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A pot culture experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2021 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, Telangana to study the influence of the foliar application of various Zn sources such as nano ZnO, bulk ZnO, and ZnSO4 on rice crop. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with the following treatments, containing 3 concentrations of bulk ZnO (500 mg/litre, 1000 mg/litre, and 1500 mg/ litre), 3 concentrations of nano ZnO (50 mg/litre, 100 mg/ litre, and 150 mg/litre), 0.5% ZnSO4 and control with 3 replications. The findings revealed that ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) positively impacted rice grain yield, dry matter accumulation, and Zn content. Compared to the control (no zinc), ZnO NPs (150 mg/litre) and standard ZnSO4 treatments exhibited the highest plant height (83.3 cm and 73.7 cm, respectively), grain yield (5.97 g/pot and 6.03 g/pot), and straw yield (7.82 g/pot and 7.94 g/pot). The increased photosynthetic substances and higher dry matter accumulation throughout the rice growth stage contributed to the enhanced grain yield. Furthermore, supplementing Zn via nano ZnO (150 mg/litre) and 0.5% ZnSO4 resulted in significant Zn enrichment: 33,35; 77,87 and 21, 28% in straw, grain and soil, respectively over control plants. This study effectively demonstrates that ZnO nanoparticles have the potential to serve as high-performance fertilizers, benefiting both rice yield and quality.

Rice is a highly consumed staple cereal cultivated predominantly in Asian countries, which share 90% of global rice production. Rice is a primary calorie provider for more than 3.5 billion people across the world. Preference and consumption of polished rice have increased manifold, which resulted in the loss of inherent nutrition. The prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies (Zn and Fe) are major human health challenges in the 21st century. Biofortification of staples is a sustainable approach to alleviating malnutrition. Globally, significant progress has been made in rice for enhancing grain Zn, Fe, and protein. To date, 37 biofortified Fe, Zn, Protein and Provitamin A rich rice varieties are available for commercial cultivation (16 from India and 21 from the rest of the world; Fe > 10 mg/kg, Zn > 24 mg/kg, protein > 10% in polished rice as India target while Zn > 28 mg/kg in polished rice as international target). However, understanding the micronutrient genetics, mechanisms of uptake, translocation, and bioavailability are the prime areas that need to be strengthened. The successful development of these lines through integrated-genomic technologies can accelerate deployment and scaling in future breeding programs to address the key challenges of malnutrition and hidden hunger.

Waterlogging is a significant concern in urban areas and can result in severe disruptions and damage and it's an urban problem. This study is conducted in Thoothukudi and Tamil Nadu, which are particularly sensitive to waterlogging because of their geographical and meteorological circumstances. Using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images from 2015 to 2022, topographical analysis, land use/land cover (LULC) data, and geological insights, this research intends to identify and assess areas prone to water logging. The data source for this study comprises rainfall records from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Sentinel-1 SAR imagery, Sentinel-2 multispectral images from the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM).Terrain analysis was undertaken using DEM to generate elevation, slope, and aspect maps, while SAR data were processed to extract water pixels, which included the extraction of water pixels from SAR data for each year and overlaying them. The overlaid image was correlated with topographic maps to identify the high-risk regions. Key places such as Muthayapuram, Milavittan, Bryant Nagar, and Thalamuthunagar were constantly highlighted as prone to floods. Additionally, the saltpan regions, defined by low-lying water table levels, endure continuous flooding, demonstrating the usefulness of combining SAR imaging with topographic analysis for urban water management. These findings provide useful insights for urban planners and policymakers, underlining the need for deliberate steps to reduce waterlogging, maintain public health, and minimize infrastructure damage, thus enabling sustainable development in Thoothukudi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a significant threat to ecosystems and communities, and challenges global sustainability; therefore, more research on climate change adaptations should be conducted. This scientometric study presents databases on global trends in academic research, specific contributions, and thematic evolution of environmental adaptations to climate change. Using the Scopus database of publications, this study focuses on publications between 2009 (January) and 2024 (August), with an emphasis on the interpretation of primary research interests, authors, contributions from countries, and collaborative networks. According to the findings, there has been a shift in focus to more adaptive management in agricultural and biological diversity practices, with more emphasis on the integration of ecological, technological, and social science disciplines. This work also reveals that countries have gaps in regional research, especially in developing countries, and highlights the need to work collectively across the globe. Through citation analysis, thematic evolution, and future research recommendations, this study enriches the knowledge of the line of research on environmental adaptation and underlines its significance in addressing climate change effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital platforms play a vital role in shaping today's labour market, enabling temporary hires and freelance employment in the gig economy. This on-demand, digital economy spans various professions and remote work opportunities. Technological advancements have significantly evolved gig work since the industrial age, improving work-life balance and psychological well-being. Using the Scopus database, a literature analysis on the gig economy was conducted with 1624 documents narrowed to 549 documents based on subject area, document type, publication stage, keywords, and language and examining social, economic and technological factors. This study highlights the evolving nature of non-traditional, online-platform- driven employment through which author's explored the gig economy, its challenges, ethical issues, and career development and workers experiences. The analysis used R Studio Software to visualize keyword themes using a strategic thematic map, which signifies the structure and development of themes within the gig economy. This study used Origin Pro for author analysis which found GRAHAM as the top author. VOS Viewer for bibliographic coupling which identified USA and UK as top collaborating countries and also highlight the eight clusters of keyword analysis. For sustainable growth, further research should explore the platform economy, gig employment, and worker well-being, assessing technological innovations to create adaptable job opportunities. This will help the gig economy to accommodate market dynamics and ensure diverse and stable employment across various sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]