Estimation of plant nitrogen content using digital image processing

A manually operated four wheel test trolley was designed and developed for acquiring outdoor color images of plant under controlled illumination to predict crop nitrogen content in field.  This set up consists of a camera to capture the plant image, four lights to control illumination and a laptop for processing the signal.  The developed unit was evaluated rigorously for paddy crop for four observations at fifteen days interval after transplantation.  The results were compared with the chlorophyll content of the crop measured by SPAD meter and the chemical analysis of plant leaf.  The processing of the color plant image was done in MATLAB 7.0 program.  Various features such as R, G, B, normalized ‘r’ and normalized ‘g’ were analyzed for both the processes.  Regression models were developed and evaluated between various image feature and the plant nitrogen content and observed that, the minimum accuracy was found to be 65% with an average accuracy of 75% (Standard Deviation +1.9), actual and predicted values of nitrogen percent were linearly correlated with R2 value (0.948), this showed that the plant nitrogen content can be successfully estimated by its color image feature.   Keywords: precision agriculture, digital image processing, site specific nitrogen applicatio

Thiol stabilized copper nanoparticles exert antimicrobial properties by preventing cell division in Escherichia coli

151-157The uses of metallic nanoparticles have gained importance as one of the therapeutic options to treat infections. Here, we synthesized stable copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using Thiosalicylic acid and assessed their antimicrobial activities against various Gram-negative bacteria. The synthesized CuNPs had absorption maxima of 570 nM with a size range of 5-11 nM and face-centred cubic (Fcc) crystal structure. The bacterial cells in their planktonic and sessile forms were susceptible to CuNPs. The nanoparticles did not show any cytotoxicity to murine macrophages (RAW264.7) below 60 µg/mL. However, the expression of oxidative stress defence gene ahpC revealed the possibility of ROS generation upon treatment with CuNPs. Interestingly, the cell division proteins like, FtsZ and FtsI were destabilized in the presence of CuNPs which in turn inhibited bacterial cell division. In conclusion, it may be stated that the synthesized CuNPs can kill bacteria by arresting cell division and/or by ROS generation

Thiol stabilized copper nanoparticles exert antimicrobial properties by preventing cell division in Escherichia coli

The uses of metallic nanoparticles have gained importance as one of the therapeutic options to treat infections. Here, we synthesized stable copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using Thiosalicylic acid and assessed their antimicrobial activities against various Gram-negative bacteria. The synthesized CuNPs had absorption maxima of 570 nM with a size range of 5-11 nM and face-centred cubic (Fcc) crystal structure. The bacterial cells in their planktonic and sessile forms were susceptible to CuNPs. The nanoparticles did not show any cytotoxicity to murine macrophages (RAW264.7) below 60 µg/mL. However, the expression of oxidative stress defence gene ahpC revealed the possibility of ROS generation upon treatment with CuNPs. Interestingly, the cell division proteins like, FtsZ and FtsI were destabilized in the presence of CuNPs which in turn inhibited bacterial cell division. In conclusion, it may be stated that the synthesized CuNPs can kill bacteria by arresting cell division and/or by ROS generation

Heading towards the Safer Highways: an assessment of the Avahan prevention programme among long distance truck drivers in India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Using data from two rounds of a cross-sectional, national-level survey of long-distance truck drivers, this paper examines the extent and trend of sexual risk behavior, prevalence of STI/HIV, and the linkage between exposure to HIV prevention programs and safe sex behavior.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Following the time location cluster sampling approach, major transshipment locations covering the bulk of India’s transport volume along four routes, North-East (NE), North-South (NS), North-West (NW) and South-East (SE) were surveyed. First round of the survey was conducted in 2007 (sample size 2066) whereas the second round was undertaken in 2009-2010 (sample size 2085). Long distance truck drivers were interviewed about their sexual behaviors, condom use practices, exposure to different HIV prevention interventions, and tested for HIV, reactive syphilis serology, <it>Neiserria gonorrhoeae</it> and <it>Chlamydia trachomatis.</it> The key variable of this evaluation study - exposure to HIV prevention interventions was divided into three categories - no exposure, less intensive exposure and intensive exposure. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression methods to understand the relationship between risk behavior and exposure to intervention and between program exposure and condom use.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportion of truckers exposed to HIV prevention interventions has increased over time with much significant increase in the intensive exposure across all the four routes (NE: from 14.9% to 28%, P < 0.01; NS: from 20.9% to 38.1%; NW: 11.5% to 39.5%, P < 0.01; SE: 4.7% to 9.7%, P <0.05). Overall, the consistent condom use in sex with non-regular female partners too has increased over the time (paid female partners: from 67.1% to 73.2%, P <0.05; non-paid female partners: from 17.9% to 37.1%, P <0.05). At the aggregate level, the proportion tested HIV positive has declined from 3.2% to 2.5% in (p<0.10) and proportion tested positive for Syphilis too has reduced from 3.2% to 1.7% (p<0.05). Truckers who had sex with paid female partners (men at risk) were significantly more likely to get exposed to intensive program (aOR: 2.6, 95%CI 1.9-3.4) as compared to those who did not have sex with paid partners. Truckers who had sex with paid partners and exposed to intervention program were more likely to use condoms consistently (aOR: 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.7). The consistent condom use among respondents who travel through states with targeted interventions towards female sex workers was higher than those who travel through states with less intensive program among FSWs.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These evaluation study results highlight the ability of intensive program to reach truckers who have sex outside marriage with HIV prevention interventions and promote safe sex behaviors among them. Truckers who practice safe sex behaviors with an exposure to intensive program are less likely to suffer from STIs and HIV, which has implications for HIV prevention program with truckers’ population in India and elsewhere. The simultaneous targeted interventions among female sex workers appeared to have contributed to safe sexual practices among truckers.</p

Comminution Characters of Fault Zone Rocks and Secure Outcomes in the Blockchain Record-Keeping System for Industrial Applications

This paper is an attempt to find the energy required for the comminution of fault zone rocks and also to determine the energy required to grind ore from infinite size to the desired particle size in non-traditional approach, for various value additions. The results in the present investigations also confirm about the brittleness test and friability tests, whose values depend on the drop weight and its height for different types of fault zone rock. Also the results of its brittleness tests determine the grindability of fault zone rocks. All the outcome results are then secured with the help of decentralized and immutable record-keeping system using Blockchain technology. The Blockchain network in the present investigations not only allows any users to enhance the performance but also it will secure the experimental outcomes in immutable distributed ledgers through smart contracts to increase transparency between users in a trusted manner

Trusted and Transparent Blockchain-enabled E-waste Optimization to Recover Precious Metals with Microwave Heating

Blockchain technology facilitates trust and transparency in the decision-making process and enables the transaction's verifiability by reading immutable distributed ledgers. It has been innovatively applied this technology in the E-waste optimization for the recovery of precious metals using microwave heat treatment. This present paper presents the maximum recovery of precious and base metals from E-waste with a numerical technique called surface response methodology, and was compared with the actual experimental results. The main goal of this paper is to recover the precious metals like copper and gold with its adjacent metals from unwanted and discarded printed circuit boards, integrated circuits, and standards connectors, with the input variables of microwave power, maximum temperature, and aqua leaching ratio. The obtained empirical information of recovered metals was recorded in immutable distributed ledgers so that every member of the blockchain network can be read and verified through the stored records. These records were also utilized to minimize the error and maximize the precious metal outcomes. The result with blockchain network also shows that identical resemblance between the experimental and statistical predicted data obtained with surface methodology. Further, Smart Contracts has been created and deployed to store and retrieve empirical records in the Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain Platform and then measured the performance using Hyperledger Caliper Benchmar

Trusted and Transparent Blockchain-enabled E-waste Optimization to Recover Precious Metals with Microwave Heating

623-629Blockchain technology facilitates trust and transparency in the decision-making process and enables the transaction's verifiability by reading immutable distributed ledgers. It has been innovatively applied this technology in the E-waste optimization for the recovery of precious metals using microwave heat treatment. This present paper presents the maximum recovery of precious and base metals from E-waste with a numerical technique called surface response methodology, and was compared with the actual experimental results. The main goal of this paper is to recover the precious metals like copper and gold with its adjacent metals from unwanted and discarded printed circuit boards, integrated circuits, and standards connectors, with the input variables of microwave power, maximum temperature, and aqua leaching ratio. The obtained empirical information of recovered metals was recorded in immutable distributed ledgers so that every member of the blockchain network can be read and verified through the stored records. These records were also utilized to minimize the error and maximize the precious metal outcomes. The result with blockchain network also shows that identical resemblance between the experimental and statistical predicted data obtained with surface methodology. Further, Smart Contracts has been created and deployed to store and retrieve empirical records in the Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain Platform and then measured the performance using Hyperledger Caliper Benchmark

Assessment of different elite mango varieties suitable for North western plain zones of Uttar Pradesh

The evaluation of different mango varieties was conducted during 2019-20 and 2020-21. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with four varieties, namely, Ambika, Pusa Arunima, Kesar, and Dashehari-51, each replicated three times. The plants were spaced at 4x4 m intervals. The results obtained demonstrated significant variations in various parameters, ranging from minimum to maximum values. The canopy spread ranged from 1.77 to 7.49 m, stem girth from 16.67 to 40 cm, number of fruits per plant from 21 to 118, fruit length from 92.04 to 123.28 mm, fruit width from 56.02 to 77.41 mm, and fruit weight from 202 to 591 g. However, the number of primary branches (2-3) and plant height (1.54-4.35 m) were found to be nonsignificant. Based on the morpho-economic traits, Pusa Arunima appeared to be a superior variety in terms of tree morpho-economic traits, while others were considered moderate. Considering the average number of fruits per plant and fruit weight (g) over a two-year period, Pusa Arunima clearly outperformed the other three varieties in terms of yield. Furthermore, Pusa Arunima, Kesar, and Ambika exhibited more marketable fruit traits. These findings emphasize the significant diversity among the examined mango cultivars. Therefore, it is crucial to protect and preserve these valuable genetic resources for future breeding programs aimed at developing novel and commercially viable cultivars

Telomerase subunit Est2 marks internal sites that are prone to accumulate DNA damage

BACKGROUND: The main function of telomerase is at the telomeres but under adverse conditions telomerase can bind to internal regions causing deleterious effects as observed in cancer cells. RESULTS: By mapping the global occupancy of the catalytic subunit of telomerase (Est2) in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we reveal that it binds to multiple guanine-rich genomic loci, which we termed “non-telomeric binding sites” (NTBS). We characterize Est2 binding to NTBS. Contrary to telomeres, Est2 binds to NTBS in G1 and G2 phase independently of Est1 and Est3. The absence of Est1 and Est3 renders telomerase inactive at NTBS. However, upon global DNA damage, Est1 and Est3 join Est2 at NTBS and telomere addition can be observed indicating that Est2 occupancy marks NTBS regions as particular risks for genome stability. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide a novel model of telomerase regulation in the cell cycle using internal regions as “parking spots” of Est2 but marking them as hotspots for telomere addition. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01167-1

Genome wide expression profiling of two accession of G. herbaceum L. in response to drought

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genome-wide gene expression profiling and detailed physiological investigation were used for understanding the molecular mechanism and physiological response of <it>Gossypium herbaceum</it>, which governs the adaptability of plants in drought conditions. Recently, microarray-based gene expression analysis is commonly used to decipher genes and genetic networks controlling the traits of interest. However, the results of such an analysis are often plagued due to a limited number of genes (probe sets) on microarrays. On the other hand, pyrosequencing of a transcriptome has the potential to detect rare as well as a large number of transcripts in the samples quantitatively. We used Affymetrix microarray as well as Roche's GS-FLX transcriptome sequencing for a comparative analysis of cotton transcriptome in leaf tissues under drought conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fourteen accessions of <it>Gossypium herbaceum </it>were subjected to mannitol stress for preliminary screening; two accessions, namely Vagad and RAHS-14, were selected as being the most tolerant and most sensitive to osmotic stress, respectively. Affymetrix cotton arrays containing 24,045 probe sets and Roche's GS-FLX transcriptome sequencing of leaf tissue were used to analyze the gene expression profiling of Vagad and RAHS-14 under drought conditions. The analysis of physiological measurements and gene expression profiling showed that Vagad has the inherent ability to sense drought at a much earlier stage and to respond to it in a much more efficient manner than does RAHS-14. Gene Ontology (GO) studies showed that the phenyl propanoid pathway, pigment biosynthesis, polyketide biosynthesis, and other secondary metabolite pathways were enriched in Vagad under control and drought conditions as compared with RAHS-14. Similarly, GO analysis of transcriptome sequencing showed that the GO terms <it>responses to various abiotic stresses </it>were significantly higher in Vagad. Among the classes of transcription factors (TFs) uniquely expressed in both accessions, RAHS-14 showed the expression of ERF and WRKY families. The unique expression of ERFs in response to drought conditions reveals that RAHS-14 responds to drought by inducing senescence. This was further supported by transcriptome analysis which revealed that RAHS-14 responds to drought by inducing many transcripts related to senescence and cell death.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The comparative genome-wide gene expression profiling study of two accessions of <it>G.herbaceum </it>under drought stress deciphers the differential patterns of gene expression, including TFs and physiologically relevant processes. Our results indicate that drought tolerance observed in Vagad is not because of a single molecular reason but is rather due to several unique mechanisms which Vagad has developed as an adaptation strategy.</p