INVESTIGATION OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF RHIZOSPHERE SEDIMENTS FROM EAST COAST REGION, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Objective: The objective of the present study was aimed the physicochemical properties of rhizosphere sediments from the East coast region of Tamil Nadu, India, have been investigated for soil pH, ion contents, organic contents, N and P, as well as obtaining the defined data from samples collected at different depths.Methods: A total of 25 sediment samples from five different locations was collected at a depth of 5–20 cm from the earth's surface and analyzed for the physicochemical parameters by standard methods.Results: The physical parameters of sediment show pH 8.02–8.36, salinity shows high in the aqueous solution of clayey sediment, ranging from a minimum of 3.2 and maximum of 5.4 dsm−1. Lime content and texture shows silt to clay loam, respectively. The chemical parameters include macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and micronutrients such as zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (I), and manganese (Mn) were analyzed. The N, P, and K ranged from 87.5–110.5 (kg/ac), 2.9–4.5 (kg/ac), 132–169 (ppm) and the micronutrients ranged from 1.2–1.36, 0.70–1.06, 5.63–9.64, and 3.06–3.63 mg/kg, respectively.Conclusion: The nutrient contents of the coastal sediment may vary depending on the fluctuation of the nutrient cycle from high to low. The physical properties of the soil were strongly correlated with soil fertility. Favorable physical properties occurs in highly weathered and nutrient depleted soils and limiting physical properties occurs in the least weathered and more fertile soils. Hence, they require frequent analysis of physicochemical parameters to enhance the growth of plants in a successful manner.Keywords: East coastal sediments, Physico-chemical parameters, Macro and micronutrients

AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH ON BIOREMEDIATION OF HEAVY METALS IN TANNERY EFFLUENTS WASTE USING STREPTOMYCES SP.

  Objective: The present study is conducted to investigate the abilities of microorganisms to degrade heavy metals in industrial tannery effluent sample.Methods: Tannery effluent sample was collected from effluent treatment plant and analyzed for physicochemical parameters. The potential microbes were isolated and identified by morphological and biochemical characterization. The sample was analyzed before and after to assess the heavy metal reducing the ability of the microorganism and the respective percentage of reduction were studied using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.Results: The samples were initially found to be highly contaminated with chromium, nickel, and cadmium. Out of three potential isolates, the isolate Streptomyces sp. was found to exhibit a better reduction against chromium (25.7%), cadmium (14.6%), and nickel (23.1%) in 50 ppm at longer incubation period. Comparatively, the reduction abilities of all the three isolates against all the three heavy metals increased with the increase in the incubation period but decreased with the increase in initial metal ion concentration except in the case of Streptomyces sp. against nickel where the reducing ability increased with the increase in metal concentration.Conclusion: Apparently, the present study revealed that Streptomyces sp. had a better remediation potential than the indigenous Pseudomonas sp. and Aspergillus sp. Ultimately, the finding of this research has shown that the Streptomyces sp. can be used as a potent bioremediation agent for treating tannery and industrial effluent in an eco-friendly process

Bismuth coordination networks containing deferiprone: synthesis, characterisation, stability and antibacterial activity

A series of bismuth–dicarboxylate–deferiprone coordination networks have been prepared and structurally characterised. The new compounds have been demonstrated to release the iron overload drug deferiprone on treatment with PBS and have also been shown to have antibacterial activity against H. pylori

Sustainable cooling method for machining titanium alloy

Hard to machine materials such as Titanium Alloy TI-6AI-4V Grade 5 are notoriously known to generate high temperatures and adverse reactions between the workpiece and the tool tip materials. These conditions all contribute to an increase in the wear mechanisms, reducing tool life. Titanium Alloy, for example always requires coolant to be used during machining. However, traditional flood cooling needs to be replaced due to environmental issues, and an alternative cooling method found that has minimum impact on the environment. For true sustainable cooling of the tool it is necessary to account for all energy used in the cooling process, including the energy involved in producing the coolant. Previous research has established that efficient cooling of the tool interface improves the tool life and cutting action. The objective of this research is to determine the most appropriate sustainable cooling method that can also reduce the rate of wear at the tool interface

Synthesis of triazole-linked morpholino oligonucleotides via Cu1 catalysed cycloaddition

Triazole-linked morpholino (TLMO) oligonucleic acids were synthesised using the CuI catalysed (3 + 2) azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. The modified DNA analogues were incorporated into 13-mer sequences via solid phase synthesis. UV melting experiments showed that the TLMO modification gives higher Tm values than the corresponding TLDNA modification

Identification and Characterization of NF-Y Transcription Factor Families in the Monocot Model Plant Brachypodium distachyon

BACKGROUND: Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) is a heterotrimeric transcription factor composed of NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC proteins. Using the dicot plant model system Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), NF-Y were previously shown to control a variety of agronomically important traits, including drought tolerance, flowering time, and seed development. The aim of the current research was to identify and characterize NF-Y families in the emerging monocot model plant Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) with the long term goal of assisting in the translation of known dicot NF-Y functions to the grasses. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We identified, annotated, and further characterized 7 NF-YA, 17 NF-YB, and 12 NF-YC proteins in Brachypodium (BdNF-Y). By examining phylogenetic relationships, orthology predictions, and tissue-specific expression patterns for all 36 BdNF-Y, we proposed numerous examples of likely functional conservation between dicots and monocots. To test one of these orthology predictions, we demonstrated that a BdNF-YB with predicted orthology to Arabidopsis floral-promoting NF-Y proteins can rescue a late flowering Arabidopsis mutant. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The Brachypodium genome encodes a similar complement of NF-Y to other sequenced angiosperms. Information regarding NF-Y phylogenetic relationships, predicted orthologies, and expression patterns can facilitate their study in the grasses. The current data serves as an entry point for translating many NF-Y functions from dicots to the genetically tractable monocot model system Brachypodium. In turn, studies of NF-Y function in Brachypodium promise to be more readily translatable to the agriculturally important grasses