Recent reports have revealed the intrinsic propensity of single aromatic metabolites to undergo self-assembly and form nanostructures of amyloid nature. Hence, identifying whether aspartame, a universally consumed artificial sweetener, is inherently aggregation prone becomes an important area of investigation. Although the reports on aspartame-linked side effects describe a multitude of metabolic disorders, the mechanistic understanding of such destructive effects is largely mysterious. Since aromaticity, an aggregation-promoting factor, is intrinsic to aspartame’s chemistry, it is important to know whether aspartame can undergo self-association and if such a property can predispose any cytotoxicity to biological systems. Our study finds that aspartame molecules, under mimicked physiological conditions, undergo a spontaneous self-assembly process yielding regular β-sheet-like cytotoxic nanofibrils of amyloid nature. The resultant aspartame fibrils were found to trigger amyloid cross-seeding and become a toxic aggregation trap for globular proteins, Aβ peptides, and aromatic metabolites that convert native structures to β-sheet-like fibrils. Aspartame fibrils were also found to induce hemolysis, causing DNA damage resulting in both apoptosis and necrosis-mediated cell death. Specific spatial arrangement between aspartame molecules is predicted to form a regular amyloid-like architecture with a sticky exterior that is capable of promoting viable H-bonds, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic contacts with biomolecules, leading to the onset of protein aggregation and cell death. Results reveal that the aspartame molecule is inherently amyloidogenic, and the self-assembly of aspartame becomes a toxic trap for proteins and cells, exposing the bitter side of such a ubiquitously used artificial sweetener.

This article elaborates a survey on water use events and activities in households. The survey inquires socioeconomic aspects, technology, processes and devices which may play an important role in these water use events. Processes like washing clothes and utensils, cooking refrigeration and heating are discussed. Devices like water purifiers, air-coolers, and toilets are qualitatively analyzed. Water use events such as bathing and brushing teeth are studied. The survey in online format and printed version was randomly responded by one hundred sixty people including fifty three family heads within city of Jodhpur, India. More than hundred respondents answered the online questionnaire from Mandi in north India, Delhi, the national capital territory and Jodhpur in west India. More than ninety per cent of the respondents were males. Climate of the regions mentioned above played a decisive role in water consumption. The general public was very much unaware of the policies of the government towards water conservation and management. Advertisements by vendors were found to misguide consumers providing importance to aesthetic features rather than technical specification. The implications of this study helps in becoming environmentally aware of how human actions affect the management of water and related energy use at households.

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The present paper, focusing on the concept of intergenerational fairness, analyzes the obligation to ensure fairness to the young and future generations who experience serious deprivations from pandemics and similar hazards, and evaluates legitimacy of their claims. The paper examines the problem of shortsightedness of the dominant population which undermines the rights and interests of the future generations, and elucidates long-term impacts of our actions on humanity at large. The idea of intergenerational fairness is validated by the humanistic normative framework which is moored on rationality and virtuous disposition of persons. Among other things, the discussion evaluates the significance of the idea of fairness in using and preserving natural resources for future generations, grounds for prioritizing interests of the young while allocating healthcare resources, the obligation of the present population to ensure subsequent generations a decent minimum level of living, and the necessity to incorporate intergenerational concerns while formulating public policies. It is argued that pandemics and similar hazards remind us of our obligation to do reasonable, and morally justifiable, sacrifices for the young and future generations.