Nanotechnology is one of the most important tools in modern agriculture, and agri-food nanotechnology is anticipated to become a driving economic force in the near future. Agri-food themes focus on ...sustainability and protection of agriculturally produced foods, including crops for human consumption and animal feeding. Nanotechnology provides new agrochemical agents and new delivery mechanisms to improve crop productivity, and it promises to reduce pesticide use. Nanotechnology can boost agricultural production, and its applications include: 1) nanoformulations of agrochemicals for applying pesticides and fertilizers for crop improvement; 2) the application of nanosensors/nanobiosensors in crop protection for the identification of diseases and residues of agrochemicals; 3) nanodevices for the genetic manipulation of plants; 4) plant disease diagnostics; 5) animal health, animal breeding, poultry production; and 6) postharvest management. Precision farming techniques could be used to further improve crop yields but not damage soil and water, reduce nitrogen loss due to leaching and emissions, as well as enhance nutrients long-term incorporation by soil microorganisms. Nanotechnology uses include nanoparticle-mediated gene or DNA transfer in plants for the development of insect-resistant varieties, food processing and storage, nanofeed additives, and increased product shelf life. Nanotechnology promises to accelerate the development of biomass-to-fuels production technologies. Experts feel that the potential benefits of nanotechnology for agriculture, food, fisheries, and aquaculture need to be balanced against concerns for the soil, water, and environment and the occupational health of workers. Raising awareness of nanotechnology in the agri-food sector, including feed and food ingredients, intelligent packaging and quick-detection systems, is one of the keys to influencing consumer acceptance. On the basis of only a handful of toxicological studies, concerns have arisen regarding the safety of nanomaterials, and researchers and companies will need to prove that these nanotechnologies do not have more of a negative impact on the environment.
The concept of human rights has long been an integral part of global discourse, championed as a fundamental pillar of social justice and equity. In recent decades, the intersection of human rights, ...global health, and sustainable development has emerged as a critical area of concern and opportunity. This research paper delves into the dynamic intersection of human rights, global health, and sustainable development, with a particular focus on Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) - Good Health and Well-Being. In the context of our rapidly changing world, by applying a multidisciplinary research method, this paper explores the evolving landscape of human rights preservation and the challenges posed by emerging global governance issues. By examining the role of law in promoting and safeguarding human rights within the framework of SDG 3, it offers a comprehensive analysis of the evolving global governance challenge in the quest for a healthier and more sustainable world.
The stability of biochar carbon (C) is the major determinant of its value for long-term C sequestration in soil. A long-term (5 year) laboratory experiment was conducted under controlled conditions ...using 11 biochars made from five C3 biomass feedstocks (Eucalyptus saligna wood and leaves, papermill sludge, poultry litter, cow manure) at 400 and/or 550 °C. The biochars were incubated in a vertisol containing organic C from a predominantly C4-vegetation source, and total CO2–C and associated δ13C were periodically measured. Between 0.5% and 8.9% of the biochar C was mineralized over 5 years. The C in manure-based biochars mineralized faster than that in plant-based biochars, and C in 400 °C biochars mineralized faster than that in corresponding 550 °C biochars. The estimated mean residence time (MRT) of C in biochars varied between 90 and 1600 years. These are conservative estimates because they represent MRT of relatively labile and intermediate-stability biochar C components. Furthermore, biochar C MRT is likely to be higher under field conditions of lower moisture, lower temperatures or nutrient availability constraints. Strong relationships of biochar C stability with the initial proportion of nonaromatic C and degree of aromatic C condensation in biochar support the use of these properties to predict biochar C stability in soil.
In urban set up, increasing combustion and processing activities have contaminated the air with toxic heavy metals which are generally enriched on atmospheric particulate matter. Vegetation around ...urban area act as a sink where such metal enriched particles generally deposit on the foliar surfaces, however, role of vegetation in uptake of metals adhered on the atmospheric particulate matter is yet not explored properly and is important to study to evaluate their role as bio-remediator. The undertaken work examines the foliar surface of Morus alba for its potential to deposit and accumulate atmospheric heavy metals. Further, to understand foliar uptake mechanism and translocation of atmospheric metal enriched on particulate matter a simulated experiment was conducted by labeling the known particle size (45 μm and 120 μm) with radio labeled 65Zn, applied on the tagged leaf with two particle loads, 25 mg and 50 mg. The study showed that owing to its rough foliar surface with trichomes and grooves, Morus alba efficiently trap heavy metal enriched particles and was capable of accumulating metals from particulate matter into different plant parts. It was recorded that 65Zn adhered on different size particles was taken up by tagged leaf of mulberry and majorly translocated to the lower stem and roots. It was also inferred from the study that both particle size and particle load significantly affect the foliar uptake and translocation of atmospheric heavy metal. The study focuses on the fact that urban avenue trees are capable of taking up atmospheric heavy metals and can play a crucial role in improving air quality.
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•The atmospheric particulate matter (PM) are rich carriers of heavy metals such as , Zn, Fe, Pb, Ni etc. as evident from the present study.•Whether roadside plants can act as efficient sink for the PM associated metal species and mechanism thereof is poorly understood.•Morphological feature like trichomes and grooves on the foliage may enhance PM-metal capture and absorption by the tree species.•Radiotracer studies using 65Zn enriched PM in Morus alba clearly evidence that foliar uptake and translocation of PM-metal depends on the PM size and foliar load.•Study supports that avenue trees like Morus alba not only efficiently trap atmospheric PM but also exhibit foliar uptake and in plant translocation and accumulation of PM-metals.
Biochar has gained importance due to its ability to increase the long-term soil carbon pool and improve crop productivity. However, little research has been done to evaluate the influence of biochar ...application to soil on the bioavailability of trace elements to plants. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of biochar on the availability of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn to maize (Zea mays L.). An activated wood biochar, pyrolysed at 550°C, was applied at 3 rates (0, 5, and 15g/kg) in factorial combinations with 3 rates (0, 10, and 50mg/kg) each of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn separately to a sandy soil. After 10 weeks of growth, plants were harvested, shoot dry matter yield was measured, and concentration of trace elements in shoots was analysed. The soil in pots was analysed for extractable trace elements. The results showed that the addition of wood biochar to soil did not have any significant effect on the dry matter yield of maize plants, even at the highest rate of application. However, trace element application significantly reduced the dry matter yield from 10 to 93% depending on the type of trace element. Biochar application decreased the concentration of As, Cd, and Cu in maize shoots, especially at the highest rate of trace element application, whereas the effects were inconsistent on Pb and Zn concentrations in the shoots. The concentrations of extractable As and Zn in soil increased with biochar application, whereas extractable Cu did not change, Pb decreased, and Cd showed an inconsistent trend. Sorption of trace elements on biochar with initial loadings up to 200µmol at pH 7 occurred in the order: Pb>Cu>Cd>Zn>As. The results show that biochar application can significantly reduce the availability of trace elements to plants and suggest that biochar application may have potential for the management of soils contaminated by trace elements.
► RS provides electromagnetic information about the Earth's surface and atmosphere. ► It can be exploited for efficient site specific management and precision horticulture. ► RS can be used for crop ...identification, crop area, biomass and yield estimation. ► RS can be exploited for soil and nutrient management. ► RS can be exploited for assessing damage by biotic and a biotic stress.
Horticulture crops play significant role in improving the productivity of land, generating employment, enhancing exports, improving economic conditions of the farmers and entrepreneurs and providing food and nutritional security to the people. For better management of the existing crops and to bring more area under horticulture crops, updated and accurate database is necessary for systematic planning and decision making. Remote sensing (RS) is an advanced tool that aids in gathering and updating information to develop scientific management plans. Many types of sensors namely microwave radiometers, laser meters, magnetic sensors and cameras collect electromagnetic information to derive accurate, large-scale information about the Earth's surface and atmosphere. Because these data and images are digital, they can easily be quantified and manipulated using computers. RS can be used in efforts to reduce the risk and minimize damage. The same data can be analyzed in different ways for different applications. A number of studies were aiming at identification of crop, area estimation, disease and pest identification, etc. using satellite data in horticulture. The potential use of RS techniques in Horticulture is briefly reviewed in order to exploit the available techniques for efficient crop management.
Diabetes mellitus occurrence has been associated to the modification of the physiological levels of glucose and is often accompanied by several long-term complications, namely neuropathy, ...nephropathy, retinopathy, cataract, and cardiovascular. Aldose reductase (AR) is an enzyme of aldoketo reductase super-family that catalyzes the conversion of glucose to sorbitol in the polyol pathway of glucose metabolism. In this context, aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) have received much attention worldwide. Decreased sorbitol flux through polyol pathway by ARIs could be an emerging target for the management of major complications of diabetes. The present review article describes a brief overview of the role of aldose reductase in the diabetic complications, advances achieved on ARIs and their potential use in the treatment and management of the major diabetic complications such as cataract, retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and cardiovascular. The ARIs developed vary structurally, and representative structural classes of ARIs include i) carboxylic acid derivatives (such as Epalrestat, Alrestatin, Zopalrestat, Zenarestat, Ponalrestat, Lidorestat, and Tolrestat), ii) spirohydantoins and related cyclic amides (such as Sorbinil, Minalrestat, and Fidarestat), and iii) phenolic derivatives (related to Benzopyran-4-one and Chalcone). Among these inhibitors, Epalrestat is the only commercially available inhibitor till date. In addition, some other ARIs such as Sorbinil and Ranirestat had been advanced into late stage of clinical trials and found to be safe for human use. The role of various natural ARIs in management of diabetic complications will be discussed. Adapting ARIs could prevent sepsis complications, prevent angiogenesis, ameliorate mild or asymptomatic diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and appear to be a promising strategy for the treatment of endotoxemia and other ROS-induced inflammatory diseases. The role of ARIs in non-diabetic diseases will also be discussed.
•Experimental investigation has been carried out to investigate bond behaviour in recycled aggregate concrete.•Comparison has been made on the behaviour of concrete made in natural concrete and the ...concrete cast and tested in RCA.•Robust descriptive bond strength equations have been proposed for Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC).
Experimental investigation has been carried out to calculate the splice strength in bond of deformed steel bars in recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) using 132 singly reinforced bottom cast splice beam specimens. The testing of the splice beam specimens have been carried out under four-point bending with splicing being carried out at the constant moment region. The parameters investigated in the experiment were: grade of concrete (normal-, medium and high-strength), recycled concrete aggregate replacement level (0%, 50% and 100%), rebar diameter (db) (12 mm and 20 mm), splice length (5 db,10 db, 15 db and 25 db), rebar surface characteristics and concrete cover (c) – to – rebar diameter (c/db = 1.25 and 2.00). Descriptive bond strength equations have been proposed for RAC in which the effect of concrete grade on bond strength is best represented by f'c1/2 and f'c3/4. Amongst various bond strength equations available in the literature, the one proposed by Orangun et al. which has been developed for conventional concrete gave the most accurate and conservative splice bond strength estimate when applied to the concrete obtained by the substitution of natural aggregate to selected levels of RCA replacement level under experimental investigation.
Objective This study aims at formulating solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) of quercetin, a natural flavonoid with established antioxidant activity, for intravenous administration in order to improve ...its permeation across the blood–brain barrier into the CNS, and eventually to improve the therapeutic efficacy of this molecule in Alzheimer's disease.
Methods The SLNs of quercetin were formulated using Compritol as the lipid and Tween 80 as the surfactant through a microemulsification technique, and optimized employing a 32 central composite design (CCD). Selection of the optimized SLN formulation, using brute‐force methodology and overlay plots, was based on its efficiency of entrapping quercetin inside the lipophilic core, particle size, surface charge potential and ability of the SLNs to release the entrapped drug completely. The optimized formulation was subjected to various in‐vivo behavioral and biochemical studies in Wistar rats.
Key findings The optimized formulation exhibited a particle size of less than 200 nm, 85.73% drug entrapment efficiency and a zeta potential of 21.05 mV. In all the in‐vivo behavioral and biochemical experiments, the rats treated with SLN‐encapsulated quercetin showed markedly better memory‐retention vis‐à‐vis test and pure quercetin‐treated rats.
Conclusions The studies demonstrated successful targeting of the potent natural antioxidant, quercetin, to brain as a novel strategy having significant therapeutic potential to treat Alzheimer's disease.
Summary
Soil carbon (C) stabilisation is known to depend in part on its distribution in structural aggregates, and upon soil microbial activity within the aggregates. However, the mechanisms and ...relative contributions of different microbial groups to C turnover in different aggregates under various management practices remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the role of soil aggregation and their associated microbial communities in driving the responses of soil organic matter (SOM) to multiple management practices. Our results demonstrate that higher amounts of C inputs coupled with greater soil aggregation in residue retention management practices has positive effects on soil C content. Our results provide evidence that different aggregate size classes support distinct microbial habitats which supports the colonisation of different microbial communities. Most importantly our results indicate that the effects of management practices on soil C is modulated by soil aggregate sizes and their associated microbial community and are more pronounced in macro‐aggregate compared with micro‐aggregate sizes. Based on our findings we recommend that differential response of management practices and microbial control on the C turnover in macro‐aggregates and micro‐aggregate should be explicitly considered when accounting for management impacts on soil C turnover.
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