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Interaction of Nanomaterials with Plant Macromolecules: Nucleic Acid, Proteins and Hormones
Nanotechnology has the ability to change a wide range of industrial and agricultural operations. To harness these possibilities, it is essential to construct nano-materials that have minimum impact on the human body, plant systems as well as the environment. Using different materials can up-or down-regulate diverse genes of plants, create stimulating or stressful conditions and even cause production of metabolites that affect plant-associated microbes. The same nanoparticle can promote one plant species growth and be toxic to another. A small change in the concen-trations could cause either flourishment or senescence. It is crucial to understand how nanomaterials interact with nucleic acids, the most fundamental plant macro-molecule, as well as with the proteins and hormones made by biochemical processes. This chapter explores the basics of nanotechnology, with a brief classification and notes on some of the most recently used nanomaterials in agriculture such as metals and their oxides, quantum dots, graphene, arabinoxylan and chitosan nanoparticles, single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Interactions with these above-mentioned macromolecules are explored, along with futuristic applications in plants that are currently being tested, like nanocarriers and nanovalves. Through this work, it is hoped that the field will further be extended through proper understanding of the environmental implications of nanomaterials, and that green technology will become the norm. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. -
SCSLnO-SqueezeNet: Sine Cosine-Sea Lion Optimization enabled SqueezeNet for intrusion detection in IoT
Security and privacy are regarded as the greatest priority in any real-world smart ecosystem built on the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm. In this study, a SqueezeNet model for IoT threat detection is built using Sine Cosine Sea Lion Optimization (SCSLnO). The Base Station (BS) carries out intrusion detection. The Hausdorff distance is used to determine which features are important. Using the SqueezeNet model, attack detection is carried out, and the network classifier is trained using SCSLnO, which is developed by combining the Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA) with Sea Lion Optimization (SLnO). BoT-IoT and NSL-KDD datasets are used for the analysis. In comparison to existing approaches, PSO-KNN/SVM, Voting Ensemble Classifier, Deep NN, and Deep learning, the accuracy value produced by devised method for the BoT-IoT dataset is 10.75%, 8.45%, 6.36%, and 3.51% higher when the training percentage is 90. 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Impact of domestic investment, market size, and trade openness on outward fdi: A panel data analysis on brics
The recent phenomenal increase in the outward foreign direct investment (FDI) of emerging countries has raised concerns among policymakers. One school of thought argues that when multinational firms relocate production facilities abroad, it reduces the likelihood of concurrent investments in the home country, resulting in reduced domestic output. In this case, the outward FDI would harm the domestic investments. The other argues that the outward FDI would be more advantageous for the domestic investment when firms internationalize for entering into new markets and/or to import intermediate goods, wherein outward investments boost the returns in the home country, leading to a positive impact of outward FDI on domestic investment. The influence of the outward FDI on the domestic investment of any country or a region state cannot be generalized as each country is unique, and the drivers of investments would differ for different countries at the different development phases of each country. An attempt was made in this study to empirically trace the impact of the domestic investment, market size, and trade openness of the BRICS's members on the BRICS's outward FDI as a group. The results of the panel least square method highlighted that the variables - domestic investment and trade openness of BRICS had a positive effect on the outward FDI; whereas, the market size of BRICS was inversely related to outward FDI of BRICS. The data were tested for stationarity and Hausman test validated the results. 2019, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd.. All rights reserved. -
On ideal sumset labelled graphs
The sumset of two sets A and B of integers, denoted by A + B, is defined as (formula presented). Let X be a non-empty set of non-negative integers. A sumset labelling of a graph G is an injective function (Formula Presented) such that the induced function (Formula Presented) is defined by (Formula presented). In this paper, we introduce the notion of ideal sumset labelling of graph and discuss the admissibility of this labelling by certain graph classes and discuss some structural characterization of those graphs. 2021 Jincy P. Mathai, Sudev Naduvath, and Satheesh Sreedharan. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License, which permits unrestricted use and distribution provided the original author and source are credited. -
Influence of positive psychological capacities emotional intelligence and subjective well being of nurses in healthcare sector
The aim of this research is to address the insufficient empirical investigation of newlinepositive psychological variables among the nurses in the healthcare sector in India. Here we explore positive psychological capacities proposed by Luthan and team 2007), newlinecomprising of self-efficacy, hope, optimism and resilience their influence on emotional newlineintelligence; a concept of empirical interest among the nursing population (Freshwater newlineand Stickley 2004) and subjective well-being. Gill (2011) has mentioned that the health newlineworker determines the quality and nature of services offered in any healthcare system. newlineAdhering to the conceptual framework of positive psychology, psychological capital, newlineconservation of resource and broaden-and-build theory, this study is an exploration of newline(a) the positive psychological capacities, (b) its influence on emotional intelligence, and (c) subjective well-being of nurses (n=302) across government, private and trust newlinehospitals in Bangalore. The hospitals were chosen based on stratified sampling with the nursing respondents identified through random sampling and judgemental sampling. A pilot newlinestudy was carried out (n=100) to validate the standardized scales used for measuring the newlinevariables. An explanatory sequential mixed method design was proposed through which newlinethe quantitative analysis using a detailed descriptive statistics and regression analysis suggested that efficacy, hope, optimism and resilience influenced emotional newlineintelligence. While resilience and optimism influenced subjective well-being of nurses newlinethere was no influence of emotional intelligence, self-efficacy and hope. A qualitative follow-up interview was executed (n=15) to understand the reason for no influence. The findings substantiated that most of the nurses viewed themselves as happy individuals despite their work-related dissatisfactions as almost all saw their profession as service to mankind. The implications of these findings are traced along with the suggestions for future research. -
Bacterial diversity of geochemically distinct hot springs located in Maharashtra, India
Bacterial diversity of four thermally different hot springs of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, India, was investigated using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. A total of 144 bacterial cultures were isolated and identified using MALDI-TOF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Culture-independent analysis by Ion Torrent sequencing targeting the V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene revealed the predominance of Firmicutes across all the hot springs, followed by Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Armatimonadetes, Actinobacteria, Nitrospirae, Acidobacteria, and DeinococcusThermus, with subtle differences in their abundance. At the lower taxonomic rank of genus, we noted the prevalence of Acinetobacter followed by Clostridium, Planomicrobium, Bacillus, Streptomyces, and Leptolyngbya. Metagenomics imputation using in silico approach revealed divergence in the metabolic capabilities of bacterial communities along the thermal gradient of host springs, with site TS (63C) featuring the abundant functional gene families. 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. -
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A study on the prospects of zimbabwe fertilizer industry for a sustainable market match
This paper is as a result of a process of seeking a solution to theperennial challenge of mismatch of fertilizer demand and supply in Zimbabwe. The study investigated the causes of the mismatch of fertilizer demand and supply in the post agrarian reform with a view to finding the factors that cause the mismatch. The study has been necessitated by the fact that Zimbabwe?s economy is agro-based and supportsmore than twelve million people. The study was informed by the following objectives: (i) To know and understand the existing demand and supply of fertilizer in Zimbabwe(ii) To find reasons for the gap in the market and its impact on Zimbabwe?s agricultural sector (iii) To examine the role of banks and financial institutions in leveraging farmer access to loans in Zimbabwe (iv) To understand the farmers' perceptions of the situation and make justifications of the mismatch and (v) To suggest and adopt suitable strategies which reinforce sustainable demand and supply of fertilizer in the country. In context and pursuit of the objectives, this study used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. A survey questionnaire was administered on the total of 380 respondents within the study returned questionnaires. The study was premised on 3 null hypotheses, one testing significance difference between product brand and market demand for fertilizer, another testing significance difference between availability and accessibility of fertilizer and yet another tested significance difference in the perception among farmers and stakeholders on the use of fertilizer. To do the hypothesis testing,data frequencies were run to note descriptive data patterns, cross-tabulations to establish a relationship between variable through various statistical tests: chi- square, correlations, ANOVA correlation coefficients, regression analysis and R-square value. Regression analysis was conducted to establish squared multiple correlation coefficient(R2) between Fertilizer Market,the unobserved dependent variable comprised of Demand (need for fertilizer, Supply/usage of fertilizer and availability of fertilizer) and independent composite variables of location/place of the fertilizer, fertilizer company brands, i.e. products, respondents in the study(people) and costs of financing fertilizer.This study accepted the first 2 null hypotheses and rejected the last hypothesis respectively.During the content thematic analysis salient themes and issues were; fertilizer availability at specific locations, high usage of ammonia brand, low application of fertilizer, inadequate fertilizer storage facilities, quality of fertilizer and accessibility to markets and specific fertilizers brands at specific periods. Upon triangulation, thequalitative responses were similar and complimentary to the quantitative responses.The composite or unobserved predictor variables; Place/Location of fertilizer, Type of fertilizer/Product brand, cost price and people accounted for the squared multiple correlation coefficient.573 or 57.3% (R2) adjusted R2 0.568 of the variance of Fertilizer Market dependent composite variable. This proportion in other words was the contribution of the independent variables. This suggests relationships that has the moderate effect (substantial) on Market the dependent variable based on the criterion that 0.573 is moderate. Regression analysis pointed to a strong Pearson correlations relation between fertilizer market and location (place where fertilizer was available) .004 and product 0.21. The unobserved predictor independent variable fertilizer type product or brand multiple correlation coefficient.517 or 51.3% (R2), fertilizer location or location could be found .542 or 54.2% (R2) with unobserved predictor dependent variable fertilizer market.Following onto this, the study highlights a model to help us better manage the mismatch. This model is developed from a collaborative ramework.The thesis ultimately makes conclusions and recommendations about crafting policies that will assist to match fertilizer demand and supply in Zimbabwe. -
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Hybrid Renewable Road Side Charging Station with I2V Communication Functionality
The faster adoption of Renewable-based Energy Sources for charging Electric Vehicles is highly required. The paper proposes a novel strategy of design and developing a hybrid Road Side Unit (RSU) that would be easy to install and provides easy access to Electric Vehicle charging. The system inculcates Infrastructure to Vehicle (I2V) communication framework enabling communication between the Infrastructure and the Vehicle to identify the nearest charging station based on the availability. The communication framework is based on Wi-Fi communication and enables bidirectional communication between the Vehicle and the Infrastructure as well. The modelling and development of the RSU, and the active power flow regulation from the RSU to the Charging Station is also developed, using a Fuzzy Controller. 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. -
Inphase and outphase concentration modulation on the onset of magneto-convection and mass transfer in weak electrically conducting micropolar fluids
The paper analyses the effect of concentration modulation at the onset of solute magneto-convection and heat transfer in a weak electrically conducting fluid by carrying out a linear and non-linear analysis. The Venezian approach is assented encompassing the correction Solute Rayleigh number and wave numbers for meagre amplitude concentration modulation. A multiscale method is applied to convert the analytically untraceable Lorenz model to an analytically traceable Ginzburg-Landau equation which is solved to quantify mass transfer through Sherwood number. It is observed that concentration modulation results in sub-critical motion however out-of-phase concentration modulation is more stable compare to others. 2019 Author(s). -
Investigating the contrast diurnal relationship of land surface temperatures with various surface parameters represent vegetation, soil, water, and urbanization over Ahmedabad city in India
Many climatic problems have arisen due to congested and inefficient planning, reduced vegetation cover, and increased pollution from factories and vehicles. One such primary concern is increased land surface temperature (LST) contributes to the urban heat island (UHI) occurrence. This research aims to understand better the UHI effect in the region neighbouring the Indian city of Ahmedabad. MODIS sensor data (onboard Aqua and Terra platforms) and Landsat data were used for the study. The research was done for the summer, monsoon, and winter seasons in the research region, using data from thirteen years between 2003 and 2015. The current study looked at LSTs' spatial and temporal differences to assess the SUHI effect over Ahmedabad city. The association between diurnal LST and various surface variables such as vegetation, built-up, soil, water, and so on has also been examined. A variety of land surfaces influences the diurnal variations of LSTs. The diurnal associations of LST with vegetation, urbanization, soil, and water factors have been studied. The overall study of LST' relationship with all of the various parameters reveals a very significant dynamic relationship. 2022 The Author(s) -
In-phase, out-of-phase, bottom-wall two-frequency boundary temperature modulations on the onset of Rayleigh-Bard convection
The onset of convection in a Newtonian liquid-containing system is investigated using a two-frequency boundary temperature. The consequences of three types of two-frequency boundary temperature modulations have been thoroughly investigated: (i) in-phase, (ii) out-of-phase, and(iii) bottom-wall. The combined effect of two frequencies with sinusoidal and nonsinusoidal wave types is also documented under these various types of boundary temperature modulations. To facilitate the study, the Venezian method is approvedand the critical Rayleigh number and its correction are calculated. The parameters resulting from the study's two frequencies of modulation are the mixing angle, (Formula presented.), the amplitudes, (Formula presented.), and the set of coprime integers, (Formula presented.). The system's thermodynamics determines the range of these parameters. The research discovered that out-of-phase two-frequency boundary temperature modulation is the most stable, while in-phase is the least stable. Besides that, any combination of wave type with square wave type yields the most excellent stability. Furthermore, the two-frequency boundary temperature modulation is more stable than the single-frequency and no-modulation cases. 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. -
Comparative study of sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal two-frequency internal heat modulation in a Rayleigh-Bard system
A linear stability analysis is assented to investigate the effect of two-frequency internal heat modulation at the onset of convection in a Newtonian liquid. The correction Rayleigh number and wave number for small amplitudes is calculated using the Venezian approach. Under two-frequency internal heat modulation, the motion is found to be subcritical. To quantify heat transfer in the system, the three-mode Lorenz model is solved numerically. Various combinations of sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal waveforms influence the onset of convection and heat transfer in the system due to two-frequency internal heat modulation. The parameters' influence on heat transfer is seen to be dependent on the presence of a heat source or sink. 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. -
The onset of RayleighBard convection and heat transfer under two-frequency rotation modulation
The impact of 16 combinations of sinusoidal (sine) and nonsinusoidal (square, triangular, and sawtooth) time-periodic Coriolis force (rotation modulation) on RayleighBard convection in a Newtonian liquid is studied in this paper. This consideration is made to capture the possible effects of two-frequency rotation modulation on stability, that is, the onset of convection and the simultaneous amount of heat transfer in the system. The Venezian approach has been asserted on the linearized Lorenz model to derive the correction Rayleigh number as a function of the two frequencies. The Lorenz model with nonlinearities is evaluated numerically to assess the quantity of heat transfer in the system. The present study states that in comparison with existing studies of no-modulation and single-frequency rotation modulation, two-frequency rotation modulation yields higher stability bounds and thus diminishes the heat transfer. Heat transfer is found to be enhanced by a pair of coprime integers associated with the harmonics in the system. 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC -
Comprehensive understanding of biomedical usages of metal and non metal doped carbon dots
In recent years, carbon dots have garnered significant attention, particularly within the biomedical realm, owing to their exceptional characteristics. The unique attributes of carbon dots can be further enhanced through the introduction of heteroatom via doping. Various techniques have been devised by researchers to facilitate the doping of carbon dots, with both metallic and non-metallic elements. Elements such as nitrogen (81%), sulfur (67%), and silicon (64.1%) have been successfully employed for doping carbon dots leading to heightened quantum yields. This review compiles the diverse methodologies and elements employed in doping of carbon dots, and their applications in the biomedical domain in recent times. This review discusses the uses of doped carbon dots, both metal and non-metal-doped variants, elucidating their manifold utilities in various biomedical sectors, notably bioimaging, wound healing, and cancer therapy. The discussion culminates by addressing present challenges and offering insights into future prospects of doped carbon dots. 2023 Elsevier Ltd -
Fluorescent PVDF dots: from synthesis to biocidal activity
Infection by microorganisms is a serious concern in food storage, water purification, drugs, and particularly in biomedical devices. Long-term use of permanent implants often leads to its contamination due to pathogens. Timely tracking of bacterial activity and its interaction with antibodies are crucial for overcoming these infections. In this work, fluorescent polymeric biocides are obtained from a non-conjugated polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which is neither emissive nor known for its antibacterial activity. PVDF dot was synthesized via hydrothermal treatment eliminating the need for complicated and toxic preparation strategies. PVDF-based dot exhibits high fluorescence aroused from the carbogenic core due to the carbonization of the hydrocarbon chain. It is found that the dots were semiconducting contrary to the bulk form of PVDF. The photoluminescent polymer dots also exhibited an excellent antibacterial activity toward Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Streptococcus bacteria. This luminescence and biocidal activity of PVDF-derived dots have attractive applications in the field of fluorescent diagnostics and therapeutics. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. -
A Review on Recent Trends in Biological Applications of Non-conjugated Polymer Dots
With the advancement of zero-dimensional carbon materials, carbon dots (CDs) have received immense attention owing to their exceptional optical properties, tailoring of size, and ease of functionalization. They have wide applications in fluorescent sensing, chemical sensing, bioimaging, photocatalysis, etc. Zero-dimensional polymer nanoparticles are called polymer dots (PDs) and are classified into conjugated and non-conjugated PDs based on their conjugated system. Non-conjugated polymer dots (NCPDs) do not have specific conjugated fluorophore groups, but they have superior chemical stability and water solubility than the conjugated PDs. The carbon core of NCPDs is surrounded by polymer chains containing ample functional groups such as C=O, N=O, and C=N, which are responsible for the luminescent PDs. NCPDs are less toxic, photostable, and biocompatible and are relevant in biological explorations in bioimaging, drug delivery, biosensing, etc. This mini-review provides a systematic overview of the inherent properties and the biological applications of NCPDs. It also emphasises the synergistic impacts on the optical performance of modified PDs and significant future research concerns. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Facile Synthesis of Polymer Dot and Its Antibacterial Action Against Staphylococcus aureus
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rising from nosocomial infections is an escalating threat to human life nowadays due to the overuse of drugs. The multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria have increased morbidity and mortality rates, becoming a crucial global clinical challenge. Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is one of the nosocomial pathogens that cause severe invasive diseases and skin infections to human health worldwide. Herein, a non-conjugated polymer dot (NCPD) was synthesized from less toxic and biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) via hydrothermal treatment. The fluorescence of the polymer dots was enhanced by nitrogen doping. The as-synthesized nitrogen-doped polymer dots (PDs) exhibit excitation-dependent luminescence emission and show green color fluorescence under UV light. The average size of the synthesized functionalized non-conjugated polymer dot is obtained as 4.08nm, and they exhibit an amorphous structure. No antibacterial property was observed for bulk polymer, but the doped polymer dots showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd 2024.