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Radon in water has exposure to the population through ingestion and inhalation. In the present paper, radon levels in fifty-eight samples from different underground water sources (borewell, handpump, tap water, which are used for drinking purposes) and surface water sources (pond, canal) located in district Gurugram, Southern Haryana, India, measured. SMART RnDuo (having ZnS:Ag detector) based on alpha scintillometry technique was used for this purpose. The dissolved radon in water ranged from 1.1 to 15.2 BqL−1 with a mean value of 6.8BqL−1. Radon in drinking water samples was about six times higher than the surface water samples in district Gurugram. A trend of increase in radon level with an increase in source depth was observed. Annual effective doses due to ingestion (AEDing) and inhalation (AEDinh) were calculated for different age groups. Total annual effective doses due to AEDing and AEDinh are varied from 8.6 to 118.7µSv y−1 with a mean value of 53.1µSv y−1 for infants, 4.9 to 67.9µSv y−1 with a mean value of 30.3µSv y−1 for children, and 5.6 to 77.1µSv y−1 with a mean value of 34.5µSv y−1 for adults. Radon in water samples was found to be less than the guideline value of 100 BqL−1 recommended by the World Health Organization, indicating that water sources are suitable for use by the public and have no radiological hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Salicylic acid (SA) has encouraging effects on the growth and development of plants. • SA stimulates signalling in plants via several stress proteins and genes. • SA positively interacts with other phytohormones. • SA enhances plant tolerance towards abiotic stress. Drastic change in global climatic conditions has significantly increased the frequency of abiotic stresses, such as different temperature regimes (high, low, or freezing stress), uneven precipitation leading to flooding or drought, soil salinization, cyclones and hurricanes which pose a major challenge to the crop productivity and food security. Therefore, it becomes imperative for the global science community to engineer stress tolerance in crop plants to ensure enough food for the globe. Plant growth regulators play an important function in stress management. One putative plant hormone that aids plants in coping with biotic and abiotic stressors is salicylic acid (SA). SA also cooperates with other phytohormones, such as gibberellins, auxins, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene, polyamines, nitric oxide, and to counter the negative effects of environmental perturbations. Moreover, SA shields plants from oxidative stress by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species in challenging circumstances. Additionally, SA stimulates gas exchange, photosynthesis, and osmolyte synthesis in plants, which counteract the damage caused by ROS. Exogenous application of SA to agricultural crops including medicinal and aromatic plants improves their abiotic stress tolerance, either individually or in combination with other phytohormones. SA can stimulate the production of secondary metabolites by controlling the expression of stress-related genes, activating or regulating several key enzymes, and balancing the ion content. The present review summarizes the various mechanisms by which SA confers abiotic stress tolerance in plants through homeostasis, signalling, and crosstalk with other phytohormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The influence of periodontal phenotype (PP) has been documented in the outcomes of various surgical periodontal interventions such as crown lengthening, mucogingival surgery, implant restoration, and open flap debridement. Previous studies with smaller sample sizes have assessed the role of PP on the outcome of nonsurgical periodontal therapy with inconsistent results. Aim: The aim of the current interventional study is to estimate the influence of PP on the outcome of subgingival instrumentation in Stage II and III, Grade A and B periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients (n = 27 thick PP and n = 25 thin PP) underwent subgingival instrumentation using ultrasonic scalers and curettes under local anesthesia in a single sitting, and periodontal parameters were recorded at baseline, 2, 4, and 6 months. The McNemar and Chi-square tests were applied for categorical data, whereas the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U-test were applied for continuous data in intra- and intergroup comparisons, respectively. Results: Significantly better improvements in deeper pockets (>5 mm) with thick PP were observed. Loss of attachment was found in thin, bleeding on probing (BOP)-negative sites with an initial probing depth of =3 mm. However, BOP-positive sites belonging to both groups exhibited higher improvements in terms of clinical parameters. Conclusion: Probing depth, PP, and periodontal inflammation recorded in terms of BOP influence the gain in clinical attachment following subgingival instrumentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty soil samples from district Palwal of Southern Haryana, India were collected to estimates the radon/thoron exhalation rate using scintillation detector-based SMART RnDuo out of which twenty samples were tested to estimate the activity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. The radon mass exhalation rate (mBqkg−1h−1) was observed as {range (mean)} {16 ± 1–48 ± 3 (28 ± 8)} and thoron surface exhalation rate (Bqm−2h−1) was observed as {1800 ± 198–6331 ± 205 (3850 ± 850)}. Activities of radium (226Ra), thorium (232Th) and potassium (40K) were {range (mean)} observed as {28.4–48.4 (40.0 ± 1.4)}, {49.7–75.0 (62.7 ± 1.6)} and {432–698 (522.9 ± 17.6)}, respectively. It is observed that the radium in 75% samples while thorium and potassium in all samples were found to higher than the world's average values of 35, 30 and 400 Bqkg−1, respectively, as reported by UNSCEAR. Average of radon mass exhalation and thoron surface exhalation rates exceeded the world's mean value 57 mBq kg−1 h−1 and 3600 Bq m−2 h−1, respectively. Health hazard index is well below the unity (< 1), which indicates that there are no gamma radiation hazards associated with samples collected from the study region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is an aromatic medicinal plant also known as 'Gole Mohammadi'. Its cultivation is usually done on a large scale for decorative purposes and industrial uses such as perfumes, pharmaceuticals, culinary, tobacco, etc. Traditionally, the essential oil of Damask rose possesses many therapeutic activities, such as memory enhancement, relief of chest and stomach pain, control of menstrual bleeding, heart-strengthening, cure of constipation and digestive issues. It is important to augment the quantity and quality of essential oil. Treatments of various organic and inorganic fertilizers, plant growth regulators, and newly discovered elicitors on different high-yielding varieties of Damask rose, viz: - Miller cv. Kasan Pink, Yanina, Elenia, Svezheh, Trigintipetala Dieck, Ranisahiba, Noorjahan, Jawala, Super Jwala, Himroj, and Hot Himroj. The demand for Rose essential oil has increased rapidly, and this review paper discusses foliar methods to increase the essential oil and its active or chemical constituents. Foliar application, which is faster than traditional soil fertilization methods and can mitigate various soil problems like acidity, salinity, soil degradation, secondary salinization, and nutrient imbalance. Additionally, foliar application can also be an efficient method to deal with the increasing climatic changes, which have adversely affected Damask rose cultivation and caused deprivation among agriculturalists. In the future, sustainable agricultural fertilizers will be required to reduce the risks associated with Damask rose farming practices. Therefore, foliar application is a promising approach that could be further researched to improve sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural radioactivity is the term used to describe radioactivity that persists in the soil, rocks, and water due to fundamental radionuclides such as uranium, thorium, potassium, etc. As a result, radiation affects everyone on the planet. Researchers worldwide find this topic particularly interesting due to the hazardous effects of radionuclides on human health. A systematic survey employing trustworthy methodological approaches is necessary to objectively assess these radionuclides in the environment. In the present paper, ZnS:Ag scintillator-based SMART RnDuo (AQTEK System, India) is used to measure exhalation rates of isotopes 222Rn and 220Rn (radon and thoron) of soil samples. Forty soil samples were studied. For the study of 222Rn, monitoring of the mass exhalation (Rm) was conducted. In the case of 220Rn, monitoring of surface exhalation (Rs) was studied. The radon mass exhalation rate is found in the range of 14±1 to 55±5 mBqkg-1 h-1 with an average of 34±10 mBqkg-1 h-1 and thoron surface exhalation rate in the range of 2200±215 to 7560±420 Bqm-2 h-1 with an average of 4280±960 Bqm-2 h-1. Thus, elevated thoron level is observed in most of the samples. Results are compared with the world's average values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]