Impact of Natural Fermentation on Physicochemical, Microbiological and Cup Quality Characteristics of Arabica and Robusta Coffee

Information related to physicochemical and microbial dynamics during coffee fermentation and effects of fermentation duration on coffee cup quality is lacking in India. Hence, the present study was taken up with an objective to understand the physicochemical and microbial dynamics during fermentation of arabica and robusta coffee. The pH of the fermenting mass decreased from 5.43 to 4.71 and from 5.54 to 4.05 in arabica and robusta respectively. An increase in the temperature of the fermenting mass was recorded in both arabica (24–29 °C) and robusta coffee (25.3–25.8 °C). Good cup characteristics were obtained after 20 and 96 h of fermentation for arabica and robusta respectively. Yeast has been found to be the dominant microflora of freshly pulped beans followed by bacteria, as the fermentation proceeded; both bacteria and yeast have been displaced by fungal colonization. Naturally fermented coffee is found to produce slightly higher cup quality compared to the coffee processed by enzyme; alkali wash and machine wash.     

Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy: a prospective study

The harmonic scalpel has been in use for tonsillectomy for the last 5–6 years in western Europe and North America. Although some studies have found this technique to be superior to other conventional methods, its use is still not very popular. In this single-blinded prospective study, the intraoperative events and postoperative morbidity after the use of harmonic scalpel in tonsillectomy (HST) was evaluated in 180 cases in two hospitals and compared with conventional steel tonsillectomy (CST) and hemostasis secured by bipolar diathermy or ligatures in 100 cases. Both bipolar diathermy and ligatures were used to control the intraoperative bleeding in all cases of CST and some cases ( n =9) of HST. The study was done in two hospitals. Patients were randomized irrespectively of their age, sex, past history or indication for surgery. The total number of patients operated on was 180 for HST and 100 for CST. The surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pain were compared between the patients who only had tonsillectomy done in either group ( n =120 in HST and n =70 in CST). The mean operative time in the HST group was not longer than the CST group, but the intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in the HST group. Postoperative pain was present in all patients in the HST group, but to a lesser extent than in the CST group. There was no major postoperative hemorrhage in the HST group that required surgical attention. HST has the advantage over CST when secondary hemorrhage after tonsillectomy is considered. Thus, following the results of the National Prospective Tonsillectomy Audit (NPTA), it may be safe to say that HST is superior to most other conventional methods in reducing secondary hemorrhage. The use of disposable blades in CST certainly reduces the risk of the transmission of Cruetzfield-Jacob disease (CJD).     

Synthesis antimicrobial and anticancer activity of N′-arylmethylidene-piperazine-1-carbothiohydrazide

Ten newly synthesized thiosemicarbazones of piperazine (3a–3j) were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activity against non-pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (NCIM 2068), Klebsiella pneumonia (NCIM 2957), Staphylococcus aureus (NCIM 2079), and Bacillus subtilis (NCIM 2921); pathogenic strains of Vibrio cholerae, protease, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. All the 10 compounds (3a–3j) were found to be better than Ciprofloxacin against B. subtilis and four molecules (3c, 3d, 3e, and 3h) against S. aureus. Compound 3j, a derivative of benzophenone, has been identified as a potent and promising candidate against C. albicans. The compounds were also evaluated for their anticancer activity against HBL-100 and HL60 cell lines. Compound 3a, a p-hydroxy benzaldehyde derivative, has been identified as a potent and promising candidate.     

Synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation, and docking studies of novel 4-substituted quinazoline derivatives as DNA-gyrase inhibitors

Quinazoline derivatives are reported to have anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. The incorporation of “OCH₂CONH₂” (oxymethylcarbamide) at 4^th position of the quinazoline ring was found to influence the biological activities of the molecules. With this rationale, some new oxadiazolyl methyloxy quinazolines, pyrazolyl acetoxy methyl quinazolines, triazolylmethyloxy quinazolines were synthesized from anthranilic acid through quinazolyl oxyacetylhydrazide intermediates. All the compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H‐NMR, EI‐MS, and C, H, N analyses and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Docking studies on the DNA‐gyrase enzyme (1KZN) show their role in the antimicrobial activity of the molecules and explain the higher potency of compounds 6a , 6b , 8a , 8b based on ReRanking scores and binding poses of the molecules.     

Emergence of Mycobacterium orygis–Associated Tuberculosis in Wild Ruminants,India

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium orygis was detected in 2 spotted deer from a wildlife sanctuary in western India and an Indian bison from a national park in central India. Nationwide surveillance is urgently required to clarify the epidemiology of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex at the human–livestock–wildlife interface.     

Trichoderma–Azotobacter biofilm inoculation improves soil nutrient availability and plant growth in wheat and cotton

Microbial biofilms are gaining importance in agriculture, due to their multifaceted agronomic benefits and resilience to environmental fluctuations. This study focuses on comparing the influence of single inoculation—Azotobacter chroococcum (Az) or Trichoderma viride (Tv) and their biofilm (Tv–Az), on soil and plant metabolic activities in wheat and cotton grown under Phytotron conditions. Tv–Az proved superior to all the other treatments in terms of better colonisation, plant growth attributes and 10–40% enhanced availability of macronutrients and micronutrients in the soil, over control. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy showed that the cells attached to the root tips initially, followed by their proliferation along the surface of the roots. Soil polysaccharides, proteins and dehydrogenase activity showed several fold enhancement in Tv–Az biofilm inoculated samples. Time course studies revealed that the population of Az and Tv in the rhizoplane and rhizosphere was significantly higher with a 0.14–0.31 log colony‐forming unit (CFU) increase in the biofilm‐inoculated treatment in both crops. Enhancement in soil biological activities was facilitated by the improved colonisation of the biofilm, due to the synergistic association between Tv and Az. This demonstrates the utility of Tv–Az biofilm as a multifunctional plant growth promoting and soil fertility enhancing option in agriculture.     

Urease Activity in Various Agro-ecological Sub-regions of Black Soil Regions of India

A study was undertaken in the established benchmark soil series in different agro-ecological sub-regions of Black Soil Regions of India with the objective to assess the urease activity as a function of soil depth, bio-climate, cropping system and land use type. The urease activity declined with increase in soil depth. Maximum activity was restricted within 0–30 cm of soil depth. Cropping systems and bio-climates significantly (p < 0.01) influenced the urease activity in soil. The average urease activity in different bio-climates was in decreasing order viz. sub-humid (moist) > sub-humid (dry) > semi-arid (dry) > arid. The activity in different cropping systems was in decreasing order viz. legume- > sugarcane- > cereals- > cotton-based cropping system. Higher urease activity was observed in irrigated agro-systems as compared to the rainfed agricultural systems. High management practices increased urease activity as compared to low management. In physical properties, urease activity was negatively correlated with sand, fine clay, bulk density and available water content. Electrical conductivity, calcium carbonate and cation exchange capacity showed negative correlation in chemical properties at all the soil depths.