Scientists from Russia and Vietnam discover new antimicrobial compounds in marine sponges

 Scientists from the G. B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with colleagues from Vietnam, have discovered new compounds with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties in marine sponges. This was reported on the university’s website.

The biologically active compounds were found in fungi of the genus Aspergillus, isolated from Vietnamese marine sponges. These include a previously unknown peptide named versicotide K and the anthraquinone 6,8-dimethoxyaveritrine.

Versicotide K demonstrated cardioprotective activity in experiments on cardiac muscle cells, as well as the ability to protect cells from damage caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection, ischaemia, and inflammation.

Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was also shown by the known compound averitrine. It suppresses both bacterial growth and biofilm formation, which is particularly important in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections. In addition, experiments confirmed the anticancer potential of averufanin.

The research showed that marine microorganisms have enormous potential for the production of modern medicines.

Photo: johnandersonphoto / iStock

Text copied from https://tvbrics.com/en/news/scientists-from-russia-and-vietnam-discover-new-antimicrobial-compounds-in-marine-sponges/

Recycling Plastic Waste Through Extrusion: A Closer Look at Mechanical Processing of Marine Plastics

 

Can you please introduce yourself and your role at Thermo Fisher Scientific?

My name is Annika Völp, and I am a Process Application Specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific. I focus on extrusion-based processes, especially in the context of recycling plastics and integrating analytical methods into process development.

What was the objective of your study, and why did you choose to focus on marine waste plastics?

In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanical recycling of plastic waste collected from marine environments. While the materials (e.g., fishing nets, plastic bags) had experienced degradation from UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, or chemical exposure, the insights we gained are broadly relevant to other plastics subjected to similar stress. We want to understand how these degraded plastics behave when reprocessed and how best to incorporate them into new recycling streams.

Image Credit: Richard Whitcombe/Shutterstock.com

How did you characterize the types of plastics before the extrusion step?

We collected three types of plastic waste: a rice bag, a transparent bag, and fishing nets. To identify polymer types, we used a Thermo Scientific Antaris FT-NIR (FTN-IR) analyzer to obtain spectra and compared these to a reference library. 

Could you walk us through your extrusion workflow, from feed to final specimens?

After characterization, we manually cut the waste to suitable sizes, then fed it into a Thermo Scientific Process 11 twin-screw extruder. The extruder melts, shears, and mixes the waste with virgin polymer (in our case, virgin polyethylene). We extruded a strand, cooled it in a water bath, and pelletized it using a pelletizer. Those pellets were then used in a mini injection molding machine to form specimens for mechanical testing.

We conducted optical/SEM (with a Thermo Scientific Phenom benchtop SEM) to inspect degradation effects, surface defects, or contamination in the final blends.

Why use a small-scale twin-screw extruder rather than a full industrial machine?

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Using a small-scale extruder provides several advantages when you have limited sample quantities, such as research-grade waste streams from marine plastics. You can run many screening experiments quickly, use less material, and reduce waste. The parameters you optimize at this scale (screw configuration, temperature profile, throughput) can often be transferred to larger-scale extruders, because the geometry and dynamics are scalable.

What challenges do degraded plastics pose during extrusion, and how do you mitigate them?

Degraded plastics can have lower molecular weight, more contaminants, or oxidative damage, which affects melt viscosity, mechanical strength, and consistency. Contaminants may cause defects in the melt or in final parts. Mitigation includes careful control of temperature, screw speed, degassing or venting zones, and mixing elements to distribute additives or compatibilizers. Also, in-line spectral monitoring (via Raman) helps detect non-ideal behavior during extrusion so the process can be adjusted.

How effective is the in-line Raman spectroscopy in monitoring blend composition during extrusion?

The in-line Raman is quite powerful. By comparing spectra from known PP/PE mixtures, we generated calibration curves for blend ratios. During actual extrusion, the Raman sensor helps monitor the concentration of PP or PE in the melt or at various zones, allowing feedback control or at least data to guide adjustments. This capability is especially useful when recycling mixed polymer streams.

What mechanical, thermal, or morphological analyses did you perform on the final specimens? What did you learn?

We conducted:

• Mechanical testing (tensile strength, elongation, etc.) on molded specimens
• Thermal and calorimetric characterization (DSC, TGA) to assess stability and melting/crystallization behavior
• SEM / optical surface analyses (using a Phenom SEM) to inspect surface defects, contamination, and morphology of blends

Our results showed how mechanical properties degrade or vary with blend composition, additional heating cycles, and presence of contaminants or degradation. For example, in ternary blends, thermal stability was relatively robust, though mechanical strength could decrease with re-processing steps.

How generalizable are your findings for other types of plastic waste beyond marine waste?

Very generalizable. Any plastic stream that has undergone temperature stress, UV degradation, chemical aging, or contamination presents similar challenges. The methodologies - characterization, small-scale extrusion, in-line monitoring, pelletizing, molding, and analysis - are widely applicable. While specific parameters may differ, the approach provides a blueprint for studying diverse recycled plastics.

What are the next steps for your research in extrusion-based recycling?

We plan further collaboration with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to collect more marine plastics, expand into different virgin polymer blends, and more closely explore the rheological behavior of these systems (e.g. using a Thermo Fisher Mars IQR rheometer). We may also explore other additives or compatibilizers to restore mechanical performance and broaden the range of usable recycled blends.

Smart Manufacturing Market Set to Revolutionize Industry 4.0: Innovations, Growth Trends, and Future Outlook 2025-2032 | Major Companies - 3D Systems Inc., ABB, Cisco, Cognex Corporation, Google.

 Market Overview:

The Smart Manufacturing Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10% during the forecasting period 2024-2031.

The Smart Manufacturing Market report, published by DataM Intelligence, provides in-depth insights and analysis on key market trends, growth opportunities, and emerging challenges. Committed to delivering actionable intelligence, DataM Intelligence empowers businesses to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, it offers comprehensive reports that help clients navigate complex market landscapes, drive strategic growth, and seize new opportunities in an ever-evolving global market.

Get a Free Sample PDF Of This Report (Get Higher Priority for Corporate Email ID): https://datamintelligence.com/download-sample/smart-manufacturing-market?sz

The Smart Manufacturing Market encompasses the adoption of advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, robotics, and data analytics to optimize production processes, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs. It integrates real-time monitoring, automation, and predictive maintenance, enabling manufacturers to improve product quality, agility, and sustainability while responding swiftly to market demands and operational challenges.

Recent Key Developments of United States:

✅ November 2025: Cal Poly Pomona received $7.5 million to establish a National Smart Manufacturing Research Center, focusing on research and innovation in intelligent production technologies.

✅ October 2025: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute launched the Center for Smart Convergent Manufacturing Systems (CSCMS) on October 23, integrating robotics, AI, and advanced processing to create adaptive intelligent systems and boost New York's economic growth.

✅ September 2025: CESMII highlighted advancements in smart manufacturing through presentations on transformation paths, foundational building blocks, and a new Manufacturing Information Modeling course to drive efficiency and competitiveness.

Recent Key Developments of Europe:

✅ November 2025: Delta showcased scalable smart manufacturing solutions with human-machine collaboration safety, including the D-Bot Robot Platform and Functional Safety systems, at SPS Nuremberg from November 25-27.

✅ October 2025: TIG - The Innovation Group hosted the Smart Manufacturing Conference on October 23 in Milan, exploring data strategies, ERP/MES evolution, Virtual Twins, and Industrial AI through case studies for operational optimization.

✅ September 2025: The Digital Twin on Smart Manufacturing Erasmus+ project advanced to its pilot phase on September 17-18, establishing five physical labs across Italy, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, and Sweden, alongside virtual labs for hands-on smart manufacturing training.

List of the Key Players in the Smart Manufacturing Market:

3D Systems Inc.
ABB
Cisco
Cognex Corporation
Google
Intel Corporation
NVIDIA Corporation
Emerson Electric Co.
General Electric
Honeywell International Inc.
IBM Corporation
Oracle

Environmental Activist Seeks Review of Supreme Court’s 100-Metre Definition of Aravalli Hills

 Lawyer and environmental activist Hitendra Gandhi has urged the Chief Justice of India to reconsider the Supreme Court’s recent decision defining the Aravalli range based on a 100-metre height criterion, a move that has triggered widespread concern among environmentalists.

In a detailed letter addressed to the Chief Justice and also forwarded to the President of India, Gandhi warned that relying solely on a narrow, height-based definition of the Aravallis could unintentionally dilute environmental safeguards across north-western India.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s November 20 order, Gandhi acknowledged it as an important and progressive step in recognising the Aravalli system as a vital ecological barrier. However, he expressed reservations about the operational definition adopted in the ruling, which identifies Aravalli hills and ranges primarily as landforms rising 100 metres or more above the surrounding terrain.

According to Gandhi, such a rigid numerical threshold risks excluding extensive portions of the Aravalli landscape that, while not meeting the specified height requirement, continue to play a crucial ecological role. He cautioned that these areas are integral to the region’s environmental balance and their exclusion could weaken long-term conservation efforts.

The issue has sparked a wave of protests and renewed debate, with environmental advocates calling for a broader, science-based interpretation of the Aravalli system to ensure comprehensive protection of one of India’s oldest and most fragile mountain ranges.

Vertical Aerospace Signs New Customer Héli Air Monaco to Open up French Riviera Routes

 MONACO, NICE, France & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vertical Aerospace (“Vertical” or “Company”) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, and Héli Air Monaco, the founding helicopter operator in the French Riviera, today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the pre-order of Vertical’s Valo aircraft, opening a new chapter for sustainable air mobility along the Côte d’Azur.

Valo - unveiled today in London and offering a premium cabin experience - is targeting concurrent regulatory certification with the European Union and UK aviation regulators in 2028.

Héli Air Monaco will operate Valo across its network, connecting destinations such as Monaco, Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez through quiet, comfortable, zero-operating emission flights.

A new era of sustainable flight for the French Riviera

This partnership signals an important step toward decarbonised aviation in Europe, enabling electric, quiet operations on some of the world’s busiest air taxi routes around Nice airport.

The deployment of Valo will help preserve the Riviera’s environment while elevating the region’s premium hospitality and travel offering. Héli Air Monaco will integrate Valo into its high-end mobility services, offering seamless transfers between airports and heliports.

Valo’s premium, spacious cabin expects to initially seat four and later six passengers, with panoramic windows, generous personal space, and capacity for six cabin bags and six check-in bags - setting a new standard of comfort for the region. Valo is designed to be certified to Europe’s 10-9 safety standard, reflecting the highest levels of commercial aviation safety globally.

The partnership is being supported by Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and Monaco Heliport, to develop the infrastructure adaptations required for Valo’s future operations.

Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace, said: “Vertical and Héli Air Monaco share a vision for cleaner, quieter and more efficient travel across one of the world’s most iconic coastlines. This partnership builds on today’s launch of Valo, our new aircraft, and accelerates our momentum toward bringing electric flight to market. Together, we will redefine air mobility across the Côte d’Azur.”

Jacques Crovetto, CEO of Héli Air Monaco, added: “With Valo, we are reimagining the future of travel across the Riviera. By decarbonising our fleet of helicopters and dramatically reducing our noise footprint, we will be delivering a flight experience for our passengers that respects our neighbours, our environment, and shapes a sustainable future.”

Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Management Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, said: “The arrival of electric vertical take-off aircraft extends our efforts in transforming and decarbonizing air mobility, particularly over short distances. Our region offers a unique opportunity to fly over the sea to directly connect the main economic, cultural, or tourist destinations. As an alternative to the helicopter, the eVTOL has its place in the air transport offering and can provide a new short distance mobility solution in the future, including toward the hinterland. The airports of the Côte d’Azur, a laboratory for the airport of tomorrow, with the second largest platform in France and the gateway in and out of a landlocked region, must support these new decarbonized modes of mobility.”

Jérôme Journet, Director of Civil Aviation in the Principality of Monaco, said: “We welcome the announcement of this new generation of aircraft, which promises a major step forward toward a decarbonized, quieter, and more environmentally-friendly aviation. The expertise developed in urban and regional air mobility places our region in a favorable position to support the emergence of more sustainable air transport solutions.”

Stingray Stings Four at Hollant; Drishti Marine Lifesavers Rescue Four Others Across Goa Beaches

 PANAJI: Drishti Marine lifesavers had a busy weekend across Goa’s coastline, responding to multiple emergencies — including four stingray injuries at Hollant beach, four rescues from drowning, three medical assistance cases and the successful tracing of a missing child at Calangute.

Calangute: A four-year-old boy from Bihar who was reported missing was swiftly located by lifesavers during an extensive beach search and reunited with his parents after due verification. In another incident, a man from Bengaluru sustained a minor hand injury and was administered first aid on the beach.

Candolim: A 44-year-old Russian tourist facing difficulty while swimming was rescued by lifesaver Santosh Patil using a rescue board. He was reported stable following the incident.

Sinquerim: Lifesaver Sukhram responded to a 65-year-old Russian man showing signs of distress while resting on a beach bed — including sweating, facial spasms and a weak pulse. After receiving first aid, the man and his companion declined further medical assistance.

Miramar: In a critical intervention, lifesavers Ramesh Bhomkar, Mayur Kinalkar and Amit Kesarkar prevented a 45-year-old man from West Bengal from attempting self-harm in the water. He was safely brought ashore and handed over to police and 108 emergency personnel.
In another case, a 46-year-old man from Usgao, who fell near the waterline under the influence of alcohol and had difficulty breathing, was stabilised by lifesavers and shifted to hospital via 108 ambulance.

Hollant: Four beachgoers — three young men and one woman — suffered stingray stings while swimming. Drishti Marine personnel promptly administered first aid, after which all four were reported stable.

Betalbatim: A 19-year-old woman from Noida panicked while navigating sandbars and depressions. After an initial unsuccessful rescue attempt using a board, lifesavers Omkar Dhuri and Roshan Patil completed the rescue using a jetski. She is stable. A 28-year-old man also received first aid after sustaining cuts from a glass piece while walking in shallow water.

Palolem: A 36-year-old man from Shirdi, who panicked after encountering a deep depression while swimming, was safely rescued by lifesaver Subhash Gaonkar using a rescue board.

Drishti Marine reinforced that visitors should remain alert to changing sea conditions, avoid unsafe zones, and follow instructions issued by on-duty lifesavers to ensure safe beach experiences.

India's Electronics Manufacturing Grows Sixfold To Rs 11.32 Lakh Crore, Exports Up Eightfold To Rs 3.26 Lakh Crore In Last 11 Years

 India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem has recorded a significant rise over the past decade, with production increasing sixfold and exports rising eightfold, the Ministry of Electronics & IT said on Friday (5 December).

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitendra Singh attributed this growth to a series of policies aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India.

The minister noted that the Government launched Production linked scheme (PLI) for large scale electronics manufacturing in 2020 with the target segment including mobile phones and certain specified components.

He added that the scheme has attracted investment of Rs 14,065 crore.

Further, the government launched PLI for IT Hardware for promoting manufacturing of laptop, tablets, server and Ultra small form factor (USFF) devices, which has attracted investment of Rs 846 crore till date.

Additionally, government has brought in multiple reforms in taxation, customs duty, FDI, etc. to facilitate electronics manufacturing, the minister said.

Asserting that India has emerged as a significant electronics manufacturer, the minister said, "As a result of these policy efforts, electronics manufacturing has grown almost six (6) times in last 11 years. 

It has increased from Rs 1.9 lakh Cr in 2014-15 to Rs 11.32 lakh crore in 2024-25".

He further said that in last 11 years, total number of mobile manufacturing units have increased from two to more than 300.

Since the launch of PLI for LSEM, Mobile manufacturing has increased from 2.2 lakh crore in 2020-21 to 5.5 lakh crore.

He also noted that electronics exports has grown eight times from Rs 38 thousand crore in 2014-15 to Rs 3.26 lakh crore in 2024-25, with Electronics now the third largest export category.

Current trends in agricultural robotics and smart farming

For me, agriculture has never just been about yields; it has been about resilience. In my family, this meant keeping a horticultural business alive in wartime, or building one of the first tissue culture labs in Europe. Today, for me, it means asking: How can we take the most fragile, manual steps of plant propagation and turn them into robust, scalable systems? Because if we cannot translate care into technology, and produce more plants, faster and cleaner, then we won’t feed the future.

The scale is staggering: the world already needs 18 trillion new plants every year just to keep agriculture running. As populations rise, that number must grow. Without automation, this gap is simply impossible to close.
From prototype hype to productivity

I remember when robots in agriculture were treated like showpieces at trade fairs, nice for headlines but irrelevant for farmers. That era is over. Today, autonomous weeders run through the night and cut weed biomass by up to 97% in trials, while protecting fragile soils. In high-value crops, harvesting robots are no longer experiments but seasonal workhorses.

This is progress, but we must be honest: these machines don’t replace people. They shift the balance. They take over repetitive, risky tasks so that human attention can move to what really matters: making yields stable, sustainable, and resilient.
Why edge intelligence is agriculture’s survival skill

What makes this shift possible is edge AI, which means processing data directly on the machine, at the so-called “edge” of the network, rather than sending it to a distant cloud server. In agriculture, that difference is vital because it allows robots and sensors to react instantly to changing light, soil, or crop conditions.

Running lightweight models directly on the machine is not a technical side note; it is the difference between acting in real time and being too late. Dust, glare, unpredictable weather: no central server can handle that with the speed required. When edge AI works together with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, blockchain-based traceability systems, and drones, it transforms agriculture from a patchwork of disconnected tools into one integrated system that turns raw data into timely action.
Building the invisible infrastructure

Every visible breakthrough in agtech rests on something invisible: the shared digital language that lets machines, sensors, and humans cooperate. For years, adoption was slow because every system spoke a different language. That is finally changing. Platforms like Agrirouter 2.0 act as neutral data hubs that connect machines, apps, and sensors across brands. They enable farmers to exchange operational data securely and ensure that sowing, spraying, and harvesting information flows smoothly across systems.

At the same time, updated ISO safety standards for agricultural robotics build trust in human-robot collaboration by defining how people and autonomous machines can safely share a workspace. This is not bureaucracy; it is the invisible infrastructure without which innovation dies on the vine.

Madhya Pradesh adopts drone-based patrolling of transmission lines

 Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company Ltd (MPPTCL) has become the first state transmission utility to adopt drone patrolling of overhead transmission lines, on a large scale.

In a release, MPPTCL said that extra high-voltage (EHV) transmission lines and tower corridors in Madhya Pradesh are now being monitored through an advanced drone-based inspection system, replacing the conventional and risk-prone foot-patrolling model.

MPPTCL has deployed this technology extensively across its network, marking a significant leap toward precision maintenance, operational safety, and system reliability. The state is the first in India to adopt drone patrolling on such a large scale, the release said.

The Madhya Pradesh state utility currently uses drones to monitor more than 10,000 ckm of EHV lines and over 23,000 transmission towers, enabling real-time identification of structural, mechanical, and thermal anomalies.

The shift to aerial digital inspection has contributed to a steady decline in transmission breakdowns, strengthening grid stability across Madhya Pradesh, the release observed.

 

Successful Pilot

The state utility initiated drone surveillance in 2022, initially focusing on dense forests, river-crossing spans, and other inaccessible locations. After successful pilots, MPPTCL formally launched routine drone patrolling in October 2022, covering 10,000 towers in the first phase. Today, the coverage has expanded to the entire major transmission network, including Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, and Rewa zones.

 

Supreme efficiency

Traditional monitoring of EHV lines — often 45m to 50m high and passing through mountainous, forested, or riverine terrain — demanded significant manual effort and posed safety challenges. Drone-based inspection has transformed this process. High-resolution optical zoom cameras and thermal imaging sensors enable rapid scanning of long transmission stretches, capturing defects such as hotspot formation, conductor-strand damage, insulator cracks, and vegetation encroachment within minutes.

 

Reduction in breakdowns

According to MPPTCL, the transition to drone-assisted inspections has resulted in a 35 per cent reduction in transmission breakdowns over the past three years. The availability of precise, geo-tagged visual and thermal data has improved maintenance planning and enabled faster fault rectification, resulting in enhanced reliability of power supply.

 

Inspiring other states

The drone patrolling initiative has attracted interest from several states, including Haryana and Punjab, which have approached MP Transco to understand its methodology, operational framework, and technical specifications. The initiative also earned MPPTCL the first position among power utilities nationwide for innovative field practices last year, the release observed.

 

The next step: Harnessing AI

The state transmission service provider is now preparing for the next phase — AI-enabled smart monitoring. Artificial Intelligence algorithms will analyze drone-generated datasets to recognize patterns, predict component failures, and recommend preventive interventions. Once integrated, this will transform the transmission network into a more resilient, digital, and predictive system, the release noted.