155 research outputs found
Metatranscriptome Analysis Deciphers Multifunctional Genes and Enzymes Linked With the Degradation of Aromatic Compounds and Pesticides in the Wheat Rhizosphere
Agricultural soils are becoming contaminated with synthetic chemicals like polyaromatic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phenols, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides due to excessive dependency of crop production systems on the chemical inputs. Microbial degradation of organic pollutants in the agricultural soils is a continuous process due to the metabolic multifunctionalities and enzymatic capabilities of the soil associated communities. The plant rhizosphere with its complex microbial inhabitants and their multiple functions, is amongst the most live and dynamic component of agricultural soils. We analyzed the metatranscriptome data of 20 wheat rhizosphere samples to decipher the taxonomic microbial communities and their multifunctionalities linked with the degradation of organic soil contaminants. The analysis revealed a total of 21 different metabolic pathways for the degradation of aromatic compounds and 06 for the xenobiotics degradation. Taxonomic annotation of wheat rhizosphere revealed bacteria, especially the Proteobacteria, actinobacteria, firmicutes, bacteroidetes, and cyanobacteria, which are shown to be linked with the degradation of aromatic compounds as the dominant communities. Abundance of the transcripts related to the degradation of aromatic amin compounds, carbazoles, benzoates, naphthalene, ketoadipate pathway, phenols, biphenyls and xenobiotics indicated abundant degradation capabilities in the soils. The results highlighted a potentially dominant role of crop rhizosphere associated microbial communities in the remediation of contaminant aromatic compounds
Kinetic study of the biodegradation of acephate by indigenous soil bacterial isolates in the presence of humic acid and metal ions
Many bacteria have the potential to use specific pesticides as a source of carbon, phosphorous, nitrogen and sulphur. Acephate degradation by microbes is considered to be a safe and effective method. The overall aim of the present study was to identify acephate biodegrading microorganisms and to investigate the degradation rates of acephate under the stress of humic acid and most common metal ions Fe(III) and copper Cu(II). Pseudomonas azotoformanss strain ACP1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain ACP2, and Pseudomonas putida ACP3 were isolated from acephate contaminated soils. Acephate of concentration 100 ppm was incubated with separate strain inoculums and periodic samples were drawn for UV—visible, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) and MS (Mass Spectrometry) analysis. Methamidophos, S-methyl O-hydrogen phosphorothioamidate, phosphenothioic S-acid, and phosphenamide were the major metabolites formed during the degradation of acephate. The rate of degradation was applied using pseudo-first-order kinetics to calculate the half-life (t1/2) values, which were 14.33–16.72 d−1 (strain(s) + acephate), 18.81–21.50 d−1 (strain(s) + acephate + Cu(II)), 20.06 –23.15 d−1 (strain(s) + acephate + Fe(II)), and 15.05–17.70 d−1 (strains + acephate + HA). The biodegradation efficiency of the three bacterial strains can be ordered as P. aeruginosa > P. putida > P. azotoformans. The present study illustrated the decomposition mechanism of acephate under different conditions, and the same may be applied to the removal of other xenobiotic compound
High-spin spectroscopy in At: Evidence of a 29/2 isomeric state
Yrast and near-yrast states above the known 25/2 isomer in At
are established for the first time. The level scheme is extended up to
47/2 and 6.5 MeV with the addition of about 60 new -ray
transitions. The half-life of the 25/2 isomer is revisited and a value of
= 107.5(9) ns is deduced. Evidence of a hitherto unobserved
29/2 isomer in At is presented. A systematic study of
values for the transitions de-exciting the 29/2 isomer in the neighboring
odd- At isotopes suggests a half-life in the 24 s range for this
state in At. The experimental results are compared with large-scale
shell-model calculations performed using the KHM3Y effective interaction in the
= 50126, = 82184 model space and an overall good agreement is
noted between the theory and the experiment. A qualitative comparison of the
excited states and the isomers with analogous states in neighboring nuclei
provides further insight into the structure of At.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figure
Coexisting single-particle excitations and octupole correlations in transitional nucleus
The level structure of the transitional nucleus has been
extended with the addition of around 20 new transitions. The discrepancies
between the placements of several transitions reported in the earlier studies
are resolved. The newly-established negative-parity sequence at low excitation
energies hints at the expected parity-doublet structures in this nucleus. The
properties of the observed simplex bands are compared with that of similar
bands in neighboring nuclei. Since the presence of parity-doublet structures
reflect octupole correlations, theoretical calculations using
reflection-asymmetric triaxial particle rotor model (RAT-PRM) have been
performed. A comparison of the observed features of the simplex bands with the
predictions of the RAT-PRM calculations suggests that
exhibits an intermediate the behavior between the extremes of spherical and
octupole-deformed nuclei. The termination of the simplex bands at intermediate
energies and the structures lying above reflect the dominance of the
single-particle excitations at higher excitation energies.Comment: 15 pages, 16 figure
Functional profiling of cyanobacterial genomes and its role in ecological adaptations
With the availability of complete genome sequences of many cyanobacterial species, it is becoming feasible to study the broad prospective of the environmental adaptation and the overall changes at transcriptional and translational level in these organisms. In the evolutionary phase, niche-specific competitive forces have resulted in specific features of the cyanobacterial genomes. In this study, functional composition of the 84 different cyanobacterial genomes and their adaptations to different environments was examined by identifying the genomic composition for specific cellular processes, which reflect their genomic functional profile and ecological adaptation. It was identified that among cyanobacterial genomes, metabolic genes have major share over other categories and differentiation of genomic functional profile was observed for the species inhabiting different habitats. The cyanobacteria of freshwater and other habitats accumulate large number of poorly characterized genes. Strain specific functions were also reported in many cyanobacterial members, of which an important feature was the occurrence of phage-related sequences. From this study, it can be speculated that habitat is one of the major factors in giving the shape of functional composition of cyanobacterial genomes towards their ecological adaptations
Not Available
Not AvailableWith the availability of complete genome sequences of many cyanobacterial species, it is becoming feasible to study the broad prospective of the environmental adaptation and the overall changes at transcriptional and translational level in these organisms. In the evolutionary phase, niche-specific competitive forces have resulted in specific features of the cyanobacterial genomes. In this study, functional composition of the 84 different cyanobacterial genomes and their adaptations to different environments was examined by identifying the genomic composition for specific cellular processes, which reflect their genomic functional profile and ecological adaptation.It was identified that among cyanobacterial genomes, metabolic genes have major share over other categories and differentiation of genomic functional profilewas observed for the species inhabiting different habitats.The cyanobacteria of freshwater and other habitats accumulate large number of poorly characterized genes.Strain specific functionswere also reported in many cyanobacterial members, of which an important featurewas the occurrence of phage-related sequences. From this study, it can be speculated that habitat is one of the major factors in giving the shape of functional composition of cyanobacterial genomes towards their ecological adaptations. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Not Availabl
Not Available
Not AvailablePurpose Agricultural chemicals either used as nutrient inputs for soil fertility or pesticides are creating physicochemical and
biological deterioration of the soils and disturbing the agro-ecosystems worldwide. Alarming concerns towards integrated
agroecology demand for renewed interest in low-external input-based farming practices. These practices comprise strengthening
of soil biological properties, recycling of inherent soil minerals and reuse of agricultural residual wastes.
Methods We described approaches for the bioconversion of agricultural residual wastes into value-added compost. The
process involves conversion of residual waste into raw compost followed by its fortification with beneficial decomposer
microorganisms to produce quality fortified compost product. Finally, incubation of fortified compost with single or consortia
of beneficial microorganisms like N-fixers, P-solubilizers or K-mobilizers and biocontrol agents further enriches compost
to produce bioorganic products.
Results Bioconversion of agricultural wastes into compost using potential decomposer microorganisms and fortification
of decomposed organic matter with beneficial bacterial and fungal species is of immense importance. Additional enrichment
of compost with botanicals, humic acid, amino acids, mineral nutrients, phytohormones etc. may also add value to the
bioinput products.
Conclusion In an integrated way, on-farm production of raw compost using different agricultural residual wastes and its
further fortification with bioorganic farm inputs can help farmers produce value-added compost products for direct application
in the crop production. Adoption of microbial bioconversion technologies and their field applications may become
eco-enterprising for the rural resource-poor farming communities for enhancing their livelihood along with improving farm
productivity and soil health.Not Availabl
Not Available
Not AvailableMicroorganisms are silently playing valuable role in the biogeochemical cycles
of the atmosphere since the early days of their evolution and it is because of their
activities, this earth has been transformed into today’s situation. These tiny and often
unseen organisms are responsible for recycling of nutrients and organic compounds
and contribute to plant, animal and human nutrition, soil structure and fertility, soil
health and ecosystem functioning. Prokaryotes, the first life forms of the earth are
considered as the ancestors of all kinds of organisms. These life forms with cells
having hereditary information not bound by the nucleus (karyon) have existed twice
longer (4 Gyr) than higher eukaryotic organisms with DNA bound in nucleus such
as fungi, plants and animals (2 Gyr).Not Availabl
Effect of dexmedetomidine on diseased coronary vessel diameter and myocardial protection in percutaneous coronary interventional patients
Introduction: Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 agonist used for conscious sedation. It has also been shown to have a myocardial protective effect in off-pump coronary artery bypass patients. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine for myocardial protection in percutaneous coronary interventional patients. Methodology: A total of 60 patients (group dexmedetomidine, n = 30 and group normal saline, n = 30) were enrolled in the study. Dexmedetomidine infusion (1 mcg/kg) over 15 min was given as a loading dose after coronary angiography in group dexmedetomidine (D) while normal saline was given in the control group (C) and later maintenance infusion was started at 0.5 mcg/kg/h in both the groups. Coronary vessel diameter was noted before (T0) and after (T1) loading dose of dexmedetomidine/saline in each group. Troponin T (Trop T) values were noted at baseline (T0), 6 h (T2), 12 h (T3) and 24 h (T4) after starting the loading dose. Hemodynamic variables (heart rate [HR] and blood pressure) were monitored at T0, T1, and at regular intervals till 2 h postprocedure. Results: Coronary vessel diameter and HR significantly decreased in group D as compared to control group (P < 0.05) whereas the decrease in Trop T at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h were not statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine decreases the coronary vessel diameter, but maintains the myocardial oxygen demand-supply ratio by decreasing the HR. The decrease in Trop T is statistically insignificant at the doses used
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