Advanced Non-Chemical and Close to Plant Weed Control system for Organic Agriculture

Use of chemical has been reduced in agriculture for controlling weeds emergence. The use of alternative systems, such as cultural practices (mulching, flame, intercropping etc.) and mechanical system (hoe, tine etc.) has been introduced by various researchers. Automation technique based on sensors controlled system has enhanced the efficiency of the mechanical system for weed control. Mostly, low cost image acquisition sensors and optical sensor to detect the plant ensuring swift operation of vehicles close the crop plants to remove competitive weeds. The available system need to be evaluated to get best possible system for close to plant (CTP) weed removal. In the study various non-chemical weed control measures has been explored and 30 mechanical tools for CTP were evaluated. High precision tillage solutions and thermal weed control by pulsed lasers for eradication of stem or main shoot were found to be the most promising weed control concepts for CTP operation

Pain and injury in adolescents and young adults

This thesis aims to better the understanding of pain and injury in adolescents and young adults by investigating the prevalence, impact, risk factors, clinical course and diagnosis of common disorders. Chapters 2 and 3 presents the results of studies of large international data sets. Chapter 2 showed that back pain, headache, and stomach ache were very common in adolescents, more often coexisting with each other than occurring in isolation. In Chapter 3 investigated the association between pain and achieving 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. Adolescents with pain generally had reduced odds of meeting physical activity recommendations. Chapter 4 investigated whether physical growth and development is a risk factor for musculoskeletal conditions in adolescents. A systematic review of the literature was conducted. A total of 208 estimates of association generally indicated no association or an unclear association between maturation, growth and musculoskeletal conditions in adolescents. In Chapter 5, a feasibility study was conducted to assess the recruitment, retention and response rates of weekly electronic follow-up, in adolescents with knee pain. Study feasibility was threatened by slow recruitment, participants that stopped responding prior to recovery, and high loss to follow-up. Electronic data collection alone seems insufficient to track knee pain recovery in young people. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are common and impactful in young people. Chapter 6 reports on a systematic review conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests for anterior cruciate ligament injury. Clinical tests in combination, but not individually, may assist the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament injury in clinical practice. Collectively, this thesis provides an important contribution to the body of knowledge underpinning the epidemiology of pain and injury in adolescents and young adults

ROLE OF FLUID ON THE CONTACT DEFORMATION RESPONSE OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUE

This paper will focus on the role of fluids on the indentation deformation response of tooth and eye tissues. All natural biological materials contain fluid and function in a fluidic environment, which plays a critical role in responding to loading events as well as tissue nutrition. The location of this fluid varies and is considered as both bound and mobile with much of it located in cell compartments that are also able to respond directly to loading. The extent of the fluid content varies from less than 10 % in the case of the highly mineralised enamel to more than 80 % in the case of soft eye tissues. The role of the fluid and its response during loading is also complicated by the hierarchical structure of biological tissues, be they mineralised or not. The mechanisms by which the presence of fluid in these materials influences the mechanical response is still poorly understood and has not been systematically investigated. The present paper presents data generated over many years on both the above biological tissues and attempts to present indications as to the mechanism(s) by which the presence of fluid contributes to the deformation. The situation associated with contact loading with the presence of mobile fluid in the tissues results in a more complex situation than the classic elastic-plastic contact situation, but the latter still forms the basis for much of the analysis of instrumented indentation force-displacement load-unloading curves using various shapes of indenters, especially for mineralised structures. In the case of soft tissues the absence of agreed protocols for interpretation of force-displacement-time responses is restricting clinical/biological applications

An Evening of Music

Program listing performers and works performe

Hepatitis B immunisation : a survey of surgeons and theatre nurses

Acute viral hepatitis remains a serious condition. Its long-term sequelae include cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Health workers constitute a high-risk group for contracting hepatitis B. A group of clinicians associated with invasive procedures and nurses working in operating theatres were invited to answer a confidential questionnaire concerning hepatitis B immunisation and the use of protective measures. A self-administered confidential questionnaire was sent to 152 clinicians and 97 theatre nurses, of whom 82 and 74 respectively responded, giving an overall response rate of 63 %. Whilst 91% of respondents considered their speciality as being of high risk for hepatitis B only 63% of them were fully immunised and of these only 51% had had their immunity tested. Out of those who checked their antibody status 19% did so following a needle stick injury. 60% of our respondents had had a needle stick injury over the past year. Even so barrier precaution techniques were used infrequently with only 17% always or at least frequently using double gloving and 10% wearing a visor during operations. Some respondents also commented on the poor availability of resources such as impermeable gowns or blunt needles which are established precautions against contamination from hepatitis B.peer-reviewe

Vision-based weed identification with farm robots

Robots in agriculture offer new opportunities for real time weed identification and quick removal operations. Weed identification and control remains one of the most challenging task in agriculture, particularly in organic agriculture practices. Considering environmental impacts and food quality, the excess use of chemicals in agriculture for controlling weeds and diseases is decreasing. The cost of herbercides and their field applications must be optimized. As an alternative, a smart weed identification technique followed by the mechanical and thermal weed control can fulfill the organic farmers’ expectations. The smart identification technique works on the concept of ‘shape matching’ and ‘active shape modeling’ of plant and weed leafs. The automated weed detection and control system consists of three major tools. Such as: i) eXcite multispectral camera, ii) LTI image processing library and iii) Hortibot robotic vehicle. The components are combined in Linux interface environment in the eXcite camera associate PC. The laboratory experiments for active shape matching have shown interesting results which will be further enhanced to develop the automated weed detection system. The Hortibot robot will be mounted with the camera unit in the front-end and the mechanical weed remover in the rear-end. The system will be upgraded for intense commercial applications in maize and other row crops

Giant pop-ins and amorphization in germanium during indentation

Sudden excursions of unusually large magnitude (>1 μm), “giant pop-ins,” have been observed in the force-displacement curve for high load indentation of crystalline germanium(Ge). A range of techniques including Raman microspectroscopy, focused ion-beam cross sectioning, and transmission electron microscopy, are applied to study this phenomenon. Amorphous material is observed in residual indents following the giant pop-in. The giant pop-in is shown to be a material removal event, triggered by the development of shallow lateral cracks adjacent to the indent. Enhanced depth recovery, or “elbowing,” observed in the force-displacement curve following the giant pop-in is explained in terms of a compliant response of plates of material around the indent detached by lateral cracking. The possible causes of amorphization are discussed, and the implications in light of earlier indentation studies of Ge are considered

The Role of Informal Conversations in Generating Data, and the Ethical and Methodological Issues

Ausgehend von dem Argument, dass die Rolle informeller Gespräche in qualitativen Methoden der Sozial- und Bildungsforschung umstritten, aber auch relativ vernachlässigt ist, stellen wir in diesem Artikel dar, wie diese Gespräche unsere Forschungsansätze und -praxis beeinflusst haben. Wir verwenden ein Beispiel aus einer eigenen Studie, um ihre nuancierte und spezifische Natur hervorzuheben und eine Reihe von sich ergebenden ethischen und methodischen Fragen aufzuwerfen und zu hinterfragen. Wir betrachten informelle Gespräche als Möglichkeit, Daten mit "Kontext" und "Authentizität" zu versehen und andernfalls verpasste Möglichkeiten zur Erweiterung und Anreicherung von Daten zu erschließen. Wir berücksichtigen auch die Rolle von Ethikkommissionen und Ethikrichtlinien sowie die praktischen Auswirkungen und Konsequenzen, die diese für Forscher_innen haben, wenn sie während ihrer Feldarbeit informelle Gespräche führen.Arguing that the role of informal conversations in qualitative social and educational research methodologies is contested but also relatively neglected, in this article we set out how the method has influenced our research approaches and practice. We use an example of a conversation between one of us and a participant to highlight their nuanced and specific nature, and to raise and interrogate a number of ethical and methodological issues that emerge. We view informal conversations as opportunities to add "context" and "authenticity" to data and argue that they can unlock otherwise missed opportunities to expand and enrich data. We also consider the role of ethical boards and ethical guidelines, and the practical effects and consequences these have for researchers when they use informal conversations during their fieldwork

Evaluating the Impact of Governmental Partners on School Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies: A Survey of Florida School Principals

For decades, U.S. schools have implemented policies aimed at improving student nutrition and physical activity. Governmental agencies have led these efforts with funding and regulation, and implementation supported by health and agriculture agencies and university extension services at state and local levels. To understand the roles of these agencies in school health, and other factors leading to the implementation of school health policies, we surveyed school principals in Florida in 2018 on topics related to school nutrition and physical activity policies. Depending on the wellness policy, prevalence varied from 6 percent (Safe Routes to School) to 66 percent (wellness coordinator). Poisson regression results indicated a significantly higher number of nutrition and physical activity policies for schools working with a partner, non-charter schools, and schools with higher principal engagement. These results highlight a need for greater resources (particularly governmental health and agricultural agencies and university extension services) to improve school health policy adoption in Florida