scholarly journals Transcriptomics View over the Germination Landscape in Biofortified Rice

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 2013
Author(s):  
Conrado Jr. Dueñas ◽  
Inez Slamet-Loedin ◽  
Anca Macovei
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiency ◽  
Processed Food ◽  
Diet Diversity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Hidden Hunger

Hidden hunger, or micronutrient deficiency, is a worldwide problem. Several approaches are employed to alleviate its effects (e.g., promoting diet diversity, use of dietary supplements, chemical fortification of processed food), and among these, biofortification is considered as one of the most cost-effective and highly sustainable. Rice is one of the best targets for biofortification since it is a staple food for almost half of the world’s population as a high-energy source but with low nutritional value. Multiple biofortified rice lines have been produced during the past decades, while few studies also reported modifications in germination behavior (in terms of enhanced or decreased germination percentage or speed). It is important to underline that rapid, uniform germination, and seedling establishment are essential prerequisites for crop productivity. Combining the two traits, biofortified, highly-nutritious seeds with improved germination behavior can be envisaged as a highly-desired target for rice breeding. To this purpose, information gathered from transcriptomics studies can reveal useful insights to unveil the molecular players governing both traits. The present review aims to provide an overview of transcriptomics studies applied at the crossroad between biofortification and seed germination, pointing out potential candidates for trait pyramiding.

scholarly journals New Uses for Traditional Crops: The Case of Barley Biofortification

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1964
Author(s):  
Michalia Sakellariou ◽  
Photini V. Mylona
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiency ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Novel Food ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Hidden Hunger ◽  
Wheat Products ◽  
Traditional Crops

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the oldest domesticated crops used for both human and animal feed. Over the years however, its role in human diet has been very limited and replaced by the broad use of wheat products. Nowadays, micronutrient deficiency, also known as hidden hunger, is one of the major challenges to human health worldwide. Biofortification of staple crops has been broadly accepted as the best strategy to overcome these limitations. Studies on the nutritional value of barley have proven its multiple benefits on human health and drove new attention towards the cultivation under the light of new food purposes. Biofortification of barley is approached through agronomic practices, conventional breeding, and/or the use of biotechnological tools and research results show that barley can be a promising crop for the emergence of novel food products with a significant impact on human nutrition.

Regulatory and sustainability initiatives lead to improved polyaminopolyamide epichlorohydrin (PAE) wet-strength resins and paper products

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (09) ◽  
pp. 519-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Crisp ◽  
Richard Riehle
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Worker Safety ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Wet Strength ◽  
The Past ◽  
Consumer Safety ◽  
Federal Institute ◽  
Sustainability Initiatives ◽  
The Impact

Polyaminopolyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins are the predominant commercial products used to manufacture wet-strengthened paper products for grades requiring wet-strength permanence. Since their development in the late 1950s, the first generation (G1) resins have proven to be one of the most cost-effective technologies available to provide wet strength to paper. Throughout the past three decades, regulatory directives and sustainability initiatives from various organizations have driven the development of cleaner and safer PAE resins and paper products. Early efforts in this area focused on improving worker safety and reducing the impact of PAE resins on the environment. These efforts led to the development of resins containing significantly reduced levels of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD), potentially carcinogenic byproducts formed during the manufacturing process of PAE resins. As the levels of these byproducts decreased, the environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) profile of PAE resins and paper products improved. Recent initiatives from major retailers are focusing on product ingredient transparency and quality, thus encouraging the development of safer product formulations while maintaining performance. PAE resin research over the past 20 years has been directed toward regulatory requirements to improve consumer safety and minimize exposure to potentially carcinogenic materials found in various paper products. One of the best known regulatory requirements is the recommendations of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), which defines the levels of 1,3-DCP and 3-MCPD that can be extracted by water from various food contact grades of paper. These criteria led to the development of third generation (G3) products that contain very low levels of 1,3-DCP (typically <10 parts per million in the as-received/delivered resin). This paper outlines the PAE resin chemical contributors to adsorbable organic halogens and 3-MCPD in paper and provides recommendations for the use of each PAE resin product generation (G1, G1.5, G2, G2.5, and G3).

Janus – A New Approach to Air Combat Pilot Training

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (4) ◽  
pp. 7-22
Author(s):  
Georges Bridel ◽  
Zdobyslaw Goraj ◽  
Lukasz Kiszkowiak ◽  
Jean-Georges Brévot ◽  
Jean-Pierre Devaux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Training System ◽  
Embedded Sensors ◽  
Pilot Training ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Combat Aircraft ◽  
Air Combat ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Advanced jet training still relies on old concepts and solutions that are no longer efficient when considering the current and forthcoming changes in air combat. The cost of those old solutions to develop and maintain combat pilot skills are important, adding even more constraints to the training limitations. The requirement of having a trainer aircraft able to perform also light combat aircraft operational mission is adding unnecessary complexity and cost without any real operational advantages to air combat mission training. Thanks to emerging technologies, the JANUS project will study the feasibility of a brand-new concept of agile manoeuvrable training aircraft and an integrated training system, able to provide a live, virtual and constructive environment. The JANUS concept is based on a lightweight, low-cost, high energy aircraft associated to a ground based Integrated Training System providing simulated and emulated signals, simulated and real opponents, combined with real-time feedback on pilot’s physiological characteristics: traditionally embedded sensors are replaced with emulated signals, simulated opponents are proposed to the pilot, enabling out of sight engagement. JANUS is also providing new cost effective and more realistic solutions for “Red air aircraft” missions, organised in so-called “Aggressor Squadrons”.

scholarly journals The emerging technology of biohybrid micro-robots: a review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zening Lin ◽  
Tao Jiang ◽  
Jianzhong Shang
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Multiple Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
The Past ◽  
Great Prevalence ◽  
Performance Decline ◽  
High Energy Efficiency ◽  
Living Tissues

Abstract In the past few decades, robotics research has witnessed an increasingly high interest in miniaturized, intelligent, and integrated robots. The imperative component of a robot is the actuator that determines its performance. Although traditional rigid drives such as motors and gas engines have shown great prevalence in most macroscale circumstances, the reduction of these drives to the millimeter or even lower scale results in a significant increase in manufacturing difficulty accompanied by a remarkable performance decline. Biohybrid robots driven by living cells can be a potential solution to overcome these drawbacks by benefiting from the intrinsic microscale self-assembly of living tissues and high energy efficiency, which, among other unprecedented properties, also feature flexibility, self-repair, and even multiple degrees of freedom. This paper systematically reviews the development of biohybrid robots. First, the development of biological flexible drivers is introduced while emphasizing on their advantages over traditional drivers. Second, up-to-date works regarding biohybrid robots are reviewed in detail from three aspects: biological driving sources, actuator materials, and structures with associated control methodologies. Finally, the potential future applications and major challenges of biohybrid robots are explored. Graphic abstract

A recent overview on the porphyrin-based π-extended small molecules as donors and acceptors for high-performance organic solar cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkatesh Piradi ◽  
Feng Yan ◽  
Xunjin Zhu ◽  
Wai-Yeung Raymond Wong
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Effective Alternative ◽  
The Past ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative ◽  
Silicon Based

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have been considered as a promising cost-effective alternative to silicon-based solar cell counterparts due to their lightweight, mechanical flexibility, and easy fabrication features. Over the past...

scholarly journals Introduction to the Special Issue on New Longitudinal Data for Retirement Analysis and Policy

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Marco Angrisani ◽  
Anya Samek ◽  
Arie Kapteyn
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Administrative Records ◽  
The Past ◽  
Survey Questionnaires ◽  
Internet Panels

The number of data sources available for academic research on retirement economics and policy has increased rapidly in the past two decades. Data quality and comparability across studies have also improved considerably, with survey questionnaires progressively converging towards common ways of eliciting the same measurable concepts. Probability-based Internet panels have become a more accepted and recognized tool to obtain research data, allowing for fast, flexible, and cost-effective data collection compared to more traditional modes such as in-person and phone interviews. In an era of big data, academic research has also increasingly been able to access administrative records (e.g., Kostøl and Mogstad, 2014; Cesarini et al., 2016), private-sector financial records (e.g., Gelman et al., 2014), and administrative data married with surveys (Ameriks et al., 2020), to answer questions that could not be successfully tackled otherwise.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study on Dye Degradation by Leaf and Root Extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus L

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-331
Author(s):  
Dipesh Shahi ◽  
Rajiv Sapkota
Keyword(s):  
Malachite Green ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Congo Red ◽  
Dye Degradation ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Parthenium Hysterophorus ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Root Extracts ◽  
Phytotoxicity Test

The use of different dyes and pigments is increasing with the increase in industrialization leading to the high production of effluent. The effluent contaminated with dyes and dye-stuff has harmful effects on public health and the environment. Thus, the treatment of effluent is essential. Biological approaches are gaining much interest due to their cost-effective and eco-friendly nature over various physicochemical methods for the treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater. This study highlights on the biodegradation of congo red and malachite green by using leaf and root extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus. The extract and the dye were mixed in the ratio of 1:2 and incubated at 40ºC for 90 minutes. Decolorization assay was performed using UV visible spectrophotometer which indicated that decolorization was due to degradation of dyes into non-colored metabolites. The leaves extract exhibited higher decolorizing activity than roots extract. The maximum decolorization for leaves extract was 55.8% (congo red) and 51.6% (malachite green). Furthermore, phytotoxicity test was carried out to determine the effect of dyes and their degradation metabolites on seed germination and seedling growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L). The germination percentage and seedling growth were more in degradation metabolites than untreated dyes, indicating less toxic nature of degradation metabolites. Hence, it can be inferred that P. hysterophorus extracts can be used to treat dye wastewater and treated wastewater can be used for irrigation. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(4): 327-331

scholarly journals Chlorine-free synthesis: An overview

2012 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Tundo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Special Topic ◽  
Ozone Layer Depletion ◽  
The Past ◽  
Process Chemistry ◽  
End Products ◽  
Chemical Strategies ◽  
Topic Issue

Since the Industrial Revolution, chlorine has featured as an iconic molecule in process chemistry even though its production by electrolysis of sodium chloride is very energy-intensive. Owing to its high energy and reactivity, chlorine allows the manufacture of chlorinated derivatives in a very easy way: AlCl3, SnCl4, TiCl4, SiCl4, ZnCl2, PCl3, PCl5, POCl3, COCl2, etc. in turn are pillar intermediates in the production of numerous everyday goods. This kind of chloride chemistry is widely used because the energy is transferred to these intermediates, making further syntheses easy. The environmental and health constraints (toxicity and eco-toxicity, ozone layer depletion) and the growing need for energy (energy efficiency, climate change) force us to take advantage from available knowledge to develop new chemical strategies. Substitution of chlorine in end products in compounds where “chlorine is used in the making” means that we avoid electrolysis as primary energetic source; this makes chemistry “without chlorine” considerably more difficult and illustrates why it has not found favor in the past. The rationale behind this Special Topic issue is to seek useful and industrially relevant examples for alternatives to chlorine in synthesis, so as to facilitate the development of industrially relevant and implementable breakthrough technologies.

A modern-day solution to a 100-yearold problem: the use of a bespoke offloading brace in the rehabilitation of ‘Deck-Slap’ and other high-energy lower limb injuries

2014 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-343
Author(s):  
MA Osborne ◽  
HL Jarvis ◽  
N Bennett ◽  
RD Phillip
Keyword(s):  
Axial Loading ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Prosthetic Devices ◽  
Functional Benefit ◽  
Limb Injuries

Abstract‘Deck-Slap’ is an injury pattern first described at the Battle of Jutland; it is still relevant today, with anti-vehicle mines a significant threat to Coalition troops. The effect of a device exploding beneath a vehicle produces a wave of high energy that is rapidly transmitted through the steel floor; this causes significant axial loading of lower limbs often resulting in severe fractures (notably of the calcaneum). Recent advancements in orthopaedic surgery have allowed for limbs that were destined for immediate amputation following significant trauma to be salvaged. However, despite intense rehabilitation, many of these salvaged limbs have subsequently gone on to delayed amputation, as functional outcomes are often poor. Technologically advanced prosthetic devices are available that afford good quality of life and allow for increased activity levels; these devices are, however, expensive to procure and maintain. This report describes a United Kingdom (UK) Armed Forces soldier who suffered a typical ‘deck-slap’ injury in Afghanistan with subsequent limb salvage. The use of the Bespoke Off-loading Brace (BOB) is discussed. The results presented here indicate that the biomechanical function of a patient with this type of injury improves when wearing the BOB. Further studies are needed to assess long-term clinical outcomes and the functional benefit of the device as a viable and cost-effective alternative to delayed limb amputation.

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