A systematic in silico report on iron and zinc proteome of Zea mays

Zea mays is an essential staple food crop across the globe. Maize contains macro and micronutrients but is limited in essential mineral micronutrients such as Fe and Zn. Worldwide, serious health concerns have risen due to the deficiencies of essential nutrients in human diets, which rigorously jeopardizes economic development. In the present study, the systematic in silico approach has been used to predict Fe and Zn binding proteins from the whole proteome of maize. A total of 356 and 546 putative proteins have been predicted, which contain sequence and structural motifs for Fe and Zn ions, respectively. Furthermore, the functional annotation of these predicted proteins, based on their domains, subcellular localization, gene ontology, and literature support, showed their roles in distinct cellular and biological processes, such as metabolism, gene expression and regulation, transport, stress response, protein folding, and proteolysis. The versatile roles of these shortlisted putative Fe and Zn binding proteins of maize could be used to manipulate many facets of maize physiology. Moreover, in the future, the predicted Fe and Zn binding proteins may act as relevant, novel, and economical markers for various crop improvement programs

Health System in Transition in India: Journey from State Provisioning to Privatization

This paper highlights how privatization in healthcare is being promoted and its further growth facilitated through the adoption of neoliberal policies in India. The approach to financing healthcare has been shifting from public provisioning to tax-funded health insurance merely to achieve health coverage. The idea of the strategic purchasing of care from private providers promoted through insurance seems likely to aggravate the crisis in access and healthcare delivery. Such a crisis will escalate costs and promote concentration and monopolies in the healthcare market. Under the recently promoted neoliberal policy, India is compromising the goal of comprehensive provision of public health services, which is essential for creating a healthier society. </p

Roof above the head : A qualitative assessment of rural housing in India

The development of rural housing in a manner that results in adequate, quality shelter for inhabitants of Mahatma Gandhi’s “real India” is a challenge before the nation. What are the issues confronting rural housing development in India? The litany of its woes is endless. At first impression, rural housing is vulnerable to weaknesses in the delivery system for housing materials and services. Gradually, it dawns on the observer that the sector is deeply affected by the infrastructure deficit – roads, electricity supply, drinking water and sanitation. It has been bypassed by the numerous economic revolutions that have made India a vibrant economic superpower. For instance housing finance, which played a key role in the urban housing explosion, is conspicuous by its absence in the rural setting. Additionally, the limited mobility of rural households, the lack of vibrancy in the market for village properties and the marked volatility in agricultural incomes combine to dampen the prospects of this nebulous sector.Housing

Synthesis, Spectral Studies and Antimicrobial Activity of imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole derivatives

Thiadiazole is a heterocyclic compound containg both two nitrogen atom and one sulfur atom as a part of the aromatic five-membered ring. The imidazo [2,1-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazole ring system is the core skeleton of well known immunomodulator levamisole. The synthesis and antimicrobial activity of nine 6-Phenyl-2- substituted imidazo [2,1-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives were reported against Gram +ve bacteria Bacillius subtilis (MTCC 121), Staphyloccus aureus (MTCC 87), Gram –ve bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 424), Escherichia coli (MTCC 40), and fungal strains Candida albicans (MTCC 183), Fusarium solani (MTCC 2935), Fusarium oxyporium (MTCC 2840). Ciprofloxacin and Fluconazole were used as standard drug for antibacterial and antifungal activity respectively. The synthesized compound (6) and (5b) had moderate antibacterial activity especially with Gram negative Escherichia coli (MTCC 40) where (5a) and (5f) had good antibacterial activity. The structures of the synthesized compounds were established by IR, NMR and Mass spectral studies

COVID-19 vaccine on board ships: current and future implications of seafarers.

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Alcohol and Smoking Mediated Modulations in Adaptive Immunity in Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a condition of pancreatic inflammation driven by injury to the pancreatic parenchyma. The extent of acinar insult, intensity, and type of immune response determines the severity of the disease. Smoking, alcohol and autoimmune pancreatitis are some of the predominant risk factors that increase the risk of pancreatitis by differentially influencing the adaptive immune system. The overall decrease in peripheral lymphocyte (T-, B- and (natural killer T-) NKT-cell) count and increased infiltration into the damaged pancreatic tissue highlight the contribution of adaptive immunity in the disease pathology. Smoking and alcohol modulate the responsiveness and apoptosis of T- and B-cells during pancreatic insult. Acute pancreatitis worsens with smoking and alcohol, leading to the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome, suggesting the critical role of adaptive immunity in fatal outcomes such as multiple organ dysfunction. The presence of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes and perforin-expressing cells in the fibrotic tissue in chronic pancreatitis modulate the severity of the disease. Due to their important role in altering the severity of the disease, attempts to target adaptive immune mediators will be critical for the development of novel therapeutic interventions