Millets are rich sources of nutrients that exhibit excellent functional and health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the engineering and physical properties of kodo and little millet kernels, as well as the physicochemical, nutritional, functional, rheological, and thermal properties of their flours, with refined wheat flour used as a control. The physicochemical and functional properties of Kodo and Little millet flours were systematically investigated using standard protocols, including rheological assessment of pasting behavior and color determination via a Chroma meter. According to our results, kodo millet kernel exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher geometric mean diameter, thousand kernel weight, and sphericity, whereas little millet kernel showed higher length, porosity, and angle of repose. Refined wheat flour had significantly higher protein content, whereas kodo millet flour had higher fiber and carbohydrate contents. Kodo flour also exhibited higher swelling and solubility indices, while little millet showed superior water absorption, oil absorption, bulk density, and foaming capacity. Little millet had higher protein, fat, and mineral contents, whereas kodo millet exhibited higher fiber and carbohydrate contents. Furthermore, kodo millet flour had higher peak, trough, breakdown, setback, and final viscosities, as well as higher pasting temperature and peak time compared to little millet. The rheological properties such as peak torque, water absorption, stability, softening, and mixing tolerance index were determined to be higher in kodo millet flour as compared to little millet flour. All the millets under study exhibited high nutritional and functional attributes. The underutilized minor millets could be considered for development of functional food for a sustainable approach with maintained human health and minimizing nutritional security. Moreover, the underutilized millet and their nutritional bioavailability and accessibility should be further investigated in future.
The phenomenon of media trials, amplified by the spread of digital media and social networks, raises significant issues regarding the independence of the judiciary and the right to a fair trial. Through structured interviews with a sample of 50 people, the study analyses the impact of the media on legal proceedings. The results show how media narratives can influence public opinion prior to a verdict, exert pressure on the independence of the judiciary and affect the presumption of innocence. Based on legal and empirical analysis, the study proposes a balance between freedom of expression, journalistic ethics, judicial safeguards and media literacy.
Central nervous system (CNS) development commences in third week of gestation with neural stem cells (NSCs), which, through symmetric division, expand the pool of stem cells and generate diverse types of neuronal and glia cells of CNS via asymmetric division. During neurodevelopment, spatiotemporal coordination is fundamental for appropriate morphogenesis and producing neuronal connections. Besides gene regulatory networks, external and internal factors guide NSCs during self-renewal, fate determination and differentiation. Recent studies indicate metabolism as one of the common converging integrators in NSCs to trigger modifications in response to external factors. One such external factor is micronutrients that profoundly affect different stages of neurodevelopment, including, differentiation, neural migration and maturation. This review aims to provide a summary of recent insights into how metabolism and micronutrients regulate different events of neurodevelopment including proliferation, fate determination and differentiation. Notably, we focus on illustrating the implications of mitochondria as key determinants of NSC fate and functionality. We also highlight the recent development on how metabolism orchestrates the epigenome of NSCs during proliferation and differentiation. We further explore the role of nutraceuticals in mitigating the risk of neurodevelopmental and adult neurological disorders, highlighting recent innovations in their therapeutic applications. An in-depth grasp of these molecular processes is fundamental to improving translational strategies for treating neurological disorders.
Multi-omics is the coordinated acquisition, integration, and interpretation of multiple datasets generated from diverse molecular layers of a biological system, intending to capture a comprehensive understanding of interactions between molecular hierarchies and reveal the complex regulatory architecture underlying cellular states, physiological processes, and disease phenotypes. Multi-omics integration signifies a transformative approach in cancer research, facilitating a systems-level comprehension of tumor biology that goes beyond the analysis of individual data layers. Through the combined analysis of data from genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, this method reveals the intricate molecular networks that influence tumorigenesis and its variability. High-throughput technologies play a crucial role in this context, enabling the identification of new biomarkers, the detection of actionable therapeutic targets, and the classification of unique cancer subtypes. Integrative omics is essentially transforming precision oncology by enhancing patient risk assessment and forecasting treatment responses, thus guiding personalized diagnosis and therapy approaches. The effectiveness of this method increases when molecular data are integrated with clinical and imaging information, resulting in stronger predictive models for personalized patient treatment. Nonetheless, considerable obstacles remain, such as the integration of diverse data, the adjustment of batch effects, and the clinical understandability of intricate computational models. Tackling these challenges requires sophisticated machine learning methods, uniform data processing workflows, and ongoing cross-disciplinary teamwork. With the advancement of these methodologies, multi-omics integration will act as the essential link between large-scale data and precision medicine, providing unmatched chances to unravel the intricacies of cancer and produce effective, tailored treatments. This review highlights the latest advancements, ongoing challenges, and future pathways that are influencing the next wave of cancer research and clinical applications.
Nanoparticles (NPs) are emerging as transformative agro-intervention agents with significant potential for improving bioformulation delivery, pathogen control, and soil fertility management. However, their efficacy is governed by a dualistic, dose-dependent nature; while excessive concentrations may pose environmental risks, controlled low-level applications can stimulate beneficial microbial growth and enzymatic activities. This phenomenon, known as hormesis, is essential for optimizing the nutrient cycling necessary for sustainable soil health. This review synthesizes contemporary insights into the varied impacts of NPs on agriculturally beneficial microbial (ABM) systems, particularly focusing on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and the production of secondary metabolites such as siderophores and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The review explicates mechanisms of NP-induced enzyme activity, relating these to the complexities of real soil environments, including factors like pH, organic matter content, and mineralogy, which influence NP behavior and bioavailability. Furthermore, it explores enzymatic activation pathways and proposes a framework for NP-microbe signaling involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) and microbial gene expression modulation. The authors stress the need for environmentally mindful NP designs, standardized ecological assessments via life cycle assessments (LCA), and robust regulations for the safe incorporation of nanotechnology in agriculture, which is necessary for fostering healthy soils and sustainable plant growth. Additionally, it highlights cutting-edge research on NP-mediated CRISPR-Cas technology for targeted microbial modifications and the role of deep neural networks (DNNs) in nano-ecotoxicology predictions, thereby linking nanoscience with microbial ecology to inform future research and agricultural policy. This review provides a holistic perspective that bridges nanoscience and microbial ecology, paving the way for sustainable innovation in managing soil health and plant nutrition. Engineered nanoparticles influence the soil–plant–microbiome system. The figure summarizes beneficial effects such as improved nutrient cycling, plant growth promotion, nitrogen fixation support, pathogen suppression, and quorum sensing disruption, alongside potential risks including microbial resistance development and enhanced horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes under prolonged or high-dose nanoparticle exposure. Abbreviations: NP= Nanoparticle; NPs = Nanoparticles; AMF = Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; RAM: Rhizospheric beneficial microorganisms; nHAP= Nano hydroxyapatite; HGT = Horizontal gene transfer; ARGs = Antibiotic resistance genes; Low and high dose effects indicate concentration-dependent biological responses in agroecosystems
