Pročišćavanje i karakterizacija bakteriocina proizvedenog s pomoću Bacillus subtilis R75, bakterije izolirane iz fermentiranoga zelenčića (Phaseolus radiatus)

Food-grade bacteria capable of producing bacteriocin with desirable preservation attributes have been isolated from traditional Indian fermented food dal vari, which has not been investigated so far. Among different isolates, Bacillus subtilis R75, isolated on MRS agar, exhibited antagonism against a wide range of foodborne pathogens that cause serious spoilage. Extracellularly produced bacteriocin was purified by single step gel exclusion column chromatography. The purity rate and molecular mass of 12 kDa of this compound were determined using SDS-PAGE. Activity units (AU) of bacteriocin were increased in each step of purification, reaching up to 5·10^6 AU/mL. The increase in the activity units directly affected the antimicrobial activity of purified bacteriocin, resulting in an increase up to 200, 333 and 175 % of the inhibition zones against indicator bacteria. Continuous decrease in the number of viable cells of microorganisms within 10 h after adding purified bacteriocin proved its bactericidal action. It withstood very high temperature, up to 121 °C, for 10 min, wider pH range, from 4.0 to 11.0, complete inactivation in the presence of proteolytic enzymes and storage stability up to 2.5 months.Iz dosada neispitanog tradicionalnog indijskog proizvoda dal vari, dobivenog fermentacijom zelenčića (graha mungo), izolirana je bakterija koja proizvodi bakteriocin što proizvod štiti od kvarenja. Od nekoliko ispitanih izolata, bakterija Bacillus subtilis R75, izolirana na MRS agaru, antagonistički je djelovala na različite patogene uzročnike kvarenja hrane. Ekstracelularno proizvedeni bakteriocin pročišćen je gel-filtracijom u jednom koraku. Čistoća i molekularna masa (12 kDa) spoja određeni su SDS-PAGE elektroforezom. Aktivnost bakteriocina povećala se svakom daljnjom fazom pročišćavanja, sve do 5·10^6 AU/mL. Povećanje aktivnosti izravno je utjecalo na antimikrobnu aktivnost pročišćenoga bakteriocina, pa se zona inhibicije rasta bakterija pokazatelja kvarenja povećala za 200, 333 i 175 %. Stalno smanjivanje broja živih stanica mikroorganizama i do 10 sati nakon dodatka pročišćenoga bakteriocina dokazuje njegovo baktericidno djelovanje. Bakteriocin je izdržao vrlo visoke temperature, čak i do 121 °C tijekom 10 min, širi raspon pH-vrijednosti (od 4,0 do 11,0) i potpunu inaktivaciju u prisutnosti proteolitičkih enzima, te je bio stabilan tijekom 2,5 mjeseca skladištenja proizvoda

Crossing boundaries:bras, lingerie and rape myths in postcolonial urban middle-class India

With the processes of modernization, urbanization and the entry of women in the formal labour market in Indian metropolitan spaces, this paper examines how the modern middle-class woman’s sartorial choices become enmeshed in popular rape myths (false beliefs) that serve to blame her for the wearing of western clothing. The paper articulates the ways in which middle-class women’s social realities are shaped by historical, colonial and nationalist ideologies of modernization, constructed and mediated through moral codes of dressing. By drawing upon original and contemporary empirical narratives from the urban spaces of Delhi and Mumbai, we emphasise how everyday sartorial choices, in relation to particularly the bra and lingerie, can reveal the nuanced ways in which Urban Indian Professional Women (UIPW) seek to understand, negotiate, and resist patriarchal power. Our findings shed light on conflicting and contradictory spatial experiences, where some women internalize and negotiate moral codes of dressing, out of fear, and others who transgress are subject to sanctions. Given the paucity of scholarly literature in this area, the paper makes an important theoretical and empirical contribution with its focus on postcoloniality and everyday discursive material spaces of gendered and sexualized dress practices. It argues for the consciousness raising of everyday urban geographies of dress that reveal complicated structures of power that are often deemed hidden

Purification and Characterization of Bacteriocin Produced by Bacillus subtilis R75 Isolated from Fermented Chunks of Mung Bean (Phaseolus radiatus)

Food-grade bacteria capable of producing bacteriocin with desirable preservation attributes have been isolated from traditional Indian fermented food dal vari, which has not been investigated so far. Among different isolates, Bacillus subtilis R75, isolated on MRS agar, exhibited antagonism against a wide range of foodborne pathogens that cause serious spoilage. Extracellularly produced bacteriocin was purified by single step gel exclusion column chromatography. The purity rate and molecular mass of 12 kDa of this compound were determined using SDS-PAGE. Activity units (AU) of bacteriocin were increased in each step of purification, reaching up to 5·10^6 AU/mL. The increase in the activity units directly affected the antimicrobial activity of purified bacteriocin, resulting in an increase up to 200, 333 and 175 % of the inhibition zones against indicator bacteria. Continuous decrease in the number of viable cells of microorganisms within 10 h after adding purified bacteriocin proved its bactericidal action. It withstood very high temperature, up to 121 °C, for 10 min, wider pH range, from 4.0 to 11.0, complete inactivation in the presence of proteolytic enzymes and storage stability up to 2.5 months

Diversity and seasonal variation of spiders community in a tropical region:A case study in Saran, Bihar, India

The present study describes the variations in spider communities with respect to different seasons in Saran, Bihar. This is a tropical region situated in the lower Gangetic biotic province of India. The region experiences clearly four different seasons in a year viz. pre-monsoon, monsoon, post monsoon and winter. Spider sampling was done for one year during June 2013 to May 2014 by semi-quantitative methods and pitfall traps. A total of 52 species belonging to 30 genera and 16 families were reported over the studied period. Different diversity indices were calculated using PAST software version 3.02. The spider communities showed significant variations in guild structure, species composition and abundance between all seasons. Lowest diversity among spider communities were recorded in pre monsoon season (H’= 2.84) and highest diversity in spider communities were recorded in winter (H’= 3.493). The study suggests changes in abiotic factors and variation in vegetation according to seasons have influence on variations in spider diversity in the studied area

COVID-somnia: Sleep disturbance among Indian nurses during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Sleep is vital for every aspect of human life. Inadequate sleep has a massive negative impact on health and work. There is very limited information about the impact of COVID-19 on the sleep disturbance of health-care workers. In our current study, we aim to find answers to certain questions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep patterns on nurses working in COVID care area. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 305 health-care workers who were purposively enrolled for this study. The study was conducted at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, from April to June 2021. An e-survey method was used to collect data. A questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, queries about sleep disturbances, and the patient health questionnaire-9 scale to assess anxiety among participants are among the research tools. Results: Mean age of health-care workers was 26.3 years (SD = 6.3). Most of them were women (81%) with a bachelor's degree in nursing (62%), nursing interns (46%), and married (71%). The majority of nurses (85%) were not infected with COVID and were given suitable personal protective equipment (46%) in the hospital. The majority of participants (45%) got 6–8 h of sleep per night did not receive any sleep therapy (90%). The most of participants (42%) reported that they did not enjoy performing activities and were under moderate stress (15.4). Conclusion: Health-care workers are struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic with limited and almost hackneyed resources. Healthy sleep is everyone's right. The current situation of the pandemic has a great impact on the psychological health of frontline health-care workers by affecting their professional performance