bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repair of double-chambered right ventricle using right ventricular outflow chamber ventriculotomy via left intercostal thoracotomy under beating heart in two dogs
Authors: Sato Keiichi , Kanemoto Isamu , Mihara Kippei , Kawase Koudai , Mori Takuya , Ohashi Misato , Abe Hirokazu , Chimura Shuichi
Published: November 2014

Double-chambered right ventricle was diagnosed in two dogs, one of them a pup and the other full grown. Both dogs underwent surgery using the novel approach of right ventricular outflow chamber ventriculotomy via left intercostal thoracotomy with moderate hypothermia and moderate pump flow cardiopulmonary bypass under beating heart. No major complication occurred during and after the operation. On continuous wave Doppler echocardiography, the pressure gradient across the stenosis in the right ventricle decreased from 130 mmHg pre-operatively to 40 mmHg post-operatively at 1 year 5 months in the adult dog, and from 209 mmHg pre-operatively to 47 mmHg post-operatively at 1 year in the pup. Both dogs are active without clinical signs.
Bone composition and bone mineral density of long bones of free-living raptors
Authors: Schuhmann Britta , Brunnberg Leo , Zentek Jürgen , Müller Kerstin
Published: November 2014

Bone composition and bone mineral density (BMD) of long bones of two raptor and one owl species were assessed. Right humerus and tibiotarsus of 40 common buzzards, 13 white-tailed sea eagles and 9 barn owls were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed for influence of species, age, gender and nutritional status. The BMD ranged from 1.8 g/cm3 (common buzzards) to 2.0 g/cm3 (white-tailed sea eagles). Dry matter was 87.0% (buzzards) to 89.5% (sea eagles). Percentage of bone ash was lower in sea eagles than in buzzards and owls. Content of crude fat was lower than 2% of the dry matter in all bones. In humeri lower calcium values (220 g/kg fat free dry matter) were detected in sea eagles than in barn owls (246 g/kg), in tibiotarsi no species differences were observed. Phosphorus levels were lowest in sea eagles (humeri 104 g/kg fat free dry matter, tibiotarsi 102 g/kg) and highest in barn owls. Calcium-phosphorus ratio was about 2:1 in all species. Magnesium content was lower in sea eagles (humeri 2590 mg/kg fat free dry matter, tibiotarsi 2510 mg/kg) than in buzzards and owls. Bones of barn owls contained more copper (humeri 8.7 mg/kg fat free dry matter, tibiotarsi 12.7 mg/kg) than in the Accipitridae. Zinc content was highest in sea eagles (humeri 278 mg/kg fat free dry matter, tibiotarsi 273 mg/kg) and lowest in barn owls (humeri 185 mg/kg, tibiotarsi 199 mg/kg). The present study shows that bone characteristics can be considered as species specific in raptors.
Mammographer personality traits – elements of the optimal mammogram experience
Authors: Louw Amanda , Lawrence Heather , Motto Jenny
Published: November 2014

Background: Mammography is not supported optimally by patients as a screening and diagnostic tool for breast cancer, often as result of negative perceptions amongst patients which originate from a range of factors.Objectives: The objective of the wider study was to probe some of the factors impacting on patient perceptions. This article reports findings regarding patients’ preferences and perceptions concerning mammographer personality traits.Method: Descriptive, exploratory research employed a non-probability, convenience sampling method to collect data by means of a questionnaire from 274 mammogram patients in four clinical training centres in Gauteng. Respondents had to rate 24 personality traits in mammographers in terms of importance. Validity, credibility, reliability and ethical considerations were addressed.Results: A questionnaire return rate of 91% was achieved. Descriptive statistics and factor analysis facilitated interpretation of the data and four factors emerged from the personality trait scale.Conclusion: Patients seem to rate mammographers in terms of the trust they instil, the care that they emanate, how safe they make patients feel and how well they communicate. As mammographer-patient interaction plays an integral role in the way patients perceive mammogram experiences, these factors are conceptualised as also being fundamental elements of an optimal mammogram experience.Agtergrond: Mammografie word nie optimaal deur pasiënte as diagnostiese en siftingsmetode vir borskanker ondersteun nie, deels as gevolg van pasiënte se negatiewe perspepsies daarvan, wat aan ’n veskeidenheid faktore toegeskryf kan word.Doelstellings: Die doel van hierdie studie was om van die faktore wat pasiënte se persepsies beïnvloed, te ondersoek. Pasiënte se persepsies en voorkeure ten opsigte van mammograwe se persoonlikheidseienskappe word in hierdie artikel bespreek.Metode: In dié beskrywende, verkennende studie is ’n nie-waarskynlikheid-gerieflikheidsteekproef-metode gebruik om data van 274 mammogram-pasiënte in vier kliniese opleidingsentrums in Gauteng met behulp van ’n vraelys in te win. Die respondente moes die belangrikheid van 24 persoonlikheidseienskappe van mammograwe beoordeel. Geldigheid, betroubaarheid, geloofwaardigheid en etiese oorwegings is in ag geneem.Resultate: Van al die vraelyste is 91% ingehandig. Die data is met behulp van beskrywende statistiek en faktoranalise geïnterpreteer, en vier faktore is uit die persoonlikheidskaal geïdentifiseer.Gevolgtrekking: Dit blyk dat pasiënte mammograwe beoordeel volgens die vertroue wat hulle inboesem, die sorg wat hulle verleen, hoe veilig hulle pasiënte laat voel, asook hoe goed hulle kommunikeer. Aangesien die mammograaf-pasiënt-verhouding pasiënte se indrukke van mammogramme sterk beïnvloed, kan hierdie vier faktore as fundamentele elemente van ’n optimale mammogram-ondersoek beskou word.
The effect of formal, neonatal communication-intervention training on mothers in kangaroo care
Authors: Kritzinger Alta , Van Rooyen Elise
Published: November 2014

Background: Due to low-birth-weight, preterm birth, HIV and/or AIDS and poverty-related factors, South Africa presents with an increased prevalence of infants at risk of language delay. A Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) unit offers unique opportunities for training.Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine if formal, neonatal communication-intervention training had an effect on mothers’ knowledge and communication interaction with their high-risk infants.Methods: Three groups of mothers participated: Group 1 was trained whilst practicing KMC; Group 2 was not trained but practiced KMC; and Group 3 was also not trained but practiced sporadic KMC. Ten mothers per group were matched for age, education level and birth order of their infants. The individual training was based on graded sensory stimulation and responsive mother-infant communication interaction, which emphasised talking and singing by the mother.Results: Significant differences were found in mother-infant communication interaction between all three groups, which indicated a positive effect on Group 1 with training. Group 2, KMC without training, also had a positive effect on interaction. However, Group 1 mothers with training demonstrated better knowledge of their infants and were more responsive during interaction than the other two groups.Conclusion: The present study suggests that neonatal communication-intervention training adds value to a KMC programme.
Evaluation of modified Kumar and Kalra myelopathy scoring system in sub-axial spinal pathologies
Authors: Mehrotra Anant , Srivastava Arun , Sahu Rabi , Kumar Raj
Published: November 2014

Background: Various pathologies affect the spine, but these lesions present with more or less similar clinical profile. The present functional scoring systems are inadequate and insensitive to changes in neurological status of the patient.
Objective: Our study aims to assess the modified Kumar and Kalra (K and K) scoring system in patients with pathologies in the sub-axial spine. Materials and Methods: A total of 78 consecutive patients from the period of January 2009 to June 2010 were prospectively included in the study. These patients were operated by the senior author at our institute. The mean Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (MJOA) score and the mean modified K and K score were calculated in the preoperative, at the time of discharge (post-surgery), and at 3 months and 6 months follow-up. Results: There were 57 male (73.01%) patients and 21 female patients (26.92%), with the mean age of presentation of 39.20 years (±14.12 years) and a range of 9-75 years. Out of the total 78 patients, 60 patients had pathology in the cervical spine (sub-axial spine) and 18 patients had pathology in the dorsal spine. Majority of the patients had motor and sensory symptoms. The mean preoperative modified K and K score was 17.38 (±3.18) and the mean preoperative MJOA score was 11.21 (±2.12). The K and K score was able to predict the correct outcome in 70 patients (89.74%), whereas the MJOA score was able to predict correctly in 62 patients (79.49%). Conclusion: The modified K and K score has a better predictive value than the MJOA score.
Sellar repair with autologous muscle and composite septal cartilage grafts for treatment of cerebrospinal fluid leakage following trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery
Authors: El Shazly Ayman , El Wardany Mohammed , Abo El Ezz Tamer
Published: November 2014

Context: Many reconstructive techniques have been proposed to prevent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage after trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery. However, no total agreement has been reached to the best technique. Aim: Assessment of the efficacy of sellar repair with autologous muscle and composite septal cartilage grafts for treatment of intraoperative and delayed postoperative CSF leakage following trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery without the use of postoperative external lumbar CSF drain.
Study Design: This is a retrospective case series study, level IV evidence. Materials and Methods: Twenty three patients were involved in this study. Seventeen patients had intraoperative CSF leakage and were treated immediately by our technique. Six patients had postoperative CSF rhinorrhea and had delayed treatment with our technique after failure of conservative measures and external lumbar CSF drainage for more than three days. The technique involved intradural placement of autologous muscle graft supplemented with extradural composite septal cartilage graft, composed of a piece of the posterior cartilaginous septum with its covering mucoperichondrium on one side only to fit into the sellar defect as a double layer button. Results: CSF leak was of grade 1 in 6 patients (26.1%), grade 2 in 10 patients (43.5%) and grade 3 in 7 patients (30.4%). None of the patients in our study had postoperative CSF leak after the use of our technique during the follow up period (mean 24 ± 10.47 standard deviation months). None of the patients developed treatment-related complications. All the patients had well developed mucosal covering of the sellar defect after two months. Conclusion: Our technique of sellar repair by using autologous muscle and composite septal cartilage grafts is effective in treatment of intraoperative and delayed postoperative CSF leakage following trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery without the use of postoperative external lumbar CSF drain even in the high-output CSF leaks.
A rare case of recurrence of primary spinal neurocysticercosis mimicking an arachnoid cyst
Authors: Pal Anirban , Biswas Chaitali , Ghosh Tirtha , Deb Pulak
Published: November 2014

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common parasitic infection of the central nervous system but isolated primary spinal NCC is of very rare occurrence. The authors report a case of 44-year-old male, a postoperative case of multiple spinal NCC lesion excision 2 years ago, who presented with cauda equina syndrome and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion mimicking an arachnoid cyst in the D1-9 region of the spinal cord. On intraoperative surgical exposure multiple cysts were found and excised. The suspicion of recurrence of NCC was confirmed by histopathology. Postoperatively there was significant improvement in neurological symptoms of the patient. Recurrence of primary spinal NCC should be considered in differential diagnosis of an arachnoid cyst if there is a definitive past history.
Spontaneous extradural and subgaleal hematoma: A rare neurosurgical crisis of sickle cell disease
Authors: Mishra Sudhansu , Senapati Satya , Gouda Amiya , Behera Sanjay , Patnaik Ashis
Published: November 2014

Extradural hematoma (EDH) in absence of trauma is a rare entity with only few cases reported in literature. The various causes reported include: Vascular malformation of dura, coagulopathies, sinus infection, middle ear or orbital infection, and tumor. Occurrence of spontaneous EDH as a complication of sickle cell disease is even much rarer. We report a case with sickle cell disease who presented with spontaneous extradural and subgaleal hematomas following an episode of vaso-oclusive crisis. He was managed successfully with surgery. The association of epidural hematomas in sickling hemoglobinopathies is reviewed. In all cases, we noticed one episode of sickle cell crisis just before the occurrence of spontaneous EDH. Perhaps this crisis puts an extra demand over the hematopoietic skull tissue disrupting inner and outer skull margins leading to spontaneous EDH and subgaleal hematoma.
Traumatic tentorial hematoma in two-wheeler riders: Correlation with helmet use
Authors: Agrawal Deepak , Dawar Pankaj
Published: November 2014

Background: Tentorial hematoma is frequently seen in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, especially in motorized two-wheeler riders following head injury. However its relevance and prognostic significance are not known.
Objective: To evaluate patients of TBI with tentorial hematoma using a simple grading system and attempt to correlate this grading with factors like helmet use and neurological outcome.
Materials and Methods: This prospective study over a 1-year period included patients with TBI who had tentorial hematoma in the initial plain head. Patients were divided into three grades based on the initial CT findings: Grade I: Isolated tentorial hematoma, grade II: tentorial hematoma with midline shift but open cisterns and grade III: Tentorial hematoma with effaced cisterns. Clinical and radiological records of patients including admission GCS and GOS at discharge were assessed in all cases.
Observations: A total of 1786 patients of TBI were admitted during the study period. Of these, 106 (5.9%) patients had tentorial hematoma. 84.9% (n = 90) were male and 15.1% (n = 16) were female with the mean age being 36.5 years (range 2-66 years). The mean admission GCS was 13, 11 and 8 in patients with grade I, II and III tentorial hematoma respectively. 43.4% (n = 46) of the patients had grade I, 32.1% (n = 34) had grade II and 24.5% (n = 26) patients had grade III tentorial hematoma. Seventy-one patients (84.5%) were riding motorized two wheelers with 63 (89%) wearing helmets. The majority of the patients wearing helmets (58.8%) had grade I hematoma with 35% (n = 22) having grade II hematoma and only 6.3% (n = 4) having grade III hematoma. Overall, there were 20 deaths. 50% (n = 10) of the deaths were in patients with grade III hematoma and 40% (n = 8) of the deaths were in patients with grade II hematoma. There were two (10%) deaths in patients with grade I hematoma (both unrelated to head injury). The mean GOS at the time of discharge was 5, 4.1 and 2.2 in patients with grade I, II and III tentorial hematoma, respectively. Conclusions: Tentorial hematomas are very common in two-wheeler riders with TBI and could be a marker for indirect forces such as rotational forces experienced while wearing helmets.
Invasive aspergillus sinusitis with orbitocranial extension
Authors: Baeesa Saleh , Bokhari Rakan , Alghamdi Khalid , Alem Hisham , Al-Maghrabi Jaudah , Madani Tariq
Published: November 2014

Context: Invasive sinonasal aspergillosis is a silently progressive disease that, left untreated, may invade the adjacent intracranial and intra-orbital compartments incurring serious morbidity. Aim: To evaluate our results of a collaborative surgical management plans for patients with invasive sinonasal aspergillosis with orbitocranial extension. Setting and Design: Retrospective study. Materials and Methods: Between the years 2000 and 2012, 12 patients with Aspergillus sinusitis with orbitocranial extension were treated at our institution. Preoperative CT and MRI scans were done in all cases and cerebral angiography in two patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Surgical combined transcranial and endonasal approaches to the skull base were considered in all patients. Adjuvant antifungals were administered postoperatively with regular clinical and radiologic follow up. Results: All cases had a long history of headache and nasal obstruction (n = 12). Five presented with unilateral proptosis, one with meningitis, one with epilepsy, two with SAH, and one patient presented with trigeminal neuralgia. Craniotomy alone was chosen for the patients with isolated sphenoiditis (n = 2) while a combined cranial and endonasal approach was elected for the other patients (n = 10). Adjuvant antifungal therapy was used for 3-12 months. Patients were followed up clinically and radiologically for an average 36-month period (range = 12-50 months) with disease eradication achieved in eight patients (67%). Two died as consequence to SAH. Follow up also showed that three patients (25%) had sinunasal recurrence requiring evacuation through an endonasal approach. Conclusions: Surgical intervention, with adjuvant antifungal therapy, aiming for safe total removal of the fungal burden, whenever feasible, has a major role in the management of invasive sinonasal aspergillosis with orbitocranial extension with minimal morbidity and good outcomes.
Solitary plasmacytoma of temporal bone: A rare case report
Authors: Kumar Ritesh , Kumar Narendra , Mohindro Sandeep , Radotra B
Published: November 2014

Solitary plasmacytoma of base of skull is a rare disease. It presents with headache, swelling, and other vague symptoms. Systemic work-up to rule out multiple myeloma is necessary. Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice. We, here, present a case of solitary plasmacytoma of base of skull in right temporal bone in a 50-year-old female treated with surgery and radiotherapy.
'Subarachnoid cyst' after evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma: Case report of an unusual postoperative morbidity
Authors: Sharon Low , Wai Hoe N
Published: November 2014

Burr-hole drainage of chronic subdural hematomas are routine operative procedures done by neurosurgical residents. Common postoperative complications include acute epidural and/or subdural bleeding, tension pneumocephalus, intracranial hematomas and ischemic cerebral infarction. We report an interesting post-operative complication of a 'subarachnoid cyst' after burr-hole evacuation of a chronic subdural hematoma. The authors hypothesize that the 'cyst' is likely secondary to the splitting of the adjacent neomembrane within its arachnoid-brain interface by iatrogenic irrigation of the subdural space. Over time, this 'cyst' develops into an area of gliosis which eventually causes long-term scar epilepsy in the patient. As far as we are aware, this is the first complication of such a 'subarachnoid cyst' post burr-hole drainage reported in the literature.
The Wine Trade in Medieval Europe 1000–1500
Authors: Rose Susan
Published: November 2014

Wine has held its place for centuries at the heart of social and cultural life in western Europe. This book explains how and why this came about, providing a thematic history of wine and the wine trade in Europe in the middle ages from c.1000 to c.1500.Wine was one of the earliest commodities to be traded across the whole of western Europe. Because of its commercial importance, more is probably known about the way viticulture was undertaken and wine itself was made, than the farming methods used with most other agricultural products at the time.

Susan Rose addresses questions such as:

Where were vines grown at this time?

How was wine made and stored?

Were there acknowledged distinctions in quality?

How did traders operate?

What were the social customs associated with wine drinking?

What view was taken by moralists?

How important was its association with Christian ritual?

Did Islamic prohibitions on alcohol affect the wine trade?

What other functions did wine have?
Observations of rapid aerosol optical depth enhancements in the vicinity of polluted cumulus clouds
Authors: Eck T. F. , Holben B. N. , Reid J. S. , Arola A. , Ferrare R. A. , Hostetler C. A. , Crumeyrolle S. N. , Berkoff T. A. , Welton E. J. , Lolli S. , Lyapustin A. , Wang Y. , Schafer J. S. , Giles D. M. , Anderson B. E. , Thornhill K. L. , Minnis P. , Pickering K. E. , Loughner C. P. , Smirnov A. , Sinyuk A.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. During the July 2011 Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) field experiment in Maryland, significant enhancements in Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sun–sky radiometer measured aerosol optical depth (AOD) were observed in the immediate vicinity of non-precipitating cumulus clouds on some days. Both measured Ångström exponents and aerosol size distribution retrievals made before, during and after cumulus development often suggest little change in fine mode particle size; therefore, implying possible new particle formation in addition to cloud processing and humidification of existing particles. In addition to sun–sky radiometer measurements of large enhancements of fine mode AOD, lidar measurements made from both ground-based and aircraft-based instruments during the experiment also measured large increases in aerosol signal at altitudes associated with the presence of fair weather cumulus clouds. These data show modifications of the aerosol vertical profile as a result of the aerosol enhancements at and below cloud altitudes. The airborne lidar data were utilized to estimate the spatial extent of these aerosol enhancements, finding increased AOD, backscatter and extinction out to 2.5 km distance from the cloud edge. Furthermore, in situ measurements made from aircraft vertical profiles over an AERONET site during the experiment also showed large increases in aerosol scattering and aerosol volume after cloud formation as compared to before. The 15-year AERONET database of AOD measurements at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Maryland site, was investigated in order to obtain a climatological perspective of this phenomenon of AOD enhancement. Analysis of the diurnal cycle of AOD in summer showed significant increases in AOD from morning to late afternoon, corresponding to the diurnal cycle of cumulus development.
A pathway analysis of global aerosol processes
Authors: Schutgens N. A. J. , Stier P.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. We present a detailed budget of the changes in atmospheric aerosol mass and numbers due to various processes: emission (including instant condensation of soluble biogenic emissions), nucleation, coagulation, H2SO4 condensation and in-cloud production, aging and deposition. The budget is created from monthly averaged tracer tendencies calculated by the global aerosol model ECHAM5.5-HAM2 and allows us to investigate process contributions at various length-scales and timescales. As a result, we show in unprecedented detail what processes drive the evolution of aerosol. In particular, we show that the processes that affect aerosol masses are quite different from those that affect aerosol numbers. Condensation of H2SO4 gas onto pre-existing particles is an important process, dominating the growth of small particles in the nucleation mode to the Aitken mode and the aging of hydrophobic matter. Together with in-cloud production of H2SO4, it significantly contributes to (and often dominates) the mass burden (and hence composition) of the hydrophilic Aitken and accumulation mode particles. Particle growth itself is the leading source of number densities in the hydrophilic Aitken and accumulation modes, with their hydrophobic counterparts contributing (even locally) relatively little. As expected, the coarse mode is dominated by primary emissions and mostly decoupled from the smaller modes. Our analysis also suggests that coagulation serves mainly as a loss process for number densities and that, relative to other processes, it is a rather unimportant contributor to composition changes of aerosol. The analysis is extended with sensitivity studies where the impact of a lower model resolution or pre-industrial emissions is shown to be small. We discuss the use of the current budget for model simplification, prioritization of model improvements, identification of potential structural model errors and model evaluation against observations.
Biases in modeled surface snow BC mixing ratios in prescribed-aerosol climate model runs
Authors: Doherty S. J. , Bitz C. M. , Flanner M. G.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Black carbon (BC) in snow lowers its albedo, increasing the absorption of sunlight, leading to positive radiative forcing, climate warming and earlier snowmelt. A series of recent studies have used prescribed-aerosol deposition flux fields in climate model runs to assess the forcing by black carbon in snow. In these studies, the prescribed mass deposition flux of BC to surface snow is decoupled from the mass deposition flux of snow water to the surface. Here we compare prognostic- and prescribed-aerosol runs and use a series of offline calculations to show that the prescribed-aerosol approach results, on average, in a factor of about 1.5–2.5 high bias in annual-mean surface snow BC mixing ratios in three key regions for snow albedo forcing by BC: Greenland, Eurasia and North America. These biases will propagate directly to positive biases in snow and surface albedo reduction by BC. The bias is shown be due to coupling snowfall that varies on meteorological timescales (daily or shorter) with prescribed BC mass deposition fluxes that are more temporally and spatially smooth. The result is physically non-realistic mixing ratios of BC in surface snow. We suggest that an alternative approach would be to prescribe BC mass mixing ratios in snowfall, rather than BC mass fluxes, and we show that this produces more physically realistic BC mixing ratios in snowfall and in the surface snow layer.
Analysis of nucleation events in the European boundary layer using the regional aerosol–climate model REMO-HAM with a solar radiation-driven OH-proxy
Authors: Pietikäinen J.-P. , Mikkonen S. , Hamed A. , Hienola A. I. , Birmili W. , Kulmala M. , Laaksonen A.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. This work describes improvements in the regional aerosol–climate model REMO-HAM in order to simulate more realistically the process of atmospheric new particle formation (NPF). A new scheme was implemented to simulate OH radical concentrations using a proxy approach based on observations and also accounting for the effects of clouds upon OH concentrations. Second, the nucleation rate calculation was modified to directly simulate the formation rates of 3 nm particles, which removes some unnecessary steps in the formation rate calculations used earlier in the model. Using the updated model version, NPF over Europe was simulated for the periods 2003–2004 and 2008–2009. The statistics of the simulated particle formation events were subsequently compared to observations from 13 ground-based measurement sites. The new model shows improved agreement with the observed NPF rates compared to former versions and can simulate the event statistics realistically for most parts of Europe.
Carbon dioxide transport across the hillslope–riparian–stream continuum in a boreal headwater catchment
Authors: Leith F. I. , Dinsmore K. J. , Wallin M. B. , Billett M. F. , Heal K. V. , Laudon H. , Öquist M. G. , Bishop K.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Headwater streams export CO2 as lateral downstream export and vertical evasion from the stream surface. CO2 in boreal headwater streams generally originates from adjacent terrestrial areas, so determining the sources and rate of CO2 transport along the hillslope–riparian–stream continuum could improve estimates of CO2 export via the aquatic pathway, especially by quantifying evasion at higher temporal resolutions. Continuous measurements of dissolved CO2 concentrations and water table were made along the hillslope–riparian–stream continuum in the Västrabäcken sub-catchment of the Krycklan Catchment, Sweden. Daily water and CO2 export from the hillslope and riparian zone were estimated over one hydrological year (October 2012–September 2013) using a flow-concentration model and compared with measured lateral downstream CO2 export. Total water export over the hydrological year from the hillslope was 230 mm yr-1 compared with 270 mm yr-1 from the riparian zone. This corresponds well (proportional to the relative upslope contributing area) to the annual catchment runoff of 265 mm yr-1. Total CO2 export from the riparian zone to the stream was 3.0 g CO2-C m-2 yr-1. A hotspot for riparian CO2 export was observed at 30–50 cm depth (accounting for 71% of total riparian export). Seasonal variability was high with export peaks during the spring flood and autumn storm events. Downtream lateral CO2 export (determined from stream water dissolved CO2 concentrations and discharge) was 1.2 g CO2-C m-2 yr-1. Subtracting downstream lateral export from riparian export (3.0 g CO2-C m-2 yr-1) gives 1.8 g CO2-C m-2 yr-1 which can be attributed to evasion losses (accounting for 60% of export via the aquatic pathway). The results highlight the importance of terrestrial CO2 export, especially from the riparian zone, for determining catchment aquatic CO2 losses and the importance of the CO2 evasion component to carbon export via the aquatic conduit.
Phytoplankton community structure in the North Sea: coupling between remote sensing and automated in situ analysis at the single cell level
Authors: Thyssen M. , Alvain S. , Lefèbvre A. , Dessailly D. , Rijkeboer M. , Guiselin N. , Creach V. , Artigas L.-F.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Phytoplankton observation in the ocean can be a challenge in oceanography. Accurate estimations of their biomass and dynamics will help to understand ocean ecosystems and refine global climate models. This requires relevant datasets of phytoplankton at a functional level and on a daily and sub meso scale. In order to achieve this, an automated, high frequency, dedicated scanning flow cytometer (SFC, Cytobuoy, NL), has been developed to cover the entire size range of phytoplankton cells whilst simultaneously taking pictures of the largest of them. This cytometer was directly connected to the water inlet of a~pocket Ferry Box during a cruise in the North Sea, 8–12 May 2011 (DYMAPHY project, INTERREG IV A "2 Seas"), in order to identify the phytoplankton community structure of near surface waters (6 m) with a high resolution spacial basis (2.2 ± 1.8 km). Ten groups of cells, distinguished on the basis of their optical pulse shapes, were described (abundance, size estimate, red fluorescence per unit volume). Abundances varied depending on the hydrological status of the traversed waters, reflecting different stages of the North Sea blooming period. Comparisons between several techniques analyzing chlorophyll a and the scanning flow cytometer, using the integrated red fluorescence emitted by each counted cell, showed significant correlations. The community structure observed from the automated flow cytometry was compared with the PHYSAT reflectance anomalies over a daily scale. The number of matchups observed between the SFC automated high frequency in situ sampling and the remote sensing was found to be two to three times better than when using traditional water sampling strategies. Significant differences in the phytoplankton community structure within the two days for which matchups were available, suggest that it is possible to label PHYSAT anomalies not only with dominant groups, but at the level of the community structure.
Georeferencing experiments with UAS imagery
Authors: Jóźków G. , Toth C.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Comparing typical airborne mapping systems with Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS) developed for mapping purposes, there are several advantages and disadvantages of both systems. The unquestionable benefits of UAS are the much lower costs of equipment and the simple operation; though, the regulations to fly UAS greatly vary by country. Low cost, however, means small sensor size and low weight, thus, sensors usually lack the quality, negatively impacting the accuracy of UAS data and, consequently, any derived mapping products. This work compares the performance of three different positioning approaches used for UAS image geolocation. The first one is based on using dual-frequency GPS data, post-processed in kinematic mode. The second approach uses the single frequency, code only GPS data that was acquired and processed by a geotagger, attached to mapping camera. Finally, the third one employs indirect image georeferencing, based on aerial triangulation using ground controls. As expected, the quality of data provided by the inexpensive GPS receiver (geotagger) is not suitable for mapping purposes. The two other approaches provided similar and reliable results, confirming that commonly used indirect georeferencing, which usually assures good solution, can be replaced by direct georeferencing. The latter technique results not only in reduction of field work, e.g. Ground Control Points (GCPs) surveying, but is appropriate for use with other sensors, such as active imaging technology, LiDAR, further extending UAS application potential.
Least squares image matching: A comparison of the performance of robust estimators
Authors: Li Z. , Wang J.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Least squares image matching (LSM) has been extensively applied and researched for high matching accuracy. However, it still suffers from some problems. Firstly, it needs the appropriate estimate of initial value. However, in practical applications, initial values may contain some biases from the inaccurate positions of keypoints. Such biases, if high enough, may lead to a divergent solution. If all the matching biases have exactly the same magnitude and direction, then they can be regarded as systematic errors. Secondly, malfunction of an imaging sensor may happen, which generates dead or stuck pixels on the image. This can be referred as outliers statistically. Because least squares estimation is well known for its inability to resist outliers, all these mentioned deviations from the model determined by LSM cause a matching failure. To solve these problems, with simulation data and real data, a series of experiments considering systematic errors and outliers are designed, and a variety of robust estimation methods including RANSACbased method, M estimator, S estimator and MM estimator is applied and compared in LSM. In addition, an evaluation criterion directly related to the ground truth is proposed for performance comparison of these robust estimators. It is found that robust estimators show the robustness for these deviations compared with LSM. Among these the robust estimators, M and MM estimator have the best performances.
Analysis of Point Cloud Generation from UAS Images
Authors: Ostrowski S. , Jóźków G. , Toth C. , Vander Jagt B.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) allow for the collection of low altitude aerial images, along with other geospatial information from a variety of companion sensors. The images can then be processed using sophisticated algorithms from the Computer Vision (CV) field, guided by the traditional and established procedures from photogrammetry. Based on highly overlapped images, new software packages which were specifically developed for UAS technology can easily create ground models, such as Point Clouds (PC), Digital Surface Model (DSM), orthoimages, etc. The goal of this study is to compare the performance of three different software packages, focusing on the accuracy of the 3D products they produce. Using a Nikon D800 camera installed on an ocotocopter UAS platform, images were collected during subsequent field tests conducted over the Olentangy River, north from the Ohio State University campus. Two areas around bike bridges on the Olentangy River Trail were selected because of the challenge the packages would have in creating accurate products; matching pixels over the river and dense canopy on the shore presents difficult scenarios to model. Ground Control Points (GCP) were gathered at each site to tie the models to a local coordinate system and help assess the absolute accuracy for each package. In addition, the models were also relatively compared to each other using their PCs.
Thermal 3D mapping for object detection in dynamic scenes
Authors: Weinmann M. , Leitloff J. , Hoegner L. , Jutzi B. , Stilla U. , Hinz S.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. The automatic analysis of 3D point clouds has become a crucial task in photogrammetry, remote sensing and computer vision. Whereas modern range cameras simultaneously provide both range and intensity images with high frame rates, other devices can be used to obtain further information which could be quite valuable for tasks such as object detection or scene interpretation. In particular thermal information offers many advantages, since people can easily be detected as heat sources in typical indoor or outdoor environments and, furthermore, a variety of concealed objects such as heating pipes as well as structural properties such as defects in isolation may be observed. In this paper, we focus on thermal 3D mapping which allows to observe the evolution of a dynamic 3D scene over time. We present a fully automatic methodology consisting of four successive steps: (i) a radiometric correction, (ii) a geometric calibration, (iii) a robust approach for detecting reliable feature correspondences and (iv) a co-registration of 3D point cloud data and thermal information via a RANSAC-based EPnP scheme. For an indoor scene, we demonstrate that our methodology outperforms other recent approaches in terms of both accuracy and applicability. We additionally show that efficient straightforward techniques allow a categorization according to background, people, passive scene manipulation and active scene manipulation.
Planar surface segmentation using a color-enhanced hybrid model for RGB-D camera-based indoor mobile mapping point clouds
Authors: Wen C. , Lin S. , Wang C. , Li J.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Point clouds acquired by RGB-D camera-based indoor mobile mapping system suffer the problems of being noisy, exhibiting an uneven distribution, and incompleteness, which are the problems that introduce difficulties for point cloud planar surface segmentation. This paper presents a novel color-enhanced hybrid planar surface segmentation model for RGB-D camera-based indoor mobile mapping point clouds based on region growing method, and the model specially addresses the planar surface extraction task over point cloud according to the noisy and incomplete indoor mobile mapping point clouds. The proposed model combines the color moments features with the curvature feature to select the seed points better. Additionally, a more robust growing criteria based on the hybrid features is developed to avoid the generation of excessive over-segmentation debris. A segmentation evaluation process with a small set of labeled segmented data is used to determine the optimal hybrid weight. Several comparative experiments were conducted to evaluate the segmentation model, and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed hybrid segmentation method for indoor mobile mapping three-dimensional (3D) point cloud data.
Low cost infrared and near infrared sensors for UAVs
Authors: Aden S. T. , Bialas J. P. , Champion Z. , Levin E. , McCarty J. L.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Thermal remote sensing has a wide range of applications, though the extent of its use is inhibited by cost. Robotic and computer components are now widely available to consumers on a scale that makes thermal data a readily accessible resource. In this project, thermal imagery collected via a lightweight remote sensing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was used to create a surface temperature map for the purpose of providing wildland firefighting crews with a cost-effective and time-saving resource. The UAV system proved to be flexible, allowing for customized sensor packages to be designed that could include visible or infrared cameras, GPS, temperature sensors, and rangefinders, in addition to many data management options. Altogether, such a UAV system could be used to rapidly collect thermal and aerial data, with a geographic accuracy of less than one meter.
Radiometric and geometric characteristics of Pleiades images
Authors: Jacobsen K. , Topan H. , Cam A. , Özendi M. , Oruc M.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Pleiades images are distributed with 50 cm ground sampling distance (GSD) even if the physical resolution for nadir images is just 70 cm. By theory this should influence the effective GSD determined by means of point spread function at image edges. Nevertheless by edge enhancement the effective GSD can be improved, but this should cause enlarged image noise. Again image noise can be reduced by image restoration. Finally even optimized image restoration cannot improve the image information from 70 cm to 50 cm without loss of details, requiring a comparison of Pleiades image details with other very high resolution space images. The image noise has been determined by analysis of the whole images for any sub-area with 5 pixels times 5 pixels. Based on the standard deviation of grey values in the small sub-areas the image noise has been determined by frequency analysis. This leads to realistic results, checked by test targets. On the other hand the visual determination of image noise based on apparently homogenous sub-areas results in too high values because the human eye is not able to identify small grey value differences – it is limited to just approximately 40 grey value steps over the available gray value range, so small difference in grey values cannot be seen, enlarging results of a manual noise determination. A tri-stereo combination of Pleiades 1A in a mountainous, but partially urban, area has been analyzed and compared with images of the same area from WorldView-1, QuickBird and IKONOS. The image restoration of the Pleiades images is very good, so the effective image resolution resulted in a factor 1.0, meaning that the effective resolution corresponds to the nominal resolution of 50 cm. This does not correspond to the physical resolution of 70 cm, but by edge enhancement the steepness of the grey value profile across the edge can be enlarged, reducing the width of the point spread function. Without additional filtering edge enhancement enlarges the image noise, but the average image noise of approximately 1.0 grey values related to 8 bit images is very small, not indicating the edge enhancement and the down sampling of the GSD from 70 cm to 50 cm. So the direct comparison with the other images has to give the answer if the image quality of Pleiades images is on similar level as corresponding to the nominal resolution. As expected with the image geometry there is no problem. This is the case for all used space images in the test area, where the point identification limits the accuracy of the scene orientation.
Exploiting Satellite Focal Plane Geometry for Automatic Extraction of Traffic Flow from Single Optical Satellite Imagery
Authors: Krauß T.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. The focal plane assembly of most pushbroom scanner satellites is built up in a way that different multispectral or multispectral and panchromatic bands are not all acquired exactly at the same time. This effect is due to offsets of some millimeters of the CCD-lines in the focal plane. Exploiting this special configuration allows the detection of objects moving during this small time span. In this paper we present a method for automatic detection and extraction of moving objects – mainly traffic – from single very high resolution optical satellite imagery of different sensors. The sensors investigated are WorldView-2, RapidEye, Pléiades and also the new SkyBox satellites. Different sensors require different approaches for detecting moving objects. Since the objects are mapped on different positions only in different spectral bands also the change of spectral properties have to be taken into account. In case the main distance in the focal plane is between the multispectral and the panchromatic CCD-line like for Pléiades an approach for weighted integration to receive mostly identical images is investigated. Other approaches for RapidEye and WorldView-2 are also shown. From these intermediate bands difference images are calculated and a method for detecting the moving objects from these difference images is proposed. Based on these presented methods images from different sensors are processed and the results are assessed for detection quality – how many moving objects can be detected, how many are missed – and accuracy – how accurate is the derived speed and size of the objects. Finally the results are discussed and an outlook for possible improvements towards operational processing is presented.
On the use of INS to improve Feature Matching
Authors: Masiero A. , Guarnieri A. , Vettore A. , Pirotti F.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. The continuous technological improvement of mobile devices opens the frontiers of Mobile Mapping systems to very compact systems, i.e. a smartphone or a tablet. This motivates the development of efficient 3D reconstruction techniques based on the sensors typically embedded in such devices, i.e. imaging sensors, GPS and Inertial Navigation System (INS). Such methods usually exploits photogrammetry techniques (structure from motion) to provide an estimation of the geometry of the scene. Actually, 3D reconstruction techniques (e.g. structure from motion) rely on use of features properly matched in different images to compute the 3D positions of objects by means of triangulation. Hence, correct feature matching is of fundamental importance to ensure good quality 3D reconstructions. Matching methods are based on the appearance of features, that can change as a consequence of variations of camera position and orientation, and environment illumination. For this reason, several methods have been developed in recent years in order to provide feature descriptors robust (ideally invariant) to such variations, e.g. Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT), Affine SIFT, Hessian affine and Harris affine detectors, Maximally Stable Extremal Regions (MSER). This work deals with the integration of information provided by the INS in the feature matching procedure: a previously developed navigation algorithm is used to constantly estimate the device position and orientation. Then, such information is exploited to estimate the transformation of feature regions between two camera views. This allows to compare regions from different images but associated to the same feature as seen by the same point of view, hence significantly easing the comparison of feature characteristics and, consequently, improving matching. SIFT-like descriptors are used in order to ensure good matching results in presence of illumination variations and to compensate the approximations related to the estimation process.