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Ultrabroad Near Infrared Emitting Perovskites
No full textPhosphor converted light emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) have revolutionized solid-state white lighting by replacing energy-inefficient filament-based incandescent lamps. However, such a pc-LED emitting ultrabroad near-infrared (NIR) radiations still remains a challenge, primarily because of the lack of ultrabroad NIR emitting phosphors. To address this issue, we have prepared 2.5 % W4+-doped and 2.8 % Mo4+-doped Cs2Na0.95Ag0.05BiCl6 perovskites emitting ultrabroad NIR radiation with unprecedented spectral widths of 434 and 468 nm, respectively. Upon band-edge excitation, the soft lattice of the host exhibits broad self-trapped exciton (STE) emission covering NIR-I (700 nm), which then nonradiatively excites the dopants. The II –donor ligand Cl− reduces the energy of dopant d-d transitions emitting NIR-II with a peak at ~950 nm. Vibronic coupling broadens the dopant emission. The large spin-orbit coupling and local structural distortion might possibly enhance the dopant emission intensity, leading to an overall NIR photoluminescence quantum yield ~40 %. The composite of our ultrabroad NIR phosphors with biodegradable polymer polylactic acid could be processed into free-standing films and 3D printed structures. Large (170X 170 mm2 ), robust, and thermally stable 3D printed pc-LED panels emit ultrabroad NIR radiation, demonstrating NIR imaging applications
Groundwater sustainability in India through nonrice-dominated cropping pattern
No full textOver-exploitation of groundwater for irrigation caused rapid groundwater depletion in north India, leading to food and water security challenges. However, the crucial role of changing cropping patterns on groundwater savings under the observed and projected warming climate remains unexplored. Here, we show that altering the existing rice-dominated cropping systems in India can be a potential solution for groundwater sustainability under the current and future climate. Satellite and model-based estimates show that north India lost ∼336 and 297 km3 of groundwater, respectively during 2002–2022. We developed optimized crop switching scenarios for groundwater savings considering nutritional requirements, farmers’ profit, and crop production. Crop switching considering all the three targets (crop switch one: CSI) and allowing rice replacement with alternate crops (crop switch two: CSII) could save 45 and 91 km3 groundwater, respectively in north India during the observed climate (2002–2022) compared with the current cropping pattern. Altering the current cropping pattern can lead to substantial groundwater savings under the projected future climate without comprising nutritional targets and farmers’ profit at the state level. Replacing 37% area of rice with other crops (CSII) can recover 61 to 108 km3 groundwater compared with −13 to 43 km3 with current cropping pattern under the 1.5–3 °C global warming levels. Similarly, under the CSI scenario, 36 to 86 km3 groundwater can be recovered in the future warming world. Moreover, the benefits of crop switching in groundwater saving are higher during the prolonged dry periods compared with the baseline under the warming climate. Therefore, crop switching offers substantial benefits for groundwater sustainability under the current and projected future climate in India
Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run
No full textAmong the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B-L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B-L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation timescale of DM
The B‐box protein BBX13/COL15 suppresses photoperiodic flowering by attenuating the action of CONSTANS in Arabidopsis
No full textThe optimal timing of transition from vegetative to floral reproductive phase is critical for plant productivity and agricultural yields. Light plays a decisive role in regulating this transition. The B-box (BBX) family of transcription factors regulates several light-mediated developmental processes in plants, including flowering. Here, we identify a previously uncharacterized group II BBX family member, BBX13/COL15, as a negative regulator of flowering under long-day conditions. BBX13 is primarily expressed in the leaf vasculature, buds, and flowers, showing a similar spatial expression pattern to the major flowering time regulators CO and FT. bbx13 mutants flower early, while BBX13-overexpressors exhibit delayed flowering under long days. Genetic analyses showed that BBX13 acts upstream to CO and FT and negatively regulates their expression. BBX13 physically interacts with CO and inhibits the CO-mediated transcriptional activation of FT. In addition, BBX13 directly binds to the CORE2 motif on the FT promoter, where CO also binds. Chromatin immunoprecipitation data indicates that BBX13 reduces the in vivo binding of CO on the FT promoter. Through luciferase assay, we found that BBX13 inhibits the CO-mediated transcriptional activation of FT. Together, these findings suggest that BBX13/COL15 represses flowering in Arabidopsis by attenuating the binding of CO on the FT promoter
Amino acid-conjugated polymer-silver bromide nanocomposites for eradicating polymicrobial biofilms and treating burn wound infections
No full textThe rise in antimicrobial resistance, the increasing occurrence of bacterial, and fungal infections, and the challenges posed by polymicrobial biofilms necessitate the exploration of innovative therapeutic strategies. Silver-based antimicrobials have garnered attention for their broad-spectrum activity and multimodal mechanisms of action. However, their effectiveness against single-species or polymicrobial biofilms remains limited. In this study, we present the fabrication of polymer-silver bromide nanocomposites using amino acid conjugated polymers (ACPs) through a green and water-based in situ technique. The nanocomposite architecture facilitated prolonged and controlled release of the active components. Remarkably, the nanocomposites exhibited broad-spectrum activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) human pathogenic bacteria (MIC = 2–16 μg/mL) and fungi (MIC = 1–8 μg/mL), while displaying no detectable toxicity to human erythrocytes (HC50 > 1024 μg/mL). In contrast to existing antimicrobials and silver-based therapies, the nanocomposite effectively eradicated bacterial, fungal, and polymicrobial biofilms, and prevented the development of microbial resistance due to their membrane-active properties. Furthermore, the lead polymer-silver bromide nanocomposite demonstrated a 99% reduction in the drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa burden in a murine model of burn wound infection, along with excellent in vivo biocompatibility
Stimuli-responsive release-active dressing: A promising solution for eradicating biofilm-mediated wound infections
No full textBiofilm-mediated wound infections pose a significant challenge due to the limitations of conventional antibiotics, which often exhibit narrow-spectrum activity, fail to eliminate recurrent bacterial contamination, and are unable to penetrate the biofilm matrix. While the search for alternatives has explored the use of metal nanoparticles and synthetic biocides, these solutions often suffer from unintended toxicity to surrounding tissues and lack controlled administration and release. In this study, we engineered a pH-responsive release-active dressing film based on carboxymethyl cellulose, incorporating a synthetic antibacterial molecule (SAM-17). The dressing film exhibited optimal mechanical stability for easy application and demonstrated excellent fluid absorption properties, allowing for prolonged moisturization at the site of injury. The film exhibited pH-dependent release of cargo, with 78% release within 24 h at acidic pH, enabling targeted antibacterial drug delivery within the wound microenvironment. Furthermore, the release-active film effectively eliminated repeated challenges of bacterial contamination. Remarkably, the film demonstrated a minimal toxicity profile in both in vitro and in vivo models. The film eliminated preformed bacterial biofilms, achieving a reduction of 2.5 log against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 4.1 log against vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). In a biofilm-mediated MRSA wound infection model, this release-active film eradicated the biofilm-embedded bacteria by over 99%, resulting in accelerated wound healing. These findings highlight the potential of this film as an effective candidate for tackling biofilm-associated wound infections
Editorial: special issue of igc-2022 keynote volume.
No full textGreetings of the New Year 2024 to all the readers of Indian Geotechnical Journal (IGTJ). This first issue of volume 54 of IGTJ in 2024 is tagged as ‘Special issue of IGC-2022 Keynote Volume.’ The Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC) is an annual flagship event of the national Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS), New Delhi, India. IGC-2022 with the major theme GEOLEAP—Geotechnics: Learning, Evaluation, Analysis and Practice was hosted by the Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS) Kochi Chapter in association with the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and was held during December 15–17, 2022, at Hotel Le Meridien Kochi, Kerala, India.
This special issue is a collection of some of the peer-reviewed selected keynote and theme lecture articles of IGC-2022. The first article of this issue is the 44th IGS Annual Lecture, which was delivered by Prof. A. Boominathan during IGC-2022 at Kochi. It followed by some of the keynote lecture articles and then theme lecture articles of IGC-2022. In total, 15 articles are there from IGC-2022. For these articles, the Guest Editors were: Prof. Benny Mathews Abraham, Prof. K. S. Beena and Dr. Jimmy Thomas. Guest Editors were assisted by the IGC-2022 Kochi Conference Chair Dr. Babu T. Jose, Conference Co-Chair Mr. M. D. Nair and Conference Organising Secretary Dr. Anil Joseph.
The last 3 additional peer-reviewed articles are from selected invited papers of Eighth Indian Young Geotechnical Conference (8IYGEC 2021), which was jointly hosted by Indian Geotechnical Society Chennai Chapter, in association with Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Anna University, Chennai, NITTTR Chennai and SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, under the umbrella of national Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS), New Delhi, India. These 3 articles are Guest Edited by the Organizing Chair of 8IYGEC 2021, Prof. T. Thyagaraj and IGS Chennai Chapter Chair, Prof. M. Muttharam.
To recognize the significant contributions made by the various reviewers of IGTJ, Springer along with IGS give Best Reviewer Awards since last few years at the time of annual conference of IGS, i.e., IGC. Last year, the number of awards has been increased from three (3) to nine (9) Best Reviewers Awards, as large number of reviewers are performing and contributing significantly for the growth of this journal. Based on the Springer data and ensuring a detailed and timely review of significant number of manuscripts during a year, the journal committee had finalized the following Best Reviewer Awards for performance during 2022 and a special contribution award to the previous outgoing Editor-in-Chief (EiC), which were given during the valedictory function of the Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC-2023) at IIT Roorkee on December 16, 2023
Axl-Dependent Autophagy Impairment Differentiates Monocyte-Derived Macrophages from Crohn's Disease and Intestinal Tuberculosis
No full textMacrophages are critical to maintain intestinal homeostasis and contribute to localized inflammation once dysregulated. Here, we aimed to understand innate macrophage dysfunction in the subjects with chronic idiopathic gut inflammation [Crohn’s Disease (CD)] and chronic infection-related gut inflammation [Intestinal Tuberculosis (ITB)]. RNA-seq analysis of ex vivo Mtb-infected or uninfected monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from CD, ITB and healthy controls was done. Subsequently, MDMs from a cohort of patients, including CD (n=42) and ITB (n=41) were characterised for innate immune responses like autophagy (CD, n=15: ITB, n=09), mitochondrial depolarization (CD, n=08: ITB, n=08), and bactericidal capacity (CD, n=25: ITB, n=28). Finally, the role of AXL downregulation in impaired autophagy was tested.The MDMs from CD and ITB subjects showed differential regulation of autophagy-associated genes. Functionally, CD MDMs showed significant autophagy impairment compared to ITB MDMs. Both CD and ITB MDMs were permissive to Mtb uptake; however, CD MDMs were more permissive. We noted that AXL was consistently downregulated in CD MDMs compared to ITB, which was also reflected in the tissue biopsies. AXL knockdown in Thp-1 macrophages impaired autophagy flux, suggesting a causal relationship between reduced AXL expression and impaired autophagy in CD MDMs. This is the first report experimentally demonstrating distinct autophagy regulation between CD and ITB MDMs and their response to ex vivo bacterial infections. Impaired autophagy in CD MDMs could explain the heightened chronic inflammation observed in CD subjects. The association of AXL downregulation with autophagy impairment could facilitate novel diagnostic and intervention approaches against CD
Restoration of Mucosal and Fecal Microbiome, Mycobiome and Metabolome is Associated with Response to Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Anti-Inflammatory Diet in Active Ulcerative Colitis
No full textBackground: Fecal microbiota transplantation with anti-inflammatory diet (FMT-AID) has been associated with clinical response and deep remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC). The present study aims to assess FMT-associated bacterial, fungal and metabolomic shifts in mucosal and fecal niches in active UC, and to correlate these changes with clinical and endoscopic outcomes of FMT. To decipher if baseline microbial signatures in UC are associated with these outcomes and can determine FMT engraftment.
Methods: Patients with active UC randomized to receive either FMT-AID or standard medical therapy (SMT) and non-IBD controls were recruited. Fecal and mucosal microbiome and mycobiome were characterized (16S-rRNA and ITS1, respectively) in 104 paired pre- and post-intervention samples (n=52, fecal; n=52, mucosal) from patients with UC, along with 54 control samples (27 mucosal and 21 fecal samples). A subset of samples (n=71; 40 paired pre-and post-FMT samples and 31 control samples) were used for untargeted metabolomics.
Findings: FMT-AID associates with enrichment of beneficial bacterial (mucosal-Odoribacter splanchnicus and fecal- Slackia isoflavoniconvertens, Agathobaculum butyriciproducens, etc.) and fungal (Aspergillus penicilloides) members, and reduction in bacterial and fungal pathobionts (mucosal- Enterococcus, Veillonella, Malassezia; fecal- Enterococcus, Candida tropicalis). These alterations correlated with UC-associated clinical, biochemical and endoscopic parameters. SMT failed to achieve similar improvements. FMT-AID also restored mucosal and fecal metabolome with ‘health-associated’ metabolites. Higher pre-intervention abundances of beneficial taxa in mucosa and feces were associated with positive outcomes of FMT-AID. Pre-FMT fecal bacteriome also correlated with post-FMT engraftment of beneficial bacteria.
Interpretation: Enrichment of specific beneficial bacterial, fungal and metabolomic signatures in fecal and mucosal niches was associated with positive clinical, biochemical and endoscopic outcomes following FMT-AID in patients with UC. Pre-FMT bacteriome was associated with post-FMT engraftment of beneficial bacteria and clinical response.
Funding: The work has been funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research: Center for Advanced Research and Excellence in Intestinal Diseases (grant number: 55/4/11/CARE-ID/2018-NCD-II); Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB): Core Research Grant (CRG/2019/005292); and Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC P1492)
Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Genetics of Retinoblastoma: ICMR Consensus Guidelines
No full textRetinoblastoma (RB) is the most common intraocular tumor in childhood. It is mainly caused by mutations in both alleles of the RB1 tumor suppressor gene that is found on chromosome 13 and regulates the cell cycle. Approximately 8000 children are diagnosed with RB globally each year, with an estimated 1500 cases occurring in India. The survival rate of RB has improved to more than 90% in the developed world. Leukocoria and proptosis are the most common presenting features of RB in Asian Indian populations. Most cases of RB are diagnosed by fundus examination followed by ultrasound. The International Classification of Retinoblastoma is the most used scheme for the staging and classification of intraocular RB in India. Prenatal testing and preimplantation genetic testing for RB may be beneficial in high-risk families. Histopathologic risk factors such as massive choroidal invasion and post-laminar optic nerve help in predicting the occurrence of metastasis in children with RB, while presence of microscopic residual disease requires aggressive adjuvant treatment in eyes enucleated for group E RB. The review provides a consensus document on diagnosis and genetics of RB in India