was present only in 4 (2.5%) and 3 (1.9%), respectively. It was found that 13.75% of women were using formula feed. The prevalence of underweight and less than normal length was 40% (n = 64) and 34.37% (n = 55) among infants, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the importance of awareness among lactating mothers about the hindmilk, appropriate practice, and to find its effect on the nourishment of the children.

Prevalence of neural tube defect and its identification during antenatal period: a cross-sectional study in eastern Indian state.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of neural tube defects among all birth outcomes in Odisha during 2016-2022. Additionally, to estimate the identification rate of neural tube defects during Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan sessions. DESIGN: A population-based cross-sectional study with a household survey for neural tube defects using pictorial card as well as a hospital-based study for antenatal ultrasonography data. SETTING: The sample population was selected through multistage random sampling. In the first stage, one district from each zone was selected randomly. In the second stage, using simple random sampling, one community health centre and one urban primary health centre were selected from each district. In the third stage, the population from a block and ward were picked from the selected rural and urban settings, respectively. PARTICIPANTS: All married women in the reproductive age group (18-49 years) residing in these cluster villages in the selected districts were enrolled. RESULTS: The study surveyed 49 215 women and recorded 50 196 birth outcomes, including 49 174 live births, 890 stillbirths and 132 medical terminations of pregnancy. A total of 30 neural tube defect cases were detected. The overall prevalence rate of neural tube defect was 0.59 per 1000 birth outcomes. Spina bifida was the most prevalent neural tube defect with the prevalence of, followed by anencephaly and encephalocele. Despite 26 860 mothers receiving antenatal ultrasonography Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan session, data on neural tube defects and other birth defects detected through these scans is unavailable. CONCLUSION: This study found a low prevalence of neural tube defect in Odisha, which is far lower compared with the older studies from India. There is an urgent need to strengthen the quality of antenatal care services provided under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan through better training regarding anomaly scans and better data keeping at public healthcare facilities. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CTRI/2021/06/034487.

State-of-the-art review on energy sharing and trading of resilient multi microgrids.

Independently run single microgrids (MGs) encounter difficulties with inadequate self-consumption of local renewable energy and frequent power exchange with the grid. Combining numerous MGs to form a multi-microgrid (MMG) is a viable approach to enhance smart distribution networks' operational and financial performance. However, the correlation and coordination of intermittent power generation within each MG network pose many techno-economic challenges for energy sharing and trading. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of these challenges within the framework of MMG operations. It examines state-of-the-art methodologies for optimizing multi-energy dispatch and scrutinizes contemporary strategies within energy markets that contribute to the resilience of power systems. The discourse extends to the burgeoning role of blockchain technology in revolutionizing decentralized market frameworks and the intricacies of MMG coordination for reliable and cost-effective energy distribution. Overall, this study provides ample inspiration for theoretical and practical research to the new entrants and experts alike to develop new concepts for energy markets, scheduling and novel operating models for future resilient multi-energy networked systems/MMGs.

Hybrid genetic algorithm-simulated annealing based electric vehicle charging station placement for optimizing distribution network resilience.

Rapid placement of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) is essential for the transportation industry in response to the growing electric vehicle (EV) fleet. The widespread usage of EVs is an essential strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from traditional vehicles. The focus of this study is the challenge of smoothly integrating Plug-in EV Charging Stations (PEVCS) into distribution networks, especially when distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems are involved. A hybrid Genetic Algorithm and Simulated Annealing method (GA-SAA) are used in the research to strategically find the optimal locations for PEVCS in order to overcome this integration difficulty. This paper investigates PV system situations, presenting the problem as a multicriteria task with two primary objectives: reducing power losses and maintaining acceptable voltage levels. By optimizing the placement of EVCS and balancing their integration with distributed generation, this approach enhances the sustainability and reliability of distribution networks.

Utilization of Untied Fund and Factors Affecting the Utilization at Sub-Centers of Rural Odisha: A Mixed-Method Study.

Introduction: The untied funds at sub-centers provided flexibility for local action at block and down below levels. Effective utilization of untied fund can strengthen the healthcare. So, our study aims at assessing the knowledge of health workers, male/female (HWF/M), and effectiveness of utilization of untied funds at the sub-center (SC) level. Material and Methods: A mixed method (cross-sectional study and qualitative study) was conducted at Tangi Block, Khordha district, Odisha, in the year 2020. Health workers, male and female in sub-centers, and local stakeholders were interviewed using a structured interview schedule. The tool comprises financial records, a semi-structured questionnaire, and an in-depth interview guide. Universal sampling was adopted. For the cross-sectional study, 24 health workers were male/female, and for the qualitative study, all local stakeholders and 24 health workers female/male were interviewed. The study was conducted as a part of an academic program, and ethics approval was approved by AIIMS Bhubaneswar Institute Ethics Committee. Results: Seven out of 24 sub-centers did not spend any money, with a median unspent amount of 4260 INR (Q1-0, Q3-17300). As many as 36.8% of sub-centers had a delay of 9 months to get the untied fund, which significantly affected the utilization of funds. 37% of HWF/M utilized the fund inappropriately. None of the health workers had complete knowledge regarding the appropriate usage of untied fund. Communication gap, multiple engagements, non-cooperation from officials, delay in technical processing, and irregular Garam Sabha meetings were found to be barriers. Conclusion: Our study found out under-utilization of money in untied fund. Communication gap, non-cooperation form village leaders, poor knowledge, overburdened health workers, improper reporting, and lack of felt need were found to be barriers for prompt utilization.

Sustainable power management in light electric vehicles with hybrid energy storage and machine learning control.

This paper presents a cutting-edge Sustainable Power Management System for Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) using a Hybrid Energy Storage Solution (HESS) integrated with Machine Learning (ML)-enhanced control. The system's central feature is its ability to harness renewable energy sources, such as Photovoltaic (PV) panels and supercapacitors, which overcome traditional battery-dependent constraints. The proposed control algorithm orchestrates power sharing among the battery, supercapacitor, and PV sources, optimizing the utilization of available renewable energy and ensuring stringent voltage regulation of the DC bus. Notably, the ML-based control ensures precise torque and speed regulation, resulting in significantly reduced torque ripple and transient response times. In practical terms, the system maintains the DC bus voltage within a mere 2.7% deviation from the nominal value under various operating conditions, a substantial improvement over existing systems. Furthermore, the supercapacitor excels at managing rapid variations in load power, while the battery adjusts smoothly to meet the demands. Simulation results confirm the system's robust performance. The HESS effectively maintains voltage stability, even under the most challenging conditions. Additionally, its torque response is exceptionally robust, with negligible steady-state torque ripple and fast transient response times. The system also handles speed reversal commands efficiently, a vital feature for real-world applications. By showcasing these capabilities, the paper lays the groundwork for a more sustainable and efficient future for LEVs, suggesting pathways for scalable and advanced electric mobility solutions.

Incidental Appendico-Ileal Fistula in a Patient With Adhesive Intestinal Obstruction: A Case Report.

A fistulous communication between the appendix and any viscus is rare. Such fistula is most often acquired due to recurrent appendicitis, cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease, tuberculosis, and malignancy. Here in, we report a rare case of an appendico-ileal fistula incidentally detected during laparotomy for adhesive small bowel obstruction. The fistula was divided, the ileal opening was sutured, and appendectomy was performed. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, with no evidence of malignancy, tuberculosis, or inflammatory bowel disease on the histopathological examination of the appendix.

Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumor With Cystic Hepatic Metastases Mimicking Hepatic Echinococcosis: A Case Report.

Metastatic gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors classically appear as contrast-enhancing lesions on computed tomography. However, in a small percentage of patients, these lesions can be cystic in nature, leading to false diagnoses of benign or infectious lesions such as echinococcosis. Hence, every cystic lesion of the liver must be carefully investigated before making the treatment plan. We report a patient with hematemesis caused by a large gastric ulcer with multiple cystic lesions in the left lobe of the liver abutting the stomach. The liver lesions were misdiagnosed as hepatic echinococcosis, and the patient was started on medical therapy. However, when medical therapy failed, the patient underwent surgical excision and the histopathology showed cystic metastases of a gastric neuroendocrine tumor.

Prevalence of common mental disorders and treatment gap among patients with non-communicable diseases in the rural areas of East India.

BACKGROUND: Mental and physical non-communicable diseases (NCDs) coexist, because they share common environmental and behavioral risk factors. The treatment gap for common mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use, is large compared to other NCDs. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and treatment gap of common mental disorders among patients with non-communicable diseases. METHODOLOGY: The community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural parts of East India, in people aged 30 years and older with NCDs. A simple random sample was chosen to select the villages and participants. Eligible participants administered with screening and diagnostic questionnaire for depression, anxiety, and substance use. Those diagnosed with mental disorders were again assessed for treatment status in the last 12 months. Non-receipt of treatment was considered as treatment gap. RESULTS: A total of 515 participants were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of common mental disorders among the study population was 46.4% (95% CI 42.0-50.8), and excluding substance use, the prevalence was 11.7% (95% CI 9.0-14.7). The treatment gap for common mental disorders among patients with non-communicable diseases, including and excluding substance use, was 98.3% (95% CI 95.8-99.5) and 93.3% (95% CI 83.8-98.2), respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence and treatment gap of common mental disorders among persons with NCDs was high. Public health interventions need to be emphasized for the integration of mental health care into NCD care.

A novel strategy towards efficient and reliable electric vehicle charging for the realisation of a true sustainable transportation landscape.

This paper proposes an innovative approach for improving the charging efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs) by combining photovoltaic (PV) systems with AC-DC Power Factor Correction (PFC). The proposed approach employs bi-directional power flow management within the PFC system, allowing for enhanced resource utilization and EV battery capacity under a variety of environmental circumstances. A modified Lyapunov-based robust model reference adaptive controller (M-LRMRAC) is developed to provide real-time Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for the PV array. By quickly recording the MPP, this controller skilfully adjusts to shifting radiation and temperature dynamics. A noteworthy accomplishment is that the M-LRMRAC outperforms traditional Perturb and Observe (P&O) techniques by achieving quick MPP convergence (0.54 s). Additionally, the benefits of this integrated system go beyond effective MPPT. The method achieves operating at unity power factor and reduces total harmonic distortion, which results in improved power quality when charging EV Batteries (EVB). The entire solution provided by this multifaceted architecture improves the quality of electricity delivered to EV batteries while also increasing energy efficiency. This research helps to the evolution of sustainable and dependable EV charging infrastructure by solving difficulties and optimising performance. The combination of PV systems with AC-DC PFC, aided by the M-LRMRAC technology, presents a viable route for attaining efficient, clean, and high-quality EV charging, hence supporting the shift to a greener and more sustainable transportation landscape.

Utility of "Acanthosis Nigricans" and "Skin Tags" as a screening tool for risk of developing noncommunicable diseases: A cross-sectional study at a health facility in Lucknow (India).

Context: Over the past three decades, there has been a significant rise in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) globally, accompanied by a relative decline in communicable diseases. Aims: With this background, the research was planned to determine the prevalence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) or skin tags (STs) in the study population and to examine the relationship between the presence of AN and ST with commonly used indicators such as waist-to-height ratio (W/Ht.), Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), and body mass index for predicting the risk of NCDs. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was done at a health facility in Lucknow (India). Methodology: Consecutive sampling was employed to select 152 apparently healthy adults as the participants. Data collection involved administering a questionnaire and conducting anthropometry using standardized methods. Visual inspection was conducted to identify AN or ST on the common sites. Statistical Analysis Used: Data entry was done in Microsoft Office Excel, followed by data analysis using SPSS. To test the association between variables "significance of difference of mean," Chi-square test, logistic regression analysis, and estimation of Kohen's kappa were used. A "P" value was considered statistically significant at <0.05 level. The sensitivity and specificity of AN and ST were also estimated in predicting the risk of NCDs. Results: The prevalence of AN was 19.08% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 12.76%-25.40%), while the prevalence of STs was 28.29% (95% CI = 21.05%-35.53%). AN showed a sensitivity of 22.4% and specificity of 96.3% with W/Ht. ratio as the standard, and a sensitivity of 26.44% and specificity of 90.77% with IDRS as the standard. ST exhibited a sensitivity of 32.0% and specificity of 88.89% with W/Ht. ratio as the standard, and a sensitivity of 37.93% and specificity of 84.62% with IDRS as the standard. Conclusion: AN and ST can be used as simple and time-saving tools in screening protocols for (NCDs). Further research is desirable to validate the findings.

Résumé Contexte: Au cours des trois dernières décennies, il y a eu une augmentation significative de la prévalence des maladies non transmissibles (MNT) à l'échelle mondiale, accompagnée d'un déclin relatif des maladies transmissibles. Objectifs: Dans ce contexte, la recherche était prévue pour déterminer la prévalence de l'acanthose nigricans (AN) ou des acrochordons (ST) dans la population étudiée et pour examiner la relation entre la présence d'AN et de ST avec des indicateurs couramment utilisés tels que la taille. rapport taille (W/Ht.), score de risque de diabète indien (IDRS) et indice de masse corporelle pour prédire le risque de MNT. Paramètres et conception: cette étude transversale a été réalisée dans un établissement de santé à Lucknow (Inde). Méthodologie: Un échantillonnage consécutif a été utilisé pour sélectionner 152 adultes apparemment en bonne santé comme participants. La collecte de données impliquait l'administration d'un questionnaire et la réalisation d'anthropométries à l'aide de méthodes standardisées. Une inspection visuelle a été réalisée pour identifier AN ou ST sur les sites communs. Analyse statistique utilisée: La saisie des données a été effectuée dans Microsoft Office Excel, suivie d'une analyse des données à l'aide de SPSS. Pour tester l'association entre les variables " signification de la différence de moyenne ", le test du chi carré, l'analyse de régression logistique et l'estimation du kappa de Kohen ont été utilisés. Une valeur " P " a été considérée comme statistiquement significative au niveau < 0,05. La sensibilité et la spécificité de l'AN et du ST ont également été estimées pour prédire le risque de MNT. Résultats: La prévalence de l'AN était de 19,08 % (intervalle de confiance à 95 % [IC] = 12,76 % à 25,40 %), tandis que la prévalence des ST était de 28,29 % (IC à 95 % = 21,05 % à 35,53 %). AN a montré une sensibilité de 22,4 % et une spécificité de 96,3 % avec W/Ht. ratio comme standard, et une sensibilité de 26,44 % et une spécificité de 90,77 % avec IDRS comme standard. ST présentait une sensibilité de 32,0 % et une spécificité de 88,89 % avec W/Ht. ratio comme standard, et une sensibilité de 37,93 % et une spécificité de 84,62 % avec IDRS comme standard. Conclusion: AN et ST peuvent être utilisés comme des outils simples et permettant de gagner du temps dans les protocoles de dépistage des (MNT). Des recherches plus approfondies sont souhaitables pour valider les résultats. Mots-clés: diagnostic d'Acanthosis nigricans, dépistage des maladies non transmissibles, diagnostic des acrochordons.

Correlation of severity & clinical outcomes of COVID-19 with virus variants: A prospective, multicentre hospital network study.

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: The clinical course of COVID-19 and its prognosis are influenced by both viral and host factors. The objectives of this study were to develop a nationwide platform to investigate the molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona virus 2) and correlate the severity and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 with virus variants. METHODS: A nationwide, longitudinal, prospective cohort study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2022 at 14 hospitals across the country that were linked to a viral sequencing laboratory under the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium. All participants (18 yr and above) who attended the hospital with a suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 infection and tested positive by the reverse transcription-PCR method were included. The participant population consisted of both hospitalized as well as outpatients. Their clinical course and outcomes were studied prospectively. Nasopharyngeal samples collected were subjected to whole genome sequencing to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants. RESULTS: Of the 4972 participants enrolled, 3397 provided samples for viral sequencing and 2723 samples were successfully sequenced. From this, the evolution of virus variants of concern including Omicron subvariants which emerged over time was observed and the same reported here. The mean age of the study participants was 41 yr and overall 49.3 per cent were female. The common symptoms were fever and cough and 32.5 per cent had comorbidities. Infection with the Delta variant evidently increased the risk of severe COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio: 2.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.52, 4.2), while Omicron was milder independent of vaccination status. The independent risk factors for mortality were age >65 yr, presence of comorbidities and no vaccination. INTERPRETATION CONCLUSIONS: The authors believe that this is a first-of-its-kind study in the country that provides real-time data of virus evolution from a pan-India network of hospitals closely linked to the genome sequencing laboratories. The severity of COVID-19 could be correlated with virus variants with Omicron being the milder variant.

Degradation and metagenomic analysis of 4-chlorophenol utilizing multiple metal tolerant bacterial consortium.

Chlorophenols are persistent environmental pollutants used in synthesizing dyes, drugs, pesticides, and other industrial products. The chlorophenols released from these processes seriously threaten the environment and human health. The present study describes 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) degradation activity and metagenome structure of a bacterial consortium enriched in a 4-CP-containing medium. The consortium utilized 4-CP as a single carbon source at a wide pH range, temperature, and in the presence of heavy metals. The immobilized consortium retained its degradation capacity for an extended period. The 4-aminoantipyrine colorimetric analysis revealed complete mineralization of 4-CP up to 200 mg/L concentration and followed the zero-order kinetics. The addition of glycerol and yeast extract enhanced the degradation efficiency. The consortium showed both ortho- and meta-cleavage activity of catechol dioxygenase. Whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis revealed the microbial compositions and functional genes related to xenobiotic degradation pathways. The identified genes were mapped on the KEGG database to construct the 4-CP degradation pathway. The results exhibited the high potential of the consortium for bioremediation of 4-CP contaminated sites. To our knowledge, this is the first report on WGS analysis of a 4-CP degrading bacterial consortium.

Effectiveness of peer-led intervention in control of non-communicable diseases in rural areas of Khordha district: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The main contributors to death and disability from chronic illnesses in developing nations are elevated blood pressure (hypertension), blood sugar (diabetes mellitus), and blood cholesterol (dyslipidaemia). Even though there are affordable treatments, the treatment gap for these conditions is still significant. Few pilot studies from industrialized nations discuss the value of peer-led interventions for achieving community-level management of blood pressure and blood sugar. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of peer-led intervention compared to standard care in achieving control of selected non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Indian context at 1 year of intervention among people of 30-60 years with hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus and/or dyslipidaemia. METHODS: A cluster-randomized controlled trial will be conducted in villages of two rural blocks of the Khordha district of Odisha from August 2023 to December 2024. A total of 720 eligible participants (360 in the intervention group and 360 in the control group) will be recruited and randomized into two study arms. The participants in the intervention arm will receive a peer-led intervention model for 6 months in addition to standard care. The sessions will be based on the six domains of NCDs - self-care, follow-up care, medication, physical activity, diet, limiting substance use, mental health and co-morbidities. The mean reduction in blood pressure, HbA1C, and blood cholesterol in the intervention arm compared to the standard care arm will be the main outcome. DISCUSSION: The increasing burden of NCDs demands for newer strategies for management. Peer-led interventions have proven to be useful at the international level. Incorporating it in India will have remarkable results in controlling NCDs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI) CTRI/2023/02/050022. Registered on 23 February 2023.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody kinetics up to 6 months of follow-up: Result from a nation-wide population-based, age stratified sero-epidemiological prospective cohort study in India.

Repeated serological testing tells about the change in the overall infection in a community. This study aimed to evaluate changes in antibody prevalence and kinetics in a closed cohort over six months in different sub-populations in India. The study included 10,000 participants from rural and urban areas in five states and measured SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in serum in three follow-up rounds. The overall seroprevalence increased from 73.9% in round one to 90.7% in round two and 92.9% in round three. Among seropositive rural participants in round one, 98.2% remained positive in round two, and this percentage remained stable in urban and tribal areas in round three. The results showed high antibody prevalence that increased over time and was not different based on area, age group, or sex. Vaccinated individuals had higher antibody prevalence, and nearly all participants had antibody positivity for up to six months.

Development of modified CTAB and Trizol protocols to isolate high molecular weight (HMW) RNA from polyphenol and polysaccharides rich pigeonpea (Cajanuscajan (L.) Millsp.

Pigeonpea (Cajanuscajan L.) is a legume crop that contains high levels of polyphenolic compounds and polysaccharides that become a hindrance in extracting good-quality and enough amount of RNA from its tissues. With the existing methods of RNA isolation, the phenolic compounds may co-precipitate or bind to the RNA giving false results. Therefore, in the present study, we have modified conventional CTAB and Trizol-based methods which resulted in good quality with the absorbance A260/A280 ratios in the range of 1.83 to 1.98 and A260/230 ratios in the range of 2.0-2.23, revealed RNA to be of high purity and free of contaminants. Both of the proposed protocols yielded a good quantity of RNA ranging from 289 to 422µg per gram of tissue. Distinctly visible bands of 28S and 18S rRNA were observed without degradation or smear, which indicated the presence of intact RNA. RT-PCR analysis showed that isolated RNA was quantitatively sufficient and compliant for the subsequent gene expression analysis.