Terrestrial laser scanner for 3D modelling of USQ Toowoomba campus

3D digital model is a virtual representation of the real world and demand for creation of these models is increasing. Various industries recognized the advantages of these types of models. Level of detail can vary for different applications, from low level detail 3D models that can be used in tourism industry, to high level detail 3D models used in construction and engineering. 3D models of built environment provide base for efficient planning of new developments and efficient management of existing buildings and areas. Modelling of 3D models is time consuming task and depends on requirements of the final model as well as on quality of acquired data. Data for 3D modelling can be acquired by utilizing various surveying technologies or by combination of them. Terrestrial Laser Scanner technology allows collection of high amount of high quality data in relatively short time. It is this capability, of collecting data with great detail, which makes this technology appropriate for data collection as a base for 3D model. If this is combined with traditional survey methods spatial certainty of the model is ensured. Although the high amount of data is advantage when creating 3D models, it can present challenge in modelling built environment and this research project will research how the acquired data can be modelled into final 3D model

The interdependence of lake ice and climate in central North America

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Geopressured-Geothermal Research Program: An Overview

The geopressured-geothermal resource consists of deeply buried reservoirs of hot brine, under abnormally high pressures, that contain dissolved methane. Geopressured brine reservoirs with pressures approaching the lithostatic load are known to occur both onshore and offshore beneath the Gulf of Mexico coast, along the Pacific west coast, in Appalachia, as well as in deep sedimentary basins elsewhere in the United States. The Department of Energy (DOE) has concentrated its research on the northern Gulf of Mexico sedimentary basin (Figure 1) which consists largely of Tertiary interbedded sandstones and shales deposited in alternating deltaic, fluvial, and marine environments. Thorsen (1964) and Norwood and Holland (1974) describe three generalized depositional facies in sedimentary beds of the Gulf Coast Geosyncline (Figure 2 ): (1) a massive sandstone facies in which sandstone constitutes 50 percent o r more of the sedimentary volume; (2) an alternating sandstone and shale facies in which sandstone constitutes 15 to 35 percent of the sedimentary volume. (3) a massive shale facies in which sandstone constitutes 15 percent or less of the sedimentary volume. In general, at any given location the volume of sandstone decreases with increasing depth. The datum of higher-than-normal fluid pressures is associated with the alternating sandstone and shale facies and the massive shale facies. Faulting and salt tectonics have complicated the depositional patterns and influenced the distribution of geopressured reservoirs (Wallace et a1 1978). The sandstones in the alternating sandstone and shale facies have the greatest potential for geopressured-geothermal energy development. Due to the insulating effect of surrounding shales, temperatures of the geopressured-geothermal brines typically range from 250 F to over 350 F, and under prevailing temperature, pressure, and salinity conditions, the brine contains 20 or more cubic feet of methane per barrel. Wallace et al (1978) estimated the geopressured-geothermal energy in Gulf Coast sandstone pore fluids to a depth of 22,500 feet to be 5,700 TCF of methane and 11,000 quads of thermal energy

Primena spororazlagajućeg đubriva pri različitim načinima proizvodnje rasada miloduha

In Serbia the production of hyssop nursery seedlings is still extensive, i.e. in cool layers (nude roots system). Intensive production, i.e. in containers (speedling system) and pots (pot system) is mostly used in vegetable and flower production. The use of slow-disintegrating fertilizers in the production of nursery seedlings tends to decrease salt concentrations in the substrate, being the result of controlled emmission of nutrients in the fertilizers. In addition, in case of high substrate humidity and poor insolation plants receive high quality nutrients. The aim of the study was to develop novel technological solutions using intensive production and slow-disintegrating fertilizers in order to contribute to high quality nursery seedlings. Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that both speedling and pot systems of production have a significant influence on the quality of hyssop nursery seedlings.Proizvodnja rasada miloduha (Hyssopus officinalis L.) se u Srbiji, još uvek se odvija na ekstenzivan način, u hladnim lejama (po sistemu golih žila). Intenzivni načini proizvodnje; u kontejnerima (speedling system) i saksijama (pot system) najviše se koriste u povrtarskoj i cvećarskoj proizvodnji. Kako je, kvalitetan rasad uslov uspešne proizvodnje cilj istraživanja bio je iznalaženje novih tehnoloških rešenja primenom intenzivnih načina proizvodnje uz upotrebu spororazlagajućeg đubriva u proizvodnji rasada miloduha. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju na značajan efekat primene "speedling i pot" načina proizvodnje na kvalitet rasada miloduha

Shiga Toxin–Producing \u3ci\u3eEscherichia coli\u3c/i\u3e in Montana: Bacterial Genotypes and Clinical Profiles

The diseases and virulence genes associated with Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are characterized incompletely. We analyzed, by polymerase chain reaction, 82 STEC isolates collected prospectively in Montana and profiled associated illnesses by patient chart review. All E. coli O157:H7 contained stx2-group genes, as well as eae, iha, espA, and ehxA; 84% contained stx1. Non-O157:H7 STEC less frequently contained stx1( P = .046 ), stx2 (P \u3c .001), iha (P \u3c .001), eae, and espA (P = .039 for both), were isolated less often from patients treated in emergency departments (P = .022), and tended to be associated less frequently with bloody diarrhea (P = .061). There were no significant associations between stx genotype and bloody diarrhea, but isolates containing stx2c or stx2d-activatable were recovered more often from patients who underwent diagnostic or therapeutic procedures (P = .033). Non-O157:H7 STEC are more heterogeneous and cause bloody diarrhea less frequently than do E. coli O157:H7. Bloody diarrhea cannot be attributed simply to the stx genotype of the infecting organism

Uticaj biostimulatora na kvalitet rasada bosiljka (Ocimum basilicum L.) u kontejnerskom sistemu proizvodnje

Basil nursery plants (Ocimum basilicum L.) was produced in containers. Viva, Actiwave and Radifarm were the biostimuli added in nursery plants production, in the concentrations of 0,20 and 0,40%. The experiment included seven versions. Biostimulators Viva were used to water the planting each 10 days, while Actiwave and Radifarm was used for the same purpose each 15 days. Research results indicate considerable, positive effect of the use of natural biostimulators in the production of basil nursery plants. The best quality of nursery plants was achieved when Actiwave biostimulators was used in concentrations of 0,40%.U savremenoj biljnoj proizvodnji prisutni su različiti biostimulatori koji utiču na razvoj biljaka. Rasad bosiljka (Ocimum basilicum L.) je proizveden u kontejnerima. Prilikom proizvodnje rasada dodavani su sledeći biostimulatori: Viva, Actiwave i Radifarm u koncentracijama od 0,20% i 0,40%. Ogled se sastojao od sedam varijanti. Rasad je zalivan biostimulatorom Viva na svakih 10 dana, a biostimulatorima Actiwave i Radifarm na svakih 15 dana. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju na značajan, pozitivan, efekat upotrebe prirodnih biostimulatora u proizvodnji rasada bosiljka. Najbolji kvalitet rasada postignut je upotrebom biostimulatora Actiwave i to u koncentraciji od 0,40%

Uticaj prirodnih biostimulatora i spororazlagajućih đubriva na kvalitet rasada bosiljka (Ocimum basilicum L.) i matičnjaka (Melissa officinalis L.)

The effect of natural biostimulators and slow-disintegrating fertilizers on the quality of basil and garden balm seedlings was analyzed with the aim of intensifying the production of medicinal, aromatic and spice herbs. Seedlings were grown in polystyrene pots (76 cm3 cell volume) according to the Speedling system. During the growth of the seedlings the following natural biostimulators were used: Megafol, Viva and Biostimulator X. In addition the slow-disintegrating fertilizer Scotts (Osmocote Exact) was used at the rate of the substrate 1-4 g/l. Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that the application of both natural biostimulators and slow-disintegrating fertilizers can have a significant impact on the quality of basil and garden balm seedlings.U cilju intenziviranja proizvodnje lekovitog, aromatičnog i začinskog bilja ispitivan je uticaj primene prirodnih biostimulatora i spororazlagajućih đubriva na kvalitet rasada bosiljka i matičnjaka. Rasad je proizvođen u polistirenskim kontejnerima zapremine ćelija 76 cm3 po Speedling sistemu. Prilikom proizvodnje rasada dodavani su različiti prirodni biostimulatori; Megafol, Viva i Biostimulator X. Takođe, primenjeno je spororazlagajuće đubrivo Scotts (Osmocote Exact) u dozama od 1-4 g/l supstrata. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da primenom prirodnih biostimulatora i spororazlagajućih đubriva značajno utičemo na kvalitet rasada matičnjaka i bosiljka

The nociception level index (NOL) response to intubation and incision in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with and without thoracic epidural analgesia. A pilot study. [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Background: The PMD100™ (Medasense Biometrics Ltd., Ramat Yishai, Israel) is a novel non-invasive nociception monitor that integrates physiological parameters to compute a real-time nociception level index (NOL) in the anesthetized patients. Thoracic epidural analgesia provides effective analgesia and improves surgical outcomes. Side effects include sympathectomy, hypotension, changes in skin temperature and a decreased cardiac accelerator fiber tone. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate changes in NOL values after incision in patients with and without epidural analgesia.   Methods: Half of the patients scheduled for Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) received a thoracic epidural catheter, placed and tested 2h before surgery and activated prior to incision. The other half of the patients received i.v. fentanyl (1 mcg/kg) five minutes before incision. Anesthesia and analgesia were maintained in a standardized manner. NOL and heart rate (HR) were compared before and after the nociceptive stimuli intubation and skin incision. Results: NOL significantly increased in all patients after intubation by 10.2 points (CI: 4.5-16.0; p=0.002) as well as HR by 9 beats per minute after intubation in all patients (CI: 3.3-15.6; p=0.01). After incision, in patients without epidural analgesia the NOL increased by 13.9 points (CI: 7.4-20.3; p=0.0001), compared to 5.4 points (CI: -6.3-17.1; p=0.29) in patients with epidural analgesia. HR did not significantly vary after incision in both groups. The area under the curve of delta NOL and delta HR variations after incision were significantly different (p<0.05) between groups and delta NOL variations were significantly different from baseline values but not the delta HR variations. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that the PMD100™ Monitor may be a useful tool to evaluate the efficacy of an intraoperative thoracic epidural analgesia. Clinical Trial Registry Number: ClinicalTrials.gov record ID: NCT01978379 registered 10/25/2014

Sequence-based typing of genetic targets encoded outside of the O-antigen gene cluster is indicative of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroup lineages

Serogroup classifications based upon the O-somatic antigen of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) provide significant epidemiological information on clinical isolates. Each O-antigen determinant is encoded by a unique cluster of genes present between the gnd and galF chromosomal genes. Alternatively, serogroup-specific polymorphisms might be encoded in loci that are encoded outside of the O-antigen gene cluster. Segments of the core bacterial loci mdh, gnd, gcl, ppk, metA, ftsZ, relA and metG for 30 O26 STEC strains have previously been sequenced, and comparative analyses to O157 distinguished these two serogroups. To screen these loci for serogroup-specific traits within a broader range of clinically significant serogroups, DNA sequences were obtained for 19 strains of 10 additional STEC serogroups. Unique alleles were observed at the gnd locus for each examined STEC serogroup, and this correlation persisted when comparative analyses were extended to 144 gnd sequences from 26 O-serogroups (comprising 42 O : H-serotypes). These included O157, O121, O103, O26, O5 : non-motile (NM), O145 : NM, O113 : H21, O111 : NM and O117 : H7 STEC; and furthermore, non-toxin encoding O157, O26, O55, O6 and O117 strains encoded distinct gnd alleles compared to STEC strains of the same serogroup. DNA sequencing of a 643 bp region of gnd was, therefore, sufficient to minimally determine the O-antigen of STEC through molecular means, and the location of gnd next to the O-antigen gene cluster offered additional support for the co-inheritance of these determinants. The gnd DNA sequence-based serogrouping method could improve the typing capabilities for STEC in clinical laboratories, and was used successfully to characterize O121 : H19, O26 : H11 and O177 : NM clinical isolates prior to serological confirmation during outbreak investigations