IoT and Neural Network-Based Water Pumping Control System For Smart Irrigation

This article aims at saving the wasted water in the process of irrigation using the Internet of Things (IoT) based on a set of sensors and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural network. The developed system handles the sensor data using the Arduino board to control the water pump automatically. The sensors measure the environmental factors; namely temperature, humidity, and soil moisture to estimate the required time for the operation of water irrigation. The water pump control system consists of software and hardware tools such as Arduino Remote XY interface and electronic sensors in the framework of IoT technology. The machine learning algorithm such as the MLP neural network plays an important role to support the decision of automatic control of IoT-based irrigation system, managing the water consumption effectively.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Exploring noise effects in chaotic optical networks

We report the experimental evidence coherence and stochastic resonance in a dynamics of fast chaotic spiking of a semiconductor laser with optical feedback using an external nonwhite noise in the pumping current. We characterize both coherence and stochastic resonance in the time and frequency domain. We show that the regularity of the chaotic pulses in the intensity of laser diod increases when adding noise and it is optimal for some intermediate value of the noise intensity. We find that the power spectrum of the signal develops a peak at a finite frequency at intermediate values of the noise. The results show that noise may help in extracting the periodic signal without synchronization in chaotic communication. Then we reported the effect of external noise numerically on a single system by using bifurcation diagram. Finally, we considered Chaos synchronization in a network of 28 distinct chaotic systems with independent initial conditions when a normal Gaussian noise is added. The transition between non-synchronization to synchronization states using a suitable spatio-temporal representation has been reported. The role of coherence has also been considered. Keywords: Coherence resonance, Stochastic resonance, Control, Nois

Challenges for Conducting Research during Pandemics. A Narrative Review

Background: Research during pandemics presents unique challenges and opportunities that are crucial for advancing scientific knowledge and improving public health responses. This study's topic is significant due to the unprecedented disruptions caused by pandemics like COVID-19, which have impacted all stages of the research process. This study aims to identify and analyze research challenges during pandemics and propose strategies to overcome these obstacles.Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted, focusing on the challenges of conducting research during pandemics. A comprehensive search strategy was implemented, using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, with keywords including "pandemic," "research challenges," "COVID-19 research," "SARS research," "clinical trials during pandemics," "best practices," and "research strategies." The review covered studies published from 2004 to 2023, including previous pandemics like SARS, H1N1, and COVID-19. Relevant articles were identified through database searches and manual reference list reviews.Discussion: The review revealed multidimensional challenges affecting various stages of the research process. Political, economic, administrative, regulatory, logistical, ethical, and social challenges were identified. Logistical difficulties were prevalent, such as limited access to laboratories and supply chain disruptions. Ethical challenges, including informed consent and data privacy, were magnified during health crises. The mental health impacts on researchers and participants were also significant, with increased anxiety and depression affecting engagement and well-being.Conclusion: The study concludes that while pandemics introduce considerable challenges for conducting research, there are also valuable lessons and best practices that can be applied in future crises. Effective strategies include investing in digital infrastructure, developing flexible ethical frameworks, implementing adaptive clinical trial designs, and supporting mental health for researchers and participants. By learning from the COVID-19 pandemic, the research community can better prepare for and navigate future pandemics, ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of scientific investigations

Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activityof 3-substituted Benzo[4,5]thiazolo[2,3-c][1,2,4]triazole

New series of tricyclic benzo[d]thiazole derivatives (2-12) incorporated into fused to different five membered nitrogen and sulphur containing heterocyclic were prepared from 2- hydrazinobenzo[d]thiazole (1) when treated with triethylformate, acetic anhydride, ethyl chloro acetate, carbon disulphide in alkali, and urea respectively. Compound(1) converted to Schiff’s bases by the condensation different aromatic aldehydes, the synthesized Schiff’s bases were cyclized by bromine in acetic acid to form triazole ring in the new derivatives (7-11) , which might result in biologically active agents. Similar new tricyclic compounds, triazolobenzothiazol-3-amine [12], was obtained from action of benzo[d]thiazole-2-thiol with thiosemicarbazide. The structures of the new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis and spectral data. Newly synthesized compounds (2-12) were screened for their antibacterial activity against four bacterial species. They were found to exhibit good antibacterial activity

Biochar a promising amendment to mitigate the drought stress in plants: review and future prospective

Drought stress (DS) is one of the most destructive abiotic stresses that negatively affects plant growth, and yield. The intensity of DS is continuously increasing due rapid of water sources, less rainfall, and an increase in global warming. The world’s population is increasing at an alarming rate which needs a substantial increase in crop production to meet global food needs. Therefore, in this context, we must have to increase crop production in the scenarios of rapid climate change and increasing intensity of abiotic stresses. Globally, different measures are used to mitigate the adverse impacts of DS, recently biochar (BC) has emerged as an excellent soil amendment to mitigate the toxic effects of DS and improve crop production. The application maintains membrane integrity, plant water relations, nutrient homeostasis, photosynthetic performance, hormonal balance and osmolytes accumulation, and gene expression thereby improving plant performance under DS. Moreover, BC application under DS also improves soil organic matter, water holding capacity, soil structure stability, and activity of beneficial microbes which can improve the plant performance under DS. In the present review different mechanisms through which BC mitigates the adverse impacts of DS on plants are discussed. This review provides new suggestions on the role of BC in mitigating the adverse impacts of DS

New Petro‐aggression in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia in the Spotlight

That hydrocarbon abundance may lead to more violence is an established truism in the literature on the resource curse. Looking at the Middle East, however, the literature relates bellicose state behaviour entirely to oil-producing revolutionary republics. Instead, dynastic monarchies are claimed to be the more peacefully behaving actors. Current developments turn this conclusion upside down, however. Since 2015 at the latest, the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia, the leading monarchy in the Middle East, has transformed from multi-dependence to petro-aggression. By discussing this striking transformation, the paper puts forward a framework looking at the interaction of three crucial dimensions: first, the decreasing power projection towards the Middle East by the United States, the decade-long hegemon, due to gradual changes in world energy markets and war fatigue at home; second, the lasting fiscal potency of the Saudi regime; and, third, the personalization of the Saudi monarchy under King Salman as a historically contingent result of transferring power to the generation of Ibn Saud's grandsons

Drought stress-induced modification of morpho-anatomical and yield attributes of mung bean associated with the application of silicon and Moringa leaf extract

Mung bean (Vigna radiata) is the rich source of fiber and essential nutrients. They play a vital role in sustainable agriculture due to their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil and enhance soil fertility. Drought is characterized by limited water resources and severe arid climatic conditions, notably impair crop growth and yield. In the current experiment, two genotypes, Azri-M 2006 and NM-92, were studied against drought stress that was applied as 2 days and 4 days irrigation gap per week. Foliar application of magnesium-silicate (20 ppm and 30 ppm concentrations) and Moringa leaf extract (30% v/v solution) was applied as treatments. The results from the experiment morphology anatomical and yield components were recorded according to the prescribed methods. The result revealed that drought stress reduced the growth of plant. Foliar application of 30 ppm silicon against drought stress showed a highly significant (p<0.001) result compared with control group. Morphology parameters, including shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, root dry weight, leaf area, leaf number, the anatomical structure included (stem epidermis, cortex, and stem vascular bundles,) and also yield components (pod length, and seed numbers). In contrast, MLE (30%) showed a significant impact (p<0.01) on leaf lamina thickness (Leaf anatomical parameters; midrib xylem and phloem, number of stomata on the adaxial and abaxial surface) and yield components included (100-grain weight, grains weight per plant, and numbers of pods,). The overall impact of 30 ppm Si was 39.9% more positive on Azri-M2006 than the NM-92 against the drought stress. The 30-ppm silicon and 30% MLE showed 90% similar results in all studied parameters. This study confirms that 30% MLE could be recommended to farmers to improve productivity under arid conditions than the silicon

Continuity Culture: A Key Factor for Building Resilience and Sound Recovery Capabilities

This article investigates the extent to which Jordanian service organizations seek to establish continuity culture through testing, training, and updating of their business continuity plans. A survey strategy was adopted in this research. Primary and secondary data were used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five senior managers from five large Jordanian service organizations registered with the Amman Stock Exchange. The selection of organizations was made on the basis of simple random sampling. Interviews targeted the headquarters only in order to obtain a homogenous sample. Three out of five organizations could be regarded as crisis prepared and have better chances for recovery. The other two organizations exhibited characteristics of standard practice that only emphasizes the recovery aspect of business continuity management (BCM), while paying less attention to establishing resilient cultures and embedding BCM. The findings reveal that the ability to recover following major incidents can be improved by embedding BCM in the culture of the organization and by making BCM an enterprise-wide process. This is one of few meticulous studies that have been undertaken in the Middle East and the first in Jordan to investigate the extent to which service organizations focus on embedding BCM in the organizational culture

Interleukin-10 inhibits osteoclastogenesis by reducing NFATc1 expression and preventing its translocation to the nucleus

BACKGROUND: IL-10 has a potent inhibitory effect on osteoclastogenesis. In vitro and in vivo studies confirm the importance of this cytokine in bone metabolism, for instance IL-10-deficient mice develop the hallmarks of osteoporosis. Although it is known that IL-10 directly inhibits osteoclastogenesis at an early stage, preventing differentiation of osteoclast progenitors to preosteoclasts, the precise mechanism of its action is not yet clear. Several major pathways regulate osteoclastogenesis, with key signalling genes such as p38, TRAF6, NF-κB and NFATc1 well established as playing vital roles. We have looked at gene expression in eleven of these genes using real-time quantitative PCR on RNA extracted from RANKL-treated RAW264.7 monocytes. RESULTS: There was no downregulation by IL-10 of DAP12, FcγRIIB, c-jun, RANK, TRAF6, p38, NF-κB, Gab2, Pim-1, or c-Fos at the mRNA level. However, we found that IL-10 significantly reduces RANKL-induced NFATc1 expression. NFATc1 is transcribed from two alternative promoters in Mus musculus and, interestingly, only the variant transcribed from promoter P1 and beginning with exon 1 was downregulated by IL-10 (isoform 1). In addition, immunofluorescence studies showed that IL-10 reduces NFATc1 levels in RANKL-treated precursors and suppresses nuclear translocation. The inhibitory effect of IL-10 on tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cell number and NFATc1 mRNA expression was reversed by the protein kinase C agonist phorbol myristate acetate, providing evidence that interleukin-10 disrupts NFATc1 activity through its effect on Ca(2+ )mobilisation. CONCLUSION: IL-10 acts directly on mononuclear precursors to inhibit NFATc1 expression and nuclear translocation, and we provide evidence that the mechanism may involve disruption of Ca(2+ )mobilisation. We detected downregulation only of the NFATc1 isoform 1 transcribed from promoter P1. This is the first report indicating that one of the ways in which IL-10 directly inhibits osteoclastogenesis is by suppressing NFATc1 activity

The Nuts and Bolts of Einstein-Maxwell Solutions

We find new non-supersymmetric solutions of five-dimensional ungauged supergravity coupled to two vector multiplets. The solutions are regular, horizonless and have the same asymptotic charges as non-extremal charged black holes. An essential ingredient in our construction is a four-dimensional Euclidean base which is a solution to Einstein-Maxwell equations. We construct stationary solutions based on the Euclidean dyonic Reissner-Nordstrom black hole as well as a six-parameter family with a dyonic Kerr-Newman-NUT base. These solutions can be viewed as compactifications of eleven-dimensional supergravity on a six-torus and we discuss their brane interpretation.Comment: 29 pages, 3 figure