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The objective of modern seed-coating technology is to uniformly apply a wide range of active components (ingredients) onto crop seeds at desired dosages so as to facilitate sowing and enhance crop performance. There are three major types of seed treating/coating equipment: dry powder applicator, rotary pan, and pelleting pan with the provisions to apply dry powders, liquids, or a combination of both. Additional terms for coatings produced from these types of equipment include dry coating, seed dressing, film coating, encrustments, and seed pelleting. The seed weight increases for these different coating methods ranges from <0.05% to >5000% (>100,000-fold range). Modern coating technology provides a delivery system for many other materials including biostimulants, nutrients, and plant protectants. This review summarizes seed coating technologies and their potential benefits to enhance seed performance, improve crop establishment, and provide early season pest management for sustainable agricultural systems.

Purpose To characterize 3D‐printed stainless steel metal samples in the presence of an Iridium‐192 source for organ‐at‐risk sparing in gynecologic brachytherapy. Methods Samples of 3D‐printed stainless steel (5.5 × 5.5 cm2, thickness range 1–5 mm) were embedded in a solid water phantom at varying distances from source catheters. An Ir‐192 brachytherapy source was passed through the phantom and the dose was measured using EBT3 Gafchromic film. The film was initially positioned in the sagittal plane 2 cm away from the catheters, with the metal directly below and then 1 cm from the film. A uniform dose was delivered at the film plane. A second setup measured a depth dose curve in solid water with film in the transverse plane directly above the metal samples. This setup was recreated using Monte Carlo simulations (EGSnrc egs_brachy). Validation between methods was performed with unshielded (solid water only) measurements. Results The planar dose passing through the metal samples (thickness 1–5 mm) at the midpoint between the film and catheters, decreased compared to solid water by 7.4% ± 6.9% to 26.5% ± 5.5%. Dose enhancement on the order of 5% was noted when metal was directly adjacent to the film. The average decrease in depth dose from a single dwell position ranged from 10.0% ± 5.9% (1 mm) to 21.1% ± 5.3% (5 mm) as measured with film, and from 3.8% ± 0.9% (1 mm) to 16.3% ± 0.9% (5 mm) using MC simulation. The average depth dose values were measured using a line width of 2.5 mm for film, and 3 mm for MC simulation, and the measurements generally agree within standard error. Conclusions The 3D‐printed metal samples show potential for personalized applicators. Maximum dose reduction of 26.5% ± 5.5% compared to solid water was measured at 2 cm from the source using the 5 mm sample. An outer layer of solid water could potentially be used to reduce dose enhancement due to increased scatter near the metal.

Though evidence suggests that some pesticides may have thyroid-disrupting properties, prospective studies of associations between specific pesticides and incident thyroid disease are limited. We evaluated associations between use of specific pesticides and incident hypothyroidism in private pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS). Self-reported incident hypothyroidism ([Formula: see text] cases) was studied in relation to ever-use and intensity-weighted cumulative days of pesticide use at study enrollment. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Cox proportional hazards models applied to 35,150 male and female applicators followed over 20 y. All models were stratified by state and education to meet proportional hazards assumptions ([Formula: see text] for age x covariate interactions). Models of pesticides that did not meet proportional hazards assumptions were stratified by median attained age (62 y). Hypothyroidism risk was significantly increased with ever- vs. never-use of four organochlorine insecticides (aldrin, heptachlor, and lindane among participants with attained age [Formula: see text]; chlordane in all participants), four organophosphate insecticides (coumaphos in those [Formula: see text]; diazinon, dichlorvos, and malathion in all participants) and three herbicides (dicamba, glyphosate, and 2,4-D in all participants). HRs ranged from 1.21; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.41 (chlordane) to 1.54; 95% CI: 1.23, 19.4 (lindane in those [Formula: see text]). Hypothyroidism risk was greatest among those with higher intensity-weighted lifetime days of using chlordane, lindane, coumaphos (over age 62), diazinon, permethrin, and 2,4-D. Our findings support associations between exposure to several pesticides and increased hypothyroidism risk. These findings are generally consistent with prior analyses of prevalent hypothyroidism in the AHS. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3194.

Core Ideas Satellite imagery could be used to predict yield the study crops. Satellite imagery could be used to screen fields for in‐season N application. Obtaining satellite imagery early enough in the season to screen fields for in‐season N is a problem. Algorithms using active‐optical (AO) sensors have been developed to direct in‐season N application to crops. Many farmers in the United States have a large number of farm fields to manage. Farmers using AO technology must visit each field and operate the sensor across the entire field in order to conduct in‐season N application. A field might be driven over with an on‐the‐go N fertilizer applicator, but the application might not be required. The objective of this study was to determine whether satellite imagery might be used to predict yield in sugar beet, spring wheat, corn and sunflower similar to the yield prediction possible using AO sensors. If so, the algorithms produced could be used to select fields that would benefit from in‐season N application. Two N‐rate studies in sugar beet, spring wheat, corn and sunflower, were conducted with experimental unit size of 9 by 9 m large enough to fit a satellite pixel of 5 by 5 m size within each unit. The AO sensor and satellite imagery data were related to yield of sugar beet, spring wheat, corn and sunflower in some site‐years. The problem is the ability to acquire the satellite imagery early enough in the season to be useful as a screening tool. These results indicate that even though satellite imagery could be used as a field screening tool, a better option may be to mount an AO sensor on a farm implement for an early season activity, or to explore the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Microneedle technologies have been developed for dermal drug and vaccine delivery, including hollow-, solid-, coated-, and dissolving microneedles. Microneedles have been made in many different geometries and of many different materials, all of which may influence their skin-penetrating ability. To ensure reproducible and effective drug and vaccine delivery via microneedles, the optimal insertion parameters should be known. Therefore, a digitally-controlled microneedle applicator was developed to insert microneedles into the skin via impact insertion (velocity) or via pressing force insertion. Six microneedle arrays with different geometries and/or materials were applied onto ex vivo human skin with varying velocities or pressing forces. Penetration efficiency and delivered antigen dose into the skin after application of microneedles were determined. In general, microneedles pierced the skin more efficiently when applied by impact application as compared to application via pressing force. However, the angle of application of the applicator on the skin can affect the velocity of the impact, influencing the penetration efficiency of microneedles. Regarding the antigen delivery into the skin, the delivered dose was increasing by increasing the velocity or pressure, and thus, increasing the penetration efficiency. These data demonstrate that an applicator is an important tool to determine optimal application conditions with ex vivo human skin.

In agriculture and industry, it is often necessary to heat surface layers of material like soil, timber, concrete, and so on, with microwave (MW) energy. Traditional MW irradiators (antennas) cannot restrain their heating to the surface, with the energy penetrating deeply into the material. Slow-wave comb applicators can provide the required energy distribution in the surface layer. Theoretical analyses of the comb applicators used for heating were carried out and on this basis, three comb applicators were designed and made for soil treatment: two applicators Comb 1 and Comb 2 for frequency 2.45 GHz and Comb 3 for frequency 0.922 GHz. An experimental study of applicators was carried out using two MW plants: 30 kW (2.45 GHz) and 60 kW (0.922 GHz) for heating soil with moisture content in the range from 32% to 173% and density 460 to 1290 kg m−3. The study showed that comb applicators provide the following advantages: reduction in energy dissipation in material depth and release of the significant part of applied MW energy in layers close to the applicator surface. Comb applicators can provide the required soil top layer treatment (sterilization) with reasonable efficiency and can be recommended for practical use in shallow soil treatment for weed seed and pathogen control in agricultural applications. Comb applicators can also be used for effective heating and MW treatment of the surface layers of wood, concrete, bricks, plastics, and other dielectric materials.

Case series summary Two cats were referred to a veterinary teaching hospital with a cotton tip applicator (CTA) tracheobronchial foreign body (FB) after induction of anesthesia for an elective dental cleaning. In both cases, a lidocaine-saturated CTA, utilized to desensitize the larynx before endotracheal (ET) intubation, broke when introduced into the oropharynx and was subsequently aspirated into the tracheobronchial tree. Both CTAs were successfully removed bronchoscopically, and the cats survived with no short- or long-term complications noted. Relevance and novel information Utilizing a lidocaine-saturated CTA to facilitate ET intubation in cats is not well described, and information on the relative risks and benefits of this specific method for laryngeal desensitization is lacking. This retrospective case series is the first to describe a complication of this technique and successful treatment. These cases highlight the risk inherent to using a CTA to desensitize the feline larynx.

We assessed the safety, performance, acceptability, and usability of the High-Density Microarray Patch (HD-MAP) for vaccination in adults aged 50 and over. This study was a single-centre, open-label, single-arm intervention in healthy adults aged 50+. HD-MAPs (vaccine-free) were applied by a trained user and self-administered. Participants received one excipient-coated HD-MAP to the volar forearm (FA) and the upper arm (UA) administered by a trained user. Participants then self-administered a HD-MAP to the FA and UA. Application sites were compared for skin response. Participants completed an online survey and participated in a semi-structured interview on acceptability and usability. Analyses were undertaken using descriptive statistics. Interviews were coded in NVivo 12 and subject to thematic analysis. The study occurred from 8 September 2021 to 15 February 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. Of 44 participants, 43 % (n = 19) were male, and 57 % (n = 25) female. The HD-MAP was well-tolerated, with no treatment-related serious adverse events. The increase in transepidermal water loss following self-administration was similar to that observed for trained user administration (UA: 7.5 fold vs 6-fold, FA: 6.1-fold vs 6.6 fold). Fluorescent dermatoscopy confirmed that HD-MAPs engaged with the skin surface and that self and trained user administrations were similar. All participants found the HD-MAP applicator easy to use. 82 % of participants preferred “vaccination” by HD-MAP should its efficacy be proven equivalent to intramuscular injection (IM). Participants reported high acceptance of the resulting transient marks on the skin (82 %). 98 % of participants agreed that self-administration of the HD-MAP at home, without supervision, was highly preferable for its convenience. HD-MAPs were safe in adults 50+ years, and performance was effective, regardless of administrator. Participants preferred the HD-MAP for its ease of use and convenience in self-administration. This vaccine delivery method shows promise for future implementation for this population.

This research study focuses on the design of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator which can measure the NPK status of soil and applies N, P and K nutrients simultaneously at separate variable rates around the oil palm trees in the form of aqueous solutions of straight fertilizers having single nutrient. A fertilizer flow control and spray system was designed to apply liquid fertilizer around the oil palm tree on a 5 m × 5 m (25 m2) area of most effective roots. On the basis of simulation and calculations, six 8006 flat fan nozzles were selected to maintain the adequate swath coverage of fertilizer spray. The nozzles 1–3 were mounted vertically on the horizontal boom to spray on the machine side of an oil palm tree, i.e. the side of an oil palm where the machine is passing through. Whereas nozzles 4–6 were fixed at − 22°, − 21° and − 20° angles with respect to the horizontal plane on a 45° angled boom to spray across the tree using trajectory method. An average simulated liquid velocity of 14.05 m/s from each nozzle was found to spray at 2.5 m distance across the tree using trajectory method. Thus an improved distribution of fertilizer around the tree at 25 m2 area of most effective roots can be achieved using this system. Mechanical structure of the applicator which carries all the equipment and fertilizer tanks was designed by using the finite element analysis. Minimum safety factors of 3.13 and 11.34 were found for mechanical structure and fertilizer tank assembly respectively which were satisfactory to bear the necessary loads during field operation.