SPOT: Scanning plant IoT facility for high-throughput plant phenotyping.

Many plant phenotyping platforms have been kept out of the reach of smaller labs and institutions due to high cost and proprietary software. The Scanning Plant IoT (SPOT) Facility, located at the University of Florida, is a mobile, laboratory-based platform that facilitates open-source collection of high-quality, interoperable plant phenotypic data. It consists of three main sensors: a hyperspectral sensor, a thermal camera, and a LiDAR camera. Real-time data from the sensors can be collected in its 10 ft. × 10 ft. scanning region. The mobility of the device allows its use in large growth chambers, environmentally controlled rooms, or greenhouses. Sensors are oriented nadir and positioned via computer numerical control of stepper motors. In a preliminary experiment, data gathered from SPOT was used to autonomously and nondestructively differentiate between cultivars.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Solid Organ Donation: The North Italy Transplant Program Experience.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has unfavorably influenced solid organ donation activity. AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on transplantation in the North Italy Transplant program (NITp). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all consecutive potential deceased donors proposed in the NITp in 6 weeks after February 21, 2020 (period A) compared to all potential donors during the same time frame of the previous years (period B) and all potential donors 6 weeks before February 20, 2020 (period C). RESULTS: Fifty-eight deceased donors were proposed during period A, 95 were proposed during period B, and 128 were proposed during period C. After the evaluation process, 32 of 58 (55.2%), 60 of 95 (63.2%), and 79 of 128 (61.7%) donors were used for organ donation in periods A, B, and C, respectively (P value = .595). We observed a 47% donation reduction in period A compared to period B and a 60% reduction compared to period C. There was a reduction of 44% and 59% in transplantation comparing period A with period B and period C, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed an important reduction of donations and transplants during the COVID-19 pandemic.