Deep computer vision system for cocoa classification

Cocoa hybridisation generates new varieties which are resistant to several plant diseases, but has individual chemical characteristics that affect chocolate production. Image analysis is a useful method for visual discrimination of cocoa beans, while deep learning (DL) has emerged as the de facto technique for image processing. However, these algorithms require a large amount of data and careful tuning of hyperparameters. Since it is necessary to acquire a large number of images to encompass the wide range of agricultural products, in this paper, we compare a Deep Computer Vision System (DCVS) and a traditional Computer Vision System (CVS) to classify cocoa beans into different varieties. For DCVS, we used a Resnet18 and Resnet50 as backbone, while for CVS, we experimented traditional machine learning algorithms, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF). All the algorithms were selected since they provide good classification performance and their potential application for food classification A dataset with 1,239 samples was used to evaluate both systems. The best accuracy was 96.82% for DCVS (ResNet 18), compared to 85.71% obtained by the CVS using SVM. The essential handcrafted features were reported and discussed regarding their influence on cocoa bean classification. Class Activation Maps was applied to DCVS’s predictions, providing a meaningful visualisation of the most important regions of the images in the model

Genetic diversity of sacha inchi accessions detected by AFLP molecular markers.

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) é uma espécie nativa da Amazônia. Mostram-se necessários estudos de sua diversidade genética para possibilitar avanços em programas de melhoramento, visando a estabelecer cultivares para a agricultura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a diversidade genética entre acessos de Sacha inchi com o uso de marcadores moleculares AFLP

a cross-sectional population-based study

Funding Information: We thank Prof. Carla Nunes (NOVA National School of Public Health – Universidade NOVA de Lisboa) for the valuable insights and discussions in the conceptualization of this project. We thank the EpiDoc Unit and EpiReumaPt team for conceptualizing, planning, and implementing the main research project. We also acknowledge the support of CHRC (UIDP/04923/2020), granted by national funds through Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia, IP. Funding Information: This study received funding from an independent research grant (ID: 64165707) by Pfizer, and the first author received a grant from Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia, IP under the PhD grant SFRH/BD/148420/2019. The funders were not involved in study design; collection, analysis, or interpretation of data; or writing this article or the decision to submit it for publication. Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).Background: Pain due to knee and / or hip osteoarthritis (HKOA) is the most common symptom for seeking healthcare. Pain interferes on daily activities, social and occupational participation in people with HKOA. The goal of this study is to estimate the prevalence of unmanageable pain levels (UPL) among people with HKOA), characterize this population and identify factors associated with UPL, and compare therapeutic strategies used by people with UPL versus manageable pain levels (MPL). Methods: We analysed data from the EpiReumaPt study (n = 10,661), that included a representative sample of the Portuguese population. Among these, 1081 participants had a validated diagnosis of HKOA by a rheumatologist. Sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related data were collected in a structured interview. Pain intensity (NPRS) data were collected in a medical appointment. Painmedication (last month), physiotherapy and surgery were considered as therapies for pain management. UPL was defined as a mean pain intensity in the previous week of ≥5 points on 11-point numeric pain rating scale. The factors associated with UPL were analyzed with logistic regression (p < 0.05, 95%CI). The effect of unmanageable pain levels was assessed by the HOOS/KOOS activities of daily living and quality of life subscales. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Analysis was completed with linear and logistic regression. All analysis were weighted. Results: The estimated prevalence of UPL among people with HKOA was 68.8%. UPL was associated with being female (odds ratio (OR) = 2.36, p < 0.001), being overweight (OR = 1.84, p = 0.035) or obese (OR = 2.26, p = 0.006), and having multimorbidity (OR = 2.08, p = 0.002). People with UPL reported worse performance in activities of daily living and lower quality of life (β = − 21.28, p < 0.001 and β = − 21.19, p < 0.001, respectively) than people with MPL. People with UPL consumed more NSAIDs (22.0%, p = 0.003), opioids (4.8%, p = 0.008), paracetamol (2.7%, p = 0.033), and overall analgesics (7.3%, p = 0.013) than people with MPL. A higher proportion of people with UPL underwent physiotherapy (17.5%, p = 0.002) than people with MPL. Conclusion: Two-thirds of people with HKOA in Portugal have poor management of their pain levels. Clinical and lifestyle factors, that are highly presented in individuals with HKOA, are associated with unmanageable pain. Our results highlighting the need for further research and implementation of effective interventions to improve pain, function and quality of life in people with HKOA.publishersversionpublishe

Letramento em saúde: aplicativo "poderosa no parto" de educação para pessoas gestantes / Health literacy: "powerful in childbirth" education application for pregnant women

A meta 3.7 das Nações Unidas nos fala sobre a importância de integrar a saúde reprodutiva que já está presente nos programas e estratégias do Brasil, por isso as gestantes merecem atenção especial, principalmente aquelas que sofrem restrições e têm menos acesso aos métodos disponíveis para minimizar o desconforto durante o trabalho de parto . O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever o desenvolvimento e os próximos passos do aplicativo protótipo denominado “Poderosa no Parto” que visa promover o ensino-aprendizagem-avaliação do método psicoprofilático para auxiliar a pessoa gestante na preparação para o parto natural. A aplicação de ensino-aprendizagem foi orientada por enfermeiras especializadas no atendimento à gestante, combinando o uso de metodologias de desenvolvimento de Engenharia de Software, Design Instrucional Sistemático e Processo Unificado. O protótipo apresenta exercícios e instrumentos para lembrar as gestantes das técnicas e tem como objetivo conscientizar sobre a importância da participação, apresentando recursos que facilitam o melhor desempenho das atividades respiratórias com acompanhamento diário do desempenho. Este estudo visa contribuir para a educação em saúde para gestantes

Efeito da cobertura vegetal sobre a incidência de pragas na cultura do mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.).

O uso de coberturas vegetais nas entrelinhas do mamoeiro pode proporcionar melhoria nas características química, física e biológica do solo, com reflexo positivo na produtividade e longevidade dos pomares (Carvalho, 2002). Apesar das inúmeras vantagens do uso de coberturas vegetais, a utilização dessa prática por parte dos agricultores tem sido dificultada devido a informações, não comprovadas cientificamente, de que algumas coberturas podem aumentar a incidência de pragas e doenças nas áreas de cultivo do mamoeiro. Contudo, alguns resultados de pesquisa não asseguram esta influência. Para a Mancha Anelar, por exemplo, Habibe et al (2005) não conseguiram infectar plantas de feijão de porco, caupi e crotalária com o vírus PRSV_P, confirmando as informações de Meissner Filho et al (2000) de que esse agente possui um ciclo restrito de hospedeiros, infectando apenas mamoeiro. Resultados obtidos por Santos Filho et al (2005) também demonstraram que o uso de feijão de porco nas entrelinhas, quando comparado ao sistema de produção da propriedade que usava a cobertura com a vegetação espontânea, não concorreu para aumentar a incidência de ácaro rajado nas plantas do mamoeiro. Para outras pragas e doenças não existem relatos conclusivos na literatura, sendo o objetivo deste trabalho definir a influência de sete coberturas vegetais, comparadas ao cultivo de plantas com as entrelinhas mantidas limpas durante todo o tempo, sobre a incidência de ácaros, insetos, doenças fúngicas e viróticas, em um plantio de mamoeiro do grupo Solo.pdf 246

The environmental impact of beef and ultra-processed food consumption in Brazil

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Objective: This study evaluated the independent and combined environmental impacts of the consumption of beef and ultra-processed foods in Brazil. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Brazil. Participants: We used food purchases data from a national household budget survey conducted between July 2017 and July 2018, representing all Brazilian households. Food purchases were converted into energy, carbon footprints and water footprints. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the association between quintiles of beef and ultra-processed foods in total energy purchases and the environmental footprints, controlling for sociodemographic variables. Results: Both beef and ultra-processed foods had a significant linear association with carbon and water footprints (P < 0·01) in crude and adjusted models. In the crude upper quintile of beef purchases, carbon and water footprints were 47·7 % and 30·8 % higher, respectively, compared to the lower quintile. The upper quintile of ultra-processed food purchases showed carbon and water footprints 14·4 % and 22·8 % higher, respectively, than the lower quintile. The greatest reduction in environmental footprints would occur when both beef and ultra-processed food purchases are decreased, resulting in a 21·1 % reduction in carbon footprint and a 20·0 % reduction in water footprint. Conclusions: Although the environmental footprints associated with beef consumption are higher, dietary patterns with lower consumption of beef and ultra-processed foods combined showed the greatest reduction in carbon and water footprints in Brazil. The high consumption of beef and ultra-processed foods is harmful to human health, as well as to the environment; thus, their reduction is beneficial to both.Science and Technology Facilities Council Global Challenges Research Fund; the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP (G.L.C., grant number (2022/11009-8)), and F.R. is a beneficiary of a research fellowship of the World Cancer Research Fund

Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study

Objective To analyze pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), urinary continence and quality of life related to urinary incontinence (UI) of women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Method Cross-sectional study with a sample of 500 women who started prenatal care in a complementary healthcare facility in Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, from 2012 and 2013. Pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated through perineometry. The pregnant women who presented UI answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Results It was found that maternal age (OR=1.06; CI95% 1.02-1.11) and prior UI (OR=15.12; 95%CI 8.19-27.92) are the variables that, in tandem, best explain the occurrence of UI at the beginning of pregnancy. The mean score on the ICIQ-SF was 8.2 (SD=3.9), considered a moderate impact on quality of life. Conclusion Older pregnant women with prior UI are more likely to have UI in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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A simple architecture with self-assembled monolayers to build immunosensors for detecting the pancreatic cancer biomarker CA19-9

Accepted ManuscriptThe challenge of the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in routine clinical practice requires low-cost means of detection, and this may be achieved with immunosensors based on electrical or electrochemical principles. In this paper, we report a potentially low-cost immunosensor built with interdigitated gold electrodes coated with a self-assembled monolayer and a layer of anti-CA19-9 antibodies, which is capable of detecting the pancreatic cancer biomarker CA19-9 using electrical impedance spectroscopy. Due to specific, irreversible adsorption of CA19-9 onto its corresponding antibody, according to data from polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), the immunosensor is highly sensitive and selective. It could detect CA19-9 in commercial samples with a limit of detection of 0.68 U mL−1, in addition to distinguishing between blood serum samples from patients with different concentrations of CA19-9. Furthermore, by treating the capacitance data with information visualization methods, we were able to verify the selectivity and robustness of the immunosensor with regard to false positives, as the samples containing higher CA19-9 concentrations, including those from tumor cells, could be distinguished from those with possible interferents.CAPES, FAPESP (Grant 2013/14262-7 and 2012/15543-7), CNPq (150985/2017-7), nBioNet network and Barretos Cancer Hospital for financial supportinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Levantamento de reconhecimento dos solos da colônia agrícola Paes de Carvalho.

Localização e extensão da área. Objetivo do mapeamento dos solos. Considerações sobre o meio ambiente. Métodos de trabalho. Legenda de identificação. Extensão e distribuição percentual das unidades de mapeamento. Descrição geral das diferentes unidades de solos. Associação dos solos hidromorficos e halomorficos.Acompanha um mapa