Swami Rama Himalayan University

Assimilation of plant-microbiome synergism into contemporary sustainable approaches offers transformational prospective for augmenting crop production, and environment resilience. Efficient microbiome enhances nutrients acquisition, encouraging plant’s growth, and mitigate diverse stressors. Synthetic microbial communities could be another strategy to augment crop yield by improving bioinoculants activity, regulating and reinstating microbial diversity. Long-term agricultural output depends on microbiome’s intervened activities, such as nutrients acquisition, thereby lowering chemical fertilizers necessity. Microbes also contribute to climate change mitigation by endorsing soil carbon stowage and minimizing release of greenhouse gases via enhanced nutrients use efficacy. Developments in sustainable crop breeding and genomics have facilitated the recognition of plant traits and genetic loci that influence alliances of valuable microbes. Integration of plant-microbiome breeding tactics might lead to optimization of microbiome selection in plant varieties, thus improving yield and stress resilience. Such approaches will conserve biodiversity, restore ecosystem by nurturing functional microbiome population, supporting plant’s diversity and soil health. Microbiome are also able to improve degraded soils recovery, plant’s establishment, parallelly safeguarding ecosystem restoration. The integration of microbial technology in crops could enhance the nutritional value and safety of food while supporting environmental sustainability and human health. Understanding microbiome–plant–climate change interactions is critical for developing adaptive strategies that enhance resilience to environment and climate variability, ensure sustainable food systems, and promote ecological balance in a changing global environment.

Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are becoming a promising technology for high-capacity battery applications such as powering portable electronics, electric cars, and renewable energy systems. ZABs have a lower environmental impact compared to other batteries, are safer compared to LIBs, and are cost-effective since zinc is abundant. However, there were challenges in the initial research on ZABs due to poor chemical reactions on the zinc anode and slow oxygen reaction rates. Despite many benefits, there were challenges in zinc-air batteries. However, there have been significant developments in the fabrication of anodes, development of new electrolytes, and bifunctional oxygen catalysts to improve zinc-air battery performance. Despite these developments, there are challenges in zinc-air batteries, including shorter lifetimes, lower power density, and corrosion of the air electrode. This review article provides an in-depth overview of the fundamental principles, various challenges faced in adopting these principles, and offers suggestions for better battery performance. The article also covers recent developments, applications, and possibilities for electrically rechargeable ZABs, giving an idea of how this promising battery is evolving. This study provides a critical assessment of the progress made in Zn-air batteries The current challenges hindering the development of rechargeable Zn-air batteries are addressed, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions. Various strategies for designing and optimizing Zn-air battery components, including anodes, electrolytes, and oxygen catalysts. Potential research directions are proposed to overcome existing challenges and design practical Zn-air batteries for commercial applications.

Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are one of the most fatal diseases that affect the majority of individuals worldwide, among which Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the most common. In vitro 2D monolayer cell cultures and in vivo transgenic animal models have been the primary tools for investigating mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the ineffectiveness of these models in translating outcomes into human pathophysiology, necessitates innovative approaches to bridge the translational gap. In this review, we focus on the intricate pathogenic processes by which environmental toxicants and viral infections trigger neurodegeneration. The growing significance of three-dimensional (3D) brain organoids (BOs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be used as a groundbreaking platform for examining neurodegenerative pathways induced by exposure to environmental toxicants and viral infections. It also addressed how BO’s overcomes the fundamental limitations of traditional models, such as 2D cultures and animal models, thereby creating novel opportunities for the mechanistic study of multifactorial neurodegeneration and the development of therapeutic interventions.

The rapid digitalization of higher education has significantly reshaped teaching and learning practices worldwide; however, the adoption of digital pedagogy among university teachers remains uneven, particularly in developing contexts such as India. This study examines the lived experiences of Indian university teachers in adopting digital pedagogy and explores the factors influencing this process within higher education institutions. Using a qualitative research design, the study employs Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to develop an in depth understanding of how teachers perceive, experience, and make sense of digitally mediated teaching practices. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with university teachers representing diverse disciplinary backgrounds and institutional settings. The analysis followed a systematic and iterative IPA approach to identify emergent themes grounded in participants' narratives. The findings indicate that digital pedagogy adoption is shaped by a dynamic interplay of institutional, technological, and personal factors. Institutional support structures, availability of digital infrastructure, access to professional development opportunities, and collaborative peer environments emerged as key enablers of adoption. In contrast, challenges such as inadequate training, inconsistent technical support, increased workload, infrastructural disparities between institutions, and varying levels of digital confidence among teachers were identified as persistent barriers. The study further highlights the central role of teachers' beliefs, attitudes, and perceived pedagogical value of digital tools in determining the depth and sustainability of digital pedagogy integration. By foregrounding faculty perspectives, this research contributes to the limited qualitative literature on digital pedagogy adoption in Indian higher education and extends existing scholarship beyond technology acceptance oriented explanations. The study supports e learning practice by offering context specific recommendations related to faculty training, institutional policy, and digital readiness. By emphasizing teachers' lived experiences, the findings advance understanding of digital pedagogy as a socially situated and contextually embedded practice, providing a foundation for inclusive and sustainable digital transformation in higher education. The insights generated offer important implications for higher education leaders and policymakers seeking to strengthen digital capacity and enhance teaching quality in evolving educational environments.

Contamination of drinking water sources by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) poses critical threats to human health via carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic pathways, yet comprehensive assessments targeting arsenic, selenium, cadmium and lead in Garhwal Himalayan groundwater systems have been absent. This study contributes to address this knowledge gap by evaluating As, Se, Cd and Pb concentrations in 88 groundwater samples from the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India, a tectonically active region where populations depend almost exclusively on groundwater for drinking purposes. It integrated pollution indexing, health risk assessment, spatial mapping and statistical analyses to comprehensively characterize contamination status, identify spatial patterns and apportion potential sources. The arithmetic mean of the elemental concentrations was in the sequence Cd (0.18 µg L⁻1) < Se (0.26 µg L⁻1) < As (3.66 µg L⁻1) < Pb (12.81 µg L⁻1). While Se and Cd concentrations fell within their permissible limits, As and Pb exceeded their regulatory thresholds in specific samples. The heavy metal pollution index ranged from 5.649 to 134.2 (mean = 27.875), with majority of water samples are suitable for drinking. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment revealed that hazard indices exceeded unity in 33 samples for children versus one sample for adults, hinting on age-specific vulnerabilities. Carcinogenic risk estimates for majority of samples exceeded the acceptable threshold of ≤ 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ for the ingestion pathway, however they remained within the acceptable limit for the dermal exposure pathway. Correlation analysis identified moderate positive association between Cd and Pb, suggesting common sources or co-mobility, while Se and Pb exhibited weak negative correlation, indicating independent origins. These findings establish critical baseline data for the Chamoli district, inform targeted remediation strategies and support sustainable groundwater management aligned with multiple SDG targets. To address its limitations, future studies should incorporate temporal monitoring, expand parameter coverage and employ advanced source apportionment techniques to strengthen contamination origin characterization.