Mapping Wide Row Crops with Video Sequences Acquired from a Tractor Moving at Treatment Speed

This paper presents a mapping method for wide row crop fields. The resulting map shows the crop rows and weeds present in the inter-row spacing. Because field videos are acquired with a camera mounted on top of an agricultural vehicle, a method for image sequence stabilization was needed and consequently designed and developed. The proposed stabilization method uses the centers of some crop rows in the image sequence as features to be tracked, which compensates for the lateral movement (sway) of the camera and leaves the pitch unchanged. A region of interest is selected using the tracked features, and an inverse perspective technique transforms the selected region into a bird’s-eye view that is centered on the image and that enables map generation. The algorithm developed has been tested on several video sequences of different fields recorded at different times and under different lighting conditions, with good initial results. Indeed, lateral displacements of up to 66% of the inter-row spacing were suppressed through the stabilization process, and crop rows in the resulting maps appear straight

A review of forecasting models for new products

Purpose. The main objective of this article is to present an up-to-date review of new product forecasting techniques. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic review of forecasting journals was carried out using the ISI-Web of Knowledge database. Several articles were retrieved and examined, and forecasting techniques relevant to this study were selected and assessed. Findings: The strengths, weaknesses and applications of the main forecasting models are discussed to examine trends and set future challenges. Research limitations/implications: A theoretical reference framework for forecasting techniques classified into judgmental, consumer/market research, cause-effect and artificial intelligence is proposed. Future research can assess these models qualitatively. Practical implications: Companies are currently motivated to launch new products and thus attract new customers to expand their market share. In order to reduce uncertainty and risk, many companies go to extra lengths to forecast sales accurately using several techniques. Originality/value: This article outlines new lines of research on the improvement of new product performance which will aid managers in decision making and allow companies to sustain their competitive advantages in this challenging world.Peer Reviewe

Atherosclerosis in HIV infected children and adolescents : related physiopatholgycal factors

Tesis inédita de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Pediatría, leída el 03-04-2014Entre otras patologías asociadas al envejecimiento prematuro, se ha descrito en pacientes infectados por el VIH un aumento de enfermedad arteriosclerótica a una edad relativamente joven. A pesar de ser foco de intensa investigación, las causas del aumento del riesgo cardiovascular en esta población no se conocen con exactitud, debido probablemente a que se trata de un proceso multifactorial. Actualmente existen diferentes métodos no invasivos que permiten evaluar el desarrollo de enfermedad cardiovascular, tales como la medición del engrosamiento de las capas íntima y media arterial (grosor íntima media - GIM), que pueden verse complementados por la determinación de múltiples biomarcadores. En la actualidad, disponer de herramientas que permitan identificar a los sujetos con mayor riesgo de presentar complicaciones asociadas resulta prioritario especialmente en la población única de pacientes con infección de transmisión vertical, con el fin de establecer medidas preventivas que podrían resultar en una mayor calidad de vida y una mejora en la esperanza de vida. En este contexto, los objetivos principales de esta Memoria son:1) Analizar los valores de las GIM en una cohorte de niños y adolescentes infectados por el VIH, en comparación con controles sanos.2) Investigar los posibles factores (clínicos, epidemiológicos, inmunovirológicos e inflamatorios) asociados con un aumento del GIM.3) Analizar la funcionalidad de las lipoproteinas de alta densidad en el contexto de lainfección por el VIH, y su posible papel en el desarrollo de enfermedad cardiovascular.4) Identificar posibles marcadores de complicaciones no asociadas a SIDA en esta población.Se diseñó un estudio multicéntrico, observacional, prospectivo, en el que se incluyeron, entre junio y diciembre de 2011, niños y adultos jóvenes en seguimiento en los hospitales que integran la Cohorte de Madrid de niños y adolescentes infectados por el VIH, así como controles sanos de características comparables. Se determinó el GIM mediante ecografía, y se extrajeron muestras de sangre para determinar perfil lípidico, insulina, glucosa y biomarcadores inflamatorios y cardíacos [PCR, interleucina 6 , mieloperoxidasa , ligando CD40, molécula de adhesión vascular soluble ( sVCAM ), proteína quimio atrayente de monocitos (MCP- 1), P-selectina y CD14 soluble]. La expresión de marcadores de activación y senescencia en células T se midieron por citometría de flujo. En un subgrupo de pacientes, se estudió la función anti-inflamatoria de las lipoproteínas de alta densidad (HDL). En resumen, los resultados recogidos en esta Memoria demuestran que los sujetos infectados por el VIH de forma perinatal presentan aterosclerosis carotidea precoz, en comparación con controles no infectados. Las técnicas ecográficas no invasivas resultan seguras y bien toleradas y permiten el estudio de enfermedad vascular subclínica en población pediátrica. Los niños y adolescentes infectados por el VIH presentan niveles más altos de activación y senescencia inmune, a menudo relacionados con la presencia de carga viral detectable. En ausencia de medidas preventivas específicas, lograr la supresión viral y un adecuado control de las alteraciones metabólicas asociadas al TAR deben ser una prioridad en el manejo de estos pacientes, con el fin de prevenir las enfermedades cardiovasculares en el futuro. La inversión del cociente CD4/CD8 podría permitir identificar a los sujetos en situación de riesgo, y por tanto éste debe ser un marcador a considerar en cuanto al diseño de estrategias orientadas al diagnóstico y tratamiento de los fenómenos de inflamación y activación inmune, en la búsqueda de una mayor calidad y esperanza de vida en la población de pacientes infectados por el VIH por transmisión vertical.Depto. de Salud Pública y Materno - InfantilFac. de MedicinaTRUEunpu

Comparing nitrate-N losses through leaching by field measurements and nitrogen balance estimations.

Nitrogen (N) balance method is a valuable tool for estimating N losses. However, this technique could lead to incorrect estimates of the amount of nitrate (NO3 −N) leaching if processes relevant to N losses are not considered properly. The aim of this study was to compare NO3 −-N leaching losses estimated using an N balance (nonrecovered N, Nne) with data of NO3 −-N leaching losses (Nl). The experiment was made on a Typic Argiudoll soil planted with corn (five growing seasons) under 0, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1. The ceramic soil-water suction samplers were installed (1 m deep). Drainage was estimated by the LEACH-W model. The greatest overestimation with the N balance method occurred for years with annual rainfall below the historical average and at times of high NO3 −-N availability. Future research should focus on investigating mechanisms of N losses relevant under limited water availability.Fil: Aparicio, Virginia Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Costa, Jose Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Sainz Rozas, Hernan Rene. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Daniel. Universidad de Rutgers; Estados UnidosFil: García, Fernando. IPNI Latin America-Southern Cone Program; Argentin

Eficiência do uso de um simbiótico comercial na qualidade do leite de vacas holandesas no Bioma Cerrado.

Avaliou-se o efeito de um produto simbiótico na produção e na qualidade do leite produzido por vacas Holandesas no Bioma Cerrado. O experimento foi realizado entre janeiro e maio de 2010 na fazenda Cachoeira, no município de Nova Veneza ? GO. Foram utilizadas 37 vacas da raça Holandesa, sendo 19 animais no grupo testemunha e 18 animais no grupo tratamento. O grupo tratamento recebeu dois gramas por dia de um produto simbiótico comercial (Biofórmula Leite; Biofórmula, Goiânia-GO), enquanto que ao grupo testemunha era submetido a uma dieta normal sem simbiótico. A contagem de células somáticas manteve-se estável, em torno de 200.000/mL, durante as primeiras oito semanas do experimento. Durante as semanas 10-12 e 14-16, entretanto, a CCS aumentou expressivamente no leite das vacas do grupo Testemunha. Este aumento não ocorreu nas vacas tratadas com Biofórmula Leite, dessa forma, a CCS foi significativamente reduzida nas vacas que receberam o simbiótico. A suplementação com o simbiótico melhorou a qualidade do leite, com uma redução de 57% na contagem de células somáticas. O simbiótico exerceu um efeito protetor contra a infecção e/ou inflamação da glândula mamária

Ground Calcium Carbonate as a Low Cost and Biosafety Excipient for Solubility and Dissolution Improvement of Praziquantel

Calcium carbonate is an abundant mineral with several advantages to be a successful carrier to improve oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, such as praziquantel. Praziquantel is an antiparasitic drug classified in group II of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System hence characterized by high-permeability and low-solubility. Therefore, the dissolution rate is the limiting factor for the gastrointestinal absorption that contributes to the low bioavailability. Consequently, the therapeutic dose of the praziquantel must be high and big tablets and capsules are required, which are difficult to swallow, especially for pediatric and elderly patients. Mixtures of praziquantel and calcium carbonate using solid-solid physical mixtures and solid dispersions were prepared and characterized using several techniques (X-ray diffraction differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies). Solubility of these formulations evidenced that the solubility of praziquantel-calcium carbonate interaction product increased in physiological media. In vitro dissolution tests showed that the interaction product increased the dissolution rate of the drug in acidic medium. Theoretical models were studied to understand this experimental behavior. Cytotoxicity and cell cycle studies were performed, showing that praziquantel-calcium carbonate physical mixture and interaction product were biocompatible with the HTC116 cells, because it did not produce a decrease in cell viability or alterations in the cell cycle.We also acknowledge for financial support the MINECO, for projects FIS2016-77692-C2-2-P and CGL2016-80833-R, and the Andalusian government, for project RNM1897

A rede E-TEC Brasil como política pública na educação profissional a distância: o caso do IFSUL / The E-TEC Brazil network as a public policy in distance professional education: the case of IFSUL

O entendimento de que a educação a distância surge como uma nova realidade em termos de política publica, moveu-nos a refletir sobre a implantação da Rede e-Tec Brasil no IFSul/CaVG. Discorremos nossas observações através das experiências vivenciadas utilizando duas metodologias: o estudo de caso, para analisar a criação do NETTAD como núcleo de gestão da EaD; e o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo para conhecer a opinião das coordenadoras de polo. Na análise, observamos um processo de aculturação por conta do uso de novas tecnologias e práticas pedagógicas; e a educação a distância sendo vista como democratizadora do ensino, aparecendo como meio possível para a mudança da realidade social em que vivemos.

In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activities of Eugenia caryophyllata and origanum vulgare against avian Escherichia coli isolates

Background: The use of conventional antibiotics to prevent this infection is a usual in the poultry industry, specially to reduce the mortality associated with colibacillosis. Essential oils have demonstrated broad spectrums in terms of antimicrobial activities against various pathogens, Escherichia coli among them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of avian E. coli strains to Eugenia caryophyllata (clove) and Origanum vulgare (oregano) essential oils, at three different concentrations (2, 5, and 8%), and to the conventional antimicrobials, gentamicin and nalidixic acid. Materials, Methods & Results: Seventeen strains of Escherichia coli isolated from broiler bedding were tested and a standard E. coli strain (ATCC 25922) was used as a susceptibility test control. The antimicrobial activity of plant extracts from Eugenia caryophyllata and Origanum vulgare, obtained commercially from Laszlo Aromatologia Ltda., was tested in three concentrations (2, 5 and 8%) using the method of disk diffusion on agar according to the M2 - A8 protocol (CLSI, 2003) adapted to plant extracts and to the conventional antimicrobials gentamicin (10 μg) and nalidixic acid (30 μg), commercially obtained from Oxoid. The results showed that the extract from Origanum vulgare had an inhibitory activity on E. coli regardless of its concentration whereas the extract from Eugenia caryophyllata showed antimicrobial activity in 29.4% (5/17) of the isolated strains only at the concentration of 8%. All avian isolates were sensitive to gentamicin (100% of the strains tested); however, only 23.5% (4/17) of the samples were sensitive to nalidixic acid Discussion: The impressive antimicrobial activity of the Origanum vulgare against E. coli avian origin was confirmed in previous studies against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The essential oil of Origanum vulgare was more antimicrobial activity that Eugenia caryophyllata. Thymol and carvacrol is main antimicrobial component of the essential oil of Origanum vulgare, being responsible for the distortion to the physical structure of cells, leading to destabilization of the cell membrane, changing its permeability and denaturing essential enzymes. As for, the major constituent of the essential oil of Eugenia caryophyllata is eugenol, and their pharmacological effects depend on the concentration of free eugenol in living tissue, which may account for the better antimicrobial activity in the treatment with 8% of this extract. All the strains tested in this study were sensitive to gentamicin, while most of them (80%) were resistant to nalidixic acid. The gentamicin has the highest spectrum of action among aminoglycoside, however, bacteria rapidly acquire plasmidmediated resistance to this ingredient in the presence of selective pressure. The beginning of antimicrobial resistance by zoonotic bacteria has important implications for public health. Data from several researchers suggest that improper selection and disorderly use of conventional antimicrobials can lead to the resistance of various pathogens and, consequently, their access to consumers through foodstuffs. Therefore, the use of Origanum vulgare oil extract was found to be effective on avian E. coli strains and may be an alternative for reducing the losses caused by these bacteria in poultry production whenever a limitation in the use of traditional antibiotics exist

Association between canine leishmaniosis and Ehrlichia canis co-infection: a prospective case-control study

Abstract Background In the Mediterranean basin, Leishmania infantum is a major cause of disease in dogs, which are frequently co-infected with other vector-borne pathogens (VBP). However, the associations between dogs with clinical leishmaniosis (ClinL) and VBP co-infections have not been studied. We assessed the risk of VBP infections in dogs with ClinL and healthy controls. Methods We conducted a prospective case-control study of dogs with ClinL (positive qPCR and ELISA antibody for L. infantum on peripheral blood) and clinically healthy, ideally breed-, sex- and age-matched, control dogs (negative qPCR and ELISA antibody for L. infantum on peripheral blood) from Paphos, Cyprus. We obtained demographic data and all dogs underwent PCR on EDTA-blood extracted DNA for haemoplasma species, Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Hepatozoon spp., with DNA sequencing to identify infecting species. We used logistic regression analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate the risk of VBP infections between ClinL cases and controls. Results From the 50 enrolled dogs with ClinL, DNA was detected in 24 (48%) for Hepatozoon spp., 14 (28%) for Mycoplasma haemocanis, 6 (12%) for Ehrlichia canis and 2 (4%) for Anaplasma platys. In the 92 enrolled control dogs, DNA was detected in 41 (45%) for Hepatozoon spp., 18 (20%) for M. haemocanis, 1 (1%) for E. canis and 3 (3%) for A. platys. No Babesia spp. or “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum” DNA was detected in any dog. No statistical differences were found between the ClinL and controls regarding age, sex, breed, lifestyle and use of ectoparasitic prevention. A significant association between ClinL and E. canis infection (OR = 12.4, 95% CI: 1.5–106.0, P = 0.022) was found compared to controls by multivariate logistic regression. This association was confirmed using SEM, which further identified that younger dogs were more likely to be infected with each of Hepatozoon spp. and M. haemocanis, and dogs with Hepatozoon spp. were more likely to be co-infected with M. haemocanis. Conclusions Dogs with ClinL are at a higher risk of co-infection with E. canis than clinically healthy dogs. We recommend that dogs diagnosed with ClinL should be tested for E. canis co-infection using PCR