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The present study aimed to scrutinize the effect of different cow dung bacterial treatments on the nutritional value of Capsicum annuum L. Among all treatments, seeds inoculated with Bacillus megaterium (CDK25) showed significant enhancement in various proximate constituents viz ., crude fiber (3.31%), crude protein (3.84%), and ash (2.53%) as compared to control. Likewise, significant increase in different nutrient contents viz ., Ca (16.26 mg/100 g), Mg (17.37 mg/100 g), P (11.91 mg/100 g), K (0.47 mg/100 g), Fe (1.37 mg/100 g), and Zn (0.21 mg/100 g) was recorded over the control. Principal component analysis data depicts a positive correlation between different treatments with variables, validating enhancement in nutritional constituents by B. megaterium (CDK25) treatment. The study suggests the application of “ B. megaterium ” for achieving the persistent potential for augmenting and boosting up plant biological, functional, and nutritional assets, thereby enhancing the overall edible quality of C. annuum L. along with weathering of soil minerals.

Cysticercosis, caused by Taenia solium larvae, can affect various ocular and extraocular structures, leading to significant morbidity. Ultrasound B-scan imaging plays a pivotal role in diagnosing and classifying cysticercosis lesions. The aim of the study was to describe the ultrasound B-scan characteristics of ocular and extraocular cysticercosis, proposing a classification system based on anatomical localization to enhance understanding and management. A retrospective study of consecutive cases with intraocular or extraocular cysticercosis was conducted from January 1993 to December 2023 in Mumbai, India. B-scan ultrasound was performed by an experienced imaging specialist. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics and the proportion of cysticercosis in each anatomical location. Cysticercosis lesions were classified based on anatomical location observed during imaging. Amongst the 56 eyes evaluated, intraocular posterior segment involvement (n=25) and extraocular involvement (n=31) were observed. Extraocular cysticercosis predominantly affected the medial rectus muscle (40%), followed by the inferior rectus (28%), lateral rectus (20%), and superior rectus muscles (12%). Orbital cysts were localized in the posterior extraconal (50%), anterior extraconal (34.33%), and intraconal (16.67%) regions. Intra-vitreous cysticercosis (n=9) exhibited thin-walled cysts with minimal inflammation, progressing to thickened cyst walls in the late stages. Sub-hyaloid cysticercosis (n=8) showed initial thin vitreous detachment, progressing to thickened vitreous adhesions. Sub-retinal cysticercosis (n=9) without retinal detachment indicated early disease, while cases with detachment suggested disease progression. The proposed anatomical classification system based on B-scan ultrasound features provides a structured approach to categorizing cysticercosis lesions, enhancing understanding and management in ophthalmic practice.

This study aims to explore the diagnostic utility of ultrasound B-scan while introducing the \"Triangle\" sign as a novel indicator. It also validates the sign's efficacy in distinguishing between choroidal detachment (CD) and suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) from retinal detachment (RD) and vitreous hemorrhage (VH). Retrospective analysis of consecutive cases of total CD and SCH undergoing B-scan at a single tertiary imaging center. The study examined the presence of the \"Triangle\" sign (a hypoechoic/anechoic triangular shape of vitreous noted anterior to the optic disc) in total CD & SCH, categorized cases by subtype and etiology, and its role in differentiating from RD and VH. Thirty-six eyes with a total CD and SCH were analyzed. Amongst the cases of total SCH 31 (86.1%), (58.1%) were linked to intraocular surgery, and (41.9%) were linked to post-traumatic events. The \"Triangle\" sign was consistently present in all 36 eyes, with additional findings indicating concurrent VH (52.8%) or RD (5.6%). Among the 31 eyes with total SCH, 58.3% initially had detectable choroidal membrane seen on B scan, while 41.7% did not. Despite this, the \"Triangle\" sign was consistently visible in all 36 eyes, and monitoring with B-scans revealed choroidal membrane as the hemorrhage resolved. The \"Triangle\" sign is a distinctive and reliable ultrasound feature for total CD and SCH diagnosis, offering clarity in challenging cases where traditional methods face limitations.

Ocular cysticercosis, caused by larvae, presents significant public health challenges, especially in regions with poor sanitation. Traditional imaging techniques often fail to detect anterior segment cysticercosis accurately, necessitating the exploration of more advanced diagnostic modalities like Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM). A retrospective observational analysis was conducted on 18 eyes from 14 patients with cysticercosis involving the anterior segment. UBM imaging was performed using a Sonomed VuMax HD ultrasound biomicroscopy machine with a 50 MHz probe. In the study, 18 eyes from 18 patients were analyzed, revealing 12 cases of conjunctival cysticercosis, 4 of anterior chamber cysticercosis, and 2 of iris cysticercosis. Patients averaged 37.89 (± 16.2) years, with a male predominance. Conjunctival cysts appeared as clear masses, occasionally eliciting inflammatory reactions. Iris involvement caused thinning near the angle, while anterior chamber cysts could displace the lens, leading to iris bombe in some instances. UBM emerges as a valuable diagnostic tool for anterior segment cysticercosis, providing detailed imaging superior to traditional methods. Its cost-effectiveness and accessibility make it particularly valuable, especially in resource-constrained settings. Future research should focus on validating UBM's diagnostic accuracy and exploring its role in monitoring disease progression and treatment response.

With the increasing resistance exhibited by undesirable bacteria to traditional antibiotics, the need to discover alternative (or, at least, supplementary) treatments to combat chemically resistant bacteria is becoming urgent. Quorum sensing (QS) refers to a novel bacterial communication system for monitoring cell density and regulation of a network of gene expression that is mediated by a group of signaling molecules called autoinducers (AIs). QS-regulated multicellular behaviors include biofilm formation, horizontal gene transfer, and antibiotic synthesis, which are demonstrating increasing pathogenicity to plants and aquacultural animals as well as contamination of wastewater treatment devices. To inhibit QS-regulated microbial behaviors, the strategy of quorum quenching (QQ) has been developed. Different quorum quenchers interfere with QS through different mechanisms, such as competitively inhibiting AI perception (e.g., by QS inhibitors) and AI degradation (e.g., by QQ enzymes). In this review, we first introduce different signaling molecules, including diffusible signal factor (DSF) and acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) for Gram-negative bacteria, AIPs for Gram-positive bacteria, and AI-2 for interspecies communication, thus demonstrating the mode of action of the QS system. We next exemplify the QQ mechanisms of various quorum quenchers, such as chemical QS inhibitors, and the physical/enzymatic degradation of QS signals. We devote special attention to AHL-degrading enzymes, which are categorized in detail according to their diverse catalytic mechanisms and enzymatic properties. In the final part, the applications and advantages of quorum quenchers (especially QQ enzymes and bacteria) are summarized in the context of agricultural/aquacultural pathogen biocontrol, membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment, and the attenuation of human pathogenic bacteria. Taken together, we present the state-of-the-art in research considering QS and QQ, providing theoretical evidence and support for wider application of this promising environmentally friendly biocontrol strategy.

Glyphosate is widely used as an herbicide around the world. The extensive application of glyphosate, however, has serious adverse effects on living systems. Therefore, the elimination of residual glyphosate pollution has become an urgent issue worldwide. In the present study, a novel bacterial strain named F9D was identified as Bacillus albus , based on its physio-biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA analysis. This strain can completely degrade glyphosate (400 mg/L) within 5 days. An effective, rapid, and stable detection method for glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) was developed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry technology (UPLC-MS/MS). The degradability of glyphosate by the degrading strain F9D was optimized, considering various conditions, as follows: initial pH (5–9), incubation temperature (20–40℃), glyphosate concentration (50–800 mg/L), and inoculation amount (1–5%). The strain also demonstrated strong degradation ability in soil and water–sediment systems: 78.1% glyphosate (400 mg/kg) and 83.2% glyphosate (200 mg/kg), respectively, degraded in soil and water–sediment systems within 5 days of incubation. Furthermore, the F9D strain is capable of degrading 50–800 mg/L of glyphosate and AMPA under various treatments. Hence, the notable ability of B. albus strain F9D to degrade glyphosate makes it a highly promising candidate for the removal of this emerging contaminant from the environment on a large scale.

Tetramethrin is a common pyrethroid insecticide, but there is limited knowledge about its degradation kinetics and mechanisms. In this study, a novel fungal strain, Neocosmospora sp. AF3, was obtained from pesticide-contaminated fields and was shown to be highly effective for degrading tetramethrin and other widely used pyrethroids. The AF3 strain completely removed 10 mg/L of tetramethrin from mineral salt medium in 9 days. The first-order kinetic analysis indicated that the degradation rate constant of the AF3 strain on 50 mg/L tetramethrin was 0.2835 d −1 (per day), and the half-life was 2.45 days. A response surface model analysis showed that the optimal degradation conditions for the AF3 strain are a temperature of 33.37 ℃, pH of 7.97, and inoculation amount of 0.22 g/L dry weight. The Andrews nonlinear fitting results suggested that the optimal concentration of tetramethrin metabolized by the AF3 strain is 12.6073 mg/L, and the q max , K i , and K s values were 0.9919 d −1 , 20.1873 mg/L, and 7.8735 mg/L, respectively. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis indicated that N -hydroxymethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide, chrysanthemic acid and tetrahydrophthalimide are the main intermediates involved in the metabolism of tetramethrin by the AF3 strain. Furthermore, this strain was shown to effectively degrade other pyrethroid pesticides including permethrin, beta-cypermethrin, chlorempenthrin, fenvalerate, d -cyphenothrin, bifenthrin, meperfluthrin, cyfluthrin, and deltamethrin within a short period, suggesting that Neocosmospora sp. AF3 can play an important role in the remediation of pyrethroid contamination. Taken together, these results shed a new light on uncovering the degradation mechanisms of tetramethrin and present useful agents for developing relevant pyrethroid bioremediation strategies.

Vast quantities of synthetic pesticides have been widely applied in various fields to kill plant pathogens, resulting in increased pathogen resistance and decreased effectiveness of such chemicals. In addition, the increased presence of pesticide residues affects living organisms and the environment largely on a global scale. To mitigate the impact of crop diseases more sustainably on plant health and productivity, there is a need for more safe and more eco-friendly strategies as compared to chemical prevention. Quorum sensing (QS) is an intercellular communication mechanism in a bacterial population, through which bacteria adjust their population density and behavior upon sensing the levels of signaling molecules in the environment. As an alternative, quorum quenching (QQ) is a promising new strategy for disease control, which interferes with QS by blocking intercellular communication between pathogenic bacteria to suppress the expression of disease-causing genes. Black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris ( Xcc ) is associated with the diffusible signal factor (DSF). As detailed in this study, a new QQ strain F25, identified as Burkholderia sp., displayed a superior ability to completely degrade 2 mM of DSF within 72 h. The main intermediate product in the biodegradation of DSF was identified as n-decanoic acid, based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A metabolic pathway for DSF by strain F25 is proposed, based on the chemical structure of DSF and its intermediates, demonstrating the possible degradation of DSF via oxidation-reduction. The application of strain F25 and its crude enzyme as biocontrol agents significantly attenuated black rot caused by Xcc , and inhibited tissue maceration in the host plant Raphanus sativus L., without affecting the host plant. This suggests that agents produced from strain F25 and its crude enzyme have promising applications in controlling infectious diseases caused by DSF-dependent bacterial pathogens. These findings are expected to provide a new therapeutic strategy for controlling QS-mediated plant diseases.

Various benign and malignant tumors may arise from the skin. These may be of epidermal, dermal, subcutaneous or appendageal origin. Skin biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis of skin tumors. There is paucity of published data on the role of imaging modalities in diagnosis of skin tumors. High-frequency ultrasonography (7-50 MHz) is a potential non-invasive, objective modality which can be utilized in the diagnosis and localization of skin tumors. It provides valuable information about the tumor characteristics such as size, shape, depth, consistency and vascularity before invasive skin biopsy or surgery is planned. Sentinel lymph nodes in malignant melanoma can be well visualized and studied by this technique. It is also a good modality to detect local recurrence of tumors during post-operative follow up, especially those with a high likelihood of local recurrence or lesions excised with inadequate margins. High-frequency ultrasonography is additive to clinical diagnosis and can be considered a useful non-invasive method to plan the management of various skin tumors and is of prognostic value in some cases.

Zinc is one of the micronutrients, required by all types of crops. About 10–100ppm of zinc is present in soil which is generally immobile. The cow dung sustains all life and being practice since aeons. Exploitation of cow dung bacteria can mobilize nutrients besides contributing in sustainable agriculture. Therefore, to examine mobilization of Zn, cow dung is used as a source of bacteria. The objectives of the present study were to isolate an array of bacteria from cow dung and to characterize them for their Zn (ZnO and ZnCO 3 ) mobilization ability in addition to establish the optimum conditions for dissolution of zinc. A total of seventy bacterial isolates have been screened for Zn mobilization. Out of which most potent (CDK15 and CDK25) were selected to study the effect of various parameters viz. pH, temperature and concentration of Zn. These parameters were assessed qualitatively in diverse growth medium and quantitatively using Atomic absorption spectroscopy. Optimum pH and temperature for mobilization was recorded at pH 5 (ZnO) and 37 °C (ZnCO 3 ) by CDK25, whereas, optimum zinc concentration for mobilization was recorded at 0.05% (ZnO) by CDK15. Maximum amount of Zn solubilized was recorded by CDK25 in ZnO (20ppm). Considering the abilities of most potent bacterial isolates with reference to P-mobilization and growth promoting traits, pot culture assay of C . annuum L. was carried out. The findings of which conclude that, bacterium CDK25 ( Bacillus megaterium ) could be exploited for factors viz. nutrient management of Zn, growth promoting agent, and Zn augmentation in soil.