Central University of Kashmir

Fish are ectothermic (cold‑blooded) aquatic vertebrates that offer low-fat, high-protein nutrition and are rich sources of omega‑3 fatty acids, vitamins, and essential minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, zinc, iodine, and magnesium. The microbiota comprising bacteria, fungi, yeasts, viruses, and archaea in fish intestines plays a pivotal role in host physiology and disease prevention. These microbial communities are influenced by both internal factors (diet, nutritional status, anatomy) and external environmental influences. The gut microbiota supports digestion, nutrient synthesis, immune modulation, energy regulation, and contributes to the gut–brain axis, emphasizing its integral symbiosis with the host. Despite significant advances in high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, our understanding of fish microbiomes lags that of other vertebrates. Overall, this review underscores critical roles the gut microbiota plays in maintaining fish health and adaptation, highlighting the need for deeper research into its diversity, function, and applications for aquaculture and conservation.

We present a comprehensive temporal and spectral study of the flat-spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ) PKS 0402−362 using Fermi Large Area Telescope/Swift X-Ray Telescope/UVOT observations spanning from MJD 54686 to 60321. The γ -ray light curve exhibits multiple phases of enhanced activity, with the fractional variability parameter ( F _var ) showing larger amplitudes at longer timescales, consistent with variability trends observed in other FSRQs. Statistical analysis of the flux and spectral index distributions using the Anderson–Darling test and histogram fitting reveals that both distributions deviate from a single log-normal form and are better represented by a double log-normal profile, indicating two distinct flux states. A search for quasi-periodic oscillations in the γ -ray emission using the Lomb–Scargle periodogram identified a significant periodic signal at ∼413 days with a confidence level exceeding 3 σ . However, the proximity of the timescale to one year and the limited number of observed cycles prevents a definitive interpretation. Broadband spectral energy distributions for six flux states were modeled using a one-zone leptonic framework incorporating synchrotron, synchrotron self-Compton, and external Compton components. The spectral energy distributions are well reproduced with physically reasonable parameters: high-flux states exhibit harder electron spectra and lower magnetic field strengths ( B ∼ 0.2–0.6 G), while low-flux states show softer spectra and stronger magnetic fields ( B ∼ 1.3 G). The fitted break energy decreases during high-flux states, suggesting enhanced radiative cooling and a transition toward a particle- or kinetic-energy–dominated jet. These trends are consistent with the “harder-when-brighter” behavior commonly observed in blazars.

Recent results from the ACT collaboration indicate a higher value for the scalar spectral index, with ns = 0.9743 +/- 0.0034, which sets tighter constraints on inflationary models, and these shifts are not in favor of many pre-existing scenarios, including the widely studied and accepted standard Starobinsky model. In this paper, we examine the fractional power scalar potential within the framework of Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet (EGB) gravity, incorporating the standard slow-roll approximation. The EGB theory, motivated by higher-dimensional models, introduces quadratic curvature corrections and a coupling between the scalar field and the Gauss-Bonnet term, thereby modifying the cosmological dynamics. The results show good agreement with observational data, placing the predictions within the 1 sigma region of the ACT r-ns constraint plot. Furthermore, incorporating the running of the scalar spectral index reinforces the model's consistency with observational bounds. We also explore the parameter space of the EGB couplings and identify the range of free parameters for which the results of ns and r values remain within the 1 sigma region of the ACT constraints. Finally, we also investigate the reheating phase, demonstrating that the model not only agrees with ACT data but also satisfies the lower bound on the reheating temperature, thereby ensuring a consistent and viable cosmological scenario.

Pesticides are synthetic agrochemicals widely used to protect crops from pests and diseases; however, their limited biodegradability and indiscriminate application pose serious risks to non-target organisms, soil fertility, human health, and overall environmental sustainability. Conventional physical and chemical remediation strategies often fall short in restoring contaminated ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need for effective and sustainable pesticide mitigation approaches. In recent years, in situ bioremediation has emerged as a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective strategy for pesticide degradation in agricultural soils. Under favourable conditions, microorganisms utilise pesticides as sources of carbon, sulphur, and electrons, facilitating their breakdown through diverse metabolic pathways, with enzymatic degradation playing a central role in chemical transformation. Microbial consortia exhibit enhanced degradation efficiency by leveraging functional diversity and synergistic interactions among their microbial members. For instance, a consortium comprising Azospirillum, Cloacibacterium, and Ochrobacterium achieved 100% degradation of 50 mg L−1 glyphosate within 36 h. Advances in microbiome engineering have further expanded the scope of bioremediation by enabling the targeted manipulation of microbial communities to improve degradation specificity and performance. Notably, the recombined genomes of Psathyrella candolleana and Pseudomonas putida, generated through protoplast fusion, degraded 78.98% of pentachlorophenol in contaminated water. Additionally, engineering the rhizosphere with plant growth–promoting microorganisms, combined with microbial genetic modification, has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing pesticide degradation while simultaneously improving crop growth and productivity. Such integrative approaches represent a sustainable pathway towards resilient agroecosystems. This review synthesises current knowledge on the impacts of pesticides on crop physiology and metabolism, explores conventional and advanced microbe-mediated degradation strategies, and highlights the role of microbial engineering and consortia-based systems. Furthermore, it discusses emerging technologies, environmental and economic benefits, and recent patentable innovations, underscoring their relevance for sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration.

Honey, produced by different bee species is a complex matrix comprising ∼80–85 % sugars, 15–17 % water, and minor yet bioactive constituents including organic acids, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. Its quality and market value are increasingly compromised by adulteration and contamination, making physicochemical profiling essential for authentication and safety assurance. This review consolidates current advances in evaluating key parameters—colour (Pfund values ranging from light amber to dark amber depending on floral source), moisture content (<20 % in premium samples to ensure microbial stability), pH (3.2–4.5) and free acidity (<50 meq/kg as per Codex standards), electrical conductivity (0.1–1.5 mS/cm distinguishing nectar from honeydew honeys), mineral content (K often exceeding 1000 mg/kg), and carbohydrate profile (fructose 31–44 %, glucose 23–38 %, F/G ratio >1 in slow-crystallising honeys). By integrating compositional benchmarks with advanced analytical approaches, physicochemical characterization not only facilitates botanical and geographical traceability but also provides a robust framework for detecting sugar-syrup adulteration, preserving honey’s authenticity, therapeutic value, and consumer trust.