Assessing a novel modelling approach with high resolution UAV imagery for monitoring health status in priority riparian forests

ResearchBackground: Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) forests are in severe decline across their area of distribution due to a disease caused by the soil-borne pathogenic Phytophthora alni species complex (class Oomycetes), “alder Phytopththora”. Mapping of the different types of damages caused by the disease is challenging in high density ecosystems in which spectral variability is high due to canopy heterogeneity. Data obtained by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may be particularly useful for such tasks due to the high resolution, flexibility of acquisition and cost efficiency of this type of data. In this study, A. glutinosa decline was assessed by considering four categories of tree health status in the field: asymptomatic, dead and defoliation above and below a 50% threshold. A combination of multispectral Parrot Sequoia and UAV unmanned aerial vehicles -red green blue (RGB) data were analysed using classical random forest (RF) and a simple and robust three-step logistic modelling approaches to identify the most important forest health indicators while adhering to the principle of parsimony. A total of 34 remote sensing variables were considered, including a set of vegetation indices, texture features from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and a digital surface model (DSM), topographic and digital aerial photogrammetry-derived structural data from the DSM at crown level. Results: The four categories identified by the RF yielded an overall accuracy of 67%, while aggregation of the legend to three classes (asymptomatic, defoliated, dead) and to two classes (alive, dead) improved the overall accuracy to 72% and 91% respectively. On the other hand, the confusion matrix, computed from the three logistic models by using the leave-out cross-validation method yielded overall accuracies of 75%, 80% and 94% for four-, three- and two-level classifications, respectively. Discussion: The study findings provide forest managers with an alternative robust classification method for the rapid, effective assessment of areas affected and non-affected by the disease, thus enabling them to identify hotspots for conservation and plan control and restoration measures aimed at preserving black alder forestsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predicting growing stock volume of Eucalyptus plantations using 3-D point clouds derived from UAV imagery and ALS data

Estimating forest inventory variables is important in monitoring forest resources and mitigating climate change. In this respect, forest managers require flexible, non-destructive methods for estimating volume and biomass. High-resolution and low-cost remote sensing data are increasingly available to measure three-dimensional (3D) canopy structure and to model forest structural attributes. The main objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the individual tree volume estimates derived from high-density point clouds obtained from airborne laser scanning (ALS) and digital aerial photogrammetry (DAP) in Eucalyptus spp. plantations. Object-based image analysis (OBIA) techniques were applied for individual tree crown (ITC) delineation. The ITC algorithm applied correctly detected and delineated 199 trees from ALS-derived data, while 192 trees were correctly identified using DAP-based point clouds acquired fromUnmannedAerialVehicles(UAV), representing accuracy levels of respectively 62% and 60%. Addressing volume modelling, non-linear regression fit based on individual tree height and individual crown area derived from the ITC provided the following results: Model E ciency (Mef) = 0.43 and 0.46, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) = 0.030 m3 and 0.026 m3, rRMSE = 20.31% and 19.97%, and an approximately unbiased results (0.025 m3 and 0.0004 m3) using DAP and ALS-based estimations, respectively. No significant di erence was found between the observed value (field data) and volume estimation from ALS and DAP (p-value from t-test statistic = 0.99 and 0.98, respectively). The proposed approaches could also be used to estimate basal area or biomass stocks in Eucalyptus spp. plantationsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A brief review of reactive gases observations at Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (2006-2009)

Comunicación presentada en: Symposium on Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics at Mountain Sites celebrado del 8 al 10 de junio de 2010 en Interlaken, Suiza

Selective activity over a constitutively active RET-variant of the oral multikinase inhibitor dovitinib: results of the CNIO-BR002 phase I-trial

Background: given our preclinical data showing synergy between dovitinib and paclitaxel in preclinical models we conducted this phase I trial aiming to define the recommended phase II-dose (RP2D) on the basis of toxicity and pharmacodynamic criteria while searching for genetic variants that could sensitize patients to the regimen under study. Patients and methods: a 3+3 escalation schedule was adopted. Seriated FGF23 and dovitinib and paclitaxel pharmacokinetic profiles were determined along a single-agent dovitinib 'priming-phase' followed by a dovitinib + paclitaxel combination phase. RECIST 1.1 criteria and NCI CTCAE V.4.0 were used. In fresh pre-treatment tumor biopsy samples, FGFR1, 2 and 3 amplifications were revealed by FISH probes; 32 missense variants were genotyped in tumors and peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Taqman genotyping assays (FGFR1-3 and RET). Constructs encoding for wild-type and variant genes associated with clinical benefit were transfected into HEK-293 cells for preclinical experiments checking constitutive activation and dovitinib sensitivity of the variants. Results: twelve patients were recruited in three dose-levels. At level 1B (200 mg dovitinib 5-days-on/2-days-off plus 60 mg/m 2-week of paclitaxel) more than 50% FGF23 upregulation was observed and no dose-limiting-toxicities (DLTs) occurred. The most frequent toxicities were asthenia, neutropenia, nausea/vomiting and transaminitis. Two patients with progressive disease prior to trial inclusion achieved prolonged disease stabilization. Both had the germline variant G2071A in the RET gene, which led to constitutive activation of the protein product and Y-905 phosphorylation, both in transfectants and in patients with the alteration. This variant was sensitive to dovitinib; in addition both patients experienced progression upon medication withdrawal. Conclusions: level 1B was the RP2D as it provided adequate pharmacodynamic exposure to dovitinib. The G2071A germline variant act as a genetic modifier that renders different tumors sensitive to dovitinib

Guatiní : A Project to promote the knowledge of the endemic birds of Cuba in the new generations

1 recurso en línea (páginas 17-30).En Cuba existen 29 especies de aves amenazadas o casi amenazadas, tres en peligro crítico, ocho en peligro, siete vulnerables, y once cercanas a la amenaza. Además de la pérdida y degradación de los hábitats, las aves de Cuba se ven amenazadas por la cacería, la colecta de huevos y el comercio ilegal. Revertir esta situación va más allá de las leyes y acciones de las autoridades competentes, es necesaria una educación medioambiental desde las edades tempranas. Se necesita que los individuos y las colectividades se identifiquen con su entorno y adquieran los conocimientos, los valores, los comportamientos y las habilidades para participar responsable y eficazmente en la prevención y la solución de los problemas ambientales. En la actualidad, niños y jóvenes hacen un gran uso de los teléfonos móviles, tabletas y computadoras principalmente para jugar; en su mayoría, estos juegos solo entretienen y no educan, y en algunos casos se podría decir que enajenan. ¿Por qué no aprovechar estas tecnologías para incentivar desde edades tempranas el conocimiento y el amor por la flora y la fauna? El proyecto Guatiní tiene como objetivo desarrollar juegos y aplicaciones multimedia que permitan divulgar la información científica acumulada sobre la avifauna cubana y educar así principalmente a las nuevas generaciones en el cuidado del medio ambiente.In Cuba there are 29 species of threatened or almost threatened birds, three of them in critically endangered, eight in danger, seven vulnerable, and eleven close to the threat. In addition to the loss and degradation of habitats, Cuban birds are threatened by hunting, egg collection and illegal trade. Reversing this situation goes beyond the laws and actions of the competent authorities, an environmental education is necessary from an early age. It is necessary that individuals and communities understand the complex nature of the natural environment and acquire the knowledge, values, behaviors and skills to participate responsibly and effectively in the prevention and solution of environmental problems. Nowadays children and young people make a great use of mobile phones, tablets and computers mainly to play; these games mostly just entertain and do not educate, and in some cases we could say that they alienate. Why not take advantage of these technologies with the aim of encouraging early knowledge and love for flora and fauna? The goal of the Guatiní project is the development of games and multimedia applications that allow the dissemination of the accumulated scientific information on the Cuban avifauna and thus educate mainly the new generations in the care of the environment.Bibliografía y webgrafía: página 30

Guatiní: un proyecto para fomentar el conocimiento de la avifauna cubana en las nuevas generaciones

In Cuba there are 29 species of threatened or almost threatened birds, three of them in critically endangered, eight in danger, seven vulnerable, and eleven close to the threat. In addition to the loss and degradation of habitats, Cuban birds are threatened by hunting, egg collection and illegal trade. Reversing this situation goes beyond the laws and actions of the competent authorities, an environmental education is necessary from an early age. It is necessary that individuals and communities understand the complex nature of the natural environment and acquire the knowledge, values, behaviors and skills to participate responsibly and effectively in the prevention and solution of environmental problems. Nowadays children and young people make a great use of mobile phones, tablets and computers mainly to play; these games mostly just entertain and do not educate, and in some cases we could say that they alienate. Why not take advantage of these technologies with the aim of encouraging early knowledge and love for flora and fauna? The goal of the Guatiní project is the development of games and multimedia applications that allow the dissemination of the accumulated scientific information on the Cuban avifauna and thus educate mainly the new generations in the care of the environment.En Cuba existen 29 especies de aves amenazadas o casi amenazadas, tres en peligro crítico, ocho en peligro, siete vulnerables, y once cercanas a la amenaza. Además de la pérdida y degradación de los hábitats, las aves de Cuba se ven amenazadas por la cacería, la colecta de huevos y el comercio ilegal.  Revertir esta situación va más allá de las leyes y acciones de las autoridades competentes, es necesaria una educación medioambiental desde las edades tempranas. Se necesita que los individuos y las colectividades se identifiquen con su entorno y adquieran los conocimientos, los valores, los comportamientos y las habilidades para participar responsable y eficazmente en la prevención y la solución de los problemas ambientales. En la actualidad, niños y jóvenes hacen un gran uso de los teléfonos móviles, tabletas y computadoras principalmente para jugar; en su mayoría, estos juegos solo entretienen y no educan, y en algunos casos se podría decir que enajenan. ¿Por qué no aprovechar estas tecnologías para incentivar desde edades tempranas el conocimiento y el amor por la flora y la fauna? El proyecto Guatiní tiene como objetivo desarrollar juegos y aplicaciones multimedia que permitan divulgar la información científica acumulada sobre la avifauna cubana y educar así principalmente a las nuevas generaciones en el cuidado del medio ambiente

Guatiní: un proyecto para fomentar el conocimiento de la avifauna cubana en las nuevas generaciones

En Cuba existen 29 especies de aves amenazadas o casi amenazadas, tres en peligro crítico, ocho en peligro, siete vulnerables, y once cercanas a la amenaza. Además de la pérdida y degradación de los hábitats, las aves de Cuba se ven amenazadas por la cacería, la colecta de huevos y el comercio ilegal.  Revertir esta situación va más allá de las leyes y acciones de las autoridades competentes, es necesaria una educación medioambiental desde las edades tempranas. Se necesita que los individuos y las colectividades se identifiquen con su entorno y adquieran los conocimientos, los valores, los comportamientos y las habilidades para participar responsable y eficazmente en la prevención y la solución de los problemas ambientales. En la actualidad, niños y jóvenes hacen un gran uso de los teléfonos móviles, tabletas y computadoras principalmente para jugar; en su mayoría, estos juegos solo entretienen y no educan, y en algunos casos se podría decir que enajenan. ¿Por qué no aprovechar estas tecnologías para incentivar desde edades tempranas el conocimiento y el amor por la flora y la fauna? El proyecto Guatiní tiene como objetivo desarrollar juegos y aplicaciones multimedia que permitan divulgar la información científica acumulada sobre la avifauna cubana y educar así principalmente a las nuevas generaciones en el cuidado del medio ambiente

Level of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep in the Child and Adolescent Population in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (6-17 Years Old): Protocol for the Mugikertu Study.

[EN] BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are increasingly common problems in the general population, which can lead to overweight, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and decreased motor and cognitive capacity among children and adolescents. Establishing healthy habits in childhood on the basis of the World Health Organization's 2020 Physical Activity Guidelines is essential for proper physical, motor, and cognitive development. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study is to describe the level of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and sleep of the child and adolescent population from 6 to 17 years of age in the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC). Our secondary aim is to establish a starting point for future research and intervention protocols to improve the existing reality. METHODS: This cross-sectional study aims to recruit 1111 children and adolescents, aged 6 to 17 years from the BAC in a representative random sample. Participants will wear the ActiGraph WGT3X-BT triaxial accelerometer for 7 consecutive days in their nondominant wrist, and fill out a habit diary log of PA, mobility, and sleep routine. PA intensities, sedentary behavior, and sleep parameters (total bedtime, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency) will be calculated from raw accelerometer data using SPSS (IBM Corp). Participants will be randomly selected. RESULTS: The results of this study intend to demonstrate significant differences in PA levels in different age and gender groups since the volume of school PA in the BAC decreases as the age of the schoolchildren increases. The total study sample includes 1111 participants. In April 2021, up to 50% of the sample size was reached, which is expected to increase to 100% by April 2022. This sample will allow us to analyze, discuss, compare, and assess the reality of the school population, in a sensitive period of adherence to behavior patterns, using data from the geographical and administrative area of the BAC. This study will provide a realistic insight into PA levels among children and adolescents in the BAC. It will also offer scientific contributions on the positive relationship between PA levels and sleep quality in this population. CONCLUSIONS: This study might highlight the need for the promotion of cross-sectional policies so that children and adolescents may increase their levels of PA, thus improving both the school environment and positive healthy behavior.This study has been performed with the support of the Basque government and all the centers. In addition, we express our gratitude to all the children, adolescents, and their families who have and will participate in the study

Ingeniería Forestal y ambiental en medios insulares

Las Islas Canarias a pesar de su reducida extensión y del relativo poco peso específico a nivel mundial, no es ajena a los problemas globales detectados en la conservación de bosques y en la importancia que éstos tienen para obtener beneficios económicos, socioculturales y ambientales. La gestión forestal sostenible es en este sentido esencial para asegurar y compatibilizar los diversos beneficios del bosque. El papel específico de los bosques y su gestión son sin embargo temas aún por conocer en nuestras islas, por lo que el Año Internacional de los Bosques ha representado una oportunidad única para dar a conocer el mundo forestal y acercarlo a nuestra sociedad. El presente libro consta de 25 capítulos donde se ha contemplado la mayoría de los aspectos a tener en cuenta en la planificación y gestión del medio forestal y natural. Desde la historia forestal del archipiélago, hasta el uso y técnicas de manejo de los recursos naturales, incluyendo el agua, la energía en forma de biomasa y la selvicultura