Thyroid cancer incidence rates have increased exponentially between 2000 and 2010 and there is significant geographical variation in the incidence of thyroid cancer throughout the Kingdom. Thyroid cancer has become the second most common cancer among young Saudi women with a male to female ratio at 0.3:1. Rising incidence of thyroid cancer in Saudi Arabia may be due to the increased detection and diagnosis of the thyroid cancers and not only an increase in the true occurrence of thyroid cancer. More studies are required to determine this significant difference at the molecular level.

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The present study was aimed to isolate and characterize plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from the rhizosphere of rainfed area (Karak) in Pakistan. The influence of isolated rhizobacteria, in association with salicylic acid (SA), physiological attributes, drought tolerance potential, and phytoremediation in drought-stressed sunflower exposed was investigated. The isolated bacteria were named P1 and P2 and characterized on the basis of colony morphology and biochemical traits. Both PGPR P1 and P2 were identified on the basis of 16S-rRNA gene sequencing as Planomicrobium chinense strain P1 (Accession No. MF616408) and Bacillus cereus strain P2 (Accession No. MF616406). The fresh cultures (24 h old) of isolates were used to soak the seeds pre-sowing. SA was foliar applied at three-leaf-stage. Likewise, the 30-days-old seedlings (three leaf stage) were exposed to drought stress. Drought stress was imposed to 30-days-old plants (three-leaf stage) by withholding water supply for the next 15 days until the soil water content reached 10%. The PGPR and/or SA treatment resulted in significant accumulation of Cd (84%), Pb (66%), and Ni (65%) in the rhizosphere. PGPR also induced accumulation of Cd and Ni in plant shoot. Combined treatment of PGPR and SA increased the Cu (21%), Co (11%), and Zn (8%) accumulation but decreased (12%) the Fe accumulation as compared to coinoculation of PGPR P1 and P2. Inoculation of plants with PGPR significantly increased shoot length (60%), root length (68%), root fresh (61%), and dry (63%) biomass under water stress. The inoculated plants had increased chlorophyll (67%), carotenoid (70%), leaf protein (64%), sugar (64%), and phenolic (62%) contents while lower leaf proline (62%) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) (64%), and antioxidant enzymes (67%) which suggest their role in drought tolerance. It is concluded that integrative use of PGPR in combination with SA found to be an efficacious strategy to improve the phytoremediation of heavy metals and plant growth under stressed conditions particularly under water-deficient conditions.

Nanotechnology has shown promising potential tools and strategies at the nanometer scale to improve food production and meet the future demands of agricultural and food security. However, considering nanotechnology’s potential benefits to date, their applicability has not yet reached up to field conditions. Increasing concerns regarding absorption, translocation, bioavailability, toxicity of nanoparticles, and impropriety of the regulatory framework restrict the complete acceptance and inclination of the agricultural sector to implement nanotechnologies. The biological function of nanoparticles depends on their physicochemical properties, the method of application, and concentration. The effects of the various types of nanoparticles (NPs) on plants were determined to increase seed germination and biomass or grain yield. The NPs also increased the plant’s resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. The plant’s biological functions depend on the events that occur at the molecular level. However, little progress has been made at the molecular level influenced by nanoparticles, which is an important step in evaluating potential mechanisms and plants’ effects. Therefore, it is important to understand plants’ underlying mechanism and response towards nanoparticles, and the gene expression changes through molecular approaches. The associations of nanomaterials with plant cells, the process of internalization, and the distribution of biomolecules using nanoparticles as a carrier are studied but not well understood. The transmission of biomolecules, such as nucleic acids, is a major obstacle due to cell walls, limiting the application of nanomaterials in crop enhancement mediated by genetic engineering. Recently, the use of different nanomaterials for nucleic acid delivery in plant cells has been published. Here, we aim to update researchers on the absorption and translocation of nanoparticles and elaborate on the importance of nanoparticles in agriculture and crop stress tolerance.

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to find out empirically the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth and it will also highlight the relationship status between the variables included in the model, either long‐ or short‐run in case of China.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses secondary data obtained from World Development Indicators over the period 1985‐2009, whose viability has also been checked through the World Bank and IFS. An Augmented Dickey‐Fuller (ADF) unit root test is used to estimate an autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) approach to co‐integration as the variables in the model are in I(1) and I(0) form and the Schwarz Bayesian Criterion (SBC) is used in this study to find out the estimated lags of the model, which are ultimately used to find out the short‐ and long‐run relationship of the variables included in the model. The error correction model (ECM) was also applied which basically provides information about the causal factors that may affect the variables included in the model.FindingsThe results provide evidence that there is an empirical relationship among FDI and economic growth. The computed value of F‐statistics is greater than the upper bond value described by Pesaran, M.H. et al., which depicts evidence against the null hypothesis of no effect and hence long‐run relationship among the variables is concluded at bottom line. Empirical evidence reveals that FDI has a positive effect on economic growth. An error correction model (ECM) is applied and the error correction term was negative and significant. This indicates that there exists a relationship between the variables. Diagnostic tests showed a lack of heteroscedisticity, confirming the validity of the model; CUSUM and CUSUMSQ tests were used to reveal the model's stability.Practical implicationsThe Government of China should keep keen emphasis on the ingredients of this study so that China could reap maximum share of FDI through the achievement of positive spillovers of foreign investment, which ultimately results in its economic growth. However, the ingredients of this study depict the expenditures on security status, growth options as well as on infrastructure. This study also gives better impending in decision making about FDI in case of China.Originality/valueThis study bridges the gap between theory and practice and proves empirically the relationship between FDI and economic growth through auto regressive distributive lag approach (ARDL) to co‐integration in case of China. This research includes most dominating factors in the model which differentiate it from all previous empirical researches related to FDI's relationship with economic growth. However, this study not only pin points the new dominating factors related to this kind of relationship, but also set up a new horizon in the field of research to get groundbreaking results – in case of other countries – by following the footings set by this research.

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