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Unpredicted variability in temperature is associated with frequent extreme low-temperature events. Wheat is a leading crop in fulfilling global food requirements. Climate-driven temperature extremes influence the vegetative and reproductive growth of wheat, followed by a decrease in yield. This review describes how low temperature induces a series of modifications in the morphophysiological, biochemical, and molecular makeup of wheat and how it is perceived. To cope with these modifications, crop plants turn on their cold-tolerance mechanisms, characterized by accumulating soluble carbohydrates, signaling molecules, and cold tolerance gene expressions. The review also discusses the integrated management approaches to enhance the performance of wheat plants against cold stress. In this review, we propose strategies for improving the adaptive capacity of wheat besides alleviating risks of cold anticipated with climate change.

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in maintaining human health by influencing physiological processes such as digestion, immune regulation, and metabolism. However, disruptions in gut microbial balance, or dysbiosis, are associated with numerous disorders. Probiotics have emerged as potential therapeutic agents, but their efficacy is limited by challenges such as low survival during gastrointestinal transit, poor colonization, and lack of targeted delivery. Nanotechnology has recently provided promising solutions to these limitations by enhancing the stability, viability, and functionality of probiotics. To provide an updated perspective, this article presents a structured narrative review informed by a PRISMA-guided literature search and screening process. Relevant studies published between 2021 and 2025 were identified from PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar and were narratively synthesized to examine nanoencapsulation strategies, hybrid nanobiotic systems, smart delivery platforms, therapeutic applications, and translational barriers. Nanoencapsulation techniques, hybrid nanobiotic systems, and smart delivery platforms are at the forefront of probiotic enhancement. These systems improve protection of probiotics against harsh gastric conditions and enable targeted release within specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby enhancing colonization efficiency and therapeutic potential. Moreover, nanobiotics show promise in modulating gut microbiota composition, strengthening immune responses, and opening new therapeutic avenues for the management of gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic diseases, and immune-related conditions. Despite these advances, challenges related to safety, scalability, and regulatory approval remain significant barriers to clinical translation. This review synthesizes recent progress in nanobiotic-enhanced probiotics, evaluates their therapeutic applications, and discusses key challenges and future directions for precision microbiome therapeutics.

Silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) have shown their potential for use in farming under water-deficient conditions. Thus, the experiment was accomplished to explore the impacts of seed priming of Si-NPs on wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) growth and yield under different drought levels. The plants were grown in pots under natural ecological environmental conditions and were harvested on 25th of April, 2020. The results revealed that seed priming of Si-NPs (0, 300, 600, and 900 mg/L) suggestively improved, the spike length, grains per spike, 1000 grains weight, plant height, grain yield, and biological yield by 12–42%, 14–54%, 5–49%, 5–41%, 17–62%, and 21–64%, respectively, relative to the control. The Si-NPs improved the leaf gas trade ascribes and chlorophyll a and b concentrations, though decreased the oxidative pressure in leaves which was demonstrated by the diminished electrolyte leakage and upgrade in superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities in leaf under Si-NPs remedies over the control. The outcomes proposed that Si-NPs could improve the yield of wheat under a dry spell. In this manner, the utilization of Si-NPs by seed priming technique is a practical methodology for controlling the drought stress in wheat. These findings will provide the basis for future research and helpful to improve the food security under drought and heat related challenges.

Cattaneo–Christov with variable thermal relaxation time and entropy generation is the main concern of this study. The micropolar fluid with absorption of heat in the existence of mixed convection and partial slip is scrutinized. Two distinct nanoparticles, i.e., single-wall carbon nanotube and multi-wall carbon nanotube, are immerged in micropolar fluid to interrogate the feature of heat and mass transfer. The non-dimensional similarity transformation is utilized to transform the partial differential equations into nonlinear ordinary differential equations, and resulting coupled equations are solved numerically using bvp4c from MATLAB. The present results show the fabulous agreement with previous published results. The temperature field diminishes with larger thermal relaxation time parameter. Entropy generation profile is an increasing function of Brinkmann number, while Bejan number is a diminishing function. Further the solid volume fraction diminishes the velocity profile and enhances the temperature distribution and entropy generation.

In this paper, we introduce the non-convex interval-valued functions for fuzzy-interval-valued functions, which are called -convex fuzzy-interval-valued functions, by means of fuzzy order relation. This fuzzy order relation is defined level-wise through Kulisch–Miranker order relation given on the interval space. By using the -convexity concept, we present fuzzy-interval Hermite–Hadamard inequalities for fuzzy-interval-valued functions. Several exceptional cases are debated, which can be viewed as useful applications. Interesting examples that verify the applicability of the theory developed in this study are presented. The results of this paper can be considered as extensions of previously established results.

PurposeThis article shows operational excellence achieved during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using the Lean, Six Sigma and Sustainability practices in small medium enterprise (SME) manufacturing firms and its impact on the performance dimensions of efficiency, growth and profit for firms located in the industrial zones of Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative methodology was used and data were collected from a sample of top-level managers from 28 SME manufacturing firms located in the five industrial zones in Pakistan. A total of 62 questionnaires were included in the study.FindingsThe findings show that awareness levels of Lean, Six Sigma and Sustainability are emerging, and firms are trying to implement these concepts. However, the results show that while Lean and Six Sigma enhance firms’ performance in terms of efficiency, profit and growth, sustainability has no impact on these three performance dimensions.Research limitations/implicationsThe quantitative data of a sample of 28 manufacturing firms inevitably present limitations on the generalizability of this work. Future research could employ greater quantitative data to explore the topic further. Only one particular country is studied so that future research could be carried out in other countries or regions.Practical implicationsThis study may have value for policymakers and other stakeholders who need to know more about how Lean, Six Sigma and Sustainability affect a firm’s performance in industrial zones in the context of a developing country.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to knowledge in the field by integrating Lean, Six Sigma and Sustainability with firms’ performance during the COVID-19 pandemic by assessing efficiency, growth and profit dimensions where otherwise no empirical research has been undertaken in the Pakistani context.

Late spring coldness (LSC) is critical for wheat growth and development in the Huang-Huai valleys of China. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms for young spikes responding to low temperature (LT) stress during anther connective tissue formation phase (ACFP). To elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with low temperature, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of wheat cultivars Xinmai26 (XM26: cold-sensitive) and Yannong19 (YN19: cold-tolerant) using RNA-seq data. Over 4000 differently expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under low temperature conditions (T1: 4°C) and freezing conditions (T2: −4°C) compared with control (CK: 16°C). The number of DEGs associated with two cultivars at two low temperature treatments (T1: 4°C and T2: −4°C) were 834, 1,353, 231, and 1,882 in four comparison groups (Xinmai26-CK vs. Xinmai26-T1, Xinmai26-CK vs. Xinmai26-T2, Yannong19-CK vs. Yannong19-T1, and Yannong19-CK vs. Yannong19-T2), respectively. Furthermore, to validate the accuracy of RNA-seq, 16 DEGs were analyzed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Several transcriptome changes were observed through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway functional enrichment analysis in plant hormone signal transduction, circadian rhythm-plant, and starch and sucrose metabolism under low temperature. In addition, 126 transcription factors (TFs), including AP2-ERF, bHLH, WRKY, MYB, HSF , and members of the bZIP family, were considered as cold-responsive. It is the first study to investigate DEGs associated with low temperature stress at the transcriptome level in two wheat cultivars with different cold resistance capacities. Most likely, the variations in transcription factors (TFs) regulation, and starch and sucrose metabolism contribute to different cold resistance capacities in the two cultivars. Further, physiological activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble sugar (SS), and sucrose contents were evaluated to investigate the negative impacts of low temperature in both cultivars. These findings provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms of plant responses to low temperature and potential candidate genes that required for improving wheat’s capacity to withstand low temperature stress.

This study uses Xi’an as a case to explore incentive mechanisms and optimization pathways in construction waste management. Drawing on policy text analysis, semi-structured interviews, and the Delphi method, and employing the SWOT-TOWS framework, the research systematically evaluates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of current policies. The findings indicate that while Xi’an benefits from fiscal support and standard-setting, inefficiencies in policy enforcement and low market trust continue to hinder effective resource utilization. To address these challenges, the study proposes a phased strategy: in the short term, improve regulatory closure and enforcement mechanisms; in the medium term, strengthen capacity building, establish market-supporting measures, and stabilize demand; and in the long term, promote institutionalization, financial diversification, and large-scale development. Such measures aim to facilitate the transition from “policy-driven pilot projects” to “market-driven normalization.” This study provides practical insights for Xi’an and other cities at a similar stage of development in building more comprehensive policy support frameworks for sustainable construction waste management.

Background Bangladesh’s diabetes burden is accelerating alongside rapid urbanisation and population ageing. Contemporary, population-representative risk estimates are needed to guide prevention. Methods We analysed 13,835 adults in the 2022 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose 7 mmol/L or current use of diabetes medication. Associations with demographic, socioeconomic and clinical covariates were modelled using a Bayesian survey-weighted logistic mixed model with primary sampling unit random intercepts; design-unadjusted GLMM and survey-weighted GLM served as comparators. Posterior medians and 95% credible intervals (CrI) are reported. Results Age, adiposity and hypertension dominated the risk profile. Relative to 18–24 years, the odds of diabetes rose to 5.13 (4.22–6.24) for adults 65 years; overweight and obesity increased odds to 1.37 (1.22–1.53) and 1.78 (1.50–2.10), whereas underweight had lower odds at 0.80 (0.69–0.92). Hypertension conferred an odds ratio of 1.52 (1.35–1.70). Rural residence 0.75 (0.65–0.87) and residence in Rajshahi, Mymensingh or Khulna divisions ( 0.55–0.66) were lower, while the richest wealth quintile carried higher risk at 1.77 (1.51–2.10). Model diagnostics were favourable: AUC = 0.79 indicates good discrimination; WAIC = 10,501 improved by 600 points versus the unweighted GLMM and survey-weighted GLM; and residual spatial autocorrelation was negligible (Moran’s I = 0.06, p = 0.14). Conclusions Diabetes in Bangladesh clusters among older adults, overweight/obese individuals, those with hypertension, and the socio-economically affluent, while remaining lower in rural and several northern divisions. Priority actions include age- and BMI-targeted screening, integrated hypertension–diabetes services, and urban lifestyle interventions, particularly in Dhaka and other high-prevalence regions. The Bayesian survey-weighted mixed-model framework yields policy-relevant, nationally generalisable estimates and offers a robust platform for tracking Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 indicators.

The Zigzag ladybird beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a biological control agent that feeds on a variety of aphid species. Life table and predation data of C. sexmaculata were collected under laboratory conditions at 25±2â°C, 60±5% RH and L14: D10 h in connection with feeding on four different aphid species; Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Aphis nerii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) and Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko). Larval development of C. sexmaculata was long when fed on M. persicae (12.18 days) and shorter on D. noxia (10.64 days). The male's lifespan was longer on M. persicae (26.70 days) and shorter on L. erysimi (23.67 days). Fecundity was maximum when the beetle was fed D. noxia (316.8 eggs/female) and minimum on M. persicae (199.1 eggs/female). Net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase and finite rate of increase were highest on D. noxia with values of 158.4 (offspring individual.sup.-1 ), 0.22 d.sup.-1, and 1.24 d.sup.-1, respectively whereas the respective parameters were lowest on L. erysimi (99.5 offspring individual.sup.-1, 0.19 d.sup.-1, and 1.20 d.sup.-1, respectively). However, the mean of the generation (T) was shorter on A. nerii (22.48 d.sup.-1) and longer on M. persicae (24.68 d.sup.-1). Based on life table parameters obtained under laboratory conditions, the most appropriate host of C. sexmaculata was D. noxia. This study should help us to improve mass rearing and use of C. sexmaculata in the biological control of aphids on field and horticultural crops.