Large-scale assessment of date palm plantations based on UAV remote sensing and multiscale vision transformer
Timely and efficient mapping of date palm plantations through unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing is critical for continuous observation, health and risk evaluation, pest management, resource optimization, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the dates industry. This study presents an efficient and cost-effective transformer-based approach to identify, countify, monitor, and evaluate the overall well-being of palm trees using extensive UAV imagery. The suggested approach integrates an improved multiscale vision transformer, feature pyramid network, Mask R–CNN, and improved slicing-aided hyper inference for practical large-scale assessments. This combination enabled the extraction of multiscale features, capturing long-range dependencies in the data and boosting the model's generalizability. The proposed architecture outperformed several CNN-based architectures (including Mask R–CNN, Cascade Mask R–CNN, Point-based Rendering, and You Only Look At CoefficientTs), achieving F-scores of 94.33% and 94.2% for date palm tree detection and segmentation, respectively. The transformer-based architecture was optimized using transfer learning to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy date palm trees, particularly those with severe infestations. The potential generic condition of date palm trees was predicted with an F-score of 88.4%. Further advancements in this field could pave the way for a proactive strategy, enabling timely detection, which would aid in pest management and support the sustainable growth of the dates sector.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2024.101195
Alternative fertilization practices lead to improvements in yield-scaled global warming potential in almond orchards
This study investigates the impact of alternative fertilization practices on the yield-scaled global warming potential (YS-GWP) in almond orchards. Almond production is a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to nitrogen-based mineral fertilizers. This research aims to identify strategies that reduce the environmental footprint of almond cultivation while maintaining yield. Field experiments were conducted in an almond orchard using three alternative fertigation practices: Advance Grower Practice (AGP), Pump and Fertilize (P&F), and High Frequency Low Concentration (HFLC). AGP is the current practice used by producers to meet annual N demand for almond tree growth; P&F is a reduction in applied N rate in response to measured N concentrations in the groundwater so that the added N and groundwater N reach the same total N applied; HFLC is a practice of applying smaller N rates per individual event. HFLC uses a greater number of fertigation events to reach similar total annual N load as other treatments. Cumulative N2O and CH4 emissions were used to determine GWP by converting the emissions to carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq) within a 100-year horizon. Nitrous oxide emissions were multiplied by a radiative forcing potential CO2eq of 298 and CH4 by 25 (UNFCCC, 2007). The results revealed that both P&F and HFLC reduced the YS-GWP compared to AGP. HFLC demonstrated 52–78% decrease in GWP per unit of almond yield compared to AGP, while P&F showed 48–58% decrease over AGP. These reductions were attributed to the reduced nitrous oxide emissions associated with P&F and HFLC. Further, P&F and HFLC tended to have higher N use efficiency than AGP. We demonstrate that adopting alternative fertilization practices can effectively mitigate the environmental footprint of almond orchards while maintaining crop yields. These practices offer viable options for almond growers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance sustainability, and contribute to climate change mitigation.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2023.108857
17th Food Exhibition for China Nuts & Dried Fruits
Come visit us in Hall 2, stand B-10
From April 16-20 the INC will be exhibiting at the 17th Food Exhibition for China Nuts & Dried Fruits. The exhibition will attract over 100,000 visitors both national and international and 2,000 exhibitors. Promoting key INC activities in this core market for growth, the INC stand will be located at Hall 2, Global Nuts and Dried Fruit Food, stand no. B10. For those attending, we invite you to visit us there.
Design of the Intervention to Reduce Early Peanut Allergy in Children (iREACH): A practice-based clinical trial
Background: Introducing peanut products early can prevent peanut allergy (PA). The "Addendum guidelines for the prevention of PA in the United States" (PPA guidelines) recommend early introduction of peanut products to low and moderate risk infants and evaluation prior to starting peanut products for infants at high risk for PA (those with severe eczema and/or egg allergy). Rapid adoption of guidelines could aid in lowering the prevalence of PA. The Intervention to Reduce Early (Peanut) Allergy in Children (iREACH) trial was designed to promote PPA guideline adherence by pediatric clinicians. Methods: A two-arm, cluster-randomized, controlled clinical trial was designed to measure the effectiveness of an intervention that included clinician education and accompanying clinical decision support tools integrated in electronic health records (EHR) versus standard care. Randomization was at the practice level (n = 30). Primary aims evaluated over an 18-month trial period assess adherence to the PPA guidelines using EHR documentation at 4- and 6-month well-child care visits aided by natural language processing. A secondary aim will evaluate the effectiveness in decreasing the incidence of PA by age 2.5 years using EHR documentation and caregiver surveys. The unit of observation for evaluations are individual children with clustering at the practice level. Conclusion: Application of this intervention has the potential to inform the development of strategies to speed implementation of PPA guidelines.
https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.14115
Validation of the NUT CRACKER diagnostic algorithm and prediction for cashew and pistachio co-allergy
Background: Due to the high cross sensitization among tree nuts, the NUT CRACKER study proposed a diagnostic algorithm to minimize the number of required oral food challenges (OFC). Objective: The objective of this study was to validate the algorithm for cashew and pistachio allergy and determine markers for allergic severity. Methods: Patients (n=125) aged 7.9 (5.9-11.2) years (median (IQR)) with suspected tree nut allergy were evaluated prospectively with decision tree points based on skin prick test (SPT), basophil activation test (BAT) and knowledge of the coincidence of allergies. Validation of allergic status was determined by OFC. Markers of clinical severity were evaluated using the combined original and prospective cohort (n=187) in relationship to SPT, BAT and Ana o 3-sIgE. Results: Reactivity to cashew in SPT, BAT and Ana o 3-sIgE and the incidence of abdominal pain upon challenge were significantly higher in dual-allergic cashew/pistachio patients (n=82) vs single cashew allergy (n=18) (p=0.001). All three diagnostic tests showed significant inverse correlation with log10 reaction doses for positive cashew OFC. The algorithm reduced overall the total number of OFCs by 72.0% with a PPV and NPV of 93.0% and 99.0%, respectively. Cashew false positives were observed primarily in hazelnut allergic patients (p=0.026). In this population, Ana o 3-sIgE could diagnose cashew allergy with a sensitivity over 90%, and a specificity over 95%. Conclusion: The NUT CRACKER diagnostic algorithm was validated and reduced the number of diagnostic OFCs required. Markers for severity phenotypes may guide oral immunotherapy protocols, improving the risk/benefit ratio for patients. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2024.02.012
Long-term Safety Results of Epicutaneous Immunotherapy (EPIT) with Viaskin Peanut in Peanut-Allergic Children Aged 4-11 Years in the Phase 3 PEOPLE Study
Rationale: Previously reported interim results from PEOPLE (PEPITES Open-Label Extension) demonstrated Viaskin Peanut 250 μg (VP250) led to continued treatment response and was well-tolerated out to 3 years. Here we report PEOPLE end-of-study safety results. Methods: In PEPITES, 356 peanut-allergic participants (aged 4-11 years) were randomized to placebo or VP250. In PEOPLE, 298 participants were treated with open-label VP250 for up to 48 (placebo+VP250) or 60 (VP250+VP250) months. Safety outcomes included duration and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious TEAEs. Results: 87/298 (29.2%) participants continued treatment in the PEOPLE extension period (Years 4 and 5); mean (range) age was 11.1 (8-16) years. During the Extension Period, there were no discontinuations due to TEAEs, or treatment-related serious TEAEs; 1 (1.1%) participant experienced a treatment-related severe TEAE. Treatment-related TEAEs decreased over time: 63/87 (72.4%) in Year 1 to 9/59 (15.3%) in Year 5. Subjects reporting TEAEs leading to systemic or inhaled corticosteroid use decreased from 20/87 (23.0%) in Year 1 to 1/59 (1.7%) in Year 5. Treatment-related anaphylaxis occurred in 2/87 (2.3%) (Years 1 and 2 only). Treatment-related TEAEs leading to epinephrine use occurred in 1/87 (1.1%) participants (Year 1 only). Overall mean treatment compliance remained high out to 5 years (93%). Conclusions: VP250 treatment over 5 years in PEOPLE showed decreasing frequency and severity of TEAEs, no new safety signals, and high treatment compliance. These data suggest long-term VP250 treatment in peanut-allergic children may have a favorable safety and tolerability profile, which may facilitate its use over multiple years of treatment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2023.11.406
An Unintentional Randomized Trial of Early Environmental Exposure to Peanut: The Younger Siblings of LEAP Participants
Rationale: The Dual Allergen Exposure Hypothesis proposes that food allergy develops due to cutaneous exposure in the absence of oral consumption. Evaluation of the younger siblings of the Learning Early About Peanut (LEAP) participants provides an opportunity to understand the impact of environmental exposure to peanut during infancy and early childhood on the development of peanut sensitization and allergy through a prospective randomized trial of high environmental versus low environmental peanut exposure. Methods: LEAP-Trio evaluated the allergic status of younger siblings who resided in the home of LEAP participants at any time during the LEAP intervention. The primary endpoint was sensitization (defined as skin prick test ≥ 3 mm, peanut specific-IgE ≥ 0.35 kU/L, or Ara h2 ≥ 0.1 kU/L). Results: 144 younger siblings of LEAP avoiders and 154 younger siblings of LEAP consumers participated. Younger siblings of consumers had a higher rate of sensitization than younger siblings of avoiders, 30.4% (41/135) versus 20.0% (26/130) P=0.055, and a higher rate of allergy, 10.0% (15/150) versus 5.0% (7/140) P=0.116. Among younger siblings of LEAP consumers, younger siblings that introduced peanut in the first year of life had a significantly lower rate of sensitization than younger siblings that did not introduce peanut, 18.3% (13/71) versus 44.4% (28/63) (P=0.002). No differences were found in egg or milk sensitization between groups. Conclusions: There was a trend toward increased sensitization and allergy in younger siblings of LEAP consumers, an effect that was greatly reduced if the younger sibling introduced peanut early. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2023.11.876
Nuts and seeds consumption impact on adolescent obesity: sex-specific associations from 2003 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
The nutritional benefits and immunological advantages of consuming nuts and seeds are well-established. However, the link between nuts and seeds consumption and the susceptibility of being overweight or obese among adolescents is not clear. This study aims to explore this relationship in adolescents aged 12-19. Using a weighted multiple logistic regression model, we analysed data of the Food Patterns Equivalents Database and the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2018. We found a significant association between nuts and seeds consumption and a reduced odds of being overweight or obese in females. Specifically, females who habitually consumed nuts and seeds had lower odds of being overweight or obese (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32-0.94). Additionally, we found an L-shaped relationship between nuts and seeds consumption and appropriate waist-to-height ratio in males. The findings suggest that nuts and seeds consumption may contribute to healthier physical development in adolescents. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2024.2314682
Nut consumption during pregnancy is associated with decreased risk of peer problems in 5-year-old Japanese children
Objectives: Nuts are nutrient-dense foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids, protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The present prebirth cohort study examined the association between maternal nut intake during pregnancy and the risk of childhood behavioral problems in 5-year-old Japanese children. Methods: Study subjects were 1199 mother-child pairs. Dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior were assessed using the parent-reported version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustments were made for a priori-selected nondietary confounders and potentially related dietary factors. Results: Compared with mothers who had not eaten nuts during pregnancy, mothers who had eaten nuts had a significantly reduced risk of peer problems in children; the adjusted odds ratio was 0.64 (95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.97). There were no measurable associations between maternal consumption of nuts during pregnancy and the risk of childhood emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, and low prosocial behavior. Conclusions: Maternal consumption of nuts during pregnancy may be associated with a decreased risk of peer problems in 5-year-old children. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpn3.12177
Bean and Nut Intake Were Protective Factors for Comorbid Hypertension and Hyperuricemia in Chinese Adults: Results from China Nutrition and Health Surveillance (2015-2017)
This study aimed to describe the prevalence of comorbid hypertension and hyperuricemia (HH) and detected the dietary factors for HH in Chinese adults aged 18 to 64 years. All of the data were collected from the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2015–2017, with a stratified, multistage, random sampling method on a national scale. A total of 52,627 adult participants aged 18~64 years from the CNHS 2015–2017 were included in this study. HH was identified as SUA level cut-offs for males and females of 420 μmol/L and 360 μmol/L, respectively, with mean systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or mean diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg and/or received antihypertensive treatment within two weeks. The differences in HH prevalence between or among the subgroups were compared by the Rao–Scott chi-square test. The correlations between HH and covariates or metabolic factors were detected by a weighted two-level multivariate survey logistic regression. The total weighted sufficient intake ratios of beans and nuts, vegetables, and red meat were 59.1%, 46.6%, and 64.8%, respectively. The weighted prevalence of HH in the total participants was 4.7% (95% CI: 4.3–5.0%). The positive effects of bean and nut on HH were observed. The participants who had sufficient bean and nut intake showed lower risk for HH (for the total participants: OR = 0.734, 95% CI = 0.611–0.881). The prevalence of HH might have been a public health problem, and bean and nut intake might be a protective factor for HH in the Chinese population. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16020192