Identifying Medicinal Plant Leaves Using Textures and Optimal Colour Spaces Channel

This paper presents an automated medicinal plant leaf identification system. The Colour Texture analysis of the leaves is done using the statistical, the Grey Tone Spatial Dependency Matrix(GTSDM) and the Local Binary Pattern(LBP) based features with 20 different colour spaces(RGB, XYZ, CMY, YIQ, YUV, $YC_{b}C_{r}$, YES, $U^{*}V^{*}W^{*}$, $L^{*}a^{*}b^{*}$, $L^{*}u^{*}v^{*}$, lms, $l\alpha\beta$, $I_{1} I_{2} I_{3}$, HSV, HSI, IHLS, IHS, TSL, LSLM and KLT). Classification of the medicinal plant is carried out with 70\% of the dataset in training set and 30\% in the test set. The classification performance is analysed with Stochastic Gradient Descent(SGD), kNearest Neighbour(kNN), Support Vector Machines based on Radial basis function kernel(SVM-RBF), Linear Discriminant Analysis(LDA) and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis(QDA) classifiers. Results of classification on a dataset of 250 leaf images belonging to five different species of plants show the identification rate of 98.7 \%. The results certainly show better identification due to the use of YUV, $L^{*}a^{*}b^{*}$ and HSV colour spaces

Non-Fermi-liquid behavior in nearly ferromagnetic metallic SrIrO3 single crystals

We report transport and thermodynamic properties of single-crystal SrIrO3 as a function of temperature T and applied magnetic field H. We find that SrIrO3 is a non-Fermi-liquid metal near a ferromagnetic instability, as characterized by the following properties: (1) small ordered moment but no evidence for long-range order down to 1.7 K; (2) strongly enhanced magnetic susceptibility that diverges as T or T1/2 at low temperatures, depending on the applied field; (3) heat capacity C(T,H) ~ -Tlog T that is readily amplified by low applied fields; (4) a strikingly large Wilson ratio at T< 4K; and (5) a T3/2-dependence of electrical resistivity over the range 1.7 < T < 120 K. A phase diagram based on the data implies SrIrO3 is a rare example of a stoichiometric oxide compound that exhibits non-Fermi-liquid behavior near a quantum critical point (T = 0 and H = 0.23 T)

Potential Application of Electrical Conductivity (EC) Map for Variable Rate Seeding

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 7 (2005): Potential Application of Electrical Conductivity (EC) Map for Variable Rate Seeding by M. R. Ehsani, C. D. Durairaj, S. Woods, M. Sulliva

Transition metal titanium (Ti) doped LaFeO3 nanoparticles for enhanced optical structural and magnetic properties

A series of LaFe1−xTixO3 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by simple co-precipitation technique. The synthesized samples (calcined at 800° C/3hr) were characterised for structural, optical and magnetic properties. Structural phase formation of the crystal shows orthorhombic planes of these samples phases. The average crystallite size (Dc) is decreasing with a dopant and found to be varying between ∼ 9 and 25 nm. Tailored surface morphology was analyzed using scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopes (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED) also confirms the evolution of orthorhombic phases. Diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) are recorded to evaluate the variation of optical band gap (Eg) upon titanium doping into the LaFeO3 system. The obtained results attributed that Eg values are increasing with dopant altering between 2.05 and 2.61 eV. The metal oxide (M - O) stretching vibrations and few functional groups are detected from infrared spectra (IR). The weak ferromagnetic behaviour is observed from hysteresis loop behaviour. Additionally, the large hysteresis loop behaviour induces no saturation up to 15 kOe in nanoparticles coercivity (Hc) and anisotropy constants (K1) are eventually decreasing with ‘x’ values

Pest management in grain legumes and climate change

Grain legumes such as chickpea, pigeonpea, cowpea, field pea, lentil, faba bean, black gram, green gram, grasspea, and Phaseolus beans play an important role in food and nutritional security, and sustainable crop production. Several insect pests damage these crops, of which pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera; spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata; spiny pod borer, Etiella zinckenella; pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa; stem fly, Ophiomyia phaseoli; pea and bean weevil, Sitona spp.; aphids, Aphis craccivora and Aphis fabae; white fly, Bemisia tabaci; defoliators, Spodoptera litura, S. exigua, and Amsacta spp.; leafhoppers, Empoasca spp., thrips, Megaleurothrips dorsalis, and Caliothrips indicus; blister beetles, Mylabris spp.; and the bruchids, Callasobruchus chinensis and Bruchus pisorum cause extensive losses. The incidence and extent of losses due to these pests varies across seasons, locations, and cropping systems. This scenario will change considerably due to impending global warming and climate change. The geographical distribution of some of the pests will extend to northern Europe and America, while the outbreks of some other pests will become more frequent. Several sources of resistance to insects have been identified in grain legumes, and improved cultivars also been developed in some crops. However, there are limitations to large-scale adoption of insect-resistant cultivars because of limited efforts in seed production and seed distribution. Cultural manipulation of the crop and its environment involving intercropping, population monitoring, manipulation of cropping systems to encourage the activity of natural enemies, use of natural plant products and bio-pesticides alone or in combination with synthetic pesticides, deployment of insect-resistant varieties derived through conventional breeding or genetic engineering, and need based application of synthetic pesticides can be used for pest management in grain legumes for sustainable crop production. The relative efficacy of some of these pest management tactics, particularly biopesticides and natural plant product might reduce considerably in warm climates. In addition, there will be greater genotype × environment interaction for expression of resistance to insect pests, and this warrants a greater effort for identification of diverse sources of resistance to insects, and develop integrated pest management packages that will be effective under variable climatic condition

The Hyperdense Internal Carotid Artery Sign: Prevalence and Prognostic Relevance in Stroke Thrombolysis

Introduction. The hyperdense internal carotid artery sign (HICAS) has been suggested as a common marker of terminal internal carotid artery (ICA) thrombus associated with poor outcomes following thrombolysis. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and prognostic significance of the HICAS in an unselected cohort of patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis. Methods. Prethrombolysis NCCTs of 120 patients were examined for the presence of the HICAS and hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS). A poor outcome was defined as a discharge Barthel score <15 or inpatient death. Results. A HICAS was present in 3 patients (2.5%). Prethrombolysis neurological deficits were significantly more severe in patients with a HICAS (P = 0.019). HICAS was not significantly associated with a poor outcome (P = 0.323). HMCAS was significantly associated with severe prethrombolysis neurological deficits (P = 0.0025) and a poor outcome (P = 0.015). Conclusions. This study suggests that the prevalence of the HICAS may be lower than previously reported. The presence of a HICAS was associated with severe prethrombolysis neurological deficits in keeping with terminal ICA occlusion. The role of the HICAS as a prognostic marker in stroke thrombolysis remains unclear

Parasitoid complex of legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on different pulses

The spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius is an important herbivore of major pulses and vegetable legumes in India and the chemical pesticides are major contributors for its management. In order to have an idea on other alternative management tools, the present studies were carried out on the availability of parasitoids and its genetic variation. Totally, four larval parasitoids viz., Bassus sp., Trathala flavoorbitalis Cameron, Phanerotoma hendecasisella Cameron and an undetermined Braconid wasp were recorded on M. vitrata larva. The occurrence of P. hendecasisella was reported for the first time from Tamil Nadu, India. The Bassus sp. was found to be dominant with the parasitism of 3.0 to 12.7% in different pulses and total parasitism of four parasitoids was maximum in pigeonpea (16.1 %). Total parasitism had a positive relationship with number of webbings on cowpea. The larval parasitoids Bassus sp. and braconid wasp (undetermined) yielded specific fragments (~800 bp) with mitochondrial COI primer. Presence of Wolbachia was confirmed in all four larval parasitoids with the amplicons size between 600 and 650 bp. Present study clearly indicated the close proximity of Bassus sp. on M. vitrata than other parasitoids studied. Hence, it gives way for further insights on suitability, mass culturing and development for sustainable management of this insect pest

Partial antiferromagnetism in spin-chain Sr5Rh4O12, Ca5Ir3O12 and Ca4IrO6 single crystals

We report a structural, thermodynamic and transport study of the newly synthesized Sr5Rh4O12, Ca5Ir3O12 and Ca4IrO6 single crystals. These quasi-one-dimensional insulators consist of a triangular lattice of spin chains running along the c-axis, and are commonly characterized by a partial antiferromagnetic (AFM) order, a small entropy removal associated with the phase transitions and a sizable low-temperature specific heat linearly proportional to temperature. Sr5Rh4O12 is defined by an AFM order below 23 K with strong evidence for an Ising character and two step-like transitions in isothermal magnetization leading to a ferrimagnetic state at 2.4 T and a ferromagnetic state at 4.8 T, respectively. Ca5Ir3O12 and Ca4IrO6 are also antiferromagnetically ordered below 7.8 K and 12 K, respectively, and show an unusually large ratio of the Curie-Weiss temperature to the Neel temperature. In particular, Ca5Ir3O12, which includes both Ir4+ and Ir5+ ions, reveals that only S=1/2 spins of the Ir4+ ions are involved in the magnetic ordering whereas S=3/2 spins of the Ir5+ ions remain disordered. All results suggest the presence of the geometrical frustration that causes incomplete long-range AFM order in these quasi-one-dimensional compounds

A mitochondrial membrane-bridging machinery mediates signal transduction of intramitochondrial oxidation

Mitochondria are the main site for generating reactive oxygen species, which are key players in diverse biological processes. However, the molecular pathways of redox signal transduction from the matrix to the cytosol are poorly defined. Here we report an inside-out redox signal of mitochondria. Cysteine oxidation of MIC60, an inner mitochondrial membrane protein, triggers the formation of disulfide bonds and the physical association of MIC60 with Miro, an outer mitochondrial membrane protein. The oxidative structural change of this membrane-crossing complex ultimately elicits cellular responses that delay mitophagy, impair cellular respiration and cause oxidative stress. Blocking the MIC60–Miro interaction or reducing either protein, genetically or pharmacologically, extends lifespan and health-span of healthy fruit flies, and benefits multiple models of Parkinson’s disease and Friedreich’s ataxia. Our discovery provides a molecular basis for common treatment strategies against oxidative stress

The tomato cytochrome P450 CYP712G1 catalyzes the double oxidation of orobanchol <i>en route</i> to the rhizosphere signaling strigolactone, solanacol

Strigolactones (SLs) are rhizosphere signalling molecules and phytohormones. The biosynthetic pathway of SLs in tomato has been partially elucidated, but the structural diversity in tomato SLs predicts that additional biosynthetic steps are required. Here, root RNA-seq data and co-expression analysis were used for SL biosynthetic gene discovery. This strategy resulted in a candidate gene list containing several cytochrome P450s. Heterologous expression in Nicotiana benthamiana and yeast showed that one of these, CYP712G1, can catalyse the double oxidation of orobanchol, resulting in the formation of three didehydro-orobanchol (DDH) isomers. Virus-induced gene silencing and heterologous expression in yeast showed that one of these DDH isomers is converted to solanacol, one of the most abundant SLs in tomato root exudate. Protein modelling and substrate docking analysis suggest that hydroxy-orbanchol is the likely intermediate in the conversion from orobanchol to the DDH isomers. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the occurrence of CYP712G1 homologues in the Eudicots only, which fits with the reports on DDH isomers in that clade. Protein modelling and orobanchol docking of the putative tobacco CYP712G1 homologue suggest that it can convert orobanchol to similar DDH isomers as tomato