Semantic segmentation based on Deep learning for the detection of Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (CyanoHABs) using synthetic images

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (CyanoHABs) in lakes and reservoirs have increased substantially in recent decades due to different environmental factors. Its early detection is a crucial issue to minimize health effects, particularly in potential drinking and recreational water bodies. The use of Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) equipped with machine vision systems (cameras) onboard, represents a useful alternative at this time. In this regard, we propose an image Semantic Segmentation approach based on Deep Learning with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for the early detection of CyanoHABs considering an ASV perspective. The use of these models is justified by the fact that with their convolutional architecture, it is possible to capture both, spectral and textural information considering the context of a pixel and its neighbors. To train these models it is necessary to have data, but the acquisition of real images is a difficult task, due to the capricious appearance of the algae on water surfaces sporadically and intermittently over time and after long periods of time, requiring even years and the permanent installation of the image capture system. This justifies the generation of synthetic data so that sufficiently trained models are required to detect CyanoHABs patches when they emerge on the water surface. The data generation for training and the use of the semantic segmentation models to capture contextual information determine the need for the proposal, as well as its novelty and contribution. Three datasets of images containing CyanoHABs patches are generated: (a) the first contains real patches of CyanoHABs as foreground and images of lakes and reservoirs as background, but with a limited number of examples; (b) the second, contains synthetic patches of CyanoHABs generated with state-of-the-art Style-based Generative Adversarial Network Adaptive Discriminator Augmentation (StyleGAN2-ADA) and Neural Style Transfer as foreground and images of lakes and reservoirs as background, and (c) the third set, is the combination of the previous two. Four model architectures for semantic segmentation (UNet++, FPN, PSPNet, and DeepLabV3+), with two encoders as backbone (ResNet50 and EfficientNet-b6), are evaluated from each dataset on real test images and different distributions. The results show the feasibility of the approach and that the UNet++ model with EfficientNet-b6, trained on the third dataset, achieves good generalization and performance for the real test images.Depto. de Arquitectura de Computadores y AutomáticaFac. de InformáticaTRUEComunidad Autónoma de MadridSpanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and UniversitiesMinistry of Education of PeruSpanish Ministry of Universitiespu

Carbon dioxide emissions from semi-arid soils amended with biochar alone or combined with mineral and organic fertilizers

Semi-arid soils cover a significant area of Earth s land surface and typically contain large amounts of inorganic C. Determining the effects of biochar additions on CO2 emissions fromsemi-arid soils is therefore essential for evaluating the potential of biochar as a climate change mitigation strategy. Here, we measured the CO2 that evolved from semi-arid calcareous soils amended with biochar at rates of 0 and 20 t ha?1 in a full factorial combination with three different fertilizers (mineral fertilizer, municipal solid waste compost, and sewage sludge) applied at four rates (equivalent to 0, 75, 150, and 225 kg potentially available N ha?1) during 182 days of aerobic incubation. A double exponential model, which describes cumulative CO2 emissions from two active soil C compartments with different turnover rates (one relatively stable and the other more labile), was found to fit verywell all the experimental datasets. In general, the organic fertilizers increased the size and decomposition rate of the stable and labile soil C pools. In contrast, biochar addition had no effects on any of the double exponential model parameters and did not interact with the effects ascribed to the type and rate of fertilizer. After 182 days of incubation, soil organic and microbial biomass C contents tended to increase with increasing the application rates of organic fertilizer, especially of compost, whereas increasing the rate of mineral fertilizer tended to suppress microbial biomass. Biochar was found to increase both organic and inorganic C contents in soil and not to interactwith the effects of type and rate of fertilizer on C fractions. As a whole, our results suggest that the use of biochar as enhancer of semi-arid soils, either alone or combined with mineral and organic fertilizers, is unlikely to increase abiotic and biotic soil CO2 emissions

Estudio de la eficacia analgésica del Dexketoprofeno Trometamol 25 mg. vs. Ibuprofeno 600 mg. tras su administración oral en pacientes sometidos a una intervención quirúrgica oral

-Objetivos: Comparar la eficacia analgésica de dos antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINES), pertenecientes a la familia de los ácidos propiónicos, tras intervenciones quirúrgicas orales con el fin de valorar cual de ellos es más efectivo con el mínimo de efectos secundarios y la menor dosis. Normalmente el dolor tras una intervención quirúrgica oral está considerado como moderado-intenso, siendo los AINES los fármacos de elección para este tipo de dolor. Como sabemos, el gran problema de estos fármacos reside en los efectos indeseables. Demostramos la eficacia del enantiómero-S(+) de estos fármacos ya que de ellos depende la analgesia y nos permiten utilizar una menor dosis del fármaco. -Diseño: Se entregan a los pacientes cuestionarios con tablas de valoración del dolor y se realizan distintas apreciaciones: dolor postquirúrgico, dolor en la primera hora tras la administración del analgésico, inflamación, hemorragia, hematoma, etc... . Valoramos el efecto de los distintos fármacos empleados en el estudio en función de las coordenadas eficacia-tiempo, así como el efecto anti-inflamatorio y sus efectos secundarios. -Resultados: Se comprueba que existe un dolor moderado tras una intervención quirúrgica oral, los fármacos empleados son eficaces en las dosis e intervalos indicados. Durante la primera hora tras la toma del analgésico, aquellos pacientes en tratamiento con DKT, presentaron menor dolor frente a los que estaban en tratamiento con Ibuprofeno (IBU). Se comprueba que existe inflamación en la mayoría de las intervenciones, las extracciones de cordales semi-incluidos (CSI) presentan mayor hemorragia el primer día y las extracciones de cordales incluidos (CI) presentan mayor hemorragia al tercer día, siendo estas intervenciones las que presentan hematoma. -Conclusiones: Demostramos la mayor eficacia analgésica del Dexketoprofeno Trometamol en la primera hora tras la intervención quirúrgica oral y su mayor efecto antiinflamatorio.-Objectives: Compare the analgesic efficacy of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) belonging to the family of propionic acids after oral surgery in order to assess which one is most effective with the minimum side effects and lowest dose. Normally, the pain after oral surgery is considered as moderate-intense and NSAIDs are the first choice when treating post-surgical dental pain. As we know, the great problem of these drugs is found in their undesirable effects. The enantiomer-S(+) component is known to be related with analgesia and need for lower dose of these drugs. -Design: The patients are given questionnaires with pain assessment tables and different observations are made: postsurgical pain, pain in the first hour after administration of the analgesic, inflammation, bleeding, hematoma, etc. We assess the effect of the different drugs used in the study based on the efficacy-time coordinates as well as the anti-inflammatory effect and their side effects. -Results: It is verified that there is moderate pain after oral surgery and the drugs used are effective in the doses and intervals indicated. During the first hour after taking the analgesic, those patients treated with Dexketoprofen Trometamol (DKT) presented less pain compared to those who were treated with Ibuprofen (IBU). It is verified that there is inflammation in most of the interventions, the extractions of the semi-impacted third molars (SITM) present greater bleeding on the first day and the extractions of impacted third molars (ITM) present more bleeding on the third day. These last two interventions (ITM also present hematoma. -Conclusions: We demonstrate the greater analgesic efficacy of Dexketoprofen Trometamol in the first hour after the oral surgical intervention and its greater anti-inflammatory effect

MAP/ERK Signaling in Developing Cognitive and Emotional Function and Its Effect on Pathological and Neurodegenerative Processes.

The signaling pathway of the microtubule-associated protein kinase or extracellular regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) is a common mechanism of extracellular information transduction from extracellular stimuli to the intracellular space. The transduction of information leads to changes in the ongoing metabolic pathways and the modification of gene expression patterns. In the central nervous system, ERK is expressed ubiquitously, both temporally and spatially. As for the temporal ubiquity, this signaling system participates in three key moments: (i) Embryonic development; (ii) the early postnatal period; and iii) adulthood. During embryonic development, the system is partly responsible for the patterning of segmentation in the encephalic vesicle through the FGF8-ERK pathway. In addition, during this period, ERK directs neurogenesis migration and the final fate of neural progenitors. During the early postnatal period, ERK participates in the maturation process of dendritic trees and synaptogenesis. During adulthood, ERK participates in social and emotional behavior and memory processes, including long-term potentiation. Alterations in mechanisms related to ERK are associated with different pathological outcomes. Genetic alterations in any component of the ERK pathway result in pathologies associated with neural crest derivatives and mental dysfunctions associated with autism spectrum disorders. The MAP-ERK pathway is a key element of the neuroinflammatory pathway triggered by glial cells during the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as prionic diseases. The process triggered by MAPK/ERK activation depends on the stage of development (mature or senescence), the type of cellular element in which the pathway is activated, and the anatomic neural structure. However, extensive gaps exist with regards to the targets of the phosphorylated ERK in many of these processes

Involvement of the Nucleus Incertus and Relaxin-3/RXFP3 Signaling System in Explicit and Implicit Memory.

Telencephalic cognitive and emotional circuits/functions are strongly modulated by subcortical inputs. The main focus of past research on the nature of this modulation has been on the widespread monoamine projections to the telencephalon. However, the nucleus incertus (NI) of the pontine tegmentum provides a strong GABAergic and peptidergic innervation of the hippocampus, basal forebrain, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and related regions; and represents a parallel source of ascending modulation of cognitive and emotional domains. NI GABAergic neurons express multiple peptides, including neuromedin-B, cholecystokinin, and relaxin-3, and receptors for stress and arousal transmitters, including corticotrophin-releasing factor and orexins/hypocretins. A functional relationship exists between NI neurons and their associated peptides, relaxin-3 and neuromedin-B, and hippocampal theta rhythm, which in turn, has a key role in the acquisition and extinction of declarative and emotional memories. Furthermore, RXFP3, the cognate receptor for relaxin-3, is a Gi/o protein-coupled receptor, and its activation inhibits the cellular accumulation of cAMP and induces phosphorylation of ERK, processes associated with memory formation in the hippocampus and amygdala. Therefore, this review summarizes the role of NI transmitter systems in relaying stress- and arousal-related signals to the higher neural circuits and processes associated with memory formation and retrieval

Analizador inteligente de consumo energético

Hacer de este un mundo sostenible es uno de los grandes retos de hoy en día. Para alcanzar este fin, no es suficiente con realizar investigaciones sobre nuevas fuentes de energía sino hay que actuar mediante un consumo más responsable y eficiente. Los sistemas empotrados nos permiten diseñar dispositivos capaces de contribuir a este objetivo. Este trabajo trata de dar solución a este problema a través del uso del microcontrolador MSP432 donde se diseña un dispositivo capaz de monitorizar cualquier parámetro relacionado con la energía: voltaje, corriente, potencia y consumo instantáneo, en tiempo real. Además, se dota a este dispositivo con conectividad Wifi para posibilitar su acceso al Internet de las Cosas.Fer d'aquest un món sostenible és un dels grans reptes d'avui dia. Per a aconseguir aquesta fi, no és suficient amb realitzar recerques sobre noves fonts d'energia sinó cal actuar mitjançant un consum més responsable i eficient. Els sistemes encastats ens permeten dissenyar dispositius capaços de contribuir a aquest objectiu. Aquest treball tracta de donar solució a aquest problema a través de l'ús del microcontrolador MSP432 on es dissenya un dispositiu capaç de monitorar qualsevol paràmetre relacionat amb l'energia: voltatge, corrent, potència i consum instantani, en temps real. A més, es dota a aquest dispositiu amb connectivitat Wifi per a possibilitar el seu accés a la Internet de les Coses.Making this a sustainable world is one of the great challenges of today. To achieve this goal, it is not enough to carry out researches about new sources of energy, but rather to act through more responsible and efficient consumption. Surely, the best way to reduce this consumption is through monitoring the use of energy through consumption analyzers. Embedded systems allow us to design devices able of contributing to this goal. This work tries to solve this problem through the use of the MSP432miccrocontroller where a device is designed capable of monitoring any parameter related to energy_voltage, current, power and instantaneous consumption, in real time. In addition, this deviced is equipped with Wifi connectivity to enable your access to the Internet of Things, The MQTT protocol is established as a communication channel with the web platform, where a graphic interface for the visualization of the measurement and user interaction is developed. Finally you get a deviced ready to start workig and control the consumption of the device connected to it, contributing in this way to improve the energy consumption

Study of the analgesic efficacy of Dexketoprofen Trometamol 25mg. vs. Ibuprofen 600mg. after their administration in patients subjected to oral surgery

El objectivo de este estudio es comparar la eficacia analgésica de dos antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINES), pertenecientes a la familia de los ácidos propiónicos, tras intervenciones quirúrgicas orales con el fin de valorar cual de ellos es más efectivo con el mínimo de efectos secundarios y la menor dosis. Normalmente el dolor tras una intervención quirúrgica oral está considerado como moderado-intenso, siendo los AINES los fármacos de elección para este tipo de dolor. Como sabemos, el gran problema de estos fármacos reside en los efectos indeseables. Demostramos la eficacia del enantiómero-S(+) de estos fármacos ya que de ellos depende la analgesia y nos permiten utilizar una menor dosis del fármaco.The objective of this study is to compare the analgesic efficacy of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) belonging to the family of propionic acids after oral surgery in order to assess which one is most effective with the minimum side effects and lowest dose. Normally, the pain after oral surgery is considered as moderate-intense and NSAIDs are the first choice when treating post-surgical dental pain. As we know, the great problem of these drugs is found in their undesirable effects. The enantiomer-S(+) component is known to be related with analgesia and need for lower dose of these drugs.Sin financiaciónNo data (2004)UE

Fresh biochar application provokes a reduction of nitrate which is unexplained by conventional mechanisms

Soil-applied biochar has been reported to possess the potential to mitigate nitrate leaching and thus, exert beneficial effects beyond carbon sequestration. The main objective of the present study is to confirm if a pine gasification biochar that has proven able to decrease soil-soluble nitrate in previous research can indeed exert such an effect and to determine by which mechanism. For this purpose, lysimeters containing soil-biochar mixtures at 0, 12 and 50 t biochar ha−1 were investigated in two different scenarios: a fresh biochar scenario consisting of fresh biochar and a fallow-managed soil, and an aged biochar scenario with a 6-yr naturally aged biochar in a crop-managed soil. Soil columns were assessed under a mimicked Mediterranean ambient within a greenhouse setting during an 8-mo period which included a barley crop cycle. A set of parameters related to nitrogen cycling, and particularly to mechanisms that could directly or indirectly explain nitrate content reduction (i.e., sorption, leaching, microbially-mediated processes, volatilisation, plant uptake, and ecotoxicological effects), were assessed. Specific measurements included soil solution and leachate ionic composition, microbial biomass and activity, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, N and O isotopic composition of nitrate, crop yield and quality, and ecotoxicological endpoints, among others. Nitrate content reduction in soil solution was verified for the fresh biochar scenario in both 12 and 50 t ha−1 treatments and was coupled to a significant reduction of chloride, sodium, calcium and magnesium. This effect was noticed only after eight months of biochar application thus suggesting a time-dependent process. All other mechanisms tested being discarded, the formation of an organo-mineral coating emerges as a plausible explanation for the ionic content decrease.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro en Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA