21 November

Nanotechnology: A Massive Impact at the Molecular Level

adminBig Data, Digital, Learning and Development, Life Sciences, TechnologyNo Comments

The foundation of the human body lies in atoms, molecules, nanostructures, and macrostructures. Hence, our bodies rely on the functionality of components working at the nanoscale. Nanotechnology is simply the introduction of foreign nanomaterials to enhance the performance of those pre-existing components. In fact, being of a similar size facilitates their integration into biomedical devices. Anything measuring between 1 and 100 nanometers is considered to be within the nanotechnological range, though medical exceptions exist.

The advantages of nanotechnology in the healthcare of animals and humans are almost limitless. As the bridge between micro and macroscopic structures, the quantum effect grants them novel chemical, biological, magnetic, optical, and electrical properties which have prompted extensive research over the last 30 years and resulted in further discoveries regarding their scope and capabilities. Nanoparticles (NPs) are not hindered by predetermined size, shape, or composition as they are adaptable and customizable. They have a large surface-to-volume ratio, which opens up possibilities for more reliable and reproducible chemical processes [1], and they can diffuse across membranes and assimilate into cells.  

Uses of Nanotechnology in Human and Animal Health

Given these capabilities, let us delve into the applications of nanotechnology in medical imaging, early diagnosis, biological sensors, drug delivery, therapeutics, tissue engineering, gene editing, and more.  

Early Diagnosis

Using today’s technology, infections take weeks and months to manifest externally. This allows for the prolific spread of the disease among entire herds, which consequently need to be exterminated.

Smart devices include a miniature saliva-sampling device that senses the presence of disease in advance and notifies the appropriate staff or veterinarians to activate the treatment process [2]. Nanoscale methods, integrated with Artificial Intelligence, may be used as self-monitoring, and self-repairing materials and structures.

Nanomaterials may be introduced to the body to act as immunostimulants, prompting an innate immune response, which enhances the immune system. This does, however, depend on the biocompatibility of the immune system to the nanomaterial.

The development of nanotechnology has improved the sensitivity, localization, and multiplexity of diagnostic tests. Quantum Dots are semiconductor crystals with interesting attributes, such as tunable composition, high brightness, and immunity against photobleaching and blinking fluorescence signals [3]. The emission spectra of QDs are highly manipulable, making them ideal fluorescent probes for live cell imaging [4]. QDs can thus be used at both a cellular and sub-cellular level – for the visualization of intracellular components at the former, and integration with cells at the latter level.

There are further environmental sensor systems that can be mounted on silicon chips to identify the biomarkers of multiple conditions such as tumors, heart disease, or localized infection and alert the relevant medical professional to these symptoms [5].

Drug Delivery

A regular issue with orally or intravenously administered chemotherapeutic drugs is their dissemination throughout the system. They only partially impact the target areas and have damaging side effects in adjacent regions. Drug delivery systems (DDS) are a promising solution that can bypass biochemical barriers within the body [6].

In recent times, noble nanometals have increasingly captured the intrigue of researchers for their unique properties. Gold nanoparticles (AuNP), however, have been found to be the most stable and especially biocompatible [7] among these, possessing fascinating tunable and optical properties which lend themselves to an abundance of medical and biological applications.

AuNPs are easily modifiable for the transport of drugs via covalent bonding. Findings show that AuNPs have been pivotal in the reduction of systemic drug toxicity and have lowered the development of resistance to cancer drugs [8]. Anti-tumor antibiotic, Doxorubicin, has proven especially efficacious against feline fibrosarcoma cell lines when non-covalently conjugated (bound) to AuNPs [9].

Other metallic NPs can act as gene carriers, activating immune-related genes. This is a process of gene therapy, whereby a healthy gene is delivered to replace a damaged or mutated gene. This is valuable for curing acquired or genetic diseases. AuNPs coated in non-toxic biopolymers are highly active in the transmucosal delivery of insulin for diabetes treatment [10].

Quantum dots also hold much promise based on their ease of conjugation to multiple drugs, the traceability associated with their optical properties, and the ultra-minute size of QD nanocarriers. The latter factor enables them to penetrate through the supportive tissue fluid around pancreatic tumors [11]. Currently, however, nano-liposomes are considered ideal for the delivery of drugs due to their biocompatibility and controlled flow through the bloodstream.

Orally administered DNA particles combined with allergen-suppression biomolecules were successful in regulating the allergic reactions of mice exposed to a peanut-allergen gene [12]. This shows that nanotechnology has the potential for use in immunization against allergies.

Therapeutics

Magnetic nanoparticles have been used to prepare tissue engineering (TE) scaffolds for regenerative purposes. The unique electromagnetic properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have made them highly valuable in the transport of oligonucleotides into living Hela (immortal cervical cancer) cells. There, the NIR (near-infrared) radiation can overheat the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), causing cell death. In vitro, the CNTs selectively entered and destroyed tumor cells and left normal cells unharmed [13]. This is known as photothermal therapy or thermal ablation and makes use of targeting recognition technology.

Radiation therapy is another option that involves ionizing the cellular components and water in tumor cells. The electron production at the surface of metallic nanoparticles can accelerate the production of reactive oxygen species, which react with biological macromolecules to cause cell death or apoptosis.

Cell and Tissue Restructuring, Engineering, and Regeneration

Tissue Engineering (TE) is the external development of tissues or other bioproducts for the improvement or substitution of missing, infected, or damaged cells. Generally speaking, nanoparticles can be used to augment tissue regeneration, enhance the osseointegration procedure around prosthesis attachment, and reduce the infection rate surrounding the amputation.

Scaffolds are biomaterial structures designed to support and guide cell growth, differentiation, and proliferation. As part of the tissue engineering triad, they are essential aspects of BTE. Scaffolds exhibited improved mechanical properties when composed of low concentrations of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) [14]. When applied to defective parietal bones of rabbits, hydrogels incorporating the GNP-and-gelatin hybrid scaffolds were found with augmented osteoblast proliferation rates as compared to the control group [15]. The role of osteoblasts is to improve the development and resorption of bones. Gold nanowires further positively impact key organ transplant functions – synapse formation and stem cell differentiation – all without using growth factors, which cause negative side effects.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used to enhance cell proliferation rates, particularly in cardiac tissue regeneration. Research has further uncovered that hydrogen bonds can be formed between TiO2, PVP, and type 1 collagen when the TiO2 nanoparticle is coated with PVP. This improves the tensile strength in the scaffolds used in skin tissue engineering [16].

Gold nanoparticles have aided immensely as a replacement for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). BMPs regulate the repair and maintenance of bones. BMPs have some serious drawbacks, frequently being responsible for the formation of spurs and inflammatory reactions. This has prompted researchers to shift their attention to GNPs (gold nanoparticles) as a promising alternative [17].

When it comes to apparatus used in the reinforcement of bones at joints, understanding the degree of strain on the fixation device is vital to its construction. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are subject to piezoresistive effects, which can be calculated for the quantification of applied stress. A CNT network can, hence, be embedded into orthopedic plates to help determine the healing stage of the bone. A healed bone will independently bear a majority of the load. Conversely, an unhealed bone will transfer the load to the fixation device; this process will be captured by the nanotube network [18].   

Considerations

Throughout this article, we have explored the various nano-systems being exploited to bypass various bottlenecks in a variety of sectors, including both human and animal health. The precipitous rate of discovery in the last few years has truly raised the bar of expectations of the technology’s capabilities. However, to sideline the challenges and limitations in favor of the benefits would be unwise.

The primary hindrance to the implementation of nanotechnology is the immune system’s potential misidentification of nanoparticles as invaders. In some cases, this may result in their prompt expulsion or destruction before they can deliver the treatment. The greater danger is a cytokine overload or storm [19]. This occurs when the nanoparticles induce a pattern of cytokine production which leads to a positive feedback loop. This means that the immune cells release cytokines instructing the body to produce more immune cells, and this overproduction can damage organs, including the lungs and kidneys. Carbon nanotubes have been known to trigger a cytokinic response in mice [20], while silver particles have caused inflammatory responses [21].

Toxicity is another major threat to the viability of nanotechnology within living organisms. The desirable properties which alter the physicochemical features may also potentially cause toxicity. Non-biodegradable materials contribute to a greater extent, as they tend to have a higher reactivity to surrounding cell structures. It is therefore of great importance to investigate and apply evaluation methods. Currently, dendritic cells, epithelial cells, and macrophages are commonly used to assess the toxicology of engineered nanomaterials.

Many of the studies conducted showed positive results in vitro, but clinical trials are still limited. We know that the adverse impact on organisms can be much more severe as compared to bulk materials. Hence, it is imperative to exercise caution and optimize the conditions under which nanomedicine can be practiced. This includes choosing non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible materials for the fashioning of antibacterial-loaded nanoparticles.   

References

[1] Subramani K., Ahmed W. Emerging Nanotechnologies in Dentistry. William Andrew; Norwich, NY, USA: 2017

[2] https://doc.woah.org/dyn/portal/digidoc.xhtml?statelessToken=wW9fvTfRUAuzwobIfIdgsspq66AsADl_5pldKcMdYGE=&actionMethod=dyn%2Fportal%2Fdigidoc.xhtml%3AdownloadAttachment.openStateless

[3] Sun M, Ma X, Chen X, Sun Y, Cui X, Lin Y. A nanocomposite of carbon quantum dots and TiO2 nanotube arrays: enhancing photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties. Rsc Adv. 2014;4(3):1120–1127

[4] Pleskova S, Mikheeva E, Gornostaeva E. Using of quantum dots in biology and medicine. In: Saquib Q, Faisal M, Al-Khedhairy AA, Alatar AA, editors. Cellular and Molecular Toxicology of Nanoparticles. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2018:323–334

[5] Agoulmine N, Kim K, Kim S, Rim T, Lee JS, Meyyappan M. Enabling communication and cooperation in bio-nanosensor networks: toward innovative healthcare solutions. IEEE Wirel Commun. 2012;19:42–51

[6] Martinho, N., Damgé, C., and Reis, C. P. (2011). Recent advances in drug delivery systems. J. Biomater. Nanobiotechnol. 2, 510–526.

[7] Pissuwan, D., Camilla, G., Mongkolsuk, S., and Cortie, M. B. (2019). Single and multiple detections of foodborne pathogens by gold nanoparticle assays. WIREs Nanomed. Nanotechnology. 12:1584.

[8] Yokoyama, M. (2014). Polymeric micelles as drug carriers: their lights and shadows. J. Drug Target. 22, 576–583.

[9] Wójcik, M., Lewandowski, W., Król, M., Pawłowski, K., Mieczkowski, J., Lechowski, R., et al. (2015). Enhancing anti-tumor efficacy of doxorubicin by non-covalent conjugation to gold nanoparticles-in vitro studies on feline fibrosarcoma cell lines. 

[10] Joshi, H. M., Bhumkar, D. R., Joshi, K., Pokharkar, V., and Sastry, M. (2006). Gold nanoparticles as carriers for efficient transmucosal insulin delivery. Langmuir 22, 300–305

[11] Iannazzo D, Pistone A, Celesti C, et al. A smart nanovector for cancer targeted drug delivery based on graphene quantum dots. Nanomaterials. 2019;9(2):282

[12] Roy K, Mao HQ, Huang SK, Leong KW. Oral gene delivery with chitosan–DNA nanoparticles generates immunologic protection in a murine model of peanut allergy. Nat Med. 1999 Apr;5(4):387-91

[13] Shi Kam, N. W. (16 August 2005). “Carbon nanotubes as multifunctional biological transporters and near-infrared agents for selective cancer cell destruction”. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 102 (33): 11600–11605.

[14] Pan L, Pei X, He R, Wan Q, Wang J. Multiwall carbon nanotubes/polycaprolactone composites for bone tissue engineering application. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2012 May 1;93:226-34

[15] Heo DN, Ko WK, Bae MS, et al. Enhanced bone regeneration with a gold nanoparticle-hydrogel complex. J Mater Chem B. 2014;2(11):1584–1593

[16] Li N, Fan X, Tang K, Zheng X, Liu J, Wang B. Nanocomposite scaffold with enhanced stability by hydrogen bonds between collagen, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and titanium dioxide. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2016;140:287–296

[17] Heo DN, Ko WK, Bae MS, et al. Enhanced bone regeneration with a gold nanoparticle-hydrogel complex. J Mater Chem B. 2014;2(11):1584–1593

[18] http://www.google.com/patents/US7878988/nanotechnology

[19] Schöler N, Hahn H, Müller R, Liesenfeld O. Effect of lipid matrix and size of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) on the viability and cytokine production of macrophages. Int J Pharm. 2002;231(2):167–176.

[20] Nygaard UC, Hansen JS, Samuelsen M, Alberg T, Marioara CD, Lovik M. Single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes promote allergic immune responses in mice. Toxicol Sci. 2009;109(1):113–123.

[21] Park E, Bae E, Yi J, Kim Y, Choi K, Lee SH, et al. Repeated-dose toxicity and inflammatory responses in mice by oral administration of silver nanoparticles. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2010;30(2):162–168.

” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

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    7 November

    The Value of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) in 2022

    adminAnimal Health, Big Data, Digital, Life Sciences, TechnologyNo Comments

    Also known as agriculture 4.0, Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) focuses on maximizing profitability and sustainability by providing the specific treatment needed to optimize production. It uses advanced sensor systems to collect data and then assesses that data to identify the ideal combination of inputs and systems. This process reduces wastage and increases yield.

    We should clarify that while Precision Farming is often used synonymously with Smart Farming, the former is a subset of the latter. SLF focuses on data capture and analysis to maximize productivity and efficiency; PLF relies on precise measurements and precise application to accomplish the same goal.

    In this article, we will be discussing the use of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF), which includes its technological requirements, applications, and potential. Precision agriculture relies on certain common technologies such as automation, sensors, AI, and analytics software.

    AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS

    From monitoring the physiological condition of cows to feed regulators, automation is an undeniably useful feature of precision agriculture on dairy farms. Automation is valued for its quality maintenance, efficient performance, and time-saving capability across industries. Automation on a dairy farm comes at two levels of complexity:

    Physical Robots

    These are the simple machines that perform menial tasks in and around the farm.

    • Automated dairy installations adapt the milking frequency to lactation stages by identifying and adjusting themselves to individual herd members. They may also be programmed to allow the animal to enter the milking station without having to wait for milking time, which reduces the stress on the livestock caused by holding uncomfortably large volumes of milk.
    • Automated weighing systems can utilize software in the cameras to calculate the accurate mean weight spontaneously and unintrusively.
    • Automated feeders may use Variable-Rate Technology to regulate intake to reduce obesity and meet nutritional standards. They can also create optimal mixtures based on the animal’s specific needs.
    • Automated cleaning systems improve hygiene to lower the risk of infection and facilitate the ease of access for waste removal machinery.
    • 3D printers can allow commercial livestock farmers to fully adopt capital-intensive systems by 3D printing machine replacement parts.

    Drones

    The drone services market size is expected to grow to $63.6 billion by 2025. Let’s explore the potential of adopting this widely available technology on cattle ranches in the US.

    • Drones help to locate cattle over vast distances, which saves time and effort for the herders.
    • In conjunction with tags, facial expression readers, or electromagnetic RFID tags, drones can monitor the health indicators of individual herd members. This includes weight, heart rate, grazing rumination, mobility, etc.
    • UAVs can even compel the cows to move away, hence acting as a valuable resource for efficiently rounding up the herd in the face of an impending storm.
    • Observer UAVs are utilized to distinguish between animals and other objects, identifying a sick cow or a broken fence.

    Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

    RPA is the next stratum that goes beyond performing tasks to enabling machinery to carry out repetitive or strenuous tasks. Using software bots, it automates tasks such as loading and unloading materials and products, slaughtering, packaging, and cattle monitoring. Sometimes RPA works in conjunction with Intelligent Automation which utilizes AI to develop software and processes that can adapt and improve independently.

    The cattle and beef industry generally faces the challenge of complex processes. However, much of the labor can be easily redirected toward areas that require creativity and human intervention. RPA is easily integrated with existing IT systems and requires no prior programming expertise to operate, making it relatively easier to adopt.

    Discrete Event Simulation (DES) is a subclass of RPA that segments systems into separate processes. DES can be used on a livestock farm to identify the events affecting the fluctuation of yields such as lactation stage, weather events, diseases, or feeding practices. Hence, DES can aid in the modification and optimization of processes used to assuage inconsistencies.

    SENSORS

    From satellites to mounted ear tags, sensors can be used for spectral, spatial, and radiometric applications across pastoral land.

    Satellite-based monitoring

    The satellite-based monitoring of cattle has been gaining traction in the last 3 years, especially among large-scale Australian cattle ranchers. From basic data-collection systems such as ARGOS and GPS to advanced software developed by LoneStar and Moovement, tracking tags can now perform a variety of functions. Monitoring and analysis of special and temporal data on cattle location, movement, and interaction can provide benefits such as

    • Checking their current physical condition
    • Determining which animals are high-performing
    • Measuring stress levels and how they can affect production and fertility
    • Getting better financial and insurance options because of more accurate and reliable animal tracking.
    • Faster data sampling: Precision Hawk’s agricultural drones can “gather data on 500 to 1,000 acres in less than a day.”

    Ground-based Platforms

    • Near-infrared spectroscopy can instantaneously decipher the composition of raw materials, assess digestibility, and perform chemical and technological analysis of milk.
    • Infrared thermal imaging technology can even be used as a screening technique to identify foot-and-mouth disease-infected animals.
    • Heat sensors in cameras at the milking station can also help monitor traits like body composition, metabolism, lactation, fertility, etc. Based on this, they may alert the farmers of inflammation and potential infection.
    • Milk monitoring sensors can now evaluate the quality of the yield by scanning for pathogenic life forms that could cause diseases such as bovine mastitis. This function is often part of an Internet of Things-based system that can determine the spoilage of milk. A salinity and level sensor can also ensure the appropriate packaging of milk.

    Mounted Devices

    • Other sensors include pedometers, accelerometers, pressure sensors, and temperature sensors which are often integrated into foot tags to detect estrus, ill health, and weight gain and connected to a network to establish an Internet of Things.

    ANALYSIS

    Weather patterns and climate disasters are becoming more and more unpredictable and unavoidable as a result of climate change. But the rate of human information processing is far outpaced by the learning ability of AI and deep neural networks (DNNs).

    Let us delve into the applications of various modes of data analysis on pastoral farms. There are 4 main types of Data Analytics:

    Descriptive Analytics: The process of

    • discovering similarities between symptoms to create a disease model
    • identifying datasets to assist in tracking herd populations and the propagation of infectious agents
    • separating abnormalities and ensuring a relatively heterogenous pastoral resource.
    • finding correlations between variables
    • identify the optimum feed time and release food accordingly, as is done by Tassal, a Tasmanian salmon producer.

    Predictive Analytics

    This involves leveraging artificial neural networks and machine learning techniques to:

    • Categorize animals and herds by their future performance rates.
    • Estimate the likelihood of disasters, opportunities, and the extent of their destruction or benefits given the farm’s current infrastructural condition.
    • Uncover insights regarding vaccine and inoculation responses.

    Prescriptive Analytics 

    this is an advanced function whose focus is converting theoretical data into practical methods, such as

    • The optimization of grazing rotation, transportation cycles, protocols for curbing the advance of outbreaks, etc.
    • Minimize excesses and shortages or dispose of waste in an environmentally beneficial manner.
    • Utilize by-products such as gelatin, leather, and internal organs most efficiently and profitably.
    • Finds ways to assuage delays in the supply chain by improving transparency and harmoniously managing inventory.
    • Using the sensing system to solve problems that improve the agricultural ecosystem, as done by Australian agtech company, the Yield.

    Benefits of Precision Livestock Farming

    Heightened Profitability

    High-value AI-driven drones and equipment can harvest inputs with greater accuracy, leading to higher productivity and a significant drop in expenditure. This method can also eliminate losses from deadly diseases like anthrax, white muscle disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

    Improved Understanding of In-Season Yield

    The precise imagery and sensor collected data can provide insights into areas of improvement and weakness, potential opportunities for growth, or upcoming threats. The yield forecasts can help a farmer plan ahead and address upcoming spikes in dairy demand.

    Enhanced Sustainability

    Precision livestock farming is a flexible mechanism that can be used to target a multiplicity of factors, depending on the goals of the user. Sustainability is a rising concern today, given that soil maintenance is an important aspect of animal husbandry, and the rising social opposition against large-scale cattle rearing is methane emissions and contributions to climate change. One can mold the structure to reduce wastage and carbon footprints by identifying carbon mitigating techniques.

    Factors affecting the Adoption of PLA technology

    Performance Expectancy

    The perceived usefulness of the overall system will affect the farmer’s likelihood of transitioning to the new style of pastoral agriculture. In order for the adoption to go smoothly, the extrinsic benefits, such as yield, profit, time, and sustainability, should be clear. The provision of a  competitive advantage over other dairy suppliers also plays a major role in the considerations.

    Effort Expectancy

    This regards the perceived complexity involved in the operation of the system. The extent to which this interconnected technology will affect their daily routines and the difficulty they face in completing cumbersome tasks.

    Social Influence

    The farmer will also take into account the effect of the installation of complex artificially driven systems on his reputation. On a traditionally labor-intensive farm, there may be a stigma against technology that has the potential to replace human functions. Furthermore, there may be personal agreements and relationships that farm managers may be reluctant to forego. This decision may also impact the kind of workers and suppliers he chooses because complacency and tardiness are not preferable on a precision livestock farm.


    ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

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      31 October

      How Livestock Farmers are Using IoT for Animal Management

      adminAnimal Health, Big Data, Digital, Life Sciences, TechnologyNo Comments

      The precipitous rate at which the industrial revolution is prompting the pioneering and implementation of new technology is simply astounding. The transformation in the landscapes across nations and industries has reached unfathomable heights. Ideas that existed purely in science fiction movies like Minority Report (driverless cars) and Star Trek (3D printers) are being integrated into reality. No profession, sector, or part of the world is beyond the reach of these incredible changes.

      And as we watch, the practice of agriculture is changing to become unrecognizable. It will not be more than a few decades before the current techniques will be recorded solely in the history books among the obsolete methods of our ancestors. From vertical farming to aquaponics being done in warehouses a tenth of the size of a small-scale farm, humans are now finding more sustainable and efficient methods to manage ourselves and our intake.

      In this article, we will dive into the usage of IoT technology that is either currently available or in the process of development to improve the practice of commercial livestock farming. We will also discuss current platforms and processes which can be integrated to support IoT in the future.

      What does IoT involve?

      The Internet of Things is the interconnection and interaction of multiple devices and systems, independent of human intervention or stimulation.

      Think of a livestock farm that is virtually self-automated. On such a farm, artificial intelligence will maintain regular processes, schedule bot or machine duties, check and identify flaws, and monitor all the animals, atmosphere, and elements for signs of deviation, disruption, or other malfunction. Sensors will collect data that will be requested by the AI at regular intervals. This data will be transferred, via a gateway to a central system, where it will be stored in a database. Subsequent refining and analysis will equip the AI to make calculated decisions. To implement those decisions, it will send commands to multiple machineries, pieces of equipment, and systems to begin or cease operation in a precise fashion. Inventory trackers will ping the central system when inventory is low and a new order will be placed with the suppliers. When the next batch of products is ready, the AI will hire transport or reach out to the distribution head to send another self-driven vehicle to collect the batch. Everything will be loaded, transported, managed, and tracked by intelligent systems which will report all information to a central overseeing system. This information will then be accumulated and reanalyzed in a database to identify potential improvements. Those improvements will be reviewed, designed, and executed by the central system, without the need for human involvement.

      This entire process can be broken down into a few main functions: Data Collection, Transferal, Storage, Analysis, and Implementation. These self-management capabilities are not as futuristic as they may seem. Let’s discuss the current technology that has been and is being developed to support this capability in the future.

      Cattle Data Collection and Monitoring

      Precise results and good decision-making rely on the collection of consistent, high-quality data. The systems can identify physiological parameters which are indicative of certain conditions. These preliminary surveillance processes allow for data classification, orientation, and optimization.

      The satellite-based monitoring of cattle has been gaining traction in the last 3 years, especially among large-scale Australian cattle ranchers. From basic data-collection systems such as ARGOS and GPS to advanced software developed by LoneStar and Moovement, tracking tags can now perform a variety of functions. Monitoring and analysis of special and temporal data on cattle location, movement, and interaction can provide benefits such as

      • Checking their current physical condition
      • Determining which animals are high-performing
      • Measuring stress levels and how they can affect production and fertility
      • Getting better financial and insurance options because of more accurate and reliable animal tracking.
      • Faster data sampling: Precision Hawk’s agricultural drones can “gather data on 500 to 1,000 acres in less than a day.”

      In many cases, particular animal movements can suggest diseases, medical conditions, and weakness. If the values collected exceed the regular parameters, this may reflect ill health or injury. In the case of lethargy, or minimal movement patterns, the system can alert animal caretakers to injuries, excessive weight, or the need for special attention. Furthermore, the GPS tag acquires information regarding the exact coordinates of the animal as well as the surrounding temperature, and stores it within the tag or collar. This is then downloaded with a wireless transceiver and transmitted to a central location.

      Electronic detection systems installed at the milking stations can also recognize and monitor individual cows’ milk flow and yield. Heat detection systems such as Afimilk can even measure the electrical conductivity of milk. Based on this, they can alert the farmer of inflammation and potential mastitis. Pedometers are often integrated into foot tags to detect estrus, ill health, or weight gain. Infrared thermal imaging technology can be used as a screening technique to identify foot-and-mouth disease-infected animals. Digital decision support systems may also play an integral role in alerting farmers about suspected illnesses and advising them on response options.

      Gateways

      Put simply, IoT gateways connect all these above devices and systems and act as midpoints between the external hardware and the cloud (or other) network. This is useful as it allows farm managers to access and edit data from a single, central location while conveniently synchronizing the information. This is especially important as animal tags have a limited range in which to transmit information.

      • Being able to connect to a gateway allows for maximum battery life as the tag no longer requires a great deal of additional storage space.
      • Gateways facilitate data caching and streaming to heighten ease of access. Advanced versions can even perform edge computing which involves data optimization and pre-processing – summarizing, deduplicating, and cleansing of collected data – to improve its quality and functionality.

      There are a variety of networks gateways can operate on, such as cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, or LPWAN, among others. While each of these has its benefits and drawbacks, it is important to look at which one is best suited for pastoral farms, which often span hundreds of square meters.

      Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and ZigBee all have a maximum network range of around 100 meters. In this, LPWAN acutely outpaces them by providing long-range communication over 10 – 40 km in rural areas. Cellular networks can also reach as far as 45 miles, although they require more power and consequently higher battery life. LPWANs are similar to WSNs (wireless sensor networks) as they both require little infrastructure and are scalable. However, while LPWANs are low-powered, WSNs are constrained in terms of power resources. They have a short lifespan because of the size of their battery. Despite using optical communication allows a lower SINR (signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio) as compared to LoRa, WSN maintenance demands due to hardware constraints make them a less-than-ideal choice. LoRa (a subset of LPWAN) is a good choice as it adopts a star-shaped topology around devices and can be served by a single base station. Furthermore, it has the advantage of minimum investment and maintenance costs. The high MCL (maximum coupling loss) reached by LoRa and NB-IoT is of no consequence when applied in remote, open cattle ranches. It should be noted, however, that LoRa has this range because it utilizes unlicensed bands and its AES 128-bit encryption is much lower than the 256-bit 3GPP encryption that NB-IoT is built on. You can learn more information about IoT gateways here.

      Storage

      The primary and most widely-adopted server is the cloud. Private clouds are commonly used to store and manage corporate data. Using the cloud as a central system is beneficial for multiple reasons, one of which is the dual function of storage and analytics (which we will discuss further down).

      • The data stored here is safely separate from the data within the system. This means that if the internal farm system is compromised, the cloud-encased data will be secure and vice versa.
      • A farm is not the ideal location to house the massive infrastructure and hardware required for a data center. Data centers often warrant a great deal of energy consumption. The cloud server slashes all these unnecessary costs.
      • A common issue that often arises from multiple entry points is the duplication or disharmony of data. All the raw data must be compiled, systemized, and synchronized so that it can be understood by unspecialized users.
      • More specialized clouds even perform the advanced functions of a Database Management System (DBMS). This includes managing and presenting the information in a smooth and navigable format. Currently, DBMSs have the ability to self-improve – i.e., to review weaknesses, identify areas of improvement, and self-medicate to reduce the risk of cyberattacks, information masses, or other internal malfunctions.

      Alongside cloud computing, edge computing is a viable and widely-adopted option.

      What is Edge computing?

      Edge Computing is a sub-set of IoT operations, which works alongside the Cloud. However, the bulk of the processing, usually done at the center, within the cloud analytics system, is transferred to the edge. The idea is for the computation to be performed as close to the source of the data as possible. This eliminates excess transmission load on the network and consequently reduces latency, allowing urgent insights to be deduced instantaneously. It also facilitates more accurate real-time responses since the lower network bandwidth often results in reduced image sizes and sample rates, or skipped frames in videos, when received by the centralized cloud. Edge Computing is deployable at remote locations with limited internet connectivity, such as in an open field, meadow, or cattle ranch, especially when having to transfer large datasets. It is ideal for cattle farms that gather in-depth information and make urgent, location-specific decisions.

      Granular data like the respiratory rate, heart rate, grazing rumination, mobility, temperature, and milk quality can help farmers make decisions to improve resource allocation, recognize conservation opportunities, or prepare for upcoming disasters. With further capabilities, the farmer would soon be relieved of such decision-making burdens, as we will see in the analytics section.

      Analytics

      Weather patterns and climate disasters are becoming more and more unpredictable and unavoidable as a result of climate change. But the rate of human information processing is far outpaced by the learning ability of AI and deep neural networks (DNNs). While it takes time for predictions to disseminate among farming communities, AI might be able to accurately and keenly foresee the storm and the damage it will cause and take preventative measures before it even begins to form. This is because data collected and organized into datasets by database management systems are directly fed into the analytics software.

      Let us delve into the applications of various modes of data analysis on pastoral farms. There are 4 main types of Data Analytics:

      Descriptive Analytics

      The process of:

      • discovering similarities between symptoms to create a disease model
      • identifying datasets to assist in tracking herd populations and the propagation of infectious agents
      • separating abnormalities and ensuring a relatively heterogenous pastoral resource.
      • finding correlations between variables
      • identify the optimum feed time and release food accordingly, as is done by Tassal, a Tasmanian salmon producer.

      Predictive Analytics

      This involves leveraging artificial neural networks and machine learning techniques to:

      • Categorize animals and herds by their future performance rates.
      • Estimate the likelihood of disasters, opportunities, and the extent of their destruction or benefits given the farm’s current infrastructural condition.
      • Uncover insights regarding vaccine and inoculation responses.
      Prescriptive Analytics:

      This is an advanced function whose focus is converting theoretical data into practical methods, such as

      • The optimization of grazing rotation, transportation cycles, protocols for curbing the advance of outbreaks, etc.
      • Minimize excesses and shortages or dispose of waste in an environmentally beneficial manner.
      • Utilize by-products such as gelatin, leather, and internal organs in the most efficient and profitable manner.
      • Finds ways to assuage delays in the supply chain by improving transparency and harmoniously managing inventory.
      • Using the sensing system to solve problems that improve the agricultural ecosystem, as done by Australian agtech company, the Yield.

      Implementation

      As previously discussed, the most impressive and advanced aspect of IoT technology is its ability to act on the conclusions it has drawn and adaptively respond to rapidly evolving conditions. This would have to be done in conjunction with an AI system. What does this look like on farmland?

      Corteva Agriscience’s fleet of drones can “offer immediate insights to diagnose agronomic, disease, and pest concerns.” Robotic animal herding systems are being developed to direct large groups of cattle over vast distances to designated locations such as shelters or barns during storms.

      Upon discovery of the presence of contagious diseases, the central server will send instructions to command-based robots, which will quarantine infected animals. These command-based robots use actions defined by subsystems to execute instructions.

      Re-fertilizing and cultivating grazed fields are massively important aspects of pastoralism. Exposed soil can be subject to soil erosion, which will impair its regenerative process and require more fertilizer in the long run. AI can act on grazing rotation forecasts by performing mulching as soon as herds move off a certain tract of land.

      AI systems are also being developed to perform confirmatory diagnostic testing and create detailed disease maps. This means that without having to alert their human counterparts, AI would be capable of scheduling vet appointments and deciding on the best, most financially viable treatment option.

      When it comes to decision-making, modeling of data and simulations can be performed to paint a clearer picture in the mind of the farmer. Scenarios may be simulated based on user-defined scenarios to reveal e.g., the average mass deviation of cows or the ideal design and feeding strategies.

      To Wrap Up

      It is clear that the growth of IoT technology has vast potential in the commercial agricultural and pastoral industries. There is so much more that we could further discuss, from self-sufficient dairy installations and feeder machinery to the predictive systems which can self-regulate farm operations. The bounds to which IoT can take farming production are practically limitless and only the future can unfurl this incredible capability to its full extent.

      ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

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        14 April

        4 Types of Applications That Can Save Your Pet’s Life

        Elianne LiongAll Posts, Animal Health, Big Data, Chatbots, Customer Engagement, Digital, Life Sciences, Pharma Marketing, Sales and Marketing, TechnologyNo Comments

        The pace of digital disruption over the past few years has been spectacular. Thanks to the ever-evolving technology transforming every sector of the economy, including animal production, health and welfare. These technologies have gathered the finest tools and assembled a less complicated and easy to learn device called smartphones. Availability of smartphones and quicker to access Apps have made life easier for every individual, regardless of generation. It also includes the apps or features of the applications that can save your pet’s life.

        There’s an app for everything these days. People who live with and love dogs and cats have a plethora of them to look into. Pet vaccination and Animal Health Portal might be one, but there is more to it. From helpful training tips to vital emergency care to make sure our pets are healthy and happy; we’ve rounded up our favorite must-have features in every pet app to ensure your pets live their best lives.

        Track Your Pet App

        This app aims to align thousands of Pet Rescuers, animal shelters and veterinary clinics. This platform allows you to receive a thorough Alert for missing dogs and cats in your area. While you have this app on your phone, you might not need to worry if ever your pet goes missing. Their searching experts send a rapid Pet Lost SOS to the application Network of volunteer veterinarians, shelters and pet rescuers in the area where your pet went missing.

        Nonetheless, the pet owners can also create a Lost Pet Poster on the website to begin sending the search party for their lost pet. The app also provides info on what to do if you find a lost pet. Not does it provide help only when your pet lost its way home, but it also gives its members easy access to a 24-hour hotline staffed with licensed American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) veterinarians. Whenever a pet emergency strikes, you can ring a call through the app for potentially life-saving advice.

        Pet Diabetes Tracker

        If your pet has diabetes, the Pet diabetes tracker app is a must-have for the well-being of your animal. The app allows pet owners to monitor and track the symptoms of their pet’s diabetes and enables you to log crucial medical information. It also features timely alerts for routine monitoring, daily insulin injections, veterinary appointments and the purchase of insulins.

        This application helps you keep a record of everything from food and water consumption to blood glucose levels. So, next time when you need to read your pet’s diabetic analytics, make sure to have this app on your smartphone.

        Animal Medication and Appointment Tracking App

        Keeping track of your pet’s veterinarian appointments and medications is essential, but sometimes it can overwhelm you. That’s where the animal medication app comes to the rescue. It is a cloud-based veterinary practice management software and a complete client engagement platform with an exceptional digital payment tool that seamlessly connects pet owners and their care providers to improve the health and safety of pets. With this application on your phone, you can access your pet’s medical records anytime, anywhere.

        First Aid for Pet App

        This app is a reference guide for pet owners on their smartphones. The first aid provider is an animal health application that every pet owner should have. It is designed to provide step-by-step instructions for what to do in an emergency if it ever occurs to you regarding your pet’s health. It is a veterinary-approved online course that teaches the pet’s first aid basics and is ready for any emergency. For example, if your pet is attacked or eats something unhealthy and toxic, the material in the app can be learned to get them out of the situation safe and sound. The app even has instructions on giving your pet CPR, information about early warning signs of an emergency, and a search function for finding the closest veterinary hospital.

        However, if you are someone that goes nowhere without a smartphone or if you are looking for the best app development team to assist you in this matter, you ought to check out these fantastic pet applications that can save your pet’s life. The most remarkable thing about these applications is that they are bound to make life with pets more engaging, satisfying and less complicated.

        ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

         

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          18 March

          ROI Calculator; An Essential for Animal Health

          Elianne LiongAll Posts, Animal Health, Big Data, Customer Engagement, Digital, Life Sciences, Pharma Marketing, Sales and Marketing, TechnologyNo Comments

          There were times when people used a calculator for complex arithmetic solutions. They still do, but time has changed, and so have the ways calculators perform. Among so many inventions and creations of many different forms of calculators, ROI Calculator is one of a kind. It is an investment calculator that reads on your profit and losses out of your investment. It mathematicizes the numbers you are making through equity are either belted through profits or feeding out of a loss.

          However, ROI for Animal Health is something that businesses can use right away to produce better customer services and instant calculate their profit-loss ratio. But let’s first go through all the necessary details that we need to know about ROI Calculator.

          What is ROI Calculator?

          ROI or simply “Return on Investment” is an investment calculator to estimate the profit or loss on your investment. It is a measure that investigates the number of additional profits produced due to a certain investment. Businesses and investors often use this calculation to compare different investment scenarios to see which would produce the greatest profit and benefit for the company. Many Lifesciences company has frequently adopted the use of it, especially for their animal health sector.

          ROI Calculator for Animal Health

          Animal health is one of the main concerns of a modern-day farmer. They face constant threat by new-born animal diseases that could consume their livestock and decrease their flock performance. So, it has become extremely crucial for them to improve animal gut health and maintain a healthy animal lifestyle. Only animals with good health can perform well and allow producers to be profitable.

          Farmers can maintain their health performance by taking preventive management measures by implementing consistent hygiene concepts. It can also be maintained by practicing the use of high-quality feed. Producers can make larger profits generating a healthy return on investment (ROI).

          Since the demand for ROI calculators has rapidly increased, people from all sectors and industries have jumped on for the best ROI device they could use. However, many companies, especially the life sciences and specifically animal health, have adopted the practice of ROI Calculator that could best serve their needs and, therefore, their customers. Although, ROI Calculator for Animal Health is now used by farmers to calculate their vaccination and medication cost out of their profits.

          Our ROI Animal Health Calculator

          Our ROI Animal Health Calculator is utilize by Animal Health Marketers to establish their ROI with their client. Their customers are mainly farmers and producers of poultry, ruminants, swine, and livestock. The main reason for building this calculator is the inconvenience that the sales reps of Animal Health companies had to go through. The calculator had not only saved their time but has improved the availability of after-sale service. It has also expanded the reach of animal medication and vaccination to a greater extent. ROI Calculator helps companies know more about their customer’s needs and allows them to prove the value of their product.

          If you are someone from Lifesciences looking for a user-friendly and beneficial customized ROI Calculator, you can always reach out to Celeritas Digital.


          ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

          Blogs

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          We research the latest trends and opportunities related to animal health. Our mission is to make it quicker and easier for our clients to understand the value that well-designed technology solutions can bring to their sales, operations, and marketing functions.

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          Thinking about how to tap a strategy opportunity, or solve a tactical business problem, using technology? We can brainstorm with you.

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