Edge Computing and Blockchain in Smart Agriculture Systems

The advancement of Internet-based technologies has made huge progress toward improving the accessibility of "smart agriculture." With the advent of unmanned and automatic management, smart agriculture is now able to accomplish monitoring, supervision, and real-time picture monitoring. It is not possible to know for sure that the data in a smart agriculture system is complete and secure from intrusion. This article investigates and assesses the potential of edge computing and blockchain for use in smart agriculture. We combine the advantages of blockchain technology and the edge computing framework to create a smart agriculture framework system that is based on a very straightforward analysis of the evolution of smart agriculture. The study proposes a thorough method for emphasizing the significance of agriculture and edge computing, as well as the advantages of incorporating blockchain technology in this context. This paper also proposes an intelligent agricultural product traceability system design: edge computing with blockchain for smart agriculture. The study concludes with a discussion of outstanding problems and difficulties that can arise during the creation of a blockchain-based edge computing system for smart agriculture systems

Performance of no-till maize under drip-fertigation in a double cropping system in semi arid Telangana state of India

Availability of water for Agriculture is becoming increasingly difficult, besides the cost of power for applying it. Improving the water and nitrogen use efficiency has become imperative in present day’s Agriculture. Drip irrigation and fertigation provides the efficient use of limited water with increased water and nutrient use efficiency, respec- tively. A field experiment was conducted during post rainy season of two consecutive years (2011 and 2012), in sandy loam soils of Warangal, Telangana State, India to study the response of no-till maize (Zea mays L) after aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L) to drip irrigation and nitrogen fertigation under semi-arid environment. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications. Three irrigation schedules viz. drip irrigation at 75% Pan Evaporation (PE); 100% PE and 125% PE were taken as main plots and three nitrogen levels through fertigation viz. 120, 160, and 200 kg ha-1 as sub plots. The growth parameters (plant height, LAI, drymatter accumulation), root volume and dry weight, yield attributes (cobs plant-1, kernels cob-1, kernel weight cob-1) kernel yield, stover yield and nitrogen uptake of no till maize increased with increase in water input from 75% PE to 100% PE irrigation schedule in drip irrigation but could not reach the level of significance at 125% PE. Tasseling and silking was hastened in 125% PE schedule. Increase in the level of N application through fertigation from 120 to 160 kg N ha-1 resulted in the increase of all the growth parameters, yield attributes, kernel yield, stover yield and nitrogen uptake. Barrenness and test weight were unaffected by either the irrigation schedules or nitrogen levels. The economic indicators (gross returns, net returns and net benefit: cost ratio) were higher with the irrigation schedule of 125% PE and nitrogen dose of 200 kg N ha-1 applied through fertigation. Increased water input from 75 to 125% PE resulted in decreased water use efficiency but enhanced nitrogen use efficiency while the reverse trend was found with respect to N levels under fertigation

Characterization of antinociceptive potency of endomorphin-2 derivatives with unnatural amino acids in rats

This study reports on the in vivo effects of four endomorphin-2 (EM-2) derivatives (EMD1-4) containing unnatural amino acids, i.e. 2-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (Achc2), para-fluorophenylalanine (pFPhe4), β-methylphenylalanine (βMePhe4) and/or 2′,6′-dimethyltyrosine (Dmt1). After induction of osteoarthritis by monosodium iodoacetate into the ankle joint of male Wistar rats, a chronic intrathecal catheter was inserted for spinal drug delivery. The mechanical threshold was assessed by a dynamic aesthesiometer. Intrathecal injection of the original EM-2 and the ligands (0.3–10 μg) caused dose-dependent antiallodynic effects. The comparison of the different substances revealed that EMD3 and EMD4 showed more prolonged antinociception than EM-2, and the effects of the highest dose of EMD4 were comparable to morphine, while EMD3 caused paralysis at this dose. The potency of the different ligands did not differ from EM-2. The results show that the derivatives of EM-2 have similar in vivo potency to the original ligand, but their effects were more prolonged suggesting that these structural modifications may play a role in the development of novel endomorphin analogues with increased therapeutic potential

Synthesis of novel triazole functionalized pyridine derivatives as potential antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents

1361-1375A series of novel 1-substituted (1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl) methoxy functionalized pyridine derivatives 5 and 6 have been prepared starting from 2(1H) pyridone 1 via selective O-propargylation followed by reaction with diverse substituted azides under Sharpless conditions. All the compounds 5 and 6 have been screened for antimicrobial activity, minimum bactericidal concentration and biofilm inhibition activity. Compounds 5d, 5l and 5s which showed promising activity specifically towards Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96 and Staphylococcus aureus MLS-16 MTCC 2940 have been identified. Further, in silico docking studies have been carried out on the inhibition of dehydrosqualene synthase enzyme of S. aureus. This is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of staphyloxanthin, a virulence factor for S. aureus. Further, on screening for antioxidant activity, the compounds 5l, 5q and 5n showed promising activity

Carbazole–pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine conjugates: design, synthesis, and biological evaluation

A series of carbazole–pyrrolobenzodiazepine conjugates (4a–g and 5a–f) have been designed, and synthesized as anticancer agents. These compounds are prepared by linking the C8-position of DC-81 with a carbazole moiety through simple alkane spacers as well as piperazine side-armed alkane spacers in good yields. The DNA binding ability of these conjugates has been determined by thermal denaturation studies and also supported by molecular docking studies. These conjugates showed potent anticancer activity with GI50 ranging from 5.27–0.01 μM. The FACS analysis and BrdU assay of selected conjugates (4c, 4f, 5a and 5f) on MCF-7 cell lines disclosed the increased G1 cell cycle arrest and one of the conjugates 5f has exhibited significant anticancer activity. The analysis of the intrinsic factors involved in causing the G1 arrest in MCF-7 cell lines by 5f conjugate has been demonstrated on the proteins which play a vital role in G1 arrest followed by apoptosis (Cyclin D1, CDK4, c-Jun, JunB, CREB, p53, JNK1/2, procaspase-7, cleaved PARP, pRb, and BAX). Thus, these PBD conjugates (in particular 5f) have promising potency for combating human carcinoma