Towards automatic hole detection of a net for fish farms by means of robotic intelligence

In the last decades fish farms became one of the most important sources of seafood. This industry is facing complex and costly problems like net holes, especially due to unexpected situations, such as depredators and storm effects. This is a complex problem because fishes can escape from the fish farms containers or a depredator can enter in the container. To solve this problem divers are needed, but this solution is difficult and sometimes can be dangerous for the diver. The main objective of this work is to present the current state of a system where an underwater robot can detect holes in the net of a fish farm. Once the robot detects the hole it will proceed to manipulate it. This task is bordered using convolutional neural networks and the BlueROV2 platform with the Newton Gripper from BlueRobotics, which will be upgraded in a second stage to perform preliminary net repairs. This work contributes in the area of aquaculture, computer vision, underwater inspection and manipulation.Peer Reviewe

Further teleoperated experiments with an underwater mobile manipulator via acoustic modem: modem characterization

In this study, we conducted preliminary experiments to characterize an acoustic sonar [1][2] for underwater communication. We carried on image transmission experiments and attempted to reduce reflections using insulating cork. Moving the buoy along the surface revealed the central area of the tank to have the best communication with Girona. We plan to conduct further experiments with the acoustic modem in a realistic environment. In addition, we are also testing Visible Light Communication (VLC) [3] optical modems, which yielded better results than the acoustic modem. We aim to develop a multimodal system for improved communication under different environmental conditions.Peer Reviewe

Correlatos psicosociales y familiares de la conducta sexual en adolescentes indígenas y urbanos de Chiapas

La adolescencia es una etapa de cambios a nivel fisiológico y emocional. Este tránsito hacia la adultez implica la exposición a riesgos que pueden tener consecuencias personales, familiares y escolares. Algunos de éstos se asocian con el inicio de la vida sexual activa, por ejemplo, embarazos no deseados o el contagio de enfermedades de transmisión sexual. Este trabajo analiza la relación entre las conductas sexuales respecto a variables psicosociales y familiares en adolescentes de zonas rurales y urbanas de Chiapas, México. El estudio, de corte cuantitativo, se realizó con una muestra de 4,952 adolescentes estudiantes de nivel secundaria y bachillerato de Chiapas. Se aplicó un cuestionario para valorar conductas sexuales y seis escalas para medir ideación suicida, sintomatología depresiva, impulsividad, autoestima y relación con los padres. Los resultados indican diferencias significativas entre los puntajes promedios de las escalas aplicadas y la edad de iniciación sexual, el uso del preservativo, la frecuencia de los encuentros sexuales y el número de distintas parejas sexuales. Los resultados son relevantes en el contexto de estudio debido a que Chiapas es una demarcación multicultural y diversa étnicamente, en donde las investigaciones en torno a conductas sexuales con adolescentes de zonas rurales y urbanas son escasas

Experiments on zebrafish using mini robot fish prototypes to identify stressors

This paper describes the behavioural tests carried out with real fish to study their behaviour and stress against the different prototypes of mini-robot fish with the aim of identifying stressors and reducing them when designing future robots for aquaculture.Peer Reviewe

Post-Operative Functional Outcomes in Early Age Onset Rectal Cancer

Background: Impairment of bowel, urogenital and fertility-related function in patients treated for rectal cancer is common. While the rate of rectal cancer in the young (<50 years) is rising, there is little data on functional outcomes in this group. Methods: The REACCT international collaborative database was reviewed and data on eligible patients analysed. Inclusion criteria comprised patients with a histologically confirmed rectal cancer, <50 years of age at time of diagnosis and with documented follow-up including functional outcomes. Results: A total of 1428 (n=1428) patients met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. Metastatic disease was present at diagnosis in 13%. Of these, 40% received neoadjuvant therapy and 50% adjuvant chemotherapy. The incidence of post-operative major morbidity was 10%. A defunctioning stoma was placed for 621 patients (43%); 534 of these proceeded to elective restoration of bowel continuity. The median follow-up time was 42 months. Of this cohort, a total of 415 (29%) reported persistent impairment of functional outcomes, the most frequent of which was bowel dysfunction (16%), followed by bladder dysfunction (7%), sexual dysfunction (4.5%) and infertility (1%). Conclusion: A substantial proportion of patients with early-onset rectal cancer who undergo surgery report persistent impairment of functional status. Patients should be involved in the discussion regarding their treatment options and potential impact on quality of life. Functional outcomes should be routinely recorded as part of follow up alongside oncological parameters

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Centrality evolution of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density over a broad pseudorapidity range in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

Peer reviewe