bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MULTISPECTRAL IMAGE CAPTURING WITH FOVEON SENSORS
Authors: Gehrke R. , Greiwe A.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. This article describes a specific image quality problem using an UAV and the commercially available multispectral camera Tetracam ADC Lite. The tests were carried out with commercially available UAV Multirotor MR-X 8 performed under normal use and conditions. The ADC Lite shows a remarkable rolling shutter effect caused by the movement and vibrations of the UAV and a slow readout speed of the sensor. Based on these studies the current state of a sensor development is presented, which is composed of two compact cameras with Foveon sensors. These cameras allow to record high quality image data without motion blur or rolling shutter effect. One camera captures the normal colour range; the second camera is modified for the near infrared. The moving parts of both cameras are glued to ensure that a geometric camera calibration is valid over a longer period of time. The success of the gluing procedure has been proven by multiple calibrations. For the matching of the colour- and infrared image the usability of calibrated relative orientation parameters between both cameras were tested. Despite absolutely synchronous triggering of the cameras by an electrical signal, a time delay can be found up to 3/100 s between the images. This time delay in combination with the movement and rotation of the UAV while taking the photos results in a significant error in the previously calibrated relative orientation. These parameters should not be used in further processing. This article concludes with a first result of a 4-channel image and an outlook on the following investigations.
SPECTRAL IMAGING FROM UAVS UNDER VARYING ILLUMINATION CONDITIONS
Authors: Hakala T. , Honkavaara E. , Saari H. , Mäkynen J. , Kaivosoja J. , Pesonen L. , Pölönen I.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. Rapidly developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have provided the remote sensing community with a new rapidly deployable tool for small area monitoring. The progress of small payload UAVs has introduced greater demand for light weight aerial payloads. For applications requiring aerial images, a simple consumer camera provides acceptable data. For applications requiring more detailed spectral information about the surface, a new Fabry-Perot interferometer based spectral imaging technology has been developed. This new technology produces tens of successive images of the scene at different wavelength bands in very short time. These images can be assembled in spectral data cubes with stereoscopic overlaps. On field the weather conditions vary and the UAV operator often has to decide between flight in sub optimal conditions and no flight. Our objective was to investigate methods for quantitative radiometric processing of images taken under varying illumination conditions, thus expanding the range of weather conditions during which successful imaging flights can be made. A new method that is based on insitu measurement of irradiance either in UAV platform or in ground was developed. We tested the methods in a precision agriculture application using realistic data collected in difficult illumination conditions. Internal homogeneity of the original image data (average coefficient of variation in overlapping images) was 0.14–0.18. In the corrected data, the homogeneity was 0.10–0.12 with a correction based on broadband irradiance measured in UAV, 0.07–0.09 with a correction based on spectral irradiance measurement on ground, and 0.05–0.08 with a radiometric block adjustment based on image data. Our results were very promising, indicating that quantitative UAV based remote sensing could be operational in diverse conditions, which is prerequisite for many environmental remote sensing applications.
A UAV-BASED LOW-COST STEREO CAMERA SYSTEM FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYS – EXPERIENCES FROM DOLICHE (TURKEY)
Authors: Haubeck K. , Prinz T.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for surveying archaeological sites is becoming more and more common due to their advantages in rapidity of data acquisition, cost-efficiency and flexibility. One possible usage is the documentation and visualization of historic geo-structures and -objects using UAV-attached digital small frame cameras. These monoscopic cameras offer the possibility to obtain close-range aerial photographs, but – under the condition that an accurate nadir-waypoint flight is not possible due to choppy or windy weather conditions – at the same time implicate the problem that two single aerial images not always meet the required overlap to use them for 3D photogrammetric purposes. In this paper, we present an attempt to replace the monoscopic camera with a calibrated low-cost stereo camera that takes two pictures from a slightly different angle at the same time. Our results show that such a geometrically predefined stereo image pair can be used for photogrammetric purposes e.g. the creation of digital terrain models (DTMs) and orthophotos or the 3D extraction of single geo-objects. Because of the limited geometric photobase of the applied stereo camera and the resulting base-height ratio the accuracy of the DTM however directly depends on the UAV flight altitude.
POS-SUPPORTED AUTOMATIC DIGITAL SURFACE MODEL (DSM) GENERATION
Authors: Hongyan H. , Nan Z. , Chunyu Y.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. A novel method of POS supported dense matching is introduced for automatically generating DSM. The image pre-processing includes adaptive smooth filter and Wallis filter. The method based on the correlation coefficient with geometric constraint, POS supported geometry corrective for matching window, and global relaxation optimization is introduced in the process of matching for determining the homogeneous points. The Multi-image space intersection method with outlier elimination function is used to realize the matching result to integrate into the object space and generate coarse DSM. The matching results of upper pyramid generating a coarse DSM, which is used to constrain and guide the subsequent pyramid image matching, until the original image. Finally, the feasibility of the method proposed in this paper is verified by the experiments, which tests on different scales of aerial images.
A MICRO-UAV SYSTEM FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT
Authors: Hormigo T. , Araújo J.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. Spin.Works has developed a complete micro-UAV system with the purpose of supporting forest management activities. The aircraft is based on a winged-body design spanning 1.8 m with a maximum take-off weight of 2 kg, and can carry out missions lasting up to 2 h at a cruise speed of about 60 km/h. The corresponding ground station ensures the mission planning functions, real-time flight monitoring and visualization, and serves also as a real-time and post-flight data exploitation platform. A particular emphasis is placed on image processing techniques applied to two operational concepts: a fire detection service and a forest mapping service. The real-time operations related to fire detection consist on object tracking and geo-referencing functions, which can be operated by a user directly over the video stream, enabling the quick estimation of the 3D location (latitude, longitude, altitude) of suspected fires. The post-flight processing consists of extracting valuable knowledge from the payload data, in particular tree coverage maps, orthophoto mosaics and Digital Surface Models (DSMs), which can be used for further forest characterization such as wood and cork volume estimation. The system is currently entering initial operations, with expanded operations expected during Q3 2013.
IMPROVED UAV-BORNE 3D MAPPING BY FUSING OPTICAL AND LASERSCANNER DATA
Authors: Jutzi B. , Weinmann M. , Meidow J.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. In this paper, a new method for fusing optical and laserscanner data is presented for improved UAV-borne 3D mapping. We propose to equip an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a small platform which includes two sensors: a standard low-cost digital camera and a lightweight Hokuyo UTM-30LX-EW laserscanning device (210 g without cable). Initially, a calibration is carried out for the utilized devices. This involves a geometric camera calibration and the estimation of the position and orientation offset between the two sensors by lever-arm and bore-sight calibration. Subsequently, a feature tracking is performed through the image sequence by considering extracted interest points as well as the projected 3D laser points. These 2D results are fused with the measured laser distances and fed into a bundle adjustment in order to obtain a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). It is demonstrated that an improvement in terms of precision for the pose estimation is derived by fusing optical and laserscanner data.
LIGHT-WEIGHT SENSOR PACKAGE FOR PRECISION 3D MEASUREMENT WITH MICRO UAVS E.G. POWER-LINE MONITORING
Authors: Kuhnert K.-D. , Kuhnert L.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. The paper describes a new sensor package for micro or mini UAVs and one application that has been successfully implemented with this sensor package. It is intended for 3D measurement of landscape or large outdoor structures for mapping or monitoring purposes. The package can be composed modularly into several configurations. It may contain a laser-scanner, camera, IMU, GPS and other sensors as required by the application. Also different products of the same sensor type have been integrated. Always it contains its own computing infrastructure and may be used for intelligent navigation, too. It can be operated in cooperation with different drones but also completely independent of the type of drone it is attached to. To show the usability of the system, an application in monitoring high-voltage power lines that has been successfully realised with the package is described in detail.
STUDY ON SAFETY TECHNOLOGY SCHEME OF THE UNMANNED HELICOPTER
Authors: Lin Z. , Zhang W. , Chen S. , Liu T. , Yao Y.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. Nowadays the unmanned helicopter is widely used for its' unique strongpoint, however, the high failure rate of unmanned helicopter seriously limits its further application and development. For solving the above problems, in this paper, the reasons for the high failure rate of unmanned helicopter is analyzed and the corresponding solution schemes are proposed. The main problem of the failure cause of the unmanned helicopter is the aircraft engine fault, and the failure cause of the unmanned helicopter is analyzed particularly. In order to improving the safety performance of unmanned helicopter system, the scheme of adding the safety parachute system to the unmanned helicopter system is proposed and introduced. These schemes provide the safety redundancy of the unmanned helicopter system and lay on basis for the unmanned helicopter applying into residential areas.
PREDICTIVE POTENTIAL FIELD-BASED COLLISION AVOIDANCE FOR MULTICOPTERS
Authors: Nieuwenhuisen M. , Schadler M. , Behnke S.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. Reliable obstacle avoidance is a key to navigating with UAVs in the close vicinity of static and dynamic obstacles. Wheel-based mobile robots are often equipped with 2D or 3D laser range finders that cover the 2D workspace sufficiently accurate and at a high rate. Micro UAV platforms operate in a 3D environment, but the restricted payload prohibits the use of fast state-of-the-art 3D sensors. Thus, perception of small obstacles is often only possible in the vicinity of the UAV and a fast collision avoidance system is necessary. We propose a reactive collision avoidance system based on artificial potential fields, that takes the special dynamics of UAVs into account by predicting the influence of obstacles on the estimated trajectory in the near future using a learned motion model. Experimental evaluation shows that the prediction leads to smoother trajectories and allows to navigate collision-free through passageways.
GENERATION OF MULTITEMPORAL THERMAL ORTHOPHOTOS FROM UAV DATA
Authors: Pech K. , Stelling N. , Karrasch P. , Maas H.-G.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. The paper deals with using a TIR camera on an UAV for acquiring multitemporal thermal images of a building block against the background of detecting, monitoring and analysing urban heat islands. It is motivated by a research project called EO2HEAVEN (Earth Observation and Environmental Modelling for the Mitigation of Health Risks) which analyses the influence of environmental effects to human health. Therefore, the aim is the generation of thermal orthophotos from UAV data which can be used for further thematic analysis. The paper describes the data acquisition on the one hand and the processing of the obtained data on the other hand. The data acquisition comprises three image flights at different times of day from which only the first two missions could be processed until now. The low image contrasts, the radiometric differences between images as well as the poor initial positioning and orientation values limit the suitability of available software for automatic tie point measurement so that this step was outsourced and implemented in C++. The following aerial triangulation and orthophoto generation was realised in TerraPhoto (Terrasolid). However, two orthophotos could be generated with a geometric resolution of 15 cm. Furthermore, the radiation temperatures from the thermal images were compared to ground measurements to check the correctness of the camera measurements.
EVALUATING THE ACCURACY OF DEM GENERATION ALGORITHMS FROM UAV IMAGERY
Authors: Ruiz J. J. , Diaz-Mas L. , Perez F. , Viguria A.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. In this work we evaluated how the use of different positioning systems affects the accuracy of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) generated from aerial imagery obtained with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). In this domain, state-of-the-art DEM generation algorithms suffer from typical errors obtained by GPS/INS devices in the position measurements associated with each picture obtained. The deviations from these measurements to real world positions are about meters. The experiments have been carried out using a small quadrotor in the indoor testbed at the Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies (CATEC). This testbed houses a system that is able to track small markers mounted on the UAV and along the scenario with millimeter precision. This provides very precise position measurements, to which we can add random noise to simulate errors in different GPS receivers. The results showed that final DEM accuracy clearly depends on the positioning information.
THE USE OF UAV SYSTEMS FOR MAPPING OF BUILT-UP AREA
Authors: Ruzgiene B. , Aksamitauskas C.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. The Low-cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has been used as a platform for photogrammetric data acquisition. Two techniques were accepted for mapping. One is remotely-piloted aircraft with mounted digital camera Sony NEX–5 for low altitude photogrammetry. The flying height was about 30 m. Another is close range photogrammetry taking images from building – geometric situation similar to aerial case (vertical images). The Trimble R6 GPS has been used for determination of ground control points coordinates exploited in exterior orientation procedures. DTM’s creation via image matching and area mapping was performed by software LISA designed at University of Düsseldorf. Comparison analysis of applied two techniques efficiency and application possibilities has been carried out. The accuracy assessment is given. The residuals in x and y at every point and standard deviation in exterior orientation procedure of images from UAV platform is about half of pixel size referring to the image, i.e. 0.14 mm. Experimental accuracy investigation regarding UAV and GPS data shows that maximum absolute planimetric displacement is 0.25–0.30 m. Such data fulfils the accuracy requirements for large-scale urban area mapping.
MAPPING SVALBARD GLACIERS WITH THE CRYOWING UAS
Authors: Solbø S. , Storvold R.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. The remoteness of most Svalbard glaciers makes it difficult to perform regular in situ monitoring, especially in the melting season. Terminus areas (into the sea) and crevassed areas are in practice only accessible from the air. In this paper, first investigations on the feasibility of UAS based 3D measurements of glacier elevation is performed. The results show that UAS can be a valuable tool for glacier measurements in remote areas like Svalbard, where the only real alternative to measure glacier elevation in the ablation zone during the melt season is by manned aircraft. Imagery from repeated observations within a few days can be used to estimate dynamic mass loss rates when coupled to 3D modeling and feature tracking. Retrieval of these data is valuable, especially for glaciers terminating in the sea and surging glaciers.
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FOR RAPID NEAR SURFACE GEOPHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS
Authors: Stoll J. B.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. This paper looks at some of the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) options and deals with a magnetometer sensor system which might be of interest in conducting rapid near surface geophysical measurements. Few of the traditional airborne geophysical sensors are now capable of being miniaturized to sizes and payload within mini UAS limits (e.g. airborne magnetics, gamma ray spectrometer). Here the deployment of a fluxgate magnetometer mounted on an UAS is presented demonstrating its capability of detecting metallic materials that are buried in the soil. The effectiveness in finding ferrous objects (e.g. UXO, landslides) is demonstrated in two case studies.
THE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF A UAV BASED MOBILE MAPPING SYSTEM PLATFORM
Authors: Tsai M. L. , Chiang K. W. , Lo C. F. , Ch C. H.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. To facilitate applications such as environment detection or disaster monitoring, the development of rapid low cost systems for collecting near real-time spatial information is very critical. Rapid spatial information collection has become an emerging trend for remote sensing and mapping applications. This study develops a Direct Georeferencing (DG) based fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric platform where an Inertial Navigation System (INS)/Global Positioning System (GPS) integrated Positioning and Orientation System (POS) system is implemented to provide the DG capability of the platform. The performance verification indicates that the proposed platform can capture aerial images successfully. A flight test is performed to verify the positioning accuracy in DG mode without using Ground Control Points (GCP). The preliminary results illustrate that horizontal DG positioning accuracies in the x and y axes are around 5 m with 300 m flight height. The positioning accuracy in the z axis is less than 10 m. Such accuracy is good for near real-time disaster relief. The DG ready function of proposed platform guarantees mapping and positioning capability even in GCP free environments, which is very important for rapid urgent response for disaster relief. Generally speaking, the data processing time for the DG module, including POS solution generalization, interpolation, Exterior Orientation Parameters (EOP) generation, and feature point measurements, is less than one hour.
UAV-BASED MONITORING OF PEDESTRIAN GROUPS
Authors: Burkert F. , Fraundorfer F.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. In this work we discuss the problem how pedestrians can be monitored from an eye in the sky. Pedestrian monitoring is very important for large-scale surveillance of big events like festivals or demonstrations, and similarly for normal public places. At such settings it is not only important to know if an abnormal scenario is taking place in a pedestrian crowd in general, but also what specific type of scenario is taking place. Also, monitoring authorities benefit from an additional rating if the detected scenario is potentially dangerous to be able to react in an adequate manner. Therefore, we constructed a complex event detector (CED) to detect specific and potentially dangerous scenarios in pedestrian groups. For the development and evaluation of the CED we generated a novel dataset of moving pedestrian groups. The dataset was captured from an 8-rotor helicopter and consists of image sequences of 15 group behaviour scenarios in several complexity levels. We discuss the advantages of UAV imagery in comparison to aerial imagery captured from planes for the problem of pedestrian monitoring. Furthermore, we discuss the results of our CED for pedestrian groups which is able to detect scenarios which potentially occur in moving crowds.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A LIGHT-WEIGHT MULTI-ECHO LIDAR FOR UNMANNED ROTORCRAFT APPLICATIONS
Authors: Conte G. , Kleiner A. , Rudol P. , Korwel K. , Wzorek M. , Doherty P.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. The paper presents a light-weight and low-cost airborne terrain mapping system. The developed Airborne LiDAR Scanner (ALS) system consists of a high-precision GNSS receiver, an inertial measurement unit and a magnetic compass which are used to complement a LiDAR sensor in order to compute a digital surface model. Evaluation of the accuracy of the generated surface model is presented. Additionally, a comparison is provided between the surface model generated from the developed ALS system and a model generated using a commercial photogrammetric software. Finally, the multi-echo capability of the used LiDAR sensor is evaluated in areas covered with dense vegetation. The ALS system and camera systems were mounted on-board an industrial unmanned helicopter of around 100 kilograms maximum take-off weight. Presented results are based on real flight-test data.
EVALUACIÓN DE PRODUCTOS BOTÁNICOS Y QUÍMICOS PARA EL CONTROL DE MOSCA BLANCA (Bemisia tabaci, Gennadius.) Y GEMINIVIRUS EN EL CULTIVO DE TOMATE (Solanum esculentum, Mill.), EN TISMA, MASAYA
Authors: Jiménez-Martínez Edgardo , Lanuza Rodríguez Hazael Eliezer , Rizo González José Edwin
Published: August 2013

La mosca blanca (Bemisia tabaci, Genn) y los Geminivirus son los principales agentes de daño causantes de problemas fitosanitarios severos para los productores de tomate (Solanum esculentum L = Lycopersicum esculentum, Mill), en el municipio de Tisma, Masaya. Esta plaga provoca importantes pérdidas económicas, disminuyendo así los rendimientos al afectar la calidad de los frutos, lo cual incurre en mayores costos de producción. En base a esta problemática en el municipio de Tisma se realizó un estudio en el período comprendido de noviembre 2010 a enero 2011, con el objetivo de evaluar insecticidas botánicos y químicos contra el complejo mosca blanca-Geminivirus. Los productos evaluados fueron: Engeo, Imidacloprid, Crisantemo, Madero Negro, Chile+Ajo+Jabón. Las variables evaluadas fueron: número de mosca blanca por planta, incidencia y severidad del daño de virosis por planta. De los tratamientos evaluados, el menor promedio de moscas blancas por planta lo presentó el tratamiento Imidacloprid seguido de Crisantemo. El menor porcentaje de incidencia y severidad lo presentó el tratamiento Imidacloprid en comparación con los demás tratamientos. El análisis económico realizado determinó que los tratamientos que presentaron los mejores rendimientos fueron Crisantemo con 32 578 kg ha-1, seguido por Engeo con 31 750 kg ha-1 y Chile+Ajo+Jabón que obtuvo 30 625 kg ha-1. Crisantemo presentó el mayor beneficio neto con 7 546.90 US$ ha-1 seguido por Engeo con 7 254.58 US$ ha-1. En el análisis de la tasa de retorno marginal resultó que el tratamiento Engeo es el que obtuvo la mejor tasa de retorno marginal con 8 671.80 % es decir 86.71 US$ por cada dólar invertido. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v12i19.1184 La Calera Revista Científica Vol. 12. Nº 19, p. 96-106 / diciembre 2012
CÓMO ENFRENTAR LA CRISIS DEL AGRO: ¿LAMENTANDO LOS PROBLEMAS INSOLUBLES O RESOLVIENDO LOS PROBLEMAS SOLUCIONABLES?
Authors: Lacki Polan
Published: August 2013

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v12i19.1187 La Calera Revista Científica Vol. 12. Nº 19, p. 124-127 / diciembre 2012
An Overview and Discussion of Solution Proposals for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Sub-Sahara Africa
Authors: Kleemann Linda
Published: August 2013

The development of the agricultural sector and the improvement of the food security situation are seen as essential components to sustainable development in Sub-Sahara Africa. However, continuing population growth, impacts of climate change and environmental degradation add to an unprecedented combination of pressures that threaten existing efforts and solutions. This article discusses the relation between the challenges of making agriculture more sustainable and meeting food security needs. Several solutions proposals are discussed and organic farming as one of them is used to develop decision criteria. Due to its involvement of all three dimensions of sustainable development, economic, social and environmental organic farming could be one possible approach to create a more sustainable agricultural system.
Effect of customer satisfaction on water utility business performance
Authors: Donkor Emmanuel A.
Published: August 2013

Based on sample data from Ghana, West Africa, the study discussed in this article investigates the effect of customer satisfaction on water utility business performance. It considers customer satisfaction as a treatment variable and uses a nonparametric approach to test for differences in the conditional probability distributions of collection ratio and payment time, given pairs of customer satisfaction levels. Results show that the probability distributions of these performance indicators are significantly better for customers with high overall service‐delivery satisfaction than for those with low satisfaction, leading to the conclusion that customer satisfaction has a significant effect on water utility business performance; therefore, utility managers should take steps to ensure that service levels do not fall below customer expectations.
5q31.3 Microdeletion syndrome: Clinical and molecular characterization of two further cases
Authors: Brown Natasha , Burgess Trent , Forbes Robin , McGillivray George , Kornberg Andrew , Mandelstam Simone , Stark Zornitza
Published: August 2013

The 5q31.3 microdeletion syndrome has recently emerged as a distinct clinical entity, and we report two new patients with de novo deletions of this region, bringing the total to seven. Similarly to previously reported cases, the phenotype of our patients is characterized by marked hypotonia, apnea, developmental delay, and feeding difficulties. Both patients had abnormal movements which did not correlate with epileptiform activity on electroencephalogram (EEG). Developmental brain changes on neuroimaging consisted of abnormalities predominantly affecting the white matter and frontal lobes. The 5q31.3 deleted regions overlap those of previously reported cases, and allow further refinement of the shortest region of overlap to 101 kb, including only three genes. Of these, the purine‐rich element binding protein A (PURA) gene has an established role in brain development, and we propose that haploinsufficiency for this gene is primarily responsible for the neurodevelopmental features observed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
JAG1 Mutation in a patient with deletion 22q11.2 syndrome and tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Digilio Maria Cristina , Luca Alessandro De , Lepri Francesca , Guida Valentina , Ferese Rosangela , Dentici Maria Lisa , Angioni Adriano , Marino Bruno , Dallapiccola Bruno
Published: August 2013

Deletion 22q11.2 (del22q11.2) syndrome, also known as DiGeorge/Velo‐cardio‐facial syndrome (DG/VCFS), and Alagille syndrome are genetic disorders characteristically associated with congenital heart defects (CHDs). We report on a patient with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and clinical features of DG/VCFS, hemizygous for del22q11.2 and heterozygous for the 2810G > A (p.Arg937Gln) mutation in the JAG1 gene associated with Alagille syndrome. The clinical features of del22q11.2 syndrome are present in the patient, including facial anomalies, typical TOF, speech delay with hypernasal voice, and learning difficulties. TOF and mild hepatic involvement, consisting of slightly elevated aminotransferase conjugated bilirubin levels, were the only features of Alagille syndrome in our patient. The anatomic type of TOF displayed no distinctive recognizable pattern for either DG/VCFS or Alagille syndrome. It is likely that hemizygosity of the TBX1 gene was causally related to TOF in this patient, although a synergistic pathogenic role of the JAG1 gene mutation in causing the heart defect cannot be excluded. JAG1 mutations have been previously detected in patients with nonsyndromic TOF and recent molecular evidence supports the cumulative effect of multiple genetic defects in the etiology of human malformations. We hypothesize that a similar mechanism could be present in this patient with del22q11.2 syndrome associated with a JAG1 missense mutation acting as possible modifier factor for TOF. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The identification of MAFB mutations in eight patients with multicentric carpo–tarsal osteolysis supports genetic homogeneity but clinical variability
Authors: Mehawej Cybel , Courcet Jean‐Benoît , Baujat Geneviève , Mouy Richard , Gérard Marion , Landru Isabelle , Gosselin Morgane , Koehrer Philippe , Mousson Christiane , Breton Sylvain , Quartier Pierre , Le Merrer Martine , Faivre Laurence , Cormier‐Daire Valérie
Published: August 2013

Multicentric carpo–tarsal osteolysis (MCTO) with or without nephropathy is a rare osteolysis disorder beginning in early childhood and involving mainly carpal and tarsal bones. Renal disease appears later in life in the majority of cases and evolves quickly to end stage renal failure. Autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance has been demonstrated, with a high frequency of sporadic cases. Recently, mutations in a highly conserved region of the MAFB gene (v‐maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene ortholog B) have been identified in MCTO patients by exome sequencing. MafB, known as a regulator of various developmental processes, is essential for osteoclastogenesis and renal development. We report here the molecular screening of MAFB in eight MCTO patients from six families. We identified MAFB mutations in all, including three novel missense mutations clustering within the hot spot mutation region. Among the eight patients, six only presented renal disease. Our report confirms the genetic homogeneity of MCTO and provides data underlying the clinical variability of this disorder. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Severe congenital lipodystrophy and a progeroid appearance: Mutation in the penultimate exon of FBN1 causing a recognizable phenotype
Authors: Takenouchi Toshiki , Hida Mariko , Sakamoto Yoshiaki , Torii Chiharu , Kosaki Rika , Takahashi Takao , Kosaki Kenjiro
Published: August 2013

Recently, three marfanoid patients with congenital lipodystrophy and a neonatal progeroid appearance were reported. Although their phenotype was distinct from that of classic Marfan syndrome, they all had a truncating mutation in the penultimate exon, i.e., exon 64, of FBN1, the causative gene for Marfan syndrome. These patients might represent a new entity, but the exact phenotypic and genotypic spectrum remains unknown. Here, we report on a girl born prematurely who exhibited severe congenital lipodystrophy and a neonatal progeroid appearance. The patient exhibited a characteristic growth pattern consisting of an accelerated growth in height with a discrepant poor weight gain. She had a characteristic facial appearance with craniosynostosis. A mutation analysis identified c.8175_8182del8bp, p.Arg2726Glufs*9 in exon 64 of the FBN1 gene. A review of similar, recently reported patients revealed that the cardinal features of these patients include (1) congenital lipodystrophy, (2) premature birth with an accelerated linear growth disproportionate to the weight gain, and (3) a progeroid appearance with distinct facial features. Lines of molecular evidence suggested that this new progeroid syndrome represents a neomorphic phenotype caused by truncated transcripts with an extremely charged protein motif that escapes from nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay, altering FBN1‐TGF beta signaling, rather than representing the severe end of the hypomorphic phenotype of the FBN1‐TGF beta disorder spectrum. We propose that this marfanoid entity comprised of congenital lipodystrophy, a neonatal progeroid appearance, and a peculiar growth profile and caused by rare mutations in the penultimate exon of FBN1, be newly referred to as marfanoid–progeroid syndrome. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New innovations: Therapeutic opportunities for intellectual disabilities
Authors: Picker Jonathan D. , Walsh Christopher A.
Published: August 2013

Intellectual disability is common and is associated with significant morbidity. Until the latter half of the 20th century, there were no efficacious treatments. Following initial breakthroughs associated with newborn screening and metabolic corrections, little progress was made until recently. With improved understanding of genetic and cellular mechanisms, novel treatment options are beginning to appear for a number of specific conditions. Fragile X and tuberous sclerosis offer paradigms for the development of targeted therapeutics, but advances in understanding of other disorders such as Down syndrome and Rett syndrome, for example, are also resulting in promising treatment directions. In addition, better understanding of the underlying neurobiology is leading to novel developments in enzyme replacement for storage disorders and adjunctive therapies for metabolic disorders, as well as potentially more generalizable approaches that target dysfunctional cell regulation via RNA and chromatin. Physiologic therapies, including deep brain stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation, offer yet another direction to enhance cognitive functioning. Current options and evolving opportunities for the intellectually disabled are reviewed and exemplified. Ann Neurol 2013;74:382–390
Neurological deficits caused by tissue hypoxia in neuroinflammatory disease
Authors: Davies Andrew L. , Desai Roshni A. , Bloomfield Peter S. , McIntosh Peter R. , Chapple Katie J. , Linington Christopher , Fairless Richard , Diem Ricarda , Kasti Marianne , Murphy Michael P. , Smith Kenneth J.
Published: August 2013

Objective

To explore the presence and consequences of tissue hypoxia in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods

EAE was induced in Dark Agouti rats by immunization with recombinant myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and adjuvant. Tissue hypoxia was assessed in vivo using 2 independent methods: an immunohistochemical probe administered intravenously, and insertion of a physical, oxygen‐sensitive probe into the spinal cord. Indirect markers of tissue hypoxia (eg, expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α [HIF‐1α], vessel diameter, and number of vessels) were also assessed. The effects of brief (1 hour) and continued (7 days) normobaric oxygen treatment on function were evaluated in conjunction with other treatments, namely administration of a mitochondrially targeted antioxidant (MitoQ) and inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (1400W).

Results

Observed neurological deficits were quantitatively, temporally, and spatially correlated with spinal white and gray matter hypoxia. The tissue expression of HIF‐1α also correlated with loss of function. Spinal microvessels became enlarged during the hypoxic period, and their number increased at relapse. Notably, oxygen administration significantly restored function within 1 hour, with improvement persisting at least 1 week with continuous oxygen treatment. MitoQ and 1400W also caused a small but significant improvement.

Interpretation

We present chemical, physical, immunohistochemical, and therapeutic evidence that functional deficits caused by neuroinflammation can arise from tissue hypoxia, consistent with an energy crisis in inflamed central nervous system tissue. The neurological deficit was closely correlated with spinal white and gray matter hypoxia. This realization may indicate new avenues for therapy of neuroinflammatory diseases such as MS. Ann Neurol 2013;74:815–825
Nitrergic Neurons in the Spinal Cord of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Bombardi Cristiano , Grandis Annamaria , Gardini Anna , Cozzi Bruno
Published: August 2013

Nitric oxide (NO) is a freely diffusible gaseous neurotransmitter generated by a selected population of neurons and acts as a paracrine molecule in the nervous system. NO is synthesized from l‐arginine by means of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), an enzyme requiring nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) as cofactor. In this study, we used histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques to investigate the distribution of NADPH‐diaphorase (NADPH‐d) and nNOS in the spinal cord of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Cells with a fusiform‐shaped somata were numerous in the laminae I and II. The intermediolateral horn showed darkly‐stained cells with a multipolar morphology. Neurons with a multipolar or fusiform morphology were observed in the ventral horn. Multipolar and fusiform neurons were the most common cell types in lamina X. Nitrergic fibers were numerous especially in the dorsal and intermediolateral horns. The presence of nitrergic cells and fibers in different laminae of the spinal cord suggests that NO may be involved in spinal sensory and visceral circuitries, and potentially contribute to the regulation of the complex retia mirabilia. Anat Rec, 296:1603–1614, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PARENT EDUCATION INTERVENTION RESULTS IN DECREASED CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR AND IMPROVED TASK ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES DURING ACADEMIC TASKS
Authors: Lequia Jenna , Machalicek Wendy , Lyons Gregory
Published: August 2013

Children with developmental disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often engage in challenging behavior when presented with academic demands. Parents of school‐age children with such diagnoses are commonly asked to assist their child with academic tasks but may struggle to do so as a result of challenging behavior. This study evaluated the effects of a parent education intervention on the challenging behaviors and task engagement of three school‐age children with disabilities during academic activities. Parent education consisted of (i) weekly didactic instruction; (ii) modeling; (iii) role‐play; and (iv) in vivo coaching and performance feedback. Using a non‐concurrent multiple baseline across participants with embedded individual multi‐element design, this study demonstrates that a parent education intervention results in decreases in challenging behavior and increases in task engagement. These results suggest that parent education focused on addressing challenging behavior during one‐to‐one instruction may facilitate completion of academic tasks. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microbial biosurfactants as additives for food industries
Authors: Campos Jenyffer Medeiros , Montenegro Stamford Tânia Lúcia , Sarubbo Leonie Asfora , de Luna Juliana Moura , Rufino Raquel Diniz , Banat Ibrahim M.
Published: August 2013

Microbial biosurfactants with high ability to reduce surface and interfacial surface tension and conferring important properties such as emulsification, detergency, solubilization, lubrication and phase dispersion have a wide range of potential applications in many industries. Significant interest in these compounds has been demonstrated by environmental, bioremediation, oil, petroleum, food, beverage, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries attracted by their low toxicity, biodegradability and sustainable production technologies. Despite having significant potentials associated with emulsion formation, stabilization, antiadhesive and antimicrobial activities, significantly less output and applications have been reported in food industry. This has been exacerbated by uneconomical or uncompetitive costing issues for their production when compared to plant or chemical counterparts. In this review, biosurfactants properties, present uses and potential future applications as food additives acting as thickening, emulsifying, dispersing or stabilising agents in addition to the use of sustainable economic processes utilising agro‐industrial wastes as alternative substrates for their production are discussed. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:1097–1108, 2013
Competing two enzymatic reactions realizing one‐step preparation of cell‐enclosing duplex microcapsules
Authors: Ashida Tomoaki , Sakai Shinji , Taya Masahito
Published: August 2013

The usefulness of cell‐enclosing microcapsules in biomedical and biopharmaceutical fields is widely recognized. In this study, we developed a method enabling the preparation of microcapsules with a liquid core in one step using two enzymatic reactions, both of which consume H2O2 competitively. The microcapsule membrane prepared in this study is composed of the hydrogel obtained from an alginate derivative possessing phenolic hydroxyl moieties (Alg‐Ph). The cell‐enclosing microcapsules with a hollow core were obtained by extruding an aqueous solution of Alg‐Ph containing horseradish peroxidase (HRP), catalase, and cells into a co‐flowing stream of liquid paraffin containing H2O2. Formation of the microcapsule membrane progressed from the surface of the droplets through HRP‐catalyzed cross‐linking of Ph moieties by consuming H2O2 supplied from the ambient liquid paraffin. A hollow core structure was induced by catalase‐catalyzed decomposition of H2O2 resulting in the center region being at an insufficient level of H2O2. The viability of HeLa cells was 93.1% immediately after encapsulation in the microcapsules with about 250 µm diameter obtained from an aqueous solution of 2.5% (w/v) Alg‐Ph, 100 units mL−1 HRP, 9.1 × 104 units mL−1 catalase. The enclosed cells grew much faster than those in the microparticles with a solid core. In addition, the thickness of microcapsule membrane could be controlled by changing the concentrations of HRP and catalase in the range of 13–48 µm. The proposed method could be versatile for preparing the microcapsules from the other polymer derivatives of carboxymetylcellulose and gelatin. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:1528–1534, 2013
Aluminum‐Catalyzed Hydroalkoxylation at Elevated Temperatures: Fast and Simple Access to Coumarans and Other Oxygen Heterocycles
Authors: Schlüter Johannes , Blazejak Max , Hintermann Lukas
Published: August 2013

An aluminum‐catalyzed intramolecular hydroalkoxylation of nonactivated alkenes is presented as a powerful synthetic tool for the preparation of oxygen heterocycles, which are of major interest for the preparation of biological and pharmaceutical active compounds. The aluminum isopropoxide catalyzed (5 mol %) cyclization of 2‐allylphenols at elevated temperatures (250 °C, 20 min) provides 2‐methylcoumarans (2‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran) in an exceptionally fast, simple, and economic manner. Moreover, heating of allyl aryl ethers with aluminum isopropoxide (5 mol %) gives 2‐methylcoumarans by a tandem Claisen rearrangement–hydroalkoxylation reaction. For either reaction, the catalyst tolerates a broad scope of substrates with various functional groups. By using the weakly electrophilic aluminum alkoxide as the catalyst, occurrence of “hidden Brønsted acid” catalysis can be excluded under the present reaction conditions.
High‐Nitrogen‐Based Pyrotechnics: Perchlorate‐Free Red‐ and Green‐Light Illuminants Based on 5‐Aminotetrazole
Authors: Sabatini Jesse J. , Moretti Jared D.
Published: August 2013

Prototype testing of perchlorate‐free hand‐held signal illuminants for the US Army’s M126 A1 red‐star and M195 green‐star parachute illuminants are described. Although previous perchlorate‐free variants for these items have been developed based on high‐nitrogen compounds that are not readily available, the new formulations consist of anhydrous 5‐aminotetrazole as the suitable perchlorate replacement. Compared to the perchlorate‐containing control, the disclosed illuminants exhibited excellent stabilities toward various ignition stimuli and had excellent pyrotechnic performance. The illuminants are important from both military and civil fireworks perspectives, as the perchlorate‐free nature of the illuminants adequately address environmental concerns associated with perchlorate‐containing red‐ and green‐light‐emitting illuminants.
Phosphorus Bioavailability and Release Potential Risk of the Sediments in the Coastal Wetland: A Case Study of Rongcheng Swan Lake, Shandong, China
Authors: Gao Li , Zhang Luhua , Shao Hongbo
Published: August 2013

Rongcheng Swan Lake, a natural coastal wetland, is connected to Rongcheng Bay of Yellow Sea, China. In this lagoon, water quality has deteriorated gradually in recent 30 years and filamentous Chaetomorpha linum have bloomed during the past five years. In present study, the concentration, fractions, and bioavailability of phosphorus (P) in surface sediments were investigated throughout the lake. In order to evaluate P retention ability of the wetland, six sediment samples from different lake regions were collected to study P adsortion kinetics, adsortion capacity and the relation to sediment properties. In Swan Lake, total P concentrations in sediments varied from 79 to 616 mg/kg, which were significantly higher in northwest region than those in southeast region. Sediment grain size and external inputs were the main factors affecting P distribution. Inorganic P concentration was obviously higher than that of organic P, and Ca–P was the important form in the sediments. Fe/Al–P showed a large spatial variation, with relatively high concentrations occurring at the northeastern corner and the western tip strongly affected by the discharge of wastewater. The adsorption isotherms were well fitted by Linear equation at low P conditions and by Langmuir equation at high initial P concentrations, respectively. The sediments in the northern and central lake had higher P adsorption capacity, while in southern lake the degree of P saturation of the sediments was high. Ammonium oxalate extractable Al, organic matter, and fine particle were important factors influencing P adsorption. In Swan Lake, algae available P (AAP) was the largest form of bioavailable P, followed by Olsen–P; moreover, AAP and Olsen–P showed significant correlations with Fe/Al–P. As a whole, TP concentration in sediments from Swan Lake was low, and the sediments at most regions had buffering ability for P in overlying water; while at the western tip of lake where macroalgal blooms frequently breakout, AAP concentration was relatively high and the sediments had higher potential for releasing P into water column.
A Chimeric SERM–Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Approach to Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors: Patel Hitisha K. , Siklos Marton I. , Abdelkarim Hazem , Mendonca Emma L. , Vaidya Aditya , Petukhov Pavel A. , Thatcher Gregory R. J.
Published: August 2013

Breast cancer remains a significant cause of death in women, and few therapeutic options exist for estrogen receptor negative (ER (−)) cancers. Epigenetic reactivation of target genes using histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors has been proposed in ER (−) cancers to resensitize to therapy using selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) that are effective in ER (+) cancer treatment. Based upon preliminary studies in ER (+) and ER (−) breast cancer cells treated with combinations of HDAC inhibitors and SERMs, hybrid drugs, termed SERMostats, were designed with computational guidance. Assay for inhibition of four type I HDAC isoforms and antagonism of estrogenic activity in two cell lines yielded a SERMostat with 1–3 μM potency across all targets. The superior hybrid caused significant cell death in ER (−) human breast cancer cells and elicited cell death at the same concentration as the parent SERM in combination treatment and at an earlier time point.