Evaluation of Cr (VI) remediation potential of Eichornia sp in conjunction with chromium-resistant bacterial strains

Purpose: Evaluation of Cr (VI) removal by indigenous chromium resistant bacterial strains alone and in combination with Eichornia sp.Methods: Three chromium resistant bacterial strains S-4 Ochrobactrum grignonense, SF-5 Bacillus sp. and S-6 Ochrobactrum pseudogrignonenses were isolated from industrial effluent. The isolated chromium-resistant bacterial strains were subjected to heavy-metal resistance profiling. Cr (VI) reduction was evaluated in mobilized as well as immobilized forms. The phytoremediation potential of Eichornia sp. in conjunction with chromium resistant bacterial isolates was also determined. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed to rule out the involvement of various functional groups in the binding activity of Cr (VI).Results: Three bacterial strains resisted up to 1000 μg/mL of potassium dichromate (K2CrO4). Bacterial strains S-4, SF-5 and S-6 showed significant Cr (VI) removal in mobilized state (84.93, 85.85 and 83.97% respectively) compared with immobilized state (41.27, 37.99, 37.96 %) at an initial concentration of 500 μg/mL of chromate. Bacterial strains caused reduction in chromate uptake in inoculated plants relative to control plants. FTIR spectra revealed significant changes in the absorption peaks, reflecting the binding of Cr (VI) ions with bacterial cell surface under stress conditions.Conclusion: The selected isolates tested possess the ability to remove Cr (VI) synergistically with Eichornia sp.Keywords: Phytoremediation, Heavy-metal, Pollution, Chromium-resistant bacteri

Bacterial Appraisal in Expired and Unexpired Pharmaceutical Products

The microbial quality of expired and unexpired Pharmaceutical products like Metronidazole, Acetylsalicylic acid, Chloramphenicol, Silver sulphadiazine, combination of Polymyxin B Sulphate, Propylene Glycol, Lignocaine, combination of Betamethasone and Neomycinand the combination of Lignocaine, Ethanol and Cetylpyridiniumwere examined by the microbial growth on culture plates. Isolation was performed by serial dilution method and bacterial recovered by streak plate technique on Blood Agar, Chocolate Agar and MacConkey’s Agar. Isolates were characterized morphologically by gram staining and biochemical analysis. Microorganisms isolated from expired product are S.epidermidis (33.3%), B. subtilis (4.7%), Streptococcus (28.5%), Pseudomonas (9.5%), Listeria (4.7%) and B.cereus (19%) while B. subtilis(9.5%), Enterococcus (9.5%), E. coli (9.09%), S. epidermidis (27.2%), Listeria (9.5%) and Streptococcus (9.09%) are isolated from unexpired products.  The isolated organism is mostly normal flora but opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria are also isolated which can cause disease especially in immune-compromised person or infants. The isolation of organisms may be due to improper hygiene maintenance or poor packaging techniques as the risk of contamination is higher while processing rather than during use. It revealed that quality of unexpired products have to be improved by producers to minimize the bio-liability so pharmaceutical companies should adopt good manufacturing practice to avoid microbial contamination in unexpired pharmaceuticals as well as the consumer should be educated and are aware of hazardous effect of using expired products

Ochrobactrum, bacillus and Enterobacter isolates of Hot Water Spring Augment the Growth of Zea Mays Seedlings

Hot springs situated at high altitudes is a kind of remarkable ecosystem for the exploration of microbial flora. It was hypothesized that hot springs can harbor bacteria with plant growth-promoting and exopolysaccharides (EPS) producing ability that can favour the growth of plants. For the investigation of this hypothesis, seven EPS producing bacterial isolates were isolated from a water sample of hot water spring of Tattapani, Azad Kashmir and characterized morphologically and biochemically. Three out of seven isolates (BE1, BN1 and BN3) showed significant production of EPS (14-15 mg / 100 ml). Growth kinetics study revealed that optimum EPS production was attained at pH 9, with fructose as a carbon source and peptone as a nitrogen source. Inoculation of these isolates caused augmentation in seed germination (27-38 %), shoot length (27-35 %), seedling length (10-14 %), number of roots (12-25 %) of Zea mays (variety-MMRI yellow) seedlings and significant rise in auxin (28-51 %) and soluble protein content (50-68 %) as compared to non-inoculated treatment. Alcian blue staining unveiled the good colonization potential of these isolates on inoculated roots. Bacterial isolates were identified as Ochrobactrum intermedium (BE1), Bacillus pumilus (BN1) and Enterobacter cloacae (BN3), respectively through 16S rRNA analysis. Bacterial strain BN3 showed promising results for plant growth promotion along with EPS production. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of EPS produced by strain BN3 revealed the complex composition of EPS. We concluded that hot springs can be the possible home for EPS producing bacteria with plant growth promotion capability

Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater Using Novel Polydopamine-Modified CNTs-Based Composite Membranes

The presence of major heavy metals including Pb2+, Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Hg2+, Cr6+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ in water is of great concern because they cannot degrade or be destroyed. They are toxic even at very low concentrations. Therefore, it is necessary to remove such toxicants from water. In the current study, polydopamine carbon nanotubes (PD-CNTs) and polysulfone (PS) composite membranes were prepared. The structural and morphological features of the prepared PDCN composite membranes were studied using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDS. The potential application of PDCNs for heavy metal removal was studied for the removal of Pb2+, Cr6+, and Cd2+ from wastewater. The maximum removal efficiency of 96.1% was obtained for Cr6+ at 2.6 pH using a composite membrane containing 1.0% PD-CNTs. The removal efficiencies decreased by 64.1 and 73.4, respectively, by enhancing the pressure from 0.50 up to 0.85 MPa. Under the same circumstances, the percentages of Pb+2 removal at 0.49 bar by the PDCNS membranes containing 0.5% and 1.0% PD-CNT were 70 and 90.3, respectively, and decreased to 54.3 and 57.0, respectively, upon increasing the pressure to 0.85 MPa. The results showed that PDCNS membranes have immense potential for the removal of heavy metals from water

Women leadership and their experience of internal identity asymmetry at workplace

Individuals at the workplace have a lasting interest in how others perceive them and a core desire for others to assert and verify their salient work-related identities. Internal identity asymmetry is encountered when an individual feels misidentified; when they think their work-related identities are not recognized by their peers. This article based on previous literature about women leadership and their experience of Internal Identity at the workplace. Although there is no concrete theory to explain this concept accordingly in this article, we attempt to investigate the concept of internal identity asymmetry with related theories combined. Subsequently, we addressed how women get misidentified and deduce the consequences of experiences of Internal Identity Asymmetry at the workplace. The current study is a conceptual paper and therefore, contributes freshness to this existing literature by integrating the concept of internal Identity asymmetry and women leadership thus, the model can be empirically tested in future research

Effectiveness of Natural Antioxidants against SARS-CoV-2? Insights from the In-Silico World

The SARS CoV-2 pandemic has affected millions of people around the globe. Despite many efforts to find some effective medicines against SARS CoV-2, no established therapeutics are available yet. The use of phytochemicals as antiviral agents provides hope against the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2. Several natural compounds were analyzed by virtual screening against six SARS CoV-2 protein targets using molecular docking simulations in the present study. More than a hundred plant-derived secondary metabolites have been docked, including alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, and steroids. SARS CoV-2 protein targets include Main protease (M(Pro)), Papain-like protease (PL(pro)), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), Spike glycoprotein (S), Helicase (Nsp13), and E-Channel protein. Phytochemicals were evaluated by molecular docking, and MD simulations were performed using the YASARA structure using a modified genetic algorithm and AMBER03 force field. Binding energies and dissociation constants allowed the identification of potentially active compounds. Ligand-protein interactions provide an insight into the mechanism and potential of identified compounds. Glycyrrhizin and its metabolite 18-β-glycyrrhetinic acid have shown a strong binding affinity for M(Pro), helicase, RdRp, spike, and E-channel proteins, while a flavonoid Baicalin also strongly binds against PL(pro) and RdRp. The use of identified phytochemicals may help to speed up the drug development and provide natural protection against SARS-CoV-2

Evaluation of Bioactivity and Preliminary Phytochemical Investigation of Herbal Plants Against Ampicillin Resistant Bacteria

Presently, natural products are extensively used as substitute of synthetic drugs because of natural and environment friendly antimicrobial actions due to presence of bioactive compounds. These bioactive compounds are found extensively in herbs. In this study, bioactivity and phytochemical study of crude extracts of Ocimum basilicum, Thymus vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis and Origanum vulgare against ampicillin resistant bacterial strains isolated from fruits and vegetables eaten as raw, was investigated. Bacterial strains were isolated from the surface of selected washed fruits and vegetables by serial dilution method. Three morphologically different strains (A, P and L) were selected on the basis of resistance to ampicillin (150ug/ml). 16s rRNA sequencing revealed that bacterial strains A, P and L belong to Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain A, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain P and Rhodobacter sphaeroides, respectively. Phytochemical screening showed presence of different chemical compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phlobotannins, quinones, coumarin and flavonoids. Occurrence of saponins and flavonoids in the extract was further confirmed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis and Origanum vulgare extracts caused inhibition of the isolated ampicillin resistant organisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) but effect of Thymus vulgaris was more pronounced. Anti-mitotic study revealed the ability of these extracts to reduce dividing cells by the anti-mitotic properties and this is helpful in inhibition of the development of cancer cells. Therefore, these plants can be used to discover natural products that will aid in more effective developments of new drug research activities

Women leadership and their experience of internal identity asymmetry at workplace

Individuals at the workplace have a lasting interest in how others perceive them and a core desire for others to assert and verify their salient work-related identities. Internal identity asymmetry is encountered when an individual feels misidentified; when they think their work-related identities are not recognized by their peers. This article based on previous literature about women leadership and their experience of Internal Identity at the workplace. Although there is no concrete theory to explain this concept accordingly in this article, we attempt to investigate the concept of internal identity asymmetry with related theories combined. Subsequently, we addressed how women get misidentified and deduce the consequences of experiences of Internal Identity Asymmetry at the workplace. The current study is a conceptual paper and therefore, contributes freshness to this existing literature by integrating the concept of internal Identity asymmetry and women leadership thus, the model can be empirically tested in future research

Women leadership and their experience of internal identity asymmetry at workplace

Individuals at the workplace have a lasting interest in how others perceive them and a core desire for others to assert and verify their salient work-related identities. Internal identity asymmetry is encountered when an individual feels misidentified; when they think their work-related identities are not recognized by their peers. This article based on previous literature about women leadership and their experience of Internal Identity at the workplace. Although there is no concrete theory to explain this concept accordingly in this article, we attempt to investigate the concept of internal identity asymmetry with related theories combined. Subsequently, we addressed how women get misidentified and deduce the consequences of experiences of Internal Identity Asymmetry at the workplace. The current study is a conceptual paper and therefore, contributes freshness to this existing literature by integrating the concept of internal Identity asymmetry and women leadership thus, the model can be empirically tested in future research