Water Management Using Drones and Satellites in Agriculture

This document intends to be a presentation of the Special Issue “Water Management Using Drones and Satellites in Agriculture”. The objective of this Special Issue is to provide an overview of recent advances in the methodology of using remote sensing techniques for managing water in agricultural systems. Its eight peer-reviewed articles focus on three topics: new equipment for characterizing water bodies, development of satellite-based technologies for determining crop water requirements in order to enhance irrigation efficiency, and monitoring crop water status through proximal and remote sensing. Overall, these contributions explore new solutions for improving irrigation management and an efficient assessment of crop water needs, being of great value for both researchers and advisors.S

Low temperature delays the effects of ischemia in Bergmann glia and in cerebellar tissue swelling

Cerebral ischemia results in oxygen and glucose deprivation that most commonly occurs after a reduction or interruption in the blood supply to the brain. The consequences of cerebral ischemia are complex and involve the loss of metabolic ATP, excessive K+ and glutamate accumulation in the extracellular space, electrolyte imbalance, and brain edema formation. So far, several treatments have been proposed to alleviate ischemic damage, yet few are effective. Here, we focused on the neuroprotective role of lowering the temperature in ischemia mimicked by an episode of oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in mouse cerebellar slices. Our results suggest that lowering the temperature of the extracellular ‘milieu’ delays both the increases in [K+]e and tissue swelling, two dreaded consequences of cerebellar ischemia. Moreover, radial glial cells (Bergmann glia) display morphological changes and membrane depolarizations that are markedly impeded by lowering the temperature. Overall, in this model of cerebellar ischemia, hypothermia reduces the deleterious homeostatic changes regulated by Bergmann glia

Self-paced cycling improves cognition on institutionalized older adults without known cognitive impairment: A 15-month randomized controlled trial

This study aimed at identifying the effects of self-paced cycling on the cognitive and functional status and fall risk on institutionalized older adults without cognitive impairment. A total of 39 individuals were randomly assigned to an exercise group or to a control group. The exercise group participants cycled at their self-selected intensity at least for 15 min daily during 15 months. The control group participants performed recreational activities. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Fuld object memory evaluation, and symbol digit modality test were used for cognitive assessments. The Katz index, the timed "Up & Go" test, and the World Health Organization questionnaire were used to assess functional independence, mobility, and fall risk. Significant improvements were observed in the exercise group for global cognition and attention, visual scanning, and processing speed. Long-term self-paced cycling training seems to have a protective effect on cognitive status and attention, visual scanning, and processing speed in older institutionalized individuals

Does maturity estimation, 2D: 4D and training load measures explain physical fitness changes of youth football players?

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was two-fold: (1) To analyse physical fitness changes of youth football players after a full-season; and (2) to examine whether physical fitness changes are explainable by estimated maturity status, 2digit:4digit ratio (2D:4D) from each hand and training load (TL) measures. Methods: Twenty-seven youth elite Under-15 football players were daily monitored for training load measures during 38 weeks. At the beginning and at the end of the season, all players were assessed for physical fitness. Also, the maturity status estimation and the length of the second and fourth digits of both hands were collected at the beginning of the season. Results: Significant differences were found for all physical fitness measures after the season. The second and fourth digits of left and right hands had negative moderate correlations with change of direction (COD) changes (r=-.39 to − 0.45 | p = .05 to 0.02). Also, the maturity offset measure had negative moderate correlations with COD changes (r=-.40 | p = .04). From the reported significant correlations, the maturity offset, Left 4D, Right 2D and Right 4D significantly predicted the Mod.505 COD test changes (β = 0.41, p = .04; β = -0.41, p = .04; β = -0.45, p = .02; and β = -0.44, p = .03, respectively). Conclusion: The maturity offset and the 2D:4D measures have the potential to predict COD performance changes over-time in youth football players. Given the lack of associations between the maturity estimation, 2D:4D and training load measures, with the overall physical fitness measures, coaches should rely only at COD changes

Microalgal biomass quantification from the non-invasive technique of image processing through red-green-blue (RGB) analysis

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGContinuous monitoring of biomass concentration in microalgae cultures is essential and one of the most important parameters to measure in this field. This study aims at digital image processing in RGB and greyscale models, being a simple and low-cost method for cell estimation. Images obtained from different photobioreactors with wastewater and at different conditions for the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris were analyzed. The results suggested that this technique is very effective under controlled lighting conditions, in contrast to photobioreactors placed outdoors and of different design, presenting a lower linearity. The accuracy of the method could be improved with a high-quality charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The development of efficient methods to assess biomass concentration is an important and necessary step towards large-scale microalgae cultivation. The colour analysis technique has a great potential to meet the needs of monitoring cultures in a cost-effective and automated way using simple and cheap instruments

Influence of cognitive impairment on fall risk among elderly nursing home residents

ABSTRACT Background: Information relating the severity of cognitive decline to the fall risk in institutionalized older adults is still scarce. This study aims to identify potential fall risk factors (medications, behavior, motor function, and neuropsychological disturbances) depending on the severity of cognitive impairment in nursing home residents. Methods: A total of 1,167 nursing home residents (mean age 81.44 ± 8.26 years; 66.4% women) participated in the study. According to the MEC, (the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination) three levels of cognitive impairment were established: mild (20–24) “MCI”, moderate (14–19) “MOCI”, and severe (≤14) “SCI”. Scores above 24 points indicated the absence cognitive impairment (NCI). Information regarding fall history and fall risk during the previous year was collected using standardized questionnaires and tests. Results: Sixty falls (34%) were registered among NCI participants and 417 (43%) among people with cognitive impairment (MCI: 35%; MOCI: 40%; SCI: 50%). A different fall risk model was observed for MCI, MOCI, SCI, and NCI patients. The results imply that the higher the level of cognitive impairment, the greater the number of falls (F 1,481 = 113.852; Sig = 0.015), although the level of significance was not maintained when MOCI and SCI participants were compared. Depression, neuropsychiatric disturbances, autonomy constraints in daily life activity performance, and low functional mobility were factors closely associated with fall risk. Conclusion: This study provides evidence indicating that fall risk factors do not hold a direct correlation with the level of cognitive impairment among elderly nursing home care residents

Dehydration, wellness, and training demands of professional soccer players during preseason

Purpose. Our study is aimed at analyzing the relationships between water loss and a professional soccer team’s internal and external training load throughout the first three months of a season, covering all the preseason and the first two months of the competitive season. Methods. This study followed an observational analytic design. Twenty-seven athletes (age: 25:5±4:1 years, height: 180:7±8:2 cm, and body mass: 78:4±8:7 kg) were included in the study, conducted over the first three months of the season. Players were weighed at the beginning and end of all training sessions to estimate fluid losses. They were asked to complete a wellness questionnaire and indicate the color of the first urine of the day upon their arrival at the practice session. Additionally, all sessions were monitored for locomotor demands. Results. We found a positive correlation between urine color and sprint distance (r = 0:46, p = 0:01) and a positive correlation between dehydration and rating of perceived exertion (r = 0:44, p = 0:015), whereas a negative correlation between dehydration and number of acceleration (r = −0:39, p = 0:034). Conclusions. Dehydration increased perceived physical exertion. Regularly monitoring training load and changes in body mass, as well as raising awareness about hydration, can contribute to cognitive and physical performance.9E1A-F9DD-3EB8 | Filipe Manuel ClementeN/

Efeitos da rega superficial e subsuperficial sobre a fisiologia e produção da variedade ‘Godello’ na Galiza, Noroeste de Espanha

Irrigation has been considered a controversial practice in European traditional viticulture due to potential alterations in the balance between vegetative growth and yield. In this regard, the influence of surface (DI) and subsurface (SDI) drip irrigation on physiological performance of the ‘Godello’ grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar was compared with a non-irrigated control (R) over three consecutive growing seasons (2012- 2014) in NW Spain. Irrigation improved vine water status; R plants reached a minimum of midday leaf water potential of –1.5 MPa, whereas DI and SDI plants reached –1.3 MPa. Stomatal conductance was unaffected by irrigation as well as chlorophyll a fluorescence. However, photosynthetic pigments were present at higher concentrations in leaves from irrigated plants than in those from R plants in 2013. In addition, R plants showed higher values for the indicators of oxidative damage. No significant yield improvements were observed for irrigated plants, although the trend was to obtain slightly higher yields under irrigation in years with low rainfall amounts. This may not encourage growers to establish irrigation systems on their vineyards. However, these results may be important with the objectives of stabilizing yield from year to yearA rega tem sido considerada uma prática controversa na viticultura tradicional Europeia devido a potenciais alterações no equilíbrio entre crescimento vegetativo e rendimento. A este respeito, a influência da irrigação por gotejamento superficial (DI) e subsuperficial (SDI) sobre o desempenho fisiológico da variedade ‘Godello’ (Vitis vinifera L.) foi comparada com uma testemunha em condições de sequeiro (R) ao longo de três anos consecutivos (2012-2014) no noroeste de Espanha. A rega melhorou o estado hídrico da videira; as plantas do tratamento R atingiram potenciais hídricos foliares ao meio-dia de –1.5 MPa, comparativamente a um valor de –1.3 MPa para as plantas dos tratamentos DI e SDI. A conductância estomática e a fluorescência da clorofila a não foram afectadas pela rega. No entanto, os pigmentos fotossintéticos apresentaram maiores concentrações em folhas de plantas regadas quando se comparam com as plantas do tratamento R em 2013. Além disso, as plantas do tratamento R apresentaram valores superiores para os indicadores de danos oxidativos. Não foi detectado nenhum incremento do rendimento nas plantas regadas, embora se tenha observado uma tendência para obtenção de rendimentos ligeiramente mais elevados sob rega em anos com baixa pluviosidade. Tal poderá não encorajar aos viticultores a implementar sistemas de rega nas suas vinhas. No entanto, estes resultados podem ser importantes para a estabilização do rendimento de ano para anoThis research was supported by the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Project nº RTA2011-00041-C02-00, with 80% FEDER funds. J.M. Mirás-Avalos and E.M. Martínez thank Xunta de Galicia for funding their contracts through the “Isidro Parga Pondal” and “Isabel Barreto” Programmes. E. Trigo-Córdoba thanks INIA for their PhD scholarship (FPI-INIA)S

Relationships between internal training intensity and well-being changes in youth football players

The aim of this study was two-fold: (i) to analyze the variations of training intensity and well-being measures of youth football player over a 38 week period; and (ii) to test the relationships between training intensity and well-being variations throughout a youth football season. This study followed a longitudinal design, lasting 38 weeks. Twenty-five players (age: 15.0 ± 0.4 years) participated in this study. Participants were monitored daily to quantify the training intensity (TI) using the session-rate of perceived exertion (s-RPE) and its related indices: training monotony (TM), weekly training intensity (wTI), mean training intensity (mTI), and 5-day average (5d-AVG). A four-item questionnaire was collected daily to quantify the well-being status of each player. Fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), sleep quality, and the Hooper Index (HI) measures were analyzed. Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed significant differences for TM, mTI, wTI and 5d-AVG (H = 359.53, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.35; H = 414.97, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.41, H = 258.42, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.24 and H = 282.18, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.26). A positive large correlation was found between TM and sleep quality (r = 0.65, p = 0.05) and a negative large correlation between mTI and sleep quality (r = −0.69, p = 0.04). In conclusion, both TI and well-being measures present significant between-week differences at different periods of the season. Also, the variations of sleep quality seem to depend on TM and mTI variations across a youth football season.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia | Ref. UIDP/04748/202

Competencia motriz en jóvenes adultos después de un período de 12 meses

The aim of this study was to analyse the change in motor competence (MC), body composition, and habitual physical activity (PA) levels in a group of university students over 12-month. 92 participants (68 males; 21.2±5.5 years old) took part in this study. All participants were sport sciences students and had their MC, body composition and habitual PA, assessed at baseline and after 12 months. Lean mass significantly increased in females (+0.2%; Effect Size (ES)= 0.726) and males (+0.2%; ES = 0.555). In females, was also observed a significant increase in weight (+0.1%; ES=0.734). In terms of MC, significant improvements were observed in fe-males MC stability (+0.3%; ES=0.696), MC manipulative (+1.1%; ES=0.866), standing long jump performance (+0.7%; ES=0.511), and total MC (+1.9%; ES=0.699). Males exhibited significant decreases in MC manipulative (-1.5%; ES=0.640), throwing velocity (-1.3%; ES=0.473), kicking velocity (-1.4%; ES=0.755), standing long jump performance (-1.1%; ES=0.408), and shuttle run (-1.3%; ES=0.502). In early adulthood, sport science undergraduate students MC can differ across a 12-month period, changing in accordance with habitual PA levels. It appears that the changes related to the growth and maintenance of MC continue throughout adulthood.El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los cambios en los niveles de competencia motriz (CM), composición corporal y actividad física (AF) en un grupo de estudian-tes universitarios durante un período de 12 meses. 92 participantes (68 hombres; 21.2±5.5 años) participaron en este estudio. Todos los participantes eran estudiantes de ciencias del deporte y se les evaluó la CM, composición corporal y la AF habitual al inicio del estudio y después de 12 meses. La masa magra aumentó significativamente en las mujeres (+0.2%; tamaño del efecto (TE) = 0.726) y en los hombres (+0.2%; TE=0.555). Además, en las mujeres se observó un aumento significativo del peso (+0.1%; TE=0.734). Para las mujeres, se observa-ron mejoras significativas de la CM estabilidad (+0.3%; TE=0.696), CM manipulativa (+1.1%;TE=0.866), salto horizontal (+0.7%; TE=0.511) y CM total (+1.9%;TE=0.699). Los hombres mostraron una disminución significativa de la CM manipulativa (-1.5%;TE=0.640), velocidad de lanzamiento (-1.3%;TE=0.473), velocidad de disparo (-1.4%;TE=0.755), salto horizontal (-1.1%;TE=0.408) y velocidad de lanzamiento (-1.3%;ES=0.502). En el inicio de la edad adulta, la CM de los estudiantes de licenciatura en ciencias del deporte pueden diferir en un período de 12 meses, cambiando de acuerdo con los niveles habituales de AF. Parece que los cambios relacionados con el crecimiento y mantenimiento de CM continúan durante la edad adulta.Actividad Física y Deport