The utilization of biomass waste to produce valuable products has extraordinary advantages as far as both the economy and climate are concerned, which have become particularly significant lately. The large-scale manufacturing of agricultural waste, mainly rice by-products (rice husk, rice straw, and rice bran), empowers them to be the most broadly examined biomasses as they contain lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Rice waste was first used to incorporate bulk materials, while the manufacturing of versatile nanostructures from rice waste at low cost has been developed in recent years and attracts much consideration nowadays. Carbon-based nanomaterials including graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon dots, fullerenes, and carbon nanofibers have tremendous potential in climate and energy-related applications. Various methods have been reported to synthesize high-value carbon nanomaterials, but the use of green technology for the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials is most common nowadays because of the abundant availability of the starting precursor, non-toxicity, low fabrication cost, ease of modification, and eco-friendly nature; therefore, reusing low-value biomass waste for the processing of renewable materials to fabricate high-value products is remarkable. Carbon nanomaterials derived from rice waste have broad applications in various disciplines owing to their distinctive physicochemical, electrical, optical, mechanical, thermal, and enhanced biocompatibility properties. The main objective of this review and basic criteria of selecting examples and explanations is to highlight the green routes for the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials—i.e., graphene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon dots—from rice biomass waste, and their extensive applications in biomedical research (bio-imaging), environmental (water remediation), and energy-related (electrodes for supercapacitors, Li-ion battery, fuel cells, and solar cells) applications. This review summarizes recent advancements, challenges, and trends for rice waste obtained from renewable resources for utilization in the fabrication of versatile carbon-based nanomaterials.

The current research focused on the synthesis of two series of pyrazole derivatives and evaluation of their insecticidal effectiveness. In the first series, seven pyrazole Schiff bases 3a-g were successfully synthesized with yields (79–95%) by condensing phenylfuran-2-carbaldehyde with substituted pyrazole rings. In the second series, eleven amino acid-pyrazole conjugates 6a–k were synthesized utilizing acetic acid, sulfuric acid, morpholine, and EDC. HCl achieving yields of 59% to 94%. The synthesized compounds were assessed for their chemotherapeutic efficacy against locusts and termites by calculating LC₅₀ values, thereby determining their potential as anti-termite and anti-locust agents. Among the eighteen synthesized pyrazole compounds, the Schiff base pyrazole molecules 3f (LC₅₀ = 0.001 μg/mL) and 3d (LC₅₀ = 0.006 μg/mL) demonstrated excellent anti-termite activity compared to the reference drug fipronil (LC₅₀ = 0.038 μg/mL). Pyrazole derivative 6 h with LC₅₀ = 47.68 μg/mL exhibited superior anti-locust activity than the reference drug fipronil (LC₅₀ = 63.09 μg/mL). Additionally, compound 3b, containing NO₂ functionality at the meta position, exhibited notable and significant anti-locust activity with an LC₅₀ values of 100.00 μg/mL. However, the highest mortality was caused by the glycine conjugate of fipronil 6 h of the 2nd series with an LC₅₀ value of 47.68 μg/mL, which also proved to be a potent anti-locust agent. This study explores the efficacy of biologically active pyrazole structures as potential insecticidal agents through a combination of virtual molecular docking analysis and biological experimental investigations. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the computational predictions and experimental outcomes, suggesting that the pyrazole derivatives exhibit significant insecticidal properties. The findings highlight the potential of these compounds in the development of innovative insecticides, paving the way for future research in pest control strategies.

Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers required for proper brain function, and any changes in their concentrations can lead to neuronal diseases. Therefore, sensitive and selective detection is crucial. This study presents a fast and simple colorimetric method for dopamine detection using three reagent solutions: AgNP and MPA, Ag/Au nanocomposite, and mercaptophenylacetic acid. TEM images showed a narrow distribution of Ag and Au nanoparticles with average sizes of 20 nm and 13 nm, respectively, with gold nanoparticles bound to the edges of silver nanoparticles. A paper-based biosensor was created using manual wax printing for the colorimetric detection of dopamine. Visual detection onsite showed color changes with both the silver nanoparticles and mercaptophenylacetic acid mixture and the silver–gold nanoparticle composite. Electrochemical detection using a glassy carbon electrode modified with 8 mM mercaptophenylacetic acid demonstrated high selectivity and sensitivity towards dopamine, with a peak in the range of 0.7–0.9 V. Interferences were minimized, ensuring high sensitivity and selective detection of dopamine.

Water stress is one of the major factor restricting the growth and development of chickpea plants by inducing various morphological and physiological changes. Therefore, the present research activity was designed to improve the chickpea productivity under water stress conditions by modulating antioxidant enzyme system. Experimental treatments comprised of two chickpea genotypes i.e. Bhakhar 2011 (drought tolerant) and DUSHT (drought sensitive), two water stress levels i.e. water stress at flowering stage and water stress at flowering + pod formation + grain filling stage including well watered (control) and three exogenous application of nutrients i.e. KCl 200 ppm, MgCl2, 50 ppm and CaCl2, 10 mM including distilled water (control). Results indicated that water stress at various growth stages adversely affects the growth, yield and quality attributes of both chickpea cultivars. Exogenous application of nutrients improved the growth, yield and antioxidant enzyme activities of both chickpea genotypes even under water stress conditions. However, superior results were obtained with foliar spray of potassium chloride on Bhakhar 2011 under well-watered conditions. Similarly, foliar spray of potassium chloride on chickpea cultivar Bhakhar 2011 cultivated under stress at flowering + pod formation + grain filling stage produced significantly higher contents of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase. These results suggests that the application of potassium chloride mitigates the adverse effects of water stress and enhanced tolerance in chickpea mainly due to higher antioxidant enzymes activity, demonstrating the protective measures of plant cells in stress conditions.

Optimum planting arrangement is an important attribute for efficient utilization of available resources and to obtain high yield of cotton. Application of plant growth promoter and retardant on cotton in improved planting density are the innovative techniques in the establishment of more productive cotton crop. Therefore, we planned a field study to assess the role of bio-stimulant and growth retardant in the resource utilization efficiency of cotton cultivars planted under variable row spacing at Agronomic Research Area Bahauddin Zakariya University and Usmania Agricultural Farm Shujabad during Kharif 2012. Experimental treatments consisted of cotton genotypes viz. CIM-573 and CIM-598, cultivated under conventional (75 cm), medium (50 cm) and ultra-narrow row spacing (25 cm) with foliar spray of bio-stimulant (moringa leaf extract) and growth retardant (mepiquate chloride), either sole or in combination, keeping distilled water as a control. Exogenously applied MLE alone and MLE + MC significantly enhanced the number of squares, flowers and green bolls per plant leading to higher cotton seed and lint yield of CIM 598 cultivar cultivated under conventional row spacing. While application of MC alone and MLE + MC produced maximum micronaire value, fiber strength and fiber uniformity ratio of CIM 573 cultivar cultivated under conventional row spacing. The results suggested that application of MLE is a possible approach to enhance the cotton productivity and the use of MC to enhance the fiber quality attributes under conventional row spacing.