Line x testers analysis of tropical maize inbred lines under heat stress for grain yield and secondary traits

The combining ability and mode of gene action in tropical maize germplasm is not extensively studied. In the present study, a line x tester analysis involving 290 test-cross hybrids developed by crossing 145 tropical maize inbred lines with two testers and four standard checks was conducted for grain yield and other agronomic traits under heat stress during summer 2013 at B gudi agriculture research station. The main objective of the investigation was to study mode of gene action governing the traits under heat stress along with identification of superior inbred lines based on combining ability to develop heat tolerant hybrids. Analysis of variance showed that mean squares for genotypes was highly significant for grain yield, days to anthesis and silking, anthesis silk interval, plant height and ear height under heat stress. The combining analysis for lines (GCA), tester (GCA) and line x tester (SCA) showed significant difference (P < 0.01) for all the traits under study except ASI for LXT interaction. This indicates that both additive and non additive gene action control the expression of these traits under heat stress. The low GCA variance to SCA variance ratio for all the traits showed preponderance of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of the traits. Among 145 inbred lines used for study, the inbreds L78, L73, and L37 showed good general combining ability for grain yield. The crosses L118 x L2 and L143 x L1 were having good specific combiners ability for grain yield under heat stress. These inbreds can be used in breeding program for development of heat tolerant hybrids through exploitation of dominant gene action

Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering for Sustainable Healthcare Solutions

Nanomaterials have become viable contenders in the field of tissue engineering, providing adaptable frameworks for long-lasting healthcare solutions. This work included the characterization of many types of nanoparticles, such as gold, silver, iron oxide, and quantum dots. The aim was to identify and understand their specific physicochemical features that are crucial for their use in tissue engineering. The gold nanoparticles had a diameter of 20 nm, a surface area of 30 m^2/g, and a positive zeta potential of +20 mV. In contrast, the silver nanoparticles had a smaller diameter of 15 nm, a surface area of 25 m^2/g, and a negative zeta potential of -15 mV. Iron oxide nanoparticles displayed a greater size of 30 nm, a higher surface area of 40 m^2/g, and a zeta potential of +10 mV. In contrast, quantum dots had the lowest size of 10 nm and a zeta potential of +30 mV. In addition, the characteristics of the scaffold, such as the size of its pores, its porosity, and its mechanical strength, were assessed. These features were shown to have a vital role in controlling how cells behave and in promoting tissue regeneration. The Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds had a pore size of 100 µm, a porosity of 80%, and a mechanical strength of 20 MPa. In contrast, the collagen scaffolds had a smaller pore size of 50 µm, a greater porosity of 90%, and a lower mechanical strength of 15 MPa. The gelatin scaffolds had a pore size of 75 µm, a porosity of 85%, and a mechanical strength of 18 MPa. On the other hand, the chitosan scaffolds had a larger pore size of 120 µm, a porosity of 75%, and a higher mechanical strength of 25 MPa. Moreover, the assessment of cell survival and proliferation on scaffolds containing nanomaterials revealed their considerable influence on cellular behavior. Notably, gold nanoparticles exhibited the greatest cell viability rate of 95% and a substantial rise in cell proliferation. Finally, the drug release patterns from drug delivery systems based on nanomaterials demonstrated regulated and prolonged release kinetics, emphasizing its potential in improving therapeutic results. In summary, this work clarifies the many uses of nanomaterials in tissue engineering and emphasizes their importance in creating sustainable healthcare solutions

Role of Quantum Dots and Nanostructures in Photovoltaic Energy Conversion

Nanostructures and quantum dots have substantial effects on enhancing photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency, as evidenced in this comprehensive study. Materials that are nanostructured and nanosized particles are commonly used to address the urgent issues related to energy conversion. The use of nanostructured substances to address issues with energy and natural resources has garnered a lot of interest lately. Directional nanostructures in particular show promise for the conversion, collection, and storage of energy. Due to their unique properties, such as electrical conductivity, mechanical energy, and photoluminescence, quantum dots made from carbon (CQDs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been integrated into hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric systems (PV-TE). It evaluates the effects of nanostructures on solar energy technologies, in particular how they can improve power conversion and light absorption in solar cells. Optical light detectors, which transform photonic energy into signals that are electrical, are among the many optoelectronic uses of CQDs that have drawn attention because they are essential components of contemporary imaging and communication systems, such as visible light cameras, machine vision, medical X-ray and near-infrared image processing, and visible light detection devices. Besides supercapacitors, the study investigates how nanostructures could play a crucial role in contributing to addressing the global energy crisis sustainably, by working as photocatalysts for hydrogen synthesis and supercapacitors