Assessing Berry Number for Grapevine Yield Estimation by Image Analysis: Case Study with the Red Variety “Syrah”

Mestrado em Engenharia de Viticultura e Enologia (Double degree) / Instituto Superior de Agronomia. Universidade de Lisboa / Faculdade de Ciências. Universidade do PortoThe yield estimation provides information that help growers to make decisions in order to optimize crop growth and to organize the harvest operations in field and in the cellar. In most vineyard estates yield is forecasted using manual methods. However, image analysis methods, which are less invasive low cost and more representative are now being developed. The main objective of this work was to estimate yield through data obtained in the frame of Vinbot project during the 2019 season. In this thesis, images of the grapevine variety Syrah taken in the laboratory and in the vineyards of the “Instituto Superior de Agronomia” in Lisbon were analyzed. In the laboratory the images were taken manually with an RGB camera, while in the field vines were imaged either manually and by the Vinbot robot. From these images, the number of visible berries were counted with MATLAB. From the laboratory values, the relationships between the number of visible berries and actual bunch weight and berry number were studied. From the data obtained in the field, it was analyzed the visibility of the berries at different levels of defoliation and the relationship between the area of visible bunches and the visible berries. Berry-by-berry occlusion showed a value of 6.4% at pea-size, 14.5% at veraison and 25% at maturation. In addition, high and significant determination coefficient were obtained between actual yield and visible berries. The comparison of estimated yield, obtained using the regression models with actual yield, showed an underestimation at all the three phonological stages. This low accuracy of the developed models show that the use of algorithms based on visible berry number on the images to estimate yield still needs further researchN/

Assessing the EU’s commitment to multilateralism CSDP and Member States’ propensity to participate in peace missions

This paper analyzes the contribution of the CSDP operations to the peace building tasks of the peace operations of the global system, and examines the different levels of participation of EU Member States. Section one presents the scenario and considers the growth and expansion of practice of peace operations in the last twenty years. Section two reviews the main attributes of the CSDP operations. Section three explores the contribution of the old and new Member States to CSDP by examining the number of operations these countries participated in. The concluding section summarizes the research findings, and points to the current challenges faced by the EU’s peace missions

Европа, Средиземноморье и влияние мировой политики

Since the European Union began to play a growing role in the relationships between the Member States and the Non-EU Mediterranean countries, the policymakers in Brussels have devoted a great deal of attention to devise and implement actions and programmes aimed at promoting peace, stability and growth to the area. The effects of such involvement have been not as significant as expected but not even insignificant. Tension has almost always floated over the Mediterranean waters because crises and violent conflicts have followed one another though never breaking all relations down. The present paper takes a cue from this feature of the Mediterranean area and proposes to watch the territory from a different angle of view. Contrary to the prevailing view of the Mediterranean as an area unaffected or scarcely affected by the dominant world policies, the paper analyses the impact of the world policy-making institutions and policies on the Mediterranean area. It also draws the readers’ attention towards the participation and, in significant cases, the non-participation of the governments of the area in the world institutions and policies. Accordingly, the first section highlights the concepts useful to analyze the world as the political space in which policymaking institutions have been established for building policies that respond to world-scale problems. The second section outlines the significant security and economic world policies that have been established for responding to world problems and, consequently, for bringing order to the world, the Mediterranean area included. In the third section, the focus is on forecasting the world and Mediterranean politics of the coming years by drawing the readers’ attention to the confrontation of three big powers, the USA, China and Russia. The difficulty to keep unaltered the Western coalition could not impede the renewal of the US hegemony should disorder be unsustainable to loads of countries. The Chinese model of economic openness and the non-interference of the investing companies may not work in all the Mediterranean countries. By acting as a troublemaker and game-changer in security complex settings like the Mediterranean area by bolstering authoritarian regimes, Russia mostly wants to create a situation in which the United States and the European countries find it impossible to make any decisions without its participation. Accordingly, the paper’s conclusions call for building knowledge about the reconfiguration of the world coalitions and the change of the existing order and institutions. Especially the revisionism of the three states competing for world leadership requires careful investigation. Research on the influence of such a global process on the wider Mediterranean area and the involvement of the Mediterranean countries in such a process is of paramount importance.С тех пор, как Европейский союз стал играть растущую роль в отношениях между государствами-членами и средиземноморскими странами, не входящими в ЕС, политики в Брюсселе стали уделять большое внимание разработке и реализации действий и программ, направленных на поощрение мира, стабильности и развития в регионе. Эффект от такого участия оказался не столь значительным, как ожидалось, но, тем не менее, ощутимым. Напряжение почти всегда витало над водами Средиземного моря, потому что кризисы и жестокие конфликты следовали один за другим, но никогда не разрушали все отношения. Настоящая статья основана на этой особенности Средиземноморья и предлагает взглянуть на этот регион под другим углом зрения. Вопреки преобладающему мнению о Средиземноморье как о зоне, не затронутой или почти не затронутой основными мировыми событиями, в работе анализируется влияние международных институтов и действий, влияющих на Средиземноморский регион. Автор также привлекает внимание читателей к активной, а в некоторых случаях — к пассивной позиции правительств региона в мировых институтах и международной политике. Соответственно, первый раздел предлагает вниманию читателей концепции, пригодные для анализа мира как политического пространства, в котором были созданы институты для проведения политики, реагирующей на проблемы мирового масштаба. Во втором разделе излагаются основные международные подходы к безопасности и экономической политике, которые были разработаны для реагирования на мировые проблемы и, следовательно, для наведения порядка в мире, включая Средиземноморский регион. В третьем разделе основное внимание уделяется прогнозированию мировой и средиземноморской политики ближайших лет с учетом противостояния трех великих держав — США, Китая и России. Препятствия для сохранения в неизменном виде западной коалиции не могут помешать возобновлению гегемонии США, если беспорядок окажется неприемлемым для большого числа стран. Китайская модель экономической открытости и нейтральности компаний-инвесторов может работать не во всех странах Средиземноморья. Нарушая спокойствие и изменяя правила игры в сложных условиях безопасности, таких как Средиземноморье, поддерживая авторитарные режимы, Россия стремится создать ситуацию, в которой Соединенные Штаты Америки и европейские страны не могли бы принимать никаких решений без ее участия. Соответственно, выводы статьи призывают к накоплению знаний о реконфигурации мировых коалиций и изменении международного положения. Особенно тщательно следует исследовать политику ревизионизма трех государств, соревнующихся за мировое лидерство. Первостепенное значение имеют исследования влияния такого глобального процесса на более обширный район Средиземноморья и на участие средиземноморских стран в этом процессе

Changes in germination and glyoxylate and respiratory enzymes of Pinus pinea seeds under various abiotic stresses

Abstract This study examined Pinus pinea seeds for their tolerance to osmotic potentials of −0.30MPa (10% polyethylene glycol [PEG]), −0.58MPa (18% PEG), −0.80MPa (21% PEG), −1.05MPa (24% PEG), pH values of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and different calcareous solutions (5, 10, 20 and 40% CaCO3). The main enzymes of glyoxylate cycle and respiratory pathway were tested. Pinus pinea seeds under no stressful condition (Control) and 5% CaCO3 reached 100% of germination. Higher concentrations of CaCO3 (20, 40%) and lower pH (4–5) adversely affected seed germination percentage, glyoxylic and respiratory enzyme activities. PEG caused the most detrimental effects on Pinus seeds; increasing the osmotic potential the germination was completely inhibited. These results suggest that Pinus pinea is able to germinate in calcareous and alkaline soils rather than in soils with lower water availability and acidic conditions

Inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 5 and exercise in arterial hypertension

Hypertensive patients exhibit impaired exercise capacity, a strong independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and the mechanisms responsible for this are not fully determined. Potential candidates may include endothelial vasomotor dysfunction and arterial stiffness, both of which are associated with hypertension. Impairment of the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) pathway plays a major role in the development of these abnormalities, suggesting that enhancement of NO-cGMP signalling through phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibition may offer therapeutic potential in arterial hypertension. This thesis investigated the effects of the PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil citrate on exercise-induced vasodilatation, maximal exercise capacity and arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients, using different studies involving local limb and whole body exercise. Preliminary dose-ranging studies were initially performed to investigate the intraarterial (brachial) effects of sildenafil on forearm blood flow (FBF), and to select an appropriate, cGMP-independent, vasodilator to use as a control. On the basis on these studies, it was established that sildenafil, infused at 50μg/min, and verapamil, infused at 5μg/min, had similar vasodilator effect on FBF. Ten untreated hypertensive patients and ten matched normotensive subjects were then studied in a three-way, randomised, single-blind and placebo-controlled FBF study. The aim was to investigate the effects of sildenafil on handgrip exercise-induced vasodilatation, and to compare this response with verapamil and saline (placebo). Preinfusion exercise-induced vasodilatation was significantly reduced in hypertensive compared with normotensive subjects (P<0.001). However, after the infusions, while verapamil did not affect the vasodilator response to exercise in either group, sildenafil substantially enhanced this response in hypertensive patients, but not in normotensive subjects (P<0.05). These results suggested that sildenafil, through an increase in cGMP levels in the vasculature, substantially and selectively improves the vasodilator response to handgrip exercise in hypertensive patients

Европа, Средиземноморье и влияние мировой политики

Рукопись поступила в редакцию: 28.03.2021. Принята к публикации: 11.05.2021.Received: 28.03.2021. Accepted: 11.05.2021.С тех пор, как Европейский союз стал играть растущую роль в отношениях между государствами-членами и средиземноморскими странами, не входящими в ЕС, политики в Брюсселе стали уделять большое внимание разработке и реализации действий и программ, направленных на поощрение мира, стабильности и развития в регионе. Эффект от такого участия оказался не столь значительным, как ожидалось, но, тем не менее, ощутимым. Напряжение почти всегда витало над водами Средиземного моря, потому что кризисы и жестокие конфликты следовали один за другим, но никогда не разрушали все отношения. Настоящая статья основана на этой особенности Средиземноморья и предлагает взглянуть на этот регион под другим углом зрения. Вопреки преобладающему мнению о Средиземноморье как о зоне, не затронутой или почти не затронутой основными мировыми событиями, в работе анализируется влияние международных институтов и действий, влияющих на Средиземноморский регион. Автор также привлекает внимание читателей к активной, а в некоторых случаях — к пассивной позиции правительств региона в мировых институтах и международной политике. Соответственно, первый раздел предлагает вниманию читателей концепции, пригодные для анализа мира как политического пространства, в котором были созданы институты для проведения политики, реагирующей на проблемы мирового масштаба. Во втором разделе излагаются основные международные подходы к безопасности и экономической политике, которые были разработаны для реагирования на мировые проблемы и, следовательно, для наведения порядка в мире, включая Средиземноморский регион. В третьем разделе основное внимание уделяется прогнозированию мировой и средиземноморской политики ближайших лет с учетом противостояния трех великих держав — США, Китая и России. Препятствия для сохранения в неизменном виде западной коалиции не могут помешать возобновлению гегемонии США, если беспорядок окажется неприемлемым для большого числа стран. Китайская модель экономической открытости и нейтральности компаний-инвесторов может работать не во всех странах Средиземноморья. Нарушая спокойствие и изменяя правила игры в сложных условиях безопасности, таких как Средиземноморье, поддерживая авторитарные режимы, Россия стремится создать ситуацию, в которой Соединенные Штаты Америки и европейские страны не могли бы принимать никаких решений без ее участия. Соответственно, выводы статьи призывают к накоплению знаний о реконфигурации мировых коалиций и изменении международного положения. Особенно тщательно следует исследовать политику ревизионизма трех государств, соревнующихся за мировое лидерство. Первостепенное значение имеют исследования влияния такого глобального процесса на более обширный район Средиземноморья и на участие средиземноморских стран в этом процессе.Since the European Union began to play a growing role in the relationships between the Member States and the Non-EU Mediterranean countries, the policymakers in Brussels have devoted a great deal of attention to devise and implement actions and programmes aimed at promoting peace, stability and growth to the area. The effects of such involvement have been not as signifi cant as expected but not even insignifi cant. Tension has almost always floated over the Mediterranean waters because crises and violent conflicts have followed one another though never breaking all relations down. The present paper takes a cue from this feature of the Mediterranean area and proposes to watch the territory from a different angle of view. Contrary to the prevailing view of the Mediterranean as an area unaffected or scarcely affected by the dominant world policies, the paper analyses the impact of the world policy-making institutions and policies on the Mediterranean area. It also draws the readers’ attention towards the participation and, in significant cases, the non-participation of the governments of the area in the world institutions and policies. Accordingly, the first section highlights the concepts useful to analyze the world as the political space in which policymaking institutions have been established for building policies that respond to world-scale problems. The second section outlines the signifi cant security and economic world policies that have been established for responding to world problems and, consequently, for bringing order to the world, the Mediterranean area included. In the third section, the focus is on forecasting the world and Mediterranean politics of the coming years by drawing the readers’ attention to the confrontation of three big powers, the USA, China and Russia. The difficulty to keep unaltered the Western coalition could not impede the renewal of the US hegemony should disorder be unsustainable to loads of countries. The Chinese model of economic openness and the non-interference of the investing companies may not work in all the Mediterranean countries. By acting as a troublemaker and game-changer in security complex settings like the Mediterranean area by bolstering authoritarian regimes, Russia mostly wants to create a situation in which the United States and the European countries find it impossible to make any decisions without its participation. Accordingly, the paper’s conclusions call for building knowledge about the reconfi guration of the world coalitions and the change of the existing order and institutions. Especially the revisionism of the three states competing for world leadership requires careful investigation. Research on the influence of such a global process on the wider Mediterranean area and the involvement of the Mediterranean countries in such a process is of paramount importance

Nutritional status in the pediatric oncology patients

Nutritional status plays a vital role in the growth of children. In pediatric patients, disease-related malnutrition is a dynamic and multifactorial process supported by several factors such as inflammation, increased energy expenditure, decreased intake or reduced utilization of nutrients. In pediatric patients with malignancies, sarcopenia may coexist with malnutrition, amplifying its negative impact on prognosis. Careful monitoring of nutritional status both at diagnosis and during chemotherapy treatment allows early detection of the risk and/or presence of malnutrition. A rapid and personalized nutritional intervention can improve adherence to treatment, reduce complications and improve the patients' quality of life

Hybrid transcatheter left ventricular reconstruction for the treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy

Left ventricular (LV) enlargement is a mechanical adaptation to accommodate LV systolic inefficiency following an acute damage or a progressive functional deterioration, which fails to correct the decline of stroke volume in the long term, leading to progressive heart failure (HF). Surgical ventricular reconstruction (SVR) is a treatment for patients with severe ischemic HF aiming to restore LV efficiency by volume reduction and LV re-shaping. Recently, a new minimally-invasive hybrid technique for ventricular reconstruction has been developed by means of the Revivent (TM) system (BioVentrix Inc., San Ramon, CA, USA). The device for ventricular reconstruction consists of anchor pairs that enable plication of the anterior and free wall LV scar against the right ventricular (RV) septal scar of anteroseptal infarctions to decrease cardiac volume without ventriculotomy in a beating-heart minimally-invasive procedure, consisting of a transjugular and left thoracotomy approach. Patients with severe (Grade 4) functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) or with previous cardiac surgery procedures were excluded. Outcome of the reconstruction procedure: from 2012 until 2019, it has been applied to 203 patients, with 5 (2.5%) in-hospital deaths. LV volume reduction varied according to experience gained along years: LV end-systolic volume index decreased from baseline 43% (post-market registry) vs. 27% (CE-mark study); left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from baseline 25% (post-market registry) vs. 16% (CE-mark study). Clinical status (NYHA class, HF questionnaire, 6-minute walking test) improved significantly compared to baseline, and re-hospitalization rate was only 13% at 6-month follow-up (60% of patients in NYHA =3). FMR grade decreased at follow-up in 63%, while it was unchanged in 37% of patients. The hybrid ventricular reconstruction (HVR) seems a promising treatment for HF patients who may benefit from LV volume reduction, with reasonable mortality and good results at follow-up. A baseline less severe clinical profile was not associated to better outcome at follow-up, which makes the procedure feasible in patients with very large ventricles and depressed ejection fraction (EF). LV reshaping has no detrimental effect on FMR, that may, on the contrary, benefit owing to less papillary muscle displacement, partial recovery of torsion dynamics and of myofibers re-orientation. A controlled study on top of optimal medical treatment is warranted to confirm its role in the management of HF patients