The Neotia University (TNU) is a UGC recognised Private University in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Founded on 3rd day of February 2015 vide the West Bengal State Government Act XXIII of 2014, assent of the Governor was first published in the Kolkata Gazette, Extraordinary, of 21 January 2015.TNU is primarily offering courses in various field of Technology, Maritime Studies and in other general areas of education..
Biochar-poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites are emerging as waste-derived biocomposites that integrate biomass valorization, biodegradable polymer development, and circular bioeconomy strategies. This review critically synthesizes how biochar feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, ash content, inorganic composition, surface chemistry, particle size, filler loading, and processing route influence the thermal, mechanical, degradability, and functional performance of PLA-based composites. Current evidence shows that optimized biochar incorporation can improve stiffness, tensile or flexural modulus, crystallization behaviour, impact resistance, dimensional stability, and composting-driven degradation. These benefits are mainly linked to biochar's carbon-rich structure, porous morphology, nucleating ability, surface functionality, and interfacial interactions with PLA. However, performance gains are not universal. Excessive loading or poor dispersion can reduce tensile strength, elongation at break, thermal stability, melt flow, and processability because of particle agglomeration, weak filler-matrix adhesion, moisture sensitivity, pore blockage, and processing-induced PLA chain scission. Particular attention is given to ash and inorganic residues, including alkali and alkaline-earth metals, carbonates, phosphates, silicates, and metal oxides, which may either promote crystallization and char formation or catalyze PLA degradation depending on their speciation, concentration, and dispersion. The review compares solvent casting, melt mixing, extrusion, compression and injection molding, filament production, and additive manufacturing, highlighting their advantages and processing constraints. Application opportunities in packaging, agriculture, water treatment, construction-related materials, biomedical systems, and 3D printing are discussed alongside food-contact safety, migration, durability, biocompatibility, regulatory, and end-of-life considerations. Wider adoption requires feedstock standardization, ash chemistry control, improved interfacial design, application-specific validation, and life-cycle assessment.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major global challenge in aquaculture, largely driven by the widespread and frequently unregulated use of antibiotics in finfish, shrimp, and shellfish production systems. Intensive farming practices characterized by high stocking densities, suboptimal biosecurity, and limited disease diagnostics increase infection pressure and encourage prophylactic and metaphylactic antimicrobial use. Consequently, antibiotic residues accumulate in water, sediments, and aquatic organisms, imposing strong selective pressure that promotes the emergence and persistence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and accelerates the horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) within aquatic ecosystems through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mechanisms such as conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Increasing evidence indicates that aquaculture systems function as critical hotspots for AMR development, facilitating the dissemination of resistant pathogens and ARGs to wild aquatic biota, terrestrial environments, livestock systems, and humans through direct exposure, environmental pathways, and the consumption of aquaculture products. This review synthesizes current knowledge on regional patterns of antimicrobial use in aquaculture. It examines the molecular and ecological mechanisms driving antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic persistence in water and sediments and the resulting selection pressure on microbial communities. The review also highlights the spread of ARGs through HGT, which contributes to the emergence and dissemination of resistance. Furthermore, it discusses the environmental and public health implications of AMR, particularly the transmission of resistant bacteria and ARGs through aquatic environments and seafood. These pathways may increase the risk of human infections and reduce the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments. It further examines the prevalence and diversity of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in cultured finfish, shellfish, and ornamental species, identifying integrated farming systems as key amplifiers of resistance dissemination. Finally, the review highlights critical gaps in surveillance and governance and emphasizes the urgent need for strengthened regulatory frameworks, comprehensive AMR monitoring, and the adoption of sustainable disease management alternatives, including vaccination, probiotics, immunostimulants, bacteriophage therapy, and phytotherapeutics. Advancing One Health–oriented strategies is essential to mitigate AMR risks, safeguard aquatic animal health, preserve environmental integrity, and ensure global food safety.
The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to public health, significantly reducing the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics against bacterial infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli). As monotherapy becomes increasingly unreliable due to the rapid evolution of resistance, combination therapy has emerged as a promising strategy to address this challenge. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of cuminaldehyde (CA) in combination with two conventional antibiotics, gentamicin (GN) and ciprofloxacin (CF), against five drug-resistant clinical strains of E. coli. In silico analyses using PASS Online, SwissADME, ProTox 3.0, and Osiris predicted the potential antimicrobial properties of the test compounds. In vitro investigations further demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 400 to 450 µg/mL for CA, 6–8 µg/mL for GN, and 2–3 µg/mL for CF against different E. coli strains. Furthermore, fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) analysis revealed that diverse interaction patterns, including synergistic effects, exist between CA and the conventional antibiotics. To optimize these combinations, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to determine the optimal doses of the test compounds. The experimental validation of the RSM model showed high predictive accuracy (98–99
The pressing problem of water pollution is compounded by excess wastewater production and negligent discharge practices. Moreover, existing wastewater treatment technologies are resource, energy and cost-intensive processes, requiring multiple engineered systems. Therefore, the present study was aimed towards developing an effective single-chambered microalgae doped bioprocess technology for rapid, efficient, and sustainable wastewater treatment. In this context, Chlorella vulgaris doped bioprocess has been developed against domestic sewage. Standard water quality parameters including BOD, dissolved oxygen, faecal coliform removal, pH and algal growth parameters including biomass concentration, pigment concentration, flocculation efficiency were measured to determine the rate and extent of purification as well as the role of microalgae doping. The results revealed a demonstrable improvement in water quality parameters within microalgae doped systems within a short period (Day 0–6). Approximately 60
