3D models from terrestrial photogrammetry in the estimation of forest inventory variables

[EN] The management of forest resources should be based on reliable measurements of individual standing trees. At the beginning, these measurements allow us to estimate equations and models, which in turn are used to be applied to similar individuals with the objective of estimate variables such as timber volume at plot or stand level. Traditionally, these measurements required the destruction of several standing trees. The present work intends the construction of three-dimensional models of standing trees by terrestrial photogrammetry. With this purpose, four plots were sampled in the MUP n°39 (Madrid) in each of which 5 representative trees were measured and photographed. For the measurement of standing trees, we used: tree caliper, Criterion RD1000 dendrometer and Vertex III hipsometer. The images were taken with a non-metric Canon IXUS 85 IS camera. Three-dimensional models were constructed from the images using VisualSFM software. Subsequently, measurements were made on these models using Meshlab software. The evaluation is performed by comparing the diameters measured on the 3D models with those obtained by other validated measurement methodology (using the Criterion RD1000 laser dendrometer). No significant differences were found between those measurements made with the Criterion and those made on the 3D models. Wood volume estimation of standing trees using photogrammetry is a sound alternative with potential for the next years.[ES] La gestión eficiente de las masas forestales necesita de la medición de árboles individuales de manera precisa. A partir de dichas mediciones se elaboran ecuaciones y modelos que posteriormente pueden aplicarse a ejemplares de similares características, con el objetivo de estimar variables derivadas como el volumen maderable. De manera tradicional, la obtención de dichas mediciones requería el apeo de ejemplares. En este trabajo se evalúa una nueva metodología de medición, basada en la reconstrucción de modelos 3D de árboles mediante métodos fotogramétricos terrestres. Dentro del MUP (Monte de Utilidad Pública) n°39 (Madrid) se seleccionaron 4 parcelas, en cada una de las cuales se midieron y fotografiaron 5 pies. Para la medición se emplearon: forcípula, dendrómetro Criterion RD1000 e hipsómetro Vertex III. Las imágenes se tomaron con una cámara no métrica Canon IXUS 85 IS. A partir de las imágenes se construyeron modelos tridimensionales usando el software VisualSFM (Structure from Motion). Sobre esos modelos se realizaron posteriormente medidas por medio del software Meshlab. La evaluación se realiza a través de la comparación de los diámetros medidos en los modelos 3D con los obtenidos por medio de otra metodología de medición ya validada (usando el dendrómetro láser Criterion RD1000). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre las mediciones realizadas con Criterion y las realizadas sobre el modelo 3D. La cubicación de árboles en pie por medio de métodos fotogramétricos es una alternativa fiable con potencial de desarrollo en los próximos años.De Eugenio, A.; Fernández-Landa, A.; Merino-De-Miguel, S. (2018). Modelos 3D derivados de fotogrametría terrestre para la estimación de variables de inventario forestal. Revista de Teledetección. (51):113-124. doi:10.4995/raet.2018.9174SWORD11312451Astrup, R., Ducey, M.J., Granhus, A., Ritter, T., Von Lüpke, N. 2014. Approaches for estimating stand-level volume using terrestrial laser scanning in a single-scan mode Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 44(6), 666-676. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2013-0535Balvanera, P. 2012. Los servicios ecosistémicos que ofrecen los bosques tropicales. Ecosistemas, 21(1- 2), 136-147.Chirici, G., McRoberts, R.E., Winter, S., Bertini, R., Brändli, U.B., Alberdi-Asensio, I., Bastrup-Birk, A., Rondeux, J., Barsoum, N., Marchetti, M. 2012. National Forest Inventory Contributions to Forest Biodiversity Monitoring. Forest Science, 58(1), 257-268. https://doi.org/10.5849/forsci.12-003Cunliffe, A.M., Brazier, R.E., Anderson, K. 2016. Ultra-fine grain landscape-scale quatification of dryland vegetation structure with droneacquired structure-from-motion photogrammetry. Remote Sensing of Environment, 183, 129-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2016.05.019De Araujo-Barbosa, C.C., Atkinson, P.M., Dearing, J.A. 2015. Remote sensing of ecosystem services: A systematic review. Ecological Indicators, 52, 430- 443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.01.007Diéguez-Aranda, U., Barrio, M., Castedo, F., RuizGonzález, A.D., Álvarez-Taboada, M.F., ÁlvarezGonzález, J.G., Rojo, A. 2003. Dendrometría. Madrid: Editorial Mundi-Prensa y Fundación Conde del Valle de Salazar.European Environment Agency. European Environment Agency. 20 de diciembre de 2017, https://www. eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/forest-firedanger-2/assessmentFernandes, P., Luz, A., Loureiro, C., Ferreira-Godinho, P., Botelho, H. 2006. Fuel modelling and fire hazard assessment based on data from the Portuguese National Forest Inventory. Forest Ecology and Management, 234, supplement, S229.Fridman, J., Holm, S., Nilsson, M., Nilsson, P., Ringvall, A.H., Stahl, G. 2014. Adapting National Forest Inventories to changing requierements - the case of the Swedish National Forest Inventory at the turn of the 20th century. Silva Fennica, 48(3), article id 1095. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.1095Hyyppä, J., Hyyppä, H., Leckie, D., Gougeon, F., Yu, X., Maltamo, M. 2008. Review of methods of smallfootprint airborne laser scanning for extracting forest inventory data in boreal forests. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 29(5), 1339-1366. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431160701736489Liang, X., Hyyppä, J. 2013. Automatic Stem Mapping by Merging Several Terrestrial Laser Scans at the Feature and Decision Levels. Sensors, 13, 1614- 1634. https://doi.org/10.3390/s130201614Liang, X., Kankare, V., Hyyppä, J., Wang, Y., Kukko, A., Haggrén, H., Yu, X., Kaartinen, H., Jaakkola, A., Guan, F., Holopainen, M. 2016. Terrestrial laser scanning in forest inventories. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 115, 63-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2016.01.006Manín Castro, G., Barrio Anta, M., Díaz-Maroto, I.J. 2001. Tarifa de cubicación con clasificación de productos para Quercus robur L. en el norte de la provincia de Lugo. In: Proceedings of III Congreso Forestal Español, Granada, Spain, 25-28 September.MAPAMA. Mapa Forestal de España. En Banco de Datos de la Naturaleza. 20 de diciembre de 2017, https://www.mapama.gob.es. Mikita, T., Janta, P., Surový, P. 2016. Forest Stand Inventory Based on Combined Aerial and Terrestrial Close-Range Photogrammetry. Forests, 7(8), 165, https://doi.org/10.3390/f7080165Olofsson, K., Holmgren, J., Olsson, H. 2014. Tree Stem and Height Measurements using Terrestrial Laser Scanning and the RANSAC Algorithm. Remote Sensing, 6(5), 4323-4344. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs6054323Rodríguez, F., Fernández, A. 2009. Herramientas de cubicación sin necesidad de apeo de árboles. Montes, 98, 83-99.Vierling, L.A., Xu, Y., Eitel, J.U., Oldow, J.S. 2013. Shrub characterization using terrestrial laser scanning and implications for airborne LiDAR assessment. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing, 38(6), 709-722. https://doi.org/10.5589/m12-057Wallace, L., Lucieer, A., Malenovský, Z., Turner, D., Vopěnka, P. 2016. Assessment of Forest Structure Using Two UAV Techniques: A Comparison of Airborne Laser Scanning and Structure from Motion (SfM) Point Clouds. Forests, 7(3), 62. https://doi.org/10.3390/f7030062Westoby, M.J., Brasington, J., Glasser, N.F., Hambrey, M.J., Reynolds, J.M. 2012. 'Structure-fromMotion' photogrammetry: a low-cost, effective tool for geoscience applications. Geomorphology, 179, 300-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph. 2012.08.021Wu, C. VisualSFM. A visual Structure from Motion System. 15 de diciembre de 2017, http://ccwu.me/vsfm.Wulder, M. 1998. Optical remote-sensing techniques for the assessment of forest inventory and biophysical parameters. Progress in Physical Geography, 22(4), 449-476. https://doi.org/10.1177/03091333980220040

Towards a standardized index of European rabbit abundance in Iberian Mediterranean habitats

European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus are a keystone species in Iberian Mediterranean ecosystems. However, the reliability of methods for estimating rabbit abundance, particularly when at low numbers, is not well understood. Further, better standardization of these methodologies would allow abundance estimates to be more reliably compared between areas and periods. Consequently, we compared several frequently used methods of estimating rabbit abundance and assessed their advantages and disadvantages. During the summers of 2008 and 2009, in 11 localities of central-southern Spain we undertook (a) driving transect counts of rabbits, either at dusk or at night, (b) linear transects on foot recording rabbit signs, (c) cleared-plot pellet counts at permanent plots, and (d) standing crop counts, both with and without habitat stratification. Density estimated at night from driving transects using the Distance Sampling method (the reference method against which all other indices were compared) varied from 0 to 2. 69 rabbits ha-1. Most pellet-count indices were significantly related to the reference method. In particular, cleared-plot pellet counts in permanent plots corrected for pellet persistence showed the best correlation with the reference method. In contrast, latrine counts were not related to the reference method index, and we recommend against their use. A standard methodology based on cleared-plot pellets counts could be used to monitor rabbit abundance on a large scale.This work is a partial result from the projects CGL2005-02340, CGL2009-10741, and CGL2009-11665 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and EU-FEDER funds, and projects POII09-0099-2557 and 07/NAT/E/000742 funded by the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha with EU-FEDER and LIFE funds, respectively. Javier Fernandez-de-Simon benefits from a FPI scholarship and Miguel Delibes-Mateos is currently holding a Juan de la Cierva research contract, both funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe

Fotoluminiscencia visible debida a capas de SiO2. implantadas con silicio y carbono

Se ha n realizado implantaciones de silicio y de carbono + silicio en matrices aislantes de SÍO2 térmico, las cuales, después de un recocido a alta temperatura precipitan en forma de nanocristales de tamaños comprendidos entre 30 y 60 Á. Estas estructuras presentan una intensa fotoluminiscencia en el rojo profundo (1.4-1.6 eV) y el verde (2.0-2.2 eV). La energía e intensidad de las bandas depende fuertemente de la temperatura y duración del recocido. Diferentes comportamientos se han encontrado para las bandas roja y verde, incluyendo la cinética de desexcitación y el origen estructural. Los experimentos de absorción infrarroja, Raman y microscopía electrónica demuestran que los nanocristales son los responsables de la banda roja mientras que agregados amorfos de carbono son los responsables de la verde

Real Space Renormalization Group Methods and Quantum Groups

We apply real-space RG methods to study two quantum group invariant Hamiltonians, that of the XXZ model and the Ising model in a transverse field defined in an open chain with appropiate boundary terms. The quantum group symmetry is preserved under the RG transformation except for the appearence of a quantum group anomalous term which vanishes in the classical case. We obtain correctly the line of critical XXZ models. In the ITF model the RG-flow coincides with the tensor product decomposition of cyclic irreps. of $SU_q(2)$ with $q^4=1$.Comment: 7 pages, LATEX, no figure

Resonant Raman-active localized vibrational modes in AlyGa{1-y}NxAs{1-x} alloys: Experiment and firstprinciples calculations

The localized vibrational modes associated with substitutional aluminium and nitrogen atoms in AlyGa1−yNxAs1−x have been studied within first-principles density functional theory using a supercell approach. Localized vibrational modes related to N-AlmGa4−m (1≤m≥4) complexes have been identified, which reveal the formation of N-Al4 units well above random abundance, in qualitative agreement with a large calculated value (391 meV) of the Al-N bond formation energy. We determine the resonant Raman-active modes from the selection rule obtained by calculating the electron-phonon coupling strength and optical transition matrix elements and compare them with resonant Raman spectroscopy measurements. The localized modes from Raman scattering measurements with frequencies around 325, 385, 400, 450, 500, and 540 cm−1 are found to be in good agreement with the calculated modes (326, 364, 384, 410, 456, 507, and 556 cm−1). The modes are classified as follows: the two modes at 326 and 556 cm−1 belong to the N-AlGa3 configuration; there are three modes which belong to N-Al2Ga2 with frequencies at 326, 364, and 507 cm−1; the N-Al3Ga configuration gives rise to modes whose frequencies are 384 and 456 cm−1; and the mode at a frequency of 410 cm−1 belongs to the N-Al4 complex. The comparison of line intensities from samples before and after rapid thermal annealing allows us to experimentally distinguish vibrational modes associated with different clusters, in agreement with the theoretical assignments

Early Science with the Large Millimeter Telescope: COOL BUDHIES I - a pilot study of molecular and atomic gas at z~0.2

An understanding of the mass build-up in galaxies over time necessitates tracing the evolution of cold gas (molecular and atomic) in galaxies. To that end, we have conducted a pilot study called CO Observations with the LMT of the Blind Ultra-Deep H I Environment Survey (COOL BUDHIES). We have observed 23 galaxies in and around the two clusters Abell 2192 (z = 0.188) and Abell 963 (z = 0.206), where 12 are cluster members and 11 are slightly in the foreground or background, using about 28 total hours on the Redshift Search Receiver (RSR) on the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) to measure the $^{12}$CO J = 1 --> 0 emission line and obtain molecular gas masses. These new observations provide a unique opportunity to probe both the molecular and atomic components of galaxies as a function of environment beyond the local Universe. For our sample of 23 galaxies, nine have reliable detections (S/N$\geq$3.6) of the $^{12}$CO line, and another six have marginal detections (2.0 < S/N < 3.6). For the remaining eight targets we can place upper limits on molecular gas masses roughly between $10^9$ and $10^{10} M_\odot$. Comparing our results to other studies of molecular gas, we find that our sample is significantly more abundant in molecular gas overall, when compared to the stellar and the atomic gas component, and our median molecular gas fraction lies about $1\sigma$ above the upper limits of proposed redshift evolution in earlier studies. We discuss possible reasons for this discrepancy, with the most likely conclusion being target selection and Eddington bias.Comment: MNRAS, submitte

Macrophage Cholesterol Efflux Downregulation Is Not Associated with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Progression

Recent studies have raised the possibility of a role for lipoproteins, including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The study was conducted in plasmas from 39 large size AAA patients (aortic diameter > 50 mm), 81 small/medium size AAA patients (aortic diameter between 30 and 50 mm) and 38 control subjects (aortic diameter 5 mm per year) in patients with small/medium size AAA. Moreover, no correlation was found between MCE capacity and the aneurysm growth rate. A multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between lower MCE capacity with the need for surgery in all AAA patients. Nevertheless, the significance was lost when only small/medium size AAA patients were included. Our results suggest that MCE, a major HDL functional activity, is not involved in AAA progression

Glucosylpolyphenols as Inhibitors of Aβ-Induced Fyn Kinase Activation and Tau Phosphorylation: Synthesis, Membrane Permeability, and Exploratory Target Assessment within the Scope of Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease

Despite the rapidly increasing number of patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes-induced dementia, there are no disease-modifying therapies that are able to prevent or block disease progress. In this work, we investigate the potential of nature-inspired glucosylpolyphenols against relevant targets, including islet amyloid polypeptide, glucosidases, and cholinesterases. Moreover, with the premise of Fyn kinase as a paradigm-shifting target in Alzheimer's drug discovery, we explore glucosylpolyphenols as blockers of Aβ-induced Fyn kinase activation while looking into downstream effects leading to Tau hyperphosphorylation. Several compounds inhibit Aβ-induced Fyn kinase activation and decrease pTau levels at 10 μM concentration, particularly the per-O-methylated glucosylacetophloroglucinol and the 4-glucosylcatechol dibenzoate, the latter inhibiting also butyrylcholinesterase and β-glucosidase. Both compounds are nontoxic with ideal pharmacokinetic properties for further development. This work ultimately highlights the multitarget nature, fine structural tuning capacity, and valuable therapeutic significance of glucosylpolyphenols in the context of these metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders.European Commission GA 612347Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia SFRH/BD/93170/2013, SFRH/BD/116614/2016, PD/BD/142847/2018, SFRH/BD/145600/2019, CEECIND/03414/2018, CEECIND/02300/2017, UIDB/00100/2020, UIDB/04046/2020, UIDB/04378/2020, IF/00780/2015Gobierno de España CTQ2016-78703-PJunta de Andalucía FQM13

Multifocal ERG signal analysis using structural pattern and wavelet packet analysis

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