Hybrid taguchi-grey relational analysis approach for optimizing cutter operational parameters in selective cauliflower harvesting.

Cauliflower is an important winter crop grown in India, its curds are rich in nutritional profile, containing valuable minerals and vitamins. However, cauliflower harvesting is mainly accomplished by hands, which is time-consuming and requires a high labour force. On the other hand, most developed cauliflower harvesters are once over or single pass type, which harvests all plants irrespective of their maturity.

Tuning the electro-catalytic activity of the Zn-Cu MOF/rGO nanocomposite as a novel enzyme-free electrochemical sensor for the detection of the oxytocin hormone.

Oxytocin (OXY), a peptide hormone and neurotransmitter essential for biological processes with nine distinct amino acid residues, has received significant attention due to its illegal use in food adulteration and stimulating milk ejection in cattle. Herein, for the first time, electrochemical detection of oxytocin (OXY) is reported using a novel nanocomposite consisting of a Zn-Cu metal-organic framework (Zn-Cu MOF) decorated on reduced graphene oxide (rGO). An octahedral surface morphology with a crystalline structure of 45 nm in size, formation of a metal-oxygen bond, an enhanced pore diameter of 6.

Linking COVID-19 and cancer: Underlying mechanism.

COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), lead to a global health crisis with a spectrum of clinical manifestations. A potentially vulnerable category for SARS-CoV-2 infection was identified in patients with other medical conditions. Intriguingly, parallels exist between COVID-19 and cancer at the pathophysiological level, suggesting a possible connection between them.

Transcriptomic study reveals alteration in the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) during reversal of HIV-1 latency in monocytic cell line.

Background: The presence of latent HIV reservoirs continues to be the biggest obstacle to achieving an HIV cure. Thus, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may serve as the preferred targets for HIV latency reversal. The goal of the study was to identify prospective lncRNAs for subsequent in vitro molecular and functional characterization.

Potential dermal exposure and ergonomic assessment in greenhouse spraying.

Greenhouses are space-efficient structures used in the production of produce. However, occupational health issues like exposure to chemicals, and physiological and postural stresses are experienced by operators while performing farm activities due to the enclosed environment of the greenhouse. This study assesses chemical exposure and physiological and postural parameters of operators during spraying with two different types of sprayers (Battery-powered knapsack sprayer [Battery sprayer] and AC-powered stationary sprayer [Stationary sprayer]) with two different application techniques (continuous and alternate row).

Oncogenic potential of SARS-CoV-2-targeting hallmarks of cancer pathways.

The 2019 outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has caused a major worldwide health crisis with high rates of morbidity and death. Interestingly, it has also been linked to cancer, which begs the issue of whether it plays a role in carcinogenesis. Recent studies have revealed various mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 can influence oncogenic pathways, potentially promoting cancer development.

Graphene-based metal/metal oxide nanocomposites as potential antibacterial agents: a mini-review.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rising issue worldwide, which is increasing prolonged illness and mortality rates in the population. Similarly, bacteria have generated multidrug resistance (MDR) by developing various mechanisms to cope with existing antibiotics and therefore, there is a need to develop new antibacterial and antimicrobial agents. Biocompatible nanomaterials like graphene and its derivatives, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) loaded with metal/metal oxide nanoparticles have been explored as potential antibacterial agents.

Characterization, phytochemical profiling, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity of underutilized medicinal plants and composite flour.

In this investigation, three medicinal plant powders and a composite flour developed from them were analyzed. FESEM/EDS illustrated irregularly shaped particles in the plant powders except for Withania, which had round to oval shape particles. XRD analysis displayed a semi-crystalline nature of powders, except for Asparagus, which showed amorphous behavior.

Borophene: a piezocatalyst for water remediation.

Borophene is an emerging two-dimensional material exhibiting exceptional piezocatalytic activity under the influence of ultrasonic vibrations, as exemplified herein by the decomposition of highly stable organic dyes in water. After 6 minutes of exposure, borophene sheets converted up to 92 percent of a mixture of dye molecules at room temperature.

Corrigendum: Sensor-based precision nutrient and irrigation management enhances the physiological performance, water productivity, and yield of soybean under system of crop intensification.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.

Proportional impact prediction model of coating material on nitrate leaching of slow-release Urea Super Granules (USG) using machine learning and RSM technique.

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.

Sensor-based precision nutrient and irrigation management enhances the physiological performance, water productivity, and yield of soybean under system of crop intensification.

Sensor-based decision tools provide a quick assessment of nutritional and physiological health status of crop, thereby enhancing the crop productivity. Therefore, a 2-year field study was undertaken with precision nutrient and irrigation management under system of crop intensification (SCI) to understand the applicability of sensor-based decision tools in improving the physiological performance, water productivity, and seed yield of soybean crop. The experiment consisted of three irrigation regimes [I: standard flood irrigation at 50% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM) (FI), I: sprinkler irrigation at 80% ET (crop evapo-transpiration) (Spr 80% ET), and I: sprinkler irrigation at 60% ET (Spr 60% ET)] assigned in main plots, with five precision nutrient management (PNM) practices{PNM-[SCI protocol], PNM-[RDF, recommended dose of fertilizer: basal dose incorporated (50% N, full dose of P and K)], PNM-[RDF: basal dose point placement (BDP) (50% N, full dose of P and K)], PNM-[75% RDF: BDP (50% N, full dose of P and K)] and PNM-[50% RDF: BDP (50% N, full P and K)]} assigned in sub-plots using a split-plot design with three replications.

Synthesis of copper-reduced graphene oxide nanomaterials using glucose and study of its antibacterial and anticancer activities.

In this work, glucose-capped copper nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide nanomaterial are synthesized at 100 °C and 200 °C via chemical reduction method and studied for their antibacterial and anticancer activities. Synthesized nanomaterials were characterized using x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, transmission electron microscope, and RAMAN. It is observed in transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction studies that copper nanoparticles deposited onto reduced graphene oxide are smaller than nanoparticles generated in the absence of reduced graphene oxide.

A panel of blood-based circulatory miRNAs with diagnostic potential in patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with keratinocyte hyperproliferation and T cells as key mediators of lesional and systemic inflammatory changes. To date, no suitable differential biomarkers are available for the disease diagnosis. More recently, microRNAs have been identified as critical regulators of lesional and systemic immune changes in psoriasis with diagnostic potential.

Bacteria assisted green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles and their potential applications as antimicrobial agents and plant growth stimulants.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have piqued the interest of agricultural researchers due to their potential application as fungicides, insecticides, and fertilizers. The sp. ZTB29 strain, which has the NCBI accession number MK773873, was a novel isolate used in this investigation that produced CuO-NPs.

MIL-88B(Fe) MOF modified screen-printed electrodes for non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing of malathion.

An enzyme-free electrochemical approach for ultra-trace quantification of the organophosphate insecticide malathion is proposed in this study. It is premised on screen-printed carbon electrodes modified by the MIL-88B(Fe) metal-organic framework (MOF). A one-pot solvothermal method was used to synthesise MIL-88B(Fe).

NaNbO/ZnO piezocatalyst for non-destructive tooth cleaning and antibacterial activity.

Tooth discoloration and plaque formation are serious issues for dental healthcare professionals across the world. Although traditional hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning methods are efficient, they can cause enamel demineralization, periodontal irritation, and toxicity. Also, these treatments are time-taking.

Putting human Tid-1 in context: an insight into its role in the cell and in different disease states.

Background: Tumorous imaginal disc 1 (hTid-1) or DnaJ homolog subfamily A member 3 (DNAJA3), is a part of the heat shock protein (Hsp) 40 family and is predominantly found to reside in the mitochondria. hTid-1 has two mRNA splicing variants, hTid-1S and hTid-1L of 40 and 43 kDa respectively in the cytosol which are later processed upon import into the mitochondrial matrix. hTid-1 protein is a part of the DnaJ family of proteins which are co-chaperones and specificity factors for DnaK proteins of the Hsp70 family, and bind to Hsp70, thereby activating its ATPase activity.

Biogenic Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) Using Aqueous Leaf Extract of Spreng and Evaluation of Their Antifungal Activity against Phytopathogenic Fungi.

Nanoparticles show the multidisciplinary versatile utility and are gaining the prime place in various fields, such as medicine, electronics, pharmaceuticals, electrical designing, cosmetics, food industries, and agriculture, due to their small size and large surface to volume ratio. Biogenic or green synthesis methods are environmentally friendly, economically feasible, rapid, free of organic solvents, and reliable over conventional methods. Plant extracts are of incredible potential in the biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles owing to their bountiful availability, stabilizing, and reducing ability.

NaNbO Nanorods: Photopiezocatalysts for Elevated Bacterial Disinfection and Wastewater Treatment.

In the present work, ferroelectric sodium niobate (NaNbO) nanorods are formulated to attain photopiezocatalysis for water pollutant degradation and bacterial disinfection. NaNbO nanorods, integrating the advantages of photocatalysis (generation of free charge carriers) and piezocatalysis (separation of these charge carriers), possess synergistic effects, which results in a higher catalytic activity than photocatalysis and piezocatalysis alone. Active species that are involved in the catalytic process are found to be O < OH < h, indicating the significance of piezocatalysis and photocatalysis.

High energy storage capabilities of CaCuTiO for paper-based zinc-air battery.

Zinc-air batteries proffer high energy density and cyclic stability at low costs but lack disadvantages like sluggish reactions at the cathode and the formation of by-products at the cathode. To resolve these issues, a new perovskite material, CaCuTiO (CCTO), is proposed as an efficacious electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution/reduction reactions to develop zinc-air batteries (ZAB). Synthesis of this material adopted an effective oxalate route, which led to the purity in the electrocatalyst composition.

Quantification of genetic variability and stable genotype selection over the years in the germplasm of critically endangered Prishanparni (Uraria picta Desv.).

Prishanparni (Uraria picta Desv.), a critically endangered annual shrub belonging to the family 'Papillionaceae'. It is widely distributed throughout India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Tropical Africa, Malay Islands, and the Philippines.