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In recent years, much attention has been directed toward using nanoparticles (NPs) as one of the most effective strategies to improve plant growth, especially under salt stress conditions. Further research has been conducted to develop NPs using various chemical ways; accordingly, knowledge about the beneficial effect of bioSeNPs in rapeseed is obscure. Selenium (Se) is a vital micronutrient with a series of physiological and antioxidative properties. Seed priming is emerging as a low-cost, efficient, and environment-friendly seed treatment in nanotechnology. The current study was carried out to examine the promising effects of nanopriming via bioSeNPs on the expression level of aquaporin genes, seed microstructure, seed germination, growth traits, physiochemical attributes, and minerals uptake of two rapeseed cultivars under salinity stress conditions. Our investigation monitored the positive effects of bioSeNPs on the expression level of aquaporin genes (BnPIP1-1 and BnPIP2-1) and water uptake during the seed imbibition (4 and 8 h of priming), which indicated higher imbibition potential and germination promotion with bioSeNPs application (most effective at 150 μmol/L). The total performance index was significantly enhanced with nano-treatments in rapeseed seedlings. Collectively, nano-application improved seed microstructure, seed germination, and photosynthetic efficiency directly correlated with higher seedlings biomass, especially with a higher concentration of bioSeNPs. The enhancement in α- amylase and free amino acid contents in nanoprimed seeds resulted in rapid seed germination. Moreover, bioSeNPs increased the osmotic adjustment and enhanced the efficiency of the plant's defense system by improving the activity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, thus enhancing ROS scavenging under salt stress. The obtained results may indicate the strengthening of seed vigor, improving seedling growth and physiochemical attributes via bioSeNPs. Our findings displayed that bioSeNPs modulated the Na+ and K+ uptake, which improved the rapeseed growth and showed a close relationship with the low contents of toxic Na+ ion; thus, it prevented oxidative damage due to salt stress. This comprehensive data can add more knowledge to understand the mechanisms behind plant-bioSeNPs interaction and provide physiological evidence for the beneficial roles of nanopriming using bioSeNPs on rapeseed germination and seedling development under salinity stress conditions. Such studies can be used to develop simple prepackaged nano primer products, which can be used before sowing to boost seed germination and crop productivity under stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The whole Electric Power System includes three aspects: Generation, Transmission and Distribution that all need maintenance to enhance system reliability and energy efficiency. Most unit maintenance scheduling (MS) packages consider preventive maintenance scheduling for generating units over one or two years time horizon in order to minimize the total operation costs while satisfying system energy requirements. The inclusion of network constraints in generating unit maintenance will increase the complexity of the problem. This paper mainly considers the generation maintenance scheduling taking into account the system security and reliability indices. For more realistic study transmission, security constraints as well as crew constraints and system reliability indices such as amount of not supplied energy are considered for the proposed maintenance scheduling problem. General Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS) is the utilized for solving optimization problem. An IEEE 24 bus test system is employed for simulation and show the accuracy of results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The advent of the nanotechnology era offers a unique opportunity for sustainable agriculture, and the contribution of nanoparticles (NPs) to ameliorate abiotic stresses became the new area of interest for researchers due to their special physiochemical characteristics in the biological system. Salinity is a key devastating abiotic factor that hinders the development and yield of rapeseed. On the flip side, the impact of nanoparticles on plant hormones upon salt stress during seed imbibition and germination has been poorly understood. Hence, we aimed to study the influence of nanopriming on plant hormones and germination processes using selenium and zinc oxide nanoparticles (SeNPs and ZnONPs) during seed imbibition and the early seedling stage upon salinity stress. Nanopriming showed a positive effect on final germination percentage, germination rate, seed microstructure, and antioxidant enzyme activity of two rapeseed cultivars under salt stress. Moreover, nano-treatment decreased the expression of abscisic acid related genes BnCYP707A1, 3 , and 4 during the priming time and after sowing, where the levels of BnCYP707A1 , and 3 genes showed a slightly significant difference between the nanopriming and hydropriming, which gave an evidence that the nanopriming influenced the ABA levels then elevated the seed germination with SeNPs and ZnONPs. Likewise, nanoparticles significantly elevated the expression levels of BnGA20ox , BnGA3ox and BnCPS genes during the germination stage, especially at 24 h after being sown in salt stress. That confirms the positive role of SeNPs and ZnONPs in regulating gibberellic acid level, which increases the germination in primed seeds as compared to unprimed seeds and hydroprimed seeds. Additionally, our results demonstrated that nanopriming regulated the expression level of BnCAM and BnPER during priming time and after sowing, along with the various levels of expression remarkably in BnEXP4 and BnRAB28 , especially at 24 h of being sown under salt stress, which promoted seed germination and early seedling growth. Overall, this work provides new insights into mechanisms underlying the interactions of SeNPs and ZnONPs with plant hormones during the seed imbibition and early seedling stage, consequently enhanced plant growth and development. Additionally, these findings portrayed that the application of SeNPs and ZnONPs could be a new strategy and useful approach to enhance tolerance against salinity in rapeseed plants. [Display omitted] • Nano-Se and -ZnO modulated the expression of ABA and GA genes during the germination stage. • NPs enhanced the germination attributes and seed microstructure and reduced the oxidative damage under salt stress. • Nanomaterials increased salinity tolerance during the early seedling stage in B. napus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]