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Arsenic (As) is a regulated hazardous substance that persists in the environment, causing issues related to environmental health, agriculture, and food safety. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 NPs) are emerging sustainable solutions for alleviating heavy metal stress. However, their effectiveness and optimization for foliar application in reducing As stress, especially in Pak choi, has not been reported yet. Hence, this study aims to examine the effects of foliar application of CeO 2 NPs (75,000,000, 150,000,000, and 300,000,000 ng/L) on the growth, nutrient availability, and antioxidant enzymatic activities of Pak choi plants under As stress. The findings showed that foliar application of 75,000,000 ng/L CeO 2 NPs significantly increased shoot length (77.32%), root length (80.98%), and number of leaves (80.23%) as compared to control without NPs. The lowest dose of CeO 2 NPs (75,000,000 ng/L) increased antioxidant enzyme activities such as peroxidase (86.10%), superoxide dismutase (81.48%), and catalase (52.07%), while significantly reducing malondialdehyde (44.02%), hydrogen peroxide (34.20%), and electrolyte leakage (43.53%). Furthermore, foliar application of 75,000,000 ng/L CeO 2 NPs significantly increased the content of zinc (81.02%), copper (56.99%), iron (88.04%), manganese (68.37%), magnesium (76.83%), calcium (61.16%), and potassium (84.91%) in leaves when compared to control without NPs. The same trend was observed for shoot and root nutrient concentrations. Most importantly, 75,000,000 ng/L CeO 2 NPs foliar application significantly reduced shoot As (45.11%) and root As (20.89%) concentration compared to control, providing a reassuring indication of their potential to reduce As concentration in plants. Our study’s findings are of utmost importance as they indicate that lower concentrations of foliar-applied CeO 2 NPs can be more effective in enhancing crop nutrition and reducing heavy metals than higher concentrations. This article is intended to present critical issues of As contamination in agricultural soils, which imposes substantial risks to crop productivity and food security.

Dissecting and identifying the major actors and pathways in the genesis, progression and aggressive advancement of breast cancer is challenging, in part because neoplasms arising in this tissue represent distinct diseases and in part because the tumors themselves evolve. This review attempts to illustrate the complexity of this mutational landscape as it pertains to the RUNX genes and their transcription co-factor CBFβ. Large-scale genomic studies that characterize genetic alterations across a disease subtype are a useful starting point and as such have identified recurring alterations in CBFB and in the RUNX genes (particularly RUNX1). Intriguingly, the functional output of these mutations is often context dependent with regards to the estrogen receptor (ER) status of the breast cancer. Therefore, such studies need to be integrated with an in-depth understanding of both the normal and corrupted function in mammary cells to begin to tease out how loss or gain of function can alter the cell phenotype and contribute to disease progression. We review how alterations to RUNX/CBFβ function contextually ascribe to breast cancer subtypes and discuss how the in vitro analyses and mouse model systems have contributed to our current understanding of these proteins in the pathogenesis of this complex set of diseases.

Nanomaterials offer considerable benefits in improving plant growth and nutritional status owing to their inherent stability, and efficiency in essential nutrient absorption and delivery. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 NPs) at optimum concentration could significantly influence plant morpho-physiology and nutritional status. However, it remains unclear how elevated CO 2 and CeO 2 NPs interactively affect plant growth and quality. Accordingly, the ultimate goal was to reveal whether CeO 2 NPs could alter the impact of elevated CO 2 on the nutrient composition of spinach. For this purpose, spinach plant morpho-physiological, biochemical traits, and nutritional contents were evaluated. Spinach was exposed to different foliar concentrations of CeO 2 NPs (0, 25, 50, 100 mg/L) in open-top chambers (400 and 600 CO 2  μmol/mol). Results showed that elevated CO 2 enhanced spinach growth by increasing photosynthetic pigments, as evidenced by a higher photosynthetic rate (Pn). However, the maximum growth and photosynthetic pigments were observed at the highest concentration of CeO 2 NPs (100 mg/L) under elevated CO 2 . Elevated CO 2 resulted in a decreased stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (Tr), whereas CeO 2 NPs enhanced these parameters. No significant changes were observed in any of the measured biochemical parameters due to increased levels of CO 2 . However, an increase in antioxidant enzymes, particularly in catalase (CAT; 14.37%) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX; 10.66%) activities, was observed in high CeO 2 NPs (100 mg/L) treatment under elevated CO 2 levels. Regarding plant nutrient content, elevated CO 2 significantly decreases spinach roots and leaves macro and micronutrients as compared to ambient CO 2 levels. CeO 2 NPs, in a dose-dependent manner, with the highest increase observed in 100 mg/L CeO 2 NPs treatment and increased roots and shoots magnesium (211.62–215.49%), iron (256.68–322.77%), zinc (225.89–181.49%), copper (21.99–138.09%), potassium (121.46–138.89%), calcium (118.22–91.32%), manganese (133.15–195.02%) under elevated CO 2 . Overall, CeO 2 NPs improved spinach growth and biomass and reverted the adverse effects of elevated CO 2 on its nutritional quality. These findings indicated that CeO 2 NPs could be used as an effective approach to increase vegetable growth and nutritional values to ensure food security under future climatic conditions.

The increasing atmospheric concentration of lead (Pb) poses a serious threat to environmental health and crop productivity, ultimately resulting in health hazards for humans worldwide. The current study evaluated the effects of foliar-applied lead oxide nanoparticles (PbO-NPs) on the Pb uptake, morphological attributes, and physiochemical changes in rice crops, as well as the potential health implications for humans. A pot experiment was conducted in which rice plants were applied with foliar spray with three different levels of PbO-NPs (0, 10, & 50 mg/plant). The findings indicated that a significant quantity of Pb accumulated in the shoot (15.42 µg/kg) with a comparatively lower amount (4.09 µg/kg) translocated to roots under the highest level of PbO-NPs application. Pb residue inside rice plants led to a considerable reduction in total chlorophyll contents (82%) and photosynthetic rate (81%). Following Pb accumulation, there was a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity and increase in ROS production. At highest level of PbO-NPs (50 mg/plant), a substantial reduction in POD (82.34%), SOD (73.085%), CAT (62.245%), and APX (55.02%) was observed. Conversely, a remarkable increase was observed in MDA (76.10%), H 2 O 2 (70.06%), and electrolyte leakage (21.85%). Based on the amount of Pb accumulated in rice grains, the estimated daily intake (EDI) exceeded the permissible levels of FAO/WHO standard, resulting in a health risk index (HRI) > 1, indicating that the health risk posed to the consumer is severe. Overall, the results indicate that foliar application of PbO-NPs at a higher concentration 50 mg/plant) caused detrimental effects on morphological, physiochemical attributes, as well as and antioxidants enzymes activity. The finding of our study clearly suggests that the deposition of atmospheric Pb in rice producing areas may pose significant food safety concerns and lead to serious health risks to human through dieting exposure.

Soil salinity is a major nutritional challenge with poor agriculture production characterized by high sodium (Na ) ions in the soil. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and biochar have received attention as a sustainable strategy to reduce biotic and abiotic stress. However, there is a lack of information regarding the incorporation of ZnO NPs with biochar to ameliorate the salinity stress (0, 50,100 mM). Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the potentials of ZnO NPs application (priming and foliar) alone and with a combination of biochar on the growth and nutrient availability of spinach plants under salinity stress. Results demonstrated that salinity stress at a higher rate (100 mM) showed maximum growth retardation by inducing oxidative stress, resulted in reduced photosynthetic rate and nutrient availability. ZnO NPs (priming and foliar) alone enhanced growth, chlorophyll contents and gas exchange parameters by improving the antioxidant enzymes activity of spinach under salinity stress. While, a significant and more pronounced effect was observed at combined treatments of ZnO NPs with biochar amendment. More importantly, ZnO NPs foliar application with biochar significantly reduced the Na contents in root 57.69%, and leaves 61.27% of spinach as compared to the respective control. Furthermore, higher nutrient contents were also found at the combined treatment of ZnO NPs foliar application with biochar. Overall, ZnO NPs combined application with biochar proved to be an efficient and sustainable strategy to alleviate salinity stress and improve crop nutritional quality under salinity stress. We inferred that ZnO NPs foliar application with a combination of biochar is more effectual in improving crop nutritional status and salinity mitigation than priming treatments with a combination of biochar.

With the anticipated foliar application of nanoparticles (NPs) as a potential strategy to improve crop production and ameliorate heavy metal toxicity, it is crucial to evaluate the role of NPs in improving the nutrient content of plants under Lead (Pb) stress for achieving higher agriculture productivity to ensure food security. Herein, Brassica napus L. grown under Pb contaminated soil (300 mg/kg) was sprayed with different rates (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/L) of TiO 2 and ZnO-NPs. The plants were evaluated for growth attributes, photosynthetic pigments, leaf exchange attributes, oxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities. The results revealed that 100 mg/L NPs foliar application significantly augmented plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, and leaf gas exchange attributes. Furthermore, 100 mg/L TiO 2 and ZnO-NPs application showed a maximum increase in SPAD values (79.1%, 68.9%). NPs foliar application (100 mg/L TiO 2 and ZnO-NPs) also substantially reduced malondialdehyde (44.3%, 38.3%), hydrogen peroxide (59.9%, 53.1%), electrolyte leakage (74.8%, 68.3%), and increased peroxidase (93.8%, 89.1%), catalase (91.3%, 84.1%), superoxide dismutase (81.8%, 73.5%) and ascorbate peroxidase (78.5%, 73.7%) thereby reducing Pb accumulation. NPs foliar application (100 mg/L) significantly reduced root Pb (45.7%, 42.3%) and shoot Pb (84.1%, 76.7%) concentration in TiO 2 and ZnO-NPs respectively, as compared to control. Importantly, macro and micronutrient analysis showed that foliar application 100 mg/L TiO 2 and ZnO-NPs increased shoot zinc (58.4%, 78.7%) iron (79.3%, 89.9%), manganese (62.8%, 68.6%), magnesium (72.1%, 93.7%), calcium (58.2%, 69.9%) and potassium (81.5%, 68.6%) when compared to control without NPs. The same trend was observed for root nutrient concentration. In conclusion, we found that the TiO 2 and ZnO-NPs have the greatest efficiency at 100 mg/L concentration to alleviate Pb induced toxicity on growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient content of Brassica napus L. NPs foliar application is a promising strategy to ensure sustainable agriculture and food safety under metal contamination.

Heavy metal stress poses a serious challenge to plant health, threatening both crop yields and food security, ultimately endangering population health globally. The potential ecotoxicological impacts of HMs on plants can disturb regular physiological, biochemical, and also molecular functions. Emerging nanotechnology solutions, particularly involving titanium dioxide and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, offer innovative strategies to enhance plant resilience against these toxic metals. NPs application enhanced mineral transportation, efficiently strengthening metabolism and photosynthesis, and ameliorated HMs stress through the regulation of antioxidant enzyme activity. This review provides a fundamental insight into the NPs application on crops and understands that NPs enhance crop growth and yield grown under HMs contaminated soil in an environmentally friendly manner, thereby addressing significant challenges of food security. Future researches should focus on evaluating the interactive effect of these approaches on molecular pathways, using HMs stress-resilient different crop varieties and interaction with microbial communities in diverse agricultural systems.