Accurate prediction of sugarcane yield using a random forest algorithm

International audienceAbstractForeknowledge about sugarcane crop size can help industry members make more informed decisions. There exists many different combinations of climate variables, seasonal climate prediction indices, and crop model outputs that could prove useful in explaining sugarcane crop size. A data mining method like random forests can cope with generating a prediction model when the search space of predictor variables is large. Research that has investigated the accuracy of random forests to explain annual variation in sugarcane productivity and the suitability of predictor variables generated from crop models coupled with observed climate and seasonal climate prediction indices is limited. Simulated biomass from the APSIM (Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator) sugarcane crop model, seasonal climate prediction indices and observed rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature, and radiation were supplied as inputs to a random forest classifier and a random forest regression model to explain annual variation in regional sugarcane yields at Tully, in northeastern Australia. Prediction models were generated on 1 September in the year before harvest, and then on 1 January and 1 March in the year of harvest, which typically runs from June to November. Our results indicated that in 86.36 % of years, it was possible to determine as early as September in the year before harvest if production would be above the median. This accuracy improved to 95.45 % by January in the year of harvest. The R-squared of the random forest regression model gradually improved from 66.76 to 79.21 % from September in the year before harvest through to March in the same year of harvest. All three sets of variables—(i) simulated biomass indices, (ii) observed climate, and (iii) seasonal climate prediction indices—were typically featured in the models at various stages. Better crop predictions allows farmers to improve their nitrogen management to meet the demands of the new crop, mill managers could better plan the mill’s labor requirements and maintenance scheduling activities, and marketers can more confidently manage the forward sale and storage of the crop. Hence, accurate yield forecasts can improve industry sustainability by delivering better environmental and economic outcomes

Cyclic Regulation of T-Bet and GATA-3 in Human Endometrium

Endometrial cytokine expression is poorly understood. T-Bet and GATA-3 regulate cytokine expression in T-lymphocytes. Previous work has demonstrated expression of T-Bet in human endometrium. Changes in human endometrial T-Bet and GATA-3 mRNA and protein expression during the normal menstrual cycle were characterized. Human endometrium from each phase of the menstrual cycle underwent real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry to examine expression and localization. T-Bet and GATA-3 mRNA were increased in the late secretory phase. Progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA was increased during the proliferative and early secretory phases. T-Bet and GATA-3 proteins localized cytoplasmically in the late secretory phase. PR protein displayed nuclear localization and maximal immunostaining during the early secretory phase. T-Bet and GATA-3 are expressed in endometrial epithelium cyclically during the menstrual cycle. T-Bet and GATA-3 are both upregulated during the late secretory phase and in the same cell types. The expression patterns of T-Bet and GATA-3 oppose PR, suggesting antagonistic function and/or regulation between PR and T-Bet/GATA-3

Community led active schools programme (CLASP) exploring the implementation of health interventions in primary schools: headteachers’ perspectives

Background: Schools are repeatedly utilised as a key setting for health interventions. However, the translation of effective research findings to the school setting can be problematic. In order to improve effective translation of future interventions, it is imperative key challenges and facilitators of implementing health interventions be understood from a school's perspective. Methods: Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted in primary schools (headteachers n = 16, deputy headteacher n = 1, healthy school co-ordinator n = 2). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The main challenges for schools in implementing health interventions were; government-led academic priorities, initiative overload, low autonomy for schools, lack of staff support, lack of facilities and resources, litigation risk and parental engagement. Recommendations to increase the application of interventions into the school setting included; better planning and organisation, greater collaboration with schools and external partners and elements addressing sustainability. Child-centred and cross-curricular approaches, inclusive whole school approaches and assurances to be supportive of the school ethos were also favoured for consideration. Conclusions: This work explores schools' perspectives regarding the implementation of health interventions and utilises these thoughts to create guidelines for developing future school-based interventions. Recommendations include the need to account for variability between school environments, staff and pupils. Interventions with an element of adaptability were preferred over the delivery of blanket fixed interventions. Involving schools in the developmental stage would add useful insights to ensure the interventions can be tailored to best suit each individual schools' needs and improve implementation.11 page(s

PARTIAL HEMATOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, AND PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS REFERENCE INTERVALS FOR CAPTIVE SPOTTED TURTLES (CLEMMYS GUTTATA)

Spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) are an endangered species and are commonly encountered in the pet trade and in many zoological collections across the United States, yet peer-reviewed published reference intervals (RI) for common clinicopathologic tests are unavailable for this species. The objectives of this study were to calculate partial RI for routine hematology, biochemistry, and electrophoretic analyses, as well as to perform an initial comparison of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) in this species. A single blood sample was obtained from a single collection of 32 apparently healthy captive spotted turtles weighing at least 100 g and was submitted for standard hematologic and biochemistry analyses, as well as electrophoresis via CZE and AGE methods. Partial RI were calculated for corresponding analytes for each type of testing. While CZE and AGE protein fractions were found to have good correlation, some significant differences were observed, reinforcing that RI should be reported with the specific method used for their determination. The spotted turtle electrophoretograms were distinctly different from those previously reported from turtles in the same taxonomic family, including differences in the number and relative prominence of protein fractions

Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in Oysters in the United States

Food-borne diseases such as salmonellosis can be attributed, in part, to the consumption of raw oysters. To determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in oysters, oysters harvested from 36 U.S. bays (12 each from the West, East, and Gulf coasts in the summer of 2002, and 12 bays, four per coast, in the winter of 2002-2003) were tested. Salmonella was isolated from oysters from each coast of the United States, and 7.4% of all oysters tested contained Salmonella. Isolation tended to be bay specific, with some bays having a high prevalence of Salmonella, while other bays had none. Differences in the percentage of oysters from which Salmonella was isolated were observed between the summer and winter months, with winter numbers much lower probably due to a variety of weather-related events. The vast majority (78/101) of Salmonella isolates from oysters were Salmonella enterica serovar Newport, a major human pathogen, confirming the human health hazard of raw oyster consumption. Contrary to previous findings, no relationship was found between the isolation of fecal coliforms and Salmonella from oysters, indicating a necessity for specific monitoring for Salmonella and other pathogens rather than the current reliance on fecal coliform testing

Deep nuclear invaginations are linked to cytoskeletal filaments - integrated bioimaging of epithelial cells in 3D culture.

The importance of context in regulation of gene expression is now an accepted principle; yet the mechanism by which the microenvironment communicates with the nucleus and chromatin in healthy tissues is poorly understood. A functional role for nuclear and cytoskeletal architecture is suggested by the phenotypic differences observed between epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Capitalizing on recent advances in cryogenic techniques, volume electron microscopy and super-resolution light microscopy, we studied human mammary epithelial cells in three-dimensional (3D) cultures forming growth-arrested acini. Intriguingly, we found deep nuclear invaginations and tunnels traversing the nucleus, encasing cytoskeletal actin and/or intermediate filaments, which connect to the outer nuclear envelope. The cytoskeleton is also connected both to other cells through desmosome adhesion complexes and to the extracellular matrix through hemidesmosomes. This finding supports a physical and/or mechanical link from the desmosomes and hemidesmosomes to the nucleus, which had previously been hypothesized but now is visualized for the first time. These unique structures, including the nuclear invaginations and the cytoskeletal connectivity to the cell nucleus, are consistent with a dynamic reciprocity between the nucleus and the outside of epithelial cells and tissues

Murine myeloid progenitor responses to GM-CSF and eosinophil precursor responses to IL-5 represent distinct targets for downmodulation by prostaglandin E(2)

1. Because Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and dibutiryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) modulate the production and effects of haemopoietic cytokines in allergy, we examined their ability to modulate responses of myeloid progenitors to GM-CSF, and of eosinophil precursors to IL-5. 2. The ability of PGE(2), dbcAMP, rolipram, forskolin, dbcGMP and PGD(2), to modulate the responses to GM-CSF and IL-5 in colony formation (progenitor) and eosinophil differentiation (precursor) assays using bone-marrow from nonsensitized or from intranasally-challenged, ovalbumin-sensitized mice of five strains was studied. 3. PGE(2) (10(−7) M) inhibited GM-CSF-stimulated colony formation in bone-marrow from BP-2 mice. This effect was duplicated by dbcAMP (0.3–1×10(−6) M), Rolipram (10(−5) M) and forskolin (3×10(−5) M), but not Prostaglandin D(2) (10(−6) M). Inhibition affected similarly all myeloid colony types. Progenitors from sensitized and challenged BP-2 mice were also inhibited by PGE(2) and cyclic AMP. PGE(2) inhibited progenitors from C57BL/10, CBA/J and A/J, but not BALB/c mice. However, BALB/c progenitors were sensitive to dbcAMP and Forskolin (10(−4) M). In contrast, in precursor assays, PGE(2) (10(−7)–10(−9) M) blocked responses to IL-5 in bone-marrow from BP-2 and BALB/c mice, either naïve or sensitized and challenged, to a similar extent. PGD(2) (10(−6) M) was ineffective, as was PGE(2) (10(−7) M), if added after 48 h of culture. 4. In conclusion, PGE(2) inhibits the responses of bone-marrow myeloid progenitors to GM-CSF and of eosinophil precursors to IL-5, in naïve or ovalbumin sensitized and challenged mice. These effects are duplicated by cyclic AMP-elevating agents. In the BALB/c strain, the resistance of progenitors, but not precursors, to PGE(2) inhibition, indicates these developmental stages are separate targets for PGE(2) modulation