How digital is agriculture in a subset of countries from South America? Adoption and limitations

Digital agriculture (DA) can contribute solutions to meet an increase in healthy, nutritious, and affordable food demands in an efficient and sustainable way. South America (SA) is one of the main grain and protein producers in the world but the status of DA in the region is unknown. A systematic review and case studies from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile were conducted to address the following objectives: (1) quantify adoption of existing DA technologies, (2) identify limitations for DA adoption; and (3) summarise existing metrics to benchmark DA benefits. Level of DA adoption was led by Brazil and Argentina followed by Uruguay and at a slower rate, Chile. GPS guidance systems, mapping tools, mobile apps and remote sensing were the most adopted DA technologies in SA. The most reported limitations to adoption were technology cost, lack of training, limited number of companies providing services, and unclear benefits from DA. Across the case studies, there was no clear definition of DA. To mitigate some of these limitations, our findings suggest the need for a DA educational curriculum that can fulfill the demand for job skills such as data processing, analysis and interpretation. Regional efforts are needed to standardise these metrics. This will allow stakeholders to design targeted initiatives to promote DA towards sustainability of food production in the region

How digital is agriculture in a subset of countries from South America? Adoption and limitations.

Abstract. Digital agriculture (DA) can contribute solutions to meet an increase in healthy, nutritious, and affordable food demands in an efficient and sustainable way. South America (SA) is one of the main grain and protein producers in the world but the status of DA in the region is unknown. A systematic review and case studies from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile were conducted to address the following objectives: (1) quantify adoption of existing DA technologies, (2) identify limitations for DA adoption; and (3) summarise existing metrics to benchmark DA benefits. Level of DA adoption was led by Brazil and Argentina followed by Uruguay and at a slower rate, Chile. GPS guidance systems, mapping tools, mobile apps and remote sensing were the most adopted DA technologies in SA. The most reported limitations to adoption were technology cost, lack of training, limited number of companies providing services, and unclear benefits from DA. Across the case studies, there was no clear definition of DA. To mitigate some of these limitations, our findings suggest the need for a DA educational curriculum that can fulfill the demand for job skills such as data processing, analysis and interpretation. Regional efforts are needed to standardise these metrics. This will allow stakeholders to design targeted initiatives to promote DA towards sustainability of food production in the region.Special issue

T Cells' Immunological Synapses Induce Polarization of Brain Astrocytes In Vivo and In Vitro: A Novel Astrocyte Response Mechanism to Cellular Injury

Astrocytes usually respond to trauma, stroke, or neurodegeneration by undergoing cellular hypertrophy, yet, their response to a specific immune attack by T cells is poorly understood. Effector T cells establish specific contacts with target cells, known as immunological synapses, during clearance of virally infected cells from the brain. Immunological synapses mediate intercellular communication between T cells and target cells, both in vitro and in vivo. How target virally infected astrocytes respond to the formation of immunological synapses established by effector T cells is unknown.Herein we demonstrate that, as a consequence of T cell attack, infected astrocytes undergo dramatic morphological changes. From normally multipolar cells, they become unipolar, extending a major protrusion towards the immunological synapse formed by the effector T cells, and withdrawing most of their finer processes. Thus, target astrocytes become polarized towards the contacting T cells. The MTOC, the organizer of cell polarity, is localized to the base of the protrusion, and Golgi stacks are distributed throughout the protrusion, reaching distally towards the immunological synapse. Thus, rather than causing astrocyte hypertrophy, antiviral T cells cause a major structural reorganization of target virally infected astrocytes.Astrocyte polarization, as opposed to hypertrophy, in response to T cell attack may be due to T cells providing a very focused attack, and thus, astrocytes responding in a polarized manner. A similar polarization of Golgi stacks towards contacting T cells was also detected using an in vitro allogeneic model. Thus, different T cells are able to induce polarization of target astrocytes. Polarization of target astrocytes in response to immunological synapses may play an important role in regulating the outcome of the response of astrocytes to attacking effector T cells, whether during antiviral (e.g. infected during HIV, HTLV-1, HSV-1 or LCMV infection), anti-transplant, autoimmune, or anti-tumor immune responses in vivo and in vitro

Le greenway per lo sviluppo turistico locale: la valle del But

The study area, corresponding to the But Valley, is within the Carnia territory, in the alpine area of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. It presents many environmental, historic and cultural elements whose valorisation can represent an important factor for the economic and tourist development. To this extent it was chosen to present a proposal for a greenway, as a network of footpaths suitable for slow mobility in which the resources are valued to obtain recreational, ecological and cultural benefits. To this extent we used the Greenway Planning (FABOS, J.G 1994) method particularly adapted to the specific objective of the research

Aortic aneurysmal disease and cutis laxa caused by defects in the elastin gene

10.1136/jmg.2005.034157Journal of Medical Genetics433255-258JMDG

How digital is agriculture in South America? Adoption and limitations.

Abstract. A rapidly growing population in a context of land and water scarcity, and climate change has driven an increase in healthy, nutritious, and affordable food demand while maintaining the current cropping area. Digital agriculture (DA) can contribute solutions to meet the demands in an efficient and sustainable way. South America (SA) is one of the main grain and protein producers in the world but the status of DA in the region is unknown. Systematic review of official reports and surveys, literature, and case studies from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile was conducted to address the following objectives: i) quantify adoption of existing DA technologies, ii) identify limitations for DA adoption, iii) summarize existing metrics to benchmark DA benefits. The Region of study showed to follow the same trend than the world on DA adoption. The level of adoption was led by Brazil and Argentina followed by Uruguay and Chile. The GPS guidance systems, mapping tools, mobile apps and remote sensing were the most adopted DA technologies in SA. While, technology cost, lack of training, limited number of companies providing services and unclear benefits from DA were the most reported limitations for adoption. Clear economic, social, and environmental metrics that track the benefits of DA could promote adoption as well as help benchmarking future research and extension projects.ICPA 2022

Combination of biological and chemical soil tests best predict maize nitrogen response

Soil tests can help optimize nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates, thereby improving farmer profitability and environmental performance. In US Midwest maize (Zea mays) production, however, most soil N tests have limited accuracy to predict N fertilizer requirements. Here we tested the individual and combined ability of 30 soil tests (12 rapid N extractions, seven biological carbon or N tests, six long‐term incubation kinetic parameters, and five other routine soil tests), as well as environmental and management data, to predict maize response to N fertilizer across 56 site‐years in the US Midwest. Out of 30 soil tests, and across all site‐years, a 14‐d aerobic incubation best predicted whether maize responded to N fertilizer, and a 5‐min tetraphenyl borate extraction best predicted agronomic optimum N rate. We combined these two tests to evaluate their ability to predict N fertilizer response against the most commonly used soil N test in the US Midwest, the pre‐sidedress or late‐spring nitrate test (PSNT or LSNT). The combination of soil tests nearly doubled the ability to predict nonresponsive sites compared to PSNT, and on average resulted in a 40% reduction in over‐application and 37% reduction in under‐application of N fertilizer. Weather and management variables marginally improved the prediction of maize N response. Our results indicate that a simple combination of biological N mineralization (14‐d aerobic incubation) and chemical extraction (5‐min tetraphenyl borate) assays could improve current N fertilizer recommendations