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Plant Secondary Metabolites: The Weapons for Biotic Stress Management
The rise in global temperature also favors the multiplication of pests and pathogens, which calls into question global food security. Plants have developed special coping mechanisms since they are sessile and lack an immune system. These mechanisms use a variety of secondary metabolites as weapons to avoid obstacles, adapt to their changing environment, and survive in less-than-ideal circumstances. Plant secondary metabolites include phenolic compounds, alkaloids, glycosides, and terpenoids, which are stored in specialized structures such as latex, trichomes, resin ducts, etc. Secondary metabolites help the plants to be safe from biotic stressors, either by repelling them or attracting their enemies, or exerting toxic effects on them. Modern omics technologies enable the elucidation of the structural and functional properties of these metabolites along with their biosynthesis. A better understanding of the enzymatic regulations and molecular mechanisms aids in the exploitation of secondary metabolites in modern pest management approaches such as biopesticides and integrated pest management. The current review provides an overview of the major plant secondary metabolites that play significant roles in enhancing biotic stress tolerance. It examines their involvement in both indirect and direct defense mechanisms, as well as their storage within plant tissues. Additionally, this review explores the importance of metabolomics approaches in elucidating the significance of secondary metabolites in biotic stress tolerance. The application of metabolic engineering in breeding for biotic stress resistance is discussed, along with the exploitation of secondary metabolites for sustainable pest management. 2023 by the authors. -
Prospective applications of two-dimensional materials beyond laboratory frontiers: A review
The development of nanotechnology has been advancing for decades and gained acceleration in the 21st century. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are widely available, giving them a wide range of material platforms for technological study and the advancement of atomic-level applications. The design and application of 2D materials are discussed in this review. In order to evaluate the performance of 2D materials, which might lead to greater applications benefiting the electrical and electronics sectors as well as society, the future paradigm of 2D materials needs to be visualized. The development of 2D hybrid materials with better characteristics that will help industry and society at large is anticipated to result from intensive research in 2D materials. This enhanced evaluation might open new opportunities for the synthesis of 2D materials and the creation of devices that are more effective than traditional ones in various sectors of application. 2023 The Authors -
Micropollutants characteristics, fate, and sustainable removal technologies for landfill leachate: A technical perspective
Waste disposal in landfills has gained momentum in the last few decades as it is one among the easy and cost-effective method for waste management for the accelerating global population. Heterogenous nature of the waste ending up in landfills makes it difficult to predict the fate of these pollutants making it difficult for its biomonitoring and specific treatment. Among the major issues associated with landfill treatment, liquid percolation from this heterogenous waste substrate collectively referred as leachate poses the greater risk to environment through soil and ground water pollution. The diversity of micropollutants presents in landfill leachates ranging from microbial pathogens, pesticides, microplastics, pharmaceuticals and other harmful chemicals calls for crucial attention towards improving methods used for their treatment and removal. This review summarizes the key components of landfill leachates with specific emphasize on micropollutant content of leachate. Further the features of most recent and advanced technologies that were successfully explored for micropollutant removal from landfill leachates are presented in this review. 2023 Elsevier Ltd -
Green synthesis of nanoparticles from biodegradable waste extracts and their applications: a critical review
The contemporary world is concerned only with non-biodegradable waste management which needs more sophisticated procedures as compared to biodegradable waste management. Biodegradable waste has the potential to become useful to society through a simple volarization technique. The researchers are behind sustainable nanotechnology pathways which are made possible by using biodegradable waste for the preparation of nanomaterials. This review emphasizes the potentialities of biodegradable waste produced as a viable alternative to create a sustainable economy that benefits all humans. Volarization results in the utilization of biowastes as well as provides safer and hazard-free green methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Starting from different sources to the application which includes therapeutics, food industry and water treatment. The review hovers over the pros and cons of biowaste-mediated nanoparticles and concludes with possible advances in the application. In the present scenario, the combination of green synthesis and biowaste can bring about a wide variety of applications in nanotechnology once the hurdles of bulk-scale industrial production are resolved. Given these points, the review is focused on the cost-effective synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG. -
Electrochemical deposition for metal organic Frameworks: Advanced Energy, Catalysis, sensing and separation applications
The advent of metalorganic frameworks has gathered ever-increasing attention owing to their versatility, unparalleled porosity, tuneability, and rich topography. The need for an efficient synthetic method and the trending appeal for thin film MOFs has brought in huge data on electrochemical deposition techniques. Thin films have immense applications in the field of electronics (including energy devices such as batteries and supercapacitors), sensors, catalysis, and as liquid/gas separation devices. Here, the electrodeposition method requires no pre-treatment step, allows miniaturization, a homogeneous film with desirable thickness, and is observed to be an eco-friendly method. The limited number of articles focusing on the supremacy of the technique has motivated the authors to collectively summarize the scattered data. To limit the discussion to reasonable bounds, the article focuses on a critical comparison of electrodeposition techniques with other synthetic methods, and different types of electrodeposition methods, and familiarize them with the various electrodeposited MOF-composite designs. Finally, we discuss extensively the existing as well as future applications. This will encourage future researchers to exploit this electrochemical technique for designing & developing newer MOF films and similar next-generation materials which are energy-efficient, rapid, and accurate while in use. This review article hopes to list out significant advances in the area to the advantage of both commercial and academic aspects. 2023 Elsevier B.V. -
A Systemic Review on Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2
As the new strains spread around the world, scientists have been trying to learn more about the different strains, especially Omicron, and how SARS-CoV2 acts in general. Studying historical trends of virus spread and the structure of the virus and its strains, as well as all the mechanisms it needs to survive, can help identify the symptoms and diagnose and treat the disease. The research has shown that the new strains, including Omicron, have a higher rate of mutation and transmissibility. Additionally, due to the rapid spread of the virus, there has not been a significant amount of time to understand the severity of the infection. To better understand the novel variants, a detailed analysis of the basic pathophysiology of the virus is needed. This includes transcriptome analysis for the recombination index to identify variation in the strand. This aided in the diagnostic process, and therapeutics for mutants of the virus could be treated. The Omicron strain is particularly threatening due to its rapid transmission rate and its property of immune evasion, which can make it less vulnerable to vaccination. 2023 Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal. -
Processing of nanoreinforced aluminium hybrid metal matrix composites and the effect of post-heat treatment: a review
The demand for cutting-edge materials with a high strength-to-weight ratio and economic considerations is steadily increasing. Lightweight materials such as aluminium (Al) and its alloys are attractive, but some properties such as low thermal stability and high wear rate limit the application of aluminium alloys (AA) to some extent. Many researchers have developed various composites to get around these restrictions and increase the performance of aluminium and its alloy. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) with nanoparticles have revealed greater mechanical and tribological properties compared with micron-sized reinforcements. Most engineering applications require materials with excellent multidimensional properties, which are difficult to achieve using single reinforced MMCs. Hybrid metal matrix composites (HMMCs) with superior properties are the latest trends in composite technology. The choice of reinforcement selection has a vibrant role in the manufacturing of hybrid metal matrix composites. Researchers face a major challenge in finding optimum reinforcement combinations and their corresponding concentrations. The manufacturing of nanocomposites is difficult due to their high surface area and energy. To determine the most effective reinforcement combinations for hybrid composites, this article addresses several nanoreinforcements, their effects, and the appropriate processing methods for aluminium and its alloys. Researchers have paid less attention to the impact of precipitation hardening in aluminium and its alloys; thus, this paper also considers the effect of post-heat treatment ofaluminium composites. 2022, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. -
Photoaligned Liquid Crystalline Structures for Photonic Applications
With the advancement of information display technologies, research on liquid crystals is undergoing a tremendous shift to photonic devices. For example, devices and configurations based on liquid crystal materials are being developed for various applications, such as spectroscopy, imaging, and fiber optics. One of the problems behind the development of photonic devices lies in the preparation of patterned surfaces that can provide high resolution. Among all liquid crystal alignment techniques, photoalignment represents a promising non-contact method for the fabrication of patterned surfaces. In this review, we discuss the original research findings on electro-optic effects, which were mainly achieved at the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the collaborating research laboratories. 2023 by the authors. -
A fast survey on recent developments in designing colorimetric and fluorescent sensors for the selective detection of essential amino acids
Owing to the biological significance of various amino acids, developing accurate and cost-effective sensing techniques for the selective detection of amino acids has recently attracted growing interest. This review discusses the recent advancements of chemosensors in the selective detection of only essential amino acids out of a total of twenty amino acids, which have been applied in chemosensing research, and the mechanism of their action. The focus is directed towards the detection of the most important essential amino acids, like leucine, threonine, lysine, histidine, tryptophan and methionine, since isoleucine and valine are yet to be explored in regard to chemosensing. According to their chemical and fluorescence properties, different sensing techniques, such as the reaction-based approach, DNA-based sensors, nanoparticle formation, coordination ligand binding, host-guest chemistry, the fluorescence indicator displacement (FID) approach, electrochemical sensors, carbon dot-based sensors, MOF-based sensors and metal-based techniques, have been described. 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry. -
Elusive Justice to Dalits in the 'Land of Social Justice'
The recent inhuman incident of mixing human faeces in the overhead tank supplying water to Dalit colony in Vengaivayal village in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu refl ects the perpetuating violence against the Dalits. Locating this brutal violence within the larger framework of violence against Dalits in Tamil Nadu, the lackadaisical attitude of Dravidian parties when dealing with the issues related to Dalits is brought to the fore.. 2023 Economic and Political Weekly. All rights reserved. -
Unveiling Cutting Edge Innovations in the Catalytic Valorization of Biodiesel Byproduct Glycerol into Value Added Products
The increasing production of biodiesel has led to a glut in the production of glycerol, which is a byproduct. This has resulted in the quest for alternative applications using glycerol as a cheap and readily available starting material. One promising approach is the catalytic valorization of glycerol, which converts glycerol into valuable chemicals such as 1,2-propanediol, lactic acid, and acrolein. The glycerol formed affects the efficiency of the biodiesel, and hence it must be removed. Different processes can convert glycerol to various useful products like glycerol carbonate, glycidol, solketal, lactic acid, and glyceric acid. These different products, the processes used for synthesis, and the various catalysts used have been discussed. The most effective methods for the syntheses, the numerous catalyst systems, mechanisms of the reactions, and applications of these products in different fields are discussed in this review. The paper also discusses the challenges and opportunities of glycerol valorization, including the need for improved catalyst selectivity and activity and the potential for integrating glycerol valorization with other biorefinery processes. Overall, the catalytic valorization of glycerol offers a promising pathway for utilizing this abundantly available resource, and this review provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners working in this area. 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH. -
Photocatalytic seawater splitting for hydrogen fuel production: impact of seawater components and accelerating reagents on the overall performance
The future fuel, hydrogen, is a clean, sustainable energy source with a substantial density of energy per unit volume/weight. Breakthroughs in hydrogen production, storage, and transportation are essential to meet the sustainable global energy demands. Solar-to-hydrogen conversion through water-splitting reactions (via photo/electro/photoelectro-processes) is a promising strategy for producing green hydrogen fuel. Specifically, the photocatalytic hydrogen generation reaction, mimicking artificial photosynthesis, is a simple and cost-effective method adopted for solar-hydrogen production. Various semiconductor photocatalysts and hybrid photocatalytic systems have been developed to address the sluggish kinetics and selectivity of pristine water/seawater splitting reactions. Recently, seawater has been used as feedstock for large-scale hydrogen production to advance the field and alleviate the scarcity of freshwater sources. This review article, therefore, aims to highlight the importance of seawater splitting reactions using different photocatalytic systems. A brief introduction to the fundamentals, historical progress, and mechanism of the seawater splitting reaction is presented. The impact of seawater components and accelerating reagents on the intrinsic performance of water splitting catalysts is discussed in detail, followed by an elaborate discussion of natural water and artificial seawater splitting with emphasis on onerous photocatalyst designs. Finally, the current challenges and opportunities of saltwater electrolysis for sustainable hydrogen fuel generation and applications are discussed. 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry. -
A review of cobalt-based catalysts for sustainable energy and environmental applications
In a bid to tackle the degrading climate conditions, the new age research in catalysis is predominantly focused on sustainable technologies associated with renewable energy conversion and environment purification. One of the primary motivations for the research in catalysis is the use of low-cost, earth-abundant materials that can fulfill the scale-up needs of respective technologies. Cobalt (Co) based catalysts have been an indispensable part of almost all areas of catalysis and they are often looked at as low-cost substitutes for precious metal-based catalysts. In the context of energy and environmental applications, Co-based catalysts are more commonly used for reactions such as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrolysis of chemical hydrides, CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Co-based catalysts are interesting compounds as Co plays a diverse role in facilitating different reactions. This review provides a brief account of the significance of Co-based catalysts and elaborates their advancement in each of the above-mentioned applications and presents future research directions with the use of Co-based catalysts. An in-depth analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the Co-based systems is highly desired to promote breakthroughs in catalysis. 2023 The Authors -
Lignin-based nanomaterials for food and pharmaceutical applications: Recent trends and future outlook
Small particles of size ranging from 1 to 100 nm are referred to as nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have tremendous applications in various sectors, including the areas of food and pharmaceutics. They are being prepared from multiple natural sources widely. Lignin is one such source that deserves special mention due to its ecological compatibility, accessibility, abundance, and low cost. This amorphous heterogeneous phenolic polymer is the second most abundant molecule in nature after cellulose. Apart from being used as a biofuel source, lignin is less explored for its potential at a nano-level. In plants, lignin exhibits cross-linking structures with cellulose and hemicellulose. Numerous advancements have taken place in synthesizing nanolignins for manufacturing lignin-based materials to benefit from the untapped potential of lignin in high-value-added applications. Lignin and lignin-based nanoparticles have numerous applications, but in this review, we are mainly focusing on the applications in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. The exercise we undertake has great relevance as it helps scientists and industries gain valuable insights into lignin's capabilities and exploit its physical and chemical properties to facilitate the development of future lignin-based materials. We have summarized the available lignin resources and their potential in the food and pharmaceutical industries at various levels. This review attempts to understand various methods adopted for the preparation of nanolignin. Furthermore, the unique properties of nano-lignin-based materials and their applications in fields including the packaging industry, emulsions, nutrient delivery, drug delivery hydrogels, tissue engineering, and biomedical applications were well-discussed. 2023 Elsevier B.V. -
Nutrition paves the way to environmental toxicants and influences fetal development during pregnancy
Nutrition plays a major role in the healthy pregnancy and development of the fetus. In addition, nutrition can expose humans to a wide range of potentially hazardous environmental constituents, such as organic pollutants and heavy metals from marine or agricultural food products while processing, producing, and packaging. Humans constantly face these constituents through air, water, soil, food, and domestic products. During pregnancy, the rate of cellular division and differentiation is higher; exposure to any of these environmental toxicants can lead to developmental defects as they cross the placental barrier and, in some cases, can harm the successive generation too, as some contaminants can act on the reproductive cells of the fetus (Diethylstilbestrol). Pregnant women are considered a vulnerable population to food contaminant exposure and require a proper dietary chart and conscious food choices. Food is a source of both essential nutrients and environmental toxicants. Here, we have researched the possible toxicants of the food industry and their influence on the fetus's in-utero development, along with the importance of dietary interventions and the need to balance a healthy diet to overcome the harms. The cumulative exposure to environmental toxicants can influence the mother's prenatal environment and affect the fetus's development. 2023 -
From Waste to Strength: Unveiling the Mechanical Properties of Peanut-Shell-Based Polymer Composites
Peanut-shell-based polymer composites have gained significant attention as sustainable and cost-effective materials with potential applications as food packaging films, ceiling tiles, insulation panels, supercapacitors, and electrodes in various industries like the packaging industry, construction, furniture, and electronics. This review article presents a systematic roadmap of the mechanical properties of peanut-shell-based polymer composites, analyzing the influence of factors such as filler content, surface modification techniques, interfacial adhesion, and processing methods. Through an extensive literature review, we highlight the mechanical properties of peanut-shell-based polymer composites. Furthermore, challenges and ongoing research efforts in this field are discussed. This comprehensive review provides valuable insights for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers, promoting the development and utilization of peanut-shell-based polymer composites for various applications. 2023 by the authors. -
Recent Trends and Progress in Corrosion Inhibitors and Electrochemical Evaluation
Science and engineering research studies are currently concentrating on synthesizing, designing, producing, and consuming ecologically benign chemical species to replace harmful chemicals. This is due to the increasing demands of conservation knowledge and strict ecological regulations. Numerous environmentally friendly substitutes produced from natural resources, including biopolymers, plant extracts, chemical pharmaceuticals (drugs), and so on, are now frequently used as inhibitors to replace dangerous corrosion inhibitors. Many compounds have been extensively used. A range of methods, including physisorption, chemisorption, barrier protection, thin-film growth, and electrochemical procedures, will be used to provide corrosion resistance. The various kinds of corrosion inhibitors (CIs), the mechanisms underlying inhibition, and the evaluation procedures have all been covered in-depth. This review provides an overview of the relevant literature in which researchers and scientists used different types of CIs, the effect of CIs on metals, and information about designs and mechanisms used to minimize corrosion in a variety of equipment composed of alloys or metals, along with electrochemical evaluation studies. This review will provide scholars with fresh insights to advance the discipline. 2023 by the authors. -
Synthesis of Inorganic Nanoparticles Using Traditionally Used Indian Medicinal Plants
Considering the exclusive environmental conditions and geological characteristics, Indian flora is extensive and rich in medicinal plants. From primeval times, plant parts and their metabolites have been widely explored for various practices including medicinal as well as culinary. The phytochemicals present in these plants are potential reducing agents for the bio-fabrication of these nanoparticles. The non-toxic nature and combination of the plant phytochemicals with precursor ions act as key aspects for synthesized nanoparticles. The present review highlights the potential applications of Inorganic nanoparticles synthesized from 148 traditionally used medicinal plants present in the Indian geographical region. In addition, parameters that influence the green synthesis of Inorganic nanoparticles such as the extraction methods, solvents used for extraction, the concentration of precursor and plant phytochemicals, pH, temperature, reaction time, and characterization techniques of the nanoparticles are discussed. Thus, the review provides information on the research that has been done in the area of green synthesis using Indian medicinal plants. 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Recent trends in the electrochemical sensors on ?- and calcium channel blockers for hypertension and angina pectoris: A comprehensive review
Stress, ingrained human behaviors, an inactive lifestyle, and poor dietary decisions are the primary causes of hypertension and the related coronary artery disease (CAD), which is also commonly referred to as angina pectoris. Effective high blood pressure (BP) treatment represents a substantial approach to reducing the burden of hypertension-related cardiovascular and renal diseases. A group of drugs known as ?-blockers and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are frequently used to treat diseases like hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. For efficient therapeutic use and to reduce potential side effects, ?-blocker concentration monitoring is essential. Chromatographic techniques are employed in a wide range to detect ?-blockers and CCBs without interference, among other analytical methods that have been described. For the detection of ?-blockers and CCBs, electrochemical sensors provide numerous benefits including sensitivity, selectivity, rapidity, and cost-effectiveness. These sensors can help with patient monitoring in clinical settings, ensuring that the prescription ?-blocker dosage is within the therapeutic range. Since ?-blockers are frequently consumed by people, the contamination can be occurred through discharge of wastewater. The presence and measurement of ?-blockers in water samples enables researchers to evaluate potential risks to aquatic life and public health. In this regard, this review addresses recently developed electrochemical (voltammetric) methodologies and measurement protocols for the determination of both ?-blockers and CCBs in pharmaceuticals, biological fluids, and environmental samples. Additionally, this review also provides an overview of the various advanced nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, polymeric structures, zeolite materials, ionic liquids, perovskite semiconductor-based materials, MXenes, Quantum dots, Nano MIPs and various dimensional materials applied to fabricate chemically modified electrodes/electrochemical sensors to determine the ?-blockers and CCBs. Moreover supplied are tables listing the analyte, modified electrode, measurement method, measuring medium pH, linear detection range (LDR), limit of detection (LOD) and sensitivity as they are cited in the original research. Furthermore, important conclusions are made from the published reports in the last decade and some future perspectives are also suggested. 2023 Elsevier B.V. -
A Retrospection on Mercury Contamination, Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity in Diverse Environments: Current Insights and Future Prospects
Owing to various industrial applications of mercury (Hg), its release into the environment at high concentration is becoming a great threat to living organisms on a global scale. Human exposure to Hg is greatly correlated with contamination in the food chain through cereal crops and sea foods. Since Hg is a non-essential component and does not possess a biological role and exhibits carcinogenic and genotoxic behaviour, biomonitoring with a focus on biomagnification of higher living animals and plants is the need of the hour. This review traces the plausible relationship between Hg concentration, chemical form, exposure, bioavailability, bioaccumulation, distribution, and ecotoxicology. The toxicity with molecular mechanisms, oxidative stress (OS), protein alteration, genomic change, and enzymatic disruptions are discussed. In addition, this review also elaborates advanced strategies for reducing Hg contamination such as algal and phytoremediation, biochar application, catalytical oxidation, and immobilization. Furthermore, there are challenges to overcome and future perspectives considering Hg concentrations, biomarkers, and identification through the nature of exposures are recommended. 2023 by the authors.