The genetic bases of the molecular, cellular and developmental responses to drought involve many gene functions regulated by water availability. Genomics-based approaches provide access to agronomically desirable alleles present at quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that affect such responses, thus enabling us to improve the drought tolerance and yield of crops under water-limited conditions more e...

This paper argues that to prevent or lessen the impact of episodic water stress within modern political economies, harnessing and tailoring emerging modes of legitimacy will play a crucial role in formulating pragmatic, solution-focused policy. In setting out a case for this position, we analyse the role which existing and novel modes of legitimacy play in shaping the boundaries and opportunity...

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are being developed to meet specific application needs in diverse domains across the engineering and biomedical sciences (e.g. drug delivery). However, accompanying the exciting proliferation of novel nanomaterials is a challenging race to understand and predict their possibly detrimental effects on human health and the environment. The eNanoMapper project (www.e...

Light-driven water oxidation is an essential step for conversion of sunlight into storable chemical fuels. Fujishima and Honda reported the first example of photoelectrochemical water oxidation in 1972. In their system, TiO2 was irradiated with ultraviolet light, producing oxygen at the anode and hydrogen at a platinum cathode. Inspired by this system, more recent work has focused on functional...

Graphene, an atomically thin planar lattice of sp bonded carbon atoms with high strength and impermeability, has drawn attention as a promising next generation high flux separation membrane. Molecular dynamics simulations predicted graphene's potential for exhibiting both high flux and selectivity as water desalination and gas separation membranes. Measurement of diffusive transport of water an...

This timely review primarily addresses important but presently undefined microbial risks to public health and to the natural environment. It specifically focuses on current knowledge, future outlooks and offers some potential alleviation strategies that may reduce or eliminate the risk of problematic microbes in their viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state and Cryptosporidium oocysts in the aqua...

The urbanization of the New York City area has caused serious degradation of water quality in the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary, including the East River (ER) and western portion of Long Island Sound (LIS). Although overall water quality has improved in the Harbor Estuary since the 1970s with better wastewater treatment, embayments such as Little Neck Bay and especially Flushing Bay have among the worst...

Nepal the "Shangri-La" in the lap of the Himalayas is gearing up for modern times as it starts rebuilding after a decade of senseless violence and destruction. The nation one of the poorest in the global development index is rich in natural resources and biodiversity. Reports of medicinal plants far exceeding those recorded and reported so far are encouraging and at the same time concerns for m...

Due to the diminishing reserves of fossil fuels and increased pollution from exploitation of these fuels, the world is focusing on the renewable energy sources. Energy from tidal waves is one of the most exciting forms of renewable energy because of its consistent nature. Hence, the predictable, consistent and reliable nature of marine currents has enthused the researchers to emphasize on harne...