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The efficiency of anaerobic night soil (human excreta) biodegradation depends on the characteristics of the inoculum used. This anaerobic microbial inoculum (AMI) contains a microbial consortium, including rate-limiting methanogens whose growth depends on various physicochemical and biological parameters necessitating the inoculum characterisation essential for optimum night soil (NS) biodegradation. The inoculum contained 24.567 g/L (±0.07) total solid, 5.022 (±0.57) g/L total dissolved solid, 18.148 (±0.0.058) g/L volatile solid (VS), and 7.0±0.2 pH. The Gas chromatography analysis confirmed the presence of a small amount of volatile fatty acid (VFA), (≤ 4 mM except propionate) showing rapid conversion of VFA to methane, and 55% methane. Further, the presence of methanosaetaceae group of methanogens was detected through Taqman probe-based real-time PCR. The inoculum performance was evaluated for NS biodegradation in semicontinuous mode of feeding in four 2 L anaerobic biodigesters (2D HRT, 4D HRT, 5D HRT, and 10D HRT) with varying hydraulic retention time (HRT) (2, 5, 8, and 10 days, respectively) at mesophilic temperature (35°C). After 5 HRT, VS reduction for 2D HRT and 5D HRT was 45-50% and >45-60%, respectively. The methane content was 45-50% and 50-65% methane, respectively. The % VS reduction and methane content showed the overfeeding of NS in biodigesters 2D HRT and 5D HRT while 8D HRT showed towards optimum and 10D HRT optimum with improved VS reduction and methane content.

The present study provides the new distributional record of Heterostemma dalzellii from the Wayanad district of the Kerala part of the south Western Ghats. To facilitate the identification, a detailed description, photographs, and notes on distribution of the plant are provided here.

Abstract The deleterious innate attribute of Ti6Al4V, the workhorse material among the alloy series of titanium is its incompetent tribo-behavior. Infinite surface modification techniques, viz., the accretion of adherent appendage layers, diffusion hardening, infusion of residual stresses, microstructural evolution, and phase transformations were attempted to enhance the wear resistance of the alloy. The need lies to establish a bridge between the indigenous material properties and the tribo-characteristics of Ti6Al4V so that the enforced improvement techniques can raise the barriers of its applicability. A critical review of the microstructural transitions, mechanisms governing tribo-behavior and the parametric conditions leading to material removal at dry sliding conditions of Ti6Al4V, falls under the scope of this manuscript. Hence, the prime focus of the approach is to impart a clear-cut perception of the minute variations in mechanical, metallurgical, and tribological characteristics of the alloy at interactive instances with distinct counter-body surfaces.

Bacteria employ numerous resistance mechanisms against structurally distinct drugs by the process of multidrug resistance. A study was planned to discover the antibacterial potential of a graphene oxide nanosheet (GO), a graphene oxide–zinc oxide nanocomposite (GO/ZnO), a graphene oxide-chitosan nanocomposite (GO–CS), a zinc oxide decorated graphene oxide–chitosan nanocomposite (GO–CS/ZnO), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) alone and in a blend with antibiotics against a PS-2 isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These nanocomposites reduced the MIC of tetracycline (TET) from 16 folds to 64 folds against a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate. Efflux pumps were interfered, as evident by an ethidium bromide synergy study with nanocomposites, as well as inhibiting biofilm synthesis. These nanoparticles/nanocomposites also decreased the mutant prevention concentration (MPC) of TET. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on nanomaterials as a synergistic agent via inhibition of efflux and biofilm synthesis.

The orchidaceous plant treasures in the Kottavasal Hills of Achancoil Shear Zone of the southern Western Ghats, situated in Kerala and a part of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, have not been subjected to a detailed floristic investigation. Field surveys were conducted during the period 2009–2012 and 53 orchid taxa were collected and documented. The present study points out that the orchid flora of Achancoil Shear Zone tends to have an affinity to the remnants of the Mozambique belt.

Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships among 76 birds belonging to Indian Red Jungle Fowl (RJF) and three domestic chicken breeds viz. one Indian native sport breed, Aseel (AS) and two global high yielding breeds of egg type, White Leghorn (WL) and meat type, Red Cornish (RC) were evaluated using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A total of 318 scorable dominant AFLP bands in the range of 50-500 bp using 20 EcoRI/TaqI primer combinations were detected across populations. The mean number of polymorphic bands across all four populations was 15.5 per primer combination. Species-specific bands were also found in all populations except WL. Nei’s gene diversity was measured between RJF and domestic chickens and it was significantly higher in RJF population (0.309) as compared to the domestic chicken populations of AS (0.129), WL (0.067) and RC (0.066). RJF showed maximum genetic distance with RC (0.221) and minimum with AS (0.177) population. The divergence between RJF and domestic chicken was observed by constructing an UPGMA dendrogram. RJF was present in one cluster and whereas the three domestic chickens were tightly clustered in another group. This clustering pattern was also confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). The estimate of genetic identities (GI) and genetic distances (GD) using Nei (1972) also suggest comparatively more closeness of RJF with AS (an Indian native chicken breed) than those of commercial breeds WL and RC. These results support the earlier understanding that chicken was first domesticated for game purpose rather than as food.