The capital city of India, New Delhi, is experiencing serious PM2.5 pollution in the form of recurrent hazy skies and smoky fog (SMOG) episodes in recent years. Besides source-emission strengths, ...frequency and time-spans of these air-pollution episodes are uncertain due to variable urban meteorological influences, preventing the formation of a cohesive policy to tackle air-quality degradation. About 70% mass of PM2.5 particle is composed of Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), and Sulphur (S) and, hence, their mass concentrations along with their stable isotopic imprints (viz. δ13CPM2.5, δ15NPM2.5 and δ34SPM2.5) provide powerful tools to gain insights into complex aerosol chemistry. This study presents the aforementioned data generated for PM2.5 collected from New Delhi covering full post-monsoon, winter, and summer months of 2014–15. Temporal variability in the generated dataset was analyzed with variabilities in atmospheric concentrations of key gaseous species (NH3, NOx, and SO2) and meteorological indices. The highest PM2.5 concentrations were observed in winter months with enhanced aerosol N and S concentrations. Active biomass (crop-residue) burning in the northwest Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) appears to be the major source of aerosol TC for post-monsoon and winter months in addition to emission sources from the combustion of bio- and fossil- fuels. Aerosol TN contents appear to be largely impacted by ambient ammonia emissions, especially during winter. Aerosol TS contents could be manifested by emissions from coal combustion, road dust, and biogenic sulphur. Total C + N + S contents of PM2.5 showed significant negative correlations with surface solar radiation and air-visibility. Both δ15NPM2.5 and δ34SPM2.5 values show remarkable correlations with air-quality and meteorological parameters during winter months demonstrating considerable secondary cycling. Cluster analysis and concentrated weighted wind trajectories over New Delhi for the study-period showed ~64% and ~58% of air mass trajectories from the northwest (Punjab-Haryana) region during post-monsoon and winter months respectively.
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•First aerosol C, N and S isotopic composition data of PM2.5 over New Delhi•Highest PM2.5 concentrations found during winter months due to vigorous N and S cycling•TC + TN + TS contents of PM2.5 inhibit surface solar radiation and deteriorate air-visibility.•Aerosol δ15N linearly increase with ambient NH3 concentrations during winter amidst declined temperatures.•~64 and ~58% of air mass over New Delhi for post-monsoon and winter months is contributed by winds from Panjab-Haryana.
Comprehensive data of 2years (2013–2014) of water soluble inorganic species (WSIS) in the particulate matter (PM10: mean: 233.0±124.6μgm−3 and PM2.5: mean: 108.0±86.5μgm−3) have been used to study ...seasonal effect on the variation of total WSIS concentration, composition variability of inorganic aerosols and extent to which secondary formation of sulfate and nitrate aerosol occurred from their precursor gases. Mean concentrations of total WSIS in PM10 and PM2.5 were 82.12±72.15μgm−3 and 54.03±49.22μgm−3, respectively during the study period. Concentrations of total WSIS (PM10: 140.11±90.67μgm−3; PM2.5: 74.41±47.55μgm−3) during winter season was recorded higher than summer, monsoon and spring seasons. Significant correlation (p<0.01) between NH4+ and Cl−, SO42−, NO3− in PM10 and PM2.5, respectively indicates NH4+ as the major cation species for the neutralization of acidic components in the winter season. On the contrary, in summer season Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+ were the alkaline species responsible for the neutralization of acidic components in the PM10 samples. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that secondary aerosol, biomass burning and soil driven dust were the possible sources that explained ~70% of the total variance. Cluster analysis and Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT) analysis for different season depicts the advection of air masses over the continental landmasses of Afghanistan (summer season), northwestern region of Pakistan (summer and winter season), marine region (monsoon season) and adjoining states of Delhi. These air masses from different regions could be the cause of an increase in PM10 and PM2.5 aerosol over the study site.
•WSIS concentration was used to comprehend variability of inorganic aerosol in different season over Delhi.•Source apportionment study indicates the influence of anthropogenic and natural sources.•Seasonal Cluster and CWT analysis to see long range transport of PM10 and PM2.5 and associated WSIS compositional variability in different seasons.
•Higher system productivity and efficiency possible through conservation agriculture.•Zero-till cereal system had superior performance than the conventional-till.•Maize is a potential substitute of ...rice in areas with shortages of labor and water.•Avoiding puddling and residue retention in rice saves 30% water with no yield loss.•Conservation agriculture had cumulative and likely long-term benefits.
Increasing scarcity of resources (labour, water, and energy) and cost of production, along with climate variability, are major challenges for the sustainability of rice–wheat system in the northwesten Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). We hypothesized that adopting the principles of conservation agriculture together with best crop management practices would improve system productivity and overall efficiency, resulting in a higher profitability. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the performance of four cropping system scenarios (treatments), which were designed to be adapted to current and future drivers of agricultural changes. The treatments including farmers practices varied in tillage and crop establishment methods, residue management, crop sequence, and crop management. Zero-tillage direct-seeded rice (ZT-DSR) with residue retention and best management practices provided equivalent or higher yield and 30–50% lower irrigation water use than those of farmer-managed puddled transplanted rice (CT-TPR). Overall, net economic returns increased up to 79% with a net reduction in production cost of up to US$ 55ha−1 in ZT-DSR than CT-TPR. Substituting rice with ZT maize was equally profitable but with 88–95% less irrigation water use. Avoiding puddling in rice and dry tillage in maize with residue retention increased yield (by 0.5–1.2tha−1) and net economic returns of the succeeding wheat crop. Inclusion of mungbean in the rotation further increased system productivity and economic returns. In summary, our initial results of 2-year field study showed positive effects of CA-based improved management practices on yield and system efficiencies with greater benefits in the second year. There is a need of longer term monitoring to quantify cumulative effects of various interventions and to eventually make recommendations for wider dissemination.
Fuels are inevitable for industrial development and growth of any country. The life span of fossil fuel resources has always been terrifying. Biodiesel, a renewable source of energy seems to be an ...ideal solution for global energy demands including India as well. The current review is addressed to various aspects of biodiesel production. Latest literature has been critically reviewed and consulted.
Quinazolinone scaffold has been considered as a magic moiety possessing myriad spectrum of medicinal activities. Diversity of biological response profile has attracted considerable interest of ...several researchers across the globe to explore this skeleton for its assorted therapeutic significance. Various novel classes of structurally different quinazolinones have been designed and synthesized depicting potential interventions such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticonvulsant, CNS depressant, antiinflammatory, antihistaminic, anticancer and so on. Moreover, the nucleus constitutes an integral structural component in a number of drugs currently employed in several clinical therapies. The present paper is an earnest attempt to provide an insight view on the current medicinal aspects of quinazolinone heterocycles alongwith brief discussion of their chemistry.
The unprecedented capability to control and characterize materials on the nanometer scale has led to the rapid expansion of nanostructured materials. The expansion of nanotechnology, resulting into ...myriads of consumer and industrial products, causes a concern among the scientific community regarding risk associated with the release of nanomaterials in the environment. Bioavailability of excess nanomaterials ultimately threatens ecosystem and human health. Over the past few years, the field of nanotoxicology dealing with adverse effects and the probable risk associated with particulate structures <100 nm in size has emerged from the recognized understanding of toxic effects of fibrous and non-fibrous particles and their interactions with plants. The present review summarizes uptake, translocation and accumulation of nanomaterials and their recognized ways of phytotoxicity on morpho-anatomical, physiological, biochemical and molecular traits of plants. Besides this, the present review also examines the intrinsic detoxification mechanisms in plants in light of nanomaterial accumulation within plant cells or parts.
•MNPs induce alterations in morpho-anatomical, physiological, biochemical and molecular traits in plants.•Toxicity of nanoparticles on plants depends on various factors, specifically the size of NP, shape, use of carrier, coating and experimental methods.•Nanoparticles are capable of inducing up and/or down-regulation of the marker genes, water transport (aquaporin), formation of the cell wall and the cell division.•The current status and future prospects of MNPs interaction with plants has been discussed.
Abstract
A two-year field study was conducted during
Rabi
2018–2019 and 2019–20 to find out the influence of different residue and weed management practices on weed dynamics, growth, yield, ...energetics, carbon footprint, economics and soil properties in zero-tilled sown wheat at Research Farm, AICRP-Weed management, SKUAST-Jammu. The experiment with four rice residue management practices and four weed management practices was conducted in a Strip-Plot Design and replicated thrice. The results showed that residue retention treatments recorded lower weed density, biomass and higher wheat growth, yield attributes and yields of wheat as compared to no residue treatment. The magnitude of increase in wheat grain yield was 17.55, 16.98 and 7.41% when treated with 125% recommended dose of nitrogen + residue + waste decomposer (RDN + R + WD), 125% RDN + R, and 100% RDN + R, respectively, compared to no residue treatment. Further, all three herbicidal treatments decreased weed density and biomass than weedy treatments. Consequently, a reduction of 29.30, 28.00, and 25.70% in grain yield were observed in control as compared to sulfosulfuron + carfentrazone, clodinafop-propargyl + metasulfuron, and clodinafop-propargyl + metribuzin, respectively. Moreover, 125% RDN + R + WD obtained significantly higher energy output (137860 MJ ha
−1
) and carbon output (4522 kg CE/ha), but 100% RDN had significantly higher net energy (101802 MJ ha
−1
), energy use efficiency (7.66), energy productivity (0.23 kg MJ
−1
), energy profitability (6.66 kg MJ
−1
), carbon efficiency (7.66), and less carbon footprint (7.66) as compared to other treatments. Despite this, treatments with 125% RDN + R + WD and 125% RDN + R provided 17.58 and 16.96% higher gross returns, and 24.45% and 23.17% net outcomes, respectively, than that of control. However, compared to the control, sulfosulfuron + carfentrazone showed considerably higher energy output (140492 MJ ha
−1
), net energy (104778 MJ ha
−1
), energy usage efficiency (4.70), energy productivity (0.14 kg MJ
−1
), energy profitability (3.70 kg MJ
−1
), carbon output (4624 kg CE ha
−1
), carbon efficiency (4.71), and lower carbon footprint (0.27). Furthermore, sulfosulfuron + carfentrazone, clodinafop-propargyl + metasulfuron, and clodinafop-propargyl + metribuzin recorded 29.29% and 38.42%, 27.99%, and 36.91%, 25.69% and 34.32% higher gross returns and net returns over control treatment, respectively. All three herbicides showed higher gross returns, net returns, and benefit cost ratio over control. The soil nutrient status was not significantly affected either by residue or weed management practices. Therefore, based on present study it can be concluded that rice residue retention with 25% additional nitrogen and weed management by clodinafop-propargyl + metasulfuron herbicide found suitable for zero tillage wheat.
This paper reports the use of fluorescent gold nanoclusters synthesized using bovine serum albumin (Au-BSA) for the sensing of copper ions in live cells. The fluorescence of the clusters was found to ...be quenched by Cu(2+) enabling its detection in cells. The selectivity of the nanosensor was demonstrated in the presence of several cations excluding Hg(2+). We did not study the effect of Hg(2+) since it was reported earlier. The present study suggests that Cu(2+) induced fluorescence quenching is due to its binding to BSA rather than the fluorescence quenching by metal-metal interaction as in the case of Hg(2+). The Au-BSA showed excellent selectivity to Cu(2+) at various pH conditions. The 'turn off' of fluorescence can be retrieved by a Cu(2+) chelator glycine. Our results showed that gold clusters can be used as a 'turn off' sensor for copper and a 'turn on' sensor for glycine. Under the experimental conditions, the probe showed a response for Cu(2+) over a range of 100 μM to 5 mM with a detection limit of 50 μM. The role of Cu(2+) in the misfolding and disassembly of Prion Protein (PrP) leading to various maladies is well ascertained. The methodology we reported here seems to be useful in supplementing other techniques in predicting disease conditions involving Cu(2+).
This paper presents two categories of features extraction and mapping suite, a very high-resolution suite and an ultra-resolution suite at 2 m and 0.5 m resolutions, respectively, for the ...differentiation and mapping of land cover and community-level vegetation types. The features extraction flow of the ultra-resolution suite involves pan-sharpening of the multispectral image, color-transformation of the pan-sharpened image, and the generation of panchromatic textural features. The performance of the ultra-resolution features extraction suite was compared with the very high-resolution features extraction suite that involves the calculation of radiometric indices and color-transformation of the multi-spectral image. This research was implemented in three mountainous ecosystems located in a cool temperate region. Three machine learning classifiers, Random Forests, XGBoost, and SoftVoting, were employed with a 10-fold cross-validation method for quantitatively evaluating the performance of the two suites. The ultra-resolution suite provided 5.3% more accuracy than the very high-resolution suite using single-date autumn images. Addition of summer images gained 12.8% accuracy for the ultra-resolution suite and 13.2% accuracy for the very high-resolution suite across all sites, while the ultra-resolution suite showed 4.9% more accuracy than the very high-resolution suite. The features extraction and mapping suites presented in this research are expected to meet the growing need for differentiating land cover and community-level vegetation types at a large scale.
Research and development for novel substances possessing anti-infective activity have attracted considerable attention due to the escalating resistance towards conventional antibiotics. Therefore, ...the discovery and development of effective antimicrobial drugs with novel mechanism of action have become an insistent task for infectious diseases research programs. Triazole scaffold has been consistently rewarded as a promising versatile lead molecule with a pivotal position in modern medicinal chemistry. The literature reveals that this heterocyclic moiety has drawn attention of the chemists, pharmacologists, microbiologists and other researchers owing to its indomitable biological potential as anti-infective agents. The present communication is a cogent attempt to review the chemistry and antimicrobial activities of triazole derivatives reported in recent scientific literature. The biological profiles of these new triazole derivatives represent a fruitful matrix for further development as promising and superior anti-infective medicinal agents.
