A Behaviour-Based Control and Software Architecture for the Visually Guided Gobudem Outdoor Mobile Robot

The design of outdoor autonomous robots requires the careful consideration and integration of multiple aspects: sensors and sensor data fusion, design of a control and software architecture, design of a path planning algorithm and robot control. This paper describes partial aspects of this research work, which is aimed at developing a semiautonomous outdoor robot for risky interventions. This paper focuses on three main aspects of the design process: visual sensing using stereo vision and image motion analysis, design of a behaviourbased control architecture and implementation of modular software architecture

Ignat M. “Nanostructured lanthanum manganite perovskites in catalyst applications

Finding less expensive alternatives to noble metals catalysts is vital for implementing catalytic combustion on a wide scale, and lead substituted lanthanum manganites are a promising option. Nanometer particles of La 0.6 Pb 0.4 MnO 3 and La 0.6 Pb 0.4 MnO 3 + 0.2MeO (where Me = Mg or Ca) with perovskite structure were prepared by self-combustion method followed by heat treatment at 1000 o C in air. The effects of excess divalent ions (Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ) in La 0.6 Pb 0.4 MnO 3 manganite perovskite on the catalyst properties were investigated. The morphological and surface properties are of great importance in the catalyst activity. Structure, specific surface area and grain size were determined using XRD, nitrogen adsorption (BET) and SEM analysis. X-ray diffraction evidenced the crystallinity and the nanosize of the perovskite crystallites. Following Mg or Ca addition to La 0.6 Pb 0.4 MnO 3 , a decrease in the grain size was detected by SEM. Rather large values for specific surface areas were obtained (of about 8 m 2 /g).The perovskite manganite powders have been tested in the catalytic combustion of three diluted gases: acetone/air, ethanol/air and methanol/air. The experimental results revealed that it was possible to start the catalytic combustion of the gases over the surface of the three perovskite at much lower temperatures than catalyst-free combustion

Preliminary results of the research on the West Nile Virus from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve

Since 2004, we have started to study the role of birds in transmission of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Danube Delta and Dobrogea Tableland (Fig. 1 and Fig. 6). Same, we want to understand the mechanism of the virus’ transmission, to know which environmental factors induce the emergence of WNV. The work was focusedon three main issues: monitoring of relevant environmental factors (biotic and abiotic) and gathering data on the factors from the past and correlate them with WNV human cases; harvesting ectoparasites of birds (lice and ticks) for testing, and verifying the hypothesis of their vectorial role; sampling a large number of wild and domestic birds and horses and testing to find out their seroprevalence. All our results will be integrated into the laboratory work of thecolleagues from the Cantacuzino Institute (they deal especially with mosquitoes research - positive species, qualitative and quantitative composition). Up to now we detected seroprevalence in birds and horses, the increasing the number of the species involved on WNV transmission and gathered relevant information on environmental factors. Sampling of birds and horses will continue for another two years in order to clarify the mechanism of emergence and dissemination of WNV

Monitoring of European Mink (Mustela lutreola) in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve – Romania, 2003-2011. Current status and setting of goals for the European Mink conservation

The European mink (Mustela lutreola L.) is critically endangered. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) is one of the last refuges of this species. Within the DDBR the European mink is still widespread as indicated by 74 life captures in a number of expeditions between 2003 and 2011. No American mink (Neovison vison), a serious threat to the European mink, were trapped or observed during 2000 and 2011 in the DDBR. Trapping success varied both between years and between trapping areas, but up to know the underlying factors for these patterns are not understood. It may be a combination of generally changing mink densities in the Delta due to food availability or reproduction success and habitat quality as a local factor. In this context we discuss potential limiting factors and outline some aspects for a future management plan of the species

Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, and Scanning Electron Microscopy as Noninvasive Methods for Microstructural Alterations in Psoriatic Nails

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with immune system dysfunction that can affect nails, with a negative impact on patient life quality. Usually, nail psoriasis is associated with skin psoriasis and is therefore relatively simple to diagnose. However, up to 10% of nail psoriasis occurs isolated and may be difficult to diagnose by means of current methods (nail biopsy, dermoscopy, video dermoscopy, capillaroscopy, ultrasound of the nails, etc.). Since the nail is a complex biological tissue, mainly composes of hard α-keratins, the structural and morphological techniques can be used to analyze the human fingernails. The aim of this study was to corroborate the information obtained using Raman spectroscopy with those obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry and to assess the potential of these techniques as non-invasive dermatologic diagnostic tools and an alternative to current methods