An optimization case study for solving a transport robot scheduling problem on quantum-hybrid and quantum-inspired hardware.

We present a comprehensive case study comparing the performance of D-Waves' quantum-classical hybrid framework, Fujitsu's quantum-inspired digital annealer, and Gurobi's state-of-the-art classical solver in solving a transport robot scheduling problem. This problem originates from an industrially relevant real-world scenario. We provide three different models for our problem following different design philosophies. In our benchmark, we focus on the solution quality and end-to-end runtime of different model and solver combinations. We find promising results for the digital annealer and some opportunities for the hybrid quantum annealer in direct comparison with Gurobi. Our study provides insights into the workflow for solving an application-oriented optimization problem with different strategies, and can be useful for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.

Dengue havoc: overview and eco-friendly strategies to forestall the current epidemic.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness that affects over 100 nations around the world, including Africa, America, the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific. Those who get infected by virus for the second time are at greater risk of having persistent dengue symptoms. Dengue fever has yet to be treated with a long-lasting vaccination or medication. Because of their ease of use, mosquito repellents have become popular as a dengue prevention technique. However, this has resulted in environmental degradation and harm, as well as bioaccumulation and biomagnification of hazardous residues in the ecosystem. Synthetic pesticides have caused a plethora of serious problems that were not foreseen when they were originally introduced. The harm caused by the allopathic medications/synthetic pesticides/chemical mosquito repellents has paved the door to employment of eco-friendly/green approaches in order to reduce dengue cases while protecting the integrity of the nearby environment too. Since the cases of dengue have become rampant these days, hence, starting the medication obtained from green approaches as soon as the disease is detected is advisable. In the present paper, we recommend environmentally friendly dengue management strategies, which, when combined with a reasonable number of vector control approaches, may help to avoid the dengue havoc as well as help in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.

Gum arabic-assisted green synthesis of biocompatible MoS2 nanoparticles for methylene blue photodegradation.

The current work reports the gum arabic-mediated greener synthesis of MoS2 nanoparticles (NPs) and its utilization for the solar light-assisted degradation of methylene blue. Furthermore, the safety analyses were performed on human-beneficial gut bacterium, L. delbrueckii, and human blood cells to confirm the biocompatibility of NPs synthesized. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were done to explore their usefulness for biological applications. Sonication and microwave treatment were used to obtain spherical 10-12 nm MoS2 NPs as characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. FT-IR characterization revealed the occurrence of gum arabic on the NPs surface. The MoS2 NPs exhibited ~ 98% MB degradation within 8 h under direct sunlight exposure. Moreover, the reusability studies have also been evaluated and free radical trapping experiments indicated that superoxide (•O2-) is the dominant active species of the reaction system. Furthermore, 98.89% MB degradation efficiency was observed within 150 min in the case of real textile industry MB effluent samples. Untreated MB inhibited the growth of L. delbrueckii on MRS agar plates, while growth was observed in the case of MoS2 NPs-treated MB samples indicating safety of current MB degradation approach. MoS2 NPs inhibited the growth of E. coli MTCC1698 and S. aureus MTCC 3160 with 26 mm and 21 mm zone of inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, MoS2 NPs have shown antioxidant properties, resulting in 82.3 ± 0.43% of DPPH scavenging activity which was comparable to ascorbic acid (81.6 ± 0.6%), a standard antioxidant molecule. The NPs have not shown any hemolytic activity at 0.0625 and 0.125 mg/mL doses to human blood proving their biocompatible nature. Gum arabic-synthesized biocompatible MoS2 NPs have good potential to treat MB released as waste from the textile industry and other biological applications.

Detection of clinically relevant carbapenemase encoding genes in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from farmed freshwater fish.

AIMS: The present study was aimed to detect clinically relevant carbapenemase encoding genes in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (CR-ECC), Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-KP), and Serratia plymuthica (CR-SP) isolated from farmed freshwater fish. METHODS AND RESULTS: Out of 243 spatially diverse freshwater fish samples analysed, 5.3% were contaminated with CR-ECC, 1.6% with CR-KP, and 0.4% with CR-SP. The CR-ECC was further identified as E. asburiae (38.5%), E. mori (23.1%), E. cloacae (15.4%), E. hormaechei (15.4%), and E. kobei (7.7%) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The CR-ECC were resistant to carbapenems and cefoxitin, whereas CR-KP and CR-SP were multi-drug resistant (MDR). The CR-ECC harboured the carbapenemase gene blaIMI alone or in combination with blaTEM, blaEBC, blaCIT, blaACC, and tet(E). Whereas, CR-KP harboured carbapenemase gene, blaNDM-5 along with blaOXA-48, blaSHV, blaOXA-1, blaCTX-M-15, tet(A), sul1, and qnrB. No carbapenemase-encoding genes were detected in CR-SP. The MLST analysis showed that CR-KP belonged to ST231 and ST1561 lineages, while CR-ECC did not show exact match with any reported STs. The plasmid replicons predominantly detected were IncF and IncI1. Broth mating assays of CR-KP and CR-ECC with recipient Escherichia coli J53 indicated that blaNDM-5 was transferable but not blaIMI. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the low-level contamination of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) harbouring clinically relevant carbapenemase-encoding genes in farmed freshwater fish from India. The CR-ECC of fish origin did not show the potential to spread carbapenem resistance.

Molecular characterization of carbapenem resistant E. coli of fish origin reveals the dissemination of NDM-5 in freshwater aquaculture environment by the high risk clone ST167 and ST361.

Aquatic environment can act as reservoir and disseminator of antimicrobial resistance and resistant pathogens. Novel high-risk carbapenem resistant E. coli (CREC) are continuously emerging worldwide; however, the occurrence of CREC in freshwater aquaculture environment is largely unexplored. To fill this gap, large scale sampling of freshwater pond sites and retail fish markets was done between Oct 2020 and Oct 2021 to investigate the CREC contamination in fish. The frequency of CREC contamination in the freshwater fish was 6.99% (95% CI: 3.78-10.20%). All the isolates were MDR and harbored carbapenemase encoding gene, blaNDM-5 along with other antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), blaTEM (64.7%), blaCTX-M-15 (35.3%), blaOXA-1 (5.9%), tet(A) (100%), sul1 (94.1%), qnrS (82.3%), cat1 (35.3%), and cat2 (23.5%). The isolates belonged to phylogroup C and showed low virulence gene profile. ERIC-PCR grouped the isolates into five clusters (I-V). The isolates of clusters I, II, and III were identified as ST167 (76.4%) and of cluster IV as ST361 (17.6%). This is the first report documenting the contamination of NDM-5 producing E. coli ST167 and ST361 of clinical/livestock lineage in freshwater fish from India. The blaNDM-5 was significantly associated with ARGs, tet(A), and sul1; and plasmid replicons, IncF, IncI1, and IncP, signifying the presence of blaNDM-5 and associated ARGs on these transferable plasmids. These findings were validated by the successful conjugal transfer of blaNDM-5 and associated ARGs into non-CREC strain (J53). Our study highlights the ability of CREC to disseminate antimicrobial resistance which has health implications and environmental concerns.

Immunostimulants for shrimp aquaculture: paving pathway towards shrimp sustainability.

At present, food security is a matter of debate of global magnitude and fulfilling the feeding requirement of > 8 billion human populations by 2030 is one of the major concerns of the globe. Aquaculture plays a significant role to meet the global food requirement. Shrimp species such as Litopenaeus vannamei, Penaeus monodon, and Macrobrachium rosenbergii are among the most popular food commodities worldwide. As per Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership survey, disease outbreaks have been a matter of concern from the past many decades regarding the shrimp aquaculture production. Among the past disease outbreaks, white spot disease caused by the white spot syndrome virus is considered to be one of the most devastating ones that caused colossal losses to the shrimp industry. Since the virus is highly contagious, it spreads gregariously among the shrimp population; hence, practicing proper sanitization practices is crucial in order to have disease-free shrimps. Additionally, in order to control the disease, antibiotics were used that further leads to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of antibiotics in several food webs. The bioaccumulation of the toxic residues in the food webs further adversely affected human too. Recently, immunostimulants/antivirals were used as an alternative to antibiotics. They were found to enhance the immune system of shrimps in eco-friendly manner. In context to this, the present paper presents a critical review on the immunostimulants available from plants, animals, and chemicals against WSSV in shrimps. Looking into this scenario, maintaining proper sanitation procedures in conjunction with the employment of immunostimulants may be a viable approach for preserving shrimp aquaculture across the globe.

Insight into molecular interaction between shrimp and white spot syndrome virus through MjsvCL-VP28 complex: an in-silico approach.

White Spot disease is a devastating disease of shrimps caused by White Spot Syndrome Virus in multifarious shrimp species. At present there is no absolute medication to suppress the disease hence, there is an urgent need for development of drug against the virus. Molecular interaction between viral envelope protein VP28 and shrimp receptor protein especially chitins play a pivotal role in ingression of WSSV. In the present study, we have tried to shed light on structural aspects of lectin protein in Marsupenaeus japonicus (MjsvCL). A structural insight to the CTLD-domain of MjsvCL has facilitated the understanding of the binding mechanism between the two proteins that is responsible for entry of WSSV into shrimps. Further, incorporation of molecular dynamics simulation and MMPBSA studies revealed the affinity of binding and certain hotspot residues, which are critical for association of both the proteins. For the first time we have proposed that these amino acids are quintessential for formation of VP28-MjsvCL complex and play crucial role in entry of WSSV into shrimps. Targeting the interaction between VP28 and CTLD of MjsvCL may possibly serve as a potential drug target. The current study provides information for better understanding the interaction between VP28 and MjsvCL that could be a plausible site for future inhibitors against WSSV in shrimps.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Biomass pyrolysis: A review on recent advancements and green hydrogen production.

Biomass pyrolysis has recently gained increasing attention as a thermochemical conversion process for obtaining value-added products, thanks to the development of cutting-edge, innovative and cost-effective pyrolysis processes. Over time, new and novel pyrolysis techniques have emerged, and these processes can be tuned to maximize the production of high-quality hydrogen. This review examines recent advancements in biomass pyrolysis by classifying them into conventional, advanced and emerging approaches. A comprehensive overview on the recent advancements in biomass pyrolysis, highlighting the current status for industrial applications is presented. Further, the impact of each technique under different approaches on conversion of biomass for hydrogen production is evaluated. Techniques, such as inline catalytic pyrolysis, microwave pyrolysis, etc., can be employed for the sustainable production of hydrogen. Finally, the techno-economic analysis is presented to understand the viability of pyrolysis at large scale. The outlook highlights discernments into future directions, aimed to overcome the current shortcomings.

Bioprocess potential of Eco-friendly fungal isolates converting organic waste to bioresource.

This study aims to present indigenous fungal diversity in the soil sample collected from solid waste disposal site. The synthesis of cellulase enzymes via in laboratory scale study has been performed using indigenous fungus isolates. Additionally; its impact has been evaluated on the basis of the bioconversion of organic waste treated employing screened potential cellulase producer fungi which is further used for primary and secondary screening of cellulolytic. The findings advised that, a total of 27 fungal isolates belonging to twenty-four genera were reported as most potential fungal strains. The findings indicates a highest exo-ß-glucanase (C1) enzymatic action was observed by fungal strains T. harzianum, T. viride , A. niger. These isolates are promising and could be suitable candidate for biodegradation of organic waste due to its's well established extraordinary ability. Therefore, these fungal isolates are suggested for more in depth research in order to use for recycling of organic waste.

Minimizing hazardous impact of food waste in a circular economy - Advances in resource recovery through green strategies.

Recent trends in food waste and its management have increasingly started to focus on treating it as a reusable resource. The hazardous impact of food waste such as the release of greenhouse gases, deterioration of water quality and contamination of land areas are a major threat posed by food waste. Under the circular economy principles, food waste can be used as a sustainable supply of high-value energy, fuel, and nutrients through green techniques such as anaerobic digestion, co-digestion, composting, enzymatic treatment, ultrasonic, hydrothermal carbonization. Recent advances made in anaerobic co-digestion are helping in tackling dual or even multiple waste streams at once with better product yields. Integrated approaches that employ pre-processing the food waste to remove obstacles such as volatile fractions, oils and other inhibitory components from the feedstock to enhance their bioconversion to reduce sugars. Research efforts are also progressing in optimizing the operational parameters such as temperature, pressure, pH and residence time to enhance further the output of products such as methane, hydrogen and other platform chemicals such as lactic acid, succinic acid and formic acid. This review brings together some of the recent progress made in the green strategies towards food waste valorization.

Bioprocessing of waste biomass for sustainable product development and minimizing environmental impact.

Growing concerns around the generation of biomass waste have triggered conversation around sustainable utilization of these seemingly waste materials as feedstock towards energy generation and production of chemicals and other value-added products. Thus, biotechniques such as utilization of microbes and enzymes derived thereof have become important avenues for green pretreatment and conversion of biomass wastes. Although the products of these bioconversions are greener at an overall level, their consumption and utilization still impact the environment. Hence it is important to understand the overall impact from cradle to grave through lifecycle assessment (LCA) techniques and find avenues of process optimization and better utilization of all the materials and products involved. Another factor to consider is overall cost optimization to make the process economically feasible, profitable and increase industrial adoption. This review brings forward these critical aspects to provide better understanding for the advancement of bioeconomy.

Single-use plastics: Production, usage, disposal, and adverse impacts.

Single-use plastics (SUPs), invented for the modern "throwaway society," are intended to be used only once. They are being increasingly produced and used globally, most notably as packaging or consumables, such as SUP shopping bags or disposable tableware. We discuss how most SUPs are landfilled or incinerated, which causes pollution, consumes valuable land, and squanders limited natural resources. Only relatively small amounts are currently recycled, a hindrance to the concept of a circular economy. Moreover, SUP litter aggregation in the natural environment is a major concern. This article briefly reviews SUP contamination in various environmental media including soil, rivers, lakes and oceans around the world. In the face of mounting evidence regarding the threat posed to plant growth, soil invertebrates and other land animals, (sea) birds, and marine ecosystems, there is a growing push to minimize SUPs. Regulatory tools and voluntary actions to reduce SUP usage have been put forward, with some suggestions for minimizing SUP waste.

Biotechnological Potential for Microplastic Waste.

Plastic has become a critical material in the modern world due to its low cost and easy production. However, inadequate management and open disposal make plastic a major obstacle to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This article emphasizes the role of biotechnology in addressing the issue of microplastic waste.

Sustainable Bioprospecting of Electronic Waste.

Global electronic waste management is emerging as a critical issue, especially in developing countries. Collective societal effort and scientific innovation are required along with interdisciplinary approaches to the development of sustainable technologies for recycling precious metals. Bioprospecting of electronic waste is a promising approach to provide economic, environmental, and public health benefits.

Mechano-microbial systems: An ecofriendly approach for copper bioleaching from waste printed circuit board.

Waste printed circuit board (PCB) is attracting serious concerns because the recycling of its valuable metallic portion is made difficult by the existence of hazardous substances. The objective of the present study was to develop a simplified approach for copper bioleaching from waste PCB. In this context, we intended mechano-microbial systems symbolized as SET-I (spore suspension + potato dextrose broth medium + waste PCB powder), SET-II (pre-cultured until the logarithmic phase, without waste PCB powder), and SET-III (fungal metabolites produced at stationary phase). The results of bioleaching studies showed that the developed method achieved the highest copper leaching of 85% by the SET-III approach. This study provides an insight for bioleaching copper from waste PCB. Furthermore, this approach can be established as an ecofriendly method for copper bioleaching by using an integrated system.