A mobile multi-sensor platform for building reconstruction integrating terrestrial and autonomous UAV-based close range data acquisition

Photogrammetric data capture of complex 3D objects using UAV imagery has become commonplace. Software tools based on algorithms like Structure-from-Motion and multi-view stereo image matching enable the fully automatic generation of densely meshed 3D point clouds. In contrast, the planning of a suitable image network usually requires considerable effort of a human expert, since this step directly influences the precision and completeness of the resulting point cloud. Planning of suitable camera stations can be rather complex, in particular for objects like buildings, bridges and monuments, which frequently feature strong depth variations to be acquired by high resolution images at a short distance. Within the paper, we present an automatic flight mission planning tool, which generates flight lines while aiming at camera configurations, which maintain a roughly constant object distance, provide sufficient image overlap and avoid unnecessary stations. Planning is based on a coarse Digital Surface Model and an approximate building outline. As a proof of concept, we use the tool within our research project MoVEQuaD, which aims at the reconstruction of building geometry at sub-centimetre accuracy

Female home range size is regulated by resource distribution and intraspecific competition: a long-term field study

The size of an individual’s home range is an important feature, influencing reproduction and survival, but it can vary considerably among both populations and individuals. The factors accounting for such variation are still poorly understood, and comprehensive long-term field studies considering various environmental factors that influence home range size are rare. We investigated the effects of seasonality, availability of food, cover, number of direct neighbours and the relative individual body mass on home range sizes in 125 adult female striped mice, Rhabdomys pumilio, in South Africa from 2004 to 2008. We used radiotelemetry to estimate home range sizes, trapping to determine the number of direct neighbours, and plant surveys in every home range to determine availability of food and cover. Home ranges were smaller when food quantity was high, many territorial neighbours were present, females had a relatively small body mass and during the nonbreeding season. We conclude that the availability of food resources and intraspecific competition are the main factors influencing home range size in female striped mice. Females enlarged their home ranges when territorial neighbours were few, and there was a significant positive correlation between home range size and quantity of food plants. This indicates that home range size might not reflect the minimal trade-off between access to resources that allow for a female’s survival and lowest cost for defending and foraging in that area. Instead, we propose a hypothesis for future research that female striped mice occupy areas several times larger than needed to improve their fitness by providing resources for future offspring

Plant nutrition -Food security and sustainability of agro-ecosystems

Abstract The pectin content of Zea mays suspension cells was modified through long-term and short-term pretreatments. After 2 h of treatment at various Al concentrations a significant positive correlation between pectin and Al contents could be found. There was a close positive correlation between Al contents and the relative callose induction in the maize cells. Investigating the spatial Al sensitivity of root apices of Zea mays and Vicia faba and combining the data for both species revealed a close positive relationships between pectin and Al contents, and pectin contents and relative callose induction. In transgenic lines of potato differing in the expression of pectin methylesterase it could be demonstrated that higher expression of this enzyme resulted in stronger inhibition of root elongation and higher Al contents of root tips. The results presented support our view that the binding of Al to the cell-wall pectin-matrix represents an important step in the expression of Al toxicity

Localisation of aluminium in root tips of Zea mays and Vicia faba

Monocot species and dicot species differ widely in the composition of their cell walls, namely in the pectin content, and thus in potential At-binding sires. The effect of these differences on cellular localisation as well as on tissue distribution of Al was compared in root tips of Zea mays and Vicia faba. The localisation of Al was assayed by Laser Microprobe Mass Analysis (LAMMA) after freeze-substitution. The radial mobility of Al was much lower in the roots of Vicia faba. In root tips of Zen mays, Al had reached the stele already after 60 min while it was confined to the rhizodermis and outer cortex cells in Vicia faba, indicating a stronger binding of Al in the cell walls of the dicot. This binding, however, had no influence on intracellular distribution. Within 60 min intracellular Al was detectable in both species. Nevertheless, by far the highest Al concentrations were always measured in the cell wall

Superficial Wound Swabbing A novel method of sampling and processing wound fluid for subsequent immunoassay analysis in diabetic foot ulcerations

OBJECTIVE: In diabetic foot ulcers, wound fluid inflammatory mediators have previously been proposed as surrogate markers for nonhealing. However, currently available wound fluid sampling techniques are not suitable for clinical practice due to low levels of exudate and a high logistical effort. The aim of this investigation was to assess 1) the technique of superficial wound swabbing for harvesting wound fluid; and 2) the quality of the collected fluid for immunoassay analysis of inflammatory mediators. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Both nylon-flocked swabs and film dressings were used to collect wound fluid from foot ulcers of diabetic patients. In randomly selected patients, levels of wound fluid inflammatory mediators and matrix metalloproteases were determined using multiplexed bead-based sandwich immunoassays with respect to both sampling methods. Wound fluid spike-in experiments were performed to evaluate the impact of different sample processing protocols on subsequent immunoassay analysis. RESULTS: Using the swabbing technique, a median amount of 40 µL (2–120 µL) wound exudate was collected, which allowed the measurement of several multiplex panels. Comparing both sampling methods, a similar qualitative protein recovery was observed with a trend to analyte enrichment by swabbing. Sample processing using swabs did not affect analyte recovery, with the exception of interleukin (IL)-8, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, IL-17A, interferon-γ–induced protein 10, and IL-4. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of wound fluid collected by superficial swabbing is not inferior to the current standard technique. Combined with subsequent bead-based sandwich immunoassay analysis, this new method offers a noninvasive technique, suitable for daily clinical routines, for assessment of inflammatory activity in diabetic foot ulcers