The joint dynamics of spot and forward exchange rates

Los tipos de cambio a plazo a uno y tres meses del marco aleman, franco frances, libra esterlina, yen japones y peseta respecto al dolar parecen estar cointegrados con los tipos de contado que se observan a la fecha de maduracion del contrato forward. Sin embargo, esta relacion de cointegracion no se observa cuando se analiza la relacion entre los tipos de cambio de contado y a plazo que se contratan en una misma fecha. Por otra parte, se encuentra que el comportamiento de los tipos de cambio a plazo es coherente con la hipotesis de impredictibilidad de los tipos de cambio de contado en los horizontes de uno y tres meses. Adicionalmente, se encuentra evidencia de existencia de primas de riesgo/plazo, pero, al ser de pequeña magnitud, los recientes resultados de ineficiencia en los mercados de divisas tienen solidez teorica, aunque poca relevancia a nivel empirico. (fc) (an) (mac

On-The-Go VIS plus SW - NIR Spectroscopy as a Reliable Monitoring Tool for Grape Composition within the Vineyard

Visible-Short Wave Near Infrared (VIS + SW - NIR) spectroscopy is a real alternative to break down the next barrier in precision viticulture allowing a reliable monitoring of grape composition within the vineyard to facilitate the decision-making process dealing with grape quality sorting and harvest scheduling, for example. On-the-go spectral measurements of grape clusters were acquired in the field using a VIS + SW - NIR spectrometer, operating in the 570-990 nm spectral range, from a motorized platform moving at 5 km/h. Spectral measurements were acquired along four dates during grape ripening in 2017 on the east side of the canopy, which had been partially defoliated at cluster closure. Over the whole measuring season, a total of 144 experimental blocks were monitored, sampled and their fruit analyzed for total soluble solids (TSS), anthocyanin and total polyphenols concentrations using standard, wet chemistry reference methods. Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was used as the algorithm for training the grape composition parameters' prediction models. The best cross-validation and external validation (prediction) models yielded determination coefficients of cross-validation (R-cv(2)) and prediction (R-P(2)) of 0.92 and 0.95 for TSS, R-cv(2) = 0.75, and R-p(2) = 0.79 for anthocyanins, and R-cv(2) = 0.42 and R-p(2) = 0.43 for total polyphenols. The vineyard variability maps generated for the different dates using this technology illustrate the capability to monitor the spatiotemporal dynamics and distribution of total soluble solids, anthocyanins and total polyphenols along grape ripening in a commercial vineyard

Three-dimensional volume rendering in computed tomography for evaluation of the temporomandibular joint in dogs

Based on computed tomography (CT) images, volume rendering was used to obtain a three-dimensional representation of data (3DVR). The aims of this study included: describing the bone anatomy of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of dogs; comparing the TMJs of each dog by skull type and age; comparing 3DVR images with three-standard-plane CTs; assessing soft tissues adjacent to the TMJ and assessing pathological cases. Multidetector computed tomography scans of bilateral TMJs of 410 dogs were observed. From a ventral view, slight displacements in the positions of the skulls were seen, whereas from a caudal view, differences in amplitude of the articular space were observed. Dolichocephalic and mesaticephalic dogs showed more similar TMJ features than brachycephalic dogs. The shape of the TMJ bones were irregular in dogs under 1 year old. The 3DVR images related to the three-standard-plane CT improved the overall comprehension of the changes in the articular space amplitude and condylar process morphology. The fovea pterygoidea, mandibular fossa and retroarticular process were perfectly shown. A better spatial situation of adjacent soft tissues was obtained. The 3DVR represents an ancillary method to the standard-plane CT that could help in the understanding of the anatomy and diagnoses of different pathologies of the TMJ in dogs

Optimization of NIR Spectral Data Management for Quality Control of Grape Bunches during On-Vine Ripening

NIR spectroscopy was used as a non-destructive technique for the assessment of chemical changes in the main internal quality properties of wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) during on-vine ripening and at harvest. A total of 363 samples from 25 white and red grape varieties were used to construct quality-prediction models based on reference data and on NIR spectral data obtained using a commercially-available diode-array spectrophotometer (380–1,700 nm). The feasibility of testing bunches of intact grapes was investigated and compared with the more traditional must-based method. Two regression approaches (MPLS and LOCAL algorithms) were tested for the quantification of changes in soluble solid content (SSC), reducing sugar content, pH-value, titratable acidity, tartaric acid, malic acid and potassium content. Cross-validation results indicated that NIRS technology provided excellent precision for sugar-related parameters (r2 = 0.94 for SSC and reducing sugar content) and good precision for acidity-related parameters (r2 ranging between 0.73 and 0.87) for the bunch-analysis mode assayed using MPLS regression. At validation level, comparison of LOCAL and MPLS algorithms showed that the non-linear strategy improved the predictive capacity of the models for all study parameters, with particularly good results for acidity-related parameters and potassium content

Monitoring and Mapping Vineyard Water Status Using Non-Invasive Technologies by a Ground Robot

[EN] There is a growing need to provide support and applicable tools to farmers and the agro-industry in order to move from their traditional water status monitoring and high-water-demand cropping and irrigation practices to modern, more precise, reduced-demand systems and technologies. In precision viticulture, very few approaches with ground robots have served as moving platforms for carrying non-invasive sensors to deliver field maps that help growers in decision making. The goal of this work is to demonstrate the capability of the VineScout (developed in the context of a H2020 EU project), a ground robot designed to assess and map vineyard water status using thermal infrared radiometry in commercial vineyards. The trials were carried out in Douro Superior (Portugal) under different irrigation treatments during seasons 2019 and 2020. Grapevines of Vitis vinifera L. Touriga Nacional were monitored at different timings of the day using leaf water potential (psi(l)) as reference indicators of plant water status. Grapevines' canopy temperature (T-c) values, recorded with an infrared radiometer, as well as data acquired with an environmental sensor (T-air, RH, and AP) and NDVI measurements collected with a multispectral sensor were automatically saved in the computer of the autonomous robot to assess and map the spatial variability of a commercial vineyard water status. Calibration and prediction models were performed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression. The best prediction models for grapevine water status yielded a determination coefficient of cross-validation (r(cv)(2)) of 0.57 in the morning time and a r(cv)(2) of 0.42 in the midday. The root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSEcv) was 0.191 MPa and 0.139 MPa at morning and midday, respectively. Spatial-temporal variation maps were developed at two different times of the day to illustrate the capability to monitor the grapevine water status in order to reduce the consumption of water, implementing appropriate irrigation strategies and increase the efficiency in the real time vineyard management. The promising outcomes gathered with the VineScout using different sensors based on thermography, multispectral imaging and environmental data disclose the need for further studies considering new variables related with the plant water status, and more grapevine cultivars, seasons and locations to improve the accuracy, robustness and reliability of the predictive models, in the context of precision and sustainable viticulture.This research was funded by the European Union under grant agreement number 737669 (Vinescout project).Fernández-Novales, J.; Saiz Rubio, V.; Barrio, I.; Rovira Más, F.; Cuenca-Cuenca, A.; Alves, FS.; Valente, J.... (2021). Monitoring and Mapping Vineyard Water Status Using Non-Invasive Technologies by a Ground Robot. Remote Sensing. 13(14):1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13142830120131

La hipertensión arterial, un enemigo silencioso

La hipertensión arterial es una enfermedad crónica, que según su etiología se clasifica en esencial o primaria y en secundaria. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica con el objetivo de caracterizar la hipertensión arterial según factores de riesgo, clasificación, prevención y control, por la importancia que tiene su conocimiento en la atención primaria de salud, lo que ayudará a establecer estrategias preventivas que preserven la salud del adulto, comenzando desde la edad pediátrica. Se concluye que las enfermedades cardiovasculares y dentro de ellas la hipertensión arterial , se consideran un problema de salud, con repercusiones sociales y económicas; el médico de familia desde la atención primaria de salud debe profundizar en los conocimientos sobre la enfermedad encaminado a realizar acciones de salud preventivas hacia los factores de riesgo, con un diagnóstico precoz y tratamiento oportuno evitando las complicaciones, así lograr un estado de salud óptimo y calidad de vida. Se citaron un total de 24 documentos

Impact of amyloid-PET in daily clinical management of patients with cognitive impairment fulfilling appropriate use criteria

To evaluate the use of amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) in routine clinical practice, in a selected population with cognitive impairment that meets appropriate use criteria (AUC). A multicenter, observational, prospective case-series study of 211patients from 2 level-3 hospitals who fulfilled clinical AUC for amyloid-PET scan in a naturalistic setting. Certainty degree was evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale: 0 (very low probability); 1 (low probability); 2 (intermediate probability); 3 (high probability); and 4 (practically sure), before and after amyloid PET. The treatment plan was considered as cognition-specific or noncognition-specific. Amyloid-PET was positive in 118 patients (55.9%) and negative in 93 patients (44.1%). Diagnostic prescan confidence according amyloid-PET results showed that in both, negative and positive-PET subgroup, the most frequent category was intermediate probability (45.7% and 55.1%, respectively). After the amyloid-PET, the diagnostic confidence showed a very different distribution, that was, in the negative-PET group the most frequent categories are very unlikely (70.7%) and unlikely (29.3%), while in the positive- PET group were very probable (57.6%) and practically sure (39%). Only in 14/211 patients (6.6%) the result of the amyloid-PET did not influence the diagnostic confidence, while in 194 patients (93.4%), the diagnostic confidence improved significantly after amyloid- PET results. The therapeutic intention was modified in 93 patients (44.1%). Specific treatment for Alzheimer disease was started, before amyloid-PET, in 80 patients (37.9%). This naturalistic study provides evidence that the implementation of amyloid-PET is associated with a significant improvement in diagnostic confidence and has a high impact on the therapeutic management of patients with mild cognitive impairment fulfilled clinical AUC

Using CT Data to Improve the Quantitative Analysis of 18F-FBB PET Neuroimages

18F-FBB PET is a neuroimaging modality that is been increasingly used to assess brain amyloid deposits in potential patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this work, we analyze the usefulness of these data to distinguish between AD and non-AD patients. A dataset with 18F-FBB PET brain images from 94 subjects diagnosed with AD and other disorders was evaluated by means of multiple analyses based on t-test, ANOVA, Fisher Discriminant Analysis and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification. In addition, we propose to calculate amyloid standardized uptake values (SUVs) using only gray-matter voxels, which can be estimated using Computed Tomography (CT) images. This approach allows assessing potential brain amyloid deposits along with the gray matter loss and takes advantage of the structural information provided by most of the scanners used for PET examination, which allow simultaneous PET and CT data acquisition. The results obtained in this work suggest that SUVs calculated according to the proposed method allow AD and non-AD subjects to be more accurately differentiated than using SUVs calculated with standard approaches.This work was supported by the MINECO/FEDER under the TEC2012-34306 and TEC2015-64718-R projects and the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment of the Junta de Andalucía under the Excellence Project P11-TIC- 7103. The work was also supported by the Vicerectorate of Research and Knowledge Transfer of the University of Granada