GD Goenka University

The convergence of high-throughput sequencing, systems biology and distributed computing has made microbiology a data-intensive field, generating vast genomic, proteomic and metabolomic datasets. Traditional infrastructures—single servers, relational databases and sequential pipelines—are no longer sufficient to manage the scale and complexity of modern data. This chapter analyzes high-performance big data architectures designed for advanced microbiological research. It begins with the data challenges in contemporary microbiology and explores distributed frameworks such as Apache Hadoop, Spark, Kafka and Flink, alongside cloud-native platforms, containerized pipelines, real-time surveillance systems and machine learning integration. It also addresses governance and security for ethical and reliable data sharing. Supported by architectural figures and comparative tables, the chapter bridges theory and practice. It concludes by highlighting emerging technologies like quantum-classical computing, neuromorphic biosensing and federated learning shaping future microbiological data systems.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are two prominent neurological disorders. Both present a large number of clinical and socio-economic issues, but they are increasingly seen as having common pathways through which they cause disease. For both TBI and AD, oxidative stress and neuro-inflammatory responses lead to neuronal damages, impairment in synaptic function, and continued neuro-degeneration. After TBI, excessive production of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals damages mitochondrial function, while also activating microglial and astroglial cells chronically to cause inflammation. In patients with AD, continued oxidative damage leads to an accumulation of amyloid‑β protein and also leads to an increase in tau phosphorylation. There is an increasing body of literature demonstrating that the pathways by which TBI and AD occur may functionally connect short-term brain injuries to long-term neuro-degenerative processes. This article reviews the available data related to what currently drives the neuronal damage associated with TBI and AD through oxidative stress and inflammation and the available and generating treatment options—particularly antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, compounds protecting mitochondria, nanoparticles designed to deliver drugs, and phytochemicals with multi-targeted activity. The focus of this paper is on the scientific data supporting both the mechanistic pathways underlying the damage and the pharmacological/biological therapies that might treat the damage from a single point of view. The innovative aspect of this article lies in its demonstration of the relationship between oxidative stress and inflammation and its impact on the continuum of neuronal disease causing TBI leading to AD, and the potential of multi-targeted therapies to modify the ongoing disease processes.

PurposeThis study provides a replicable framework for Indian policymakers, urban planners and scholars to measure, compare and act upon cultural dimensions in ways that make sustainability not only technically achievable but also socially meaningful and culturally grounded in smart cities. Using AHP, the various dimensions of cultural sustainability were identified from the literature and, through expert opinion, prioritised to provide a framework for integrating culture into the conception of a smart city.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered through interviews with an expert panel comprising professionals from diverse backgrounds, each contributing meaningfully to the significance of cultural sustainability in the context of smart cities. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to analyse data on cultural sustainability and smart cities to assess five dimensions: cultural heritage, cultural rights, cultural vitality, cultural resilience and cultural diversity. These dimensions of cultural sustainability in a smart city were identified using literature and expert inputs. The criteria and sub-criteria were ascertained, and a hierarchical structure was defined for which the AHP technique provides results.FindingsThe results revealed that, among the five criteria of cultural sustainability, cultural heritage encompassing a community's wisdom, identity and values takes the highest priority, with a weight of 0.384, followed by cultural resilience (0.292), cultural vitality (0.154) at third place, followed by cultural diversity (0.095) and cultural rights (0.075) at fourth and fifth places, respectively. The overall AHP ranking of the cultural sustainability parameters, with cultural diversity and cultural rights at the bottom, suggests that in emerging economies, culture is perceived through its tangible attributes, affordability, and economic benefits.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is unique in integrating cultural sustainability into sustainable development within a smart city framework. By expanding on the concept of culture for a smart city, it transforms culture from an abstract concept into one with measurable dimensions. It enriches the existing definition of a smart city by bringing cultural sustainability and its multiple dimensions into its ambit.Practical implicationsThe findings of our research contribute to the broader framework for incorporating culture into smart cities and provide a mechanism for incorporating its various dimensions. It is a comprehensive framework which captures the multidimensional nature of culture and its effect on sustainable development in the context of a smart city. The inclusion of culture enriches our current understanding of sustainability and provides a pathway for incorporating it into tangible outcomes.Social implicationsThe research highlights the contours of culture that can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, primarily SDG 11, which focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities that enable thriving cultural spaces. From a monolithic perspective on what constitutes smart, which routinely comprises technical, information technology and infrastructural facets, the smart city becomes more rooted and people-centric when cultural sustainability is incorporated.Originality/valueThis study is a novel attempt to provide a roadmap for incorporating culture into conversations about smart cities by offering measurable indicators across various dimensions, a research gap that has remained until now. Drawing on culture as the fourth pillar of sustainability, this study aims to identify the dimensions of cultural sustainability in a smart city.

Diabetic ulcers remain a significant clinical concern because of their poor healing, persistent inflammation, and increased infection risk. Chitosan and its derivatives have emerged as promising biomaterials for ulcer management due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, mucoadhesiveness, pH responsiveness, and intrinsic properties, including hemostatic effects, antibacterial activity, anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant capabilities, and self-healing capabilities. This review provides a comprehensive and current overview of chitosan-based approaches for diabetic ulcer management, focusing on both conventional and advanced biomaterials, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, nanofibers, microneedles, sponges, and 3D scaffolds. Special attention is given to stimuli-responsive chitosan systems designed to adjust drug release in response to specific cues, such as pH, reactive oxygen species, temperature, enzymes, or glucose levels. To underscore the translation potential, the review compiles commercialized products, recent patents, and clinical trials related to the management of diabetic ulcers based on chitosan formulations. Finally, the integration of AI-driven design with smart chitosan systems is proposed as a future direction towards personalized and predictive diabetic ulcer management.

Heavy metals consist of a variety of elements, including lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium, among others. Industrial operations, packaging, mining, agricultural practices, and waste discharges are all examples of anthropogenic activities that contribute to the production of persistent environmental pollutants. These pollutants originate from natural causes, such as volcanic eruptions and rock weathering, as well as from anthropogenic activity. These metals infiltrate ecosystems, contaminating water, soil, and air, subsequently entering the food chain through consumption by animals and plants. The primary dietary sources of heavy metal exposure consist of contaminated vegetables, fruits, cereals, fish, and shellfish. Metals accumulate in these foods, and posing substantial risks to human health. Heavy metals present in foods produce toxicities through various mechanisms that include generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disruption of cellular processes, oxidative stress, protein and enzyme inactivation, and DNA damage and genomic instability, leading to organ impairment, cancer, reproductive disorders, cardiac disorders, and endocrine disruption. Study highlighting the serious need for regulation, monitoring, and remediation approaches to minimise the threat of heavy metals across the world.