How Could Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Be Used for Ecohydrological and Ecosystem Research? Experiences of First Operations with UAS in River Flood Plains of Northern Mongolia

This paper proposes the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as a method for monitoring biotic resources and ecohydrological systems in river floodplains. Small scale mapping based on LANDSAT and SRTM or ASTER data is of limited applicability since a spatial resolution of 30 to 90 m is not sufficient to meet the demands of habitat mapping and large scale 3D -modelling. Newer satellites like WorldView2 and SENTINEL (space mission from European Space Agency within the Copernicus Programme) could be an option to gain a 0.5 m resolution, but the availability of image data is limited. UAS allow the collection of very high spatial and temporal resolution image data and the generation of digital elevation models (DEM). A spatial resolution of less than 10 cm and multispectral or hyperspectral image data, which can be provided by UAS sensors, is needed for mapping of habitats and riparian vegetation. Indicators for water quality such as chlorophyll (a) and suspended matter concentration can be efficiently derived from multispectral image data. Thermal image data, which can also be recorded by UAS-borne sensors, provides information on thermal heterogeneity of water temperature and the interaction of river and groundwater discharge from the river floodplain. In addition, cloud cover rarely affects UAS-generated aerial images because flying altitudes are usually low and flight missions can be timed very flexibly. UAS are also much more cost-effective to operate than manned aircraft. In a first field survey in September 2012, several field plots were investigated in northern Mongolia in different watersheds of the Selenge River Basin (SRB) with varying types of land use and environmental impacts. The regional focus was on the Kharaa River Basin (KRB), which is a paradigm for transformation from nearly natural conditions to an increasingly altered state by economic activities. Within the BMBF funded project “Integrated Water Resources Management in Central Asia: model region Mongolia (MoMo)” the actual situation of water quality, quantity and ecological impacts in this area has been investigated since 2006. A first analysis of nutrient and ecological gradients of the Kharaa Rver Basin indicates a ‘good’ chemical and ecological status for the headwaters and some parts of the middle reaches. Evidence for initial processes of ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss were detected in the middle and increasingly in the lower reaches. Despite many efforts, several questions remained unsolved. Among them, the impact of erosion and particle transport on ecosystem degradation is a key issue. Fine sediment intrusion caused by erosion predominantly from the river banks but also from upland areas seems to be the most likely cause. However, based on the experiences of our existing monitoring scheme with a combination of intense fieldwork and continuous measuring with data loggers, the need of more spatial information (e.g. riparian vegetation structure, hydromorphology) with a high resolution became evident to confirm this hypothesis. Therefore, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a calibrated RGB camera was used to record image data for photogrammetric processing. DEM and orthophotos as well as spherical panoramic views were derived. Furthermore, thermal image data were terrestrially collected using an Infratec Variocam hr. Integration of thermal, multi- or hyperspectral sensors on various UAS (e.g. Archaeocopter), as well as analysis algorithms are the next steps for future work. The applicability of remote sensing approaches is discussed to better foster the development of ground truthing for a sustainable river basin management plan. The application of UAS offers a sound scientific base to assess especially the riparian zones in areas with difficult access

Sieben Jahre BioRegio Betriebsnetz Bayern – eine Zwischenbilanz

Das BioRegio Betriebsnetz Bayern ist Bestandteil des 2013 vom Bayerischen Staatsministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten (BayStMELF) initiierten Landesprogramms "BioRegio Bayern 2020". Ziel war es, die Bioproduktion in Bayern zu ver-doppeln und den Absatz regionaler Biolebensmittel bis 2020 zu steigern. Aufgebaut wurde es im Auftrag des BayStMELF durch die Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL) in Zusammenarbeit mit der Landesvereinigung für den ökologischen Landbau in Bayern e.V. (LVÖ). Der bayernweite Verbund aus heute 100 langjährig ökologisch wirtschaftenden und vorbildlich geführten Betrieben ermöglicht einen vertieften Einblick in die Praxis des Ökolandbaus und fördert den Wissenstransfer zwischen Land-wirten*innen. Die Betriebe sind regionstypisch und vielfältig aufgestellt. Sie dienen als Anlaufstation für landwirtschaftliche Schulen, für Umstellungsinteressenten*innen und Bio-Betriebe. Das Konzept des Betriebsnetzes ist eine originär bayerische Innovation im Bereich der landwirtschaftlichen Bildungsarbeit und hat sich zu einem zentralen Baustein der Initiative „BioRegio Bayern 2020˝ entwickelt

Fünf Jahre BioRegio Betriebsnetz Bayern - eine Zwischenbilanz

Das BioRegio Betriebsnetz Bayern ist Bestandteil des 2012 vom Bayerischen Staatsministerium für Ernährung,Landwirtschaft und Forsten initiierten Landesprogramms "BioRegio Bayern 2020". Ziel ist es die Bioproduktion in Bayern zu verdoppeln und den Absatz regionaler Biolebensmittel bis 2020 zu steigern. Aufgebaut wurde es durch die Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL) in Zusammenarbeit mit der Landesvereinigung für den Ökologischen Landbau in Bayern e.V. (LVÖ). Der bayernweite Verbund aus heute 90 langjährig ökologisch wirtschaftenden und vorbildlich geführten Betrieben ermöglicht einen vertieften Einblick in die Praxis des Ökolandbaus und fördert den Wissenstransfer zwischen Landwirten. Die Betriebe sind regionstypisch und vielfältig aufgestellt. Sie dienen als Anlaufstation für landwirtschaftliche Schulen, für Umstellungsinteressenten und Bio-Betriebe. Das Konzept des Betriebsnetzes ist eine originär bayerische Innovation im Bereich der landwirtschaftlichen Bildungsarbeit und hat sich zu einem zentralen Baustein der Initiative „BioRegio Bayern 2020˝ entwickelt

Diagnosis-Specific Work Disability before and after Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery—A Register Study from Sweden

Low back pain (LBP) patients undergoing lumbar spine decompression surgery (LSDS) often suffer from multi-comorbidity and experience high work disability. This study aimed to identify diagnosis-specific work disability patterns in all LBP-patients before and after LSDS during 2008–2010, that were aged 19–60 years and living in Sweden (n = 10,800) and compare these patterns to LBP-patients without LSDS (n = 109,179), and to matched individuals without LBP (n = 472,191). Work disability days (long-term sickness absence (LTSA), disability pension (DP)) during the three years before to three years after the cohort’s entry date were identified by generalised estimating equations. LBP-patients undergoing LSDS had higher overall work disability during the three years following surgery (LTSA: 23.6%, DP: 6.3%) than LBP-patients without LSDS (LTSA: 19.5%, DP: 5.9%), and those without LBP (LTSA: 7.9%, DP: 1.7%). Among patients undergoing LSDS, the prevalence of work disability due to dorsopathies increased from 20 days three years before surgery to 70 days in the year after and attenuated to 30 days in the third year following surgery. Work disability for other diagnoses remained stable at a low level in this group

Diagnosis-Specific Work Disability before and after Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery—A Register Study from Sweden

Low back pain (LBP) patients undergoing lumbar spine decompression surgery (LSDS) often suffer from multi-comorbidity and experience high work disability. This study aimed to identify diagnosis-specific work disability patterns in all LBP-patients before and after LSDS during 2008–2010, that were aged 19–60 years and living in Sweden (n = 10,800) and compare these patterns to LBP-patients without LSDS (n = 109,179), and to matched individuals without LBP (n = 472,191). Work disability days (long-term sickness absence (LTSA), disability pension (DP)) during the three years before to three years after the cohort’s entry date were identified by generalised estimating equations. LBP-patients undergoing LSDS had higher overall work disability during the three years following surgery (LTSA: 23.6%, DP: 6.3%) than LBP-patients without LSDS (LTSA: 19.5%, DP: 5.9%), and those without LBP (LTSA: 7.9%, DP: 1.7%). Among patients undergoing LSDS, the prevalence of work disability due to dorsopathies increased from 20 days three years before surgery to 70 days in the year after and attenuated to 30 days in the third year following surgery. Work disability for other diagnoses remained stable at a low level in this group

Assessment of foot alignment and function for ambulatory children with cerebral palsy: Results of a modified Delphi technique consensus study

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to establish consensus for the assessment of foot alignment and function in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy, using expert surgeon's opinion through a modified Delphi technique. METHODS The panel used a five-level Likert-type scale to record agreement or disagreement with 33 statements regarding the assessment of foot alignment and function. Consensus was defined as at least 80% of responses being in the highest or lowest of two of the five Likert-type ratings. General agreement was defined as 60%-79% falling into the highest or lowest two ratings. There was no agreement if neither threshold was reached. RESULTS Consensus was achieved for 25 (76%) statements, general agreement for 4 (12%) statements, and lack of consensus for 4 (12%) of the statements. There was consensus that the functional anatomy of the foot is best understood by dividing the foot into three segments and two columns. Consensus was achieved concerning descriptors of foot segmental alignment for both static and dynamic assessment. There was consensus that radiographs of the foot should be weight-bearing. There was general agreement that foot deformity in children with cerebral palsy can be classified into three levels based on soft tissue imbalance and skeletal malalignment. CONCLUSION The practices identified in this study can be used to establish best care guidelines, and the format used will be a template for future Delphi technique studies on clinical decision-making for the management of specific foot segmental malalignment patterns commonly seen in children with cerebral palsy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V

COVID-19 lockdown allows researchers to quantify the effects of human activity on wildlife

Funding: Manuscript preparation was supported through: a Radcliffe Fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University (to C.R.); the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 798091 (to M.-C.L.); and Autonomous Province of Trento ordinary funds to Fondazione Edmund Mach (to F.C.).Reduced human mobility during the pandemic will reveal critical aspects of our impact on animals, providing important guidance on how best to share space on this crowded planet.PostprintPeer reviewe

Distal femoral extension osteotomy and patellar tendon advancement or shortening in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy: A modified Delphi consensus study and literature review

PURPOSE In children with cerebral palsy, flexion deformities of the knee can be treated with a distal femoral extension osteotomy combined with either patellar tendon advancement or patellar tendon shortening. The purpose of this study was to establish a consensus through expert orthopedic opinion, using a modified Delphi process to describe the surgical indications for distal femoral extension osteotomy and patellar tendon advancement/patellar tendon shortening. A literature review was also conducted to summarize the recent literature on distal femoral extension osteotomy and patellar tendon shortening/patellar tendon advancement. METHOD A group of 16 pediatric orthopedic surgeons, with more than 10 years of experience in the surgical management of children with cerebral palsy, was established. The group used a 5-level Likert-type scale to record agreement or disagreement with statements regarding distal femoral extension osteotomy and patellar tendon advancement/patellar tendon shortening. Consensus for the surgical indications for distal femoral extension osteotomy and patellar tendon advancement/patellar tendon shortening was achieved through a modified Delphi process. The literature review, summarized studies of clinical outcomes of distal femoral extension osteotomy/patellar tendon shortening/patellar tendon advancement, published between 2008 and 2022. RESULTS There was a high level of agreement with consensus for 31 out of 44 (70%) statements on distal femoral extension osteotomy. Agreement was lower for patellar tendon advancement/patellar tendon shortening with consensus reached for 8 of 21 (38%) of statements. The literature review included 25 studies which revealed variation in operative technique for distal femoral extension osteotomy, patellar tendon advancement, and patellar tendon shortening. Distal femoral extension osteotomy and patellar tendon advancement/patellar tendon shortening were generally effective in correcting knee flexion deformities and extensor lag, but there was marked variation in outcomes and complication rates. CONCLUSION The results from this study will provide guidelines for surgeons who care for children with cerebral palsy and point to unresolved questions for further research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE level V

Finding consensus for hamstring surgery in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy using the Delphi method

PURPOSE There is marked variation in indications and techniques for hamstring surgery in children with cerebral palsy. There is particular uncertainty regarding the indications for hamstring transfer compared to traditional hamstring lengthening. The purpose of this study was for an international panel of experts to use the Delphi method to establish consensus indications for hamstring surgery in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. METHODS The panel used a five-level Likert-type scale to record agreement or disagreement with statements regarding hamstring surgery, including surgical indications and techniques, post-operative care, and outcome measures. Consensus was defined as at least 80% of responses being in the highest or lowest two of the five Likert-type ratings. General agreement was defined as 60%-79% falling into the highest or lowest two ratings. There was no agreement if neither of these thresholds was reached. RESULTS The panel reached consensus or general agreement for 38 (84%) of 45 statements regarding hamstring surgery. The panel noted the importance of assessing pelvic tilt during gait when considering hamstring surgery, and also that lateral hamstring lengthening is rarely needed, particularly at the index surgery. They noted that repeat hamstring lengthening often has poor outcomes. The panel was divided regarding hamstring transfer surgery, with only half performing such surgery. CONCLUSION The results of this study can help pediatric orthopedic surgeons optimize decision-making in their choice and practice of hamstring surgery for ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. This has the potential to reduce practice variation and significantly improve outcomes for ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE level V