Dicotyledon Weed Quantification Algorithm for Selective Herbicide Application in Maize Crops.

The stricter legislation within the European Union for the regulation of herbicides that are prone to leaching causes a greater economic burden on the agricultural industry through taxation. Owing to the increased economic burden, research in reducing herbicide usage has been prompted. High-resolution images from digital cameras support the studying of plant characteristics. These images can also be utilized to analyze shape and texture characteristics for weed identification. Instead of detecting weed patches, weed density can be estimated at a sub-patch level, through which even the identification of a single plant is possible. The aim of this study is to adapt the monocot and dicot coverage ratio vision (MoDiCoVi) algorithm to estimate dicotyledon leaf cover, perform grid spraying in real time, and present initial results in terms of potential herbicide savings in maize. The authors designed and executed an automated, large-scale field trial supported by the Armadillo autonomous tool carrier robot. The field trial consisted of 299 maize plots. Half of the plots (parcels) were planned with additional seeded weeds; the other half were planned with naturally occurring weeds. The in-situ evaluation showed that, compared to conventional broadcast spraying, the proposed method can reduce herbicide usage by 65% without measurable loss in biological effect.

Effect of distributing locally produced cloth facemasks on COVID-19-like illness and all-cause mortality-a cluster-randomised controlled trial in urban Guinea-Bissau.

Facemasks have been employed to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The community effect of providing cloth facemasks on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality is unknown. In a cluster randomised trial in urban Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, clusters (geographical areas with an average of 19 houses), were randomised to an intervention or control arm using computer-generated random numbers. Between 20 July 2020 and 22 January 2021, trial participants (aged 10+ years) living in intervention clusters (n = 90) received two 2-layer cloth facemasks, while facemasks were only distributed later in control clusters (n = 91). All participants received information on COVID-19 prevention. Trial participants were followed through a telephone interview for COVID-19-like illness (3+ symptoms), care seeking, and mortality for 4 months. End-of-study home visits ensured full mortality information and distribution of facemasks to the control group. Individual level information on outcomes by trial arm was compared in logistic regression models with generalised estimating equation-based correction for cluster. Facemasks use was mandated. Facemask use in public areas was assessed by direct observation. We enrolled 39,574 trial participants among whom 95% reported exposure to groups of >20 persons and 99% reported facemasks use, with no difference between trial arms. Observed use was substantially lower (~40%) with a 3%, 95%CI: 0-6% absolute difference between control and intervention clusters. Half of those wearing a facemask wore it correctly. Few participants (532, 1.6%) reported COVID-19-like illness; proportions did not differ by trial arm: Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.57-1.15. 177 (0.6%) participants reported consultations and COVID-19-like illness (OR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.56-1.24); 89 participants (0.2%) died (OR = 1.34, 95%CI: 0.89-2.02). Hence, though trial participants were exposed to many people, facemasks were mostly not worn or not worn correctly. Providing facemasks and messages about correct use did not substantially increase their use and had limited impact on morbidity and mortality. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04471766.

[Survival after severe ecstasy intoxication]. / Overlevelse efter svaer ecstasyforgiftning.

We report the case of a 20-year-old man with MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) intoxication after a single ingestion of ecstasy. As in most severe cases, this patient exhibited hyperthermia, convulsions, disseminated intravascular coagulation, rhabdomyolysis and renal failure. The patient survived, but with severe brain damage. Toxicological findings taken 12 hours after the incident revealed a toxic/fatal amount of MDMA. The clinical and biochemical findings are discussed.

Six cases of Aerococcus sanguinicola infection: clinical relevance and bacterial identification.

Aerococcus sanguinicola is a Gram-positive coccus first described in 2001. Infections in humans are rare but the use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and improved phenotypic methods has facilitated the identification of A. sanguinicola. We report here 6 cases of A. sanguinicola bacteraemia, 2 of which were associated with infective endocarditis. Most patients were elderly (median age 70 y) and had underlying neurological disorders including dementia, cerebral degeneration, and myelomeningocele. The primary focus of infection was the urinary tract in 3 cases and the gallbladder in 1; no focus was detected in 2 cases. Long-term prognosis was poor reflecting the frailty of the patients. All strains were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, cefuroxime, vancomycin, erythromycin, and rifampicin. The optimal treatment of infection with A. sanguinicola has yet to be determined.