IoT Enabled Smart Activity Recognition using Machine Learning Methods

Internet of Things (IoT) enabled architecture-based devices are becoming accessible worldwide irrespective of the area. But functional settings depend on Internet facilities. In this context, the Healthcare industry took a step forward to automate Human Activity Recognition related concepts using IoT and Machine learning methods. This research used a Nodemcu ESP8266 device to track and communicate human activities acquired using ADXL345 accelerometer sensors. Three volunteers participated in this research, and data were acquired using two accelerometer sensors placed on the hand, wrist, and ankle. Data shared to the cloud- thingspeak.com. Acquired data were analyzed and trained with the Random Forest algorithm and tested with the data, achieving 100% accuracy. This model can be helpful in various applications like elderly patient monitoring, I.C.U., dementia, Alzheimer's, etc

Stable transformation of Xylella fastidiosa with small repW shuttle vector pUFR047

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf ) is a fastidious, xylem-inhabiting, Gram-negative bacterium that causes serious plant diseases in a wide range of plant species. The most serious diseases are Pierce’s Disease (PD) of grape and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis (CVC). Functional genomic analyses of Xf have been severely limited by lack of a stable replicative shuttle vector. Plamsid pUFR047, small, stable, wide host range, conjugative and repW shuttle vector have been successfully transferred into Xf strains by electroporation. The vector replicated in a stable manner for over thirty generations of growth in the absence of antibiotic selection in Xf strains

An efficient method for the production of transgenic plants of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation

Cotyledon explants from mature peanut seeds (Arachis hypogaea L.) were optimized to obtain adventitious shoot buds with high frequencies (\90%). Efficient transformation of these cotyledons by using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58 carrying neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) and ß-glucuronidase (GUS; uidA), or coat protein gene of the Indian peanut clump virus (IPCVcp) and nptII on binary vectors (pBI121; pROKII:IPCVcp) led to the production of a large percentage (55%) of transgenic plants. Transformed individuals were obtained through selection on medium containing 125 mg l�1 kanamycin. A large number of independently transformed plants (over 75) were successfully transplanted to the glasshouse. Integration of the transgenes and stable genetic transformants in the progeny were assessed by PCR amplification of 700-bp fragment of nptII and 585-bp of IPCVcp genes, and Southern blot hybridizations in the T1 generation of transgenic plants. Analysis of 35 transgenic plants of T1 generation from the progeny of a single transformation event suggested the segregation of a single copy insert in a 3:1 Mendelian ratio. On an average, 120–150 days were required between the initiation of explant transformation and transfer of rooted plants to the greenhouse. The cotyledon regeneration system proved to be an excellent vehicle for the production of a large number of independently transformed peanut plants. Shoot formation was rapid and prolific, and a large proportion of these shoots developed into fertile plants. The method reported here provides new opportunities for the crop improvement of peanut via genetic transformation. © 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of manganese toxicity on growth and N2 fixation in groundnut, Arachis hypogaea

The development of manganese (Mn) toxicity symptoms and its effects on the growth, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation of groundnut genotypes were examined using a quartz-sand/solution culture system. The 11 genotypes tested all accumulated considerable concentrations of manganese (1.04–3.07 mg g-1dry matter) when supplied with 15 μg Mn ml-1of nutrient solution daily. Toxicity symptoms differed between genotypes: some showed no visual effects, some produced marginal leaf spots, and others developed marginal leaf spots coupled with an inward rolling of the margins of the younger leaves. The growth of one genotype (ICG 5394) grown with inorganic nitrogen as its source of N was more severely affected by Mn toxicity than when dependent on symbiotic fixation for its nitrogen

Competition among strains of bradyrhizobium and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae for groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) root infection and their effect on plant growth and yield

Strains of Bradyrhizobium influenced root colonization of groundnuts by a species of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM), and species of VAM influenced root nodulation by strains of Bradyrhizobium in pot experiments. In a field experiment, the effects of VAM on competition amongst inoculated bradyrhizobia were less evident, but inoculation with Bradyrhizobium strains increased root colonization by VAM. Certain VAM/Bradyrhizobium inoculum strain combinations produced higher nodule numbers. Plants grown without Bradyrhizobium and VAM but supplied with ammonium nitrate (300 micro g/ml) and potassium phosphate (16 micro g/ml) produced higher DM yields than those inoculated with both symbionts in the pot experiment. Inoculation with either symbiont in the field did not result in higher pod and haulm yields at harves

Enumeration of rhizobia by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

The use of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to enumerate rhizobia in peat carrier and in soil has been investigated. The ELISA technique takes less time than the conventional plant infection technique often used to enumerate rhizobia present in the presence of other micro-organisms. A minimum of 102–103 cells are required for a detectable ELISA reaction, limiting the use of this technique when the number of rhizobia is low

Enumeration of rhizobia by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA

The use of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to enumerate rhizobia in peat carrier and in soil has been investigated. The ELISA technique takes less time than the conventional plant infection technique often used to enumerate rhizobia present in the presence of other micro-organisms. A minimum of 102–103 cells are required for a detectable ELISA reaction, limiting the use of this technique when the number of rhizobia is low

Molecular diversity in Trichoderma isolates with potential for biocontrol of Aspergillus flavus infection in groundnut

The species of the genus Trichoderma are known to be potential biocontrol agents for several soilborne plant pathogens (Papavizas 1985). During the past two years we have identified several Trichoderma isolates that have shown strong antagonism to Aspergillus flavus infecting groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and some of these isolates have been used as potential biocontrol agents in greenhouse and field experiments (Desai et al. 2000, Anjaiah el al., in press). One of the mechanisms of biocontrol of plant pathogens with Trichoderma is known as mycoparasitism where Trichoderma recognizes and attaches to the pathogenic fungus and begins to excrete extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, such as chitinases, fc-1,3-glucanses, proteases, and lipases. These enzymes act on the cell walls of the fungi and thus cause lysis. Trichoderma spp are difficult to distinguish morphologically (Bissett 1991), and it is not yet well known whether the ability for biocontrol is a general property of the genus Trichoderma or a specific attribute of some species only. The molecular diversity among the species will help in characterizing the isolates for different modes of biocontrol ability and their deployment for effective control of plant pathogens. Using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting we studied genetic diversity in 17 Trichoderma isolates belonging to different species used in biocontrol of A. flavus infection in groundnut. The in vitro antagonistic characteristics of these isolates were reported earlier (Desai et al. 2000)

Agrobacterium-mediated production of transgenic pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.Millsp.) expressing the synthetic bt cry1Ab gene

Conventional breeding methods have not been very successful in producing pest-resistant genotypes of pigeonpea, due to the limited genetic variation in cultivated germplasm. We have developed an efficient method to produce transgenic plants of pigeonpea by incorporating the cry1Ab gene of Bacillus thuringiensis through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation. The novel tissue culture protocol is based on the direct regeneration of adventitious shoot buds in the axillary bud region of in vitro germinating seedlings by suppressing the axillary and primary shoot buds on a medium containing a high concentration of N6-benzyladenine (22.0 µM). The tissue with potential to produce adventitious shoot buds can be explanted and used for co-cultivation with A. tumefaciens carrying the synthetic cry1Ab on a binary vector and driven by a CaMV 35S promoter. Following this protocol, over 75 independently transformed transgenic events of pigeonpea were produced and advanced to T2 generation. Amongst the recovered primary putative transformation events, 60% showed positive gene integration based on initial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening. PCR analysis of the progenies from independent transformants followed gene inheritance in a Mendelian ratio and 65% of the transformants showed the presence of single-copy inserts of the introduced genes. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the transcripts of the introduced genes were normally transcribed and resulted in the expression of Cry1Ab protein in the tested T2 generation plants. Interestingly, the content of Cry1Ab protein as a percent of total soluble protein varied in different tissues of the whole plant, showing the highest expression in flowers (0.1%) and least in the leaves (0.025%) as estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The transgenic plants produced in this study offer immense potential for the improvement of this important legume of the semi-arid tropics for resistance to insect pests

Evaluation of bacteria and Trichoderma for biocontrol of pre-harvest seed infection by Aspergillus flavus in groundnut

Fluorescent Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Trichoderma spp. potentially antagonistic to A. flavus were isolated from the geocarposphere (pod zone) of groundnut and used successfully for the control of pre-harvest groundnut seed infection by A. flavus. In greenhouse and field experiments, inoculation of selected antagonistic strains on groundnut resulted in a significant reduction of seed infection by A. flavus, and also reduced >50% of the A. flavus populations (as colony-forming unit) in the geocarposphere of groundnut