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General-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) can facilitate agricultural digitalization as many tools do not require coding. Yet, it remains unclear how well the emerging general-purpose AI technologies can perform object counting, which is a fundamental task in agricultural digitalization, in comparison to the current standard practice. We show that ChatGPT (GPT4 V) demonstrated moderate performance in counting coffee cherries from images, while the T-Rex, foundation model for object counting, performed with high accuracy. Testing with a hundred images, we examined that ChatGPT can count cherries, and the performance improves with human feedback (R2 = 0.36 and 0.46, respectively). The T-Rex foundation model required only a few samples for training but outperformed YOLOv8, the conventional best practice model (R2 = 0.92 and 0.90, respectively). Obtaining the results with these models was 100x shorter than the conventional best practice. These results bring two surprises for deep learning users in applied domains: a foundation model can drastically save effort and achieve higher accuracy than a conventional approach, and ChatGPT can reveal a relatively good performance especially with guidance by providing some examples and feedback. No requirement for coding skills can impact education, outreach, and real-world implementation of generative AI for supporting farmers.

The removal of necrotic and vital pulp substrates and microorganisms and their toxins from the root canal system (RCS) has been found to be the basis for a successful endodontic treatment. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the effect of passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) on the elimination of the organic remnant tissue from infected, narrow and curved mandibular root canals during their instrumentation. For this purpose, mesiobuccal canals from mandibular first molars were instrumented with the RaCe rotary system, using PUI activation or conventional irrigation (CI) and two apical diameters (#25 and #35). The root canal cleanness of the samples was evaluated by microscopy and using a modified Langeland’s ordinal scale. Parametric and non-parametric statistical analyses and principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) of the samples were performed. When PUI was used, there was a significant reduction of the organic remnant in the apical enlargement of 25 at 2 mm from the apex (p < 0.001). After pooling the groups, regardless of the depth of the observation (2 and 4 mm from the apex), the pair #35 + PUI vs. #25 + CI showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). The effect of PUI explained 65% of the overall variance when compared with the CI samples. The use of PUI reduced the organic material of narrow infected and curved root canals with an apical enlargement of #25 and #35. When PUI is not used, a biomechanical instrumentation up to a diameter ≥#35 is recommended.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical use of microarray-based techniques for the analysis of many developmental disorders has emerged during the last decade. Thus, chromosomal microarray has been positioned as a first-tier test. This study reports the first experience in a Chilean cohort. METHODS: Chilean patients with developmental disabilities and congenital anomalies were studied with a high-density microarray (CytoScan(tm) HD Array, Affymetrix, Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA). Patients had previous cytogenetic studies with either a normal result or a poorly characterized anomaly. RESULTS: This study tested 40 patients selected by two or more criteria, including: major congenital anomalies, facial dysmorphism, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. Copy number variants (CNVs) were found in 72.5% of patients, while a pathogenic CNV was found in 25% of patients and a CNV of uncertain clinical significance was found in 2.5% of patients. CONCLUSION: Chromosomal microarray analysis is a useful and powerful tool for diagnosis of developmental diseases, by allowing accurate diagnosis, improving the diagnosis rate, and discovering new etiologies. The higher cost is a limitation for widespread use in this setting.

A methodology is proposed to jointly model treatments with quantitative levels measured throughout time by combining the response surface and growth curve techniques. The model parameters, which measure the effect throughout time of the factors related to the second-order response surface model, are estimated. These estimates are made through a suitable transformation that allows to express the model as a classic MANOVA model, so the traditional hypotheses are formulated and tested. In addition, the optimality conditions throughout time are established as a set of specific combination factors by the fitted model. As a final step, two applications are analyzed using our proposed model: the first was previously analyzed with growth curves in another paper, and the second involves two factors that are optimized over time.

Esta investigación fue realizada en la estación piscícola de San José del Nus (Antioquia). Fue iniciada en el año 2002 con la captura y adaptación de un lote de 100 reproductores silvestres, provenientes de tres microcuencas cercanas a la estación piscícola y fue continuada en el año 2003 con la captura de otros 80 ejemplares, con los cuales se hicieron los primeros ensayos de inducción hormonal estimulando la maduración final y la ovulación con dos dosis de Extracto Pituitario de Carpa (EPC) (0.5 + 5.0 mg/kg de peso corporal). Para la obtención de los gametos se utilizó extrusión en seco en los tres grupos de peces. La maduración final y la ovulación se indujo en 20 hembras y la espermiación en 20 machos. El resultado más relevante fue la ovulación y desove de ocho hembras, de las cuales sólo dos fueron completamente exitosas, con un tiempo de latencia de 13 y 11 h, respectivamente. De la primera hembra con un peso de 136.2 g, se extrajeron 1421 huevos, los cuales fueron fertilizados, mostrando una sobrevivencia de embrión a larva de 28% y de larva a alevino de 35.7%. La segunda hembra, de 90 g de peso corporal, desovó 1348 huevos mostrando un porcentaje de fertilidad de 74%, sobrevivencia larval del 40% y sobrevivencia hasta alevino comercial de 25%. En cada uno de los desoves se obtuvo un número de alevinos netos de 141 y 101, respectivamente. La temperatura de incubación fue de 24.5 ºC y de 25.3 ºC. Cabe destacar que el en mismo año se encontró una hembra ya desovada que presentó nuevamente madurez gonadal tres meses más tarde.Esta pesquisa foi realizada na estação de piscicultura de São José del Nus (Antioquia). Foi iniciada no ano 2002 com a captura e adaptação de um lote de 100 reprodutores selvagens provenientes de três córregos perto da estação piscicola e foi continuada no ano 2003 com a captura de outros 80 exemplares, com os quais foram feitos os primeiros ensaios de indução hormonal estimulando a maduração final e a ovulação com duas doses de extrato de hipófise de carpa (0.5 + 5.0 mg / kg de peso corporal). Para a obtenção dos gametas se utilizo extrusão em seco para os três grupos de peixes. A maduração final e a ovulação foi induzida em 20 fêmeas e a espermiação em 20 machos. O resultado mais relevante foi a ovulação e desova de oito fêmeas, das quais apenas duas foram completamente bem sucedidas, o período de latência foi de 13 e 11 h, respectivamente.. Da primeira fêmea, com 136.2 g de peso corporal, obtiveram-se 1421, os quais foram fertilizados, com uma sobrevivência desde embrião a larva de 28% e de larva até alevin de 35.7%. A segunda fêmea de 90 g de peso corporal, desovou 1348 ovos mostrando uma percentagem de fertilidade de 74%, sobrevivência larval de 40% e sobrevivência desde larva a alevin comercial de 25%. Em cada uma das desovas foram obtidos 141 e 101 alevines, respectivamente. A temperatura da água de incubação foi de 24.5 ºC e 25.3 ºC, respectivamente. Outra observação importante foi que, durante o mesmo período encontrouse uma fêmea desovada que apresentou de novo maturação gonadal 3 meses mais tarde.This research was conducted in the San José del Nus fish farm, located in the Municipality of San Roque (department of Antioquia). This study began in 2002 with the capture and suitability of 100 wild breeding fish batches coming from three sub-basins near to San José del Nus fish farm. In 2003, another 80 specimens were captured and utilized for first hormonal induction trials by stimulating final maturation and ovulation with two doses of Carp pituitary extract (CPE) (0.5 + 5.0 mg/kg B.W.). Dry extrusion was used in the three groups of fish to obtain gametes. Spermiation and final maturation plus ovulation were induced in twenty males and females, respectively. The most relevant result was ovulation and spawning in 8 cases. Two of them were completely successful; their latency period was 13 and 11 h, respectively. From the first previously fertilized female (136.2 g. B.W.) 1421 eggs were extracted, with a survival of 28% from embryo to larva; and 35.7% from larva to alevin. The second female (90 g B.W.) spawned 1348 eggs, resulting in a fertilization rate of 74%, larval survival of 40% and survival until alevin for commercial use of 25%. In both cases, spawning resulted in an alevin net number of 141 and 101, respectively. Water incubation temperature was 24.5 ºC and 25.3 ºC. It is important to emphasize that in the same year a previously spawned female was found, and three months later this female presented gonadal maturity once again.