Increased utilization of antibiotics has resulted in the growing presence of antibiotic residues in aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, removal of antibiotics from the contaminated wastewater is quite essential for making the aquatic ecosystem clean and sustainable. Recently, the implementation of nanocatalysts has been considered as one of the promising approaches to addressing the issue of wastewater treatment by removing antibiotic residues through photocatalytic degradation or adsorption techniques. In this context, carbon quantum dots (CQDs), because of their unprecedented catalytic properties, have been identified as a potential carbon-based nanomaterial. Furthermore, the preparation of CQDs can be performed by using waste biomass by employing them as a carbon source. Herein, as an abandoned bioresource, coconut biomass can be exploited to produce CQDs and their nanocomposites. Therefore, this review analyses the compositional structure and availability scope of coconut biomass along with exploring the development of CQDs via different methods and evaluating their physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the review shows that the biomass-derived CQD-based nano-photocatalysts and nano-absorbents show improved antibiotic removal efficiency by means of photocatalysis and adsorbing processes compared to their counterpart made from pure carbon. Therefore, the prospects of coconut biomass derived CQDs for their integration with nanomaterials for developing nano-photocatalysts and nano-adsorbents have been presented towards the removal of antibiotics. Furthermore, the possible mechanisms involving the antibiotic removal through nano-photocatalytic degradation and adsorption techniques have been discussed along with possible limitations and key challenges in this research area. This review may provide guidance for future research in solid waste management and wastewater treatment. Coconut biomass inspired fabrication of CQDs and their possible applications in developing nanocatalysts for antibiotic removal in wastewater treatment.

Radiofrequency radiation (RFR), widely emitted from modern wireless devices, has raised questions regarding its possible impact on male reproductive health. In this comparative study, we examined the redox and apoptotic responses of TM3 Leydig cells following exposure to mobile phone radiation, as well as 2450 MHz, and 1800 MHz frequencies for 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 & 120 min, and redox imbalance was assessed by quantifying nitric oxide (NO) and intracellular superoxide (SO) levels. Apoptotic cell percentages were evaluated by dual labeling with Annexin V-FITC/PI using flow cytometry. Mobile phone and 2450 MHz exposures induced biphasic alterations in NO levels, while 1800 MHz exposure resulted in a sustained reduction in NO. SO levels increased progressively in a time- and frequency-specific manner. Apoptotic analysis revealed early apoptotic activation in mobile and 2450 MHz groups, whereas 1800 MHz exposure led to delayed but sustained late-stage apoptosis. These findings demonstrate that RFR triggers redox imbalance and apoptosis in TM3 cells, with effects varying by frequency and exposure duration. This comparative analysis underscores the biological risks of chronic low-intensity RFR exposure and highlights the growing concerns about RFR-associated testicular stress and its implications for male reproductive toxicity.

Radiofrequency radiation, emitted from commonly used wireless communication devices, has been implicated in disrupting cellular homeostasis; however, its effects on testicular somatic cells such as Leydig cells remain poorly understood. To address this, the present study investigated the frequency- and time-specific effects of RFR on cellular morphology, proliferation, and cell cycle dynamics in TM3 Leydig cells. Cells were exposed to mobile phone radiation and radiofrequency signals at 1800 MHz and 2450 MHz for 15-120 min under non-thermal conditions. Following exposure, morphological alterations were examined using Giemsa staining, while proliferation and cell cycle progression were evaluated by BrdU-ELISA and PI-based flow cytometry. BrdU assays showed a progressive reduction in DNA synthesis across conditions, indicating suppressed proliferative activity. Consistently, cell cycle analysis revealed accumulation of cells in G1 phase with a corresponding decline in S-phase population at longer durations, suggesting checkpoint activation. These changes were supported by morphological alterations such as cell rounding, loss of adherence, and membrane blebbing, features associated with stress-induced antiproliferative responses. Overall, these findings indicate that RFR disrupts cellular morphology, DNA synthesis, and cell cycle progression in a frequency- and time-dependent manner, highlighting Leydig cell vulnerability to prolonged exposure and potential implications for male reproductive health.

Sustainable one-pot method for producing sequential biohydrogen from lignocellulosic waste using nanocatalyst has been reported. Approach of sustainable fabrication of Ni0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 (spinel structure) nanocatalyst has been adopted and performed following the method of sol-gel using kans grass biomass. Further, characterization studied using techniques like XRD, followed by FT-IR, and Raman along with UV-Vis spectroscopy as well as SEM BET, and XPS have been conducted. Newly synthesized nanocatalyst applied in the solid-state fermentation for enzyme production using kans biomass at different concentrations. Optimized concentration of 10 mg nanocatalyst, 26 IU/gds (International unit per gram of dry substrate), FP and 74 IU/gds BGL produced in 72 h of time incubation, whereas 98 IU/gds EG was recorded in 48 h. The raw enzyme was thermally stable at 60 degrees C, with half-life up to 25 h, and in bioconversion of kans grass biomass substrate, the same enzyme produced maximum 42.0 g/L fermentable glucose in 24 h. Further, the sugar hydrolyzate was set for sequential biohydrogen production followed by dark and photo fermentation and collectively produced cumulative H2 2837 ml/L in eleven days with a final fermentation pH of 4.0.

Scrub typhus is a notable zoonosis, yet natural host-associated pathogen prevalence and genotypic diversity remain underexplored. A total of 261 small mammals comprising rodents and shrews captured in Uttar Pradesh, India, were screened for Orientia tsutsugamushi (OT) using nested PCR. The sample included Rattus rattus (n = 28), Rattus norvegicus (n = 42), Rattus tanezumi (n = 42), Bandicota bengalensis (n = 10), Mus musculus (n = 15), and Suncus murinus (n = 124). The overall molecular prevalence was 11.9% (95% CI: 8.2-16.4) with detection rates of 13.1% in rodents and 12.1% in shrews. Prevalence was significantly higher in rural (15.2%) than urban (1.6%) settings, and during monsoon (29.3%) and post-monsoon (11.9%) periods. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial tsa56 gene identified 4 OT strains circulating in rodent and shrew hosts, including Gilliam and TA678, along with novel JJOtsu5 and JJOtsu7. Population genetic analysis revealed substantial tsa56 nucleotide and haplotype diversity under purifying selection, while recombination analysis detected recombination in a subset of sequences, also contributing to genetic diversity. Deduced amino acid sequence analysis of the contiguous partial tsa56 gene revealed distinct mutations and structural variation in Gilliam-like and TA678-like strains, while JJOtsu5 and JJOtsu7 showed no variation relative to reference strains. In silico immunoinformatic analysis predicted 8 CD8 and 55 CD4 T-cell epitopes (TCEs) eliciting a human immune response, predominantly located within the spacer region S-VDIII/IV. The CD8 epitope AQLYKDLVKL was conserved across Gilliam, TA678-like (variant-27S), and JJOtsu7 strains; while the CD4 epitope PVKVLSDKITQIYSD was shared among Gilliam, JJOtsu5 and JJOtsu7 strains with a single S290R substitution. These strains exhibited distinct histopathological responses in OT PCR-positive animal tissues. Gilliam infections caused moderate lesions in liver, spleen, and lungs; TA678 infections exhibited mild pulmonary and renal changes; JJOtsu7 induced severe pulmonary and myocardial changes; and JJOtsu5 caused mild-to-moderate inflammation in liver, spleen, and kidneys. These findings highlight substantial genetic diversity, differential immunogenic potential and variable pathogenicity among rodent and shrew associated OT strains, underscoring the need for extended surveillance and strain-specific virulence characterization for improved control strategies.

Cellulases fall under the biocatalyst and one of industrial enzymes which is highest in demand due to diverse and huge applications. It plays major role in cellulosic bioenergy production achieving biomass hydrolysis for sugar and energy production. Inspite of prime enzyme in demand and key application in cellulosic energy production, this group of enzymes are suffering with lower enzyme activity and poor functional stability which directly influence the poor bioconversion efficiency of cellulosic biomass and bioenergy production. This is one the crucial issue which blocks the suitable commercial implementation of bioenergy at global scale. Therefore, researches in this particular area accelerate and speed in up to improve the functional stability of this enzymes. Immobilization of cellulolytic enzymes on nanomaterials is emerging as one of the very promising approaches in this area and supposed to have sustainable future towards improving the functional stability of cellulase enzymes via nanostructure based immobilization. Due to unique physicochemical properties and mode of origin nanoform, these nanomaterials can be an effective tool to enhance the catalytic stability of the cellulase enzymes. Therefore, the present reviews explore the possibilities of immobilization of nanomaterials as one of the promising tool to improve cellulosic bioenergy production. Additionally, one of the prime focus of the review is also based on the types, methods and mode of immobilization using different nanomaterials and analyzed the existing advantages and disadvantages of the process. Moreover, the work has also been highlighted the existing limitation and the future suggestion to improve the process applicability.

Gut microbiota-derived metabolites have emerged as promising candidates in cancer therapeutics. Among these metabolites, 4-ethylphenyl sulfate (4-EPS), produced through dietary metabolism, is linked to chronic diseases but remains unexplored as a therapeutic agent for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. This study investigates the selective anticancer activity of 4-EPS using HCT-116 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and CCD 841 normal colon epithelial cells. Treatment with 4-EPS significantly reduced cell proliferation, viability, ATP levels, and colony-forming ability while increased apoptosis rate. Morphological changes included cell shrinkage, intracellular vesicle formation, and loss of membrane integrity. Mechanistically, 4-EPS upregulated Bax, downregulated Bcl2, and induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. In silico investigations revealed strong interactions with HDAC isoforms, suggesting epigenetic modulation. Markedly, 4-EPS treatment showed no deleterious effect on CCD 841 normal colon epithelial cells, which proved its selective anticancer role for colon cancer cells. These findings highlight 4-EPS as a promising therapeutic agent for treating CRC.

Background: Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a significant public health issue in India, attributed to various etiologies. In eastern Uttar Pradesh, Japanese encephalitis (JE) was the leading cause of AES (10-14% of total AES) until scrub typhus (ST), caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, was identified in cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples of AES patients contributing more than 60% of AES cases. This study investigates the prevalence of JE-ST coinfection and compares clinical outcomes among JE mono-infection, ST mono-infection, and JE-ST coinfection. Materials and Methods: AES cases admitted to BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, were included. JE and ST diagnosis was confirmed by serological (IgM) and molecular (PCR) tests. Statistical analysis was done to correlate clinical outcomes and infection group. Results: Total 1180 cases were tested positive for JE and/or ST. The prevalence of JE-ST coinfection was 8.9% among AES cases. JE mono-infection showed a mortality rate of 34.5%, ST mono-infection 13.4%, and JE-ST coinfection 9.5%. JE-ST co-infected cases experienced less severe clinical outcomes compared to mono-infected cases. Conclusion: JE-ST coinfection in AES cases is relatively common, with better clinical outcomes and lower mortality rates compared to JE or ST mono-infections.

Orientia tsutsugamushi, the causative agent of scrub typhus, poses a global threat, particularly in rural areas where standard PCR methods are impractical. To enable timely management of scrub typhus, we developed a rapid, simple, sensitive, and specific molecular detection method suitable for low-resource settings with minimal instrumentation. The developed platform enabled rapid detection of OT (≤25 minutes). For Gilliam and Karp strain of OT, the limit of detection was ≥1 gene copy, with 96.9 % clinical specificity and 100 % sensitivity. Primer artefact removal reduced background noise. The minimal concentration detected 91 ag µL-1 for Karp and 3 ag µL-1 for Gilliam genome. The assay showed no cross-reactivity with other acute febrile or acute encephalitis syndrome related etiologies. The developed assay holds considerable promise for clinicians, facilitating prompt diagnosis and management of ST cases in settings with constrained resources.

Indoor air quality plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of residents. Delhi, known as one of the most polluted cities globally, often receives insufficient attention in managing and mitigating related health impacts. This study isolated, characterized, and assessed microbial indoor air quality (bioaerosols) using multiproxy approaches and correlated findings with associated health effects. The spatial variation of bacterial aerosols showed irregular patterns, increasing from winter to summer and decreasing in fall; fungal aerosols consistently increased from winter to fall. Bacterial aerosol concentrations ranged from 730 to 5,300 CFU/m3, while fungal concentrations were between 1,330 and 6,050 CFU/m3, significantly exceeding the recommended limits. The size distribution of fungal aerosols varied across seasons, with higher concentrations in the 4th and 5th stages of the sampler. Several airborne bacterial and fungal genera, including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium, were identified in homes. Health effects were most pronounced in winter followed by fall, with symptoms such as headaches, eye irritation, allergic rhinitis, coughing, and sneezing being common. As per this study, there may be a correlation between indoor bioaerosol concentrations, seasonal variations, and health outcomes, though further in-depth in vitro, exposure assessment, and epidemiological studies are necessary to substantiate these findings.

Epidemic form of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis was reported from different geographical locations of the world, during 2023. Since the viral agents are well established behind acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreaks, this study aims to investigate the bacterial agent associated with the acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreak that occurred in the eastern Uttar Pradesh region of India. The bacterial infection was investigated in 91 conjunctival swabs collected from acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis patients during the outbreak. Total nucleic acid was extracted from the ocular swab collected from acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis patients, followed by the detection of human adenovirus and pan-enterovirus using PCR. Further, the isolation of bacteria was performed using these clinical samples. Characterization of the bacterial isolates was done using the VITEK-2 system and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Of 64 conjunctival swabs positive for coxsackievirus-A24 samples, two clinical specimens showed bacterial growth. Both isolates were identified as Ochrobactrum anthropi via VITEK-2 with 93% and 95% confidence levels. While 16S ribosomal RNA analysis characterized the isolates as Ochrobactrum intermedium. Ochrobactrum intermedium is an emerging multidrug-resistant bacterium and is reported to cause a variety of clinical infections. This study first reported the Ochrobactrum intermedium infection in two coxsackievirus-A24 infected acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis patients.

Plastic waste is considered one of the biggest blockages to environmental sustainability due to its wide consumption and huge production as a solid waste worldwide. Recycling and valorizing plastic waste via the thermochemical route is a promising approach. In this work, we report the preparation of activated carbon (AC) based catalyst using lab-used, microbiologically discarded petri dish plates and characterized through XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM, and TEM techniques. Further, a comparative application of this activated AC catalyst has been studied in enzyme production through solid-state fermentation using open aerobic microbial culture (OAC) and a lab-isolated fungal culture Rhizopus oryzae NS5 (RO). Cellulase enzyme production with filter paper activity (FPA) of 28 IU/gds and 25 IU/gds FPA were noticed on day three of microbial fermentation using 0.5 mg AC catalyst in the case of OAC and RO systems, respectively. The crude cellulase enzyme obtained from OAC using 1 mg concentration in SSF reflected thermal stability at 50 degrees C and 60 degrees C, showing 42 % and 36 % of relative enzyme activity, along with 58 % of relative activity at pH 5.0 for 20 h at 50 degrees C. The research could have promising implications for plastic waste management and enzyme bioprocessing for a variety of industrial uses.

ABSTRACT Globally ≤ 4 billion of the population are at potential risk of contracting dengue virus (DENV) infection. Seasonal outbreaks of dengue are frequently reported causing a high healthcare burden. Undiagnosed DENV can lead to severe morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of DENV relies on molecular methods, which are impractical in resource‐constrained settings (RCSs). Dengue can be caused by any of the four distinct DENV serotypes. Therefore, a simple method for rapid diagnosis of Pan‐DENV serotypes is of utmost importance at RCSs. A fluorescence detection platform for Pan‐DENV using RT‐RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a was developed targeting nonstructural 1 ( NS1 ) gene for DENV‐1, 2, and 3, and envelope ( E ) gene for DENV‐2. Further, crRNA specific to DENV serotypes were designed to facilitate CRISPR/Cas12a detection. Analytical sensitivity was determined using synthetic RNA and DENV serotypes genome. Clinical validation of the assay was performed using RNA extracted from AES/AFI clinical samples. The developed CRISPR/Cas12a‐based detection platform can detect all four serotypes of DENV viz 1−4 in a single pot using fluorescence detection. This assay showed the limit of detection ≥ 781 zg reaction − 1 , ≥ 1.81 ag reaction −1 , ≥ 62.5 fg reaction −1 , and ≥ 2.5 pg reaction −1 for synthetic DENV‐1, DENV‐2, DENV‐3, and DENV‐4 template, respectively. Our assay demonstrated the analytic sensitivity of ≥ 10 ng reaction −1 for DENV‐1 and DENV‐4, and ≥ 0.5 ng reaction −1 for DENV‐3 and DENV‐4 genomes. This assay showed no cross‐reactivity with other related etiologies tested causing AFI/AES. With 76 clinical samples (DENV PCR positive = 16, DENV PCR negative = 60), the assay demonstrated 93.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity with an overall accuracy of 98.7% for detection of the Pan‐DENV serotypes. Our assay displayed comparable results to that of RT‐PCR. The ease of interpretation and rapid detection of the Pan‐DENV, represents the potential of the developed assay as an ideal point‐of‐care test. This assay upon field‐deployment could help in reducing healthcare burden, provide differential diagnosis and support initiating early and prompt treatment to patients at RCS.

Renewable carbon-based catalyst development is a promising approach towards sustainable and low-cost biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic waste. In this study, being a rich source of cellulose, different varieties of rice straw (RS) have been used to fabricate activated carbon-based catalysts (ACBCs) using facile, low-cost pretreatment methods and also for biohydrogen production. The water soaking and sonication processes, followed by calcination, are applied to produce ACBCs, which have been characterized by different techniques to probe physicochemical characteristics. The impact of ACBCs was observed on cellulase enzyme production through solid state fermentation (SSF), which exhibited the highest 15 IU/gds FPA at 12 h using 1.0 % ACBCstreated fermentation medium and was found to be significantly improved as compared to control. The produced crude enzyme was thermally stable at 50 degrees C up to 15 h, reflecting its 54 % half-life, while at 55 degrees C, a 56 % halflife up to 10 h was noticed. Consequently, enzymatic hydrolysis of alkali pretreated RS produced 34 g/L sugar in 24 h, and it produced cumulative biohydrogen of 2745 mL/L at 50 h of dark-fermentation.

Hydrogen is regarded as clean future fuel and biological route of hydrogen production is amongst the most sustainable and pollution free alternatives. Biohydrogen production from organic waste via fermentation technology is one of the most promising approaches. Though, pilot scale frequent production of this fuel is also on trial stage and its distribution is still odd around the globe due to concern such as unavailability of substrate, incomplete conversion and poor yield. Because of these notable issues, mass scale trials results are different from lab scale trials. Therefore, for applications as an energy source, evaluation of mass-scale H2 production and analysis of different key influential factors of the process technology are mandatory for diverse applications. Thus, the goal of the present review is to explore and evaluate the important and most influential bioprocess parameters for pilot-scale biohydrogen production using organic substrates through dark fermentation. Different process parameters and their influence on pilot scale have been explored with the existing shortcomings and the possible solutions. The future possibilities in reference to pilot-scale biohydrogen production on a global scale have also been discussed, which can be helpful in implementing biohydrogen as a green energy source for a sustainable and clean environment.

Viral hepatitis is a major global health concern, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Those incarcerated in prisons have been identified as important bridge populations because they engage in a variety of risk behaviours that predispose them to contracting and spreading viral hepatitis. There is a frequent transfer of prisoners from one jail to another within the state and there is high probability of transmission. There is an urgent need to assess the status and risk factors of viral hepatitis in prisons across Uttar Pradesh. This preliminary study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of viral hepatitis among 181 inmates in Gorakhpur, India. Blood samples were screened for HAV, HBV, HCV, and HEV markers. The overall percentage positivity of viral hepatitis in the inmates was found to be 11 % (95 % CI: 7 %-17 %). HEV was found to have the highest prevalence of 5 % (95 % CI:2 %-9 %) followed by HCV at 4.4 % (95 % CI: 2 %-9 %) and HBV at 2.2 % (95 % CI: 1 %-6 %). Significant associations were found with repeated incarceration, alcoholism, drug use, syringe sharing, and unsafe tattooing. Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions within prisons and inform planning for statewide surveillance. Insights from this study will be helpful in planning state/nationwide survey for viral hepatitis in prisons to know the real-time burden and may inform policy decisions under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme.

This study uses waste chestnut peels to synthesize low-cost activated carbon-based catalysts through pyrolysis and calcination, investing distinct structural and compositional variations for sustianble application in manufacturing innovation and allied industries. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated sharp crystalline peaks in the calcinated product, contrasting with the amorphous nature of carbon material with some partially crystalline and distorted graphitic phases of the pyrolyzed product. Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis shows the presence of various functional groups such as O-H, C-O, C-H, C--O, - - O, and C--C. - - C. The analysis made through the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) depicted a packed and agglomerated structure with different irregular particle shapes in the calcined carbon, while the sample prepared through pyrolysis exhibited a network-like structure with some interconnected voids. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed varying carbon content which is found to be 47.41 % in the case of the calcinated sample and 99.7 % in the product prepared through pyrolysis. The calcined carbon exhibited a band gap of 4 eV, while the pyrolyzed carbon showed a higher band gap of 4.8 eV. In addition, the catalyst prepared through the calcination process exhibited significantly higher luminance intensity than that produced through pyrolysis, while both samples showed an excitation-dependent emission property. This work presents two simple methods for synthesizing nanocarbon-based catalysts using waste lignocellulosic biomass. In addition, the optical properties of the resulting nanocarbons suggest that they can be further explored for their applications as catalysts or biosensing agents.