A deep learning approach based on graphs to detect plantation lines.

Identifying plantation lines in aerial images of agricultural landscapes is re-quired for many automatic farming processes. Deep learning-based networks are among the most prominent methods to learn such patterns and extract this type of information from diverse imagery conditions. However, even state-of-the-art methods may stumble in complex plantation patterns. Here, we propose a deep learning approach based on graphs to detect plantation lines in UAV-based RGB imagery, presenting a challenging scenario containing spaced plants. The first module of our method extracts a feature map throughout the backbone, which consists of the initial layers of the VGG16. This feature map is used as an input to the Knowledge Estimation Module (KEM), organized in three concatenated branches for detecting 1) the plant positions, 2) the plantation lines, and 3) the displacement vectors between the plants. A graph modeling is applied considering each plant position on the image as vertices, and edges are formed between two vertices (i.e. plants). Finally, the edge is classified as pertaining to a certain plantation line based on three probabilities (higher than 0.5): i) in visual features obtained from the backbone; ii) a chance that the edge pixels belong to a line, from the KEM step; and iii) an alignment of the displacement vectors with the edge, also from the KEM step. Experiments were conducted initially in corn plantations with different growth stages and patterns with aerial RGB imagery to present the advantages of adopting each module. We assessed the generalization capability in the other two cultures (orange and eucalyptus) datasets. The proposed method was compared against state-of-the-art deep learning methods and achieved superior performance with a significant margin considering all three datasets. This approach is useful in extracting lines with spaced plantation patterns and could be implemented in scenarios where plantation gaps occur, generating lines with few-to-no interruptions.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis: Seroprevalence and georeferencing in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) has long been considered an endemic disease in the northern and northeastern regions of Brazil, while the southern region remains non-endemic. However, in recent years, several cases of CVL have been reported in southern states. The objective of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of CVL in dogs in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, through immunochromatographic tests (DPP®) and ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and its correlation with environmental characteristics through georeferencing. Blood samples from dogs (n = 1227) were collected in six mesoregions of the state and evaluated by the rapid test (DPP®). Positive samples were sent to Lacen (Central Public Health Laboratory) in Santa Catarina to be tested using ELISA. Information obtained from the epidemiological questionnaire was subjected to statistical analysis (Chi-square and Student's t-test; P < 0.05) to verify the correlation between serology and the analyzed variables. The locations (GPS) of the samples were used for georeferencing and creating heatmaps (Kernel Method). Four animals that died from CVL were necropsied and organ samples were collected for molecular analysis (PCR), immunohistochemistry, and histopathology (HE). Of the 1227 dogs analyzed, 22 (1.8%) were reactive in the DPP® and of these, 7 (0.6%) were also positive in the ELISA. A correlation (P < 0.01) was observed between positive serology and region, environment, access to the street, and clinical signs. The positive cases were concentrated in the eastern region of the state, in low-altitude areas with average rainfall and higher average temperatures, and in more populated areas close to forest fragments. PCR, HE, and immunohistochemistry, along with serology, have proven to be efficient for characterizing positive cases.

Mauritia flexuosa palm trees airborne mapping with deep convolutional neural network.

Accurately mapping individual tree species in densely forested environments is crucial to forest inventory. When considering only RGB images, this is a challenging task for many automatic photogrammetry processes. The main reason for that is the spectral similarity between species in RGB scenes, which can be a hindrance for most automatic methods. This paper presents a deep learning-based approach to detect an important multi-use species of palm trees (Mauritia flexuosa; i.e., Buriti) on aerial RGB imagery. In South-America, this palm tree is essential for many indigenous and local communities because of its characteristics. The species is also a valuable indicator of water resources, which comes as a benefit for mapping its location. The method is based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to identify and geolocate singular tree species in a high-complexity forest environment. The results returned a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.75 trees and an F1-measure of 86.9%. These results are better than Faster R-CNN and RetinaNet methods considering equal experiment conditions. In conclusion, the method presented is efficient to deal with a high-density forest scenario and can accurately map the location of single species like the M. flexuosa palm tree and may be useful for future frameworks.

Oral Use of Phenytoin to Reduce Calcification in Bovine Pericardium and Porcine Aortic Leaflets Implants in Rats.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to test the effect of phenytoin as an inhibitor of the process of dystrophic calcification in bovine pericardium and porcine leaflets implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of rats. METHODS: Isolated segments of biomaterials were implanted subcutaneously in young rats. The study groups received 500 mg phenytoin per kilogram of diet per day. After 90 days, samples were collected and quantitative calcification assessment by optical microscopy, radiological studies with mammography, and atomic emission spectrometry were performed. RESULTS: Inflammatory reaction was a frequent finding in all groups when analyzed by optical microscopy. The calcium level assessed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry was significantly lower in the study groups using phenytoin compared to the control groups (control bovine pericardium group X=0.254±0.280 µg/mg; study bovine pericardium group X=0.063±0.025 µg/mg; control porcine aortic leaflets group X=0.640±0.226 µg/mg; study porcine aortic leaflets group X=0.056±0.021 µg/mg; P<0.05). Radiologic studies revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups treated with and without phenytoin (not only regarding the bovine pericardium but also the porcine leaflets). CONCLUSION: The results obtained suggest that phenytoin reduces the calcification process of bovine pericardium segments and porcine aortic leaflets in subdermal implants in rats; also, the incidence of calcification in bovine pericardium grafts was similar to that of porcine aortic leaflets.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Poultry and Poultry Meat: A Meta-Analysis.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that colonizes and infects various host species and has been found in the poultry production chain, raising concerns about possible transmission from farm to fork. The objective of this study was to use meta-analytical methods to estimate the pooled prevalence of MRSA in chickens, turkeys, chicken meat, and turkey meat. Three electronic databases (PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO) were searched to establish MRSA prevalence from 51 studies published from 2003 through May 2017. The heterogeneity was assessed, and the pooled MRSA prevalence was calculated by using the random effects model according to the method of DerSimonian and Laird. Pooled MRSA prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI]) in turkeys, turkey meat, broilers, and chicken meat was 36% (1 to 78%), 13% (1 to 28%), 5% (2 to 9%), and 5% (3 to 8%), respectively. South America had the highest MRSA prevalence (27%; 95% CI, 17 to 37%), and North America had the lowest (1%; 95% CI, 0 to 2%). Livestock-associated MRSA has been isolated from poultry and poultry meat, indicating that this variant can spread from farm to fork. The presence of MRSA in poultry and poultry meat poses risks to public health, and steps should be taken to mitigate the contamination and spread of this bacterium along the poultry production chain.

Discricionariedade administrativa e eutanásia animal em unidade de vigilância de zoonoses: um estudo de caso / Administrative discretion and animal euthanasia in zoonoses surveillance units: a case study / Discricionariedad administrativa e eutanásia animal en unidades de vigilancia de zoonosis: un estudio de caso

A discricionariedade do poder público para a prática da eutanásia em animais nas Unidades de Vigilância de Zoonoses (UVZ`s) em prol da saúde pública é tema de muita discussão. Este artigo apresenta um estudo de caso sobre a prática de eutanásia ocorrido em uma Unidade de Vigilância de Zoonose na cidade de Belo Horizonte/MG, visando analisar a discricionariedade pública e o processo da eutanásia bem como as legislações que permeiam as UVZ`s para executar tal processo em cães errantes.

The discretion of the public authority for the practice of euthanasia in animals in the Zoonoses Surveillance Units (ZSU's) in favor of public health is the subject of much discussion. This article presents a case study on the practice of euthanasia that occurred in a Zoonoses Surveillance Unit in the city of Belo Horizonte/MG, aiming to analyze the public discretion and the process of euthanasia as well as the laws that permeate the ZSU's to execute such a process in stray dogs.

La discrecionalidad del poder público para la práctica de la eutanasia en animales en las Unidades de Vigilancia de Zoonosis (UVZ`s) en pro de la salud pública es tema de mucha discusión. Este artículo presenta un estudio de caso sobre la práctica de eutanasia ocurrido en una Unidad de Vigilancia de Zoonosis en la ciudad de Belo Horizonte / MG, buscando analizar la discrecionalidad pública y el proceso de la eutanasia así como las legislaciones que permean a las UVZ`s para ejecutar tal proceso en perros errantes.

Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of Siluriformes from the Paraguay River basin, Brazil.

The objective of this study was to identify, through the DNA barcode, fishable Siluriformes which were collected from the Paraguay River basin in Pantanal. It was analyzed for genetic distance calculation using the Kimura-two-model parameters and the dendrogram was builtusing the Neighbour-Joining algorithm. The average genetic distance within species, genus and families were 0.2%, 1.6% and 4.2%, respectively. These values were lower than those reported in studies from other continents, probably due to the recent radiation process undergone by Neotropical fish. The dendrogram revealed two possible cases of hybridization, one individual Pseudoplatystoma corruscans, it was not possible to identify whether it was a natural event or commercial production exhaust and other of Pimelodus cf. argenteus leading to the assumption that the aspects of reproductive isolation cannot be clearly defined. Besides, the populations of the species Hemisorubim platyrhynchos and e Platydora armatulus may be undergoing a substructuring process, with genetic differences 3% and 4%, respectively.

Sensitivity and specificity of parallel or serial serological testing for detection of canine Leishmania infection

In Brazil, human and canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) caused byLeishmania infantum has undergone urbanisation since 1980, constituting a public health problem, and serological tests are tools of choice for identifying infected dogs. Until recently, the Brazilian zoonoses control program recommended enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) as the screening and confirmatory methods, respectively, for the detection of canine infection. The purpose of this study was to estimate the accuracy of ELISA and IFA in parallel or serial combinations. The reference standard comprised the results of direct visualisation of parasites in histological sections, immunohistochemical test, or isolation of the parasite in culture. Samples from 98 cases and 1,327 noncases were included. Individually, both tests presented sensitivity of 91.8% and 90.8%, and specificity of 83.4 and 53.4%, for the ELISA and IFA, respectively. When tests were used in parallel combination, sensitivity attained 99.2%, while specificity dropped to 44.8%. When used in serial combination (ELISA followed by IFA), decreased sensitivity (83.3%) and increased specificity (92.5%) were observed. Serial testing approach improved specificity with moderate loss in sensitivity. This strategy could partially fulfill the needs of public health and dog owners for a more accurate diagnosis of CVL.

Sensitivity and specificity of parallel or serial serological testing for detection of canine Leishmania infection.

In Brazil, human and canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) caused by Leishmania infantum has undergone urbanisation since 1980, constituting a public health problem, and serological tests are tools of choice for identifying infected dogs. Until recently, the Brazilian zoonoses control program recommended enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) as the screening and confirmatory methods, respectively, for the detection of canine infection. The purpose of this study was to estimate the accuracy of ELISA and IFA in parallel or serial combinations. The reference standard comprised the results of direct visualisation of parasites in histological sections, immunohistochemical test, or isolation of the parasite in culture. Samples from 98 cases and 1,327 noncases were included. Individually, both tests presented sensitivity of 91.8% and 90.8%, and specificity of 83.4 and 53.4%, for the ELISA and IFA, respectively. When tests were used in parallel combination, sensitivity attained 99.2%, while specificity dropped to 44.8%. When used in serial combination (ELISA followed by IFA), decreased sensitivity (83.3%) and increased specificity (92.5%) were observed. Serial testing approach improved specificity with moderate loss in sensitivity. This strategy could partially fulfill the needs of public health and dog owners for a more accurate diagnosis of CVL.

Validity and reliability of enzyme immunoassays using Leishmania major or L. infantum antigens for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: American visceral leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum. Dogs are the main reservoirs in the domestic transmission cycle. The limited accuracy of diagnostic tests for canine leishmaniasis may contribute to the lack of impact of control measures recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The objective of this study was to estimate the accuracy of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays employing L. major or L. infantum antigens and their reliability between three laboratories of different levels of complexity. METHODS: A validation study of ELISA techniques using L. major or L. infantum antigens was conducted. Direct visualization of the parasite in hematoxylin/eosin-stained histopathological sections, immunohistochemistry, and isolation of the parasite in culture.were used as gold standard. An animal that was positive in at least one of the tests was defined as infected with L. infantum. Serum samples collected from 1,425 dogs were analyzed. Samples were separated in three aliquots and tested in three different laboratories. Sensitivity, specificity and the area under de ROC curve were calculated and the reliability was evaluated between the participant laboratories. RESULTS: The sensitivity was 91.8% and 89.8% for the L. major and L. infantum assays, respectively. The specificity was 83.75% and 82.7% for the L. major and L. infantum assays, respectively. The area under de ROC curve was 0.920 and 0.898 for L. major and L. infantum, respectively. The mean intraclass correlation coefficients between laboratories ranged from 0.890 to 0.948 when L. major was used as antigen, and from 0.818 to 0.879 when L. infantum was used. INTERPRETATION: ELISA tests using L. major or L. infantum antigens have similar accuracy and reliability. Our results do not support the substitution of the L. major antigen of the ELISA test currently used for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil.

Anuloplastia concêntrica do anel mitral, isolada ou associada à ressecção quadrangular, em crianças e jovens / Mitral annuloplasty either in isolation or associated with posterior quadrantectomy in young patients

OBJETIVO: Descrever procedimento cirúrgico de anuloplastia concêntrica do anel mitral sem prótese, isolada ou associada à ressecção quadrangular com plicatura póstero-medial do anel mitral, e analisar os resultados imediatos e tardios obtidos. MÉTODO: Entre fevereiro de 1986 e fevereiro de 2001, realizamos 790 procedimentos abordando a valva mitral, 41 foram realizados em crianças e adolescentes menores de 20 anos (média de 9,7 anos). Vinte (48,7 por cento) pacientes eram do sexo feminino e 21 (51,3 por cento) do masculino. A doença reumática foi responsável pelas lesões em 92,6 por cento dos casos e a degeneração mixomatosa em apenas 7,4 por cento. No período pré-operatório, 22 (53,6 por cento) pacientes estavam em classe funcional III e 19 (46,4 por cento) em classe funcional IV, advindos de repetidos surtos de febre reumática, agravados pela desnutrição. A técnica cirúrgica utilizada foi a anuloplastia concêntrica, aplicada isoladamente ou em associação à ressecção quadrangular com plicatura póstero-medial. O curso do seguimento pós-operatório foi de 7 meses a 15 anos (3/2/1986 a 12/2/2001). RESULTADOS: A mortalidade hospitalar foi de 2,4 por cento. Os pacientes receberam alta sem sopro sistólico de regurgitação mitral. Dois pacientes apresentaram, ao longo dos anos (4 e 11 anos), estenose mitral e necessitaram reoperação, um deles operado com dois anos de idade. Dois doentes foram reoperados para corrigir disfunção aórtica previamente abordada por plastia (12 e 18 meses após a primeira operação), morrendo e contribuindo para mortalidade tardia de 5 por cento. CONCLUSAO: Consideramos a técnica empregada um procedimento alternativo, válido, de aplicação preferencial em crianças e adolescentes, de fácil reprodução e de baixíssimo custo.

The surgical treatment of traumatic rupture of aortic valve and atrial septum after blunt chest trauma: literature review and presentation of a rare case

Paciente do sexo masculino, 49 anos, atendido na Emergência do Real Hospital Português de Beneficência (RHPBPE), após acidente automobilístico, apresentando dispnéia, fraturas de múltiplos arcos costais, enfisema subcutâneo extenso e hidropneumotórax à esquerda e fratura da clavícula direita. Submetido inicialmente à drenagem torácica subaquática à esquerda e traqueostomia, tendo sido mantido em respiraçäo controlada no respirador de volume na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Recebeu alta após um mês da admissäo com ecocardiograma transtorácico que mostrava insuficiência aórtica e insuficiência mitral leve, com leve aumento das câmaras cardíacas esquerdas, com funçäo global preservada, näo se relacionando os achados ao trauma. Após três meses, retornou à Emergência cardiológica do mesmo Hospital com sinais e sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva. Submetido a ecocardiograma transtorácico e transesofágico que mostraram insuficiência aórtica grave e septo interatrial pérvio. A exploraçäo cirúrgica encontramos a desinserçäo da cúspide näo coronariana e ruptura do septo interatrial. A tentativa de reinserir a cúspide näo permitiu uma coaptaçäo completa da valva aórtica, optando-se por sua substituiçäo com implante de uma prótese metálica St. Jude número 23. A ruptura do septo interatrial foi corrigida por aproximaçäo direta com pontos separados. O paciente recebeu alta no 9º dia de pós-operatório, sem intercorrências e assintomático.

Anomalia de Ebstein em paciente adulto: valvuloplastia modificada para correção de insuficiência tricúspide / EbsteinÝs anormaly in adult patients: modified repair technique for tricuspid insufficiency

Objetivos: Avaliar a correção cirúrgica em pacientes adultos portadores de anomalia de Ebstein, utilizando uma variação técnica para correção da. insuficiência tricúspide. Casuística e Métodos: Entre janeiro de 1990 e março de 2001, seis pacientes adultos foram submetidos à correção cirúrgica com uma variação da técnica apresentada por Carpentier. A idade variou de 18 a 34 anos. Todos se apresentavam em classe funcional III ou IV (NYHA), com piora da cianose ou arritmias freqüentes. Em quatro pacientes a valva tricúspide era do tipo B e em dois do tipo A (Carpentier), quatro apresentavam comunicação interatrial (CIA) associada. O hematócrito variou de 33por cento a 68por cento. O índice cardíaco variou de 0.47 a 0.88. A fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo variou de 50por cento a 80por cento. Resultados: Não se registrou óbitos no período hospitalar. Um paciente foi reoperado por sangramento no pós?operatório imediato. Em dois pacientes ocorreram derrames pericárdicos de repetição. Foi registrado um óbito no 14Ý mês de pós-operatório por morte súbita. Os pacientes foram seguidos por um período de 10 a 108 meses. Quatro encontram-se em classe funcional I e um encontra-se em classe funcional II (NYHA). O ecocardiograma no pós-operatório imediato e na última avaliação mostra insuficiência tricúspide discreta ou moderada em quatro e importante em um paciente.Conclusão: Apesar do pequeno número de pacientes nesta série, a modificação técnica cumpriu o seu papel, com a melhora clínica e funcional dos pacientes tratados em até nove anos de seguimento(AU)#S#a

Extensäo cardíaca de seminoma primário do mediastino, comprimindo a via do ventrículo direito / Cardiac extension of primary mediastinal seminoma compressing the right ventricular outflow tract

We report the case of a 33-year-old male with primary seminoma of the anterior mediastinum with initial clinical manifestations suggestive of heart disease

Valvopatia mitral com aspecto reumático em presença de fibrose endomiocárdica do ventrículo esquerdo / Mitral valve disease with theumatic appereance in the presence of left ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis

Descre-se caso de menino de 9 anos, portador de dupla lesäo mitral, com extensa fibrose endomiocádica do vetrículo esquerdo. A singularidade do processo fibrótico é realçada, com ênfase a aspectos etiopatogênicos

Comportamento da artéria caudal bovina como enxerto biológico vascular alternativo: estudo experimental em cäes (nota prévia) / Bovine tail artery as an alternative vascular biological graft: experimental study in dogs (Preliminary report)

Foram interpostos 2O segmentos de artéria caudal bovina(ACB), tratados com glutaraldeído e formaldeido, nas artérias femorais de lO caes. O período de seguimento pós-operatório variou de l8O a 297 dias. Foram avaliados: funçao motora, pulsos (à palpaçao e ao ultra-sônar), variaçoes das pressoes arteriais sistólica, diastólica e média e fluxo através do enxerto, assim como consistência dilataçao e coloraçao quando da retirada. Nao houve óbitos,alteraçoes da marcha ou processos inflamatórios nas feridas. Houve trombose total(l5 por cento), trombose mural focal (30 por cento), reaçao linfoplasmocitária focal da adventícia (lOO por cento), calcificaçao unicamente das miocélulas (5 por cento), reendotelizaçao total (60 por cento) e parcial (30 por cento). Por apresentar adequaçao com diâmetro de pequenas artérias, ter comprimento suficiente para substituir ou atingir diversos segmentos de artérias distais, apresentar rápida endotelizaçao, bem como ausência de rejeiçao, é demonstrada a receptividade ao uso da ACB como enxerto vascular alternativo.