bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Residual Stress Assessment of Multiple Welding Repairs of Girth Welds in Pipeline Used in Oil Industry
Authors: Vega-Becerra O. , Galván-Martínez Ricardo , Hernández-Mejía S.L. , Contreras-Cuevas Antonio
Published: May 2014

This work presents the residual stress assessment of multiple welding repairs in the same area in seamless API X52 low carbon pipeline. Four conditions of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) repairs and one as welded specimen of the girth weld were evaluated to determine changes in the microstructure (metal base, weld bead and heat affected zone) to evaluate their effect on the residuals stresses and mechanical properties of the welded joints. One of the mainly adverse effect of residuals stresses are in the susceptibility of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of buried pipelines. The residual stresses were measured through X-ray diffraction (XRD). Samples were evaluated on the internal side of the pipe in longitudinal and circumferential direction. Circumferential residual stresses are greater than longitudinal stresses. Microstructural characterization of the welding joints through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed. Relation between microstructure, mechanical properties and residual stresses was carried out. In general, the grain size increases with the number of repairs, and consequently there is an increase in residual stresses. Significant reduction in Charpy-V impact resistance with the number of weld repairs was observed overall in the weld fusion line. The hardness and strength increase in the first repair and in subsequent repairs decrease. As increasing the average grain size, the hardness and the absorbed energy decreases. Generally, the residual stresses showed a tendency to decrease in the first repair and after showed an increase with the number of repairs. It is clear that residual stresses depend more than the position of measurement than the welding repair number, which is directly relate with the microstructure and phases presented.
High Frequency of Diabetes and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Patients with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in the Western Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Santana Marli S. , Monteiro Wuelton M. , Costa Mônica R. F. , Sampaio Vanderson S. , Brito Marcelo A. M. , Lacerda Marcus V. G. , Alecrim Maria G. C.
Published: May 2014

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is one of the most common human genetic abnormalities, and it has a significant prevalence in the male population (X chromosome linked). The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency of impaired fasting glucose and diabetes among G6PD-deficient persons in Manaus, Brazil, an area in the Western Brazilian Amazon to which malaria is endemic. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase–deficient males had more impaired fasting glucose and diabetes. This feature could be used as a screening tool for G6PD-deficient persons who are unable to use primaquine for the radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria.
Prevalence of Human-Active and Variant 1 Strains of the Tick-Borne Pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Hosts and Forests of Eastern North America
Authors: Keesing Felicia , McHenry Diana J. , Hersh Michelle , Tibbetts Michael , Brunner Jesse L. , Killilea Mary , LoGiudice Kathleen , Schmidt Kenneth A. , Ostfeld Richard S.
Published: May 2014

Anaplasmosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by infection with the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In the eastern United States, A. phagocytophilum is transmitted to hosts through the bite of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. We determined the realized reservoir competence of 14 species of common vertebrate hosts for ticks by establishing the probability that each species transmits two important strains of A. phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum human-active, which causes human cases, and A. phagocytophilum variant 1, which does not) to feeding larval ticks. We also sampled questing nymphal ticks from ∼150 sites in a single county over 2 years and sampled over 6 years at one location. White-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and Eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) were the most competent reservoirs for infection with the A. phagocytophilum human-active strain. Across the county, prevalence in ticks for both strains together was 8.3%; ticks were more than two times as likely to be infected with A. phagocytophilum human-active as A. phagocytophilum variant 1.
Molecular Detection of Adenoviruses, Rhabdoviruses, and Paramyxoviruses in Bats from Kenya
Authors: Conrardy Christina , Tao Ying , Kuzmin Ivan V. , Niezgoda Michael , Agwanda Bernard , Breiman Robert F. , Anderson Larry J. , Rupprecht Charles E. , Tong Suxiang
Published: May 2014

We screened 217 bats of at least 20 species from 17 locations in Kenya during July and August of 2006 for the presence of adenovirus, rhabdovirus, and paramyxovirus nucleic acids using generic reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and PCR assays. Of 217 bat fecal swabs examined, 4 bats were adenovirus DNA-positive, 11 bats were paramyxovirus RNA-positive, and 2 bats were rhabdovirus RNA-positive. Three bats were coinfected by two different viruses. By sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis, the Kenya bat paramyxoviruses and rhabdoviruses from this study may represent novel viral lineages within their respective families; the Kenya bat adenoviruses could not be confirmed as novel, because the same region sequences from other known bat adenovirus genomes for comparison were lacking. Our study adds to previous evidence that bats carry diverse, potentially zoonotic viruses and may be coinfected with more than one virus.
Telemonitoring of patients with Parkinson’s disease using inertia sensors
Authors: Baumann L. , Tengler M. , Piro L. , Blechschmidt-Trapp R. , Piro N.E.
Published: May 2014

Background: Medical treatment in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease is very difficult as dose-finding is mainly based on selective and subjective impressions by the physician.

Objectives: To allow for the objective evaluation of patients’ symptoms required for optimal dose-finding, a telemonitoring system tracks the motion of patients in their surroundings. The system focuses on providing interoperability and usability in order to ensure high acceptance.

Methods: Patients wear inertia sensors and perform standardized motor tasks. Data are recorded, processed and then presented to the physician in a 3D animated form. In addition, the same data is rated based on the UPDRS score. Interoperability is realized by developing the system in compliance with the recommendations of the Continua Health Alliance. Detailed requirements analysis and continuous collaboration with respective user groups help to achieve high usability.

Results: A sensor platform was developed that is capable of measuring acceleration and angular rate of motions as well as the absolute orientation of the device itself through an included compass sensor. The system architecture was designed and required infrastructure, and essential parts of the communication between the system components were implemented following Continua guidelines. Moreover, preliminary data analysis based on three-dimensional acceleration and angular rate data could be established.

Conclusion: A prototype system for the telemonitoring of Parkinson’s disease patients was successfully developed. The developed sensor platform fully satisfies the needs of monitoring patients of Parkinson’s disease and is comparable to other sensor platforms, although these sensor platforms have yet to be tested rigorously against each other. Suitable approaches to provide interoper-ability and usability were identified and realized and remain to be tested in the field.

Citation: Piro NE, Baumann L, Tengler M, Piro L, Blechschmidt-Trapp R. Telemonitoring of patients with Parkinson’s disease using inertia sensors. Appl Clin Inf 2014; 5: 503–511 http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-04-RA-0046
Voor- en vroegschoolse voorzieningen, effectief of niet? - De samenhang tussen deelname aan voor- en vroegschoolse voorzieningen en de taal- en rekenprestaties van leerlingen op de korte en langere termijn
Authors: Bruggers Inge , Driessen Geert , Gesthuizen Maurice
Published: May 2014

Early childhood facilities: effective or ineffective? Early childhood facilities refer to policies which were designed to improve the language and math performances of children between two and a half and five years old from low-socioeconomic background. This study investigated
to what extent early childhood facilities are related to language and math performances in second grade and performance differences between second and fifth grade. We performed longitudinal multilevel analyses on data of the COOL5-18 cohort study, measurement waves 2007/2008 and
2010/2011. Our findings, based on information of 3922 children, show that early childhood facilities are ineffective in creating short- and longer-term improvements in language and math performances. This study also indicates that children participating in center-based programs progress more
in language between the second and fifth grade than children who participate in family-oriented programs.
Cultuurparticipatie van Turken en Marokkanen in Nederland - Toetsing van een identificatie- en sociale netwerkverklaring
Authors: Kraaykamp Gerbert , Notten Natascha , Bekhuis Hidde
Published: May 2014

Cultural participation of Turkish and Moroccans in the Netherlands. Testing an identification and social network explanation Research on social differentiation in cultural participation traditionally focuses on educational or income inequalities. With respect to ethnic differences
in highbrow culture relatively little is known. Employing recent data from the Netherlands Longitudinal Lifecourse Study (2010) we explore to what extent educational differentiation in cultural participation among Turkish and Moroccan minorities is mediated and moderated by aspects of identification
and integration. Our study shows that ethnic minority members, who identify themselves more with the Netherlands and participate in a social network with Dutch friend and higher educated friends, are more active in the highbrow cultural realm. A most interesting result is that identification
with Dutch society actually moderates the relationship between an individual’s education and cultural participation; higher educated from Turkish and Moroccan decent who identify more with the Netherlands participate more in elitist culture than higher educated low in their identification
with the Netherlands.
Characteristics of trace metals in traffic-derived particles in Hsuehshan Tunnel, Taiwan: size distribution, fingerprinting metal ratio, and emission factor
Authors: Lin Y.-C. , Tsai C.-J. , Wu Y.-C. , Zhang R. , Chi K.-H. , Huang Y.-T. , Lin S.-H. , Hsu S.-C.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Traffic emissions are a significant source of airborne particulate matter (PM) in ambient environments. These emissions contain high abundance of toxic metals and thus pose adverse effects on human health. Size-fractionated aerosol samples were collected from May to September 2013 by using micro-orifice uniform deposited impactor (MOUDI). Sample collection was conducted simultaneously at the inlet and outlet sites of Hsuehshan Tunnel in northern Taiwan, which is the second longest freeway tunnel (12.9 km) in Asia. Such endeavor aims to characterize the chemical constituents, size distributions, and fingerprinting ratios, as well as the emission factors of particulate metals emitted by vehicle fleets. A total of 36 metals in size-resolved aerosols were determined through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Three major groups, namely, tailpipe emissions (Zn, Pb, and V), wear debris (Cu, Cd, Fe, Ga, Mn, Mo, Sb, and Sn), and resuspended dust (Ca, Mg, K, and Rb), of airborne PM metals were categorized on the basis of the results of enrichment factor, correlation matrix, and principal component analysis. Size distributions of wear-originated metals resembled the pattern of crustal elements, which were predominated by super-micron particulates (PM1–10). By contrast, tailpipe exhaust elements such as Zn, Pb, and V were distributed mainly in submicron particles. By employing Cu as a tracer of wear abrasion, several inter-metal ratios, including Fe/Cu (14), Ba/Cu (1.05), Sb/Cu (0.16), Sn/Cu (0.10), and Ga/Cu (0.03), served as fingerprints for wear debris. Emission factor of PM10 mass was estimated to be 7.7 mg vkm−1. The metal emissions were mostly predominated in super-micron particles (PM1–10). Finally, factors that possibly affect particulate metal emissions inside Hsuehshan Tunnel are discussed.
Volcanic ash detection with infrared limb sounding: MIPAS observations and radiative transfer simulations
Authors: Griessbach S. , Hoffmann L. , Spang R. , Riese M.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Small volcanic ash particles have long residence times in the troposphere and the stratosphere so that they have significant impact on the Earth's radiative budget and consequently affect climate. For global long-term observations of volcanic aerosol, infrared limb measurements provide excellent coverage, sensitivity to thin aerosol layers, and altitude information. The optical properties of volcanic ash and ice particles, derived from micro-physical properties, have opposing spectral gradients between 700 and 960 cm−1 for small particle sizes. Radiative transfer simulations that account for single scattering showed that the opposing spectral gradients directly transfer to infrared limb spectra. Indeed, we found the characteristic spectral signature, expected for volcanic ash, in measurements of the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) after the eruption of the Chilean volcano Puyehue-Cordón Caulle in June 2011. From these measurements we derived an ash detection threshold function. The empirical ash detection threshold was confirmed in an extensive simulations study covering a wide range of atmospheric conditions, particle sizes and particle concentrations for ice, volcanic ash and sulfate aerosol. From the simulations we derived the upper detectable effective radius of 3.5 μm and the detectable extinction coefficient range of 5 × 10−3 to 1 × 10−1 km−1. We also showed that this method is only sensitive to volcanic ash particles, but not to volcanic sulfate aerosol. This volcanic ash detection method for infrared limb measurements is a fast and reliable method and provides complementary information to existing satellite aerosol products.
UV effects on the primary productivity of picophytoplankton: biological weighting functions and exposure response curves of Synechococcus
Authors: Neale P. J. , Pritchard A. L. , Ihnacik R.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. A model that predicts UV effects on marine primary productivity using a biological weighting function (BWF) coupled to the photosynthesis–irradiance response (BWF/P-E model) has been implemented for two strains of the picoplanktonic cyanobacteria Synechococcus, WH7803 and WH8102, which were grown at two irradiances (77 and 174 μmol m−2 s−1 photosynthetically available radiation (PAR)) and two temperatures (20 and 26 °C). The model was fit using photosynthesis measured in a polychromatic incubator with 12 long-pass filter configurations with 50% wavelength cutoffs ranging from 291 to 408 nm, giving an effective wavelength range of 280–400 nm. Examination of photosynthetic response vs. weighted exposure revealed that repair rate progressively increases at low exposure but reaches a maximum rate above a threshold exposure ("Emax"). Adding Emax as a parameter to the BWF/P-E model provided a significantly better fit to Synechococcus data than the existing "E" or "T" models. Sensitivity to UV inhibition varied with growth conditions for both strains, but this was mediated mainly by variations in Emax for WH8102 while both the BWF and Emax changed for WH7803. Higher growth temperature was associated with a considerable reduction in sensitivity, consistent with an important role of repair in regulating sensitivity to UV. Based on nominal water column conditions (noon, solstice, 23° latitude, "blue" water), the BWFEmax/P-E model estimates that UV + PAR exposure inhibits Synechococcus photosynthesis from 78 to 91% at 1 m, and integrated productivity to 150 m 17–29% relative to predicted rates in the absence of inhibition.
Forest response to increased disturbance in the Central Amazon and comparison to Western Amazonian forests
Authors: Holm J. A. , Chambers J. Q. , Collins W. D. , Higuchi N.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Uncertainties surrounding vegetation response to increased disturbance rates associated with climate change remains a major global change issue for Amazon forests. Additionally, turnover rates computed as the average of mortality and recruitment rates in the Western Amazon basin are doubled when compared to the Central Amazon, and notable gradients currently exist in specific wood density and aboveground biomass (AGB) between these two regions. This study investigates the extent to which the variation in disturbance regimes contributes to these regional gradients. To address these issues, we evaluated disturbance-recovery processes under two scenarios of increased disturbance rates in a complex Central Amazon forest using first ZELIG-TROP, a dynamic vegetation gap model which we calibrated using long-term inventory data, and second using the Community Land Model (CLM), a global land surface model that is part of the Community Earth System Model (CESM). Upon doubling the mortality rate in the Central Amazon to mirror the natural disturbance regime in the Western Amazon of ∼2% mortality, at steady-state, AGB significantly decreased by 41.9% and there was no significant difference between the modeled AGB of 104 Mg C ha−1 and empirical AGB from the western Amazon datasets of 107 Mg C ha−1. We confirm that increases in natural disturbance rates in the Central Amazon will result in terrestrial carbon loss associated with higher turnover. However, different processes were responsible for the reductions in AGB between the models and empirical datasets. We observed that with increased turnover, the subsequent decrease in wood density drives the reduction in AGB in empirical datasets. However, decrease in stand basal area was the driver of the drop in AGB in ZELIG-TROP, and decreased leaf area index (LAI) was the driver in CLM. Further comparisons found that stem density, specific wood density, and basal area growth rates differed between the two Amazonian regions. This suggests that: (1) the variability between regions cannot be entirely explained by the variability in disturbance regime, but rather potentially sensitive to intrinsic environmental factors; or (2) the models are not accurately simulating all forest characteristics in response to increased disturbances. Last, to help quantify the impacts of increased disturbances on climate and the earth system, we evaluated the fidelity of tree mortality and disturbance in a global land surface model: CLM. For a 100% increase in annual mortality rate, both ZELIG-TROP and CLM were in close agreement with each other and predicted a net carbon loss of 41.9 and 49.9%, respectively, with an insignificant effect on aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP). Likewise, a 20% increase in mortality every 50 years (i.e. periodic disturbance treatment) resulted in a reciprocal biomass loss of 18.3 and 18.7% in ZELIG-TROP and CLM, respectively.
Global analysis of radiative forcing from fire-induced shortwave albedo change
Authors: López-Saldaña G. , Bistinas I. , Pereira J. M. C.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Land surface albedo, a key parameter to derive Earth's surface energy balance, is used in the parameterization of numerical weather prediction, climate monitoring and climate change impact assessments. Changes in albedo due to fire have not been fully investigated at continental and global scale. The main goal of this study therefore, is to quantify the changes in albedo produced by biomass burning activities and their associated shortwave radiative forcing. The study relies on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MCD64A1 burned area product to create an annual composite of areas affected by fire and the MCD43C2 BRDF-Albedo snow-free product to compute a bihemispherical reflectance time series. The approximate day of burn is used to calculate the instantaneous change in shortwave Albedo. Using the corresponding National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) monthly mean downward solar radiation flux at the surface, the global radiative forcing associated to fire was computed. The analysis reveals a mean decrease in shortwave albedo of −0.023 (1σ = 0.018) causing a mean positive radiative forcing of 6.31 W m–2 (1σ = 5.04) over the 2002–2012 time period in areas affected by fire. The greatest drop in mean shortwave albedo change occurs in 2002, which corresponds to the highest total area burnt (3.66 Mha) observed in the same year and produces the highest mean radiative forcing (6.75 W m–2). Africa is the main contributor in terms of burned area but forests globally are giving the highest radiative forcing per unit area, thus give detectable changes in shortwave albedo. The global mean radiative forcing for the whole studied period ~ 0.04 W m–2 shows that the contribution of fires into the Earth system is not insignificant.
Hydrological hysteresis in catchments and its value for assessing process consistency in conceptual models
Authors: Fovet O. , Ruiz L. , Hrachowitz M. , Faucheux M. , Gascuel-Odoux C.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. While most hydrological models reproduce the general flow dynamics, they frequently fail to adequately mimic system internal processes. In particular, the relationship between storage and discharge, which often follows annual hysteretic patterns in shallow hard-rock aquifers, is rarely considered in modelling studies. One main reason is that catchment storage is difficult to measure and another one is that objective functions are usually based on individual variables time series (e.g. the discharge). This reduces the ability of classical procedures to assess the relevance of the conceptual hypotheses associated with models. We analyzed the annual hysteric patterns observed between stream flow and water storage both in the saturated and unsaturated zones of the hillslope and the riparian zone of a headwater catchment in French Brittany (ORE AgrHys). The saturated zone storage was estimated using distributed shallow groundwater levels and the unsaturated zone storage using several moisture profiles. All hysteretic loops were characterized by a hysteresis index. Four conceptual models, previously calibrated and evaluated for the same catchment, were assessed with respect to their ability to reproduce the hysteretic patterns. The observed relationship between stream flow, saturated, and unsaturated storages led to identify four hydrological periods and emphasized a clearly distinct behaviour between riparian and hillslope groundwaters. Although all the tested models were able to produce an annual hysteresis loop between discharge and both saturated and unsaturated storage, integration of a riparian component led to overall improved hysteretic signatures, even if some misrepresentation remained. Such systems-like approach is likely to improve model selection.
Error analysis of motion correction method for laser scanning of moving objects
Authors: Goel S. , Lohani B.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. The limitation of conventional laser scanning methods is that the objects being scanned should be static. The need of scanning moving objects has resulted in the development of new methods capable of generating correct 3D geometry of moving objects. Limited literature is available showing development of very few methods capable of catering to the problem of object motion during scanning. All the existing methods utilize their own models or sensors. Any studies on error modelling or analysis of any of the motion correction methods are found to be lacking in literature. In this paper, we develop the error budget and present the analysis of one such ‘motion correction’ method. This method assumes availability of position and orientation information of the moving object which in general can be obtained by installing a POS system on board or by use of some tracking devices. It then uses this information along with laser scanner data to apply correction to laser data, thus resulting in correct geometry despite the object being mobile during scanning. The major application of this method lie in the shipping industry to scan ships either moving or parked in the sea and to scan other objects like hot air balloons or aerostats. It is to be noted that the other methods of "motion correction" explained in literature can not be applied to scan the objects mentioned here making the chosen method quite unique. This paper presents some interesting insights in to the functioning of "motion correction" method as well as a detailed account of the behavior and variation of the error due to different sensor components alone and in combination with each other. The analysis can be used to obtain insights in to optimal utilization of available components for achieving the best results.
Assessing UAV platform types and optical sensor specifications
Authors: Altena B. , Goedemé T.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Photogrammetric acquisition with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) has grown extensively over the last couple of years. Such mobile platforms and their processing software have matured, resulting in a market which offers off-the-shelf mapping solutions to surveying companies and geospatial enterprises. Different approaches in platform type and optical instruments exist, though its resulting products have similar specifications. To demonstrate differences in acquisitioning practice, a case study over an open mine was flown with two different off-the-shelf UAVs (a fixed-wing and a multi-rotor). The resulting imagery is analyzed to clarify the differences in collection quality. We look at image settings, and stress the fact of photographic experience if manual setting are applied. For mapping production it might be safest to set the camera on automatic. Furthermore, we try to estimate if blur is present due to image motion. A subtle trend seems to be present, for the fast flying platform though its extent is of similar order to the slow moving one. It shows both systems operate at their limits. Finally, the lens distortion is assessed with special attention to chromatic aberration. Here we see that through calibration such aberrations could be present, however detecting this phenomena directly on imagery is not straightforward. For such effects a normal lens is sufficient, though a better lens and collimator does give significant improvement.
Geoarchaeological site documentation and analysis of 3D data derived by terrestrial laser scanning
Authors: Hoffmeister D. , Zellmann S. , Kindermann K. , Pastoors A. , Lang U. , Bubenzer O. , Weniger G.-C. , Bareth G.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Terrestrial laser scanning was conducted to document and analyse sites of geoarchaeological interest in Jordan, Egypt and Spain. In those cases, the terrestrial laser scanner LMS-Z420i from Riegl was used in combination with an accurate RTK-GPS for georeferencing of the point clouds. Additionally, local surveying networks were integrated by established transformations and used for indirect registration purposes. All data were integrated in a workflow that involves different software and according results. The derived data were used for the documentation of the sites by accurate plans and cross-sections. Furthermore, the 3D data were analysed for geoarchaeological research problems, such as volumetric determinations, the ceiling thickness of a cave and lighting simulations based on path tracing. The method was reliable in harsh environmental conditions, but the weight of the instrument, the measuring time and the minimum measurement distance were a drawback. However, generally an accurate documentation of the sites was possible. Overall, the integration in a 3D GIS is easily possible by the accurate georeference of the derived data. In addition, local survey results are also implemented by the established transformations. Enhanced analyses based on the derived 3D data shows promising results.
Skyline matching based camera orientation from images and mobile mapping point clouds
Authors: Hofmann S. , Eggert D. , Brenner C.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Mobile Mapping is widely used for collecting large amounts of geo-referenced data. An important role plays sensor fusion, in order to evaluate multiple sensors such as laser scanner and cameras jointly. This requires to determine the relative orientation between sensors. Based on data of a RIEGL VMX-250 mobile mapping system equipped with two laser scanners, four optional cameras, and a highly precise GNSS/IMU system, we propose an approach to improve camera orientations. A manually determined orientation is used as an initial approximation for matching a large number of points in optical images and the corresponding projected scan images. The search space of the point correspondences is reduced to skylines found in both the optical as well as the scan image. The skyline determination is based on alpha shapes, the actual matching is done via an adapted ICP algorithm. The approximate values of the relative orientation are used as starting values for an iterative resection process. Outliers are removed at several stages of the process. Our approach is fully automatic and improves the camera orientation significantly.
2.5D/3D Models for the enhancement of architectural-urban heritage. An Virtual Tour of design of the Fascist headquarters in Littoria
Authors: Ippoliti E. , Calvano M. , Mores L.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Enhancement of cultural heritage is not simply a matter of preserving material objects but comes full circle only when the heritage can be enjoyed and used by the community. This is the rationale behind this presentation: an urban Virtual Tour to explore the 1937 design of the Fascist Headquarters in Littoria, now part of Latina, by the architect Oriolo Frezzotti. Although the application is deliberately "simple", it was part of a much broader framework of goals. One such goal was to create "friendly and perceptively meaningful" interfaces by integrating different "3D models" and so enriching. In fact, by exploiting the activation of natural mechanisms of visual perception and the ensuing emotional emphasis associated with vision, the illusionistic simulation of the scene facilitates access to the data even for "amateur" users. A second goal was to "contextualise the information" on which the concept of cultural heritage is based. In the application, communication of the heritage is linked to its physical and linguistic context; the latter is then used as a basis from which to set out to explore and understand the historical evidence. A third goal was to foster the widespread dissemination and sharing of this heritage of knowledge. On the one hand we worked to make the application usable from the Web, on the other, we established a reliable, rapid operational procedure with high quality processed data and ensuing contents. The procedure was also repeatable on a large scale.
Virtual Reality: Developing a VR space for Academic activities
Authors: Kaimaris D. , Stylianidis E. , Karanikolas N.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Virtual reality (VR) is extensively used in various applications; in industry, in academia, in business, and is becoming more and more affordable for end users from the financial point of view. At the same time, in academia and higher education more and more applications are developed, like in medicine, engineering, etc. and students are inquiring to be well-prepared for their professional life after their educational life cycle. Moreover, VR is providing the benefits having the possibility to improve skills but also to understand space as well. This paper presents the methodology used during a course, namely "Geoinformatics applications" at the School of Spatial Planning and Development (Eng.), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, to create a virtual School space. The course design focuses on the methods and techniques to be used in order to develop the virtual environment. In addition the project aspires to become more and more effective for the students and provide a real virtual environment with useful information not only for the students but also for any citizen interested in the academic life at the School.
Robust surface matching by integrating edge segments
Authors: Kochi N. , Sasaki T. , Kitamura K. , Kaneko S.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. This paper describes a novel area-based stereo-matching method which aims at reconstructing the shape of objects robustly, correctly, with high precision and with high density. Our goal is to reconstruct correctly the shape of the object by comprising also edges as part of the resulting surface. For this purpose, we need to overcome the problem of how to reconstruct and describe shapes with steep and sharp edges. Area-based matching methods set an image area as a template and search the corresponding match. As a direct consequence of this approach, it becomes not possible to correctly reconstruct the shape around steep edges. Moreover, in the same regions, discontinuities and discrepancies of the shape between the left and right stereo-images increase the difficulties for the matching process. In order to overcome these problems, we propose in this paper the approach of reconstructing the shape of objects by embedding reliable edge line segments into the area-based matching process with parallax estimation. We propose a robust stereo-matching (the extended Edge TIN-LSM) method which integrates edges and which is able to cope with differences in right and left image shape, brightness changes and occlusions. The method consists of the following three steps: (1) parallax estimation, (2) edge-matching, (3) edge-surface matching. In this paper, we describe and explain in detail the process of parallax estimation and the area-based surface-matching with integrated edges; the performance of the proposed method is also validated. The main advantage of this new method is its ability to reconstruct with high precision a 3D model of an object from only two images (for ex. measurement of a tire with 0.14 mm accuracy), thus without the need of a large number of images. For this reason, this approach is intrinsically simple and high-speed.
Terrestrial laser scanning for geometry extraction and change monitoring of rubble mound breakwaters
Authors: Puente I. , Lindenbergh R. , González-Jorge H. , Arias P.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Rubble mound breakwaters are coastal defense structures that protect harbors and beaches from the impacts of both littoral drift and storm waves. They occasionally break, leading to catastrophic damage to surrounding human populations and resulting in huge economic and environmental losses. Ensuring their stability is considered to be of vital importance and the major reason for setting up breakwater monitoring systems. Terrestrial laser scanning has been recognized as a monitoring technique of existing infrastructures. Its capability for measuring large amounts of accurate points in a short period of time is also well proven. In this paper we first introduce a method for the automatic extraction of face geometry of concrete cubic blocks, as typically used in breakwaters. Point clouds are segmented based on their orientation and location. Then we compare corresponding cuboids of three co-registered point clouds to estimate their transformation parameters over time. The first method is demonstrated on scan data from the Baiona breakwater (Spain) while the change detection is demonstrated on repeated scan data of concrete bricks, where the changing scenario was simulated. The application of the presented methodology has verified its effectiveness for outlining the 3D breakwater units and analyzing their changes at the millimeter level. Breakwater management activities could benefit from this initial version of the method in order to improve their productivity.
Can 3D Point Clouds Replace GCPs?
Authors: Stavropoulou G. , Tzovla G. , Georgopoulos A.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Over the past decade, large-scale photogrammetric products have been extensively used for the geometric documentation of cultural heritage monuments, as they combine metric information with the qualities of an image document. Additionally, the rising technology of terrestrial laser scanning has enabled the easier and faster production of accurate digital surface models (DSM), which have in turn contributed to the documentation of heavily textured monuments. However, due to the required accuracy of control points, the photogrammetric methods are always applied in combination with surveying measurements and hence are dependent on them. Along this line of thought, this paper explores the possibility of limiting the surveying measurements and the field work necessary for the production of large-scale photogrammetric products and proposes an alternative method on the basis of which the necessary control points instead of being measured with surveying procedures are chosen from a dense and accurate point cloud. Using this point cloud also as a surface model, the only field work necessary is the scanning of the object and image acquisition, which need not be subject to strict planning. To evaluate the proposed method an algorithm and the complementary interface were produced that allow the parallel manipulation of 3D point clouds and images and through which single image procedures take place. The paper concludes by presenting the results of a case study in the ancient temple of Hephaestus in Athens and by providing a set of guidelines for implementing effectively the method.
Flood risk assessment: concepts, modelling, applications
Authors: Tsakiris G.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Natural hazards have caused severe consequences to the natural, modified and human systems in the past. These consequences seem to increase with time due to both the higher intensity of the natural phenomena and the higher value of elements at risk. Among the water-related hazards, flood hazards have the most destructive impacts. The paper presents a new systemic paradigm for the assessment of flood hazard and flood risk in the riverine flood-prone areas. Special emphasis is given to the urban areas with mild terrain and complicated topography, in which 2-D fully dynamic flood modelling is proposed. Further, the EU flood directive is critically reviewed and examples of its implementation are presented. Some critical points in the flood directive implementation are also highlighted.
Temporal variations in the wind and wave climate at a location in the eastern Arabian Sea based on ERA-Interim reanalysis data
Authors: Shanas P. R. , Sanil Kumar V.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Temporal variations in wind speed and significant wave height (SWH) at a location in the eastern Arabian Sea are studied using ERA-Interim reanalysis data from 1979 to 2012. A shallow water location is selected for the study since measured buoy data are available close to the location for comparison with the reanalysis data. The annual mean wind speed shows a statistically significant decreasing trend of 1.5 cm s−1 year−1, whereas a statistically insignificant increasing trend of 3.6 cm s−1 year−1 is observed for annual maximum wind speed due to the local events that altered the trend in annual maximum wind speed. Weakening of SWH during one of the peak monsoon months (August) is identified from the monthly analysis of SWH, which shows a higher upward trend in SWH during the southwest monsoon period, with an exception during August. The annual mean SWH shows a slight upward trend (0.012 cm year−1), whereas a larger upward trend (1.4 cm year−1) is observed for annual maximum SWH. Both identified trends are statistically insignificant. The influence of tropical cyclone activity is also studied and it is found that the maximum SWH and wind speed during 1996 are directly related to the cyclonic event.
Modeling inundation of seasonally flooded wetlands at McCarran Ranch on Truckee River, USA
Authors: Chen X. , Chen L. , Zhao J. , Yu Z.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. This paper among the first presents the application and validation of a hydrodynamic model (Adaptive Hydraulics model, AdH) of the McCarran ranch. We use the AdH model with topographic data by combining the DEM data from USGS seamless server and the ESRI tin data from United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to predict floodplain inundation for a river reach of ~10 km located at lower Truckee River in Nevada state. We tested the mesh independence, sensitivity of input parameters and time steps, and then compared the modeling results to the existing gauged data (both the discharge and water stage heights). Results show that the accuracy of prediction from AdH model can decline slightly at higher discharge and water levels. The modeling results are much sensitive to the roughness coefficient of main channel, suggesting the model calibration should give priority to the main channel roughness. The simulation results suggest that large flood events could lead to a significantly higher proportion of total flow that routed through the floodplains. During peak discharge, a river channel constriction diverted as much as 65% of the river's 512.3 m3s−1 discharge into the floodplain. During the overbank flow, the transboundary flux ratio is about 5–45% of the total river discharge. Results also showed that both the relation of inundation area and volume between the discharge exhibit an apparent looped curve form.
Field survey report and satellite image interpretation of the 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
Authors: Mas E. , Bricker J. , Kure S. , Adriano B. , Yi C. , Suppasri A. , Koshimura S.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Three weeks after the deadly Bohol earthquake of magnitude Mw 7.2, which claimed at least 222 victims; another disaster struck the Philippines. This time, Super Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, devastated the Eastern Visayas islands on 8 November 2013. Its classification as a Super Typhoon was based on its maximum sustained 1 min surface wind speed of 315 km h−1, which is equivalent to a strong Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Scale. This was one of the deadliest typhoon events in the Philippines' history, after the 1897 and 1912 tropical cyclones. At least 6268 individuals have been reported dead and 1061 people are missing. In addition, a wide area of destruction was observed in the Eastern Visayas, on Samar and Leyte Islands. The International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan has deployed several teams for damage recognition, relief support and collaboration with regard to this disaster event. One of the teams, the hazard and damage evaluation team, visited the affected areas in the Eastern Visayas in mid-January 2014. In this paper, we summarize the rapid damage assessment conducted days after the event and report on the inundation measurements and the damage surveyed in the field. Damage interpretation results by satellite images were qualitatively confirmed for the Tacloban city area on Leyte Island, the most populated city in the Eastern Visayas. During the survey, significant damage was observed from wind and storm surges on poorly designed housing on the east coast of Leyte Island. Damage, mainly from surface waves and winds was observed on the east coast of Samar Island.
Thermal conditions during deformation of partially molten crust from TitaniQ geothermometry: rheological implications for the anatectic domain of the Araçuaí belt, Eastern Brazil
Authors: Cavalcante G. C. G. , Vauchez A. , Merlet C. , Egydio-Silva M. , Bezerra de Holanda M. H. , Boyer B.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. During the Neoproterozoic orogeny, the middle crust of the Araçuaí belt underwent widespread partial melting. At the regional scale, this anatectic domain is characterized by a progressive rotation of the flow direction from South to North, suggesting a 3-D deformation of the anatectic middle crust. To better constrain whether melt volumes present in the anatectic middle crust of the Araçuaí orogen were large enough to allow a combination of gravity-driven and convergence-driven deformation, we used the titanium-in-quartz geothermometer (TitaniQ) to estimate the crystallization temperatures of quartz grains in the anatectic rocks. When possible, we compared these estimates with thermobarometric estimates from traditional exchange geothermobarometers applied to neighboring migmatitic kinzigites. TitaniQ temperatures range from 750 to 800 °C, suggesting that quartz start crystallizing at a minimum temperatures ≥800 °C. These results, combined with the bulk-rock composition of isolated leucosomes allow to estimate a minimum of ∼30% melt in the anatectic leucossomes and a corresponding viscosity of ∼109–110 Pa s. Such a minimum melt content and low viscosity are in agreement with interconnected melt networks observed in the field. Considering that these characteristics are homogeneous over a wide area, this supports that the strength of the middle crust was severely weaken by extensive partial melting turning it prone to gravity-driven channel flow and lateral extrusion.
Orthoamide und Iminiumsalze, LXXXV [1]. Die Synthese von starken Formylierungsmitteln im präparativen Großmaßstab: N,N,N',N'- Tetraformylhydrazin und Formyl-aalen [Tris(diformylamino)methan] / Orthoamides and Iminium Salts LXXXV [1]. The Synthesis of Strong Formylating Reagents on a Large Preparative Scale: N;N;N';N'-Tetraformylhydrazine and Formyl-aalen [Tris(diformylamino)methane]
Authors: Kantlehner Willi , Ziegler Georg , Scherr Oliver , Vettel Markus , Leonhardt Sylvia
Published: May 2014

N;N;N';N'-Tetraformylhydrazine (3) can be pepared in good yields by heating of N;N'-diformylhydrazine (5) with N;N-diformylacetamide (6). The reaction of methanesulfonyl chloride with sodium diformamide (10) in a molar ratio of 2 : 5 in acetonitrile affords tris(diformylamino)methane (formyl-aalen, 2). Both reactions were used to prepare 3 and 2 in large quantities (ca. 200 to 400 g). A mechanism is proposed for the formation of 2 from methanesulfonyl chloride and 10.
Investigation of Imidazol(in)ium-dithiocarboxylates as Sensors for the Detection of Mercury(II) and Silver(I) Ions
Authors: Dagmara Konieczna Dagny , Blanrue Amelié , Wilhelm René
Published: May 2014

Two imidazol(in)ium-dithiocarboxylates have been investigated as sensors for the detection of mercury ions and silver ions. They could be applied as colorimetric chemosensors for the detection of Hg2+ and Ag+. Furthermore, an additional sensory input was found by a colorimetric change of a two-phase system from the organic phase into the aqueous phase. Due to different colors at different ratios of the betaines and Hg2+ it is possible to estimate the concentration of Hg2+ with the ”naked eye”.
Neue aromatische Bisguanidin-Kupfer-Komplexe und ihre Anwendung in der ATRP / New Aromatic Bisguanidine Copper Complexes and Their Application in ATRP
Authors: Hoffmann Alexander , Bienemann Olga , Santos Vieira Ines dos , Herres-Pawlis Sonja
Published: May 2014

We synthesized and structurally characterized two new copper(II) monochelate complexes with the ligand 2,2'-(1,2-phenylenebis(1,1,3,3-tetramethyl)guanidine) (TMG2b), [Cu(TMG2b)Cl2] and [Cu(TMG2b)Br2]. Single-crystal structure determination has shown that the complexes [Cu(TMG2b)Cl2] and [Cu(TMG2b)Br2] both crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn. The copper atoms in all complex cations reside in a coordination environment between tetrahedral and square-planar geometry. Furthermore, the application of the copper complexes with TMG2b as ligand in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was investigated with styrene as monomer. This study has shown a controlled polymerization process with moderate conversions, but excellent molecular weight distributions that are evidence of a well-controlled ATRP. However, small changes in the ligand structure can have a high impact, and therefore process optimizations and ligand tuning are necessary to develop highly active catalysts for ATRP.