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Bacteria are widespread in nature as they can adapt to any extreme environmental conditions and perform various physiological activities. Marine environments are one of the most adverse environments owing to their varying nature of temperature, pH, salinity, sea surface temperature, currents, precipitation regimes and wind patterns. Due to the constant variation of environmental conditions, the microorganisms present in that environment are more suitably adapted to the adverse conditions, hence, possessing complex characteristic features of adaptation. Therefore, the bacteria isolated from the marine environments are supposed to be better utilized in bioremediation of heavy metals, hydrocarbon and many other recalcitrant compounds and xenobiotics through biofilm formation and production of extracellular polymeric substances. Many marine bacteria have been reported to have bioremediation potential. The advantage of using marine bacteria for bioremediation in situ is the direct use of organisms in any adverse conditions without any genetic manipulation. This review emphasizes the utilization of marine bacteria in the field of bioremediation and understanding the mechanism behind acquiring the characteristic feature of adaptive responses.

The discharge of chromium-contaminated wastewater from industries such as ferrochrome plants and leather manufacturing poses a significant environmental challenge due to the toxic and carcinogenic properties of Chromium [Cr(VI)]. Nanoparticles have emerged as one of the most effective solutions for wastewater treatment due to their high surface area, enhanced reactivity, and ability to target specific contaminants. In recent years, their eco-friendly synthesis, scalability, and efficiency in removing heavy metals and other pollutants have made them vital in addressing environmental challenges, particularly in industrial wastewater management. Their unique properties make them indispensable in modern wastewater treatment technologies. This study explores the application of biogenically synthesized titanium dioxide (TiO₂) for removal of Cr(VI) from synthetic wastewater. Lemon grass leaf extracts has been used as potential precursor in synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles from readily available micro size particles of TiO 2 powder. The process was further enhanced by ultrasonic assistance, which promoted the formation of uniformly dispersed nanoparticles with high surface area, improving their adsorption. Experimental techniques, such as X-ray Diffraction, have been utilized to confirm the biogenic synthesis of TiO 2 nanoparticles, demonstrating a size reduction from 10 μm to 35.79 nm. The nanoparticles demonstrated excellent Cr(VI) removal efficiency, achieving 84.55% reduction under optimal conditions. Among the various adsorption isotherm models, the Freundlich model proved to be the best fit, with an R² value exceeding 0.997. This method not only leverages sustainable synthesis processes but also offers potential scalability for industrial applications in waste water treatment.

Analysis of the chemical composition of gallstones is vital for the etiopathogenesis of gallstone diseases that can ultimately help in the prevention of its formation. In the present study, gallstones from seven different regions of India were analyzed to highlight the major difference in their composition. Also, gallstones of different pathological conditions i.e., benign (chronic cholecystitis, CC) and malignant gallbladder disease (gallbladder cancer GBC) were characterized. The type of polymorphs of cholesterol molecules was also studied to provide insight into the structure of gallstones. 1 H solution state NMR spectroscopy 1D experiments were performed on a total of 94 gallstone (GS) samples collected from seven different geographical regions of India. Solid-State NMR spectroscopy 13 C cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) experiments were done on the 20 CC GS samples and 20 GBC GS samples of two regions. 1 H NMR spectra from the solution state NMR of all the stones reveal that cholesterol was a major component of the maximum stones of the north India region while in south Indian regions, GS had very less cholesterol. 13 C CPMAS experiments reveal that the quantity of cholesterol was significantly more in the GS of CC in the Lucknow region compared with GBC stones of Lucknow and Chandigarh. Our study also revealed that GS of the Lucknow region of both malignant and benign gallbladder diseases belong to the monohydrate crystalline form of cholesterol while GS of Chandigarh region of both malignant and benign gallbladder diseases exists in both monohydrate crystalline form with the amorphous type and anhydrous form. Gallstones have a complicated and poorly understood etiology. Therefore, it is important to understand the composition of gallstones, which can be found in various forms and clinical conditions. Variations in dietary practices, environmental conditions, and genetic factors may influence and contribute to the formation of GS. Prevention of gallstone formation may help in decreasing the cases of gallbladder cancer.

Bacillus thuringiensis PW-05 was isolated from the Odisha coast and was found to resist 50 ppm of Hg as HgCl₂ as well as higher concentrations of CdCl₂, ZnSO₄, PbNO₃ and Na₂HAsO₄. Resistance towards several antibiotics, viz amoxycillin, ampicillin, methicillin, azithromycin and cephradine (CV) was also observed. The mer operon possessed by most of the mercury-resistant bacteria was also found in this isolate. Atomic absorption spectroscopy revealed that the isolate can volatilize >90 % of inorganic mercury. It showed biofilm formation in the presence of 50 ppm HgCl₂ and can produce exopolysaccharide under same conditions. The isolate was found to volatilize mercury efficiently under a wide range of environmental parameters, i.e. pH (7 to 8), temperature (25 °C to 40 °C) and salinity (5 to 25 ppt). merA gene expression has been confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR study. Fourier transform infrared study revealed that –SH and –COOH groups play a major role in the process of adaptation to Hg. Hence, this isolate B. thuringiensis PW-05 shows an interesting potential for bioremediation of mercury.

Pile foundations are still the preferred foundation system for high-rise structures in earthquake-prone regions. Pile foundations have experienced failures in past earthquakes due to liquefaction. Research on pile foundations in liquefiable soils has primarily focused on the pile foundation behavior in two or three-layered soil profiles. However, in natural occurrence, it may occur in alternative layers of liquefiable and non-liquefiable soil. However, the experimental and/or numerical studies on the layered effect on pile foundations have not been widely addressed in the literature. Most of the design codes across the world do not explicitly mention the effect of sandwiched non-liquefiable soil layers on the pile response. In the present study, the behavior of an end-bearing pile in layered liquefiable and non-liquefiable soil deposit is studied numerically. This study found that the kinematic bending moment is higher and governs the design when the effect of the sandwiched non-liquefied layer is considered in the analysis as opposed to when its effect is ignored. Therefore, ignoring the effect of the sandwiched non-liquefied layer in a liquefiable soil deposit might be a nonconservative design approach.

Background The mangrove ecosystem has the highest carbon sink potential which significantly contributes to bringing carbon neutrality. Understanding the carbon stock dynamics along the age of forest stands in the mangrove forest ecosystem is of significance for managing the forests and their carbon accumulation. This study aimed to estimate the forest structural attributes, biomass and total ecosystem carbon stock (TECS) of old natural (age > 50 years) and young planted (age ~ 20 years) mangrove forest stands at Bichitrapur Mangrove Reserve Forest in eastern coast of India. We also attempted to understand the interrelationship of structural attributes, biomass and soil properties in the mangrove forests. To achieve the results, twenty random plots were established (size: 20 m × 25 m) and suitable allometric equations along with species-specific wood density values were used to estimate the biomass and carbon stock. Results Altogether, 29 plant species (18 exclusive and 11 associate species) were recorded. The mean total biomass (± SE) and soil organic carbon (at 30 cm depth) were 165.31 ± 20.89 t ha −1  and 40.20 ± 1.24 t C ha −1  for young stands, and 586.12 ± 56.74 t ha −1  and 49.68 ± 2.39 t C ha −1  for old stands, respectively. Among mangrove species, Avicennia marina contributed the highest vegetation biomass in both forest stands (59.72 t ha −1 and 262.28 t ha −1 in young and old stands, respectively), followed by Avicennia officinalis (35.05 t ha −1 ) and Sonneratia apetala (26.09 t ha −1 ) in young stand and Avicennia alba (169.28 t ha −1 ) and Avicennia officinalis (115.58 t ha −1 ) in old stand. The mean TECS was 235.62 ± 27.34 t C ha −1 . The contribution of vegetation and soil to TECS was 63% and 37% in the young stand, whereas in the old stand it was 83% and 17%, respectively. The correlation analyses revealed that mean stand height ( r  = 0.87), basal area ( r  = 0.99), soil nitrogen ( r  = 0.76), potassium ( r  = 0.78), and carbon ( r  = 0.80) were significantly positively correlated with total biomass at p  < 0.01. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that old mangrove forest stands store substantially high carbon stock than young planted forest stands, implying the role of forest age in determining the carbon storage potential of mangrove ecosystems.

This review aims to explore and compile the methods of fluidization used for the treatment of wastewater in the recent past, majorly by the inverse fluidization method. In the inverse fluidization process, the density of solid particles utilized in the fluidization is lower than that of the liquid and compared to an upflow fluidized bed bioreactor, and it is a very effective system for biological wastewater treatment. This review discusses the developments made in recent years with regard to aerobic inverse fluidized bed bioreactors, with more emphasis placed on the reported applications of treating industrial wastewaters. The effects of hydrodynamic parameters (minimum fluidization velocity, phase holdup, bed expansion, bed height, pressure drop, superficial gas velocity, liquid velocity, hydraulic retention time, biofilm carriers, and ratio of volume of settled bed to the volume of reactor) are highlighted in the discussion. Also, the effects of these parameters on the biofilm and subsequently on wastewater are discussed. Recent trends of the application of aerobic inverse fluidized bed bioreactors for the removal of COD and scope of future study elements are also covered. (7 Figures, 8 Tables, 87 References)

Metal pollution is one of the most persistent and complex environmental issues, causing threat to the ecosystem and human health. On exposure to several toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and mercury, several bacteria has evolved with many metal-resistant genes as a means of their adaptation. These genes can be further exploited for bioremediation of the metal-contaminated environments. Many operon-clustered metal-resistant genes such as cadB, chrA, copAB, pbrA, merA, and NiCoT have been reported in bacterial systems for cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, and nickel resistance and detoxification, respectively. The field of environmental bioremediation has been ameliorated by exploiting diverse bacterial detoxification genes. Genetic engineering integrated with bioremediation assists in manipulation of bacterial genome which can enhance toxic metal detoxification that is not usually performed by normal bacteria. These techniques include genetic engineering with single genes or operons, pathway construction, and alternations of the sequences of existing genes. However, numerous facets of bacterial novel metal-resistant genes are yet to be explored for application in microbial bioremediation practices. This review describes the role of bacteria and their adaptive mechanisms for toxic metal detoxification and restoration of contaminated sites.

As an established mediator of inflammation, interleukin-6 (IL-6) is implicated to facilitate prostate cancer progression to androgen independence through transactivation of the androgen receptor. However, whether IL-6 has a causative role in de novo prostate tumorigenesis was never investigated. We now provide the first evidence that IL-6 can induce tumorigenic conversion and further progression to an invasive phenotype of non-tumorigenic benign prostate epithelial cells. Moreover, we find that paracrine IL-6 stimulates the autocrine IL-6 loop and autocrine activation of insulin-like type I growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) to confer the tumorigenic property and also that activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is critical in these processes. Inhibition of STAT3 activation or IGF-IR signaling suppresses IL-6-mediated malignant conversion and the associated invasive phenotype. Inhibition of STAT3 activation suppresses IL-6-induced upregulation of IGF-IR and its ligands, namely IGF-I and IGF-II. These findings indicate that IL-6 signaling cooperates with IGF-IR signaling in the prostate microenvironment to promote prostate tumorigenesis and progression to aggressiveness. Our findings suggest that STAT3 and IGF-IR may represent potential effective targets for prevention or treatment of prostate cancer.

Background The microbiota of the respiratory tract has an important role in maintaining respiratory health. However, little is known on the respiratory microbiota in asthmatic patients among Middle Eastern populations. This study investigated the respiratory microbiota composition and functionality associated with asthma in Emirati subjects. Methods We performed 16S rRNA and ITS2-gene based microbial profiling of 40 expectorated sputum samples from adult and pediatric Emirati individuals averaging 52 and 7 years of age, respectively with or without asthma. Results We report bacterial difference belonging to Bacteroidetes , Firmicutes , Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria phyla between asthmatic and non-asthmatic controls. Similarly, fungal difference belonging to Ascomycota , Basidiomycota phyla and other unclassified fungi. Differential abundance testing among asthmatic individuals with relation to Asthma Control Test show a significant depletion of Penicillium aethiopicum and Alternaria spp., among poorly controlled asthmatics. Moreover, data suggest a significant expansion of Malassezia spp. and other unclassified fungi in the airways of those receiving steroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists’ combination therapy, in contrast to those receiving steroids alone. Functional profiling from 16S data showed marked differences between pediatric asthmatic and non-asthmatic controls, with pediatric asthmatic patients showing an increase in amino acid ( p -value < 5.03 × 10 − 7 ), carbohydrate ( p -value < 4.76 × 10 − 7 ), and fatty acid degradation ( p -value < 6.65 × 10 − 7 ) pathways, whereas non-asthmatic controls are associated with increase in amino acid ( p -value < 8.34 × 10 − 7 ), carbohydrate ( p -value < 3.65 × 10 − 7 ), and fatty acid ( p -value < 2.18 × 10 − 6 ) biosynthesis pathways in concordance with enterotype composition. Conclusions These differences provide an insight into respiratory microbiota composition in Emirati population and its possible role in the development of asthma early in life. This study provides important information that may eventually lead to the development of screening biomarkers to predict early asthma development and novel therapeutic approaches.