scholarly journals Recent Developments in the Application of Nanomaterials in Agroecosystems

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2411
Author(s):  
Haleema Saleem ◽  
Syed Javaid Zaidi
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Zerovalent Iron ◽  
Soil Organisms ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Plant Seed ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Survival And Reproduction ◽  
Iron Iron

Nanotechnology implies the scientific research, development, and manufacture, along with processing, of materials and structures on a nano scale. Presently, the contamination of metalloids and metals in the soil has gained substantial attention. The consolidation of nanomaterials and plants in ecological management has received considerable research attention because certain nanomaterials could enhance plant seed germination and entire plant growth. Conversely, when the nanomaterial concentration is not properly controlled, toxicity will definitely develop. This paper discusses the role of nanomaterials as: (1) nano-pesticides (for improving the plant resistance against the biotic stress); and (2) nano-fertilizers (for promoting the plant growth by providing vital nutrients). This review analyzes the potential usages of nanomaterials in agroecosystem. In addition, the adverse effects of nanomaterials on soil organisms are discussed. We mostly examine the beneficial effects of nanomaterials such as nano-zerovalent iron, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, nano-hydroxyapatite, carbon nanotubes, and silver- and copper-based nanomaterials. Some nanomaterials can affect the growth, survival, and reproduction of soil organisms. A change from testing/using nanomaterials in plants for developing nanomaterials depending on agricultural requirements would be an important phase in the utilization of nanomaterials in sustainable agriculture. Conversely, the transport as well as ecological toxicity of nanomaterials should be seriously examined for guaranteeing its benign usage in agriculture.

Probiotics in colorectal cancer (CRC) with emphasis on mechanisms of action and current perspectives

2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 1107-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imen Kahouli ◽  
Catherine Tomaro-Duchesneau ◽  
Satya Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Anticancer Compounds ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Chemical Conditions

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common form of cancer. Diverse therapies such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation have shown beneficial effects, but are limited because of their safety and toxicity. Probiotic formulations have shown great promise in CRC as preventive and early stage therapeutics. This review highlights the importance of a balanced intestinal microbiota and summarizes the recent developments in probiotics for treating CRC. Specifically, this report describes evidence of the role of probiotics in modulating the microbiota, in improving the physico-chemical conditions of the gut and in reducing oxidative stress. It also discusses the mechanisms of probiotics in inhibiting tumour progression, in producing anticancer compounds and in modulating the host immune response. Even though some of these effects were observed in several clinical trials, when probiotic formulations were used as a supplement to CRC therapies, the application of probiotics as biotherapeutics against CRC still needs further investigation.

scholarly journals Recent Developments in HLA B27 Anterior Uveitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Wakefield ◽  
Daniel Clarke ◽  
Peter McCluskey
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Uveitis ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Immunosuppressive Treatment ◽  
Human Leukocyte ◽  
Hla B27 ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Large Gene ◽  
Bowel Diseases ◽  
Recent Developments

There has been steady progress in understanding the pathogenesis, clinical features, and effective treatment of acute anterior uveitis (AU) over the past 5 years. Large gene wide association studies have confirmed that AU is a polygenic disease, with overlaps with the seronegative arthropathies and inflammatory bowel diseases, associations that have been repeatedly confirmed in clinical studies. The role of the microbiome in AU has received increased research attention, with recent evidence indicating that human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA B27) may influence the composition of the gut microbiome in experimental animals. Extensive clinical investigations have confirmed the typical features of acute AU (AAU) and its response to topical, regional and systemic immunosuppressive treatment. Increased understanding of the role of cytokines has resulted in studies confirming the value of anti-cytokine therapy [anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) therapy] in severe and recurrent cases of AAU, particularly in subjects with an associated spondyloarthopathy (SpA) and in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)–associated AAU.

scholarly journals Recent Developments in Lanthanide-Doped Alkaline Earth Aluminate Phosphors with Enhanced and Long-Persistent Luminescence

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 723
Author(s):  
Doory Kim
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Earth ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Lanthanide Ions ◽  
Synthesis Methods ◽  
Luminescent Materials ◽  
Persistent Luminescence ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
The Past ◽  
Recent Developments

Lanthanide-activated alkaline earth aluminate phosphors are excellent luminescent materials that are designed to overcome the limitations of conventional sulfide-based phosphors. The increasing research attention on these phosphors over the past decade has led to a drastic improvement in their phosphorescence efficiencies and resulted in a wide variety of phosphorescence colors, which can facilitate applications in various areas. This review article discusses the development of lanthanide-activated alkaline earth aluminate phosphors with a focus on the various synthesis methods, persistent luminescence mechanisms, activator and coactivator effects, and the effects of compositions. Particular attention has been devoted to alkaline earth aluminate phosphors that are extensively used, such as strontium-, calcium-, and barium-based aluminates. The role of lanthanide ions as activators and coactivators in phosphorescence emissions was also emphasized. Finally, we address recent techniques involving nanomaterial engineering that have also produced lanthanide-activated alkaline earth aluminate phosphors with long-persistent luminescence.

scholarly journals Soil bacterial communities associated with stony soils influence the tuber size of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haipeng Guo ◽  
Chuntao Hong ◽  
Jianhong Zhang ◽  
Wensheng Qin ◽  
Bin Wei
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Tuber Growth ◽  
Strong Correlations ◽  
Tetrastigma Hemsleyanum ◽  
Soil Microbiota ◽  
Rock Fragments ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Abstract Background Plants grown in stony soils have better-developed root systems and higher crop yields than those grown in non-stony soils. The roles of various physical and chemical effects of stony soils on plant growth have been published, but the roles of soil microbiota and rhizosphere microbiota have not been investigated. Methods Tetrastigma hemsleyanum plants were cultivated for two years in stony soils and in the same soil from which rock-fragments had been removed. The microbiome and the tuber transcriptome were analyzed, using multiple bioinformatics methods. Results The soil microbiota of these two soils were markedly different, and the stony soils contained high abundances of bacterial taxa belonging to the Actinobacteria, Rokubacteria, Rhizobiales, Desulfarculaceae, and Chthoniobacteraceae. These discriminatory taxa in soils may promote the tuber growth of T. hemsleyanum, through releasing nutrients from rocks and colonizing the rhizosphere and tuber surface of T. hemsleyanum. In addition, stony soils induced a dramatic change in the tuber’s transcriptome, particularly with respect to the pathways of phytohormone biosynthesis, photosynthesis, and biotic stress resistance, expression levels of which showed strong correlations with the aforementioned bacterial taxa. Conclusions These results indicated that beneficial effects of stony soils on plant growth may be closely correlated with their specific microbiota, which can, in turn, influence multiple biological processes of host. This is the first study to reveal the role of stony soils-driven microbiota in tuber growth, and stony soils can represent a microbial repository for the screening of microbial isolates to increase plant yield.

scholarly journals Using iPSC Models to Understand the Role of Estrogen in Neuron–Glia Interactions in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Denis Reis de Assis ◽  
Attila Szabo ◽  
Jordi Requena Osete ◽  
Francesca Puppo ◽  
Kevin S. O’Connell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BIP) are severe mental disorders with a considerable disease burden worldwide due to early age of onset, chronicity, and lack of efficient treatments or prevention strategies. Whilst our current knowledge is that SCZ and BIP are highly heritable and share common pathophysiological mechanisms associated with cellular signaling, neurotransmission, energy metabolism, and neuroinflammation, the development of novel therapies has been hampered by the unavailability of appropriate models to identify novel targetable pathomechanisms. Recent data suggest that neuron–glia interactions are disturbed in SCZ and BIP, and are modulated by estrogen (E2). However, most of the knowledge we have so far on the neuromodulatory effects of E2 came from studies on animal models and human cell lines, and may not accurately reflect many processes occurring exclusively in the human brain. Thus, here we highlight the advantages of using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models to revisit studies of mechanisms underlying beneficial effects of E2 in human brain cells. A better understanding of these mechanisms opens the opportunity to identify putative targets of novel therapeutic agents for SCZ and BIP. In this review, we first summarize the literature on the molecular mechanisms involved in SCZ and BIP pathology and the beneficial effects of E2 on neuron–glia interactions. Then, we briefly present the most recent developments in the iPSC field, emphasizing the potential of using patient-derived iPSCs as more relevant models to study the effects of E2 on neuron–glia interactions.

How do histone modifications contribute to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in C. elegans?

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 1019-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Woodhouse ◽  
Alyson Ashe
Keyword(s):  
Histone Modifications ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Histone Methyltransferases ◽  
Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Gene Regulatory

Gene regulatory information can be inherited between generations in a phenomenon termed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI). While examples of TEI in many animals accumulate, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has proven particularly useful in investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon. In C. elegans and other animals, the modification of histone proteins has emerged as a potential carrier and effector of transgenerational epigenetic information. In this review, we explore the contribution of histone modifications to TEI in C. elegans. We describe the role of repressive histone marks, histone methyltransferases, and associated chromatin factors in heritable gene silencing, and discuss recent developments and unanswered questions in how these factors integrate with other known TEI mechanisms. We also review the transgenerational effects of the manipulation of histone modifications on germline health and longevity.

Wilfred Ethier. Modern International Economics. New York: W. W. Norton and Company. 1983. xviii + 588 pp.

1988 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-83
Author(s):  
Nadeem A. Burney
Keyword(s):  
International Economic ◽  
New York ◽  
Economic Theory ◽  
International Economics ◽  
International Monetary System ◽  
International Markets ◽  
The Past ◽  
Monetary System ◽  
Recent Developments

Its been long recognized that various economies of the world are interlinked through international trade. The experience of the past several years, however, has demonstrated that this economic interdependence is far greater than was previously realized. In this context, the importance of international economic theory as an area distinct from general economics hardly needs any mentioning. What gives international economic theory this distinction is international markets for some goods and effects of national sovereignty on the character of economic activity. Wilfred Ethier's book, which incorporates recent developments in the field, is an excellent addition to textbooks on international economics for one- or twosemester undergraduate courses. The book mostly covers standard topics. A distinguishing feature of this book is its detailed analysis of the flexible exchange rates and a discussion of the various approaches used for their determination. Within each chapter, the author has extensively used facts, figures and major events to clarify the concepts in the light of the theoretical framework. The book also discusses, in a fair amount of detail, the existing international monetary system and the role of various international organizations.

Review of Constipation Treatment Methods with Emphasis on Laxative Foods

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-688
Author(s):  
Shamsi Abbasalizadeh ◽  
Behzad Ebrahimi ◽  
Aslan Azizi ◽  
Rogaye Dargahi ◽  
Maryam Tayebali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Lifestyle Factor ◽  
Flax Seed ◽  
Lifestyle Modifications ◽  
Food Ingredients ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Daily Exercise

Constipation is a common public health concern experienced by all individuals during their life affecting the quality of life. In this paper, we aimed to provide an overview of the existing evidence regarding the role of food ingredients, including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, and flax-seed in constipation treatment. We searched Scopus, Pub Med, and Science Direct by using the keywords, “laxative foods” and “constipation”, for searching studies assessing laxative food ingredients and their beneficial effects on constipation treatment and/or control. Lifestyle modifications such as increasing dietary fiber and fluid intake and daily exercise are the proposed first line treatments for constipation. Optimizing ‘diet’ as an efficient lifestyle factor may contribute to the well-being of patients. The use of laxative food ingredients including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, flax-seed, probiotics, and prebiotics is a convenient alternative to cope with constipation. According to previous findings, laxative food ingredients could be considered as effective treatments for subjects suffering from constipation. Many studies have assessed the pharmacological and non-pharmacological roles of these ingredients in treating constipation, however, their importance has not been thoroughly investigated.

Dietary Carotenoids in Managing Metabolic Syndrome and Role of PPARs in the Process

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 846-853
Author(s):  
Raghunandan Purohith ◽  
Nagendra P.M. Nagalingaswamy ◽  
Nanjunda S. Shivananju
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Bioactive Constituents ◽  
Dietary Antioxidants ◽  
Predisposing Factor ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Established Relationship ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Metabolic syndrome is a collective term that denotes disorder in metabolism, symptoms of which include hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and endothelial dysfunction. Diet is a major predisposing factor in the development of metabolic syndrome, and dietary intervention is necessary for both prevention and management. The bioactive constituents of food play a key role in this process. Micronutrients such as vitamins, carotenoids, amino acids, flavonoids, minerals, and aromatic pigment molecules found in fruits, vegetables, spices, and condiments are known to have beneficial effects in preventing and managing metabolic syndrome. There exists a well-established relationship between oxidative stress and major pathological conditions such as inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Consequently, dietary antioxidants are implicated in the remediation of these complications. The mechanism of action and targets of dietary antioxidants as well as their effects on related pathways are being extensively studied and elucidated in recent times. This review attempts a comprehensive study of the role of dietary carotenoids in alleviating metabolic syndromewith an emphasis on molecular mechanism-in the light of recent advances.

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