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An experimental setup was developed for simulating the field conditions to determine the force and power required for cutting cumin crops in dynamic conditions. The effect of cutter bar speeds, forward speeds, and blade type on cutting force and power requirement for cutting cumin were also studied. Experiments were carried out at three levels: cutter bar speeds, forward speeds, and blade type. The results showed that all the factors significantly affected cutting force. The cutting force followed a decreasing trend with the increase in cutter bar speed. Whereas it followed an increasing trend with the increase in forward speed. The maximum cutting force for all three blades was observed at a cutter bar speed of 2.00 strokes.s-1 and forward speed of 0.46 m.s−1. The idle power and actual power required for cutting the cumin crop were also determined based on the cutting force. The results obtained were validated by the power drawn from the power source while operating the cutter bar blades. The R2 values for Blade-B1, Blade-B2, and Blade-B3 were 0.90, 0.82, and 0.88, respectively. The cutting force was primarily affected by the cutter bar speed, resulting in PCR values of 74.20%, 82.32%, and 81.75% for Blade-B1, Blade-B2, and Blade-B3, respectively, followed by the forward speed, which also had an impact on PCR values of 16.60%, 15.27%, and 18.25% for Blade-B1, Blade-B2, and Blade-B3, respectively. The cutting force for Blade-B1, Blade-B2, and Blade-B3 varied from 15.96 to 58.97 N, 21.08 to 76.64 N, and 30.22 to 85.31, respectively, for the selected range of cutter bar speed and forward speed. Blade-B1 had 18 and 30% less power consumption than Blade-B2 and Blade-B3, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate assessment of nitrate leaching is important for efficient fertiliser utilisation and groundwater pollution reduction. However, past studies could not efficiently model nitrate leaching due to utilisation of conventional algorithms. To address the issue, the current research employed advanced machine learning algorithms, viz., Support Vector Machine, Artificial Neural Network, Random Forest, M5 Tree (M5P), Reduced Error Pruning Tree (REPTree) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to predict and optimize nitrate leaching. In this study, Urea Super Granules (USG) with three different coatings were used for the experiment in the soil columns, containing 1 kg soil with fertiliser placed in between. Statistical parameters, namely correlation coefficient, Mean Absolute Error, Willmott index, Root Mean Square Error and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency were used to evaluate the performance of the ML techniques. In addition, a comparison was made in the test set among the machine learning models in which, RSM outperformed the rest of the models irrespective of coating type. Neem oil/ Acacia oil(ml): clay/sulfer (g): age (days) for minimum nitrate leaching was found to be 2.61: 1.67: 2.4 for coating of USG with bentonite clay and neem oil without heating, 2.18: 2: 1 for bentonite clay and neem oil with heating and 1.69: 1.64: 2.18 for coating USG with sulfer and acacia oil. The research would provide guidelines to researchers and policymakers to select the appropriate tool for precise prediction of nitrate leaching, which would optimise the yield and the benefit–cost ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random Indexing based extractive text summarization has already been proposed in literature. This paper looks at the above technique in detail, and proposes several improvements. The improvements are both in terms of formation of index (word) vectors of the document, and construction of context vectors by using convolution instead of addition operation on the index vectors. Experiments have been conducted using both angular and linear distances as metrics for proximity. As a consequence, three improved versions of the algorithm, viz. RISUM, RISUM+ and MRISUM were obtained. These algorithms have been applied on DUC 2002 documents, and their comparative performance has been studied. Different ROUGE metrics have been used for performance evaluation. While RISUM and RISUM+ perform almost at par, MRISUM is found to outperform both RISUM and RISUM+ significantly. MRISUM also outperforms LSA+TRM based summarization approach. The study reveals that all the three Random Indexing based techniques proposed in this study produce consistent results when linear distance is used for measuring proximity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop geometry plays a vital role in ensuring proper plant growth and yield. Check row planting allows adequate space for weeding in both direction and allowing sunlight down to the bottom of the crop. Therefore, a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) navigated electronic seed metering system for check row planting of maize seeds was developed. The system is comprised of a LiDAR-based distance measurement unit, electronic seed metering mechanism and a wireless communication system. The electronic seed metering mechanism was evaluated in the laboratory for five different cell sizes (8.80, 9.73, 10.82, 11.90 and 12.83 mm) and linear cell speed (89.15, 99.46, 111.44, 123.41 and 133.72 mm·s−1). The research shows the optimised values for the cell size and linear speed of cell were found to be 11.90 mm and 99.46 mm·s−1 respectively. A light dependent resistor (LDR) and light emitting diode (LED)-based seed flow sensing system was developed to measure the lag time of seed flow from seed metering box to bottom of seed tube. The average lag time of seed fall was observed as 251.2   ±   5.39 ms at an optimised linear speed of cell of 99.46 mm·s−1 and forward speed of 2 km·h−1. This lag time was minimized by advancing the seed drop on the basis of forward speed of tractor, lag time and targeted position. A check row quality index ( I C R Q ) was developed to evaluate check row planter. While evaluating the developed system at different forward speeds (i.e., 2, 3 and 5 km·h−1), higher standard deviation (14.14%) of check row quality index was observed at forward speed of 5 km·h−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apolipoprotein A-I is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, cardioprotective, anti-tumorigenic, and anti-diabetic in mammals. Apolipoprotein A-I also regulates innate immune defense mechanisms in vertebrates and invertebrates. Apolipoproteins A-I from mammals and several teleosts display antibacterial activities against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. The present study describes strategies to obtain high amounts of soluble purified recombinant Apolipoprotein A-I of Labeo rohita, an Indian major carp (rLrApoA-I). The study also reports its detailed structural and functional characterization i.e. antimicrobial activity against a number of important marine and fresh water bacterial pathogens. The rLrApoA-I was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) pLysS expression host as a soluble protein under optimized conditions. The yield of purified rLrApoA-I was ~ 75 mg/L from soluble fraction using metal ion affinity chromatography. The authenticity of the rLrApoA-I was confirmed by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. The secondary structure analysis showed rLrApoA-I to be predominantly alpha helical, an evolutionary conserved characteristic across mammals and teleosts. The purified rLrApoA-I exhibited antimicrobial activity as evident from inhibition of growth of a number of bacteria namely Aeromonas hydrophila, A. liquefaciens, A. culicicola, A. sobria, Vibrio harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus and Edwardsiella tarda in a dose–dependent manner. Minimum bactericidal concentration for A. liquefaciens, A. culicicola, and A. sobria, was determined to be 25 μg/ml or 0.81 μM whereas for A. hydrophila, E. tarda, V. parahaemolyticus and V. harveyi, it was determined to be 100 μg/ml or 3.23 μM. These data strongly suggest that recombinant ApoA-I from Labeo rohita could play a role in primary defense against fish pathogen. Further, at temperature ≥ 55 °C, though a loss in secondary structure was observed, no effect on its antibacterial activity was observed. This is of significance as the antibacterial activity is not likely to be lost even if the protein is subjected to high temperatures during transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhino-orbital cerebral mucor mycosis is a rare disease entity, where retinal involvement is described in the literature mostly as CRAO. However, pathological studies have shown mucor invading the choroid and retina with a neutrophilic reaction. So, it is pertinent that retinal inflammation secondary to invading mucor has some role in microstructural changes seen in the vitreous and retina of these patients. This novel study aims to describe the vitreal and retinal features of patients with vision-threatening rhino-orbital cerebral mucor mycosis and how they evolve on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). This study shall also provide insight into the pathophysiology of these vitreoretinal manifestations by in vitro analysis of the exenterated orbital content. Fifteen eyes of fifteen patients with vision-threatening ROCM treated with standard care were enrolled in this study and underwent complete ophthalmic examination, serial colour fundus photography, and SD-OCT for both qualitative and quantitative analysis, at baseline and follow-up visits. SD-OCT on serial follow-up revealed thickening and increased inner-retinal reflectivity at presentation followed by thinning of both, other features such as the loss of the inner-retinal organized layer structure, external limiting membrane (ELM) disruption, necrotic spaces in the outer retina, and hyperreflective foci. Vitreous cells with vitreous haze were also seen. There was a significant reduction in CMT, inner and outer retinal thickness, total retinal thickness (all p < 0.05) with time, the quantum of reduction concentrated primarily to the inner retina. In summary, in vivo and in vitro analysis revealed that early microstructural changes were primarily a result of retinal infarctions secondary to thrombotic angioinvasion. With the late microstructural changes, there was possible sequelae of retinal infarction with some contribution from the inflammation, resulting from mucor invading the choroid and retina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Correction: Agro-Economic Assessment of Mechanized Rice Establishment Practices in Northwestern India: A Comparative Study" in the International Journal of Plant Production addresses errors in the publication, including the incorrect corresponding author. The correct corresponding author is Satish Devram Lande. The study involves researchers from various agricultural institutions in India, focusing on the economic assessment of mechanized rice establishment practices in Northwestern India. The corrected version of the article can be accessed online. [Extracted from the article]

Mechanizing rice cultivation is essential to enhance operational efficiency, profitability, and resource-effectiveness while minimizing dependency on labour workforce. The agro-economic feasibility of rice establishment methods namely Conventional-Manually Transplanted Rice (CTR), Machine Transplanted Rice (MTR), and Dry-Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), was assessed for analysing their compatibility to mechanized rice cultivation in India. Based on two-years field experiments in sandy loam soil, field data of agro-economic scenario were analysed for prominent basmati rice variety PB-1509 of Northwestern India, during kharif season of 2022 and 2023. The CTR results 7–9% higher yield than MTR and DSR, during both the seasons. However, improved growth parameters like effective tillers/hill, grain fertility, panicle length, 1000 grains weight, and harvest index, with lesser effective tillers/m2 were recorded in MTR, compared to CTR and DSR. The soil analysis revealed that, puddling in CTR and MTR, make the soil dense, resulted in increased bulk density by 3.50% from initial soil condition. In contrast, more availability of N, P, K, and improved soil organic carbon (SOC) with unchanged bulk density, directed towards the better soil health in DSR, compared to CTR and MTR. Also, the reduction in total cultivation costs in DSR (∼19%), and in MTR (∼8%) with respective higher benefit cost ratio (B: C) of 1.92 in DSR and 1.77 in MTR, compared to 1.73 in CTR, indicated that mechanized seeding/transplanting are profitable and sustainable rice establishment methods than conventional rice transplanting practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urea, a nitrogenous fertilizer which plays an important role in enhancing yield, but has a drawback of low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Use of urea super granule (USG) and coated urea have advantages over prilled urea in terms of higher NUE and eventually improved yield. Depth of placement (DOP) of USG plays a major role in achieving higher NUE and yield. However, appropriate depth of placement needs detailed knowledge about water and nitrogen (N) movements to provide maximum nutrient to plants. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in the paddy field using USG coated with three different types of coating (USG with nano bentonite and neem oil (T1), USG with heated nano bentonite and neem oil (T2) and USG with sulfer and acacia gum solution (T3)) and placed at the centre of four hills of paddy as basal dose at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. Spatial and temporal data of soil moisture and Nwere collected for the initial 32 days in paddy field after crops establishment. The HYDRUS-2D model was calibrated and validated using the observed data. Calibrated model was used for simulation of N movement in different soil types and for different depths of USG placement. Results revealed that permissible soil like sandy loam, the optimum DOP irrespective of coating was 5 cm. For sandy clay loam soil, optimum depth of placement was found to be 10 cm, 6 cm and 10 cm for T1, T2 and T3 type of coatings. Similarly, for clay loam soil, depth of USG placement for T1, T2 and T3 type coating was found to be 8 cm, 10 cm and 8 cm, respectively. Using the optimum DOP in sandy clay loam soil, results showed that both i.e., DOP and coating type has significant effect on number of tillers m−2 and yield (t ha−1). In 2020 and 2021, the highest number of tillers per square meter at 30 days after transplanting (DAT) was observed in the T3 treatment at DOP of 10 cm, with counts of 453.66 and 454.88, respectively. Following closely were T2 at DOP of 10 cm (447.33 and 119.55) and T1 at DOP of 6 cm (443.44 and 444.77). Similarly, the best yield in 2020 and 2021 were observed from T3 treatment at DOP of 10 cm (5.41 t/ha and 5.44 t/ha), followed by T2 at DOP of 10 cm (5.33 t/ha and 5.42 t/ha), and T1 at DOP of 6 cm (5.29 t/ha and 5.31 t/ha). This study may assist the farmers, researchers, manufacturers and policy makers to make selection of the optimum depth of placement for higher NUE and yield in different soil types. • USGs were coated with different coating materials. • HYDRUS model was calibrated and validated for moisture and nitrogen concentration. • Root growth characteristics of paddy was observed by using root scanner. • The optimized placement depth was determined based on the maximum nutrient supply. • Agronomic evaluation result was also observed to verify the simulation result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain decortication is used commercially to extend the shelf life of pearl millet flour over the world. This is the first study in pearl millet to assess the effects of various degrees of decortication on the rancidity developing parameters and provide insight for its commercial application. Present study is evaluating the impact of different degree of decortication on the shelf life of pearl millet flour and percent loss of micronutrients abundant (iron and zinc) in pearl millet. Eight pearl millet genotypes belong to low, medium and high rancid category were subjected to three different level of decortication. On the basis of percent weight loss by decortication, up to 1–3% was designated as low (LD), 3.1–6% as medium (MD) and 6.1 to 10% as high (HD) level of decortication. Analysis of rancidity measuring parameters revealed that only LD is effective in improving the shelf life of pearl millet flour by reducing the lipoxygenase (LOX) activity and lipid oxidation as compared to control sample and also the loss of essential micronutrient due to decortication was minimal. As the degree of decortication increases, at MD and HD level, the lipid oxidation rate increases through non enzymatic method and also the loss of essential micronutrients was observed to be high. To conclude, LD is an effective approach for regulating the rancidity and improving the shelf life of pearl millet flour. • Effect of different degrees of decortication on Pearl millet flour shelf life was determined. • Low level of decortication (1-3%) is effective in enhancing the pearl millet flour shelf life. • Micronutrient (iron and zinc) loss at low level of decortication was found to be minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]