LifeCLEF 2016: Multimedia Life Species Identification Challenges

International audienceUsing multimedia identification tools is considered as one of the most promising solutions to help bridge the taxonomic gap and build accurate knowledge of the identity, the geographic distribution and the evolution of living species. Large and structured communities of nature observers (e.g., iSpot, Xeno-canto, Tela Botanica, etc.) as well as big monitoring equipment have actually started to produce outstanding collections of multimedia records. Unfortunately, the performance of the state-of-the-art analysis techniques on such data is still not well understood and is far from reaching real world requirements. The LifeCLEF lab proposes to evaluate these challenges around 3 tasks related to multimedia information retrieval and fine-grained classification problems in 3 domains. Each task is based on large volumes of real-world data and the measured challenges are defined in collaboration with biologists and environmental stakeholders to reflect realistic usage scenarios. For each task, we report the methodology, the data sets as well as the results and the main outcom

Volcanic and seismic activity at Stromboli preceding the 2002-03 eruption

Regular surveys with a PM695 FLIR thermal imaging camera from both the ground and from helicopter were conducted on Stromboli from October 2001. These measurements allow us to (i) examine changes in morphology of the summit craters produced by paroxystic explosions and (ii) track the increasing level of magma within the conduits of Stromboli that preceded and led to the 2002/03 effusive eruption. Two geophysical surveys in May and September/October 2002 demonstrated a clear increasing trend in the amplitude of VLP events, consistent with the presence of a higher magma column above the VLP source region. The observed increase in magma level was probably induced by an increase in the pressure of the magma feeding system at Stromboli, controlled by regional tectonic stress. The increased magma level induced strain on the uppermost part of the crater terrace, allowing an increase in soil permeability and therefore CO2 and Radon degassing. Eventually this stress caused the northeast flank of the craters to fracture, allowing lava to flood out at high effusion rates on 28th December. Regular surveys with the thermal imaging camera, combined with geophysical monitoring, are an invaluable addition to the armory of volcanologists attempting to follow the evolution of activity on active volcanoes

Plasticity induced by pairing brain stimulation with motor-related states only targets a subset of cortical neurones

Movement-related brain stimulation (MRBS) interventions associate endogenously generated movement-related brain states with external brain stimuli to induce targeted plastic changes in the motor cortex (M1) [[1], [2], [3], [4]]. These studies have emphasised the importance of the timing of stimulation relative to movement onset. However, none has examined whether the effects are specific to the cortical circuits activated by the stimuli. The question arises because previous work has shown that different sets of inputs to corticospinal neurones can be activated using TMS. Stimulation with a posterior-anterior (PA) direction activates a set of neurones that have a shorter latency connection to corticospinal neurones than those activated with an anterior-posterior (AP) current [5]. Previous MRBS studies have paired movement onset with PA pulses [1]. The present work tests whether the after-effects of MRBS are specific to PA-sensitive neurones, or whether those activated by AP pulses are also affected. Here we applied AP or PA TMS pulses applied just prior to the onset of volitional index finger movements in two experiments conducted on separate days in the same group of individuals [3]. Corticospinal excitability changes induced by these interventions were assessed using AP and PA TMS pulses in the effector muscle and in a control muscle

Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 9

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of three vascular plants according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment of Soldanella calabrella Kress at global level, and the regional assessment of Luzula pindica (Hausskn.) Chrtek & Křísa and Romulea variicolor Mifsud (Italy)

Pituitary hypoplasia and growth hormone deficiency in a woman with glycogen storage disease type Ia: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Growth retardation is one of the cardinal manifestations of glycogen storage disease type Ia. It is unclear which component of the growth hormone and/or insulin-like growth factor axis is primarily disrupted, and management of growth impairment in these patients remains controversial. Here we report the first case in the literature where glycogen storage disease type Ia is associated with pituitary hypoplasia and growth hormone deficiency.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 20-year-old woman with glycogen storage disease type Ia was admitted to our endocrinology department because of growth retardation. Basal and overnight growth hormone sampling at 2-hour intervals demonstrated low levels; however, provocative testing revealed a relatively normal growth hormone response. A hypoplastic anterior pituitary with preserved growth hormone response to provocative testing suggested the possibility of growth hormone neurosecretory dysfunction and/or primary pituitary involvement.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pituitary hypoplasia may result from growth hormone-releasing hormone deficiency, a condition generally known as growth hormone neurosecretory dysfunction. It is an abnormality with a spontaneous and pulsatile secretion pattern, characterized by short stature, growth retardation and normal serum growth hormone response to provocative testing. However, in the case described in this report, a normal although relatively low growth hormone response during insulin tolerance testing and pituitary hypoplasia suggested that primary pituitary involvement or growth hormone neurosecretory dysfunction may occur in glycogen storage disease type Ia. This is a potential cause of growth failure associated with a lower somatotroph mass, and may explain the variable responsiveness to growth hormone replacement therapy in people with glycogen storage disease.</p

A laser scanning system for metrology and viewing in ITER

The construction and operation of a next-generation fusion reactor will require metrology to achieve and verify precise alignment of plasma-facing components and inspection in the reactor vessel. The system must be compatible with the vessel environment of high gamma radiation (10{sup 4} Gy/h), ultra-high-vacuum (10{sup {minus}8} torr), and elevated temperature (200 C). The high radiation requires that the system be remotely deployed. A coherent frequency modulated laser radar-based system will be integrated with a remotely operated deployment mechanism to meet these requirements. The metrology/viewing system consists of a compact laser transceiver optics module which is linked through fiber optics to the laser source and imaging units that are located outside of a biological shield. The deployment mechanism will be a mast-like positioning system. Radiation-damage tests will be conducted on critical sensor components at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to determine threshold damage levels and effects on data transmission. This paper identifies the requirements for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor metrology and viewing and describes a remotely operated precision ranging and surface mapping system

Turbulence, instream wood and fish: ecohydraulic interactions under field conditions

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Trinci, G, Harvey, GL, Henshaw, AJ, Bertoldi, W, Hölker, F. Turbulence, instream wood and fish: Ecohydraulic interactions under field conditions. Ecohydrology. 2020;e2211. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2211 , which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2211. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions

Magma emission rates fromshallow submarine eruptions using airborne thermal imaging

The effusion rate is the most important parameter to gatherwhen a volcanic eruption occurs, because it controls the way inwhich a lava body grows, extends and expands, influencing its dimensional properties. Calculation of lava flow volume from thermal images collected by helicopter surveys has been largely used during the last decade for monitoring subaerial effusive eruptions. However, due to the depths where volcanic activity occurs, monitoring submarine volcanic eruptions is a very difficult task. The 2011–2012 submarine volcanic eruption at El Hierro, Canary Islands, has provided a unique and excellent opportunity to monitor eruptive processes occurring on the seabed. The use of a hand-held thermal camera during daily helicopter flights allowed us to estimate for the first time the daily and total erupted magma volumes from a submarine eruption. The volume of magma emitted during this eruption has been estimated at 300 Mm3, giving an average effusion rate of ~25 m3 s−1. Thermal imagery by helicopter proved to be a fast, inexpensive, safe and reliable technique of monitoring volcanic eruptions when they occur on the shallow seabed.This research was financially supported by the projects MAKAVOL (MAC/3/C161) from the European Union MAC 2007–2013 Transnational Cooperation Program as well as from the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife. We are also grateful to the staff of El Hierro airport (AENA) for providing logistical support.Published219-2255V. Sorveglianza vulcanica ed emergenzeJCR Journalrestricte