Automatic grape bunch detection in vineyards based on affordable 3D phenotyping using a consumer webcam.

This work presents a methodology for 3-D phenotyping of vineyards based on images captured by a low cost high-definition webcamera. A novel software application integrated visual odometry and multiple-view stereo components to create dense and accurate three-dimensional points clouds for vines, properly transformed to millimeter scale. Geometrical and color features of the points were employed by a classification procedure that reached 93% of accuracy on detecting points belonging to grapes. Individual bunches were automatically delimited and their volumes estimated. The sum of the estimated volumes per vine presented a coefficient of correlation of R = 0.99 to the real grape weight observed in each vine after harvesting.SBIAgro 2017

Desertification climatic susceptibility to the Center-North region of Brazilian Semi-Arid.

Desertification process is a phenomenon of high environmental and social complexity because it embraces a significant number of indicators and variables that inter relate and that complement the comprehension of this process. One of the most useful and applied ways of the study of desertification verification is through the calculation o f the Aridity Index ( A I ). This way, this present study uses that methodol ogy to verify the situation of AI in Center - North region of Brazilian Semi - Arid. The aim was to investigate the variety of AI and its classifications during the period between 1961 and 2015, using temporal series of 30 years, expressed in the time interval of 2005, 2010 and 2015. It was possible to observe that therefore some changes in AI in many locations, where quantitative changes happened in the area, increasing mainly to the conditions of aridity aggravation, there was not the meaningful occurrence of alteration in the Desertification Tendency classification

Efeito de extratos vegetais sobre Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Carpintero & Dellapé) (Hemíptera: Thaumastocoridae).

Resumo

Description and discrimination of freshness and biometric qualities of three different fishes: Grass carp, pacu, and catfish

The goal of this work was to wade into the freshness quality and biometric evaluation, by means of distinct statistical descriptive methods, on three fresh catch species of fish, as well as to evaluate the discriminant potential of the variables targeted in the study. The species grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), and catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were caught at a rural property located in the city of Pato Branco, PR, Brazil. These fresh catch were weighed, measured, eviscerated, and cut into fillets for acquisition of biometric parameters. Freshness was judged by the analysis of the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) value and pH. The comparison between means and medians showed symmetries for biometric measures. Correlations between body measures and fillet yield showed a weak relation regardless of the species analysed, wherein the best equation for predictions was obtained by relating total weight to the fillet's weight. The biometric variables were the best discriminants for the species

A 3-SNP gene risk score and a metabolic risk score both predict hypertriglyceridemia and cardiovascular disease risk.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the causal link between plasma triglyceride (TG) levels and risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has recently emerged. Individuals with the metabolic syndrome have an increased risk for acquiring elevated TG levels later in life. Moreover, common DNA sequence variations in genes affecting TG levels identify individuals at risk for elevated plasma TG levels. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether a 3-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) TG gene risk score (GRS) and a metabolic risk score (MetRS) both improved CVD risk prediction. METHODS: A 3-SNP GRS and MetRS were generated in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort (n = 20,074) based on 3 SNPs in LPL and APOA5 or the number of Metabolic Syndrome criteria present (maximum 5), respectively. The associations between the 3-SNP GRS, MetRS, TG levels, and CVD risk were evaluated. RESULTS: The 3-SNP GRS and MetRS were both linearly associated with plasma TG levels, that is, +0.25 mmol/L [95% CI 0.22-0.27] per allele change (P < .001) and +0.72 mmol/L [95% CI 0.70-0.73] per increase of number of metabolic syndrome risk score points (P < .001), respectively. We observed a positive association between the 3-SNP GRS and the risk of CVD with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.35 [95% CI 1.04-1.74] for the highest versus the lowest GRS, which was independent of the MetRS. For the MetRS, the adjusted HR was 2.03 [95% CI 1.73-2.40] for the highest versus the lowest MetRS. CONCLUSION: Both the 3-SNP GRS and the MetRS are associated with increased plasma TG levels and increased risk for CVD

Composição fenólica e atividade antioxidante de resíduos agroindustriais.

Atualmente, são produzidas milhões de toneladas de resíduos provenientes do processamento agroindustrial. Muitos deles são ricos em compostos bioativos sendo potenciais fontes naturais dessas substâncias. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o teor de compostos fenólicos totais, a atividade antioxidante e a composição fenólica de três resíduos gerados por agroindústrias brasileiras: bagaço de uva Isabel (BI) (Vitis labrusca), bagaço de uva Verdejo (BV) (Vitis vinifera) e bagaço de goiaba (BG) (Psidium guajava). Os resultados do teor de compostos fenólicos totais (mg GAE g-1) encontrados nos extratos etanólicos e aquosos dos resíduos foram, respectivamente: BV (20,94±0,46; 8,03±0,43)> BI (16,57±0,19; 4,41±0,01)> BG (3,41±0,09; 1,88±0,06). Alta atividade antioxidante, principalmente em BV e BI, foi verificada nos ensaios realizados (ABTS , DPPH e autooxidação do sistema beta-caroteno/ácido linoléico). Uma forte correlação positiva entre atividade antioxidante e o teor de compostos fenólicos totais foi encontrada. Os compostos fenólicos encontrados, por cromatografia gasosa com espectrometria de massas (CG-EM), foram: ácido gálico, epicatequina, quercetina (BV, BI e BG); ácido isovanílico (BI, BG); ácido p-cumárico (BI); ácido caféico e resveratrol (BV, BI). Esses resultados mostram que os resíduos agroindustriais analisados, particularmente os vinícolas, são ricos em substâncias bioativas e podem ser explorados pela indústria de alimentos e farmacêutica

Calibration of chlorophyll hand-held meter based on vineyard NDVI zones for estimation of leaf N content.

The monitoring of chlorophyll content in grapevine leaves allows us to evaluate their N status, assisting with the information for the decision make about nutrient rate and application time to the vineyard. The present work aimed to propose an easy-to-use procedure for the calibration of a chlorophyll hand-held meter based on the NDVI homogeneous zones in a vineyard for the device readings and leaf sampling. We evaluated the wine grape ?Chardonnay? growing under drip irrigation in a vineyard located in the Southeast region of Brazil. Readings of the relative chlorophyll indices (a, b, and total) were taken in situ four times throughout the 2019 growing season, with the device placed on two leaves of every 40 pre-selected target plants in two homogeneous zones of NDVI previously defined in the vineyard. Subsequently, the chlorophyll and leaf nitrogen contents were determined in laboratory to relate them to the chlorophyll meter readings through generalized estimation equations. The chlorophyll meter is capable of estimating the levels of chlorophyll a, b and total by the models generated with an error of 0.98, 0.58, and 1.47 µg ml-1 cm-2 for calibration and of 1.03, 0.67, and 1.49 µg ml-1 cm-2 for prediction, respectively. The functions developed for the leaf N content present calibration error of 1.49 g kg-1 and prediction error of 3.39 g kg-1, but capable of providing an estimate when error is less than the amplitude of nitrogen sufficiency

Calibração de medidor portátil para estimativa de teor foliar de N em função de zonas de vigor vegetativo de videiras fertirrigadas.

O monitoramento do teor foliar de nitrogênio pode auxiliar no manejo nutricional de uma cultura. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo propor um procedimento de fácil utilização do clorofilômetro portátil no contexto da viticultura de precisão. O estudo foi desenvolvido em um vinhedo com a ?Chardonnay? sobre o porta-enxerto ?Paulsen 1103? e fertirrigado por gotejamento. Leituras com o medidor portátil de clorofila foram realizadas em 40 plantas em duas zonas de vigor vegetativo da videira e em 4 datas de amostragem de folhas ao longo do ciclo de produção da cultura em 2019. Posteriormente, foram determinados em laboratório os teores de nitrogênio foliar para relaciona-los com os índices relativos de clorofila por meio de equações de estimativa generalizada. A função desenvolvida para o teor foliar de N apresenta erro de predição considerável, porém capaz de fornecer uma boa estimativa

Caracterização da produção agroecológica do sul do Rio Grande do Sul e sua relação com a mecanização agrícola.

A agricultura agroecológica tem-se destacado como uma das alternativas de renda para os pequenos agricultores devido à crescente busca por parte da população por alimentação mais saudável. No Rio Grande do Sul, a Associação Regional de Produtores Agroecológicos da Região Sul (Arpasul), constituída por 48 famílias, é representativa do processo de produção e de comercialização de produtos agroecológicos, servindo como referencial para o presente estudo. O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi o levantamento das necessidades dos produtores agroecológicos em relação à mecanização agrícola. As informações obtidas foram baseadas no sistema de produção utilizado, sendo caracterizados aspectos referentes à propriedade, às operações agrícolas e às necessidades específicas de máquinas e implementos. Por meio deste estudo, foi evidenciada a carência no atendimento das demandas específicas, na área de máquinas agrícolas para esse segmento, podendo servir como referencial para o desenvolvimento de novas máquinas e/ou aperfeiçoamento das existentes. A semeadora de milho e feijão foi a máquina que a maioria dos agricultores pesquisados indicou como sua maior necessidade

Tackling the translational challenges of multi-omics research in the realm of European personalised medicine : A workshop report

Personalised medicine (PM) presents a great opportunity to improve the future of individualised healthcare. Recent advances in -omics technologies have led to unprecedented efforts characterising the biology and molecular mechanisms that underlie the development and progression of a wide array of complex human diseases, supporting further development of PM. This article reflects the outcome of the 2021 EATRIS-Plus Multi-omics Stakeholder Group workshop organised to 1) outline a global overview of common promises and challenges that key European stakeholders are facing in the field of multi-omics research, 2) assess the potential of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and 3) establish an initial dialogue between key initiatives in this space. Our focus is on the alignment of agendas of European initiatives in multi-omics research and the centrality of patients in designing solutions that have the potential to advance PM in long-term healthcare strategies.Peer reviewe