Rice, a staple food for a significant portion of the global population, faces persistent threats from various pathogens and pests, necessitating the development of resilient crop varieties. ...Deployment of resistance genes in rice is the best practice to manage diseases and reduce environmental damage by reducing the application of agro-chemicals. Genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas, have revolutionized the field of molecular biology, offering precise and efficient tools for targeted modifications within the rice genome. This study delves into the application of these tools to engineer novel alleles of resistance genes in rice, aiming to enhance the plant’s innate ability to combat evolving threats. By harnessing the power of genome editing, researchers can introduce tailored genetic modifications that bolster the plant’s defense mechanisms without compromising its essential characteristics. In this study, we synthesize recent advancements in genome editing methodologies applicable to rice and discuss the ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks surrounding the creation of genetically modified crops. Additionally, it explores potential challenges and future prospects for deploying edited rice varieties in agricultural landscapes. In summary, this study highlights the promise of genome editing in reshaping the genetic landscape of rice to confront emerging challenges, contributing to global food security and sustainable agriculture practices.
There has been a sudden increase in the number of rhino-orbital mucormycosis cases, primarily affecting patients recovering from COVID-19 infection. The local health authorities have declared the ...current situation an epidemic. In this study, we assess the role of exenteration in preventing disease progression and improving survival in patients with rhino-orbital mucormycosis.
The patients undergoing exenteration were grouped into the exenteration arm and those denying exenteration were grouped into the nonexenteration arm. The patients were followed at 1 month and 3 months. The 6-month survival data were collected telephonically. Continuous data were presented as Mean ± SD/Median (IQR) depending on the normality distribution of data, whereas the frequency with percentages was used to present the categorical variables. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were created to estimate the difference in survival of patients with exenteration in rhino-orbital mucormycosis versus those without exenteration.
A total of 14 patients were recruited for our study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients were qualified for exenteration; however, only eight patients underwent exenteration and six patients did not consent to exenteration. At the end of 3 months in the exenteration group, four (50%) patients died. Two patients died within a week of exenteration, whereas two patients died after 2 weeks of exenteration. The deaths in the first week were attributed to septic shock and the deaths happening beyond 2 weeks were attributed to severe meningitis. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed the cumulative probability of being alive at 1 month in the exenteration arm to be 85%, and it decreased to 67% by 53 days and subsequently remained stable until the end of 3 months.
The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis did not show a survival benefit of exenteration at 3 months and 6 months in COVID-associated rhino-orbital mucormycosis.
Role of oxygen partial pressure (PO2) on the chemical and structural stability of porous strontium doped (20 mol%) lanthanum manganite (LSM)-8 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composite has been ...studied. LSM and YSZ powders and pore former were mixed uniformly and uniaxially pressed into pellets. The pellets were sintered at 1400 °C for 2–10 h in 0.21–10−6 atm PO2. Structural, chemical, and microstructural changes were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Density of the LSM–YSZ composites increased from 65% to 85% during sintering with decrease in the oxygen partial pressure. The crystal structures of LSM and YSZ maintained rhombohedral and cubic structure, respectively, under all sintering conditions. Formation of lanthanum zirconate (La2Zr2O7) phase was observed in air after 10 h sintering and in 10−3 and 10−6 atm PO2 after 2 h sintering. MnOx was found in 10−6 atm PO2 sintered composites. Lower PO2 exposure also enhanced the grain growth. Thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of the LSM–YSZ composites, determined by dilatometry, decreased from 11.5 × 10−6 °C−1 for the air sintered samples to 10.3 × 10−6 °C−1 for the samples sintered in 10−6 atm PO2 due to the formation of La2Zr2O7 phase.
► Bulk density of porous LSM–YSZ composites increases with decrease in PO2 during sintering. ► Formation of La2Zr2O7 phase in LSM–YSZ composite is accelerated in lower sintering PO2. ► Presence of 10–25% La2Zr2O7 decreases LSM–YSZ thermal expansion coefficient by ∼1.2 × 10−6 °C−1.
Electrocatalytic proton exchange membranes (PEMs) represent a promising avenue for advancing the field of electrochemical energy conversion and storage by combining the proton-conducting function of ...PEMs with enhanced catalytic activity by incorporation of metal ions. Here, we systematically studied the ZnO-based metal-organic framework (MOF) and found the introduction of pegylated ZnO to the (diethyl methylamine)/(H2PO4) matrix to form the p-type conducting MOF membrane with a bandgap of 3.67 eV. This membrane not only has a high protonic conductivity of 0.027 S/cm at 300 K with a transference number >0.99 but also possesses high activity (Tafel slope ∼36 mV/decade). The high reaction kinetics supported by finite element modeling simulations shows its ability to produce efficient and sustainable hydrogen. Our results suggest high current density of 1.52 mA/cm2, a turn over frequency H2 (s−1) ∼0.474×1018s−1, and a stability of 168 h in neutral medium (pH = 7). This work will enhance new strategies for fabricating membranes with ionic liquid in order to get membranes with protonic conductivity along with high activity for large-scale water electrolysis.
We have studied alkaline-earth-metal-doped Y3GaO6 as a new family of oxide-ion conductor. Solid solutions of Y3GaO6 and 2% −Ca2+-, −Sr2+-, and −Ba2+-doped Y3GaO6, i.e., Y(3–0.06)M0.06GaO6−δ (M = ...Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+), were prepared via a conventional solid-state reaction route. X-ray Rietveld refined diffractograms of all the compositions showed the formation of an orthorhombic structure having the Cmc21 space group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the substitution of alkaline-earth metal ions promotes grain growth. Aliovalent doping of Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ enhanced the conductivity by increasing the oxygen vacancy concentration. However, among all of the studied dopants, 2% Ca2+-doped Y3GaO6 was found to be more effective in increasing the ionic conductivity as ionic radii mismatch is minimum for Y3+/Ca2+. The total conductivity of 2% Ca-doped Y3GaO6 composition calculated using the complex impedance plot was found to be ∼0.14 × 10–3 S cm–1 at 700 °C, which is comparable to many other reported solid electrolytes at the same temperature, making it a potential candidate for future electrolyte material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Total electrical conductivity measurement as a function of oxygen partial pressure suggests dominating oxide-ion conduction in a wide range of oxygen partial pressure (ca. 10–20–10–4 atm). The oxygen-ion transport is attributed to the presence of oxygen vacancies that arise from doping and conducting oxide-ion layers of one, two-, or three-dimensional channels within the crystal structure. The oxide-ion migration pathways were analyzed by the bond valence site energy (BVSE)-based approach. Photoluminescence analysis, dilatometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy studies were also performed to verify the experimental findings.
Iron redox flow batteries (IRFBs) are cost-efficient RFBs that have the potential to develop low-cost grid energy storage. Electrode kinetics are pivotal in defining the cycle life and energy ...efficiency of the battery. In this study, graphite felt (GF) is heat-treated at 400, 500 and 600 °C, and its physicochemical and electrochemical properties are studied using XPS, FESEM, Raman and cyclic voltammetry. Surface morphology and structural changes suggest that GF heat-treated at 500 °C for 6 h exhibits acceptable thermal stability while accessing the benefits of heat treatment. Specific capacitance was calculated for assessing the wettability and electrochemical properties of pristine and treated electrodes. The 600 °C GF has the highest specific capacitance of 34.8 Fg
at 100 mV s
, but the 500 °C GF showed the best battery performance. The good battery performance of the 500 °C GF is attributed to the presence of oxygen functionalities and the absence of thermal degradation during heat treatment. The battery consisting of 500 °C GF electrodes offered the highest voltage efficiency of ~74%, Coulombic efficiency of ~94%, and energy efficiency of ~70% at 20 mA cm
. Energy efficiency increased by 7% in a battery consisting of heat-treated GF in comparison to pristine GF. The battery is capable of operating for 100 charge-discharge cycles with an average energy efficiency of ~ 67% for over 100 cycles.
We study the effects of pressure on the electron-phonon interaction in MgB2 using density-functional-based methods. Our results show that the superconductivity in MgB2 vanishes by 100 GPa, and then ...reappears at higher pressures. In particular, we find a superconducting transition temperature Tc approximately 2 K for mu*=0.1 at a pressure of 137 GPa.
Plant productivity is being seriously compromised by climate-change-induced temperature extremities. Agriculture and food safety are threatened due to global warming, and in many cases the negative ...impacts have already begun. Heat stress leads to significant losses in yield due to changes in growth pattern, plant phonologies, sensitivity to pests, flowering, grain filling, maturity period shrinkage, and senescence. Tomato is the second most important vegetable crop. It is very sensitive to heat stress and thus, yield losses in tomato due to heat stress could affect food and nutritional security. Tomato plants respond to heat stress with a variety of cellular, physiological, and molecular responses, beginning with the early heat sensing, followed by signal transduction, antioxidant defense, osmolyte synthesis and regulated gene expression. Recent findings suggest that specific plant organs are extremely sensitive to heat compared to the entire plant, redirecting the research more towards generative tissues. This is because, during sexual reproduction, developing pollens are the most sensitive to heat. Often, just a few degrees of temperature elevation during pollen development can have a negative effect on crop production. Furthermore, recent research has discovered certain genetic and epigenetic mechanisms playing key role in thermo-tolerance and have defined new directions for tomato heat stress response (HSR). Present challenges are to increase the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying HS, and to identify superior genotypes with more tolerance to extreme temperatures. Several metabolites, genes, heat shock factors (HSFs) and microRNAs work together to regulate the plant HSR. The present review provides an insight into molecular mechanisms of heat tolerance and current knowledge of genetic and epigenetic control of heat-tolerance in tomato for sustainable agriculture in the future. The information will significantly contribute to improve breeding programs for development of heat tolerant cultivars.
Perovskite anodes, nowadays, are used in any solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) instead of conventional nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni/YSZ) anodes due to their better redox and electrochemical ...stability. A few compositions of samarium-substituted strontium titanate perovskite, SmxSr1−xTiO3−δ (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20), were synthesized via the citrate-nitrate auto-combustion route. The XRD patterns of these compositions confirm that the solid solubility limit of Sm in SrTiO3 is x < 0.15. The X-ray Rietveld refinement for all samples indicated the perovskite cubic structure with a P m 3 ¯ m space group at room temperature. The EDX mapping of the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) micrographs of all compositions depicted a lower oxygen content in the specimens respect to the nominal value. This lower oxygen content in the samples were also confirmed via XPS study. The grain sizes of SmxSr1−xTiO3 samples were found to increase up to x = 0.10 and it decreases for the composition with x > 0.10. The AC conductivity spectra were fitted by Jonscher’s power law in the temperature range of 500–700 °C and scaled with the help of the Ghosh and Summerfield scaling model taking νH and σdc T as the scaling parameters. The scaling behaviour of the samples showed that the conduction mechanism depends on temperature at higher frequencies. Further, a study of the conduction mechanism unveiled that small polaron hopping occurred with the formation of electrons. The electrical conductivity, in the H2 atmosphere, of the Sm0.10Sr0.90TiO3 sample was found to be 2.7 × 10−1 S∙cm−1 at 650 °C, which is the highest among the other compositions. Hence, the composition Sm0.10Sr0.90TiO3 can be considered as a promising material for the application as the anode in SOFCs.
Curcumin, an active biphenolic molecule present in turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been reported to elicit plethora of health protective effects. The present study was carried out in vitro, in vivo and ...in silico to investigate the modulatory effects of curcumin on erythrocyte membrane Na+/K+-ATPase activity. In vitro curcumin (10−5M to 10−8M) was incubated with human erythrocytes membrane. In vivo curcumin (340mg/kgb.w. and 170mg/kgb.w.) was supplemented to wistar rats for 21days. In silico, catalytic unit α of Na+/K+-ATPase (3b8e.pdb) protein was used as a receptor for the natural ligand ATP to study curcumin-mediated docking simulation using AutoDock4. The in vitro effect of curcumin on the Na+/K+-ATPase activity in human erythrocytes was biphasic. An inhibitory response was observed at 10−5M (p<0.001). An activation of the Na+/K+-ATPase activity was observed at 10−7 and 10−8M (p<0.001 and p<0.01). In vivo, curcumin supplementation to rats increased the Na+/K+-ATPase activity at doses 340mg/kgb.w. (p<0.001) as well as at 170mg/kgb.w., (p<0.01). AutoDock4 docking simulation study showed that both ligands curcumin and ATP actively interacted with amino acids Glu214, Ser215, Glu216, Thr371, Asn377, Arg378, Met379, Arg438, Val440, Ala444, Lys451 and Asp586 at the catalytic cavity of Na+/K+-ATPase. ATP had more H bonding and hydrophobic interaction with active site amino acid residues compared to curcumin. These finding may explain some of the health beneficial properties of curcumin associated with deregulated Na+/K+-ATPase activity or ions homeostasis.
PDF
