Estimating percentages of fusarium-damaged kernels in hard wheat by near-infrared hyperspectral imaging

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is among the most common fungal diseases affecting wheat, resulting in decreased yield, low-density kernels, and production of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, a compound toxic to humans and livestock. Human visual analysis of representative wheat samples has been the traditional method for FHB assessment in both official inspection and plant breeding operations. While not requiring specialized equipment, visual analysis is dependent on a trained and consistent workforce, such that in the absence of these aspects, biases may arise among inspectors and evaluation dates. This research was intended to avoid such pitfalls by using longer wavelength radiation than the visible using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) on individual kernels. Linear discriminant analysis models to differentiate between sound and scab-damaged kernels were developed based on mean of reflectance values of the interior pixels of each kernel at four wavelengths (1100, 1197, 1308, and 1394 nm). Other input variables were examined, including kernel morphological properties and histogram features from the pixel responses of selected wavelengths of each kernel. The results indicate the strong potential of HSI in estimating fusarium damage. However, improvement in aligning this procedure to visual analysis is hampered by the inherent level of subjectivity in visual analysis

Building uncertainty models on top of black-box predictive APIs

With the commoditization of machine learning, more and more off-the-shelf models are available as part of code libraries or cloud services. Typically, data scientists and other users apply these models as ''black boxes'' within larger projects. In the case of regressing a scalar quantity, such APIs typically offer a predict() function, which outputs the estimated target variable (often referred to as y¿ or, in code, y_hat). However, many real-world problems may require some sort of deviation interval or uncertainty score rather than a single point-wise estimate. In other words, a mechanism is needed with which to answer the question ''How confident is the system about that prediction?'' Motivated by the lack of this characteristic in most predictive APIs designed for regression purposes, we propose a method that adds an uncertainty score to every black-box prediction. Since the underlying model is not accessible, and therefore standard Bayesian approaches are not applicable, we adopt an empirical approach and fit an uncertainty model using a labelled dataset (x, y) and the outputs y¿ of the black box. In order to be able to use any predictive system as a black box and adapt to its complex behaviours, we propose three variants of an uncertainty model based on deep networks. The first adds a heteroscedastic noise component to the black-box output, the second predicts the residuals of the black box, and the third performs quantile regression using deep networks. Experiments using real financial data that contain an in-production black-box system and two public datasets (energy forecasting and biology responses) illustrate and quantify how uncertainty scores can be added to black-box outputs

The dust-enshrouded microquasar candidate AX J1639.0-4642 = IGR J16393-4643

We present a multiwavelength study of the field containing the unidentified X-ray source AX J1639.0-4642, discovered with the ASCA observatory and recently detected with the IBIS telescope, onboard the INTEGRAL satellite, dubbed IGR J16393-4643. The huge hydrogen column density towards the source, the hard spectral index in the 0.7-10 keV band and its flux variability suggest that the source is a High Mass X-ray Binary (HMXB) enshrouded by dust. Our search reveals the presence of a non-thermal radio counterpart within the X-ray error box. After a study of the broadband emission from X-rays to the radio domain, we propose that AX J1639.0-4642 is a dust-enshrouded Microquasar (MQ) candidate. In addition, the X-ray source is well within the 95% location contour of the unidentified gamma-ray source 3EG J1639-4702. The main properties of AX J1639.0-4642/3EG J1639-4702 are consistent with those of two other MQs previously proposed to display high-energy gamma-ray emission.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A. Title and discussion on the possible NIR counterpart have been modifie

Detection of transit timing variations in excess of one hour in the Kepler multi-planet candidate system KOI 806 with the GTC

We report the detection of transit timing variations (TTVs) well in excess of one hour in the Kepler multi-planet candidate system KOI 806. This system exhibits transits consistent with three separate planets -- a Super-Earth, a Jupiter, and a Saturn -- lying very nearly in a 1:2:5 resonance, respectively. We used the Kepler public data archive and observations with the Gran Telescopio de Canarias to compile the necessary photometry. For the largest candidate planet (KOI 806.02) in this system, we detected a large transit timing variation of -103.5$\pm$6.9 minutes against previously published ephemeris. We did not obtain a strong detection of a transit color signature consistent with a planet-sized object; however, we did not detect a color difference in transit depth, either. The large TTV is consistent with theoretical predictions that exoplanets in resonance can produce large transit timing variations, particularly if the orbits are eccentric. The presence of large TTVs among the bodies in this systems indicates that KOI806 is very likely to be a planetary system. This is supported by the lack of a strong color dependence in the transit depth, which would suggest a blended eclipsing binary.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted into A&A Letter

Estabilidad política, terrorismo y medios de comunicación. Un analisis de la incidencia de percepciones mediaticas en el turismo receptivo

The present research seeks to analyze the existing relationship between terrorist attacks, political instability, discourse from international media outlets and news agencies in receptive tourism. To accomplish this, four countries that have different internal situations will be studied in the period 2012- 2015: Egypt, Tunisia, Venezuela and Spain combining quantitative methodologies using official data from international and national organisms, with journalistic discourse analysis from 4 international news agencies and 4 international media outlets through the use of the MAXQDA (v. 11.0.11) software tool. The results have shown that the information spread by media about terrorist attacks have more effects on tourism than those about political and economic instability

Eyespot resistance gene Pch-1 from Aegilops ventricosa is associated with a different chromosome in wheat line H-93-70 than the resistance factor in "Roazon" wheat

The hexaploid wheat line H-93-70 carries a gene (Pch-1) that has been transferred from the wild grass Aegilops ventricosa and confers a high degree of resistance to eyespot diesease, caused by the fungus Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides. Crosses of the resistant line H-93-70 with the susceptible wheat Pané 247 and with a 7D/7Ag wheat/Agropyron substitution line were carried out and F2 kernels were obtained. The kernels were cut transversally and the halves carrying the embryos were used for the resistance test, while the distal halves were used for genetic typing. Biochemical markers were used to discriminate whether the transferred Pch-1 gene was located in chromosome 7D, as is the case for a resistance factor present in Roazon wheat. In the crosses involving Pané 247, resistance was not associated with the 7D locus Pln, which determines sterol ester pattern (dominant allele in H-93-70). In the crosses with the 7D/7Ag substitution line, resistance was neither associated with protein NGE-11 (7D marker), nor alternatively inherited with respect to protein C-7 (7Ag marker). It is concluded that gene Pch-1 represents a different locus and is not an allele of the resistance factor in Roazon whea

EVALUACIÓN DEL CONOCIMIENTO ENFERMERO EN EL MANEJO AL PACIENTE NEUTROPÉNICO

Objective: To evaluate the nursing staff's knowledge about management of cancer patients with febrile neutropenia. Methodology: An observational descriptive study was carried out with 35 nurses of hospital centers in Havana city, from 2006 to 2008. A structured survey was designed and then applied, with previous consent, to the participating nurses. Results: Out of 35 nurses interviewed, 51.4% have their degree, 54.4% work in institutes, 57.1% perform assistance functions and 37.7% work in oncohematologic services. Work experience in this service is between one and two years. 68.5% of nurses know a lot about neutropenia, 25.7 % know a little, and 5.7 % do not know anything about the topic. Conclusions: The knowledge level was high in the majority, and it was associated with the precedent of having received postgraduate courses regarding Oncology and training from the nurses in the units where they work.Objetivo: Evaluar el conocimiento del personal de enfermería sobre el manejo del paciente oncológico con neutropenia febril. Método: Estudio observacional descriptivo evaluativo con 35 enfermeros pertenecientes a centros hospitalarios de Ciudad de la Habana durante el período 2006 -2008. Se diseño un cuestionario estructurado que fue aplicado con previo consentimiento de los enfermeros participantes. Resultados: De los 35 enfermeros encuestados, el 51.4% son licenciados, 54.4% trabajan en institutos, el 57.1% ejercen funciones asistenciales, y el 37.7% laboran en servicios oncohematologicos. Los años de experiencia de trabajo en el servicio oscilan entre 1 y 2 años. El 68.5% posee mucho conocimiento sobre neutropenia, poco un 25.7% y no tienen conocimientos el 5.7%. Conclusiones: El nivel de conocimiento fue evaluado en su mayoría de mucho, y se asoció al antecedente de haber recibido cursos postgrados sobre Oncología y adiestramientos de los enfermeros en los servicios donde laboran

Modelo procedimental de la evaluación de las políticas públicas a través de la ludificación / Procedural model in the evaluation of public policy through gamification

This article proposes a procedural model designed to optimize the experience of citizens in decision making of public policies through gamification. The study assumes that gamification is motivating and contributes to increase involvement within a specific area. In this case, gamification is used to encourage citizens’ engagement in decision-making, based on three models of public policies evaluation that incorporate civic participation in three different roles: auditor, passive and active. Applying the Delphi methodology, the results of reliability and internal consistency show that experts attribute higher value to the model of active participation using gamification. In conclusion, the model designed opens a new area of knowledge within public policies evaluation, embedded in the interactivity of the media contex

Searching for Young M Dwarfs with GALEX

The census of young moving groups in the solar neighborhood is significantly incomplete in the low-mass regime. We have developed a new selection process to find these missing members based on the GALEX All-Sky Imaging Survey. For stars with spectral types >K5 and younger than 300~Myr, we show that near-UV and far-UV emission is greatly enhanced above the quiescent photosphere, analogous to the enhanced X-ray emission of young low-mass stars seen by ROSAT but detectable to much larger distances with GALEX. By combining GALEX data with optical (HST Guide Star Catalog) and near-IR (2MASS) photometry, we identified an initial sample of 34 young M dwarf candidates in a 1000 sq.~deg.~region around the 10-Myr TW Hydra Association (TWA). Low-resolution spectroscopy of 30 of these found 16 which had H_alpha in emission, which were then followed-up at high resolution to search for spectroscopic evidence of youth and to measure radial velocities. Four objects have low surface gravities, photometric distances and space motions consistent with TWA, but the non-detection of Li indicates they may be too old to belong to this moving group. One object (M3.5, 93 pc) appears to be the first known accreting low-mass member of the 15~Myr Lower Centaurus Crux OB association. Two objects exhibit all the characteristics of the known TWA members, and thus we designate them as TWA 31 (M4.2, 110 pc) and TWA 32 (M6.3, 53 pc). TWA 31 shows extremely broad (447 km/s) H_alpha emission, making it the sixth member of TWA found to have ongoing accretion. TWA 32 is resolved into a 0.6" binary in Keck laser guide star adaptive optics imaging. Our search should be sensitive down to spectral types of at least M4-M5 in TWA and thus the small numbers of new member is puzzling. This may indicate TWA has an atypical mass function or that the presence of Li may be too restrictive a criteria for selecting young low-mass stars.Comment: Accepted to Ap