Classification of Cotton Leaf Diseases using Whales Optimization Algorithm based Deep Neural Network

In the realm of agriculture, a current focal point of research revolves around the identification of plant diseases through leaf imagery. Employing image processing techniques for the recognition of agricultural plant diseases holds promise for reducing farmers' reliance on safeguarding their crops. This paper introduces a novel approach to classify cotton leaf diseases, utilizing a Deep Neural Network enhanced by the Whales Optimization Algorithm (WOA). The dataset comprises 10,000 cotton images sourced from Kaggle.com, directly captured from farm fields, covering healthy leaves, bacterial blight, Anthracnose, Cercospora leaf spot, and Alternaria diseases. Preprocessing involves the application of a median filter to eliminate image noise, and for segmenting diseased and normal regions, the Gustaffson-Kessel (G-K) fuzzy clustering method is employed. The WOA-augmented DNN demonstrates its effectiveness in classifying cotton images

Cotton Plant Diseases Detection Using Various Classification and Segmentation Techniques – A Survey

Cotton is a prominentcash crop that is cultivated throughout the world majorly for its fibrous fruit known as the boll. Botanically named as  Gossypium Hirsutum, cotton is a shrub that belongs to the family Malvaceae. It plays a phenomenal role in the textile industry over and above many other markets too. Like other plants, cotton plants are vulnerable to a variety of pathogenic attacks. This paper describes about the list of  diseases that affects the cotton plant and the various segmentation and classification techniques that are employed to detect those diseases along with the pros and cons, accuracy of each technique

Optimising reaction variables for the preparation of superabsorbent iron fertiliser hydrogel using sugarcane bagasse: A sustainable approach to improve crop nutrient release

Iron (Fe) is a vital micronutrient essential for crop growth and development. Utilisation of bio-based, environmentally friendly functional polymers is inevitable for society. As an alternative to the conventional Fe fertiliser, the present study aimed to synthesise a higher Fe percentage containing hydrogel with organic substances that can facilitate the slow release of nutrients, reduce fertiliser nutrient fixation, and minimise environmental pollution. The reaction variables were optimised for the preparation of superabsorbent using sugarcane bagasse and nano-zeolite-based slow-release Fe fertiliser (SR Fe) hydrogel. This was formulated by graft, co-polymerising acrylic acid, acrylamide, sugarcane bagasse, and nano-zeolite with N,N'-methylene bis-acrylamide as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator. Based on the swelling percentage, the reaction variables of the SR Fe fertiliser were standardised. The crosslinker (MBA - 10 wt%), the initiator (APS - 10 wt%), the filler (Nano-zeolite - 10 wt%), the monomer acrylamide composition (AAm - 2g), the acrylic acid content (AA - 7 ml), the reaction temperature (60oC), and the drying temperature (40oC) were chosen based on desirable swelling percentage and loaded with Fe fertiliser. The Fe fertiliser was loaded to sugarcane bagasse in different ratios (1:0.5, 1:1, 1:1.5, 1:2). The present study showed that the SR Fe fertiliser with the highest percentage of Fe (6.4%) in the ratio of sugarcane bagasse to Fe fertiliser of 1:2 could be used as an effective SR Fe fertiliser to supply nutrients slowly to crops to meet their nutrient needs and improve nutrient use efficiency

Effect of organic and inorganic nutrients on rice (Oryza sativa var. CO 51) productivity and soil fertility in the Western zone of Tamil Nadu, India

In sustainable agriculture, to ensure high-quality food production, a combination of organic and inorganic nutrient sources are required. During the winter season of 2020, a field experiment was undertaken in the western zone of Tamil Nadu to assess the effects of organics and inorganics on the growth, yield, and soil properties of rice, Oryza sativa var. CO 51. The experiment was framed in Random Block Design (RBD) comprising of 8 treatments viz., Recommended dose of fertilizer Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) approach (T1), RDF 75 % + Farm yard manure @ 12.5 t ha-1 (T2), T2 + Seed treatment with Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria + Soil application of AM fungi (T3), RDF 75 % + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 (T4), T4 + Seed treatment with Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria + Soil application of AM fungi (T5), FYM @ 12.5 t ha-1 + Seed treatment with Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria + Soil application of AM fungi (T6), Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1+ Seed treatment with Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria + Soil application of AM fungi (T7) and absolute control (T8) , replicated thrice. Among the integrated nutrient management practices, T5 proved its superiority over other treatments with respect to growth and physiological parameters followed by T3. This would have been because of the solubilization of phosphorus in the soil by AM organisms which is made accessible for crop growth. Utilization of biofertilizer enhanced the N availability and solubilized the inaccessible phosphorus, which thus recorded higher N accessibility and better phosphorus uptake when applied along with a recommended dose of fertilizer for rice.

Multifactorial Aspects Influencing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (Nafld)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing public health concern, with a prevalence of up to 25% worldwide. While once considered a benign condition, NAFLD is now recognized as a major cause of chronic liver disease, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is multifactorial and involves a complex interplay between genetic, environmental, and metabolic factors. In this review, we provide an overview of the multifactorial aspects of NAFLD, including genetic predisposition, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, gut microbiota, dietary factors, and physical inactivity. We also discuss the role of inflammation, oxidative stress, and hepatic steatosis in the progression of NAFLD to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Finally, we review the current and emerging therapies for NAFLD and NASH, including lifestyle modifications, pharmacological interventions, and surgical approaches. The multifactorial nature of NAFLD requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, with a focus on addressing the underlying metabolic and environmental factors that contribute to its development and progression

Bio-nanotechnology application in wastewater treatment

The nanoparticles have received high interest in the field of medicine and water purification, however, the nanomaterials produced by chemical and physical methods are considered hazardous, expensive, and leave behind harmful substances to the environment. This chapter aimed to focus on green-synthesized nanoparticles and their medical applications. Moreover, the chapter highlighted the applicability of the metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the inactivation of microbial cells due to their high surface and small particle size. Modifying nanomaterials produced by green-methods is safe, inexpensive, and easy. Therefore, the control and modification of nanoparticles and their properties were also discussed

Explaining the Atypical Reaction Profiles of Heme Enzymes with a Novel Mechanistic Hypothesis and Kinetic Treatment

Many heme enzymes show remarkable versatility and atypical kinetics. The fungal extracellular enzyme chloroperoxidase (CPO) characterizes a variety of one and two electron redox reactions in the presence of hydroperoxides. A structural counterpart, found in mammalian microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP), uses molecular oxygen plus NADPH for the oxidative metabolism (predominantly hydroxylation) of substrate in conjunction with a redox partner enzyme, cytochrome P450 reductase. In this study, we employ the two above-mentioned heme-thiolate proteins to probe the reaction kinetics and mechanism of heme enzymes. Hitherto, a substrate inhibition model based upon non-productive binding of substrate (two-site model) was used to account for the inhibition of reaction at higher substrate concentrations for the CYP reaction systems. Herein, the observation of substrate inhibition is shown for both peroxide and final substrate in CPO catalyzed peroxidations. Further, analogy is drawn in the “steady state kinetics” of CPO and CYP reaction systems. New experimental observations and analyses indicate that a scheme of competing reactions (involving primary product with enzyme or other reaction components/intermediates) is relevant in such complex reaction mixtures. The presence of non-selective reactive intermediate(s) affords alternate reaction routes at various substrate/product concentrations, thereby leading to a lowered detectable concentration of “the product of interest” in the reaction milieu. Occam's razor favors the new hypothesis. With the new hypothesis as foundation, a new biphasic treatment to analyze the kinetics is put forth. We also introduce a key concept of “substrate concentration at maximum observed rate”. The new treatment affords a more acceptable fit for observable experimental kinetic data of heme redox enzymes