Use Of DTM Research Articles

Biocultural diversity in the traditional landscape of Vallecorsa

In Italy, agricultural intensification and the abandonment of rural areas since the 1960s has led to a transformation of the traditional agricultural landscape, bringing with it a series of environmental and socio-economic issues and problems such as those linked to hydrogeological instability, a reduction in biocultural diversity and migration to urban centres, especially of the younger population. These phenomena have also led to a progressive loss of all the cultural and traditional practices related to these systems, thus contributing to a homogenization of the landscape structure due to abandonment. On the other hand, in the last years, we are witnessing a return to rural and traditional practices with the aim of recovering local cultures, especially those associated to agricultural practices, and to a more sustainable management of the territory. Vallecorsa, a municipality in central Italy, is one of the landscapes inscribed in the Italian National Register of Historical Rural Landscapes and it is still characterized by traditional agricultural practices that provide multiple benefits also in ecological terms, maintaining a specific level of biodiversity, interpreted as part of the biocultural diversity of the area. The aim of the present research is to analyse the structure of the traditional landscape of Vallecorsa and to determine its main characteristics, using landscape as the scale. Through the use of GIS software, by means of photo-interpretation and the use of DTM, the present study analyses the structure of land use, and in particular of terraced surfaces, and the associated data on area size, fragmentation, altitude and slope. The results take into account the diversity of land uses and mosaic patches, as well as terraced surfaces, and their distribution in the territory, relating them to the local biodiversity, in particular that of dry stone walls.

Landscape diversity vs. population resilience of a wetland species near the limits of its range (the root vole Microtus oeconomus in Poland) – Implications for species conservation

Loss of connectivity between habitat patches is particularly important for small, environmentally specialized species with short migratory capacity. Taking the root vole as an example, we studied whether variation in the landscape (its geomorphological evolution) may affect the genetic differentiation exhibited by a wetland species, and thus the resilience of its population. We did so by testing the genetic differentiation at 9 sites located in two areas in the peripheral zone of the root vole’s range limit in Poland (the Sandomierz Basin and Western Polesie), and confronted the results with the differing origins and geomorphological characteristics of the hydrogenic environments in those two areas. Based on the analyses of 12 microsatellite loci (N = 118) and the 908 bp of cytochrome b sequences (N = 107), higher genetic variability was found in individuals from Western Polesie than from the Sandomierz Basin. Geomorphological analysis conducted with the use of DTM, satellite images, geological maps and cartographic fieldwork showed that the habitats optimal for the root vole are configured differently in the two areas considered, occurring mainly in river valleys and in isolated wetlands of lake-land plains, respectively. Simultaneous analysis of both the spatial configuration and connectivity of habitats, and the voles’ evolutionary directions and genetic parameters, supports the conclusion that the linear character of highly fragmented riverine habitats, additionally inundated during episodic flooding, is less favorable for the gene dispersal of small mammals than extensive marshy wetlands, even despite locally occurring barriers. These findings indicate that the genesis and geomorphological evolution of the landscape may influence the ecological changes taking place there, including habitat reduction and fragmentation. They may therefore be important for the persistence/resilience of particular species and therefore should be taken into account in conservation management of hydrogenic habitat areas, especially those close to the range limit of species with demanding habitat requirements.

The Digi-Table Method as a Tool for Reflecting on Research Ethics

"concepts and processes by means of a digitable. It is a tool for familiarizing users with complicated and complex issues, learning content, and addressing the more methodical aspects didactically. In this project, we have adapted the DTM for reflecting on research ethics, i.c. research with human beings and its ethical requirements and the review by the medical ethical review committee (MREC). A MREC reviews research proposals based on various (ethical) requirements and requires researchers to understand the ethical consequences and societal impact of their research. Before writing their own proposals, it is important for students to know and understand these ethical requirements and the process through which research proposals are reviewed. In order to train this, we prepared the digitable to simulate the review of a research protocol by an MREC and adapted it into an existing assignment on research ethics for master students. The students were informed of our aim and the use of DTM as an educational tool, and asked for consent. We invited them to critically assess the activity and we ensured participation would not influence their grade. The students reported a better understanding of the medical ethical review and felt it would improve their own work. From the educator’s perspective, the quality of argumentation of the review was much improved compared to previous years. The DTM as an educational tool is now a standard element in different master courses on scientific integrity. "

Central regulation of food intake is not affected by inclusion of defatted Tenebrio molitor larvae meal in diets for European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The homeostatic regulation of food intake in fish has been thoroughly studied in the last years with dietary nutrient composition is one of the factors involved. Despite several studies addressed the impact of insect meal-based diets in food intake of fish, there is no knowledge about their impact in mechanisms of food intake regulation. This study aimed to explore underlying mechanisms through evaluation of dietary fishmeal (FM) replacement by defatted (d-) Tenebrio molitor (dTM) larvae meal in European sea bass. Fish (55 ± 2 g) fed a FM-based diet (CTRL) were compared with those fed two experimental diets containing increasing levels of dTM to replace 40 and 80% of FM (TM40 and TM80, respectively). After ten weeks of feeding, fish food intake was calculated; samples of plasma and different brain areas (hypothalamus and telencephalon) were collected at different post-prandial times (2, 6 and 24 h after feeding) to evaluate circulating metabolites and mRNA abundance in hypothalamus and telencephalon of neuropeptides involved in food intake regulation. No differences occurred in food intake and weight gain among diets. Plasma cholesterol levels decreased 24 h after feeding in fish fed TM40; fish fed dTM diets had higher cholesterol levels, 2 and 6 h after feeding, than those fed CTRL diet. Increased non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels occurred in plasma of fish fed TM80, regardless of the sampling time. At central level, no changes occurred in the mRNA abundance of neuropeptide Y (npy), agouti-related protein 2 (agrp2), pro-opio melanocortin a (pomca) or cocaine- and amphetamine-related transcript 2 (cartpt2). The obtained results suggest that dietary FM replacement by dTM up to 80% in European sea bass does not affect food intake or its central homeostatic regulation, supporting the use of dTM as FM replacement in diets for European sea bass.

Data for Decision-Making: Exploring the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity's Data, Trends, and Maps.

Public health practitioners need quick and easy access to reliable surveillance data to monitor states’ progress over time, compare benchmarks nationally or among states, and make strategic decisions about priorities and resources. Data, Trends, and Maps (DTM) at https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/data-trends-maps/index.html is a free, online interactive database that houses and displays data on nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and obesity that practitioners can use for public health action. Created in 2015 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, DTM was updated and relaunched in April 2017 with the capability to customize and download data sets directly; DTM also has other user-friendly features, such as visualization options. Since its relaunch, DTM has received more than 386,000 page views from approximately 110,000 unique visitors. However, the potential exists for more widespread use of DTM if more public health practitioners understood what the site offered and how others have used it in the field. Here, we explain how public health practitioners can explore the most recent state-level data on nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and obesity and use this data to inform programmatic and policy efforts to prevent and control chronic diseases. We demonstrate 3 different ways practitioners can visualize data (ie, Explore by Location, Explore by Topic, and the Open Data Portal) and present 3 real-world examples to highlight DTM’s utility as a public health tool.

PREPARATION OF THE DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL FOR ORTHOPHOTO CR PRODUCTION

The Orthophoto CR is produced in co-operation with the Land Survey Office and the Military Geographical and Hydrometeorological Office. The product serves to ensure a defence of the state, integrated crisis management, civilian tasks in support of the state administration and the local self-government of the Czech Republic as well. It covers the whole area of the Republic and for ensuring its up-to-datedness is reproduced in the biennial period. As the project is countrywide, it keeps the project within the same parameters in urban and rural areas as well. Due to economic reasons it can´t be produced as a true ortophoto because it requires large side and forward overlaps of the aerial photographs and a preparation of the digital surface model instead of the digital terrain model. Use of DTM without some objects of DSM for orthogonalization purposes cause undesirable image deformations in the Orthophoto. There are a few data sets available for forming a suitable elevation model. The principal source should represent DTMs made from data acquired by the airborne laser scanning of the entire area of the Czech Republic that was carried out in the years 2009-2013, the DMR4G in the grid form and the DMR5G in TIN form respectively. It can be replenished by some vector objects (bridges, dams, etc.) taken from the geographic base data of the Czech Republic or obtained by new stereo plotting. It has to be taken into account that the option of applying DSM made from image correlation is also available. The article focuses on the possibilities of DTM supplement for ortogonalization. It looks back to the recent transition from grid to hybrid elevation models, problems that occurred, its solution and getting some practical remarks. Afterwards it assesses the current state and deals with the options for updating the model. Some accuracy analysis are included.

PREPARATION OF THE DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL FOR ORTHOPHOTO CR PRODUCTION

Abstract. The Orthophoto CR is produced in co-operation with the Land Survey Office and the Military Geographical and Hydrometeorological Office. The product serves to ensure a defence of the state, integrated crisis management, civilian tasks in support of the state administration and the local self-government of the Czech Republic as well. It covers the whole area of the Republic and for ensuring its up-to-datedness is reproduced in the biennial period. As the project is countrywide, it keeps the project within the same parameters in urban and rural areas as well. Due to economic reasons it can´t be produced as a true ortophoto because it requires large side and forward overlaps of the aerial photographs and a preparation of the digital surface model instead of the digital terrain model. Use of DTM without some objects of DSM for orthogonalization purposes cause undesirable image deformations in the Orthophoto. There are a few data sets available for forming a suitable elevation model. The principal source should represent DTMs made from data acquired by the airborne laser scanning of the entire area of the Czech Republic that was carried out in the years 2009-2013, the DMR4G in the grid form and the DMR5G in TIN form respectively. It can be replenished by some vector objects (bridges, dams, etc.) taken from the geographic base data of the Czech Republic or obtained by new stereo plotting. It has to be taken into account that the option of applying DSM made from image correlation is also available. The article focuses on the possibilities of DTM supplement for ortogonalization. It looks back to the recent transition from grid to hybrid elevation models, problems that occurred, its solution and getting some practical remarks. Afterwards it assesses the current state and deals with the options for updating the model. Some accuracy analysis are included.

La cuenca experimental de Rambla Salada (Murcia) : investigaciones hidrogeomorfológicas

Climate and anthropogenic actions are the main.resporisibles of soil erosion and desertification processes in the mediterranean semiarid regions. The quantitative estimation of some hidrological and erosives processes, under extreme semiarid climate conditions, is carry out in the experimental catchment of Rambla Salada, located in the middle of Murcia's Region (South-East Spain), built on neogene marls and quaternary sediments. The principal land ·uses are associated to the dryland agricultural, mainly almond trees, and open steppe vegetation of esparto (Stippa tenaccisima) that protect badly the soil. During the short period of observation (1996-2000), the geomorphological and hydrological responses have been poor due to drought. Low rates of soil erosion and few rainy events originated flash floods. The monitoring of catchment and a small experimental field, the use of DTM and its integration in the GIS, allow to know and evaluate the most relevant hydrological events and geomorfological territory processes that operate to plot and catchment escales.