Blackleg Detection in Potato Plants using Convolutional Neural Networks

Potato blackleg is a tuber-borne bacterial disease caused by species within the genera Dickeya and Pectobacterium that can cause decay of plant tissue and wilting through the action of cell wall degrading enzymes released by the pathogen. In case of serious infections, tubers may rot before emergence. Management is largely based on the use of pathogen-free seed potato tubers. For this, fields are visually monitored both for certification and also to take out diseased plants to avoid spread to neighboring plants. Imaging potentially offers a quick and non-destructive way to inspect the health of potato plants in a field. Early detection of blackleg diseased plants with modern vision techniques can significantly reduce costs. In this paper, we studied the use of deep learning for detecting blackleg diseased potato plants. Two deep convolutional neural networks were trained on RGB images with healthy and diseased plants. One of these networks (ResNet18) was experimentally found to produce a precision of 95 % and recall of 91 % for the disease class. These results show that convolutional neural networks can be used to detect blackleg diseased potato plants

Annular flow of viscoelastic fluids: Analytical and numerical solutions

This work provides analytical and numerical solutions for the linear, quadratic and exponential Phan–Thien–Tanner (PTT) viscoelastic models, for axial and helical annular fully-developed flows under no slip and slip boundary conditions, the latter given by the linear and nonlinear Navier slip laws. The rheology of the three PTT model functions is discussed together with the influence of the slip velocity upon the flow velocity and stress fields. For the linear PTT model, full analytical solutions for the inverse problem (unknown velocity) are devised for the linear Navier slip law and two different slip exponents. For the linear PTT model with other values of the slip exponent and for the quadratic PTT model, the polynomial equation for the radial location (β) of the null shear stress must be solved numerically. For both models, the solution of the direct problem is given by an iterative procedure involving three nonlinear equations, one for β, other for the pressure gradient and another for the torque per unit length. For the exponential PTT model we devise a numerical procedure that can easily compute the numerical solution of the pure axial flow problemCOMPETE, FEDER and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through projects PEst-C/CTM/LA0025/2013 (Strategic Project – LA 25 – 2013-2014), PTDC/EQU-FTT/113811/2009 and PTDC/EME-MFE/113988/2009. LLF and AMA would also like to thank FCT for financial support through the scholarships SFRH/BD/37586/2007 and SFRH/BPD/75436/2010, respectively

Distribution models of deep-sea elasmobranchs in the Azores, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, to inform spatial planning

Elasmobranchs inhabiting depths beyond 200 m are extremely susceptible to overexploitation but are extracted by fisheries around the world either as target species or as bycatch. There is little information available to formulate management strategies to reduce elasmobranch-fishery interactions in the deep sea. In European Union waters, prohibiting the catches of deep-sea elasmobranchs has provided the necessary impetus to study by-catch avoidance of these threatened species. We used over 20 years of fisheries-independent and fisheries-dependent data to model the spatial distribution of 15 species of deep-sea elasmobranchs (12 sharks and 3 rays) captured frequently in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Azores Archipelago (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) to explore spatial management to reduce unwanted catches of these species. We applied Generalised Additive Models to predict the probability of presence of 15 species, as well as the abundance of 6 of those species, within the Azores EEZ and neighbouring seamounts (up to 2000 m depth), using environmental and operational variables as predictors. Our results identified that depth is most influential in determining the distribution of these sharks and rays, in addition to seafloor topography. Distinctive bathymetric features such as seamounts and ridges were highlighted as areas where the probability of presence of the greatest number of species overlapped. Although not related to habitat, gear type influenced the capture probability of certain species, with the artisanal handline, gorazeira, having lower captures than bottom longline. Our results support using depth-based, area-based, and gear-based tactics to design management measures to reduce elasmobranch bycatch, for more sustainable deep-sea fisheries.Postprint2,42

Sistema de Informação Geográfica para gestão de resíduos florestais

Poster apresentado no II Encontro de Sistemas de Informação Geográfica que decorreu de 19 a 20 de Maio de 2011 na Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco.A valorização dos resíduos florestais tem sido assumida como uma tarefa importante, com o objectivo de transformar um desperdício, com forte influência na proliferação de incêndios, numa matéria-prima susceptível de originar rentabilidade. O Estado Português para impulsionar esta valorização lançou em 2006 o concurso para atribuição de 15 centrais de biomassa. À margem deste processo o Estado permitiu ao grupo Altri/EDP a construção de 5 novas centrais. Com este plano previa-se atingir em 2010 um acréscimo de 250MW em potência instalada, correspondendo este incremento a um aumento anual de consumo de biomassa de cerca de 3 milhões de toneladas. O Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG) criado teve o objectivo de avaliar a sustentabilidade, durante 5 anos, de fornecimento de biomassa à central termoeléctrica a edificar em Proença-a-Nova. O raio de recolha de biomassa considerado foi de 30km em torno da central. O SIG criado foi construído em cinco etapas. A primeira consistiu no planeamento e realização do inventário florestal. Este realizou-se através de uma amostragem, em quadrícula, com 200 parcelas. A recolha de informação foi executada com vista a caracterizar os povoamentos adultos, a regeneração natural, os matos e as condições de acessibilidade, em particular o declive e a distância às vias de comunicação. As fontes identificadas de biomassa residual foram: (1) as pontas e ramos, e (2) a casca, nos povoamentos adultos de Pinheiro bravo e Eucalipto, (3) as varas cortadas na 2ª e 3ª rotação nos povoamentos de Eucalipto em talhadia (4) as árvores com dap<7cm na regeneração natural, (5) os matos em sub-coberto e (6) os resíduos das indústrias transformadoras da madeira. A segunda etapa consistiu no tratamento e organização hierárquica dos dados. A hierarquização teve o objectivo de permitir uma coincidência temporal nas intervenções silvícolas. Esta decisão tem como base o modelo de silvicultura definido para os povoamentos adultos. Desta forma, o sistema exige para uma dada localização que a intervenção na regeneração natural ou no estrato arbustivo esteja dependente temporalmente da intervenção requerida no povoamento adulto. A terceira etapa consistiu na selecção de equações de crescimento para os estratos amostrados. A simulação das variáveis caracterizadoras dos estratos foi realizada, sempre que possível, por equações de estimativa ajustadas à área em estudo. Depois de projectar o crescimento e identificados os anos de intervenção cultural procedeu-se ao cálculo anual de produção de resíduos para as parcelas consideradas. Na quarta etapa a produção anual de resíduos nas parcelas foi integrada na tabela de atributos do ArcGIS tendo-se procedido a uma krigagem ordinária como modelo de interpolação espacial. Esta distribuição espacial das produções foi, na última etapa do processo, combinada com o mapa de explorabilidade, mapa este resultante da agregação do declive do terreno com a distância às vias de comunicação. O SIG criado permitiu: (1) localizar espacialmente as intervenções culturais a efectuar, (2) estimar as quantidades de resíduos produzidos durante o período em análise, (3) associar as quantidades disponíveis às condições de exploração

Restructuring of the "Macaronesia" biogeografic unit: a marine multi-taxon biogeographical approach

The Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands and Cabo Verde are commonly united under the term “Macaronesia”. This study investigates the coherency and validity of Macaronesia as a biogeographic unit using six marine groups with very different dispersal abilities: coastal fishes, echinoderms, gastropod molluscs, brachyuran decapod crustaceans, polychaete annelids, and macroalgae. We found no support for the current concept of Macaronesia as a coherent marine biogeographic unit. All marine groups studied suggest the exclusion of Cabo Verde from the remaining Macaronesian archipelagos and thus, Cabo Verde should be given the status of a biogeographic subprovince within the West African Transition province. We propose to redefine the Lusitanian biogeographical province, in which we include four ecoregions: the South European Atlantic Shelf, the Saharan Upwelling, the Azores, and a new ecoregion herein named Webbnesia, which comprises the archipelagos of Madeira, Selvagens and the Canary Islandsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genetic Analysis of the Fatty Acid Profile in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata L.).

The gilthead seabream is one of the most valuable species in the Mediterranean basin both for fisheries and aquaculture. Marine fish, such as gilthead seabream, are a source of n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, highly appreciated for human food owing to their benefits on the cardiovascular and immune systems. The aim of the present study was to estimate heritability for fatty acid (FA) profile in fillet gilthead seabream to be considered as a strategy of a selective breeding program. Total of 399 fish, from a broodstock Mediterranean Sea, were analysed for growth, flesh composition and FA profile. Heritabilities for growth traits, and flesh composition (fat, protein, and moisture content) were medium. Heritability was moderate for 14:0, 16:0 and 18:1n9 and for sum of monounsaturated FA and n6/n3 ratio, and it was low for 20:1n11 and 22:6n3 and the ratio unsaturated/saturated FA. Breeding programs in gilthead seabream usually include growth as the first criterion in the selection process of the fish. However, other quality traits, such as fillet fat content and its fatty acids profile should be considered, since they are very important traits for the consumer, from a nutritional point of view and the benefits for the health.Versión del edito

Enrelvamento da vinha: dois casos de estudo – Monção e Alenquer

Estudos conducentes à avaliação das possibilidades de enrelvamento em vinhas estão a decorrer na Região dos Vinhos Verdes (sub-região de Monção) e na Estremadura (Alenquer). No ensaio de Monção, com a casta ‘Alvarinho’ e no ensaio em Alenquer, com a casta ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, comparam-se 4 sistemas de gestão do solo. Em qualquer dos ensaios a densidade e a biomassa total da flora foi influenciada significativamente pelas técnicas de gestão do solo tendo-se também verificado uma selecção de espécies por modalidade, com incremento de gramíneas e leguminosas no enrelvamento. No ensaio de Monção, em três anos consecutivos, e comparativamente às modalidades herbicida foliar a toda a área e mobilização do solo, o enrelvamento a toda a área por espécies residentes induziu uma redução significativa da produção e vigor da videira em resultado de um menor peso unitário do cacho e do sarmento, sem afectar a qualidade do mosto à vindima. Nos dois primeiros anos do ensaio de Alenquer (2002-03) os 4 sistemas de gestão do solo - mobilização da entrelinha, cobertura orgânica morta (casca de pinheiro) alternada com enrelvamento natural permanente, enrelvamento natural permanente e enrelvamento semeado permanente - não influenciaram de forma significativa quer a produção quer o vigor das videiras. Quanto à qualidade das uvas, apenas em 2003 se registaram diferenças significativas na acidez total, tendo-se obtido valores inferiores nas modalidades com enrelvamento. Em 2002, devida à elevada precipitação ocorrida no final da maturação, na modalidade mobilizada verificou-se uma maior dificuldade de circulação da máquina de vindimar comparativamente às modalidades com cobertura do solo. Os resultados evidenciam a possibilidade de utilização dos relvados como técnicas passíveis de manipulação do vigor da videira e de melhoria da circulação das máquinasinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The road to deterministic matrices with the restricted isometry property

The restricted isometry property (RIP) is a well-known matrix condition that provides state-of-the-art reconstruction guarantees for compressed sensing. While random matrices are known to satisfy this property with high probability, deterministic constructions have found less success. In this paper, we consider various techniques for demonstrating RIP deterministically, some popular and some novel, and we evaluate their performance. In evaluating some techniques, we apply random matrix theory and inadvertently find a simple alternative proof that certain random matrices are RIP. Later, we propose a particular class of matrices as candidates for being RIP, namely, equiangular tight frames (ETFs). Using the known correspondence between real ETFs and strongly regular graphs, we investigate certain combinatorial implications of a real ETF being RIP. Specifically, we give probabilistic intuition for a new bound on the clique number of Paley graphs of prime order, and we conjecture that the corresponding ETFs are RIP in a manner similar to random matrices.Comment: 24 page

Fe3O4-Au Core-Shell Nanoparticles as a Multimodal Platform for In Vivo Imaging and Focused Photothermal Therapy

In this study, we report the synthesis of gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles capped with polyvinylpyrrolidone (Fe@Au NPs). The as-synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) exhibited good stability in aqueous media and excellent features as contrast agents (CA) for both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray computed tomography (CT). Additionally, due to the presence of the local surface plasmon resonances of gold, the NPs showed exploitable “light-to-heat” conversion ability in the near-infrared (NIR) region, a key attribute for effective photothermal therapies (PTT). In vitro experiments revealed biocompatibility as well as excellent efficiency in killing glioblastoma cells via PTT. The in vivo nontoxicity of the NPs was demonstrated using zebrafish embryos as an intermediate step between cells and rodent models. To warrant that an effective therapeutic dose was achieved inside the tumor, both intratumoral and intravenous routes were screened in rodent models by MRI and CT. The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution confirmed the multimodal imaging CA capabilities of the Fe@AuNPs and revealed constraints of the intravenous route for tumor targeting, dictating intratumoral administration for therapeutic applications. Finally, Fe@Au NPs were successfully used for an in vivo proof of concept of imaging-guided focused PTT against glioblastoma multiforme in a mouse model.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (CTQ2017-86655-R and BIO2017-84246-C2-1-R)Fondo Social de la DGA (grupos DGA) and by the Regional Ministry of Health of Andalusia (OH-0026-2018).Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry—LAQVApplied Molecular Biosciences Unit –UCIBIOPortuguese national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/04378/2020 and UIDB/50006/2020