Eurosolare (Italy)

This paper discusses the challenge of accurately determining local magnetic North on airborne vehicles like drones. It focuses on Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS) that use Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) with Micro-Electro-Mechanic Sensors (MEMS) to measure angular velocities, acceleration, and the Earth’s magnetic field. The paper highlights the complexity of this task due to the Earth’s weak magnetic field and disturbances that can affect measurements. The discussion covers advanced estimation techniques, such as the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), which are key methodologies for navigating the intricacies of nonlinear system dynamics. It also covers the impact of vibrations on measurement precision and categorizes vibration sources within UAVs. The paper concludes with an overview of the intricacies involved in determining magnetic North in UAVs and the sophisticated techniques employed to achieve high-precision orientation and navigation. Two numerical applications are also shown.

SummaryWolf populations are recovering and expanding across Europe, causing conflicts with livestock owners. To mitigate these conflicts and reduce livestock damages, authorities spend considerable resources to compensate damages, support damage prevention measures, and manage wolf populations. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains largely unknown, especially at larger geographic scales. Here we compiled incident-based livestock damage data across 21 countries for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, during which 39,262 wolf-caused incidents were reported from 470 administrative regions. We found substantial regional variation in all aspects of the data, including the primary target species, the density of damages, their seasonal distribution, and their temporal trend. More than half of the variation in damage densities across regions is explained by the area of extensively cultivated habitats occupied by wolves and namely natural grasslands and broad-leaved forests. Regional variation in husbandry practices and damage prevention, while difficult to quantify at a continental scale, appear important factors to further modulate these incidents. As illustrated with detailed data from Germany, for instance, the relationship between the number of wolf units and damages is diminishing over time, suggesting some adaptation of livestock owners and local authorities to their presence, for example by increasing prevention efforts. As we argue, temporal trends of damage incidents, which are robust to variation in data collection across regions, are thus informative about the local intensity of the wolf-human conflict. We estimated increasing trends for the majority of regions, reflecting the current expansion of wolves across the continent. Nonetheless, many of these increases were moderate and for more than one third of all regions, trends were negative despite growing wolf populations, thus indicating that wolf-livestock conflicts can be successfully mitigated with proper management.

BackgroundMinimally invasive procedures, such as thread suspension techniques, are a growing trend for facial rejuvenation. However, not enough data are available on the efficacy, outcomes, and morbidity of suture suspension techniques in mid‐face reshaping.AimsOur goal was to assess treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction following mid‐face reshaping using threads with bidirectional convergent barbs (DefinisseTM free floating threads).Patients/MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of 60 patients who underwent treatment for mid‐face reshaping using DefinisseTM free floating threads. Response to treatment was assessed at 6 months using the mid‐face‐specific Mid‐Face Volume Deficit scale (Allergan®), Global Aesthetic Improvement and FACE‐QTM scales.ResultsSixty patients underwent mid‐face treatment with the suspension thread technique (mean age 51.3, 90% female). No concomitant procedures were done. A reduction by one point or more in the Mid‐Face Volume Deficit Scale (MDFVS) score treatment was seen in all patients after 6 months. Mean overall MFVDS and FACE‐QTM scores were significantly improved. On the GAIS, most patients were rated as improved or better both by the evaluating investigators and during self‐assessment. No major complications were observed, and none of the patients requested the removal of the threads (mean follow‐up 9.8 months, range 6–14 months).ConclusionOur results suggest that mid‐face reshaping with DefinisseTM free floating threads is a safe and reliable procedure characterized by low complication rates and good esthetic results. This minimally invasive procedure is a good alternative for normal or combination skin patients who refuse or want to delay the need for traditional rhytidectomy.