Fruit Detectability Analysis for Different Camera Positions in Sweet-Pepper

For robotic harvesting of sweet-pepper fruits in greenhouses a sensor system is required to detect and localize the fruits on the plants. Due to the complex structure of the plant, most fruits are (partially) occluded when an image is taken from one viewpoint only. In this research the effect of multiple camera positions and viewing angles on fruit visibility and detectability was investigated. A recording device was built which allowed to place the camera under different azimuth and zenith angles and to move the camera horizontally along the crop row. Fourteen camera positions were chosen and the fruit visibility in the recorded images was manually determined for each position. For images taken from one position only with the criterion of maximum 50% occlusion per fruit, the fruit detectability (FD) was in no case higher than 69%. The best single positions were the front views and looking with a zenith angle of 60° upwards. The FD increased when a combination was made of multiple viewpoint positions. With a combination of five favourite positions the maximum FD was 90%

Interleukin-10 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II are potential biomarkers of Plasmodium falciparum infections in pregnant women: a case-control study from Nanoro, Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy is problematic due to the low sensitivity of conventional diagnostic tests (rapid diagnostic test and microscopy), which is exacerbated due to low peripheral parasite densities, and lack of clinical symptoms. In this study, six potential biomarkers to support malaria diagnosis in pregnancy were evaluated. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from pregnant women at antenatal clinic visits and at delivery. Microscopy and real-time PCR were performed for malaria diagnosis and biomarker analyses were performed by ELISA (interleukin 10, IL-10; tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α; soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II, sTNF-RII; soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1, sFlt-1; leptin and apolipoprotein B, Apo-B). A placental biopsy was collected at delivery to determine placental malaria. RESULTS: IL-10 and sTNF-RII were significantly higher at all time-points in malaria-infected women (p < 0.001). Both markers were also positively associated with parasite density (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003 for IL-10 and sTNF-RII respectively). IL-10 levels at delivery, but not during pregnancy, were negatively associated with birth weight. A prediction model was created using IL-10 and sTNF-RII cut-off points. For primigravidae the model had a sensitivity of 88.9% (95%CI 45.7-98.7%) and specificity of 83.3% (95% CI 57.1-94.9%) for diagnosing malaria during pregnancy. For secundi- and multigravidae the sensitivity (81.8% and 56.5% respectively) was lower, while specificity (100.0% and 94.3% respectively) was relatively high. Sub-microscopic infections were detected in 2 out of 3 secundi- and 5 out of 12 multigravidae. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of biomarkers IL-10 and sTNF-RII have the potential to support malaria diagnosis in pregnancy. Additional markers may be needed to increase sensitivity and specificity, this is of particular importance in populations with sub-microscopic infections or in whom other inflammatory diseases are prevalent

Interleukin-10 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II are potential biomarkers of Plasmodium falciparum infections in pregnant women: a case-control study from Nanoro, Burkina Faso

Background: Diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy is problematic due to the low sensitivity of conventional diagnostic tests (rapid diagnostic test and microscopy), which is exacerbated due to low peripheral parasite densities, and lack of clinical symptoms. In this study, six potential biomarkers to support malaria diagnosis in pregnancy were evaluated.Methods: Blood samples were collected from pregnant women at antenatal clinic visits and at delivery. Microscopy and real-time PCR were performed for malaria diagnosis and biomarker analyses were performed by ELISA (interleukin 10, IL-10; tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α; soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II, sTNF-RII; soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1, sFlt-1; leptin and apolipoprotein B, Apo-B). A placental biopsy was collected at delivery to determine placental malaria.Results: IL-10 and sTNF-RII were significantly higher at all time-points in malaria-infected women (p < 0.001). Both markers were also positively associated with parasite density (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003 for IL-10 and sTNF-RII respectively). IL-10 levels at delivery, but not during pregnancy, were negatively associated with birth weight. A prediction model was created using IL-10 and sTNF-RII cut-off points. For primigravidae the model had a sensitivity of 88.9% (95%CI 45.7–98.7%) and specificity of 83.3% (95% CI 57.1–94.9%) for diagnosing malaria during pregnancy. For secundi- and multigravidae the sensitivity (81.8% and 56.5% respectively) was lower, while specificity (100.0% and 94.3% respectively) was relatively high. Sub-microscopic infections were detected in 2 out of 3 secundi- and 5 out of 12 multigravidae.Conclusions: The combination of biomarkers IL-10 and sTNF-RII have the potential to support malaria diagnosis in pregnancy. Additional markers may be needed to increase sensitivity and specificity, this is of particular importance in populations with sub-microscopic infections or in whom other inflammatory diseases are prevalent

Эффективность использования бактериофагов для лечения и профилактики инфекции: систематический обзор

Successful implementation of lytic virulent bacteriophages in clinical practice requires convincing evidence of its safety and efficacy.Design: We searched in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and Russian-language literature databases in May 2018. Original articles must fulfill the following eligibility criteria: randomized, controlled trials investigating the effects of phage therapy in people with bacterial infections; at least one patient outcome was reported. Three review authors independently selected, studies, extracted, data, and. assessed, risk of bias. We used, random-effects models for meta-analysis.Participants: adults and. children of both, sexes with bacterial infection, including multi-drug resistant variants, or individuals at risk of infection.Outcomes: recovery or resolution of infection; clinical improvement; change in number of exacerbations; recurrence of infection; quality of life; elimination or load, reduction of a pathogen in an anatomical compartment.Results: We included 13 trials (issued in 1965-2018) including 9 treatment studies and. 4 prevention studies. Overall, eight randomized, trials involved, adults. Five studies addressed skin and soft tissues infections, six studies concerned intestinal infections, one study addressed respiratory tract infection and. one study — ear infection. Across bias domains, 35-90% of trials scored, low risk of bias. Meta-analysis for adverse events attributable to phages and. for wound, healing provided us with pooled relative risks of 0.74 (95% CI 0.68;1.2) and 0.91 (95% CI0.68;1.2) respectively.Conclusions: Beneficial effect of bacteriophages can be demonstrated, and. not refuted. However, our study led. to tentative conclusions. The conduct of well-designed and sufficiently powered, trials would, facilitate registration and. wide accepting of bacteriophage treatment.Цель: оценка использования бактериофагов, применяемых для профилактики или лечения бактериальных инфекций у людей.Метод: поиск информации проведен в англо- и русскоязычных базах данных в 2018 г. Критерии отбора оригинальных статей: рандомизированные контролируемые испытания; описан как минимум, один исход, значимый для пациента; взрослые и дети, обоего пола, с диагнозом бактериальной инфекции или лица с риском, заражения. Три автора независимо друг от друга отбирали исследования, извлекали данные и оценивали риск систематической ошибки. Для мета-анализа использована модель случайных эффектов. Исходы: выздоровление; клиническое улучшение; изменение числа обострений; рецидив инфекции; качество жизни; элиминации или уменьшение нагрузки патогена в анатомическом, локусе.Результаты: после критической оценки литературы, мы. включили 13 публикаций: исследования лечения (n = 9) и исследования профилактики (п = 4). Из них 5 исследований были проведены, в России и бывшем. СССР, 3 — в США, 2 — в Западной Европе, 2—в Азии. 8 исследований было с участием взрослых пациентов. 5 работ касались инфекций кожи и мягких тканей, 6 — кишечных инфекций, 1 — инфекции дыхательных путей, 1 — болезни уха. Включенные исследования были опубликованы, в 1965—2018 гг. По всем, видам, систематической ошибки 35—90% РКИ имели низкий риск. Мета-анализ был возможен только для побочных явлений, связанных с фагами, и для заживления ран: 0,74 (95% ДИ 0,68—1,2) и 0,91 (95% ДИ 0,68—1,2) соответственно.Выводы: с учетом, сформировавшейся доказательной базы, благоприятный эффект фаготерапии не вызывает сомнений. Однако наше исследование позволяет сделать лишь предварительные выводы. Широкое признание бактериофагов мировой наукой для лечения и профилактики требует, проведения РКИ должного методологического качества и мощности

Community-based scheduled screening and treatment of malaria in pregnancy for improved maternal and infant health in The Gambia, Burkina Faso and Benin: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria continues to cause over 10,000 maternal deaths and 75,000 to 200,000 infant deaths. Successful control of malaria in pregnancy could save lives of mothers and babies and is an essential part of antenatal care in endemic areas. The primary objective is to determine the protective efficacy of community-scheduled screening and treatment (CSST) using community health workers (CHW) against the primary outcome of prevalence of placental malaria. The secondary objectives are to determine the protective efficacy of CSST on maternal anaemia, maternal peripheral infection, low birth weight, selection of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance markers, and on antenatal clinic (ANC) attendance and coverage of intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp-SP).Methods/design: This is a multi-centre cluster-randomised controlled trial involving three countries with varying malaria endemicity; low (The Gambia) versus high transmission (Burkina Faso and Benin), and varying degrees of SP resistance (high in Benin and moderate in Gambia and Burkina Faso). CHW and their related catchment population who are randomised into the intervention arm will receive specific training on community-based case management of malaria in pregnancy. All women in both study arms will be enrolled at their first ANC visits in their second trimester where they will receive their first dose of IPTp-SP. Thereafter, CHW in the intervention arm will perform scheduled monthly screening and treatment in the womens homes. At time of delivery, a placental biopsy will be collected from all women to determine placental malaria. At each contact point, filter paper and blood slides will be collected for detection of malaria infection and SP resistance markers.Discussion: To reach successful global malaria control, there is an urgent need to access those at greatest risk of malaria infection. The project is designed to develop a low-cost intervention in pregnant women which will have an immediate impact on the malaria burden in resource-limited countries. This will be done by adding to the standard IPTp-SP delivered through the health facilities: an "extension" strategy to the communities in rural areas thus bringing health services closer to where women live. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN37259296 (5 July 2013), and clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01941264 (10 September 2013)