High-temperature stress degrades the grain quality of rice; nevertheless, the exogenous application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) might alleviate the negative effects of high temperatures. In the ...present study, we investigated the responses of rice grain quality to exogenously applied PGRs under high day temperatures (HDT) and high night temperatures (HNT) under controlled conditions. Four different combinations of ascorbic acid (Vc), alpha-tocopherol (Ve), brassinosteroids (Br), methyl jasmonates (MeJA) and triazoles (Tr) were exogenously applied to two rice cultivars (IR-64 and Huanghuazhan) prior to the high-temperature treatment. A Nothing applied Control (NAC) was included for comparison. The results demonstrated that high-temperature stress was detrimental for grain appearance and milling qualities and that both HDT and HNT reduced the grain length, grain width, grain area, head rice percentage and milled rice percentage but increased the chalkiness percentage and percent area of endosperm chalkiness in both cultivars compared with ambient temperature (AT). Significantly higher grain breakdown, set back, consistence viscosity and gelatinization temperature, and significantly lower peak, trough and final viscosities were observed under high-temperature stress compared with AT. Thus, HNT was more devastating for grain quality than HDT. The exogenous application of PGRs ameliorated the adverse effects of high temperature in both rice cultivars, and Vc+Ve+MejA+Br was the best combination for both cultivars under high temperature stress.
Our aim in this manuscript is to study 4D Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet (EGB) black hole (BH) surrounded by quintessence matter. We studied some thermodynamical properties of the model including Hawking ...temperature, entropy, Gibb's free energy and specific heat of the 4D EGB BH surrounded by quintessence matter. It is concluded that the Gibb's free energy is positive for all values of the horizon radius r+. Therefore the BH is not stable globally. It is also noted that the specific heat for r+<rc the BH is locally stable and for r+>rc the BH is locally unstable.
Present study examined the influence of high-temperature stress and different biochar and phosphorus (P) fertilization treatments on the growth, grain yield and quality of two rice cultivars (IR-64 ...and Huanghuazhan). Plants were subjected to high day temperature-HDT (35 °C ± 2), high night temperature-HNT (32 °C ± 2), and control temperature-CT (28 °C ± 2) in controlled growth chambers. The different fertilization treatments were control, biochar alone, phosphorous (P) alone and biochar + P. High-temperature stress severely reduced the photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and increased the leaf water potential of both rice cultivars. Grain yield and its related attributes except for number of panicles, were reduced under high temperature. The HDT posed more negative effects on rice physiological attributes, while HNT was more destructive for grain yield. High temperature stress also hampered the grain appearance and milling quality traits in both rice cultivars. The Huanghuazhan performed better than IR-64 under high-temperature stress with better growth and higher grain yield. Different soil fertilization treatments were helpful in ameliorating the detrimental effects of high temperature. Addition of biochar alone improved some growth and yield parameters but such positive effects were lower when compared with the combined application of biochar and P. The biochar+P application recorded 7% higher grain yield (plant−1) of rice compared with control averaged across different temperature treatments and cultivars. The highest grain production and better grain quality in biochar+P treatments might be due to enhanced photosynthesis, water use efficiency, and grain size, which compensated the adversities of high temperature stress.
•Influence of high temperature stress and soil fertilization treatments on morpho-physiological growth, yield and quality of rice.•HDT posed more negative effects on rice physiological attributes, while HNT was more destructive for grain formation and yield.•HHZ performed better than IR-64 under high-temperature stress.•Combined application of biochar+P recorded was the most effective treatments.•Enhanced A, WUE, and grain size in biochar+P treatments compensated the adversities of high temperature stress.
This study explores the relationship between banking efficiency and financial development in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) economies from 2007 to 2018. The study employs three dimensions to ...assess financial development: (i) depth, (ii) stability, and (iii) efficiency. In the initial stage, BRI banking efficiency is quantified using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Subsequently, the Generalized Method of Moments technique is applied to identify the connection between banking efficiency and financial development. The study employs fundamental structural benchmarks to evaluate disparities between actual financial development indicators and predicted values. Banking efficiency plays a crucial role in determining the depth, stability, and efficiency of financial development within BRI economies and is pivotal in closing these gaps. Strong institutional frameworks also support the advancement of the BRI's financial development sector. Moreover, foreign direct investment positively impacts reducing financial development gaps and promoting growth in the financial sector. The study concludes that BRI member countries should prioritize banking industry reforms to enhance the stability, depth, and efficiency of their financial sectors.
Heavy metal pollution has become a severe threat to human health and the environment for many years. Their extensive release can severely damage the environment and promote the generation of many ...harmful diseases of public health concerns. These toxic heavy metals can cause many health problems such as brain damage, kidney failure, immune system disorder, muscle weakness, paralysis of the limbs, cardio complaint, nervous system. For many years, researchers focus on developing specific reliable analytical methods for the determination of heavy metal ions and preventing their acute toxicity to a significant extent. The modern researchers intended to utilize efficient and discerning materials, e.g. nanomaterials, especially the metal nanoparticles to detect heavy metal ions from different real sources rapidly. The metal nanoparticles have been broadly utilized as a sensing material for the colorimetric detection of toxic metal ions. The metal nanoparticles such as Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), and Copper (Cu) exhibited localized plasmon surface resonance (LPSR) properties which adds an outstanding contribution to the colorimetric sensing field. Though, the stability of metal nanoparticles was major issue to be exploited colorimetric sensing of heavy emtal ions, but from last decade different capping and stabilizing agents such as amino acids, vitmains, acids and ploymers were used to functionalize the metal surface of metal nanoparticles. These capping agents prevent the agglomeration of nanoparticles and make them more active for prolong period of time. This review covers a comprehensive work carried out for colorimetric detection of heavy metals based on metal nanoparticles from the year 2014 to onwards.
•Synthesis of Gold, Silver and Copper Nanoparticles through effective caping and stabilizing agents.•Naked eye metal based nanosensors for selective determination of metal ions.•Colorimetric sensors for heavy metal detection.•Fast and sensitive metal detection procedures.•Reliable colorimetric methods for environmental remediation.
A 2-year experiment was conducted to ascertain the effects of exogenously applied plant growth regulators (PGR) on rice growth and yield attributes under high day (HDT) and high night temperature ...(HNT). Two rice cultivars (IR-64 and Huanghuazhan) were subjected to temperature treatments in controlled growth chambers and four different combinations of ascorbic acid (Vc), alpha-tocopherol (Ve), brassinosteroids (Br), methyl jasmonates (MeJA), and triazoles (Tr) were applied. High temperature severely affected rice morphology, and also reduced leaf area, above-, and below-ground biomass, photosynthesis, and water use efficiency, while increased the leaf water potential of both rice cultivars. Grain yield and its related attributes except number of panicles, were reduced under high temperature. The HDT posed more negative effects on rice physiological attributes, while HNT was more detrimental for grain formation and yield. The Huanghuazhan performed better than IR-64 under high temperature stress with better growth and higher grain yield. Exogenous application of PGRs was helpful in alleviating the adverse effects of high temperature. Among PGR combinations, the Vc+Ve+MejA+Br was the most effective treatment for both cultivars under high temperature stress. The highest grain production by Vc+Ve+MejA+Br treated plants was due to enhanced photosynthesis, spikelet fertility and grain filling, which compensated the adversities of high temperature stress. Taken together, these results will be of worth for further understanding the adaptation and survival mechanisms of rice to high temperature and will assist in developing heat-resistant rice germplasm in future.
Microalgal energy storage compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, etc.) can serve as renewable feedstocks for biofuels and biobased chemicals. Traditional methods of inducing the accumulation of energy ...storage compounds in microalgae, such as abiotic stress (high light intensity, high salinity, nutrient limitation, heavy metals, etc.), can affect the growth of microalgae and limit their efficient accumulation of energy storage materials. Plant hormones are a class of small molecular substances that act as chemical messengers to coordinate plant cell activities and regulate the physiological and metabolic activities of microalgae, including promoting microalgal cell proliferation, improving stress resistance, and enhancing photosynthetic activity, thereby increasing algal biomass and lipid, chlorophyll and protein content. This paper reviews the recent research progress on regulation of the accumulation of energy storage compounds in microalgae by adding exogenous plant hormones combined with abiotic stress, discusses the mechanism of plant hormones regarding the accumulation of energy storage compounds in microalgae, and proposes future research needs.
This paper reviews the recent research progress on regulation of the accumulation of energy storage compounds in microalgae by adding exogenous plant hormones combined with abiotic stress, discusses the mechanism of plant hormones regarding the accumulation of energy storage compounds in microalgae, and proposes future research needs." cd_value_code="text
Energy demand is rising day by day, driven mainly by the development of countries. At the same time, uneven economic growth in countries is the prime cause of inequality in energy consumption. ...Keeping in view the worth of energy in the growth process, this study quantifies the impact of energy inequalities and trade on environmental quality over the period 1995-2018 for 57 countries. The Theil approach is used to quantify inter-and intra-regional disparities in five energy sources; oil, coal, natural gas hydroelectricity, and renewable energy. The results show that North America has the highest oil consumption inequality between the regions while East Asia & Pacific has the highest index value within the regions. Coal consumption inequality is declining in North America, but not in East Asia and the Pacific. Europe & Central Asia, and North America have the highest inequalities in natural gas consumption between the regions. Inequality is shrinking in hydropower consumption between the regions, however, such trend has not loomed within the regions. Europe & Central Asia and East Asia & Pacific have major renewable consumption inequalities within the regions. Generally, there is a decreasing temporal trend in energy consumption inequalities of all energy sources. The GMM technique is applied to investigate the impact of energy inequalities and trade openness on environmental quality. The results reveal that energy inequalities degrade environmental quality. Moreover, trade has a positive impact on environmental quality. However, democratic countries can be advantageous to improve the environmental quality. The study implies that countries should take actions to reduce energy inequalities within and between the regions. Specialization in production through trade can also be an option for improvement in the environment.
Plants are sessile beings, so the need of mechanisms to flee from unfavorable circumstances has provided the development of unique and sophisticated responses to environmental stresses. Depending on ...the degree of plasticity, many morphological, cellular, anatomical, and physiological changes occur in plants in response to abiotic stress. Phytohormones are small molecules that play critical roles in regulating plant growth and development, as well as stress tolerance to promote survival and acclimatize to varying environments. To congregate the challenges of salinity, temperature extremes, and osmotic stress, plants use their genetic mechanism and different adaptive and biological approaches for survival and high production. In the present attempt, we review the potential role of different phytohormones and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in abiotic stresses and summarize the research progress in plant responses to abiotic stresses at physiological and molecular levels. We emphasized the regulatory circuits of abscisic acid, indole acetic acid, cytokinins, gibberellic acid, salicylic acid, brassinosteroids, jasmonates, ethylene, and triazole on exposure to abiotic stresses. Current progress is exemplified by the identification and validation of several significant genes that enhanced crop tolerance to stress in the field. These findings will make the modification of hormone biosynthetic pathways for the transgenic plant generation with augmented abiotic stress tolerance and boosting crop productivity in the coming decades possible.
The efficient allocation of sports resources for optimal outcomes remains a pressing national endeavour in China. Over the past two decades, substantial investments by provincial and national ...governments have been directed toward sports infrastructure development. This initiative aims to foster sports talent, facilitate excellence, host major sporting events, and enhance national pride and soft power. This study employs a comprehensive methodology encompassing Data Envelopment Analysis-Slack Based Measure (DEA-SBM), Meta Frontier Analysis, and Malmquist Productivity Index to assess Sports Resource Utilization Efficiency (SRUE), Technological Gap Ratio (TGR), and Productivity Growth (MI) across China’s 31 provinces and 3 distinct regions for the period 2010–2021. The findings indicate that China’s average SRUE stands at 0.6307, revealing an inefficiency of 36.93% in sports resource utilization. Noteworthy efficiency was observed in Beijing, Chongqing, Henan, Shaanxi, Shanghai, and Tianjin during the study duration. Furthermore, a consistent upward trajectory in SRUE from 2010 to 2021 highlights gradual and sustained progress. Comparatively, the eastern region showcases higher technological advancement (average TGR of 0.7598) than the central and western regions. The Malmquist Productivity Index (MI), with an average value of 1.05391, highlights a substantial 5.39% productivity growth. Notably, technological advancement emerges as the primary driver of this productivity increase, evident through the higher Total Factor Productivity Change (TC) of 1.0312 compared to the Efficiency Change (EC) of 1.0209. The Central region’s outperforming productivity growth is noteworthy relative to the Eastern and Western regions. Conclusively, the Kruskal-Wallis test confirms significant disparities in the average MI, EC, TC, and TGR among all three regions of China.
PDF
