Crack Localization and Detection in Small-Scale Reinforced Concrete Beams With Smart Technology

Reinforced concrete structures form the backbone of modern civil engineering, yet the emergence of cracks poses a significant challenge to their long-term integrity. The integration of smart sensors and data analytics further augments precision by enabling real-time data collection and analysis, allowing for early intervention. Continuous monitoring, facilitated by remote sensing and wireless communication, ensures a dynamic understanding of crack propagation. To validate the proposed approach, an experimental campaign was conducted using reinforced concrete beams. Three point bending tests were conducted on two small-scale reinforced concrete beams. Different configurations of SEC arrays were used on the two specimens to assess the capacity and limitation of the proposed approach. Results show that the sensing skin was capable of detecting and localizing cracks that formed in both specimens

Study of medicinal and allelopathic effect of different weeds of Odisha, India

The term "allelopathy" refers to a biological process in which one organism produces biochemicals that impact another organism's growth, survival, and reproduction. Weeds pose a considerable risk to agricultural output because they prevent or stunt crop growth and development, resulting in substantial yield losses. Here, we examine the wide range of weeds in farming and other non-forested areas of Odisha's coastal districts. As many as 63 weed species, representing 31 families, were discovered here. The Asteraceae family has the most weed species (11), followed by the Euphorbiaceae family (9 species) and the Poaceae family (6 species). Amaranthaceae and Cucurbitaceae are also commonly found in the area of study. The data combing from the field with those from academic studies, this study improved our understanding of weeds. The paper also discusses the myriad ways natives have found to put weeds to good use. Many common weeds in the study area have long histories of use as a primary source of basic medical care. Most skin ailments, diarrhoea, jaundice, piles, and urinary problems treated with ethnomedicinal weeds are caused by parasites. Traditional cultures often used weeds in various ways, including food, animal feed, and medicine. Some plants have allelopathic impact in addition to their ethnomedical benefits. The authors of this paper present a complete and up-to-date inventory of the weed species detected in Odisha's coastal districts. It will be put to work protecting the region's unique plant and animal life. The allelopathic impacts on crops and the ethnobotanical uses of weeds have been uncovered through research

COVID-19, deforestation, and green economy

Corona has severely impacted many sectors in the past 2. 5 years, and forests are one of the major hits among all sectors affected by the pandemic. This study presents the consolidated data on deforestation patterns across the globe during COVID and also analyzes in depth the region-specific contributing factors. Exacerbated deforestation during COVID alarms biodiversity conservation concerns and pushes back the long-term efforts to combat pollution and climate change mitigation. Deforestation also increases the risk of the emergence of new zoonotic diseases in future, as deforestation and COVID are intricately related to each other. Therefore, there is a need to check deforestation and inculcation of conservation measures in building back better policies adopted post-COVID. This review is novel in specifically providing insight into the implications of COVID-19 on forests in tropical as well as temperate global regions, causal factors, green policies given by different nations, and recommendations that will help in designing nature-based recovery strategies for combating deforestation and augmenting afforestation, thus providing better livelihood, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and better environmental quality

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Not AvailableNatural enemies or biocontrol agents include those organisms that are capable and helpful in managing and suppressing the insect pests infecting field crops and causing economic damage. The natural enemies have a major key role to play in controlling insect pests attacking hill crops. The hill agriculture is the cultivation of field crops in distributed patches of land in the vast matrix of forest. The crops are grown in small patches and there is vast diversity in the type of field crops cultivated. The insect pests are the major biotic stress causing agents in the present scenario of climate change in hill farming and many insect pests have gained the status of major insect pest recently. The first and foremost step taken by farmers to manage these insect pests in hill agriculture is to allow for natural control or take up insecticide spray with locally available, low grade insecticides. But, natural control along with human intervention to artificially release natural enemies would be the best strategy to manage pests at lower cost with higher effectivity. In this article we will be emphasising on major predators and parasitoids that can be easily identified by the farmers and encourage their population growth in order to exploit their services in pest management.Not Availabl

Chitosan: An Autocidal Molecule of Plant Pathogenic Fungus

The rise in the world’s food demand with the increasing population threatens the existence of civilization with two equally valuable concerns: increase in global food production and sustainability in the ecosystem. Furthermore, biotic and abiotic stresses are adversely affecting agricultural production. Among them, losses caused by insect pests and pathogens have been shown to be more destructive to agricultural production. However, for winning the battle against the abundance of insect pests and pathogens and their nature of resistance development, the team of researchers is searching for an alternative way to minimize losses caused by them. Chitosan, a natural biopolymer, coupled with a proper application method and effective dose could be an integral part of sustainable alternatives in the safer agricultural sector. In this review, we have integrated the insight knowledge of chitin-chitosan interaction, successful and efficient use of chitosan, recommended and practical methods of use with well-defined doses, and last but not least the dual but contrast mode of action of the chitosan in hosts and as well as in pathogens

Unveiling the Genetic Symphony: Harnessing CRISPR-Cas Genome Editing for Effective Insect Pest Management

Phytophagous insects pose a significant threat to global crop yield and food security. The need for increased agricultural output while reducing dependence on harmful synthetic insecticides necessitates the implementation of innovative methods. The utilization of CRISPR-Cas (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology to develop insect pest-resistant plants is believed to be a highly effective approach in reducing production expenses and enhancing the profitability of farms. Insect genome research provides vital insights into gene functions, allowing for a better knowledge of insect biology, adaptability, and the development of targeted pest management and disease prevention measures. The CRISPR-Cas gene editing technique has the capability to modify the DNA of insects, either to trigger a gene drive or to overcome their resistance to specific insecticides. The advancements in CRISPR technology and its various applications have shown potential in developing insect-resistant varieties of plants and other strategies for effective pest management through a sustainable approach. This could have significant consequences for ensuring food security. This approach involves using genome editing to create modified insects or crop plants. The article critically analyzed and discussed the potential and challenges associated with exploring and utilizing CRISPR-Cas technology for reducing insect pest pressure in crop plants

Underutilized legumes: nutrient status and advanced breeding approaches for qualitative and quantitative enhancement

Underutilized/orphan legumes provide food and nutritional security to resource-poor rural populations during periods of drought and extreme hunger, thus, saving millions of lives. The Leguminaceae, which is the third largest flowering plant family, has approximately 650 genera and 20,000 species and are distributed globally. There are various protein-rich accessible and edible legumes, such as soybean, cowpea, and others; nevertheless, their consumption rate is far higher than production, owing to ever-increasing demand. The growing global urge to switch from an animal-based protein diet to a vegetarian-based protein diet has also accelerated their demand. In this context, underutilized legumes offer significant potential for food security, nutritional requirements, and agricultural development. Many of the known legumes like Mucuna spp., Canavalia spp., Sesbania spp., Phaseolus spp., and others are reported to contain comparable amounts of protein, essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), dietary fiber, essential minerals and vitamins along with other bioactive compounds. Keeping this in mind, the current review focuses on the potential of discovering underutilized legumes as a source of food, feed and pharmaceutically valuable chemicals, in order to provide baseline data for addressing malnutrition-related problems and sustaining pulse needs across the globe. There is a scarcity of information about underutilized legumes and is restricted to specific geographical zones with local or traditional significance. Around 700 genera and 20,000 species remain for domestication, improvement, and mainstreaming. Significant efforts in research, breeding, and development are required to transform existing local landraces of carefully selected, promising crops into types with broad adaptability and economic viability. Different breeding efforts and the use of biotechnological methods such as micro-propagation, molecular markers research and genetic transformation for the development of underutilized crops are offered to popularize lesser-known legume crops and help farmers diversify their agricultural systems and boost their profitability