Kinza Waqar

Phytoremediation of Soils: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract Contamination of the environment (i.e. soil and water) by toxic metals has become of paramount interest worldwide, owing to increasing industrialized and municipal waste affecting large areas of agricultural land. The problem of land pollution in areas such as China, America and Western Europe has led to one-sixth of the world’s total arable land being unsuitable for farming. In recent years, phytoremediation has acquired great popularity as a leading technology for the management of soil pollution. Phytoremediation refers to the use of plants to mitigate concentrations of both organic and non-organic pollutants in soil. More than 400 plant species worldwide have been identified that have the ability to extract heavy metals from the soil. This technology is more cost-effective, environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing than former physical approaches such as excavation, leaching using acids and reverse osmosis. Phytoremediation technology has been split into several categories, chief among which are phytoextraction, phytofiltration, phytodegradation and phytostabilization. This chapter focuses on how different plant species with hyperaccumulating abilities have been put to use extracting large concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, lead and zinc from various soil types in many countries. However, certain limitations attributed to this technology, such as time consumption, season dependency and less efficient plant morphological features, have raised serious concerns regarding its widespread use. To overcome these obstacles, the use of plant biotechnology to develop new crop species with enhanced metal-extracting capabilities via mutagenesis, protoplast fusion and breeding techniques, has been the new centre of focus for plant geneticists.Contamination of the environment (i.e. soil and water) by toxic metals has become of paramount interest worldwide, owing to increasing industrialized and municipal waste affecting large areas of agricultural land. The problem of land pollution in areas such as China, America and Western Europe has led to one-sixth of the world’s total arable land being unsuitable for farming. In recent years, phytoremediation has acquired great popularity as a leading technology for the management of soil pollution. Phytoremediation refers to the use of plants to mitigate concentrations of both organic and non-organic pollutants in soil. More than 400 plant species worldwide have been identified that have the ability to extract heavy metals from the soil. This technology is more cost-effective, environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing than former physical approaches such as excavation, leaching using acids and reverse osmosis. Phytoremediation technology has been split into several categories, chief among which are phytoextraction, phytofiltration, phytodegradation and phytostabilization. This chapter focuses on how different plant species with hyperaccumulating abilities have been put to use extracting large concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, lead and zinc from various soil types in many countries. However, certain limitations attributed to this technology, such as time consumption, season dependency and less efficient plant morphological features, have raised serious concerns regarding its widespread use. To overcome these obstacles, the use of plant biotechnology to develop new crop species with enhanced metal-extracting capabilities via mutagenesis, protoplast fusion and breeding techniques, has been the new centre of focus for plant geneticists.

Bio-fuels: A Blessing in Disguise

Biofuels are part of the bio energy family that can be transformed into fuels for both mobile as well as stationary incentives. Bio-fuels obtained from various forms of bio-mass are considered environmentally safe and economically efficient candidates for complete replacement of natural oil in the twenty-first century. Depending on their future accessibility, geologists categorize bio-fuels into three generations, namely; first, second and third. According to research analysts, energy demand will increase with alarming celerity until late 2020–2030, up to more than 50 %. Because of the emerging economies of the developing countries in recent years, energy consumption will directly enhance the demand for renewable, cost effective energy generation sources. The depleting life expectancy of natural fossil fuels in the world market has led research institutes, policy makers and enterprises to discover alternative means of generating transportation fuel. One such prominent and promising alternative is “Biofuels” which not only contributes to diminishing the increasing bubble of global warming but also generates substantial amount of energy in a less cumbersome manner.

Omics Approaches in Viral Biotechnology: Toward Understanding the Viral Diseases, Prevention, Therapy, and Other Applications in Human Betterment

Biotechnology deals with the manipulation of genetic material to achieve the desired outputs. Viruses have been popular agents used in biotechnological research and applications. Viruses are compact entities that have the ability to carry the genetic material to the cell and thus facilitate the safe transport and integration of genetic material to the target cell. Therefore viruses are used in various biotechnology applications such as production of vaccines, production of therapeutic proteins, and improvement of crops with the help of plant viruses and also in cancer research. Omics approach takes into account the development and usage of viral biotechnology applications for processes like genome profiling, call-based screening, and vaccine development. These efforts aim at providing high-quality health care for human betterment. Overall, viruses are potent agents of research and applications of biotechnology.

In Vitro and In Vivo Animal Models: The Engineering Towards Understanding Human Diseases and Therapeutic Interventions

Abstract Animal models are extensively utilized in scientific research particularly biomedical research. Use of animal models for biomedical research has become imperative not only to enhance our understanding of current health issues but also to make progress in this vast field. In vitro and in vivo animal models have unraveled disease pathologies of numerous diseases. These models have served in disease diagnostics, pharmacological and toxicological testing of drugs, and surgical research, to name a few. This chapter aims to discuss the significance and relevance of in vivo and in vitro animal models for biomedical research.

EEG-based brain connectivity analysis of working memory and attention

Recent research reveal that the Working Memory (WM) is more powerful than IQ as a predictor of academic success. However, there are factors that may influence WM performance, such as Attention. Although the impact of attention is well documented using ERPs; yet, the underlying brain connectivity of the interaction of these two constructs is not sufficiently understood. In this study, a Delay-Response task and electroencephalography (EEG) data are used to investigate the brain connectivity during two stages of Working Memory: Encoding and Maintenance. We have presented distraction in both stages, and a secondary task in maintenance stage. Scalp EEG data of 19 participants were recorded. These results not only reveal the underlying brain connectivity of each task, but also highlights the differences between distraction and multitasking. The results show significant brain connectivity changes in the frontal and occipital areas of the brain depending on the WM stage where the distraction is presented.

Modern Tools for Enhancing Crop Adaptation to Climatic Changes

Besides various uncertainties in the climate, there are certainties too. Whatever mitigation efforts are made, Earth’s temperature will keep on rising in the upcoming years. Furthermore, increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and ozone are also unavoidable. Other climatic changes lead to various severe conditions such as drought, soil erosion, increased precipitation, salinity, flooding, and weather extremes. All these changes, especially global warming, pose a serious threat to crops and badly affect yields. Due to certain global trends, e.g., increasing population, urbanization, deforestation, and manipulation of ecosystems, such climatic changes are increasing. Due to the increasing world population, it would be a real challenge to provide food security for the future. Therefore, there is a need for better cultivars with more sustainable traits against biotic and abiotic stresses. This chapter will focus on climatic changes, and different tools used to increase crop adaptation to the changing climate, which may be helpful in future.