Modelling of wetting patterns for surface drip irrigation in dense clay soil

The proportion of agricultural water consumption is continuously decreasing due to increased competition for water resources by urban, industrial, and agricultural users. Drip irrigation is more efficient in terms of water and energy utilization. These considerations are critical in view of the ongoing struggle for water resources among various consumers due to water scarcity. Some of the most critical criteria in the effective design and maintenance of drip irrigation systems are the shape and size of the volume of wet soil beneath the emitter. Hence several statistical models were constructed in this research to estimate the dimensions of wetting patterns, which are critical for designing an optimal drip irrigation system. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), coefficient of correlation (CC), and root mean square error (RMSE) criteria were used to assess the models' performance. The results showed that the Polynomial model was the most accurate for horizontal advance, with 0.94, 0.93, and 1.33 (cm) values for CC, NSE, and RMSE, respectively. For vertical advance, the logarithmic model showed 0.96, 0.96, and 0.72 (cm) values for CC, NSE, and RMSE. Thus, in the absence of a wetting pattern and under identical conditions, these models can be utilized to generate synthetic horizontal and vertical advances data.

Studies on the relationship of weather on Fall armyworm damage in maize (Zea mays L.) under different growing environments

Fall armyworm is a recently occurring invasive pest in India, the most important defoliator causing drastic damage to maize production. Hence, the present study aimed to understand the temporal infestation level of Fall armyworms on maize (Zea mays L.) with weather patterns. Field experiments were conducted during Summer (February-May) and Rainy seasons, 2022 (August-December) at Agro Climate Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Three different growing environments (GE1, GE2 and GE3) were created by providing staggered sowing. Regression models were developed for per cent leaf damage against three-days lagged (LT3) and seven-day lagged (LT7) weather variables. Results showed that irrespective of growing environments, weather variables showed negative correlation (Tmax: r = -0.57, -0.81*, -0.31; SSH: -0.30, -0.48, -0.39; Tmean: -0.49, -0.23, -0.30; and SR: -0.48, -0.94*, -0.40) during summer season whereas same variables (i.e Tmax =0.62*, 0.41, 0.33; SSH = 0.09, 0.68*, 0.24; Tmean = 0.29, 0.32, 0.44; and SR=0.13, 0 .67*, 0.26 ) showed a positive correlation with PLD. Rainfall exhibits positive relation (0.06, 0.54, 0.53) and negative correlation (-0.64*, -0.10, -0.02) during summer and rainy season, respectively. Among the regression models, LT7 model had higher R2 (0.65 and 0.76) than LT3 (0.57 and 0.68) during summer and rainy seasons, respectively. These models had good regression values of 0.56 and 0.70 during Rainy and Summer, respectively. It was concluded that Tmax (32.9 °C), Tmin (23.7 °C), Tmean (28.3 °C), RH-I (85.6%), RH-II (56.4%), SSH (4.1), SR (274.6 cal cm-2 m-2), afternoon cloud cover (4.8 okta) and weekly total rainfall (10.2 mm) were very conducive for the greater leaf damage

Remote sensing of lunar aureole with a sky camera: Adding information in the nocturnal retrieval of aerosol properties with GRASP code

The use of sky cameras for nocturnal aerosol characterization is discussed in this study. Two sky cameras are configured to take High Dynamic Range (HDR) images at Granada and Valladolid (Spain). Some properties of the cameras, like effective wavelengths, sky coordinates of each pixel and pixel sensitivity, are characterized. After that, normalized camera radiances at lunar almucantar points (up to 20° in azimuth from the Moon) are obtained at three effective wavelengths from the HDR images. These normalized radiances are compared in different case studies to simulations fed with AERONET aerosol information, giving satisfactory results. The obtained uncertainty of normalized camera radiances is around 10% at 533 nm and 608 nm and 14% for 469 nm. Normalized camera radiances and six spectral aerosol optical depth values (obtained from lunar photometry) are used as input in GRASP code (Generalized Retrieval of Aerosol and Surface Properties) to retrieve aerosol properties for a dust episode over Valladolid. The retrieved aerosol properties (refractive indices, fraction of spherical particles and size distribution parameters) are in agreement with the nearest diurnal AERONET products. The calculated GRASP retrieval at night time shows an increase in coarse mode concentration along the night, while fine mode properties remained constant.This work was supported by the Andalusia Regional Government (project P12-RNM-2409) and by the “Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León” (project VA100U14).Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER funds under the projects CGL2013-45410-R, CMT2015-66742-R, CGL2016-81092-R.“Juan de la Cierva-Formación” program (FJCI-2014-22052).European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme through project ACTRIS-2 (grant agreement No 654109)

Twenty-six years of HIV science: an overview of anti-HIV drugs metabolism

From the identification of HIV as the agent causing AIDS, to the development of effective antiretroviral drugs, the scientific achievements in HIV research over the past twenty-six years have been formidable. Currently, there are twenty-five anti-HIV compounds which have been formally approved for clinical use in the treatment of AIDS. These compounds fall into six categories: nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), cell entry inhibitors or fusion inhibitors (FIs), co-receptor inhibitors (CRIs), and integrase inhibitors (INIs). Metabolism by the host organism is one of the most important determinants of the pharmacokinetic profile of a drug. Formation of active or toxic metabolites will also have an impact on the pharmacological and toxicological outcomes. Therefore, it is widely recognized that metabolism studies of a new chemical entity need to be addressed early in the drug discovery process. This paper describes an overview of the metabolism of currently available anti-HIV drugs.Da identificação do HIV como o agente causador da AIDS, ao desenvolvimento de fármacos antirretrovirais eficazes, os avanços científicos na pesquisa sobre o HIV nos últimos vinte e seis anos foram marcantes. Atualmente, existem vinte e cinco fármacos anti-HIV formalmente aprovados pelo FDA para utilização clínica no tratamento da AIDS. Estes compostos são divididos em seis classes: inibidores nucleosídeos de transcriptase reversa (INTR), inibidores nucleotídeos de transcriptase reversa (INtTR), inibidores não-nucleosídeos de transcriptase reversa (INNTR), inibidores de protease (IP), inibidores da entrada celular ou inibidores de fusão (IF), inibidores de co-receptores (ICR) e inibidores de integrase (INI). O metabolismo consiste em um dos maiores determinantes do perfil farmacocinético de um fármaco. A formação de metabólitos ativos ou tóxicos terá impacto nas respostas farmacológicas ou toxicológicas do fármaco. Portanto, é amplamente reconhecido que estudos do metabolismo de uma nova entidade química devem ser realizados durante as fases iniciais do processo de desenvolvimento de fármacos. Este artigo descreve uma abordagem do metabolismo dos fármacos anti-HIV atualmente disponíveis na terapêutica

Bio-analytical Assay Methods used in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antiretroviral Drugs-A Review

Background: Several clinical trials, as well as observational statistics, have exhibited that the advantages of antiretroviral [ARV] treatment for humans with Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome HIV/AIDS exceed their risks. Therapeutic drug monitoring [TDM] plays a key role in optimization of ARV therapy. Determination of ARV's in plasma, blood cells, and other biological matrices frequently requires separation techniques capable of high effectiveness, specific selectivity and high sensitivity. High-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] coupled with ultraviolet [UV], Photodiode array detectors [PDA], Mass spectrophotometer [MS] detectors etc. are the important quantitative techniques used for the estimation of pharmaceuticals in biological samples. Objective: This review article is aimed to give an extensive outline of different bio-analytical techniques which have been reported for direct quantitation of ARV's. This article aimed to establish an efficient role played by the TDM in the optimum therapeutic outcome of the ARV treatment. It also focused on establishing the prominent role played by the separation techniques like HPLC and UPLC along with the detectors like UV and Mass in TDM. Methods: TDM is based on the principle that for certain drugs, a close relationship exists between the plasma level of the drug and its clinical effect. TDM is of no value if the relationship does not exist. The analytical methodology employed in TDM should: 1) distinguish similar compounds; 2) be sensitive and precise and 3) is easy to use Results: This review highlights the advancement of the chromatographic techniques beginning from the HPLC-UV to the more advanced technique like UPLC-MS/MS. TDM is essential to ensure adherence, observe viral resistance and to personalize ARV dose regimens. It is observed that the analytical methods like immunoassays and liquid chromatography with detectors like UV, PDA, Florescent, MS, MS/MS and Ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-MS/MS have immensely contributed to the clinical outcome of the ARV therapy. Assay methods are not only helping physicians in limiting the side effects and drug interactions but also assisting in monitoring patient's compliance. Conclusion: The present review revealed that HPLC has been the most widely used system irrespective of the availability of more sensitive chromatographic technique like UPLC.VRAID (ex DIPUC

Procurement of Beams in Multiple D&B Bridge Projects

Selected infrastructure development projects are being implemented by Design and Build (D&B) pocurement system in Sabah (East Malaysia) by the Public Works Department (PWD). In the first phase 45 bridge replacement projects were awarded in 5 packages. These simultaneous multiple Bridge projects are for the development of the backward areas and hence their timely completion is utmost important. Procurement and production of bridge beams have been the critical element of construction in these rural areas and no researches has been reported on various aspects of procurement of the bridge beams in multiple D&B projects. The aspects of procurement researched in this work include the determination of a common beam element for the ease of procurement and the optimization of the construction methodology, the finalization and purchasing plate dimensions to suite the manufacturer's production range, the delivery of materials, the planning and monitoring of fabrication, the preparation and assembly, and the erection and launching of beams. The beams are optimized using element optimization techniques. The most important problems in fabricating steel girders were in planning and scheduling of materials for the fabrication and the fabrication process. Findings in all the aspects of production of steel girders are highlighted through a case study of six long span bridges at various locations in Sabah. Solutions drawn from lessons learnt which minimize wastages, and aids in timely completion of beams in multiple bridge construction are discussed

Numerical Investigation of Natural Convection in a Square Enclosure with a Baffle Mounted on Vertical Wall

Results from numerical investigation of laminar natural convection inside a differentially heated square enclosure with a thin baffle attached to the cold wall are reported. The effect of the baffles on the flow and temperature fields were analyzed for baffle lengths equal to 20, 35 and 50 percent of the width of the enclosure, attached at three locations for Ra = 104, 105, 106 and Pr = 0.707. The presence of a baffle on the cold right wall affects the strength of the clockwise rotating primary vortex. Reduced flow and heat transfer are observed. Longer the baffle more pronounced the effect on the flow field. Secondary convection cells are seen between the baffle and the bottom wall for certain cases. Reduction in average Nusselt Number is observed on the cold wall with the baffle than the hot wall.</jats:p