Importance of DTM accuracy, precision and acquisition technique for estimating contributing areas of post-fire erosion at the slope and catchment scale

Wildfires are a frequent phenomenon in Portugal, affecting over 300.000 ha in dry years like 2003 and 2005. Directly and/or indirectly, wildfires can strongly enhance the hydrological response and associated sediment losses and, thereby, negatively affect land-use sustainability as well as ecosystem functioning of downstream aquatic habitats. Therefore, the EROSFIRE projects aim at developing a GIS-tool for predicting soil erosion hazard following wildfire and post-fire land management practices. Assessment and modeling of runoff and soil erosion rates critically depends on accurate estimates of the contributing areas. In the case of catchments as well as unbounded erosion plots (arguably, the only practical solution for slope-scale measurements), delineation of contributing area requires a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) with an adequate resolution and accuracy. The DTM that was available for the Colmeal study area (Goís municipality, central Portugal) was that of the 1:25.000 topographic map produced by the Military Geographic Institute. Since this study area involves a rather small experimental catchment of roughly 10 ha and relatively short study slopes of less than 100 m long, two different data acquisition techniques were used to produce high-resolution and high-accuracy DTM. One is aerial photogrammetry, whilst the other is terrestrial laser scanning. To produce a DTM by photogrammetric means, a dedicated digital aerial photography mission was carried out. The images had a pixel size of 10 cm. Manual measurements permitted to measure breaklines and were complemented by automatic measurements. In this way, a DTM in a TIN format was produced. This was further converted to grid format using the ArcGIS software system. Signalized control points allowed obtaining the DTM in the same global reference system as that employed for terrestrial laser scanning. The terrestrial laser scanning was done using a Riegl LMS Z360I, stationed in 8 points within the area to provide a complete coverage. The resulting dense cloud of points was filtered – by the company carrying out the scanning mission - to remove the non-terrain points (in particular vegetation). Several grids of different sizes were produced (0.10 x 0.10, 0.20 x 0.20, 0.50 x 0.50, 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 m2). The proposed work will compare and analyze estimates of contribution areas that were obtained with the two above-mentioned data acquisition techniques and for different spatial resolutions. This will be done for selected slope-scale sediment fences as well as for the outlet of the experimental catchment. In addition, different algorithms available in ArcGIS for TIN-to-grid conversion will be compared, since preliminary results have suggested that these procedures produce markedly different results

Effect of the Resolution and Accuracy of DTM produced with Aerial Photogrammetry and Terrestrial Laser Scanning on Slope- and Catchment-scale Erosion Assessment in a Recently Burnt Forest Area: a Case Study

Wildfires are a common phenomenon in Portugal, affecting on average 100.000 ha of rural areas per year and up to 400.000 ha in dramatic years like 2003 and 2005. Wildfires can strongly enhance the hydrological response and associated sediment losses in recently burnt forest catchments and, thereby, negatively affect land-use sustain- ability of the affected terrains as well as ecosystem functioning of downstream aquatic habitats. Therefore, the EROSFIRE-I and –II projects aim at developing a GIS-tool for predicting soil erosion hazard following wildfire and, ultimately, for assessing the implications of alternative post-fire land management practices. Assessment of runoff and soil erosion rates critically depends on accurate estimates of the corresponding runoff areas. In the case of catchments as well as unbounded erosion plots (arguably, the only practical solution for slope-scale measurements), delineation of runoff area requires a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) with an adequate resolution and accuracy. The DTM that was available for the Colmeal study area, localized in the mountain range of Lousã, in the central part of Portugal, of EROSFIRE-II project is that of the 1:25.000 topographic map produced by the Military Geographic Institute. Since the Colmeal area involves a rather small experimental catchment of roughly 10 ha and relatively short study slopes of less than 100 m long, two different data acquisition techniques were used to produce high-resolution and high-accuracy DTM. One of the data acquisition techniques is aerial photogrammetry whilst the other is terrestrial laser scanning. In order to produce a DTM by photogrammetric means, a dedicated digital aerial photography mission was carried out. The images have a pixel size of 10 cm. Manual measurements permitted to measure breaklines and were complemented by automatic measurements. In this way, a DTM in a TIN format was produced. This was further converted to grid format using the ArcGIS software system. Signalized control points allowed obtaining the DTM in the same global reference system as that employed for terrestrial laser scanning. The terrestrial laser scanning was done using a Riegl LMS Z360I, stationed in 8 points within the area to provide a complete coverage. The resulting dense cloud of points was filtered – by the company carrying out the scanning mission - to remove the non-terrain points (in particular vegetation). Several grids of different sizes were produced (0.10 x 0.10, 0.20 x 0.20, 0.50 x 0.50, 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 m2). This work will study the effect on runoff and erosion rates at the slope- and catchment-scale of DTM with differ- ent resolution, but produced with data collected with the same acquisition technique, and of DTM with the same resolution, but produced with data collected with the two different acquisition techniques. The study is being carried out in ArcGIS using DTM in a grid format. Preliminary results suggest that the conver- sion of TIN-to-grid in ArcGIS produces results that depend on the procedure being applied. Therefore, the different algorithms available at ArcGIS for TIN-to-grid conversion are currently being tested, using an artificially produced DTM. This testing includes various interpolation techniques for grid generation, and will be extended to different algorithms for computation of drainage flow direction

Channel Habits and the Development of Successful Customer-Firm Relationships in Services

Technology advances have profoundly changed the way customers and service organizations interact, leading to a multitude of service channels. This study investigates consumer habits toward service channels in order to understand the influence of these channel habits on perceptions and intentions (perceived switching costs and attitudinal loyalty) and on consumer behavior (service usage and cross-buy). We empirically test the framework in the financial services industry, and the results reveal that physical store habit increases perceived switching costs and that acquired habits toward the physical store and self-service kiosks have a positive influence on attitudinal loyalty. Perceived switching costs positively affect service usage, and attitudinal loyalty positively influences cross-buy. In addition, habits in each channel lead to an increase in the number of services acquired (cross-buy), but online and self-service kiosks channel habits negatively impact service usage, as the lack of physical presence may increase customer uncertainty. Because habits are built on the frequency and stability of channel usage, firms can manage habits by encouraging frequent interactions under stable contexts. In addition, firms should stimulate customer habits toward the physical store as it is central to the promotion of loyalty and for increasing service usage

CSR and branding in emerging economies: The effect of incomes and education

Sustainable development is a fundamental objective for guaranteeing the future of the planet. Taking into account the impact of emerging economies on the global economy and the scarcity of papers that have considered the effect of CSR initiatives on consumer behavior on those economies, it seems that further research on this issue is necessary. In particular, we analyze the extent to which CSR affects the connection and links of the consumer to the brand (i.e., self–brand connection, brand engagement). The main contribution of the paper to the field is the analysis of the interaction between CSR and branding in the context of an emerging economy. To that aim, and also in a novel way, we use the Stimuli–Organism–Response (SOR) model for a sample of more than 400 food and beverage consumers in Metropolitan Lima, Peru. Our results show that CSR effectively acts as a stimulus for consumers to identify and link to brands and that, in addition, these links generate buy-back (i.e., loyalty) and recommendation behaviors (i.e., WOM) which, in turn, create a great commercial value for companies. This research also analyses how incomes and educational levels moderate the intensity of such links. For practical implications, global trends in managing CSR and branding may be useful, although some cross-cultural and context-specific adaptations are necessary

Energy Performance Certification of Faculty Buildings in Spain: The gap between estimated and real energy consumption

A systematic method has been established to perform and analyse in detail the Energy Performance Certification of 21 Faculty Buildings located at the University of Zaragoza (Spain), according to the transposition of Directive 2010/31/EU. First of all, the problem background and a review of the state-of-the-art of the energy certification in buildings is outlined, regarding both the actual state of the Government regulations and the studies undertaken in several countries to assess the energy performance of different types of buildings, residential and non-residential. A summary of the causes found in other studies for the discrepancies between the estimated (by simulation) and actual energy consumption is shown which is afterwards tested and compared with the results found in the present study. Thereafter, the method followed to undertake the buildings’ Energy Performance Certification is explained, and the main results found together with the discussion are detailed, comparing actual vs. estimated energy consumption in the different case studies and proposing reasons for these deviations. The energy consumption breakdown by uses for several buildings is also analysed, and potential improvements for the simulation software are assessed

Integrating an autonomous robot on a dance and new technologies festival

This paper presents the results of a project to integrate an autonomous mobile robot into a modern dance performance at a dance and new technologies festival. The main goal is to integrate a simple low cost mobile robot into the dance performance, in order to study the possibilities that this kind of platforms can offer to the artists. First, this work explains the process and design to embed the robotic platform into the choreography theme. Another contribution described in this work is the system architecture proposed and built to make the robot behaviours match the artists requirements: precise, synchronized and robust robot movements. Finally, we discuss the main issues and lessons learned for this kind of robotics and arts applications and summarize the results obtained, including the successful final live performance results

Genotypic Findings in Noonan and Non-Noonan RASopathies and Patient Eligibility for Growth Hormone Treatment

Noonan syndrome; Genetic; Growth hormoneSíndrome de Noonan; Genético; Hormona del crecimientoSíndrome de Noonan; Genètica; Hormona del creixementMolecular study has become an invaluable tool in the field of RASopathies. Treatment with recombinant human growth hormone is approved in Noonan syndrome but not in the other RASopathies. The aim of this study was to learn about the molecular base of a large cohort of patients with RASopathies, with particular emphasis on patients with pathogenic variants in genes other than PTPN11, and its potential impact on rGH treatment indication. We reviewed the clinical diagnosis and molecular findings in 451 patients with a genetically confirmed RASopathy. HRAS alterations were detected in only 2 out of 19 patients referred with a Costello syndrome suspicion, whereas pathogenic variants in RAF1 and SHOC2 were detected in 3 and 2, respectively. In 22 patients referred with a generic suspicion of RASopathy, including cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, pathogenic alterations in classic Noonan syndrome genes (PTPN11, SOS1, RAF1, LZTR1, and RIT1) were found in 7 patients and pathogenic variants in genes associated with other RASopathies (HRAS, SHOC2, and PPPCB1) in 4. The correct nosological classification of patients with RASopathies is critical to decide whether they are candidates for treatment with rhGH. Our data illustrate the complexity of differential diagnosis in RASopathies, as well as the importance of genetic testing to guide the diagnostic orientation in these patients.This research was partly funded by Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (PI 06/1179), a 2015 José Igea Grant from Fundación de la Sociedad Española de Endocrinología Pediátrica (SEEP), and a Fundación SEEP Prize for the best Oral Communication in the SEEP annual meeting 2010 and 2013. J.L.S. and A.C. received a grant from Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón

A Different Kind of Kid, A Different Kind of Teacher Education: Middle Grades Teachers Reflect on Their Preparation to Teach Young Adolescents

Good teaching at the middle grades comes out of a deep understanding of the unique cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and moral needs of young adolescents. Therefore specialized preparation is necessary to help teacher candidates understand how to operationalize the intersection of young adolescent development and the effective pedagogy that addresses their needs. This paper focuses on a qualitative study of experienced middle school teachers who graduated from a middle level preparation program or an elementary or secondary preparation program in terms of how well prepared they felt and feel to meet the widely varied needs of young adolescents. Confidence in preparation leads to high self-efficacy, which is important for perseverance and effectiveness. Graduates of a middle level preparation program reported higher levels of confidence in their preparation to teach young adolescents

The Duration of the Trial Influences the Effects of Mineral Deficiency and the Effective Phytase Dose in Broilers' Diets

[EN] Two trials varying in duration (short- and long-term) were conducted to evaluate the effects of providing deficient (NC) or sufficient (PC) Ca and P levels, and different doses of a new phytase (250, 500, and 1000 FTU/kg feed), in broiler feed on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and retention, and tibia mineralization. A total of 80 and 490 male chicks (Ross) of 21 and 1 days of age were used in the short- and long-term trials, respectively. In the long-term trial, chicks fed NC diets showed a lower (p < 0.05) average daily gain and feed intake compared to chicks fed PC and a greater (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio compared to 500 and 1000 FTU/kg feed during the starting period. Regarding the effects on minerals¿ and nutrients¿ coefficients of retention, animals fed NC showed a significantly higher digestibility for P than those fed the PC diet in the long-term trial. Additionally, feeding 250 to 500 FTU/kg diets increased most of the nutrients¿ digestibility in the short-term but only P digestibility in the long-term trial. Tibia mineralization increased linearly with phytase addition (p < 0.05) only in the long-term trial. In conclusion, the effects of dietary mineral and phytase levels on growth performance are more noticeable in young animals. In addition, the duration of the trial is key due to a possible adaptation phenomenon of birds to low P supplementary levels.This research was funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Government of Spain.Javadi, M.; Cerisuelo, A.; Cambra López, M.; Macias-Vidal, J.; Donadeu, A.; Dupuy, J.; Carpintero, L.... (2022). The Duration of the Trial Influences the Effects of Mineral Deficiency and the Effective Phytase Dose in Broilers' Diets. Animals. 12(11):1-19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12111418119121