Revolutionizing Biological Science: The Synergy of Genomics in Health, Bioinformatics, Agriculture, and Artificial Intelligence.

With climate emergency, COVID-19, and the rise of planetary health scholarship, the binary of human and ecosystem health has been deeply challenged. The interdependence of human and nonhuman animal health is increasingly acknowledged and paving the way for new frontiers in integrative biology. The convergence of genomics in health, bioinformatics, agriculture, and artificial intelligence (AI) has ushered in a new era of possibilities and applications. However, the sheer volume of genomic/multiomics big data generated also presents formidable sociotechnical challenges in extracting meaningful biological, planetary health and ecological insights. Over the past few years, AI-guided bioinformatics has emerged as a powerful tool for managing, analyzing, and interpreting complex biological datasets. The advances in AI, particularly in machine learning and deep learning, have been transforming the fields of genomics, planetary health, and agriculture. This article aims to unpack and explore the formidable range of possibilities and challenges that result from such transdisciplinary integration, and emphasizes its radically transformative potential for human and ecosystem health. The integration of these disciplines is also driving significant advancements in precision medicine and personalized health care. This presents an unprecedented opportunity to deepen our understanding of complex biological systems and advance the well-being of all life in planetary ecosystems. Notwithstanding in mind its sociotechnical, ethical, and critical policy challenges, the integration of genomics, multiomics, planetary health, and agriculture with AI-guided bioinformatics opens up vast opportunities for transnational collaborative efforts, data sharing, analysis, valorization, and interdisciplinary innovations in life sciences and integrative biology.

Synthesis, local structure and optical property studies of α-SnS microrods by synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function and micro-Raman shift.

A hydrothermal synthesis method was employed for the preparation of tin sulfide (α-SnS) microrod samples (SnS-A and SnS-B) using ethylenediamine and deionized water as the surfactant at ratios from 50 : 50 to 100 : 00. The atomic structures of the α-SnS microrods were studied using atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and total synchrotron X-ray scattering data. The synchrotron X-ray diffraction (ScXRD) patterns and PDF data reveal that the structure of the SnS microrods is orthorhombic. From the refinement of the PDF, the first and second peaks correspond to nearest (Sn2+-S2-) and second nearest distances (Sn2+-Sn2+) of 2.546 (0.003) Å and 4.106 (0.004) Å, and 2.527 (0.005) Å and 4.087 (0.006) Å for SnS-A and SnS-B samples, respectively. The TEM results show that samples SnS-A and SnS-B have a microrod structure, with microrod diameters of 800 nm and 500 nm with lengths of tens of micrometers, respectively. The SnS-A and SnS-B samples show a direct band gap of 1.6 eV and 2 eV, respectively, using the Kubelka-Munk transformation of the UV-visible spectra. The micro-Raman spectra of the SnS-A and SnS-B microrods exhibited an Ag mode of SnS at 228.4 and 223 cm-1, respectively. The second peaks at 306.7, and 309 cm-1 are associated with the secondary phases of the SnS2 phase, whereas the third broad peaks at 616.5, and 613 cm-1 revealed that there was a deformation mode of sulfate in the SnS-A and SnS-B samples.

Doping effect on the local structure of metamagnetic Co doped Ni/NiO:GO core-shell nanoparticles using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and the pair distribution function.

Core-shell nanoparticles of Co (0%, 3%, and 5%) doped Ni/NiO and incorporated (5 mg) graphene oxide (GO) sheets were synthesized by a sol-gel auto-combustion method. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and pair distribution function measurements were employed for the determination of the local structure and structural properties of the samples. Due to the effect of Co doping the bond lengths of all coordinate atoms were varied. The microstructural features in the core-shell structured particles were evaluated with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Magnetic properties of the samples revealed that both the interface of Ni/Co and NiO crystal lattices and the weight fraction of Ni have significant impact on their magnetic properties at 5 K to 300 K. Experimental results show that Co doping and GO incorporation into Ni/NiO suppress the antiferromagnetic charge ordering and lead to a spin-flop metamagnetic behavior at 5 K to 300 K temperatures. Above 5 K, the step-like transitions transform into broad ones. This step-like feature is correlated with the collapse of the balance between the magnetic energy and elastic energy at the core-shell interface. It is confirmed from M-T measurements that the blocking temperature of Ni/NiO was reduced with Co content.

Instrumentation and signal processing for the detection of heavy water using off axis-integrated cavity output spectroscopy technique.

An experimental setup is developed for the trace level detection of heavy water (HDO) using the off axis-integrated cavity output spectroscopy technique. The absorption spectrum of water samples is recorded in the spectral range of 7190.7 cm-1-7191.5 cm-1 with the diode laser as the light source. From the recorded water vapor absorption spectrum, the heavy water concentration is determined from the HDO and water line. The effect of cavity gain nonlinearity with per pass absorption is studied. The signal processing and data fitting procedure is devised to obtain linear calibration curves by including nonlinear cavity gain effects into the calculation. Initial calibration of mirror reflectivity is performed by measurements on the natural water sample. The signal processing and data fitting method has been validated by the measurement of the HDO concentration in water samples over a wide range from 20 ppm to 2280 ppm showing a linear calibration curve. The average measurement time is about 30 s. The experimental technique presented in this paper could be applied for the development of a portable instrument for the fast measurement of water isotopic composition in heavy water plants and for the detection of heavy water leak in pressurized heavy water reactors.

Preparation and characterization of Simvastatin solid dispersion using skimmed milk.

Simvastatin has low aqueous solubility resulting in low oral bioavailability (5%) and thus presents a challenge in formulating a suitable dosage form. To improve the aqueous solubility, a solid dispersion formulation of Simvastatin was prepared by lyophilization utilizing skimmed milk as a carrier. Six different formulations were prepared with varying ratios of drug and carrier and the corresponding physical mixtures were also prepared. The improvement of amorphous state through solid dispersion was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction studies. The optimum drug-to-carrier ratio of 1:9 enhanced solubility nearly 30-fold as compared to pure drug. In-vitro drug release studies exhibited a cumulative release of 86.69% as compared to 25.19% for the pure drug. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy studies suggested the conversion of crystalline Simvastatin to an amorphous form. In a Triton-induced hyperlipidemia model, a 3-fold increase in the lipid lowering potential was obtained with the reformulated drug as compared to pure drug. These results suggest that solid dispersion of Simvastatin using skimmed milk as carrier is a promising approach for oral delivery of Simvastatin.

Antifolate Agents Against Wild and Mutant Strains of Plasmodium falciparum.

Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase is an important target for antimalarial chemotherapy. The emergence of resistance has significantly reduced the efficacy of the classic antifolate drugs cycloguanil and pyrimethamine. In this paper we report new dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors identified using molecular modelling principles with the goal of designing new antifolate agents active against both wild and tetramutant dihydrofolate reductase strains three series of trimethoprim analogues were designed, synthesised and tested for biological activity. Pyrimethamine and cycloguanil have been reported to loose efficacy because of steric repulsion in the active site pocket produced due to mutation in Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase. The synthesised molecules have sufficient flexibility to withstand this steric repulsion to counteract the resistance. The molecules have been synthesised by conventional techniques and fully characterised by spectroscopic methods. The potency of these molecules was evaluated by in vitro enzyme specific assays. Some of the molecules were active in micromolar concentrations and can easily be optimised to improve binding and activity.

A serological survey of arboviral diseases among the human population of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

In an attempt to determine the prevalence of certain arthropod-borne viruses of public health importance amongst the human population of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India, 2,401 sera were collected from six major localities. The sera were analysed by the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neutralization (N) tests, using Chikungunya (CHIK), Japanese encephalitis (JE), West Nile (WN), dengue (DEN-2), Langat (TP-21) and Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) viral antigens. The highest prevalence of HI antibodies was detected against KFD virus (22.4%), followed by Langat (20.2%), JE (5.9%), DEN-2 (3.1%), CHIK (2.9%) and WN (0.8%) viruses. Cross-reactions to the viral antigens were also noted. The results of N tests indicated a high prevalence of DEN-2 (25.4%) virus, followed by Langat (17.5%), CHIK (15.3%), KFD (12%), JE (2.19%) and WN (1.8%). These results are discussed in relation to important epidemiological parameters like age, sex and geographical location. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an extensive serosurvey of arthropod-borne viruses on these islands.