In agriculture, abiotic stress is one of the critical issues impacting the crop productivity and yield. Such stress factors lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species, membrane damage, and other plant metabolic activities. To neutralize the harmful effects of abiotic stress, several strategies have been employed that include the utilization of nanomaterials. Nanomaterials are now gaining attention worldwide to protect plant growth against abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heavy metals, extreme temperatures, flooding, etc. However, their behavior is significantly impacted by the dose in which they are being used in agriculture. Furthermore, the action of nanomaterials in plants under various stresses still require understanding. Hence, with this background, the present review envisages to highlight beneficial role of nanomaterials in plants, their mode of action, and their mechanism in overcoming various abiotic stresses. It also emphasizes upon antioxidant activities of different nanomaterials and their dose-dependent variability in plants’ growth under stress. Nevertheless, limitations of using nanomaterials in agriculture are also presented in this review.
Mycobacterium ulcerans produces an exotoxin in culture which, when inoculated into guinea pig skin, causes inflammation, necrosis, edema, and other histopathological changes resembling those in infections of humans. The toxin was resistant to heat and to alkalies and was moderately acid labile. Toxic activity was destroyed by Pronase, phospholipase, lipase, amylase, and glucosidase but not by trypsin, collagenase, cellulase, lysozyme, hyaluronidase, or neuraminidase. Toxic activity was resistant to treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol, urea, guanidine hydrochloride, p-chloromercuribenzoate, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and sodium deoxycholate but was destroyed by sodium m-periodate and sodium dodecyl sulfate. The toxin was precipitated by a wide range of ammonium sulfate concentrations. Extraction with chloroform-methanol or petroleum ether destroyed its activity. Isopycnic density gradient ultracentrifugation in KBr produced a highdensity lipoprotein layer with a 24-fold increase in specific activity. The results indicate that this toxin is a high-molecular-weight phospholipoprotein-polysaccharide complex.
An ageing population, disproportionally affecting developing countries, increases demand on healthcare systems. Digital health offers access to healthcare for older people, particularly those residing in rural areas, as is the case for 71% of older adults in India. This research examined technology uptake and digital and health literacy (eHEALS) among a sample of 150 older adults in rural Mysore and Suttur, India. The study utilised mixed-method, with descriptive analysis of quantitative data and thematic analysis of qualitative data. Low rates of digital (11%) and health literacy (3–27% across domains) were identified. Mobile phone ownership was 50%, but very few owned or used a smartphone and less than 10% used the Internet to contact health professionals. Qualitative analysis found low technology usage, driven by limited exposure and confidence in using digital devices. Barriers to usage included poor traditional literacy and physical aspects of ageing like poor vision. Social support from neighbours, family and local primary healthcare staff may enable adoption of digital health. Access to healthcare through digital means among Indian rural older adults needs to consider low rates of both digital and health literacy and leverage the value of support from family and primary healthcare providers.
Photosynthetic efficiency is significantly affected by both qualitative and quantitative changes during light exposure. The properties of light have a profound effect on electron transport and energy absorption in photochemical reactions. In addition, fluctuations in light intensity and variations in the spectrum can lead to a decrease in photosystem II efficiency. These features necessitate the use of a simple and suitable tool called chlorophyll a fluorescence to study photosynthetic reactions as a function of the aforementioned variables. This research implies that chlorophyll a fluorescence data can be used to determine precise light conditions that help photoautotrophic organisms optimally function.
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