Extracting Semantically Annotated 3D Building Models with Textures from Oblique Aerial Imagery

This paper proposes a method for the reconstruction of city buildings with automatically derived textures that can be directly used for facade element classification. Oblique and nadir aerial imagery recorded by a multi-head camera system is transformed into dense 3D point clouds and evaluated statistically in order to extract the hull of the structures. For the resulting wall, roof and ground surfaces high-resolution polygonal texture patches are calculated and compactly arranged in a texture atlas without resampling. The facade textures subsequently get analyzed by a commercial software package to detect possible windows whose contours are projected into the original oriented source images and sparsely ray-casted to obtain their 3D world coordinates. With the windows being reintegrated into the previously extracted hull the final building models are stored as semantically annotated CityGML ”LOD-2.5” objects

Law requirements for GMO analysis and the role of GMO reference laboratories in Poland

Genetically modified organisms are commonly used for scientific and practical purposes. Genetically modified crops have been cultivated worldwide including EU (102 mln ha total in 2006). The use of GMO is regulated by the Directive 90/219 on contained use, Directive 2001/2003 on deliberate release to the environment, Regulation 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed, Regulation 1830/2003 on traceability and labeling, and the Polish GMO Law act from 2001. The regulation on food and feed implements a threshold of 0.9% GMO for product labeling. This threshold, however, can be applied to unintended or technically unavoidable GMO presence and corresponds to single ingredient only. Genetically modified organisms can be detected using DNA (PCR) or protein (ELISA) based methods. PCR screening for commonly used DNA fragments (35S promoter or Nos terminator) can be broadly applied, however the proper interpretation of the results requires good knowledge of different GMO constitution. Event specific is the most accurate PCR method for GMO identification. Quantification of GMO in products is done using a RealTime PCR. All analytical methods developed for GMO identification and quantification have to be validated before GMO approval. Validation is performed by the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) in collaboration with National Reference Laboratories. According to Polish GMO Law the Minister of Environment is responsible for GMO control in Poland that is performed by national competent authorities (eg. Sanitary Inspection, Veterinary Inspection, Seed Inspection)

Cry1Ab expression in MON810 maize varieties in Poland — impact on non-target organisms the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae F.) and the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.)

Kukurydza (Zea mays L.) MON810 Bt z białkiem Cry1Ab stanowi najbardziej efektywną ochronę przeciwko omacnicy prosowiance (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.). Jest ona uprawiana w Polsce od 2007 roku. Odmiany typu MON810 produkują 92 kDa N-terminalny fragment białka Cry1Ab z Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ssp. kurstaki szczep HD1, warunkujący odporność na owady z rzędu Motyle. Jednym z istotnych parametrów określających potencjał do rozwoju odporności populacji szkodników kukurydzy oraz wpływu upraw GM na owady niedocelowe jest poziom ekspresji białka w częściach roślin z którymi wchodzą w kontakt. W odmianach typu MON810 ekspresja białka Cry1Ab powinna mieć charakter konstytutywny ze względu na obecność promotora CaMV35S. Dane wskazują jednak, że zawartość białka w organach roślinnych jest różna. Ilościowy test immunoabsorpcji enzymatycznej (ELISA) został użyty do oznaczenia poziomu białka Cry1Ab w odmianach DKC60-16Bt i DKC3421YG uprawianych w warunkach zamkniętego użycia i w polu. Przedmiotem pracy było określenie poziomu białka Cry1Ab w dwu odmianach kukurydzy z cechą MON810 w Polsce i przeanalizowanie jego akumulacji w wybranych organizmach niedocelowych.The transgenic MON810 maize (Zea mays L.), expressing Cry1Ab protein and known to have the most effective protection against European corn borer, has been cultivated in Poland since 2007. MON810 cultivars express 92 kDA N-terminal fragment of Cry1Ab protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ssp. kurstaki strain HD1, assuring protection against Lepidoptera insects. Possible unintended effects of the widespread planting of Bt crops (insect resistance, impact on non-target organisms) are related to the expression level of Bt protein. Non-target herbivores and beneficial insects may be affected by direct feeding on the transgenic crop or by interactions in tri-trophic systems. In MON810 plants the Bt protein expression should have constitutive character due to the presence of 35S promoter. However, considerable variations in the expression level of Cry1Ab protein have been reported. A quantitative Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to quantify the levels of Cry1Ab protein in DKC60-16Bt and DKC3421YG cultivars grown under greenhouse and field conditions. The tissue-specific expression and cultivation-dependent abundance of Cry1Ab protein were determined. The accumulation of Bt protein in selected non-target organisms is discussed.

Evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9 Constructs in Wheat Cell Suspension Cultures

Despite intensive optimization efforts, developing an efficient sequence-specific CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing method remains a challenge, especially in polyploid cereal species such as wheat. Validating the efficacy of nuclease constructs prior to using them in planta is, thus, a major step of every editing experiment. Several construct evaluation strategies were proposed, with PEG-mediated plasmid transfection of seedling-derived protoplasts becoming the most popular. However, the usefulness of this approach is affected by associated construct copy number bias and chromatin relaxation, both influencing the outcome. Therefore, to achieve a reliable evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9 constructs, we proposed a system based on an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of established wheat cell suspension cultures. This system was used for the evaluation of a CRISPR/Cas9 construct designed to target the ABA 8′-hydroxylase 1 gene. The efficiency of editing was verified by cost-effective means of Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. We discuss advantages and potential future developments of this method in contrast to other in vitro approaches

European Union needs agro-bioeconomy

Bioeconomy, biotechnology and genetically-modified organisms in particular have been the subject of discussion for a long time. Biotechnology is applied in a variety of economic areas which include biopharmaceuticals, biobased products and agriculture. During the last 20 years, innovative biotechnological techniques for plant genome improvement have been developed. Many factors worldwide have led to the status quo: different legislations around the world, the lack of public acceptance in the EU and high expectations for new strategies for su-stainability and food security. Therefore, a clear regulatory status for new techniques is crucial for research and development, as well as for their practical implementation. This should be based on solid science which plays a critical role in developing the bioeconomy

Evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9 Constructs in Wheat Cell Suspension Cultures

Despite intensive optimization efforts, developing an efficient sequence-specific CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing method remains a challenge, especially in polyploid cereal species such as wheat. Validating the efficacy of nuclease constructs prior to using them in planta is, thus, a major step of every editing experiment. Several construct evaluation strategies were proposed, with PEG-mediated plasmid transfection of seedling-derived protoplasts becoming the most popular. However, the usefulness of this approach is affected by associated construct copy number bias and chromatin relaxation, both influencing the outcome. Therefore, to achieve a reliable evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9 constructs, we proposed a system based on an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of established wheat cell suspension cultures. This system was used for the evaluation of a CRISPR/Cas9 construct designed to target the ABA 8′-hydroxylase 1 gene. The efficiency of editing was verified by cost-effective means of Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. We discuss advantages and potential future developments of this method in contrast to other in vitro approaches

European Union needs agro-bioeconomy

Bioeconomy, biotechnology and genetically-modified organisms in particular have been the subject of discussion for a long time. Biotechnology is applied in a variety of economic areas which include biopharmaceuticals, biobased products and agriculture. During the last 20 years, innovative biotechnological techniques for plant genome improvement have been developed. Many factors worldwide have led to the status quo : different legislations around the world, the lack of public acceptance in the EU and high expectations for new strategies for sustainability and food security. Therefore, a clear regulatory status for new techniques is crucial for research and development, as well as for their practical implementation. This should be based on solid science which plays a critical role in developing the bioeconomy