Lycopene, a natural colorant and antioxidant with a huge growing market, is highly susceptible to photo/thermal degradation, which demands real-time sensors. Hence, here a transparent upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) strip having 30 mol % Yb, 0.1 mol % Tm, and β-NaYF4 UCNPs, which shows an intense emission at 475 nm, has been developed. This strip has been found to be sensitive to lycopene with a detection limit as low as 10 nM using a smartphone camera, which is due to static quenching that is confirmed by the lifetime study. In comparison to previous paper strips, here the transparent strip has minimal scattering with maximum sensitivity in spite of not using any metal quenchers. An increase in strip hydrophobicity during the fabrication process complements the strip to selectively permeate and present an extraction-free substitute analysis for chromatography. Hydrophobicity endows the strip with the capability to reuse the strip with ∼100% luminescence recovery.

No abstract

A sustainable fertilizer coating using silica for urea release control has been developed using egg white as the binder, which forms an irreversible hydrophobic β-sheet on gentle heating and substitutes earlier petrochemical coatings. When the silica content is increased for diffusion control, the membrane becomes brittle; hence, for the first time here, jute grafted silica nanoring has been used, where the nanojute acts as a strong buckle for the egg white β-sheet fastener and serve as the sack for holding urea. Silica and egg white are inert, while the jute acts as an auto rate-cutter for spill-way pores in silica, which allows a threshold amount of nutrients to pass on initial wetting and then controls nutrient loss by swelling. Thus, both forms of loss, viz. volatility and liquid with humidity and flooding, respectively, get controlled. This eco-friendly noncovalent stable scalable urea coating shows 15% more efficiency in rice production.

Introduction-Swarnaprashana formulation is a unique method of administration of gold contain medicament to neonate. Literal meaning of Prashana is to lick i.e application of medicament on the tongue. The use of Gold internally in children through oral route is first available in the Kashyapa Samhita with the name of Swarna Prashana. Gold licking is also mentioned by Sushruta, Vagbhatta and other Acharyas immediately after the birth as a part of Jatkarma Samskara (birth ritual). Ancient Acharya of Ayurveda has given more thrust to the development of body's defense system against diseases rather than focusing the disease. As far as pediatric cases are concerned Acharya had taken special care to boost up the immune system of the infant from the time of birth itself. The purpose of Swarna-Prashan is same as of modern vaccination to prevent diseases by building immunity. It also benefits in a proper brain development, improves memory, intelligence, verbal and cognitive functions of the brain. All the above said benefits are indicating the enhancement of all favorable factors required for proper growth and development of a child.