Evaluation of Remote-Controlled spraying rover in high-density apple orchards

The study evaluates the performance, effectiveness and efficiency of the remote-controlled spraying rover in comparison to traditional sprayers for high-density apple orchards in Kashmir region of India. The analysis process involved spray pattern, Swath width, discharge rate, average droplet size, leaf coverage area, uniformity coefficient and field efficiency. It revealed that forward speed, boom height, and pump pressure significantly affect droplet characteristics in spraying. Higher pressure produced smaller droplets, while lower boom height and slower speed resulted in larger droplets. Optimal mean droplet sizes were found at 0.96 µm (top) and 29.47 µm (bottom). Droplet distribution and leaf coverage were influenced similarly, with the middle section having the highest droplet count and coverage. Uniformity coefficients varied from 0.5 to 0.94, showing optimal conditions at specific parameter combinations. Discharge rate responded to pressure changes, swath width and work rate increased with higher pressure and boom height. Field efficiency ranged from 82.12 to 82.73%. Optimized parameters of forward speed of 0.61 km.h-1, boom height of 135 cm, and pump pressure of 1.45 kg.cm-2, enhanced overall efficiency for agricultural spraying

3D DRUG PRINTING- A SWING FROM LABORATORY PRODUCTION TO COMPUTERIZED PRODUCTION

Three-Dimensional (3D) printing is a process where objects are made in successive layers under computer control by fusing or depositing materials. The objects can be of nearly any shape or geometry and come in a computer-aided (CAD) design from 3D model. Since 3D printing began in 1984, it has changed enormously and has been used in a wide range of fields, including medicine and architecture. 3D printing moves rapidly and in future will transform and change the way we live and work from laboratory-based organs to pharmaceutical supplies. 3D printing in pharmaceuticals has been used to produce many novel dosage forms like microcapsules, complex drug-release profiles, nanosuspensions, and multilayered drug delivery devices. It also offers important advantages from the industrial point of view such as cost-efficiency, higher productivity, democracy-making and enhanced cooperation. Keeping in view the recent approval given by USFDA to many drug the focus has now shifted to the personalized medicine as it offers an important benefit to patients who need medications that have narrow therapeutic index or a higher predilection to be influenced by genetic polymorphisms. 3D printer is now seen as a valuable, efficient and economical tool to manufacture individualized medications, tailored to specific patients based on their needs and thereby change the future of pharmacy practice in general and pharmaceutical care in particular

OCULAR INSERTS - A NOVEL APPROACH IN OCULAR DRUG DELIVERY

Among the ocular dosage forms, the physiological and anatomical constraints put forth by the eye is a significant challenge to the pharmaceutical scientists and researchers to target drugs to the posterior segment of the eye, prolong their contact time with the ocular surface and sustained release. Hence novel drug delivery strategies and formulations are to be developed and explored which will overcome the ocular constraints and provide better patient compliance. At present, various novel and controlled drug delivery systems are being developed in order to attain better ocular bioavailability, sustained action of ocular drugs as well as good patient compliance. Ocular insert is an example of such delivery system. These are sterile preparations, with a thin, multilayered, drug-impregnated, solid or semisolid consistency devices placed into cul-de-sac or conjunctiva sac of the eye. Ocular inserts are an alternative approach to overcome the problems associated with conventional ocular dosage forms like solutions, suspensions, ointments, etc. The article hereunder gives a detailed idea about the classification, mechanism of action, formulation, pros and cons; evaluation and future trends of ocular inserts

Heavy metals mitigation and growth promoting effect of endophytic Agrococcus terreus (MW 979614) in maize plants under zinc and nickel contaminated soil

IntroductionHeavy metals such as iron, copper, manganese, cobalt, silver, zinc, nickel, and arsenic have accumulated in soils for a long time due to the dumping of industrial waste and sewage. Various techniques have been adapted to overcome metal toxicity in agricultural land but utilizing a biological application using potential microorganisms in heavy metals contaminated soil may be a successful approach to decontaminate heavy metals soil. Therefore, the current study aimed to isolate endophytic bacteria from a medicinal plant (Viburnum grandiflorum) and to investigate the growth-promoting and heavy metal detoxification potential of the isolated endophytic bacteria Agrococus tereus (GenBank accession number MW 979614) under nickel and zinc contamination.MethodsZinc sulfate and nickel sulfate solutions were prepared at the rate of 100 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg in sterilized distilled water. The experiment was conducted using a completely random design (CRD) with three replicates for each treatment.Results and DiscussionInoculation of seeds with A. tereus significantly increased the plant growth, nutrient uptake, and defense system. Treatment T4 (inoculated seeds), T5 (inoculated seeds + Zn100 mg/kg), and T6 (inoculated seeds + Ni 100 mg/kg) were effective, but T5 (inoculated seeds + Zn100 mg/kg) was the most pronounced and increased shoot length, root length, leaf width, plant height, fresh weight, moisture content, and proline by 49%, 38%, 89%, 31%, 113%, and 146%, respectively. Moreover the antioxidant enzymes peroxidase and super oxidase dismutase were accelerated by 211 and 68% in contaminated soil when plants were inoculated by A. tereus respectively. Similarly the inoculation of A. tereus also enhanced maize plants’ absorption of Cu, Mn, Ni, Na, Cr, Fe, Ca, Mg, and K significantly. Results of the findings concluded that 100 mg/kg of Zn and Ni were toxic to maize growth, but seed inoculation with A. tereus helped the plants significantly in reducing zinc and nickel stress. The A. tereus strain may be employed as a potential strain for the detoxification of heavy metal

3D DRUG PRINTING- A SWING FROM LABORATORY PRODUCTION TO COMPUTERIZED PRODUCTION

Three-Dimensional (3D) printing is a process where objects are made in successive layers under computer control by fusing or depositing materials. The objects can be of nearly any shape or geometry and come in a computer-aided (CAD) design from 3D model. Since 3D printing began in 1984, it has changed enormously and has been used in a wide range of fields, including medicine and architecture. 3D printing moves rapidly and in future will transform and change the way we live and work from laboratory-based organs to pharmaceutical supplies.&#x0D; 3D printing in pharmaceuticals has been used to produce many novel dosage forms like microcapsules, complex drug-release profiles, nanosuspensions, and multilayered drug delivery devices. It also offers important advantages from the industrial point of view such as cost-efficiency, higher productivity, democracy-making and enhanced cooperation.&#x0D; Keeping in view the recent approval given by USFDA to many drug the focus has now shifted to the personalized medicine as it offers an important benefit to patients who need medications that have narrow therapeutic index or a higher predilection to be influenced by genetic polymorphisms. 3D printer is now seen as a valuable, efficient and economical tool to manufacture individualized medications, tailored to specific patients based on their needs and thereby change the future of pharmacy practice in general and pharmaceutical care in particular.</jats:p

Outcomes of Dynamic Condylar Screw Fixation in Subtrochanteric Femoral Fractures

Aim: To determine the union rate in subtrochanteric femoral fractures fixed with dynamic condylar screw system. Study Design: Descriptive study Place and duration of study: This study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from June 2019 to December 2021. Methodology: This study included 100 patients with subtrochanteric femoral fractures. Sampling was done with the consecutive sampling technique. Male and female patients were included in this study. The A.O classification was used to classify all the fractures. After 8 weeks, the fracture union was evaluated, and the results (in terms of yes/no) were documented on a pre-designed proforma. Results: This study included 100 patients with subtrochanteric femoral fractures. The patients' average age was 39.56±15.125 years, and the average duration of fracture was 4.10±1.973 days. There were fifty nine female patients (59%), and forty one male patients (41%). Type A fractures were reported in 19(19%) patients, type B in 48 (48%) patients, and type C in 33 (33%). Fracture union was reported in 79 (79%) of the 100 cases. Dynamic condylar screw is regarded as a very good implant for subtrochanteric fractures due to numerous advantages such as ease of availability, stable fixation, increased strength, resistance to stress failure and reduced surgical time. However, the union rate in our local population was not known prior to our research. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find the union rates in subtrochanteric femoral fractures fixed with dynamic condylar screw. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed an increased union rate in patients with subtrochanteric femoral fractures fixed with DCS (dynamic condylar screw system). There was a significant relationship between patient age, fracture duration, and fracture type. Keywords: Subtrochanteric Femoral Fractures, Internal Fixation, Dynamic Condylar Screw.</jats:p

Table_1_Heavy metals mitigation and growth promoting effect of endophytic Agrococcus terreus (MW 979614) in maize plants under zinc and nickel contaminated soil.pdf

IntroductionHeavy metals such as iron, copper, manganese, cobalt, silver, zinc, nickel, and arsenic have accumulated in soils for a long time due to the dumping of industrial waste and sewage. Various techniques have been adapted to overcome metal toxicity in agricultural land but utilizing a biological application using potential microorganisms in heavy metals contaminated soil may be a successful approach to decontaminate heavy metals soil. Therefore, the current study aimed to isolate endophytic bacteria from a medicinal plant (Viburnum grandiflorum) and to investigate the growth-promoting and heavy metal detoxification potential of the isolated endophytic bacteria Agrococus tereus (GenBank accession number MW 979614) under nickel and zinc contamination.MethodsZinc sulfate and nickel sulfate solutions were prepared at the rate of 100 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg in sterilized distilled water. The experiment was conducted using a completely random design (CRD) with three replicates for each treatment.Results and DiscussionInoculation of seeds with A. tereus significantly increased the plant growth, nutrient uptake, and defense system. Treatment T4 (inoculated seeds), T5 (inoculated seeds + Zn100 mg/kg), and T6 (inoculated seeds + Ni 100 mg/kg) were effective, but T5 (inoculated seeds + Zn100 mg/kg) was the most pronounced and increased shoot length, root length, leaf width, plant height, fresh weight, moisture content, and proline by 49%, 38%, 89%, 31%, 113%, and 146%, respectively. Moreover the antioxidant enzymes peroxidase and super oxidase dismutase were accelerated by 211 and 68% in contaminated soil when plants were inoculated by A. tereus respectively. Similarly the inoculation of A. tereus also enhanced maize plants’ absorption of Cu, Mn, Ni, Na, Cr, Fe, Ca, Mg, and K significantly. Results of the findings concluded that 100 mg/kg of Zn and Ni were toxic to maize growth, but seed inoculation with A. tereus helped the plants significantly in reducing zinc and nickel stress. The A. tereus strain may be employed as a potential strain for the detoxification of heavy metals</p

Exogenous Application of Biostimulants and Synthetic Growth Promoters Improved the Productivity and Grain Quality of Quinoa Linked with Enhanced Photosynthetic Pigments and Metabolomics

Modern agriculture is mainly concerned with maximum resource use efficiency linked with greater productivity to feed the growing global population. The exogenous application of biostimulants is considered a sustainable approach to improve the growth and productivity of field crops. The present study was carried out to explore the comparative impact of biostimulants and synthetic compounds on quinoa crop (cultivar UAF-Q7), as it has gained significant popularity among agricultural scientists and farmers throughout the world, due to its high nutritional profile. A two-year field experiment was carried out at the Research Area of Directorate of Farms, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Application of moringa leaf extract (MLE) produced the maximum total chlorophyll (5.11 mg g−1) and carotenoids (1.2 mg g−1), compared with the control. Antioxidants’ activities and gas exchange attributes were also recorded as the highest following MLE application. Mineral elements in root and in shoot were found highest in response to MLE application. Similarly, application of MLE significantly improved the growth and yield attributes of quinoa. Mineral elements of grain (Mg, Zn and Fe) were also significantly enhanced. MLE was found to be more responsive in improving the growth and quality compared with synthetic compounds.</jats:p

DataSheet1_Revisiting methotrexate and phototrexate Zinc15 library-based derivatives using deep learning in-silico drug design approach.pdf

Introduction: Cancer is the second most prevalent cause of mortality in the world, despite the availability of several medications for cancer treatment. Therefore, the cancer research community emphasized on computational techniques to speed up the discovery of novel anticancer drugs.Methods: In the current study, QSAR-based virtual screening was performed on the Zinc15 compound library (271 derivatives of methotrexate (MTX) and phototrexate (PTX)) to predict their inhibitory activity against dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a potential anticancer drug target. The deep learning-based ADMET parameters were employed to generate a 2D QSAR model using the multiple linear regression (MPL) methods with Leave-one-out cross-validated (LOO-CV) Q2 and correlation coefficient R2 values as high as 0.77 and 0.81, respectively.Results: From the QSAR model and virtual screening analysis, the top hits (09, 27, 41, 68, 74, 85, 99, 180) exhibited pIC50 ranging from 5.85 to 7.20 with a minimum binding score of -11.6 to -11.0 kcal/mol and were subjected to further investigation. The ADMET attributes using the message-passing neural network (MPNN) model demonstrated the potential of selected hits as an oral medication based on lipophilic profile Log P (0.19-2.69) and bioavailability (76.30% to 78.46%). The clinical toxicity score was 31.24% to 35.30%, with the least toxicity score (8.30%) observed with compound 180. The DFT calculations were carried out to determine the stability, physicochemical parameters and chemical reactivity of selected compounds. The docking results were further validated by 100 ns molecular dynamic simulation analysis.Conclusion: The promising lead compounds found endorsed compared to standard reference drugs MTX and PTX that are best for anticancer activity and can lead to novel therapies after experimental validations. Furthermore, it is suggested to unveil the inhibitory potential of identified hits via in-vitro and in-vivo approaches.</p