Metal tolerance in halotolerant bacteria isolated from saline soil of Khambhat

Five halotolerant bacteria were isolated from saline soil of Gujarat. Their identification and characterization with respect to optimum pH and salt concentration, and metal tolerance was carried out. Among all isolates Virgibacillus salarius exhibited better metal tolerance/resistance. In certain cases stimulatory effect of metal ions on growth was also observed. Such organisms can serve as a good model for study of stress response among prokaryotes, and can also be explored for their potential of bioremediation of metal polluted saline sites with alkaline pH

Production of Bioflavour from Microbial Sources and its health benefits

352-357Aroma and flavour are the important part of food that increase the organoleptic properties of a food and makes the food more acceptable among consumers. Flavour and aromatic compounds are the most essential components in food, feed, cosmetics, pharmaceutics, and toiletries products. Commercial production of flavour and aroma compounds from the microbial source in the industry is a modern approach but the concept behind it is in human practices since time immemorial. However, the health-promoting benefits of microbial bioprocesses products are numerous ranging, from antibiotics to fermented functional foods are among the most appreciable one. This review includes the verity of flavour production from various types of microorganisms and its application in the food industry, and a brief discussion about its health benefits among the consumers

Production of Bioflavour from Microbial Sources and its health benefits

Aroma and flavour are the important part of food that increase the organoleptic properties of a food and makes the food more acceptable among consumers. Flavour and aromatic compounds are the most essential components in food, feed, cosmetics, pharmaceutics, and toiletries products. Commercial production of flavour and aroma compounds from the microbial source in the industry is a modern approach but the concept behind it is in human practices since time immemorial. However, the health-promoting benefits of microbial bioprocesses products are numerous ranging, from antibiotics to fermented functional foods are among the most appreciable one. This review includes the verity of flavour production from various types of microorganisms and its application in the food industry, and a brief discussion about its health benefits among the consumers

Understanding Graduate Research Assistants' Experiences of Workplace Incivility

The purpose of this study was to understand workplace incivility experiences and its impact on Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) (non-teaching) who were employed at a large public university in the United States of America (USA) Workplace incivility is a growing problem of our society and is rapidly rising. Incivility prevails in all types of workplaces, corporate, small businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions. While several studies on workplace incivility have been carried out in business settings, there are fewer studies that have been conducted in educational settings. Specifically, studies on workplace incivility in the higher education context have been conducted primarily in the nursing education context and/or with graduate/undergraduate students. Further, fewer studies in higher education have explored workplace incivility in relation to individuals that are of a lower position such as, Graduate Assistants (GAs). Studies that do exist on the mistreatment of GAs have revealed that universities take advantage of them, and Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) face incivility from undergraduate students. However, it appears that a study on Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) (whose responsibility should be to assist with research) experiences of workplace incivility had not been conducted. Within the naturalistic paradigm, I used the phenomenological approach. Eight diverse participants (GRAs) were interviewed twice for this study. Data was analyzed using techniques unique to phenomenology such as, horizontalization. The findings revealed that although participants faced challenges due to incivility they transcended those experiences in order to achieve academic success. Participants experienced incivility from powerful individuals as well as those who were in lower and similar positions. Further, participants experienced incivility due to their race, gender, culture, job, and job description. Incivility impacted participants’ personal, professional, and academic life. Nevertheless, participants developed coping mechanisms, and one of which was reciprocating incivility in conspicuous manners to avoid jeopardizing their role as an employee and student. Most importantly, participants build resilience and developed a new identity which helped them in becoming goal-oriented so they could obtain their degree. Based on the finding, a new conceptual framework was developed to capture the essence of GRAs experiences of workplace incivility. Implications for human resource development were drawn and specific future research directions were discussed

Aerosol propellants leading to factitious reading by gas monitoring

A well-equipped Anaesthesia workstation is boon for safe anaesthesia practice. Anaesthesia agent gas monitoring has become an integral part of intraoperative monitoring. The infrared analyzers are commonly used for measuring anaesthetic agents. These advanced gas monitoring devices help in accurate titration of delivery of anaesthetics to patients particularly at low flows. However as with any technology, gas monitoring is also associated with inherent errors. Newer aerosol propellants like hydro-flouro- alkanes (HFA) are known to cause erroneous detection of inhalational anaesthetic agents during general anaesthesia

A Study on Evaluation of Various Tongue Patterns in North Indian Population and a Working Classification System for These Tongue Print Patterns

INTRODUCTION: Tongue is a vital internal organ enclosed within the oral cavity and is well protected from the external environment. The color, shape, and surface features are characteristic of every individual, and this serves as a tool for identification. The search for a new personal identification method secure has led to the use of the tongue print as a method of biometric verification.AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To analyze the shape, margins, texture of tongue prints and compare these between males and females. Also, formulate a working classification system for these tongue prints.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects were asked to protrude tongue in relaxed position. After this tongue images were captured using Nikon digital camera to evaluate the shape, texture, margins, and papillations of tongue patterns.RESULT: The most common pattern seen in males and females was Patternless, with majority of subjects showing scalloped lateral margins, prominent papillations with short and broad tongue. Mostly female patients had pointed tip of tongue. Also, we in this paper have formulated a working classification system for easily categorizing the tongue print patterns in individuals.CONCLUSION: The human tongue is unique and delivers relevant information about shape, size, color, texture, margins and is suitable for forensic case identification

Thermo-electric generation (TEG) enabled cookstoves in a rural Indian community: a longitudinal study of user behaviours and perceptions

Background: Traditional cookstoves that burn solid biomass are associated with inefficient burning, a high degree of household air pollution and high morbidity rates. A key barrier to the adoption of clean cookstoves has been the cost of fuels. Hence, a Thermo-Electric Generating (TEG) cookstove that used solid biomass fuels more efficiently and released less smoke was developed. The TEG cookstove also generates electricity to power small electric devices. Fifteen TEG cookstoves were distributed to villagers in the Indian state of Uttarakhand in 2019. / Objective: We wanted to understand whether, after two years of distribution, TEG cookstoves were still used, what and where they were used for, their perceived impacts on health, and the barriers to their use. / Methods used: We surveyed 10 of the 15 recipient households. We applied the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour and Behaviour Change Wheel frameworks to understand what the barriers to adoption were, and what could be done to surmount these. / Results: All respondents reported lower smoke levels and most respondents reported that the TEG cookstoves required less fuelwood than their traditional cookstoves, but none had used them in the month prior to the survey. / Discussion: For those whose TEG cookstoves were still usable and had not been made redundant by clean cookstoves, we found there to be physical opportunity barriers and psychological capability barriers. Physical opportunity barriers included a small inlet for fuel, limited versatility beyond cooking at low temperatures, and the availability of only one hob. To surmount these barriers, we recommend co-design to suit user needs and education emphasising visible benefits of avoided soot on kitchen walls, in addition to the health benefits

Design and Implementation of Full Bridge Non-isolated DC-DC Bidirectional Converter Using Fuzzy logic

With ever increasing benefits of non-renewable energy sources, the importance of energy storage system is increasing consistently. Power electronics converters are usually used to convert the power from renewable sources to match the load demand and grid requirements to improve dynamic and steady state characteristics of these green generation systems. Therefore, there is growing importance in bidirectional DC to DC converters for interface battery with energy sources. As DC to DC bidirectional converters can transfer the power between two DC sources in either direction, these converters are widely used in renewable energy hybrid power systems. Efficiency, economy and high conversion ratio are the some challenges in the development of DC to DC converters. For the low voltage range, non-isolated DC to DC converters are suitable also; they are fit for DC micro grid voltage levels

A Sonomyography-based Muscle Computer Interface for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

Impairment of hand functions in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) severely disrupts activities of daily living. Recent advances have enabled rehabilitation assisted by robotic devices to augment the residual function of the muscles. Traditionally, non-invasive electromyography-based peripheral neural interfaces have been utilized to sense volitional motor intent to drive robotic assistive devices. However, the dexterity and fidelity of control that can be achieved with electromyography-based control have been limited due to inherent limitations in signal quality. We have developed and tested a muscle-computer interface (MCI) utilizing sonomyography to provide control of a virtual cursor for individuals with motor-incomplete spinal cord injury. We demonstrate that individuals with SCI successfully gained control of a virtual cursor by utilizing contractions of muscles of the wrist joint. The sonomyography-based interface enabled control of the cursor at multiple graded levels demonstrating the ability to achieve accurate and stable endpoint control. Our sonomyography-based muscle-computer interface can enable dexterous control of upper-extremity assistive devices for individuals with motor-incomplete SCI

Depletion of M. tuberculosis GlmU from infected murine lungs effects the clearance of the pathogen

M. tuberculosis N-acetyl-glucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmUMtb) is a bi-functional enzyme engaged in the synthesis of two metabolic intermediates N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate (GlcNAc-1-P) and UDP-GlcNAc, catalyzed by the C- and N-terminal domains respectively. UDP-GlcNAc is a key metabolite essential for the synthesis of peptidoglycan, disaccharide linker, arabinogalactan and mycothiols. While GlmUMtb was predicted to be an essential gene, till date the role of GlmUMtb in modulating the in vitro growth of Mtb or its role in survival of pathogen ex vivo / in vivo have not been deciphered. Here we present the results of a comprehensive study dissecting the role of GlmUMtb in arbitrating the survival of the pathogen both in vitro and in vivo. We find that absence of GlmUMtb leads to extensive perturbation of bacterial morphology and substantial reduction in cell wall thickness under normoxic as well as hypoxic conditions. Complementation studies show that the acetyl- and uridyl- transferase activities of GlmUMtb are independently essential for bacterial survival in vitro and GlmUMtb is also found to be essential for mycobacterial survival in THP-1 cells as well as in guinea pigs. Depletion of GlmUMtb from infected murine lungs, four weeks post infection, led to significant reduction in the bacillary load. The administration of Oxa33, a novel oxazolidine derivative that specifically inhibits GlmUMtb, to infected mice resulted in significant decrease in the bacillary load. Thus our study establishes GlmUMtb as a strong candidate for intervention measures against established tuberculosis infections