In this study, identification of environmental reservoirs of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (abbreviated as Salmonella Typhimurium) in sediments, water, and aquatic flora collected from the Ganges River (Ganges riverine material) was carried out by adopting a two-step strategy. Step 1 comprised a selective serovar-specific capture of Salmonella Typhimurium from potential reservoirs. Step 2 involved culture-free detection of selectively captured Salmonella Typhimurium by ttr gene-specific molecular beacon (MB) based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR). The ttr gene-specific MB designed in this study could detect 1 colony-forming unit (cfu)/PCR captured by serovar-specific DNA aptamer. Sediments, water, and aquatic flora collected from the Ganges River were highly contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium. The preanalytical step in the form of serovar-specific DNA aptamer-based biocapture of bacterial cells was found to enhance the sensitivity of the fluorescent probe in the presence of nonspecific DNA . Information about the presence of environmental reservoirs of Salmonella Typhimurium in the Ganges River region may pave the way for forecasting and management of nontyphoidal salmonellosis in south Asia.

Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT v4.5) Cropping System Model (CSM) was used to study the impact of climate change and variability on productivity of different kharif (rice, maize, jowar and bajra) and rabi crops (wheat and barley) at Varanasi. Keeping in view the observed trends in climate variability, productivity of different kharif and rabi crops were simulated under plausible synthetic climatic scenarios of changes in temperature, solar radiation and carbon dioxide. Productivity of kharif crops viz. rice, maize, jowar and bajra and rabi crops viz. wheat, and barley decreased with an increase in temperature or a decrease in solar radiation above normal. However, productivity of different kharif and rabi crops increased under expected enhanced CO2 concentrations. Highest productivity decreased in barley crop (40.7%) of rabi season and minimum in rice crop (5%) of kharif season with an increase of 3.0 0C in temperature from normal. Whereas, maximum productivity decreased in barley crop (5.0%) of rabi season and minimum in jowar crop (1.8%) of kharif season with a decrease of 2.5 per cent in solar radiation from normal. Highest productivity increase in barley crop (58.2%) of rabi season and lowest in jowar crop (4.2%) of kharif season were simulated under expected enhanced CO2 concentration of 660 ppm. The maximum decrease in productivity of barley crop (45%) in rabi season and minimum inrice crop (7%) in kharif season were simulated when a decrease in temperature by 3 0C and solar radiation by 2.5 per cent from normal. Highest counter-balance on productivity of rice crop (13%) in kharif season and lowest in barja crop (-23%) of kharif season were simulated when an increase in temperature by 3 0C from normal under expected enhanced CO2 concentration of 660 ppm.

Herein, we demonstrate a facile one pot synthesis of graphene nanosheets by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. In the present study, we report a significant increase in the yield of graphene by electrolyte heating assisted electrochemical exfoliation method. The obtained results of heating assisted electrochemically exfoliated graphene (utilizing H 2 SO 4 + KOH + DW) synthesis clearly exhibit that the yield increases $4.5 times i.e. from $17% (room temperature) to $77% (at 80 C). A plausible mechanism for the enhanced yield based on lattice expansion and vibration of intercalated ions has been put forward and discussed in details. The quality of graphene was examined by Raman, XPS, FTIR, AFM, SEM, TEM/HRTEM and TGA techniques. The Raman as well as morphogenesis results confirm the quality of the graphene nanosheets. We have used this graphene as electromagnetic interference shielding material where a comparatively large quantity of graphene is required. This graphene exhibits enhanced shielding effectiveness (46 dB at 1 mm thickness of stacked graphene sheets in frequency region 12.4 to 18 GHz) as compared to conventional electromagnetic interference shielding materials, which is greater than the recommended limit ($30 dB) for techno-commercial applications. Thus the present work is suggestive for future studies on enhancement of yield of high quality graphene by proposed method and the use of synthesized graphene in electromagnetic interference shielding and other possible applications.

Here we report the microwave shielding properties of a light weight three dimensional (3D) sponge like graphene aerogel (GA) derived from graphene oxide (GO). GA is a new exotic form of graphene nanosheet, which shows improved shielding features as compared to its pristine counterpart. The structural and microstructural characteristics of this new indigenous 3D sponge like graphene aerogel architecture have been probed by XRD, Raman, SEM and TEM/HRTEM. Furthermore, the porosity of this newly synthesized structure has been investigated by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, which confirms the high surface area of $516 m 2 g À1 with an average pore diameter of $2.5 nm. The high surface area and better porosity improve the EMI shielding effectiveness of GA. Simultaneously, the GA nanostructure also enhances the dielectric properties which provide a better alternative for EMI shielding materials as compared to GO.This engineered GA exhibits enhanced shielding effectiveness ($20.0 dB at 0.20 g in a frequency region of 12.4 to 18.0 GHz) as compared to the conventional GO. Thus, the result of the EMI shielding of GA offers a new ingenious nanostructure which can be used as an EMI pollutant quencher for next-generation EMI shielding devices.In the modern era, electromagnetic shielding materials are highly desirable to try to protect the environment from EMI pollutants, which are emanating from most electronic devices like TVs, computers, mobiles, etc. 1 In the past few years, the conventional wisdom of using EMI shielding materials was based on metal lms or plates, but they have their own limitations. These metallic systems are heavy, corrosion prone and have poor processibility.2,3 Simultaneously, their shielding effectiveness was mainly based on reection rather than absorption, which prevents their application in various areas, including in the military and in aircra. This is since the reected electromagnetic waves will be received and detected by an adversary's reconnaissance instrument. Therefore, a continuous search is going on to develop novel materials associated with excellent absorption features for the purpose of reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) in circuits, chips and radiation controllers.4 Recently, immense attempts have been made in the search of high-performance EMI shielding materials with excellent absorption capabilities. In this regard, highperformance EMI shielding materials which are light weight and exible in nature are highly desirable. This is due to their practical applications in various elds like in aircra, aerospace, automobiles and fast-growing next-generation exible electronics such as portable electronics and wearable devices.