Building and validation of a set of facial expression images to detect emotions: a transcultural study.

The automatic emotion recognition from facial expressions has become an exceptional tool in research involving human subjects and has made it possible to obtain objective measurements of the emotional state of research subjects. Different software and commercial solutions are offered to perform this task. However, the adaptation to cultural context and the recognition of complex expressions and/or emotions are two of the main challenges faced by these solutions. Here, we describe the construction and validation of a set of facial expression images suitable for training a recognition system. Our datasets consist of images of people with no experience in acting who were recorded with a webcam as they performed a computer-assisted task in a room with a light background and overhead illumination. The six basic emotions and mockery were included and a combination of OpenCV, Dlib and Scikit-learn Python libraries were used to develop a support vector machine classifier. The code is available at GitHub and the images will be provided upon request. Since transcultural facial expressions to evaluate complex emotions and open-source solutions were used in this study, we strongly believe that our dataset will be useful in different research contexts.

Potential of pineapple peel in the alternative composition of culture media for biosurfactant production.

The large pineapple's consumption and processing have generated a massive amount of waste yearly, which requires adequate treatment measures to avoid damages to the environment. Pineapple peel is one of the main residues obtained from this fruit and a promising strategy to take advantage of its potential is using it for biosurfactant production due to the peel's rich composition in fermentable sugars and nutrients, such as potassium and magnesium that favor the Bacillus subtilis growth and biosurfactant excretion as well. The current research performed a central composite design (CCD) with four independent variables (glucose, pineapple peel, potassium, and magnesium), evaluating substrates' influence on the surface tension reduction rate (STRR) and the emulsification index (EI24). The results indicated that pineapple peel has the necessary potential to act as a partial substitute for glucose and salt nutrients, minimizing the costs of supplementing with exogenous minerals. The highest surface tension reduction rate (57.744%) was obtained at 2.18% glucose (w/v); 14.67% pineapple peel (v/v); 2.38 g/L KH2PO4; and 0.15 g/L MgSO4.7H2O; whereas to obtain the maximum predicted value for EI24 (61.92%) the medium was composed by 2.24% glucose (w/v); 12.63% pineapple peel (v/v); 2.53 g/L KH2PO4; and 0.29 g/L MgSO4.7H2O.

Soil compaction and cover with black oat on soybean grain yield in lowland under no-tillage system / Compactação do solo e cobertura com aveia preta na produtividade de grãos de soja em várzea sob sistema de plantio direto

ABSTRACT: Brazil is the largest exporter and second largest producer of soybean grains. Most of this production is from plants grown under no-tillage system (NT). This research evaluated the effect of soil compaction, and different amounts of black oat residues on the soil surface on soybean growth and grain yield in lowland under NT. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and four replications, in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 crop seasons. The treatments consisted of: 1) winter fallow without soil compaction (WF); 2) winter fallow with soil compaction (WF-C); 3) black oats and complete removal of surface residues, with soil compaction (0R-C); 4) black oats and removal half of surface residues, with soil compaction (0.5R-C); 5) black oats without surface residue removal, with soil compaction (1R-C); 6) black oats without surface residue removal, plus the residues from treatment 3, with soil compaction (2R-C); 7) black oats without surface residue removal, without soil compaction (1R). When the soybean plants were at the phenological stage R2, they were evaluated nodule, root and shoot dry matter, nitrogen contents, plant height, and grain yield. The soil physical properties were evaluated in the 0.0-0.05, 0.10-0.15 and 0.20-0.25 m layers. The soybean aerial dry matter is > 38% in non-compacted soil in year with soil water excess, regardless of the amount of surface oat straw. In year with small water deficit, soil with more surface oat straw produced > 5% shoot dry matter and > 4% of soybean grain, regardless of compaction. The plant growth and grain yield soybean in lowland varied according to the water conditions, and were affected by soil compaction and amounts of black oats residues on soil surface.

RESUMO: O Brasil se destaca na produção de soja, sendo o maior exportador e o segundo maior produtor do grão e a maior parte é cultivado em sistema plantio direto (SPD). Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da compactação, cultivo e quantidades de palha de aveia preta na superfície do solo sobre o crescimento e o rendimento de grãos de soja em SPD em terras baixas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com sete tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos, nas safras 2016/17 e 2017/18, foram: 1) Pousio no inverno sem compactação (WF); 2) Pousio no inverno + compactação (WF-C); 3) Aveia preta e retirada da palha superficial + compactação (0R-C); 4) Aveia e retirada da metade da palha + compactação (0,5R-C); 5) Aveia + permanência da palhada + compactação (1R-C); 6) Aveia + a palha retirada do tratamento 3 (2 doses palha) + compactação (2R-C); 7) Aveia + permanência da palha, sem compactação (1R). No estádio fenológico R2 a soja foram avaliadas a massa seca de nódulos e de raízes, massa seca e nitrogênio da parte aérea, altura de plantas e produtividade de grãos. No solo foram avaliadas propriedades físicas nas camadas de 0,0-0,05; 0,10-0,15 e 0,20-0,25 m. A produção de massa seca da parte aérea de soja é > 38% em solo não compactado em ano com excesso hídrico independente da quantidade de palha de aveia na superfície. Em ano com pequeno déficit hídrico os tratamentos com mais palha produziram > 5% de massa seca da parte aérea e > 4% de grãos de soja, independente da compactação. O crescimento e o rendimento de grãos de soja em terras baixas oscilam de acordo com as condições hídricas, sendo influenciada pela compactação e quantidade de palha superficial.

Effect of Castor and Cashew Nut Shell Oils, Selenium and Vitamin E as Antioxidants on the Health and Meat Stability of Lambs Fed a High-Concentrate Diet.

Functional oils are known for their compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and are used in ruminant nutrition as alternatives to chemicals in order to improve performance. This study aimed to compare the influence of castor and cashew nut shell oils with pure organic selenium (hydroxy-selenomethionine) plus vitamin E, which are known and well-stablished antioxidants, on the performance traits, shelf life and microbial quality of the meat, physiological functions and oxidative stress control of lambs. Thirty-two Dorper x Santa Ines lambs (initial bodyweight of 22.42 ± 3.9 kg and 60 days of age) were submitted to a diet consisting of Cynodon dactylon hay (6%) and concentrate (94%). The animals were divided into four treatments: control, without additives; functional oils (FO), 0.50 g/kg DM of castor and cashew nut shell oils; hydroxy-selenomethionine and vitamin E (SeE), 0.50 mg/kg of organic selenium and 100 IU/kg DM of vitamin E; FO plus SeE, at the same doses as the other groups. Blood samples were collected after 1, 30 and 53 days on feed. After 54 days, the lambs were slaughtered and rumen health, carcass and meat traits, shelf life, and microbiological quality were evaluated. There were no differences in performance or carcass traits. A higher muscle and serum Se concentration (p < 0.0001), lower lipid peroxidation in meat during display (p < 0.0001), and a lower count of psychrotrophic microorganisms on day 5 were observed in the SeE and FO plus SeE groups. The treatments reduced the counts of Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus spp. FO animals showed higher GSH-Px activity on day 30, while the peroxidase activity was higher in FO plus SeE animals (p = 0.035). SeE and FO plus SeE animals had lower serum ALT and AST levels. Functional oils improved the microbiological quality of meat. Hydroxy-selenomethionine and vitamin E prevented oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and microbial spoilage.

Plot size and replications number for triticale experiments / Tamanho de parcela e número de repetições para experimentos de triticale

ABSTRACT: The hybridization between wheat and rye crops resulted in the triticale crop, which presents rusticity, versatility in animal and human food and possibility of use as a cover plant. The objective of this research was to determine the optimal plot size and the replications number to evaluate the fresh weight of triticale in two evaluation moments. An experiment was carried out with the triticale cultivar IPR111. The experimental area was divided into 48 uniformity trials, each containing 36 basic experimental units of 0.51 m2. The fresh weight was evaluated in 24 uniformity trials at 99 days after sowing (DAS) and in 24 uniformity trials at 127 DAS. The optimal plot size was determined by the method of the maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation and the replications number was determined in scenarios of treatments number and differences between means to be detected as significant by Tukey test. To determine the fresh weight of triticale, the optimal plot size is 3.12 m2, with coefficient of variation of 13.69%. Six replications are sufficient to identify as significant, differences between treatment means of 25% for experiments with up to seven treatments and of 30% for experiments with up to 28 treatments, regardless of the experimental design.

RESUMO: O cruzamento das culturas de trigo e centeio resultou na obtenção da cultura do triticale, que apresenta rusticidade, versatilidade na alimentação animal e humana e possibilidade de uso como planta de cobertura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o tamanho ótimo de parcela e o número de repetições para avaliar a massa verde de triticale em dois momentos de avaliação. Foi conduzido um experimento com a cultivar de triticale IPR111, sendo a área experimental dividida em 48 ensaios de uniformidade, cada ensaio contendo 36 unidades experimentais básicas de 0,51 m2. A massa verde foi avaliada em 24 ensaios aos 99 dias após a semeadura (DAS ) e em 24 ensaios aos 127 DAS. O tamanho ótimo de parcela foi determinado pelo método da máxima curvatura do coeficiente de variação e o número de repetições foi determinado em combinações de número de tratamentos e de diferenças entre médias a serem detectadas como significativas pelo teste de Tukey. Para determinar a massa verde de triticale, o tamanho ótimo de parcela é de 3,12 m2 com coeficiente de variação de 13,69%. Seis repetições são suficientes para identificar como significativas, diferenças entre médias de tratamentos de 25% para experimentos com até sete tratamentos e de 30% para experimentos com até 28 tratamentos, independentemente do delineamento experimental.