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BACKGROUND COVID-19 is a viral pandemic disease reported from 222 different countries in the world. Although government agencies of various countries are responding to the suggestions of medical experts, public understanding of the nature of the disease is necessary to control the disease. Moreover, Covid associated mucormycosis (CAM) is found to emanate as a secondary infection in countries such as India. Therefore, this study was done to evaluate the awareness of COVID-19 and Covid associated mucormycosis. METHODS A questionnaire designed using google form was used to assess the public’s awareness about the airborne nature of the virus, Covid associated mucormycosis, and the government’s efforts in combating the disease. RESULTS About 690 people responded to the questions and among them 78 % were females and 21 % males. The age of the respondents ranged from 17 to 70 yrs. Nearly 69.5 % of the respondents believed that the virus was airborne. Although 89 % of respondents correctly stated that India was experiencing the second wave of COVID-19, yet majority of them could not make the same statement about other countries like the UK and the USA. Naming the mucormycosis as the black fungus had reached 88 % of the respondents. Nearly 60 % of the general public were satisfied with the government's initiatives in providing medical facilities. CONCLUSIONS The study provides the public's understanding of Covid-19 after the second wave of Covid-19 and Covid associated mucormycosis in India. The research provides inputs to the Indian government and the governments of Indian states to further raise public awareness on controlling the disease. KEY WORDS COVID -19; Airborne virus; Covid Associated Mucormycosis; Black fungus, India.

Four different actinomycetes were obtained from the sampling sites. The isolate AA1 isolated from Puducherry beach exhibited good antibacterial activity on primary screening when compared to the others and hence was chosen for further study. The isolate AA1 was Gram positive with smooth surface morphology and the spore chain morphology showed them to be simple rectus. When the isolate was grown on different media the ariel mycelia was mostly white while the substrate was cream/white. It was able to grow at a pH of 7 at 30°C and tolerate 7% NaCl. Maltose, lactose and xylose was used as the sole carbon source. The crude ethyl acetate extract of AA1 showed antibacterial activity against E.coli (9mm), S.aureus (7.5mm), P.mirabilis (7.7mm), P.aeruginosa (7mm) and K.pneumoniae (4.5mm) at a concentration of 3.5mg/ml. MIC of the crude extract of AA1 was 0.531mg/ml for E.coli and P.aeruginosa, 1.062mg/ml for S.aureus, 0.265mg/ml for P.mirabilis, and 2.125mg/ml for K.pneumoniae. The FT-IR Spectrum of the crude extract showed characteristic peaks at 3290.56cm-1, 1635.64cm-1 and 1016.49cm-1 corresponding to the following functional group such as alcohol (O-H), Alkene (C=C), Ether (C-O) respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolate AA1 revealed 100% similarity to Streptomyces lincolnensis. The restriction sites prediction of the 16SrRNA gene of Streptomyces lincolnensis showed restriction sites for Eco53KI, Bsr I, Hae II, Eco RV, EcoRI, EagI, Hinc II etc. The restriction site analysis showed GC content of 59% and AT content of 41%.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of electromagnetic field on germination characteristics of pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus). It was conducted in factorial randomized complete design with three replications in Tarbiat modares University, during 2013-14. Pigweed seeds were subjected to three magnetic field levels created by magnets with 4000G, 5000G and 6000G for exposure times of 5, 35 and 65 minutes followed by which the seeds were placed in petri dishes and transferred on germinator. The germination characteristics, germination percentage, time to 50% germination, germination evenness and the rate of germination were recorded .The sprouts were bisected in four-leaf stage and they were evaluated in their morphologic characteristics and the amount of protein and â-amylase enzymatic activity. Results indicated that the mutual effect of the magnetic field exposure duration and intensity was found significant on all the examined traits in pigweed. The highest and lowest germination in pigweed seeds were recorded with 5000G-5minutes and 6000G-65minutes treatments, respectively. The treatments in which the weed seeds were exposed to 5000G intensity for 65minutes, 6000G for 35minutes produced the highest and the lowest amounts of protein, respectively. Based on the experiment results the magnetic field exposure intensity and duration influence the germination characteristics, protein content and â-amylase enzymatic activity rate, this can be a promised method in controlling the weeds in farms.

The present study investigates the phytochemical constituents, the antimicrobial, antioxidant activity, the functional groups by FT-IR and the presence of bioactive compounds by GC-MS analyses of leaves of Solanum torvum, rhizome of Acorus calamus and whole plant of Mollugo pentaphylla. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the solvent extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, proteins, carbohydrates, phenols, saponins, glycosides, coumarins, quinines. The solvent extracts showed antibacterial activity against E.faecalis, E.coli S.aureus, B.subtilis. K.pneumonia and C.albicans. The total phenolic content was 0.3430 GAE/g DW whereas, the total flavonoid content varied between 4.928 - 7.751mgQE/g DW. DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the diethyl ether extract of S. torvum recorded the IC50 at a concentration of 7.23µg/ml. In the hydrogen peroxide assay of the M. pentaphylla aqueous extract the IC50 value at a concentration of 3.295µg/ml was recorded. FT-IR studies showed the major functional groups alcohols, alkane, amines, aldehydes, alkyl halide and GC-MS studies showed 20 compounds with phytol being the major constituent.