Accuracy of carrot yield forecasting using proximal hyperspectral and satellite multispectral data

Proximal and remote sensors have proved their effectiveness for the estimation of several biophysical and biochemical variables, including yield, in many different crops. Evaluation of their accuracy in vegetable crops is limited. This study explored the accuracy of proximal hyperspectral and satellite multispectral sensors (Sentinel-2 and WorldView-3) for the prediction of carrot root yield across three growing regions featuring different cropping configurations, seasons and soil conditions. Above ground biomass (AGB), canopy reflectance measurements and corresponding yield measures were collected from 414 sample sites in 24 fields in Western Australia (WA), Queensland (Qld) and Tasmania (Tas), Australia. The optimal sensor (hyperspectral or multispectral) was identified by the highest overall coefficient of determination between yield and different vegetation indices (VIs) whilst linear and non-linear models were tested to determine the best VIs and the impact of the spatial resolution. The optimal regression fit per region was used to extrapolate the point source measurements to all pixels in each sampled crop to produce a forecasted yield map and estimate average carrot root yield (t/ha) at the crop level. The latter were compared to commercial carrot root yield (t/ha) obtained from the growers to determine the accuracy of prediction. The measured yield varied from 17 to 113 t/ha across all crops, with forecasts of average yield achieving overall accuracies (% error) of 9.2% in WA, 10.2% in Qld and 12.7% in Tas. VIs derived from hyperspectral sensors produced poorer yield correlation coefficients (R2 2

A decade of Australian general practice activity 2001–02 to 2010–11

In the last decade, the opening and the bigger exposure of Azores Autonomic Region in the media, as well the assumption of the importance of tourism to the regional economy by the local government, introduced the planning of this sector in those islands. Even if all regions have specific features as the main touristic Portuguese regions such as Algarve, Madeira and Lisboa, the Azores product - Natural landscape - is different from the all the rest. Its difference and specification is directed to niche markets, which means not to attract the consumer populations of the most searched touristic product - Sun and beach. Due the fragility and weak capacity of the Azorean touristic product renovation, but still with the necessity of economical income, it’s essential the non-allowance of tourist masses but at- tract a highly economic value and academic instructed tourist type. The Scandinavian population has been one of the bets for a sustainable tourism in Azores, and Finland one of the some questions: Is this a correct bet? What can Azores offer? What are Finnish searching in their vacations periods? To answer those questions a bibliographic search and an inquiry were Azores offer it ́s pretended

Chronic intermittent hypoxia impairs diuretic and natriuretic responses to volume expansion in rats with preserved low-pressure baroreflex control of the kidney

We examined the effects of exposure to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and renal excretory responses to volume expansion (VE) before and after intra-renal TRPV1 blockade by capsaizepine (CPZ). Male Wistar rats were exposed to 96 cycles of hypoxia per day for 14 days (CIH), or normoxia. Urine flow and absolute Na+ excretion during VE were less in CIH-exposed rats, but the progressive decrease in RSNA during VE was preserved. Assessment of the high-pressure baroreflex revealed an increase in the operating and response range of RSNA and decreased slope in CIH-exposed rats with substantial hypertension (+19mmHg basal mean arterial pressure, MAP), but not in a second cohort with modest hypertension (+12mmHg). Intra-renal CPZ caused diuresis, natriuresis and a reduction in MAP in sham and CIH-exposed rats. Following intra-renal CPZ, diuretic and natriuretic responses to VE in CIH-exposed rats were equivalent to sham. TPRV1 expression in the renal pelvic wall was similar in both experimental groups. Exposure to CIH did not elicit glomerular hypertrophy, renal inflammation or oxidative stress. We conclude that exposure to CIH: 1) does not impair the low-pressure baroreflex control of RSNA; 2) has modest effects on the high-pressure baroreflex control of RSNA, most likely indirectly due to hypertension; 3) can elicit hypertension in the absence of kidney injury; and 4) impairs diuretic and natriuretic responses to fluid overload. Our results suggest that exposure to CIH causes renal dysfunction, which may be relevant to obstructive sleep apnea

Renal cortical oxygen tension is decreased following exposure to long-term but not short-term intermittent hypoxia in the rat

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs in more than 50% of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the impact of intermittent hypoxia (IH) on renal function and oxygen homeostasis is unclear. Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to IH (270 secs at 21% O2; 90 secs hypoxia, 6.5% O2 at nadir) for 4 h (AIH) or to chronic IH (CIH) for 8h/day for 2 weeks. Animals were anesthetized and surgically prepared for the measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP), and left renal excretory function, renal blood flow (RBF), and renal oxygen tension (PO2). AIH had no effect on MAP (123±14 versus (v) 129±14mmHg, mean±SEM, sham v IH). The CIH group were hypertensive (122±9 v 144±15mmHg, P<0.05). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (0.92±0.27 v 1.33±0.33ml/min), RBF (3.8±1.5 v 7.2±2.4ml/min) and transported sodium (TNa) (132±39 v 201±47μmol/min) were increased in the AIH group (all P<0.05). In the CIH group, GFR (1.25±0.28 v 0.86±0.28ml/min, P<0.05) and TNa (160±39 v 120±40μmol/min, P<0.05) were decreased, while RBF (4.13±1.5 v 3.08±1.5ml/min) was not significantly different. Oxygen consumption (QO2) was increased in the AIH group (6.76±2.60 v 13.60±7.77μmol/min, P<0.05), but was not significantly altered in the CIH group (3.97±2.63 v 6.82±3.29μmol/min). Cortical PO2 was not significantly different in the AIH group (46±4 v 46±3mmHg), but was decreased in the CIH group (44±5mmHg v 38±2mmHg, P<0.05). AIH: Renal oxygen homeostasis was preserved through a maintained balance between O2 supply (RBF) and consumption (GFR). CIH: Mismatched TNa and QO2 reflects inefficient O2 utilization and thereby sustained decrease in cortical PO2