University of Kashmir

The present study assessed source, degradation status, and temporal trends of organic matter up to ∼3700 years Before Present (BP) in Dal Lake sediment cores using multiproxy indicators, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, and time series forecasting. Bulk organic parameters such as total organic carbon and total nitrogen indicated their increasing trend in upper sediment layers from ∼476 to ∼73 years BP. Similarly, the C/N ratio revealed varying sources of organic matter with values ranging from 2.26 to 13.05, depicting an increasing trend up to ∼1811 years BP and decreasing significantly from ∼2002 years BP. Amino acid and hexosamine concentrations decreased with depth, dominated by aspartic acid, glycine, glutamic acid, alanine, glucosamine, and galactosamine in recent sediments (∼73 years BP) of the lake. The positive degradation index (DI) confirmed fresh organic matter in top sediment layers (∼396 years BP) of the lake, showing a strong positive correlation with reactivity index (RI) and total organic carbon. However, a negative correlation was observed between DI and RI with Ox/Anox index. Furthermore, the Gluam/Galam, Asp/β-Ala and Glu/γ-Aba ratios revealed enhanced organic matter degradation with age, indicating prokaryotic origins, microbial activity changes, and redox conditions within the lake. Multivariate analysis revealed increasing autochthonous and allochthonous inputs, domestic effluent discharges, agricultural runoff, redox conditions, and microbial processes as the possible contributing factors affecting the dispersal pattern of amino acids and nutrients in Dal Lake. Time series forecasting using the ARIMA model effectively confirmed the future temporal dynamics of amino acids, and organic parameters, indicating potential ecological shifts and external influences affecting the degradation of organic matter in Dal Lake. This work provides novel insights into the diagenetic alterations and biogeochemical processes essential for understanding the organic matter cycling and guiding the conservation efforts for Dal Lake and beyond.

Chemistry of functional organic materials is interesting in terms of design and applications. Halogen functionalization of organic molecules is intriguing as besides affecting the intramolecular electronic properties, their presence triggers intermolecular halogen bonds, affecting both packing and bulk properties. We report the rationally substituted halogenated anils of sulfanilamide 1–3 to understand the influence of halogens on molecular packing and bulk properties. The products 1 and 2 exhibit thermal stability beyond 300 ⁰C, whereas 3 undergoes early weight loss, indicating the presence of lattice solvent. The phase purity of the products has been confirmed with powder X‐ray analyses. Products have been further characterized through single‐crystal diffraction studies to understand crystal packing with further support from Hirshfeld studies. X⋯O interactions are predominant interactions and significant interhalogen X⋯X interactions are observed only in 2. The products are feebly emissive in solid‐state. Interestingly, 2 and 3 in thin film forms undergo emission quenching, whereas 1 exhibits augmented emission. AIE active anil 1 has been used for the sensing of explosive aromatic compound like picric acid.

Brassicaceae encompasses the important genus-Brassica with about 37 species, including major vegetable species, cultivated globally and consumed worldwide as a part of diet, either raw or processed. They are rich in nutritional, antioxidant, and bioactive compounds, and their intake has often been linked to positive health benefits. Glucosinolate, a plant secondary metabolite and its breakdown products commonly found in these vegetable crops, have potential health benefits. The glucosinolate content of cruciferous vegetables is greatly influenced by various pre-harvest factors, such as the stage of the plant at the time of harvest, environmental conditions, and agricultural practices. Once harvested, these vegetable crops are subjected to different processing conditions, such as boiling, blanching, frying, fermentation, etc., affecting their glucosinolate content. This review aims to overview the glucosinolates from Brassica vegetables, their structure, biosynthesis, and the impact of various pre and post-harvesting factors on their content

Since the existence of mankind, humans have been dependent on animals and understanding natural processes and animal behaviour has been crucial to their survival. Animals have always been essential to human existence since they provide us with food, housing, clothes, medicine, ornamentation, rituals and entertainment.

Bicyclic diaziridines are important heterocyclic scaffolds, which can be cleaved into 1,3‐zwiterionic species to serve as a versatile precursor in fabricating biologically important N‐hetero‐ and spiro‐cyclic structural frameworks. Owing to their staple architecture, inherent ring strain and ease of synthesis, considerable advancements have been made by employing bicyclic diaziridines towards the construction of heterocyclic systems of biological importance. A significant surge with appreciable efforts in the adoption of such strategies has led to their implementation by the synthetic chemists. This article focuses on the developments in ring expansion of bicyclic diaziridines employed in N‐heterocycle synthesis.

Petal senescence is an intrinsic facet of the floral development, encompassing induction of ethylene production, upregulation of PCD-related genes and recycling of nutrients. Morphological, biochemical and molecular dynamics were investigated in different stages spanning from tight bud phase (I) to senescent phase (V) during flower development of Consolida ajacis. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis revealed distinct alterations in morphology of petal tissues, transitioning from tightly packed striated surfaces at the bud stage to flattened surfaces at senescent stage. Throughout the flower development, senescence-associated genes were notably upregulated, particularly during the senescent stage, which modulated critical physiological processes initiating senescence. Soluble protein concentration exhibited a gradual decline from bud phase through open stage, followed by a pronounced reduction in the senescent stage, mirroring SAG12 (senescence associated gene 12) and DAD1 (defender against death 1) gene expression patterns. Lipid peroxidation increased gradually from bud to bloom stage due to low lipoxygenase (LOX) activity and LOX1 transcript levels, intensified in the senescent stage due to elevated LOX1 (lipoxygenase 1) expression, leading to membrane degradation. Flower development in Consolida ajacis was intricately linked to hormonal turnover with ethylene and ABA content increasing towards senescence due to heightened mRNA transcripts of ACO (1-amino cyclopropane 1 carboxylic acid oxidase) and AAO3 (abscisic aldehyde oxidase 3) genes, while IPT3 (isopentyl tranferase 3) transcript abundance decreased in the senescent stage compared to early developmental stages. Antioxidant system comprising of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) signposted upsurge from bud to bloom stage and resulted in low hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content. Subsequently during the senescent stage, there was a significant decrease in antioxidant activity due to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) thereby resulting in oxidative stress.

The article explores the antibacterial characteristics of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles synthesized through an eco-friendly method utilizing garlic bulb (Allium sativum) extract. Various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were employed to analyze the CuO nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were found to have crystalline diameters of 25 nm, 31 nm, and 51 nm, respectively, as determined by means of the Scherrer equation, modified Scherrer formula, and Williamson-Hall analysis. UV-Visible spectroscopy confirmed their synthesis by showing an absorption peak at 358 nm. The FTIR spectra specified the presence of various phytochemicals on the nanoparticle surfaces, characterized by distinct functional groups for instance carbonyl and phenolic groups. The natural compounds in garlic extract contributed to the reduction and stability of the CuO nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized CuO nanoparticles was evaluated against Gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1688) and Escherichia coli (MTCC 443), along with Gram-positive bacteria, Cutibacterium acnes (MTCC 843) and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96). The CuO nanoparticles demonstrated maximum inhibition zones of 25±0.88 mm against C. acnes and 21±0.58 mm against E. coli.

Staphylococcus species, traditionally associated with pathogenicity, are gaining attention for their role in environmental bioremediation, particularly nitrate reduction, which is crucial for mitigating eutrophication. In this study, denitrifying, biofilm-forming Staphylococcus strains were isolated from Dal Lake, India. Biofilm formation was quantified using a microtiter plate assay, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were measured by dry weight. Statistical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between EPS production and nitrate removal efficiency (r = 0.96, p < 0.001), with EPS accounting for 92% of the variance in nitrate reduction (R² = 0.92). Among the isolates, Staphylococcus epidermidis exhibited the highest nitrate reduction at 87% (SD = 2.3%), followed by S. succinus at 83% (SD = 2.1%), S. equorum at 77% (SD = 2.5%), and Staphylococcus sp. at 70% (SD = 2.8%). The consistency of these findings was confirmed by boxplot analysis, and the regression model’s robustness was validated by residual plots showing minimal systematic error. This research work provides the first evidence of the nitrate-reducing capabilities of these Staphylococcus species, underscoring their potential in sustainable bioremediation strategies for aquatic environments. The significant correlation between EPS production and nitrate reduction highlights the critical role of biofilms in enhancing microbial remediation processes. The study not only advances the understanding of Staphylococcus in non-pathogenic roles but also suggests that these strains could be pivotal in bioremediation technologies, potentially influencing future environmental management practices.

The COVID-19 pandemic made an indelible impact on the world. This impact was clearly apparent in the media, namely the thousands of newspapers published daily, and resulted in an increased shift of readership of newspapers from print to electronic due to fear of becoming infected from print copies. As such, this study aimed to reveal the performance of Indian English newspaper websites in terms of ranking, bounce rate, page views, global reach and time on website before and after the COVID-19 period. The top-eight English newspapers published in India were considered for the study. The Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) of the websites of these newspapers were searched through Alexa Internet. The data was gathered for a period of 364 days, breaking the time taken for the study into before and after the COVID-19 period to uncover the influence of COVID-19 on the ranking and other aspects related to the usage of these websites. The whole data was analyzed with the help of Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study reveals that Indian English newspaper websites did manage to attract global audiences during the COVID-19 period and improved their ranking vis-a-vis gain in global reach, bounce rate and page views during this period when compared with the time period before the COVID-19 situation worsened. This research is significant as no such research has been carried out so far into the impact of COVID-19 on Indian English newspaper websites, and has relevance for newspaper publishers, policymakers, world media and international scholars. Further, the paper throws light on the influence of the pandemic on the usage of Indian newspaper websites, which is quite useful to understand the changing information-seeking behavior of users since the advent of the Internet.

Patchy global data on belowground litter decomposition dynamics limit our capacity to discern the drivers of carbon preservation and storage across inland and coastal wetlands. We performed a global, multiyear study in over 180 wetlands across 28 countries and 8 macroclimates using standardized litter as measures of “recalcitrant” (rooibos tea) and “labile” (green tea) organic matter (OM) decomposition. Freshwater wetlands and tidal marshes had the highest tea mass remaining, indicating a greater potential for carbon preservation in these ecosystems. Recalcitrant OM decomposition increased with elevated temperatures throughout the decay period, e.g., increase from 10 to 20 °C corresponded to a 1.46-fold increase in the recalcitrant OM decay rate constant. The effect of elevated temperature on labile OM breakdown was ecosystem-dependent, with tidally influenced wetlands showing limited effects of temperature compared with freshwater wetlands. Based on climatic projections, by 2050 wetland decay constants will increase by 1.8% for labile and 3.1% for recalcitrant OM. Our study highlights the potential for reduction in belowground OM in coastal and inland wetlands under increased warming, but the extent and direction of this effect at a large scale is dependent on ecosystem and OM characteristics. Understanding local versus global drivers is necessary to resolve ecosystem influences on carbon preservation in wetlands.

The present study explores the nature and prevalence of superstitious beliefs in Kashmir with major focus on the practice of hanging coloured bottles filled with water at the main entrance of the house. This practice contributes to the region’s already-existing superstitious beliefs, which are intricately linked to its political and social dynamics. Based on primary data collected in five districts of Kashmir, the study examines the socio-cultural significance attached to the hanging of these bottles and other traditional items in order to escape from evil eyes or to fulfill certain purposes. For the purpose of data collection, 18 women participants, four faith healers, and one historian were interviewed. Women participants were chosen because, for various reasons, it is women who actively engage in this particular practice. Purposive and theoretical sampling techniques were employed to recruit the participants. Case study, observation, and open-ended interviews were used to collect data from the participants. The data was analyzed thematically. The key themes that emerged after critical analysis of data regarding the practice of hanging coloured water bottles and other traditional items were: to get rid of dogs, to protect property and kitchen gardens, for curbing diseases, for prevention against evil, and to curb and keep away the repressive state apparatus. The results of the study reveal rampant prevalence of superstitious beliefs in Kashmiri society with the hanging of coloured water bottles as another addition to the existing set of superstitious practices.

There is a notable shift toward organic functional materials for their advantages in terms of availability, processability and biodegradability. Solid‐state organic emitters, though rare, are fascinating with diverse range of applications. In this work we utilize crystal engineering principles to design Schiff bases 1 and 2, to realize solid state emission and its tuning. The products have been characterized and studied through crystallographic, Hirshfeld, and optical studies. Structural studies validate crystallization of 1 and 2 with a molecule of methanol and water, respectively, and their packing is predominantly aided by solvent assisted hydrogen bonding, while the π‐π stacking interactions are absent. Crystalline solids are emissive: 1 (λ max 474 nm, τ 0.35 ± 0.04 ns) and 2 (481 nm, 1.80 ± 0.07 ns) and aggregation induced emission (AIE) active. Mechano and thermo‐fluorochromic responses of the products are attributed to phase changes triggered by grinding and desolvation, respectively. The nonemissive solutions of 1 and 2 detect presence of Pb(II) /Hg(II) through emission turn‐on, with limit of detection (LOD) values in the range of 0.0017–0.0022 ppb, while picric acid sensing is reported by their AIE luminogen (AIEgen) forms with LOD values of 0.0017 ppb and 0.0034 ppb, respectively.

Global warming is changing plant communities due to the arrival of new species from warmer regions and declining abundance of cold‐adapted species. However, experimentally testing predictions about trajectories and rates of community change is challenging because we normally lack an expectation for future community composition, and most warming experiments fail to incorporate colonization by novel species. To address these issues, we analyzed data from 44 whole‐community transplant experiments along 22 elevational gradients across the Northern Hemisphere. In these experiments, high‐elevation communities were transplanted to lower elevations to simulate warming, while also removing dispersal barriers for lower‐elevation species to establish. We quantified the extent and pace at which warmed high‐elevation communities shifted towards the taxonomic composition of lower elevation communities. High‐elevation plant communities converged towards the composition of low‐elevation communities, with higher rates under stronger experimental warming. Strong community shifts occurred in the first year after transplantation then slowed over time, such that communities remained distinct from both origin and destination control by the end of the experimental periods (3‐9 years). Changes were driven to a similar extent by both new species colonization and abundance shifts of high‐elevation species, but with substantial variation across experiments that could be partly explained by the magnitude and duration of experimental warming, plot size and functional traits. Our macroecological approach reveals that while warmed high‐elevation communities increasingly resemble communities at lower elevations today, the slow pace of taxonomic shifts implies considerable colonization and extinction lags, where a novel taxonomic composition of both low‐ and high‐elevation species could coexist for long periods of time. The important contribution of the colonizing species to community change also indicates that once dispersal barriers are overcome, warmed high‐elevation communities are vulnerable to encroachment from lower elevation species.

Human survival hinges on access to water, which provides vital necessities. It is crucial to secure reliable, affordable, and uncontaminated water to maintain health and sustain life. For the potential impact of radioactive water pollution on human well-being, a scintillation-based smart RnDuo detector was employed in the Pattan region of North Kashmir Baramulla to quantify radon levels in diverse underground water. The dose contribution to various organs through inhalation and ingestion pathways has been analyzed. The study assesses the levels of radon in water, which varied from 19.88 to 74.37 Bq/L with an average of 37.65 Bq/L. All of the values were higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA) suggested guideline of 11 Bq/L but lower than the 100 Bq/L prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The age group-wise inhalation and ingestion doses are higher than the 100 μSv/y recommended by WHO but within the prescribed range of 3–10 mSv/y as suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Doses to various organs (lungs and stomach) are also calculated in the present study. The results of the present investigation will help to enhance the quality of the water and guide future epidemiological studies.

This study examines the role of happiness in academic procrastination among professional students and explores the impact of student type (senior vs. junior) and residence (rural vs. urban) on procrastination behaviors. The sample consisted of 896 professional undergraduate students selected using a stratified sampling technique, with 481 (54%) classified as seniors and 415 (46%) as juniors. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and regression analysis. The research reveals that happiness explains 40% of the variance in academic procrastination, underscoring its significant influence. The findings show that while student type affects procrastination levels, it does not significantly impact happiness. Residence and the interaction between student type and residence have negligible effects on both happiness and procrastination. These results suggest that emotional well-being is a crucial factor in mitigating procrastination, with happiness playing a more substantial role than demographic factors such as seniority and geographical location. The significance of this study lies in its challenge to traditional views that emphasize demographic characteristics in educational interventions. By demonstrating the critical role of happiness in reducing procrastination, the study highlights the importance of focusing on emotional well-being to enhance academic performance. The premise is that internal emotional factors, rather than external demographics, have a greater impact on procrastination behaviors, suggesting that fostering happiness among students could be a more effective strategy in addressing academic procrastination.

The shortage in surface water quantities led to a shift in dependence on the groundwater as an alternative water source in southern parts of Iraq. The groundwater is decreasing in quantity and water quality is degrading due to different factors. Therefore, it is important to assess the groundwater quality of the Missan Governorate of the country by analyzing the physicochemical parameters and distinguishing the probable sources of contaminants in the area. The present study used water quality diagrams and statistical methods such as factor analysis and agglomerative cluster analysis to determine the sources of chemical ions in the forty-four groundwater samples collected from wells in the study area. In addition, the Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated to evaluate the groundwater quality by combining the parameters into a single index. The WQI results varied from − 66.27 to 1064.13 indicating that the groundwater is unsuitable for drinking at various places and good in quality at most of the wells of the area. The main factors that contribute to the differences in the groundwater quality include the variation in geological materials, influence of climate such as the high rate of evaporation, and anthropogenic factors such as industrial activities in central areas such as oil production in the Bazergan oil field. The most affected wells by the petroleum industry that were clustering in cluster R1which show high levels in most water chemistries. The results have implications for the management of the groundwater resources, which are expected to be under more risk of contamination in near future.