This study investigated the individual and combined effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and lead (Pb) stress on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seedlings. Treatments included EMF alone and three Pb concentrations (250, 500, and 750 µM PbCl2), applied singly or in combination, to evaluate impacts on growth, physiological traits, biochemical responses, and Pb accumulation. Plant height, pods per pot, total chlorophyll, soluble sugars, and protein contents were measured after 30 days, along with Pb content in plant tissues (µg g−1 dry weight). Pb stress caused strong dose-dependent reductions in growth and biochemical traits, with the most severe inhibition at 500 and 750 µM. EMF alone produced moderate suppression; however, under Pb stress, EMF significantly modified responses, as supported by significant EMF × Pb interactions for plant height, shoot soluble sugars, root protein, pods per pot, and Pb accumulation (two-way ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05). Pb accumulation increased with increasing Pb concentration, but EMF consistently reduced tissue Pb content compared with Pb-only treatments at the same Pb level, indicating that EMF altered Pb uptake and/or internal distribution. Despite the reduction in Pb accumulation, combined EMF + Pb exposure resulted in the greatest impairment of growth, carbohydrate status, protein content, and yield at higher Pb levels. These findings demonstrate that Pb toxicity is the primary driver of chickpea growth inhibition, while EMF reshapes Pb stress responses in a concentration-dependent manner and antagonizes Pb accumulation under the conditions tested.
PurposeThis study examines the impact of water stress on public health and the environment, employing robust econometric methods.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis draws on panel data from 33 countries over 20 years. These countries have experienced significant water stress over the past decade. We empirically validate the hypothesis that water stress affects both public health and the environment, employing System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE), and Driscoll-Kraay estimators as an econometric technique.FindingsThe results reveal that water stress has significant adverse effects on both public health and the environment. Based on the findings, integrated water resource management policies should be prioritized to protect both public health and the environment. Emphasis should be placed on efficient water use, improved infrastructure, and conservation practices to mitigate the risks associated with water stress.Originality/valueThe approach of combining water stress indicators with health and environmental metrics enables this study to offer an integrated framework that guides evidence-based policy interventions.
We study the thermal Higgsino dark matter in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) with Generalized Minimal Supergravity (GmSUGRA) boundary conditions after the high-recoil event reported by the LUX–ZEPLIN experiment and the subsequent solar-neutrino limits inferred from IceCube data. The Higgs sector is implemented in a NUHM2-type parametrization with μ and m_A as inputs, while the supersymmetry breaking soft terms obey the non-universal GmSUGRA relations. The numerical scan contains a Planck-compatible Higgsino branch near the thermal mass, with the neutral-state splitting extending continuously from the few-hundred-keV region to the MeV scale. The part of this branch with ≃0.3–0.4 MeV overlaps the kinematic interval relevant to the LZ event, but is disfavored by the current solar-capture reinterpretations for a full-density thermal Higgsino. The same high-scale branch persists at larger splittings, including representative spectra with ≃0.85, 1.10, and 1.34 MeV, beyond the quoted solar-capture limits. Our results demonstrate that the mass and sub-MeV splitting favored by the LZ high-recoil interpretation can be realized dynamically within a GUT-motivated supersymmetric construction, without imposing the neutralino compression as a weak-scale input. The combined data therefore select different parts of a common GmSUGRA Higgsino branch rather than excluding the thermal Higgsino construction itself.
We explore the electroweak supersymmetry (EWSUSY) scenario within the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model under the generalized minimal supergravity (GmSUGRA) framework, given that the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon may now be consistent with the Standard Model (SM) prediction, we consider both signs of the Higgsino mass parameter,& micro; <0 and & micro; > 0. A comprehensive scan of the parameter space is performed, subject to the experimental constraints from the LHC SUSY searches, Planck 2018 relic density, and LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) direct detection limits. We identify the viable regions featuring neutralino dark matter production via coannihilation with stau, chargino, stop, sbottom, and gluino, as well as through A-funnel, Higgs-resonance, and Z-resonance mechanisms. Notably, the & micro; < 0 scenario yields a broader allowed parameter space, including for the first time sbottom-neutralino coannihilation solutions in GmSUGRA, which are absent for & micro; > 0. While the Higgs-pole and Z-pole regions for & micro; > 0 are largely excluded by the current LZ bounds, substantial viable regions remain for & micro; <0. Gluino coannihilation scenarios are strongly constrained by the current LHC data. The characteristic mass ranges of interest include sbottoms (0.7-1.3 TeV), stops (up to 1.0 TeV for & micro; > 0 and 1.3 TeV for & micro; <0), staus and charginos (up to 1.5 TeV), and pseudoscalar Higgs bosons in the A funnel (0.4-1.4 TeV). Moreover, the supersymmetric contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment remain within a 26 deviation from the SM prediction. And our findings suggest that significant portions of the parameter space can be probed at the future LHC SUSY searches and upcoming dark matter direct detection experiments.
Valsartan (Val)-a lipophilic non-peptide angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist-is highly effective against hypertension and displaying limited solubility in water (3.08 μg/mL), thereby resulting in low oral bioavailability (23%). The limited water solubility of antihypertensive drugs can pose a challenge, particularly for rapid and precise administration. Herein, we synthesize and characterize valsartan-containing silver nanoparticles (Val-AgNPs) using Mangifera indica leaf extracts. The physicochemical, structural, thermal, and pharmacological properties of these nano-conjugates were established through various analytical and structural tools. The spectral shifts in both UV-visible and FTIR analyses indicate a successful interaction between the valsartan molecule and the silver nanoparticles. The resulting nano-conjugates are spherical and within the size range of 30-60 nm as revealed in scanning electron-EDS and atomic force micrographs. The log-normal distribution of valsartan-loaded nanoparticles, with a size range of 30 to 60 nm and a mode of 54 nm, indicates a narrow, monodisperse, and highly uniform particle size distribution. This is a favorable characteristic for drug delivery systems, as it leads to enhanced bioavailability and a consistent performance. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis of the Val-AgNPs indicates a polydisperse sample with a tendency toward aggregation, resulting in larger effective sizes in the suspension compared to individual nanoparticles. The accompanying decrease in zeta potential (to -19.5 mV) and conductivity further supports the idea that the surface chemistry and stability of the nanoparticles changed after conjugation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated the melting onset of the valsartan component at 113.99 °C. The size-dependent densification of the silver nanoparticles at 286.24 °C correspond to a size range of 40-60 nm, showing a significant melting point depression compared to bulk silver due to nanoscale effects. The shift in Rf for pure valsartan to Val-AgNPs suggests that the interaction with the AgNPs alters the compound's overall polarity and/or its interaction with the stationary phase, complimented in HPTLC and HPLC analysis. The stability and offloading behavior of Val-AgNPs was observed at pH 6-10 and in 40% and 80% MeOH. In addition, Val-AgNPs did not reveal hemolysis or significant alterations in blood cell indices, confirming the safety of the nano-conjugates for biological application. In conclusion, these findings provide a comprehensive characterization of Val-AgNPs, highlighting their potential for improved drug delivery applications.
