Integrating LiDAR and high-resolution imagery for object-based mapping of forest habitats in a heterogeneous temperate forest landscape

ABSTRACT

Land-cover mapping (LCM) at a fine scale would be useful for forest management across heterogeneous natural landscapes. However, the heterogeneity of land covers at such scales results in complex spectral and textural properties that hinder the applicability of LCM. Besides, the method suffers from, e.g. inconsistent representation of different land-cover types, lack of sufficient and balanced training samples, and instability of classifiers trained by a high number of predictor variables. Even well-known object-based classification approaches are challenged with an objective evaluation of segmentation outputs. Here we classified partially ambiguous land-cover types across heterogeneous forest landscapes in the Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany) by combining metrics from airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and colour infrared (CIR) imagery data and a random forest classifier implemented in an object-based paradigm. We evaluated the segmentation results by creating a global quality score based on inter- and intra-measurements of variance and the number of segments. Selected segmentation outputs were combined with balanced training samples to run the classification algorithm based on representative blocks within the national park. The entire processing chain was implemented in an open-source domain. The final segmentation consisted of LiDAR-based height, image-based Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and red band, with 20 cluster seeds and a minimum segment size of 40 pixels. In the classification, the most important variables included the height of the top layer, NDVI, Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Green–Red Vegetation Index (GRVI). The average values of 500 random forest runs indicated an overall accuracy of 86.6% and an estimated Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 85.2%, with different probabilities of correct classification for land-cover classes. Mature deciduous, standing deadwood, fallen deadwood, meadow, and bare soil classes were classified most accurately, whereas classification of young coniferous, intermediate-age coniferous, mature coniferous, young deciduous, and intermediate-age deciduous were associated with the highest uncertainties. Our methodology is sufficiently robust to be applied to other similarly structured sites across temperate forested landscapes. The versatility of the method is partially guaranteed by the proposed segmentation quality score, which satisfactorily corrects under- and over-segmentation.     

The boundary element method applied to forced convection heat problems

An integral equation formulation for steady flow of a viscous fluid is presented based on the boundary element method. The continuity, Navier–Stokes and energy equations are used for calculation of the flow and temperature fields. The governing differential equations, in terms of primitive variables, are derived using velocity–pressure–temperature parameters. The calculation of fundamental solutions and solutions tensor is shown. Applications to simple flow cases, such as driven cavity, forward facing step, deep cavity and channel are presented. Convergence difficulties are indicated, which have limited the applications to flows of low Reynolds numbers.     

The precipitation process in Mg–Ca–(Zn) alloys investigated by positron annihilation spectroscopy

Coincidence doppler broadening (CDB) spectroscopy has been applied to study the precipitation process induced by aging in Mg–1.0 wt.% Ca and Mg–1.0 wt.% Ca–1.0 wt.% Zn alloys. In addition positron lifetime experiments and microhardness measurements have been performed. A peak centered at 11.5 × 10⁻³m₀c is found in the CDB ratio spectra of the alloys aged at 473 K. It is attributed to annihilations with the core electrons of Ca. The results indicate the formation of a particle dispersion that hardens the alloys. This dispersion is correlated with the appearance of the peak attributed to Ca atoms. Zn atoms in the Mg matrix inhibit the formation of quenched-in vacancies bound to Ca atoms in the aged ternary alloy producing the dispersion refinement.     

A global perspective on an emotional learning model proposal

Existing literature argues that emotions have a significant impact on the majority of human activities and functions. The learning process is one of the activities on which emotions have a direct influence. Thus, understanding the manner in which emotions change the students’ learning process is not only very important but it can also allow to improve the existing learning models.Currently, in the majority of situations, the teacher serves as a facilitator between the student and the learning course, and through a constant analysis of the student’s behaviour, emotions and achievements, he constantly performs adjustments to the teaching process in order to meet the students’ needs and goals. Thus far, in online learning environments there is no easy way for teachers to analyse students’ behaviour and emotions. A possible solution to this problem can be the development of mechanisms that enable computers to automatically detect students’ emotions and adapt the learning process in order to meet students’ real needs.An emotional learning model was described and a software prototype was developed and tested, in order to find out whether it performs live identification of the students’ emotions, by using affective computing techniques, and whether it automatically performs adjustments to their individual learning process. Through a deeper analysis and multidisciplinary discussion of the achieved results it is possible to acknowledge that not only emotions impact students’ learning, but also that an application that performs live emotion recognition and which integrates this feature with adjustable online learning environments will trigger improvements in students’ learning.     

Haemorrhagic septicaemia by Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida in a black-tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)

One black-tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) was found dead without previous signs of disease. Major lesions consisted in cutaneous erythema, mainly at the base of the fins, focal to diffuse inflammatory lesions in gills and intestinal wall, and discrete haemorrhages in the same organs, liver and kidneys. Microcolonies of Gram-negative rods were observed in the lamina propia of gills, underneath the intestinal mucosa and randomly distributed in the renal and hepatic parenchymas. Also, emboli containing Gram-negative rods were observed in capillaries of these organs. Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida was isolated in pure culture from gills, liver and intestine. Specific immunostaining confirmed the relationship between the isolate and lesion-associated bacteria. No previous reports on this infection in sharks have been found in the literature.     

Use of screening mammography and its demographic and risk determinants in women 25 to 65 years of age

BACKGROUND: To know the utilization of the screening mammography among women from 25 to 65 years old in an urban health zone, where there is not an specific screening program for breast cancer. To detect the demographic and risk determinants that are involved in the mammography screening use. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A sample of 1,240 women were interviewed consecutively as they visited their physician. Risk factors, sociodemographic variables and use of health services were analyzed. The associated variables with the use of mammography screening were determined by univariant analysis. A multiple logistic regression model was designed to identify the variables independently associated with the use of mammography screening. RESULTS: The percentage of interviewed women who have completed at least one mammography screening in the last three years has been 10.2 +/- 3% (confidence level: 95%), 68.3% of them were under 50 years old. The variables independently associated with the use of mammography screening were: age (OR = 1.08); routine visit to the gynecologist (OR = 8.13); educational level (primary: OR = 2.44, secondary: OR = 3.66, university: OR = 7.43, no schooling: reference level); and knowledge about the benefits of mammography screening (OR = 6.15). Family history of breast cancer and the other risk factors were found not to be associated with the use of mammography screening. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mammography screening among women from 25 to 65 years is inadequate according to the age and other risk factors. Mammography screening among women with a family history of breast cancer and those over 50 years old is underused, so it would be recommended and their use increased for these women. But women under 40 years old without family history of breast cancer have to be dissuaded from undertaking such a screening.     

Influence of deposition potential and electrolyte composition on the structural and photoelectrochemical properties of electrodeposited mercury cadmium telluride

Cadmium-rich Cd_xHg_1–xTe (CMT) thin films were grown by cathodic electrodeposition. Two main fabrication parameters were taken into account: deposition potential and mercury content in solution. Different layers of CMT deposited by varying these two parameters were studied by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and photoelectrochemical measurements. It was shown that surface structure, composition and quantum efficiency of CMT can be controlled with these two variables. Multigap structures were also been considered.     

Introducing concepts of passivity-based control in anti-windup algorithms

This work presents a reference conditioning anti-windup scheme based on passivity control theory. The main closed-loop is controlled by a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control, and the injection and damping assignment technique ensures that PID variables are compatible with the process input. In the proposed algorithm, a fictitious actuator, modeled as a first-order filter, is incorporated to estimate the rate of change and the output of the actuator device. Amplitude and rate constraints are weight by coefficients that shape the energy function of the anti-windup scheme. Finally, to show how the algorithm can cope with the windup problem, simulation results are presented. Even when shown the results on a linear PID, the proposal can extend to any linear or nonlinear control in the main control loop.     

DENSITIES AND DERIVED THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF THE BINARY SYSTEMS OF BENZENE WITH BUTYL METHACRYLATE,ALLYL METHACRYLATE,METHACRYLIC ACID,AND VINYL ACETATE AT 298.15 K

Densities of the binary systems of benzene with butyl methacrylate, allyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, and vinyl acetate have been measured as a function of the composition, at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure, using an Anton Paar DMA 5000 oscillating U-tube densimeter. The calculated excess molar volumes were correlated with the Redlich-Kister equation and with a series of Legendre polynomials. The excess molar volumes are positive for the four binaries studied.