Green biodegradable dielectric material made from PLA and electron beam irradiated luffa cylindrica fiber: devices for a sustainable future.

The growing prevalence of polymer-based plastics in the environment is an imminent risk to the natural world. As an immediate consequence of this, extensive research has been launched over the course of the past few decades in an effort to reduce the damage that manmade plastics cause to the natural environment. The current study attempts to explore the biodegradability of polylactic acid (PLA), a bio-compatible plastic, by incorporating small amount of electron beam irradiated natural fibers (2 to 10%) derived from luffa cylindrica (LC) at varying irradiation doses (0.5 Gy, 1 Gy, and 2 Gy). Natural fiber surface treatment using electron beam irradiation is effective and environmentally friendly. The biodegradation of composites was studied for 90 days in sand, soil, compost, brackish water, fresh water, salt water, and bacterial and fungal conditions. Maximum decomposition was observed in the composite sample (PLA/10% wt of LC fiber at 2.0 Gy) at 15.42% and 4.73% in bacterial and soil environments. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy validated the fiber and PLAs crystallinity and molecular interaction. The derivative thermo-gravimetric curve (DTGA) showed that electron beam irradiation removed moisture, hemicelluloses, and lignin from hydrophilic fibers. The incorporation of LC fibers into the bio-composites resulted in an increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg), melting temperature (Tm), and crystallization temperature (Tc). Additionally, after LC fiber reinforcement, the composites' dielectric properties were enhanced.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Property of a True Mangrove Rhizophora apiculata Bl.

Mangroves are abundant in bioactive natural substances that fight off pathogenic diseases. Different parts of R. apiculata, an abundant mangrove found in Bhitarkanika National Park, India were extracted with methanol and a mixture of solvents methanol/ethanol/chloroform (60 : 20 : 20) to evaluate their antimicrobial properties. The combination solvent extract of bark had the highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 18.62 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a ZOI of 17.41 mm against Streptococcus mitis. Bark extracts had the highest DPPH (43 %) and FRAP (96 %) activities. The combination solvent bark extract of R. apiculata had the highest ZOI of 20.42 mm (lowest MIC of 2.12 µg/ml) against Candida albicans and ZOI of 15.33 mm (MIC of 3.02 µg/mL) against Penicillium chrysogenum. Combination bark extracts of R. apiculata contained flavanols than methanolic extracts. The crude extract of R. apiculata bark made with a mixture of solvents containing more active ingredients could be used in novel drug formulation.

Synergistic effect of Bacillus and Rhizobium on cytological and photosynthetic performance of Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. Grown in Cr (VI) contaminated soil.

Macrotyloma uniflorum (horse gram) is considered an under-utilized legume crop despite its nutritional and medicinal values. In India, it has wide acceptance among farming communities. This investigation emphasized on the possible application of two endosymbionts (Bacillus sp. AS03 and Rhizobium sp. AS05) of horse gram cultivated on Cr (VI)-contaminated soil. The photosynthetic performance (PIφ) of Cr treated plants co-inoculated with AS03 and AS05 was significantly improved compared with non-inoculated Cr treated plants based on photosynthetic yield, which was evidenced from the rise in the fluorescence at I-P transient and rate of photosynthesis (pN), indicating synergistic action between plant and bacteria (AS03 and AS05). The smooth electron transport from PS II to PS I was achieved in the Cr stressed plants inoculated with both the bacterial strains. The detrimental effects of Cr toxicity on the root tips were also minimized with bioinoculation as revealed from mitotic index. Plants with dual inoculation of AS03 and AS05 had significantly lesser chromosomal aberration in the roots. Dual inoculation biochar or seed inoculation have beneficial impact on the plant photosynthetic performance along with improved growth of roots in plants treated with Cr (VI). The results of the current work suggest the possitive effect of dual inoculation of Cr tolerant endosymbionts, Bacillus sp. (AS03) and nodulating Rhizobium sp. (AS05), in reducing cytological as well as physiological stress of plants in Cr (VI) contaminated soil.

Detailed Balance and Independent Electron Surface-Hopping Method: The Importance of Decoherence and Correct Calculation of Diabatic Populations.

We benchmark and improve the independent electron surface-hopping (IESH) method developed by J. C. Tully's group for nonadiabatic simulations near metal surfaces. We have incorporated decoherence within the IESH method as well as implemented a scheme for the accurate calculation of diabatic populations. We benchmark the original IESH method with the above inclusions for a model system to calculate rate constants and long-time populations. The original IESH method fails to capture the detailed balance for some of the parameters, which is corrected with the inclusion of decoherence and accurate calculation of diabatic populations. Total rate constants are well captured both within the original IESH method as well as within our modified IESH.

Therapeutic Potential and Ethnopharmacology of Dominant Mangroves of Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha, India.

Bhitarkanika National Park is the second largest contiguous mangrove forest of India. Approximately 0.15 million mangrove depending population are found residing in and around 307 villages within the National Park. Despite being one of the most diverse mangrove habitations of India, the ethnopharmacological practices are meager in comparison to the other mangrove regions of India and Southeast Asia. The present review is aimed to congregate information on the therapeutic potential and ethnopharmacology of nine dominant mangrove species of the National Park, such as Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicenia marina, Avicenia officinalis, Ceriops decandra, Excoecaria agallocha, Heritiera fomes, Lumnitzera racemosa, Rhizophora mucronata, and Sonneratia apetala. Our aim is to generate social awareness among the mangrove dwellers to promote uses of folklore medicine using these tremendously potential mangrove plants, as a complementary step to strengthen community health. Further, we also want to grab the attention of researchers working in related disciplines, for their holistic and extensive studies towards bio-prospectation of the dominant mangrove plants of Bhitarkanika National Park.

Alleviating Cr(VI) stress in horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum Var. Madhu) by native Cr-tolerant nodule endophytes isolated from contaminated site of Sukinda.

Sukinda chromite mine of Odisha is a heavily polluted site, generating huge overburden dumps. The present experiment was designed to evaluate the potential of two native nodule endophytic bacterial strains, viz. Bacillus aryabhattai AS03 (MT645244) and Rhizobium pusense AS05 (MT645243), isolated from contaminated sites to be considered remediation tool to minimize the effect of Cr toxicity on Macrotyloma uniflorum var. Madhu. The two nodule endophytic bacterial strains AS03 and AS05 exhibited tolerance to 1800 and 3000 ppm of Cr(VI) respectively in vitro when cultured alone. AAS analysis confirmed higher accumulation of Cr(VI) in roots and less accumulation in shoots which is dose-specific (bio-inoculant) either treated alone or combined. Complete absence of Cr accumulation approximately 99% in shoots of Macrotyloma was observed owing to synergistic effect of both the strains (biochar-based formulation). This study also suggests increased shoot and root length, nodule nos., and leghemoglobin content of the plant at 60 days indicating the plant growth-promoting effects of both the strains. ROS and antioxidant enzymes of the plant recorded decreasing trend in inoculated plants. However, a significant increment in transpiration rate, total photosynthetic rate, intracellular CO2 conc., and stomatal conductance in leaves was observed owing to dual inoculation. Our findings corroborate the supremacy of synergistic effect of both the strains applied in the form of biochar-based biofertilizer in enhancing growth and tolerance index of M. uniflorum cultivated in Cr(VI)-stressed soil. This investigation depicts the efficiency of the two nodule bacteria as a mixed inoculant to alleviate Cr toxicity and making the seeds safe for consumption.

Significant change in air quality parameters during the year 2020 over 1st smart city of India: Bhubaneswar.

Prevention of Coronavirus results in lockdown in India from 24 March 2020 to 31 May 2020. Eastern India, which is having a dense cluster of coal-fired power plants and home to many mines, mineral industries, has not shutdown power plants and coal mines during this lockdown period, though other industrial and vehicular emissions were almost zero. The present study attempts to find the change in various atmospheric pollutants during this lockdown period over an eastern tropical Indian station-Bhubaneswar, which is the first smart city proposed in smart city mission of Government of India. The study analyses hourly concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO X , O3, and CO for March-May 2019 and 2020. The study shows a significant increase (rather than decrease) in PM2.5 and PM10, increase in O3 and a decrease in CO and NO X during the lockdown period. Results are advocating the impact of transported pollution over the study area for maintaining the PM2.5 and PM10 values even during the lockdown situation.

AM fungi mediated bioaccumulation of hexavalent chromium in Brachiaria mutica-a mycorrhizal phytoremediation approach.

The experiment was designed to evaluate the roles of Rhizophagus irregularis on chlorophyll fluorescence and chromium bioaccumulation in a grass species (Brachiaria mutica) by supplementing Cr+6 at different concentrations. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) association facilitated lessening of chromium level in contaminated soil and enhanced chromium bioavailability in Brachiaria mutica. The mycorrhizal inoculated increased the chlorophyll (0.925 mg/g), carotenoid (0.127 mg/g), protein (2.883 mg/g), proline (0.889 mg/g) contents and activities of antioxidant enzymes like catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase. The mycorrhizal inoculated plants also showed enhanced overall photosynthetic performance (PIϕ = 2.473) and enhanced PS-II to PS-I electron transport as evident from yield parameter (0.712) and TR0/RC (2.419) for 60 mg/kg Cr+6 treatment. The observations suggest that AMF association could defend the plants from chromium stress by elevating the number of antioxidants in plants. Rhizophagus irregularis was found to maintain a successful symbiotic relationship with Brachiaria mutica in chromium contaminated soil. The observations recommended that Rhizophagus irregularis in association with Brachiaria mutica would be an innovative approach for decontamination of Cr+6.

Study on biodegradability and thermal behaviour of composites using poly lactic acid and gamma-irradiated fibres of Luffa cylindrica.

Surface modification of natural fibres by gamma irradiation is an economical and potent technique. The biodegradability of gamma irradiated Luffa cylindrica (LC) fibres having response of doses (0.5Gy, 1Gy and 2Gy) is studied. The degradation process is carried out in various environments like compost, sand, soil, salt water, brackish water and sweet water for a period of 90 days and microbial degradation using bacteria and fungi for a period of 90 days. The rate of biodegradation was calculated by measuring the loss of weight of composites at an interval of 30 days in each environmental condition. Preliminary results reported that the bacterial environment was the most prominent medium for degradation than fungi. B8 composites showed degradation of 27.5% and 3.59 in bacterial and fungal medium respectively. A minimum degradation was observed in compost medium (0.29%, 2.52%, 0.21%, 0.08%, 0.11%, 0.13%, 0.17%, 1.25% and 1.51% for B1-B9 respectively). For exploring the use of the composites in the field of biomedical sciences, the LC fibres are modified using calcium salts before reinforcement. The thermal properties like crystallization temperature (Tcc), glass transition temperature (Tg), melting peak temperature (Tm) and thermal stability of the bio-composites were analyzed using Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in temperature range from 30 °C to 250 °C and the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was done in the temperature range of 20 °C to 700 °C. With increase in irradiation dose, crystallization temperature and glass transition temperature increased. Increasing in the irradiation dose, thermal stability of the composites decreased.

Assessment of chromium phytotoxicity, phytoremediation and tolerance potential of Sesbania sesban and Brachiaria mutica grown on chromite mine overburden dumps and garden soil.

The addition of toxic chromium in agrarian soils from mine overburden dump is of serious concern. To combat the toxicity of chromium an experiment was carried out at the Department of Botany, Utkal University, India by taking the chromium rich overburden dump (OBD) from Sukinda chromite mine, India. Different proportions of chromium rich OBD (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 70% and 100% OBD) were supplied to garden soil and plants of legume and non-legume categories (Sesbania sesban L. and Brachiaria mutica L.) were grown for assessment of phytoaccumulation ability of chromium, tolerance index, chlorophyll, protein and proline and the activity of oxidative inhibitors enzymes. After 60 days of experimentation, Cr phytotoxicity on physiological and biochemical parameters were assessed. The outcome of the results showed that the activity of antioxidant enzymes enhanced considerably in roots as compared to shoots with enhancing concentration of chromium. To compare the phytoaccumulation ability, the tolerance index (TI), bio-concentration factor (BCF) and transportation index (Ti) were measured in two different species. The results showed that at 100% OBD the TI, BCF and Ti of S. sesban have 22.30, 0.45 and 71.06 and B. mutica have 20.83, 0.43 and 42.45 respectively. The result showed that S. sesban not only had the highest bioaccumulation capacity of chromium but also have high tolerance index and transportation index as compared to B. mutica. Hence S. sesban can be recommended for phytostabilization programme to alleviate toxic chromium from chromite overburden mining sites.

Chromium bioaccumulation, oxidative stress metabolism and oil content in lemon grass Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson grown in chromium rich over burden soil of Sukinda chromite mine, India.

Lemon grass plants grown in Cr rich over burden soil of Sukinda chromite mine (India) countered Cr toxicity and oxidative stress with the production of reactive oxygen species and induced antioxidative defense system. Varied percentage of Cr rich over burden soil was applied to lemon grass pants to evaluate the actions of oxidative inhibitors enzymes extracted and assayed from both roots and shoots. The study also assessed the oil content and its composition in response to the different percentage of Cr available in over burden soil. In order to evaluate the defense system of a plant against oxidative stress and determine the level of reactive oxygen species, the experiments were undertaken in the presence and absence of Cr in soils. The results indicated that the action of oxidative inhibitor enzymes increased significantly in roots as compared to shoots with increasing concentration of Cr in overburden soil. Higher concentration of Cr in soils inhibited the enzyme activity both in roots and shoots. The level of ROS in plants also enhanced with the increase in the concentration of Cr in the soil. In order to control the oxidative damage in plants, lemon grass can be considered defensive in nature to build up the antioxidant system which can scavenge the reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Biochemical, molecular, and elemental profiling of Withania somnifera L. with response to zinc stress.

Zn stress seriously induces various toxic responses in Withania somnifera L., when accumulated above the threshold level which was confirmed by investigating the responses of protein, expression of antioxidant enzymes, and elemental profiling on accumulation of Zn. Zn was supplemented in the form of ZnSO4 (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µM) through MS liquid medium and allowed to grow the in vitro germinated plants for 7 and 14 days. The study revealed that when the application of Zn increased, a significant reduction of growth characteristics was noticed with alterations of proteins (both disappearance and de novo synthesis). The activity of CAT, SOD, and GPX were increased up to certain concentrations and then declined, which confirmed through in-gel activity under different treatments. RT-PCR was conducted by taking three sets of genes from CAT (RsCat, Catalase1, Cat1) and SOD (SodCp, TaSOD1.2, MnSOD) and found that gene RsCat from CAT and MnSOD from SOD have shown maximum expression of desired genes under Zn stress, which indicate plant's stress tolerance mechanisms. The proton-induced X-ray emission study confirmed an increasing order of uptake of Zn in plants by suppressing and expressing other elemental constituents which cause metal homeostasis. This study provides insights into molecular mechanisms associated with Zn causing toxicity to plants; however, cellular and subcellular studies are essential to explore molecule-molecule interaction during Zn stress in plants.

Proteomic and genomic responses of plants to nutritional stress.

Minerals or trace elements in small amount are essential nutrients for every plant, but when the internal concentration exceeds the threshold, these essential elements do create phytotoxicity. Plant responses to elemental stresses are very common due to different anthropogenic activities; however it is a complex phenomenon with individual characteristics for various species. To cope up with the situation, a plant produces a group of strategies both in proteomic and genomic level to overcome it. Controlling the metal stress is known to activate a multigene response resulting in the changes in various proteins, which directly affects almost all biological processes in a living cell. Therefore, proteomic and genomic approaches can be useful for elucidating the molecular responses under metal stress. For this, it is tried to provide the latest knowledge and techniques used in proteomic and genomic study during nutritional stress and is represented here in review form.

An in situ study of growth of Lemongrass Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson on varying concentration of Chromium (Cr+6) on soil and its bioaccumulation: Perspectives on phytoremediation potential and phytostabilisation of chromium toxicity.

Chromium (Cr) contamination in soil is a growing concern in sustainable agricultural production and food safety. Remediation of Cr from contaminated soils is a challenging task which may not only help in sustaining agriculture but also in minimizing adverse environmental impacts. Pot culture experiments were performed with the application of varied concentration of Cr+6 to assess the Chromium accumulation potential of Lemongrass and to study the impact of toxic concentration of Cr+6 on morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters of the plant. The results showed an increasing accumulation trend of Chromium with increasing Chromium concentrations in both root and shoot of 60 days old Lemongrass plants, while the protein and chlorophyll contents decreased. Similarly, accumulation of Cr increased the levels of proline and antioxidant enzymes indicating the enhanced damage control activity. The potentiality of the plant with the capacity to accumulate and stabilize Cr compound in Cr contaminated soil by phytoremediation process has been explored in the present investigation.

Chelate based phytoremediation study for attenuation of chromium toxicity stress using lemongrass: Cymbopogon flexuosus (nees ex steud.) W. Watson.

Chelate employed wrenching out of Chromium from contaminated soils is a comparably new technology. The pot culture experiments were carried out to study the toxicological, physiological and biochemical changes in Lemongrass using different chelators such as Ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (EDTA), Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), Citric acid (CA) and Salicylic acid (SA) and metal ions (Fe, Mg and Zn) in Cr+6 contaminated soil. The application of heavy metal Cr induced number of adverse consequences like reduction in root/shoot length, biomass and chlorophyl content in Lemongrass plants grown in soil with Cr+6 (50mgkg-1). On the contrary, the growth of Lemongrass was stimulated by the addition of chelators such as EDTA, DTPA, Citric acid, salicylic acid including metal ions (Fe, Mg and Zn). The increase in proline content was associated with the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes by the applications of chelators and metal ions. The treated plants with reduced Transportation index (Ti) values indicated more root Chromium accumulation as compared to shoot. The Bio-Concentration Factor (BCF) and Total Accumulation Rate (TAR) of Chromium were elevated with the supplementation of chelators and metal ions, thus, illustrating more metal bioavailability in plants.

Contribution of native phosphorous-solubilizing bacteria of acid soils on phosphorous acquisition in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

The present investigation analyzes the in vitro P solubilization [Ca-P, Al-P, Fe(II)-P, and Fe(III)-P] efficiency of native PSB strains from acid soils of Odisha and exploitation of the same through biofertilization in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growth and P acquisition. One hundred six numbers of soil samples with pH ≤ 5.50 were collected from five districts of Odisha viz., Balasore, Cuttack, Khordha, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj. One bacterial isolate from each district were selected and analyzed for their P solubilization efficiency in National Botanical Research Institute Phosphate broths with Ca, Al, and Fe-complexed phosphates. CTC12 and KHD08 transformed more amount of soluble P from Ca-P (CTC12 393.30 mg/L; KHD08 465.25 mg/L), Al-P (CTC12 40.00 mg/L; KHD08 34.50 mg/L), Fe(III)-P (CTC12 175.50 mg/L; KHD08 168.75 mg/L), and Fe(II)-P (CTC12 47.40 mg/L; KHD08 42.00 mg/L) after 8 days of incubation. The bioconversion of P by all the five strains in the broth medium followed the order Ca-P > Fe(III)-P > Fe(II)-P > Al-P. The identified five strains were Bacillus cereus BLS18 (KT582541), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CTC12 (KT633845), Burkholderia cepacia KHD08 (KT717633), B. cepacia KJR03 (KT717634), and B. cepacia K1 (KM030037) and further studied for biofertilization effects on peanut. CTC12 and KHD08 enhanced the soil available P around 65 and 58% and reduced the amount of each Al3+ about 79 and 81%, respectively, over the uninoculated control pots in the peanut rhizosphere. Moreover, all tested PSB strains could be able to successfully mobilize P from inorganic P fractions (non-occluded Al-P and Fe-P). The strains CTC12 and KHD08 increased the pod yield (114 and 113%), shoot P (92 and 94%), and kernel P (100 and 101%), respectively, over the control. However, B. amyloliquefaciens CTC12 and B. cepacia KHD08 proved to be the potent P solubilizers in promoting peanut growth and yield.

Chromium translocation, concentration and its phytotoxic impacts in in vivo grown seedlings of Sesbania sesban L. Merrill.

The present in vivo pot culture study showed hexavalent chromium (Cr+6) induced phytotoxic impacts and its translocation potential in 21 days old sesban (Sesbania sesban L. Merrill.) seedlings. Cr+6 showed significant growth retardation in 21 days old sesban (Sesbania sesban L. Merrill.) seedlings. Germination of seeds at 10,000 mg L-1 of Cr+6 exhibit 80% inhibition in germination. Seedling survival was 67% after 7 days of seedling exposure to 300 mg kg-1 of Cr+6. Shoot phytotoxicity was enhanced from 6% to 31% with elevated supply of Cr+6 from 10 mg kg-1 to 300 mg kg-1. Elevated supply of Cr+6 exhibited increasing and decreasing trends in % phytotoxicity and seedling tolerance index, respectively. Elevated supply of chromium showed decreased chlorophyll and catalase activities. Peroxidase activities in roots and leaves were significantly higher at increased supply of Cr+6. Cr bioconcentration in roots was nearly 10 times more than stems whereas leaves showed nearly double accumulation than stems. Tissue specific chromium bioaccumulation showed 53 and 12 times more in roots and shoots respectively at 300 mg kg-1 Cr+6 than control. The present study reveals potential of sesban for effective Cr translocation from roots to shoots as evident from their translocation factor and Total Accumulation Rate values.

Physico-chemical assessment of paper mill effluent and its heavy metal remediation using aquatic macrophytes--a case study at JK Paper mill, Rayagada, India.

The present investigation aims to assess the phytoremediation potential of six aquatic macrophytes, viz. Eichhornia crassipes, Hydrilla verticillata, Jussiaea repens, Lemna minor, Pistia stratiotes and Trapa natans grown in paper mill effluent of JK Paper mill of Rayagada, Orissa, for remediation of heavy metals. The experiment was designed in pot culture experiments. Assessment of physico-chemical parameters of paper mill effluent showed significant decrease in pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, chlorine, sulphur, biological and chemical oxygen demand after growth of macrophytes for 20 days. Phytoremediation ability of these aquatic macrophytic species for copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) was indicated by assessing the decrease in the levels of heavy metals from effluent water. Maximum reduction (66.5 %) in Hg content of untreated paper mill effluent was observed using L. minor followed by T. natans (64.8 %). L. minor showed highest reduction (71.4 %) of Cu content from effluent water followed by E. crassipes (63.6 %). Phytoextraction potential of L. minor was remarkable for Hg and Cu, and bioaccumulation was evident from bioconcentration factor values, i.e. 0.59 and 0.70, respectively. The present phytoremediation approach was considered more effective than conventional chemical treatment method for removing toxic contaminants from paper mill effluent.