Green technology: an eco-friendly approach towards sustainable agriculture

Indiscriminate use of agrochemicals for agriculture practices such as pest control, weed control, increasing soil fertility etc. may cause some undesirable effects not only to the agricultural ecosystem but also to human health due to persistent in nature. This led to the need for curtail our dependency on chemical based agro products and search for alternatives, which are environmentally feasible. In this regard, sustainable agriculture plays a vital role worldwide as it offers the potential to meet the present agricultural needs. It is also an alternative to upgrade the national economy without degrading the environmental quality. Green technology also an eco-friendly way and ensures safe and healthy agricultural outputs for mankind. The contribution of green technology towards sustainable development in the agricultural sector has been described in the present paper. It also an attempt to elaborate the role of green technology along with how it would be helpful in the sustainable development

Green technology: an eco-friendly approach towards sustainable agriculture

Indiscriminate use of agrochemicals for agriculture practices such as pest control, weed control, increasing soil fertility etc. may cause some undesirable effects not only to the agricultural ecosystem but also to human health due to persistent in nature. This led to the need for curtail our dependency on chemical based agro products and search for alternatives, which are environmentally feasible. In this regard, sustainable agriculture plays a vital role worldwide as it offers the potential to meet the present agricultural needs. It is also an alternative to upgrade the national economy without degrading the environmental quality. Green technology also an eco-friendly way and ensures safe and healthy agricultural outputs for mankind. The contribution of green technology towards sustainable development in the agricultural sector has been described in the present paper. It also an attempt to elaborate the role of green technology along with how it would be helpful in the sustainable development

Strategies to detect and manage latent tuberculosis infection among household contacts of pulmonary TB patients in high TB burden countries ‐ a systematic review and meta‐analysis

OBJECTIVE: To summarise latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) management strategies among household contacts of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients in high‐TB burden countries. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE (NCBI) and Scopus were searched (January 2006 to December 2021) for studies reporting primary data on LTBI management. Study selection, data management and data synthesis were protocol‐driven (PROSPERO‐CRD42021208715). Primary outcomes were the proportions of LTBI, initiating and completing tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT). Reported factors influencing the LTBI care cascade were qualitatively synthesised. RESULTS: From 3694 unique records retrieved, 58 studies from 23 countries were included. Most identified contacts were screened (median 99%, interquartile range [IQR] 82%–100%; 46 studies). Random‐effects meta‐analysis yielded pooled proportions for: LTBI 41% (95% confidence interval [CI] 33%–49%; 21,566 tested contacts); TPT initiation 91% (95% CI 79%–97%; 129,573 eligible contacts, 34 studies); TPT completion 65% (95% CI 54%–74%; 108,679 TPT‐initiated contacts, 28 studies). Heterogeneity was significant (I (2) ≥ 95%–100%) and could not be explained in subgroup analyses. Median proportions (IQR) were: LTBI 44% (28%–59%); TPT initiation 86% (60%–100%); TPT completion 68% (44%–82%). Nine broad themes related to diagnostic testing, health system structure and functions, risk perception, documentation and adherence were considered likely to influence the LTBI care cascade. CONCLUSION: The proportions of household contacts screened, detected with LTBI and initiated on TPT, though variable was high, but the proportions completing TPT were lower indicating current strategies used for LTBI management in high TB burden countries are not sufficient

Unveiling the biosynthesis, mechanisms, and impacts of miRNAs in drought stress resilience in plants

Drought stress is one of the most serious threats to sustainable agriculture and is predicted to be further intensified in the coming decades. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of drought stress tolerance and the development of drought-resilient crops are the major goals at present. In recent years, noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of gene expressions under drought stress conditions and are turning out to be the potential candidates that can be targeted to develop drought-resilient crops in the future. miRNAs are known to target and decrease the expression of various genes to govern the drought stress response in plants. In addition, emerging evidence also suggests a regulatory role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the regulation of miRNAs and the expression of their target genes by a process referred as miRNA sponging. In this review, we present the regulatory roles of miRNAs in the modulation of drought-responsive genes along with discussing their biosynthesis and action mechanisms. Additionally, the interactive roles of miRNAs with phytohormone signaling components have also been highlighted to present the global view of miRNA functioning under drought-stress conditions

Treatment seeking, vaginal discharge and psychosocial distress among women in urban Mumbai

Vaginal discharge (safed pani in Hindi, meaning white water ) is one of the leading symptoms for which women in India seek care. Treatment-seeking for safed pani is disproportionately high among poor women, representing a physical, emotional and financial burden for low-income families. Safed pani is only rarely indicative of a reproductive tract or sexually transmitted infection. The discrepancy between symptom reports and observed pathology has led some researchers to characterize safed pani as a culturally based expression of more generalized negative life situation. Data are drawn from two prevention intervention studies (2002-2006 and 2007-2012) conducted in economically marginal communities in Mumbai. Results show that husbands as problem generators and spousal abusers and women\u27s greater perceived empowerment and reported tension are significantly associated with safed pani. These results provide the basis for identifying women at greater risk for psychosocial distress and providing supports at the locations at which they seek treatment

Ethylene: A Master Regulator of Salinity Stress Tolerance in Plants.

Salinity stress is one of the major threats to agricultural productivity across the globe. Research in the past three decades, therefore, has focused on analyzing the effects of salinity stress on the plants. Evidence gathered over the years supports the role of ethylene as a key regulator of salinity stress tolerance in plants. This gaseous plant hormone regulates many vital cellular processes starting from seed germination to photosynthesis for maintaining the plants' growth and yield under salinity stress. Ethylene modulates salinity stress responses largely via maintaining the homeostasis of Na/K, nutrients, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by inducing antioxidant defense in addition to elevating the assimilation of nitrates and sulfates. Moreover, a cross-talk of ethylene signaling with other phytohormones has also been observed, which collectively regulate the salinity stress responses in plants. The present review provides a comprehensive update on the prospects of ethylene signaling and its cross-talk with other phytohormones to regulate salinity stress tolerance in plants

Patient adherence to tuberculosis treatment in the Indian subcontinent: systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research

Objectives How well patients adhere to their tuberculosis (TB) treatment influences their recovery and development of drug resistance, but influences on adherence are multiple and often competing. We synthesised qualitative studies from our setting in the Indian subcontinent to understand the dimensions and dynamics involved to help inform service provision.Design Qualitative synthesis comprising inductive coding, thematic analysis and forming a conceptual framework.Data sources Medline (OVID), Embase (OVID), CINAHL (EBSCOHost), PsycINFO (EBSCOHost), Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Library and Epistemonikos were databases searched on 26 March 2020 for studies published since 1 January 2000.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies We included reports in English from the Indian subcontinent that used qualitative or mixed-methodology designs and reported findings around adherence to TB treatment. Full texts meeting eligibility were sampled based on ‘thickness’ (the richness of the qualitative data reported).Data extraction and synthesis Two reviewers used standardised methods to screen abstracts and code. Included studies were assessed for reliability and quality using a standard tool. Qualitative synthesis was performed by inductive coding, thematic analysis and developing conceptual framework.Results Of 1729 abstracts screened from initial search, 59 were shortlisted for full-text review. Twenty-four studies that qualified as ‘thick’ were included in the synthesis. Studies were set in India (12), Pakistan (6), Nepal (3), Bangladesh (1) or in two or more of these countries (2). Of the 24 studies, all but one included people who were taking TB treatment (1 study included only healthcare providers), and 17 included healthcare workers, community members or both.We identified three themes: (1) personal influences on the people with TB include interconnections between their social role in the family unit, their own priorities in day-to-day living and their experience to date with the disease; (2) adherence is profoundly influenced by how individual healthcare providers interact with patients on treatment and address their needs; (3) adherence is influenced across communities by structural, social, economic and cultural factors related to treatment.Conclusion Staff in TB programmes require an understanding of the various competing influences on individuals undergoing treatment. Programmes need to have more flexible and people-centred approaches to service provision in order to achieve adherence, and thus improve treatment outcomes.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020171409

Iodine: an emerging biostimulant of growth and stress responses in plants

Background The growth and productivity of plants are largely dependent on the availability of various mineral nutrients, of which some are required at relatively higher concentrations and are termed as macronutrients, while others are required in low amounts and are termed as micronutrients. Both macro- and micro-nutrients are considered as essential elements as their deficiency can result in severe growth defects in plants. Moreover, some of the recent studies have highlighted the role of even non-essential elements in plants. Iodine is one such non-essential element that, at low concentrations, exhibits positive effects on plant growth. Scope In this review, we discuss the effects of iodine on plants including its uptake and transportation, and the current understanding of the pathways responsible for its functioning as a biostimulant. Moreover, we provide evidence that supports the role of iodine as a biostimulant of growth and stress responses in plants. Conclusion Iodine, in the range of 0.20 to 10 mu M, has been documented to regulate the (1) expression of various genes, and (2) activity and structure of various proteins by protein iodination to improve biomass production and defense responses in plants. Further, a growing body of evidence also suggests a role of iodine in the maintenance of ROS homeostasis in plants under normal as well as challenging environmental conditions

Iodine: an emerging biostimulant of growth and stress responses in plants

Background The growth and productivity of plants are largely dependent on the availability of various mineral nutrients, of which some are required at relatively higher concentrations and are termed as macronutrients, while others are required in low amounts and are termed as micronutrients. Both macro- and micro-nutrients are considered as essential elements as their deficiency can result in severe growth defects in plants. Moreover, some of the recent studies have highlighted the role of even non-essential elements in plants. Iodine is one such non-essential element that, at low concentrations, exhibits positive effects on plant growth. Scope In this review, we discuss the effects of iodine on plants including its uptake and transportation, and the current understanding of the pathways responsible for its functioning as a biostimulant. Moreover, we provide evidence that supports the role of iodine as a biostimulant of growth and stress responses in plants. Conclusion Iodine, in the range of 0.20 to 10 mu M, has been documented to regulate the (1) expression of various genes, and (2) activity and structure of various proteins by protein iodination to improve biomass production and defense responses in plants. Further, a growing body of evidence also suggests a role of iodine in the maintenance of ROS homeostasis in plants under normal as well as challenging environmental conditions