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Balaji Veeraraghavan,1 Dhanasekhar Kesavelu,2 Bijesh Yadav1 1Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632004, India; 2SS Child Care, Mogappair, West Chennai, 600037, IndiaCorrespondence: Balaji Veeraraghavan, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632004, India, Tel +919442210555, Email vbalaji@cmcvellore.ac.inAbstract: Gut microbiota starts colonizing from birth and reach the adult gut microbial profile by around three years of age. There are scarce data on the gut microbial profiles of Indian infants. Moreover, there are insufficient data comparing the types of gut microbiota in Indian and Western infants, at different stages of their growth between 0 and 24 months. Also, with increasing globalization, infants of one country of origin are born in another country or travel to another country during infancy. Hence, these infants are exposed to changing environment and food practices that often causes dysbiosis or imbalance in the healthy gut microbiota profile. Dysbiosis has been linked, directly or indirectly, with many neurodevelopmental, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and other health issues. Early probiotic supplementation is associated with the return to the gut microbiota profile to a healthy state at one year and beyond. The changing global scenarios warrant the availability of a probiotic that can be used across nations. However, this is possible only if the gut microbiota profile of Indian and Western infants is similar enough to encourage the use of same probiotic in both populations. Hence, a systematic literature search was carried out to assess if the microbiota profile of the Indian and Western infants was comparable. This systematic review included 29 studies (10 Indian and 19 Western) and found that despite some differences, the gut microbiota of Indian and Western infants aged 0– 24 months are largely similar, with implications for probiotic supplementation.Keywords: gut microbiota, Indian, Western, 0.24 months, infants

Bhuvan Yadav, Srujana Mohanty, Bijayini Behera Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751019, IndiaCorrespondence: Srujana Mohanty, Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751019, India, Tel +9438884124, Email srujana_micro@yahoo.co.inPurpose: This study was conducted to find out the occurrence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) isolates from different clinical specimens in a tertiary care hospital of eastern India and investigate the distribution of virulence factors, capsular serotypes and antibiogram profile. The distribution of carbapenemase-encoding genes in convergent (hvKP and carbapenem-resistant) isolates was also studied.Materials and methods: A total of 1004 K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from different clinical specimens from August 2019 to June 2021 and hvKP isolates were identified using the string test. Genes of capsular serotypes K1, K2, K5, K20, K54 and K57, virulence-associated genes, rmpA, rmpA2, mrkD, allS, iroN, iutA, iuc, kfuB and ybtS, and carbapenemase-encoding genes, NDM-1, OXA-48, OXA-181, and KPC, were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined primarily by the VITEK-2 Compact automated platform (bioMérieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France) and supplemented by disc-diffusion/EzyMIC (HiMedia, Mumbai, India) wherever needed.Results: Out of 1004 isolates, 33 (3.3%) were hvKP. Most frequent capsular serotype was K2 in 11 (33.3%). Amongst virulence genes, mrkD, iutA and kfuB were detected most frequently in 93.9%, 84.8% and 63.6% isolates respectively. Classical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were significantly more resistant than hvKP to cephalosporins, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and fluoroquinolones (p < 0.05). Carbapenem resistance was seen in 10 hvKP convergent isolates with the most prevalent carbapenemase-encoding gene being OXA-48 and OXA-181 in 50% isolates.Conclusion: There is a need for continued surveillance of hvKP strains in view of the impending threat of a global spread of convergent strains.Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, carbapenem-resistantK. pneumoniae, hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, virulence gene

In the present study, we have investigated the effect of magnetic Cr doping on the transport properties of a sputtered Bi2Se3 thin film on the SrTiO3 (110) substrate. The high-resolution x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy measurements revealed the growth of rhombohedral Bi2Se3 thin films. Further electronic and compositional analysis was done by x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and the x-value was estimated to be 0.18 in the Bi2−xCrxSe3 thin film. The variation in the resistivity with temperature (2–300 K) revealed the metallic nature in undoped Bi2Se3 up to 30 K and upturn resistivity below 30 K. The Cr-doped Bi2Se3 resistivity data show a traditional semiconducting nature up to 25 K and take an abrupt upturn resistivity below 25 K. The resistivity behavior of both samples was explained by adopting a model that consists of the total resistance, a combination of bulk and surface resistance in parallel. The bulk bandgap value determined by this method is obtained to be 256 meV in an undoped Bi2Se3 thin film. Magnetoconductance data of the undoped thin film revealed a weak anti-localization (WAL) effect, while the Cr-doped thin film showed a weak localization (WL) effect at low temperatures (<50 K). At low magnetic field and low temperature, a competing nature of WAL and WL effects was prominent in the Cr-doped film. A drastic increase in the electrical resistance suggests that Cr doping can significantly modify the electrical properties of Bi2Se3 thin films, which could have potential applications in futuristic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, perovskite materials have attracted the attention in research due to a wide range of applications in sensors and solid-state fuel cells. Perovskite lanthanum ferrite has also significant importance in LPG and humidity sensors for its photocatalytic activity and temperature-dependent surface morphology. The doping of CNT in perovskite ceramics plays a vital role in enhancing surface activity. CNT-doped Lanthanum ferrite sample was prepared by Sol–gel process. The well-prepared lanthanum ferrite samples were characterized for thermal, crystallographic, surface morphological, molecular, and optical studies. Differential scanning calorimetry study shows the clear crystallization of LaFeO3 after decomposition and removal of organic species. X-ray diffraction study also confirms the crystallization of cubic LaFeO3 with a minimum crystallite size of 38 nm. Scanning electron microscopic studies of lanthanum ferrite pellet and thick-film samples show the presence of large number of pores in uniformly distributed grains and particles. The pores in the thick-film sample were found to be higher in the pellet sample. XPS and EDS analysis confirm the elemental composition as La, Fe, O, and C. The optical band gap of the composite material was found to be 4.05 eV. The increase in band gap with LPG exposure on sensing element is also validated by DFT analysis. The maximum values of percentage sensor responses were found to be 431 and 480 at 5000-ppm LPG for pellet and film, respectively for LPG sensing. The thick film shows a better response in comparison to pellet over the entire range of gas sensing. The doping of 1 mol% CNT in lanthanum ferrite enhances the sensor response significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation is insightful in discerning the experimental and computational spectroscopic behavior of 2-(4-methoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5 triazine (MSTCMT) by employing density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p)/cc-pVDZ basis sets. The detailed vibrational analysis has been carried out using FT-IR and Raman within 3500–400 cm−1 and 3500–600 cm−1 respectively assisted by VEDA. Chemical shifts obtained from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provided essential information useful in analyzing the molecular structure of MSTCMT. The thermodynamic functions of the MSTCMT molecule have been calculated at 298.15 K using the B3LYP method at 6–311++G(d,p) and cc-pVDZ basis sets. The non-linear optical properties such as polarizability, first-order hyperpolarizability, and second-order hyperpolarizability of the MSTCMT molecule have been calculated using 6–311++G(d,p) and cc-pVDZ basis set at B3LYP level. Molecular docking has been performed to check the inhibitory effect of MSTCMT against the SARS-CoV-2 receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observation on mangrove sediment variables along Bhayander creek of district Thane within Maharashtra coast was carried to analyze the deterioration level of mangrove sediment due to water pollution. Research was conducted during October 2016 to September 2017. Different sediment variables like sand, silt, clay, organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen and available phosphate were determined. Texture of sand, silt and clay was widely oscillated during the said period. Organic matter, Organic carbon, available phosphate, and total nitrogen were found significantly different seasonally throughout the study period. Observations showed noteworthy uncertainties in all the sediment variables found distinct within their limits. Study proposes the measures to mitigate contamination of Bhayander creek and anthropogenic restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maharashtra, with its extensive 720 km coastline, encompasses seven maritime districts: Palghar, Thane, Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. This state is a major contributor to India's marine fisheries, supported by a significant fleet of approximately 12,946 mechanized and 2,272 non-mechanized fishing vessels. The study investigated catch-based marine fish abundance along the Maharashtra coast, focusing on data collected from 33 species and species groups. The analysis classified the status of fish stocks into categories such as abundant, less abundant, declining, depleted, or collapsed, based on the percentage of recent average catch relative to historical maximums. Findings indicated distinct regional variations: Mumbai region showed a relatively better situation in terms of the status of species abundance, with 63.64% of species categorized as abundant or less abundant. Conversely, the southern districts, particularly Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, exhibit alarming declines, with significant proportions of species classified as depleted or collapsed. Historical studies and comparative analyses underscore the dynamic nature of fisheries and the need for adaptive management strategies. Regions like Ratnagiri, with only 3.03% of species classified as abundant, highlight the critical state of marine resources. The study emphasized the necessity for continuous monitoring, effective management interventions, and tailored conservation plans to sustain the marine fish populations across Maharashtra's diverse coastal regions. Urgent, targeted conservation efforts are particularly crucial in the southern districts, where the abundance of the number of species and species groups is declining rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for photosensors and gas sensors arises from their pivotal roles in various technological applications, ensuring enhanced efficiency, safety, and functionality in diverse fields. In this paper, interlinked PbS/Sb2O5 thin film has been synthesized by a magnetron sputtering method. We control the temperature to form the nanocomposite by using their different nucleation temperature during the sulfonation process. A nanostructured PbS/Sb2O5 with cross-linked morphology was synthesized by using this fast and efficient method. This method has also been used to grow a uniform thin film of nanocomposite. The photo-sensing and gas-sensing properties related to the PbS/Sb2O5 compared with those of other nanomaterials have also been investigated. The experimental and theoretical calculations reveal that the PbS/Sb2O5 exhibits extraordinarily superior photo-sensing and gas-sensing properties in terms of providing a pathway for electron transport to the electrode. The attractive highly sensitive photo and gas sensing properties of PbS/Sb2O5 make them applicable for many different kinds of applications. The responsivity and detectivity of PbS/Sb2O5 are 0.28 S/mWcm−2 and 1.68 × 1011 Jones respectively. The sensor response towards NO2 gas was found to be 0.98 at 10 ppb with an limit of detection (LOD) of 0.083 ppb. The PbS/Sb2O5 exhibits high selectivity towards the NO2 gas. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) were used to analyze the geometries, electronic structure, and electronic absorption spectra of a light sensor fabricated by PbS/Sb2O5. The results are very analogous to the experimental results. Both photosensors and gas sensors are indispensable tools that contribute significantly to the evolution of technology and the improvement of various aspects of modern life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]