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Massive influxes of pelagic Sargassum spp. across the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean regions have created urgent ecological and economic challenges that need to be addressed to stabilize local ecosystems. Use of this abundant biomass feedstock resource for biorefining and bioproducts manufacturing is a promising avenue, but this goal requires elucidating the microbial processes that regulate Sargassum degradation, which are still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the microbial degradation of the benthic Sargassum filipendula by native microbiota using multi-omics approaches. Metagenomic and meta-transcriptomic analyses identified diverse carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), including alginate lyases, fucoidanases, and cellulases, that were differentially expressed over the course of the in vitro degradation timeline. Furthermore, we identified the need for arsenic detoxification pathways in microbes utilizing Sargassum-derived substrates. We observed a suite of factors influencing microbial dynamics, including prokaryotic competition, arsenic detoxification, viruses, and substrate availability. Lineages potentially capable of degrading recalcitrant polysaccharides such as fucoidan appeared to be rapidly outcompeted by other bacteria that utilized simpler substrates like mannitol. These results highlight the metabolic potential of native marine microbial communities to degrade complex Sargassum polysaccharides and the importance of the in vitro degradation experiment time scale to capture the activities of non-dominant specialists. Our findings elucidate microbial ecosystem dynamics during Sargassum degradation and provide novel insights that can be used to advance the development of biotechnological approaches that leverage renewable Sargassum biomass as a biorefinery feedstock of the future.IMPORTANCEThis work addresses a crisis in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean regions, the massive population growth and stranding of the floating brown seaweed Sargassum, which is wreaking havoc on ecosystems and fouling beaches vital to local tourism. One solution to this problem is to utilize the seaweed as feedstock to generate useful bioproducts. This approach requires characterizing the microbiome of Sargassum that drives its degradation in nature. To this end, we devised an in-lab degradation assay using Sargassum and identified a variety of carbohydrate-active enzymes, including alginate lyases, fucoidanases, and cellulases which break down seaweed cell wall polysaccharides. We also find that microbes compete in the closed reactors, with diversity being reduced over time. These results highlight the metabolic potential of native marine microbial communities to degrade Sargassum and elucidate microbial ecosystem dynamics during this process. These insights allow the use of renewable Sargassum as a biorefinery feedstock of the future.

Black pepper production has been gravely struck by the wreaking havoc due to foot rot caused by Phytophthora species namely, Phytophthora capsici and Phytophthora tropicalis. In India, black pepper is widely cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The present study included the isolates collected from these major black pepper growing regions for haplotype analysis to decipher population diversity and to characterize the colony and sporangial morphology. Morphological characters analyzed were highly variable, and the majority showed umbellate ontogeny with caducous sporangia exhibiting different shapes. The haplotype analysis was carried out using both mitochondrial (Cox-1, Cox-2, Nad1 and Nad5) and nuclear genes (β-tubulin, EF-1α, Enolase, HSP90, TigA and Ura3). Sequence analysis was performed after manually trimming and aligning the sequences using ClustalX2. DnaSP v6.12.03 was used to calculate various parameters like polymorphisms, haplotypes, haplotype and nuclear diversity, recombination events and neutrality tests. The isolates displayed a greater number of haplotypes for EF1-α, and the haplotypes identified for Nad1 and Ura3 were comparatively fewer. PopART was used for the visual representation of the identified haplotypes. Further, the haplotypes identified from P. capsici infecting diverse hosts from Hawaii and some of the contiguous United States were also compared with the present study to impart more clarity. Restoration of genetic diversity after a severe bottleneck through balancing selection was revealed using the demographic analysis. The phylogenetic study indicated a possibility that the South Indian black pepper Phytophthora population was closely related to the aforementioned US population. The population structure analysis showed two genetic clusters among the South Indian population, and isolates with admixture ancestry were also identified, indicating migration events.

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a notorious invasive pest wreaking havoc on various crops globally. Nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) are viral pathogens that specially target lepidopteran pests. However, the homologous virus, Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV), has not been commercialized in China. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying heterologous virus-host interactions can inform the design of virus-based insecticides for controlling S. frugiperda. The pathogenicity of the four heterologous NPVs on S. frugiperda varied greatly. Mamestra brassicae multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (MbMNPV) exhibited the most potent virulence on larvae and induced the most robust sublethal effects on adults. Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) infection was characterized by more moderate pathogenicity, and larvae were relatively resistant to Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) and Spodoptera litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SlMNPV). Larval mortality was virus-concentration and larval stage dependent. Specifically, the corrected mortality rate of third instar larvae after treatment with 1 × 106, 1 × 107, and 1 × 108 OBs/mL MbMNPV was 88.9 %, 100.0 %, and 100.0 %, respectively. All four NPVs negatively affected the longevity and fecundity of S. frugiperda adults. Female adults surviving treatment with MbMNPV and SeMNPV were unable to lay eggs. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that MbMNPV infection might suppress the antiviral immune response, and dysregulate biological pathways of S. frugiperda larvae to facilitate systemic infection. However, the overall transcript profiles remain unchanged after SlMNPV infection. The results reinforce the potential of NPVs, specifically MbMNPV, as potent biocontrol agents for S. frugiperda. These findings yield valuable insights into the complex arms race between S. frugiperda and NPVs that may advance the development of virus-based strategies to mitigate the destructive impact of this pest.

The first known human infection with a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A virus appeared in China in 1997. Between 2003 and 2017, the WHO documented an additional 862 human cases, mainly from southeast Asia and Egypt, with a mean annual case fatality rate of 56%. By 2006, the susceptibility of cats to severe respiratory and neurologic disease became apparent. Scientists raised concerns regarding the potential for domestic cats to transmit novel pathogenic strains to humans. But after 2006, reports of new H5N1 infections in companion animals dwindled, and human cases fell after 2016. In 2021, H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses suddenly appeared in Europe and spread rapidly to the Americas, wreaking havoc on wildlife and crippling the poultry and dairy industries. Between 2022 and 2025, dozens of domestic cats died, most often following raw food consumption. Unease regarding the transmission potential of pets resurfaced. Although most human infections in the Americas were mild and associated with poultry or dairy contact, the recent detection of genotype D1.1 in association with severe illness or death is cause for concern. Genotype D1.1 has now also been detected in dairy cattle and domestic cats. Reports of H5N1 clade 2.3.2.1a viruses in India suggest a new potential threat. Successful control of H5N1 infections is strongly dependent on a One Health approach. Small animal veterinarians play a key role in this approach through recognition of cases and education of pet owners, thus preserving the human-animal bond.

COVID-19 is an emerging viral pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which is the causative agent of unprecedented disease-causing public health threats globally. Worldwide, this outbreak is wreaking havoc due to failure in risk assessment regarding the urgency of the pandemic. As per the reports, many secondary complications which include neurological, nephrological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, immune, and hepatic abnormalities, are linked with COVID -19 infection which is associated with prominent respiratory disorders including pneumonia. Hindering the initial binding of the virus with Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through the spike protein is one potential boulevard of monoclonal antibodies. Although some drug regimens and vaccines have shown safety in trials, none have been entirely successful yet. This review highlights, some of the potential antibodies (tocilizumab, Sarilumab, Avdoralimab, Lenzilumab, Interferon (alfa /beta /gamma)) screened against SARS-CoV-2 and the most promising drugs (Favipiravir, Hydroxychloroquine, Niclosamide, Ribavirin, Baricitinib, Remdesivir, Arbidol Losartan, Ritonavir, Lopinavir, Baloxavir, Nitazoxanide, Camostat) in various stages of development with their synthetic protocol and their clinical projects are discussed to counter COVID -19.

The rampant growth of Spartina alterniflora has been wreaking havoc on the coastal ecosystems, leading to a serious environmental challenge in recent years. One potential solution to this issue involves converting Spartina alterniflora into activated carbon, offering a potential remedy for pollution while creating value in energy storage applications. Herein, through a facile carbonization process with sodium hydroxide activation, we successfully transformed obsolete Spartina alterniflora into a porous carbon material (called SAC) and its nitrogen-doped derivative (denoted as SANC) by using melamine as the nitrogen source in a similar procedure. The amorphous structure of these materials was confirmed to enhance lithium-ion storage and electrolyte permeation, making them ideal for use as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. As a result, both SAC and SANC, derived from Spartina alterniflora, exhibited outstanding electrochemical performance including high capacity (456.7 and 780.8 mA h g-1 for SAC and SANC, respectively, at the current density of 6 mA g-1), excellent rate performance (from 6 to 600 mA g-1) and long-term cycling stability. Notably, compared to SAC, its N-doped derivative SANC showed superior properties in the battery (retaining a reversible capacity of 412.9 mA h g-1 at the current density of 6 mA g-1 even after 600 repeated charge-discharge cycles), demonstrating the significantly positive impact of heteroatom doping. This work not only offers a strategy to mitigate environmental challenges but also demonstrates the potential for converting waste biomass into a valuable resource for energy storage applications.

Obesity is not only an aesthetic problem but also an important comorbidity in metabolic syndrome and other types of pathologies. Currently discussed adjuvants are turmeric and curcumin, used as food supplements. Starting from synthesis in turmeric plant up to the use of turmeric as a spice, a significant amount of turmeric and its derivatives are lost during the processing procedure. In oral administration, the reduced bioavailability of these compounds must be taken into account, an aspect that can be improved by using different combinations and dosages. As for their pharmacodynamic effects, through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin improves mitochondrial function and promotes the browning of white adipose tissue. Another mechanism of action of curcumin in weight loss is enzymatic modulation, leading to a decrease in the activity of key enzymes involved in lipogenesis and an increase in the activity of lipolytic enzymes. These properties are enhanced by the synergistic action of the other polyphenols present in turmeric, especially calebin A, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid. Summarizing these effects, curcumin is a promising food supplement, opening new directions for further research to discover possibilities to improve or even eliminate the calamity of obesity that is currently wreaking havoc.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is one of the neglected tropical diseases in Africa, likely to spread to other countries outside the continent, and capable of wreaking havoc on livestock and human populations. This study presents a novel mathematical model for RVF, taking into account time-dependent treatment, vaccination, and environmental sanitation controls. The existence of both RVF-free (disease-free) and RVF-present (endemic) equilibrium points are established analytically. Using the center manifold theory, the co-existence of both equilibrium points is characterized via bifurcation analysis. Castillo-Chavez's M-matrix approach and Lyapunov function are used to carry out the global stability analysis of the model around the disease-free and endemic equilibrium points, respectively. Furthermore, existence of triple optimal control is rigorously proved and characterized using Pontryagin's maximum principle. Consequently, the most efficient and cost-effective of each of the controls and several combinations of the controls are investigated through efficiency and cost-effectiveness analyses. The findings of the study provide insights into long term behavior of the RVF dynamics in the population, suggesting efficient prevention and optimal control measures at minimal cost of intervention.

Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, another illness wreaking havoc in India is mucormycosis, also known as black fungus. Mucormycosis was previously known as zygomycotic infection, which is a consequential type of infection caused by several mildews known as Mucoromycetes. It is an invasive type of disease which occurs more commonly in individuals with low and weakened immunity. The main objective of this study was to identify the mucormycosis cases post COVID-19 and to determine the risk factors and treatment for positive cases. Thirty-three patients (61% men, 39% women; mean age 55 years) with mucormycosis were identified in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. People who received COVID-19 vaccines had a lower rate of infection with the fungus than non-vaccinated people. In steroid users the risk was very high compared with those not taking steroids. The majority of non vaccinated patients with preexisting co-morbidity conditions like diabetes, chronic illnesses and irregular use of steroids during COVID-19, might have greater risks of getting mucormycosis rather than normal COVID-19 positive cases.

COVID-19 still wreaking havoc in Malaysia, with 3,221,680 cases and 32,326 deaths as of 20 February 2022. In the Oil and Gas industry, implementing quarantine before mobilising to or after mobilising from onshore and offshore locations was mandatory to help stop the spread of the virus. However, previous studies have shown that quarantine can significantly impact public mental health. This study intends to assess the psychosocial stress experienced by Oil and Gas industry employees during periods of quarantine in various regions (PMA: Terengganu, SBA: Sabah, SKA: Sarawak) and between onshore and offshore employees. Additionally, it aims to identify the factors that are linked to psychosocial stress in this workforce. A cross-sectional study involving 86 respondents was conducted using an online survey between the middle of March and April 2022. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) developed by Cohen et al., (1983) was used to assess the stress levels of individuals. Data analysis was carried out using the SPSS statistical program, which included descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis and Linear Regression tests. The majority of respondents, 75.6% (n=65) reported moderate stress levels, while 14.0% (n=12) declared severe stress levels. The Mann-Whitney test showed no significant difference in psychosocial stress scores among workers between onshore and offshore (&#x3c7;2=-0.523, p=0.601), whereas the Kruskal Wallis test showed a significant difference in psychosocial stress scores among workers between states (PMA, SKA, and SBA) (&#x3c7;2=6.415, p=0.040). According to the regression test, workers with medical histories of diabetes and Covid-19 (R2=0.158) (p<0.005) are two factors linked to psychosocial stress. The study found that there were significant differences in psychosocial stress among oil and gas workers between SKA, SBA, and PMA due to quarantine activity. Mobile workers and those with certain medical histories were identified as being particularly vulnerable to psychosocial stress. However, it was noted that the overall improvement in the quarantine period had a positive impact on the mental health of these workers.

Like the coronavirus disease 2019, the hepatitis B virus is also wreaking havoc worldwide, which has infected over 2 billion people globally. Using an experimental animal model, our previous research observed that the hepatitis B virus genes integrated into human spermatozoa can replicate and express after being transmitted to embryos. However, as of now, this phenomenon has not been confirmed in clinical data from patients. To explore the integration of the hepatitis B virus into patients' sperm genome and its potential clinical risks. Forty-eight patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection were categorized into two groups: Test Group-1 comprised 23 patients without integration of hepatitis B virus DNA within the sperm genome. Test Group-2 comprised 25 patients with integration of hepatitis B virus DNA within the sperm genome. Forty-eight healthy male donors were included as control. The standard semen parameter analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, sperm chromatin structure assay, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and immunofluorescence assays were utilized. The difference in the median copy number of hepatitis B virus DNA per mL of sera between Test Group-1 and Group-2 was not statistically significant. In Test Group-2, the integration rate of hepatitis B virus DNA was 0.109%, which showed a significant correlation with the median copy number of hepatitis B virus DNA in motile spermatozoa (1.18&#xa0;&#xd7;&#xa0;103/mL). Abnormal semen parameters were found in almost all these 25 patients. The integrated hepatitis B virus S, C, X, and P genes were detected to be introduced into sperm-derived embryos through fertilization and retained their function in replication, transcription, and translation. Our findings suggest that hepatitis B virus infection can lead to sperm quality deterioration and reduced fertilization capacity. Furthermore, viral integration causes instability in the sperm genome, increasing the potential risk of termination, miscarriage, and stillbirth. This study identified an unconventional mode of hepatitis B virus transmission through genes rather than virions. The presence of viral sequences in the embryonic genome poses a risk of liver inflammation and cancer.

The role of indigenous knowledge in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation cannot be underestimated. It acts as a preparedness and response tool to climate change-related impacts such as floods, droughts and strong winds. However, inadequate studies about indigenous knowledge in Malawi is a major challenge when dealing with extreme climatic conditions. Learning from indigenous knowledge systems, by investigating first what local communities know and have, can improve the understanding of local conditions and can provide a productive context for activities designed to help communities reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts. This paper assessed the role of indigenous knowledge systems in DRR and climate change variability and adaptation strategies in Chikwawa district. The study used a participatory research approach involving interactive research methods such as focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews and participant observations. Data from key informants and FGDs were analysed thematically. The study revealed various indigenous knowledge which communities in the Chikwawa district use to respond to climate-related impacts such as floods. Some of these include hippopotamus relocating from the river to the village, extreme hissing of pythons in nearby forests, buffaloes and zebras wreaking havoc in the villages and crocodiles flocking to the village. The study concludes that indigenous knowledge provides the basis for problem-solving approaches for local communities, hence, a need to document it at a wider scale.

The COVID 19 pandemic is highly contagious disease is wreaking havoc on people's health and well-being around the world. Radiological imaging with chest radiography is one among the key screening procedure. This disease contaminates the respiratory system and impacts the alveoli, which are small air sacs in the lungs. Several artificial intelligence (AI)-based method to detect&#xa0;COVID-19 have been&#xa0;introduced. The recognition of disease patients using features and variation in chest radiography images was demonstrated using this model. In proposed paper presents a model, a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) with ResNet50 configuration, that really is freely-available and accessible to the common people for detecting this infection from chest radiography&#xa0;scans. The introduced&#xa0;model is capable of recognizing coronavirus diseases from CT scan images that identifies the real time condition of covid-19 patients. Furthermore, the database is capable of tracking detected patients and maintaining their database for increasing accuracy of the training model. The proposed model gives approximately 97% accuracy in determining the above-mentioned results related to covid-19 disease by employing the combination of adopted-CNN and ResNet50 algorithms.

The link between civilization and technology has long been a hotspot of research around the world. Mobile phone addiction has become a common social phenomenon with advances in society and technology, wreaking havoc on people's emotional health, physical fitness, and personal connections. Considering the positive effects of mindfulness, this study used the diary method to explore the relationship between mindfulness and mobile phone addiction based on the mindfulness reperceiving model. We conducted a 14-day diary study among 198 Chinese youth participants. The results showed that there was a circular argument relationship between mindfulness and mobile phone addiction: mindfulness of the previous day could significantly negatively predict mobile phone addiction of the following day, and vice versa. These results, based on the mindfulness reperceiving model, effectively extend theories and profoundly reveal the circular argument relationship between mindfulness and mobile phone addiction. Besides, it also provides new thought for the mechanism of the interrelationship between mindfulness and mobile phone addiction, as an important theoretical support for the intervention of mobile phone addiction from the perspective of mindfulness.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been wreaking havoc for 3 years. PANoptosis, a distinct and physiologically relevant inflammatory programmed cell death, perpetuates cytokine storm and multi-organ injuries in COVID-19. Although PANoptosis performs indispensable roles in host defense, further investigation is needed to elucidate the exact processes through which PANoptosis modulates immunological responses and prognosis in COVID-19. This study conducted a bioinformatics analysis of online single-cell RNA sequence (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq datasets to explore the potential of PANoptosis as an indicator of COVID-19 severity. The degree of PANoptosis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) indicated the severity of COVID-19. Single-cell transcriptomics identified pro-inflammatory monocytes as one of the primary sites of PANoptosis in COVID-19. The study subsequently demonstrated the immune and metabolic characteristics of this group of pro-inflammatory monocytes. In addition, the analysis illustrated that dexamethasone was likely to alleviate inflammation in COVID-19 by mitigating PANoptosis. Finally, the study showed that the PANoptosis-related genes could predict the intensive care unit admission (ICU) and outcomes of COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized.

Species of the Vibrio genus occupy diverse aquatic environments ranging from brackish water to warm equatorial seas to salty coastal regions. More than 80 species of Vibrio have been identified, many of them as pathogens of marine organisms, including fish, shellfish, and corals, causing disease and wreaking havoc on aquacultures and coral reefs. Moreover, many Vibrio species associate with and thrive on chitinous organisms abundant in the ocean. Among the many diverse Vibrio species, the most well-known and studied is Vibrio cholerae, discovered in the 19th century to cause cholera in humans when ingested. The V. cholerae field blossomed in the late 20th century, with studies broadly examining V. cholerae evolution as a human pathogen, natural competence, biofilm formation, and virulence mechanisms, including toxin biology and virulence gene regulation. This review discusses some of the historic discoveries of V. cholerae biology and ecology as one of the fundamental model systems of bacterial genetics and pathogenesis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread widely around the world since 2019, wreaking havoc on social order in a global context. In China, the pandemic has not only provided new challenges to the government's capacity but also provided new issues for the Civil Code that is being compiled. The study adopts the research method of comparative analysis and combines the case study method, aiming to study the impact of the epidemic on the compilation of China's Civil Code. We found that the official Civil Code adds, deletes, and adjusts several articles compared to the Civil Code (Draft), five of which are relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Civil Code was enacted at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to some of its provisions being affected by the COVID-19; the "COVID-19 provisions" not only provided legitimacy for the prevention and control of the pandemic but also improved China's system of governance of public health emergencies. This study exposes the legal loophole in the "COVID-19 provisions" in China's Civil Code and further suggests ways to fill the legal loophole.

Conventional antimicrobial discovery relies on targeting essential enzymes in pathogenic organisms, contributing to a paucity of new antibiotics to address resistant strains. Here, by targeting a non-essential enzyme, Borrelia burgdorferi HtpG, to deliver lethal payloads, we expand what can be considered druggable within any pathogen. We synthesized HS-291, an HtpG inhibitor tethered to the photoactive toxin verteporfin. Reactive oxygen species, generated by light, enables HS-291 to sterilize Borrelia cultures by causing oxidation of HtpG, and a discrete subset of proteins in proximity to the chaperone. This caused irreversible nucleoid collapse and membrane blebbing. Tethering verteporfin to the HtpG inhibitor was essential, since free verteporfin was not retained by Borrelia in contrast to HS-291. For this reason, we liken HS-291 to a berserker, wreaking havoc upon the pathogen's biology once selectively absorbed and activated. This strategy expands the druggable pathogenic genome and offsets antibiotic resistance by targeting non-essential proteins.