Advancing Participation of Women in STEM Courses in the Higher Educational Institutions in India

The higher education and research in universities and institutions of eminence are  considered as key drivers for empowerment of society and social change. In this context, university  institutions can play a pivotal role for promoting gender equality, diversity, justice, social inclusion.  India is successfully moving forward towards closing the gender equality gap in its HEIs through  policy interventions and good governance. The higher enrolment ratio of women enhances their  living standards as well as decision-making powers in the society. While there is an increasing trend  of enrolment of female students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)  courses are seen in India for the last few years, their participation in the workforce remains low.  The secondary data from All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) conducted by the  Government of India for the last 10 years from 2010-11 to 2019-20 has been used for analysis. The  present study is aimed to examine the trends in enrolment of female students with a special reference  to the fields of STEM. The paper will help the researchers and practitioners engaged in public policy  or higher education in understanding the moving trends of society and its pace towards gender  equality in India. </p

Virtual screening and site-directed mutagenesis-derived aptamers for precise <i>Salmonella typhimurium</i> prediction: emphasizing OmpD targeting and G-quadruplex stability

The efficient detection of the foodborne pathogen Salmonella typhimurium has historically been hampered by the constraints of traditional methods, characterized by protracted culture periods and intricate DNA extraction processes for PCR. To address this, our research innovatively focuses on the crucial and relatively uncharted virulence factor, the Outer Membrane Protein D (OmpD) in Salmonella typhimurium. By harmoniously integrating the power of virtual screening and site-directed mutagenesis, we unveiled aptamers exhibiting marked specificity for OmpD. Among these, aptamer 7ZQS stands out with its heightened binding affinity. Capitalizing on this foundation, we further engineered a repertoire of mutant aptamers, wherein APT6 distinguished itself, reflecting unmatched stability and specificity. Our rigorous validation, underpinned by cutting-edge bioinformatics tools, amplifies the prowess of APT6 in discerning and binding OmpD across an array of Salmonella typhimurium strains. This study illuminates a transformative approach to the prompt and accurate detection of Salmonella typhimurium, potentially redefining boundaries in applied analytical chemistry and bolstering diagnostic precision across diverse research and clinical domains. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma</p

Table1_Prediction of anticancer peptides derived from the true lectins of Phoenix dactylifera and their synergetic effect with mitotane.DOCX

Background and aims: Cancer continues to be a significant source of both illness and death on a global scale, traditional medicinal plants continue to serve as a fundamental resource of natural bioactive compounds as an alternative source of remedies. Although there have been numerous studies on the therapeutic role of Phoenix dactylifera, the study of the role of peptides has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of lectin peptides from P. dactylifera using in silico and in vivo analysis.Methods: Different computational tools were used to extract and predict anticancer peptides from the true lectins of P. dactylifera. Nine peptides that are bioactive substances have been investigated for their anticancer activity against MCF-7 and T47D (two forms of breast cancer). To counteract the unfavorable effects of mitotane, the most potent peptides (U3 and U7) were combined with it and assessed for anticancer activity against MCF-7 and HepG2.Results:In silico analysis revealed that nine peptides were predicted with anticancer activity. In cell lines, the lowest IC50 values were measured in U3 and U7 against MCF-7 and T47D cells. U3 or U7 in combination with mitotane demonstrated the lowest IC50 against MCF-7 and HepG2. The maximum level of cell proliferation inhibition was 22% when U3 (500 µg/mL) and 25 µg/mL mitotane were combined, compared to 41% when 25 µg/mL mitotane was used alone. When mitotane and U3 or U7 were combined, it was shown that these bioactive substances worked synergistically with mitotane to lessen its negative effects. The combination of peptides and mitotane could be regarded as an efficient chemotherapeutic medication having these bioactive properties for treating a variety of tumors while enhancing the reduction of side effects.</p