scholarly journals Sentinel-1 SAR Amplitude Imagery for Rapid Landslide Detection

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Mondini ◽  
Michele Santangelo ◽  
Margherita Rocchetti ◽  
Enrica Rossetto ◽  
Andrea Manconi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forecast Model ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Systematic Assessment ◽  
Triggering Factors ◽  
Optical Images ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Model Tuning ◽  
Magnitude Assessment ◽  
Event Magnitude

Despite landslides impact the society worldwide every day, landslide information is inhomogeneous and lacking. When landslides occur in remote areas or where the availability of optical images is rare due to cloud persistence, they might remain unknown, or unnoticed for long time, preventing studies and hampering civil protection operations. The unprecedented availability of SAR C-band images provided by the Sentinel-1 constellation offers the opportunity to propose new solutions to detect landslides events. In this work, we perform a systematic assessment of Sentinel-1 SAR C-band images acquired before and after known events. We present the results of a pilot study on 32 worldwide cases of rapid landslides entailing different types, sizes, slope expositions, as well as pre-existing land cover, triggering factors and climatic regimes. Results show that in about eighty-four percent of the cases, changes caused by landslides on SAR amplitudes are unambiguous, whereas only in about thirteen percent of the cases there is no evidence. On the other hand, the signal does not allow for a systematic use to produce inventories because only in 8 cases, a delineation of the landslide borders (i.e., mapping) can be manually attempted. In a few cases, cascade multi-hazard (e.g., floods caused by landslides) and evidences of extreme triggering factors (e.g., strong earthquakes or very rapid snow melting) were detected. The method promises to increase the availability of information on landslides at different spatial and temporal scales with benefits for event magnitude assessment during weather-related emergencies, model tuning, and landslide forecast model validation, in particular when accurate mapping is not required.

Vertebrate fauna and fire regimes: a conceptual model to aid fire research and management

2012 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Loyn
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Vertebrate Fauna ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Time Frames

Vertebrate fauna respond actively to individual fires by movement before and after the event, as well as by mortality and reproduction at the population level. They rely very much on mechanisms for avoiding fire fronts and ex situ recolonisation of burnt and regenerating habitat, as well as in situ survival. This sets them apart from most plant species and the more sedentary examples of invertebrate fauna. Rates of recolonisation after fire events depend on habitat development, and this includes both structure and floristic aspects of the vegetation, and also on accessibility of refuge habitat. Strategies for conserving vertebrate fauna need to take a broad landscape perspective to ensure that fire regimes are designed so that species can survive particular fire events in the broad landscape, and have potential to recolonise habitat as it becomes suitable over time. Long-unburnt vegetation provides important habitat for some species and should be valued accordingly. Long time-frames may be needed for some structural elements to develop after severe fires. Hence it is necessary to think big in managing habitat for vertebrate fauna, at both spatial and temporal scales. A conceptual model is offered for doing this, and a research program is described which aims to provide the detail necessary to make appropriate settings in policy and management frameworks.

scholarly journals Physiological and Psychological Effects of Watching Videos of Different Durations Showing Urban Bamboo Forests with Varied Structures

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3434
Author(s):  
Yuqian Wang ◽  
Mingyan Jiang ◽  
Yinshu Huang ◽  
Zhiyi Sheng ◽  
Xiao Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Stable State ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Physiological Indicators ◽  
Psychological Indicators ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Long Time

This study illustrated the physiological and psychological effects of watching videos of different durations showing bamboo forests with varied structures. Physiological indicators, including EEG (electroencephalogram), blood pressure, skin conductance, and pulse, were monitored in 180 Chinese university students (mean age: 20.72 ± 2.56 years) while they were watching bamboo videos. Before and after watching the videos, their psychological indicators, including positive and negative moods, were measured using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire. After watching the bamboo videos of different durations, all of the physiological indicators responded to the stimulation after only 1 min. The indicators showed different trends at 1, 3 and 5 min. EEG decreased and then was maintained at a stable level after 1 min, and the high β, low β, and α waves had no significant differences between 1, 3 and 5 min. Blood pressure dropped to a stable state after 3 min, and the decline was significantly different greater after 3 min than after 1 min. Skin conductance increased for 1 to 5 min, and it did not stabilize after a long time (5 min). Pulse decreased after 1 min but increased after 5 min. After watching the videos with bamboo of varying structures, the physiological and psychological indicators showed significantly different changes. Skin conductance significantly increased (mean value: 6.78%), and the amount of sweat was more effectively reduced, thereby reducing tension, when the students viewed videos of sympodial bamboo forests compared with monopodial bamboo forests. Bamboo forests with a higher canopy density (0.83–0.85) could significantly decrease α waves (mean value: 1.50 Hz), relaxing the human body. High β and low β waves showed greater decreases, with tension reduced more effectively, when bamboo forests with a low tilt ratio (< 1.5%) were viewed. Bamboo forests with neat undergrowth could have more beneficial physiological and psychological effects on the human body.

THE EFFECTS OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH ACUPRESSURE POINTS, MASSAGE TREATMENT AND “DOC HOAT TANG KY SINH” REMEDY ON TREATING SCIATICA DUE TO LUMBAR SPONDYLOSIS

2020 ◽  
pp. 105-111
Author(s):  
Giang Huynh Huong ◽  
Tan Nguyen Thi ◽  
Hung Nguyen Van
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Working Ability ◽  
Treatment Results ◽  
Lumbar Spondylosis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Massage Treatment ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Methods Of Treatment

Background: Sciatica due to lumbar spondylosis is a common disease syndrome, include pathological signs from lumbar spine and sciatic nerve. It occurs for a long time and affects to working ability and daily life. Currently there are many methods of treatment with modern medicine and traditional medicine. Electroacupuncture combined with acupressure point, massage treatment and “Doc hoat tang ky sinh” remedy is a highly effective method on treating sciatica due to lumbar spondylosis. Objectives: To evaluate the effectives of electroacupuncture combined with acupressure point, massage treatment and “Doc hoat tang ky sinh” remedy on treating sciatica due to lumbar spondylosis. Materials and Method: A total of 43 patients was diagnosed sciatica caused by lumbar spondylosis who treated at Thua Thien Hue Traditional Medicine Hospital. The study was designed by method of prospective study, assessed the results before and after the treatment. Results: Very good: 34.9%; good: 34.9%; average 7%. There was not any unexpected effects observed in this trial. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture combined with acupressure point, massage treatment and “Doc hoat tang ky sinh” remedy is a effective method on treating sciatica caused by lumbar spondylosis. Key words: sciatica, lumbar spondylosis, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, acupressure point, massage treatment

scholarly journals The SCALEX Campaign: Scale-Crossing Land Surface and Boundary Layer Processes in the TERENO-preAlpine Observatory

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 1217-1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Wolf ◽  
C. Chwala ◽  
B. Fersch ◽  
J. Garvelmann ◽  
W. Junkermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Observational Research ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Soil Variables ◽  
Boundary Layer Processes ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
June July

Abstract ScaleX is a collaborative measurement campaign, collocated with a long-term environmental observatory of the German Terrestrial Environmental Observatories (TERENO) network in the mountainous terrain of the Bavarian Prealps, Germany. The aims of both TERENO and ScaleX include the measurement and modeling of land surface–atmosphere interactions of energy, water, and greenhouse gases. ScaleX is motivated by the recognition that long-term intensive observational research over years or decades must be based on well-proven, mostly automated measurement systems, concentrated in a small number of locations. In contrast, short-term intensive campaigns offer the opportunity to assess spatial distributions and gradients by concentrated instrument deployments, and by mobile sensors (ground and/or airborne) to obtain transects and three-dimensional patterns of atmospheric, surface, or soil variables and processes. Moreover, intensive campaigns are ideal proving grounds for innovative instruments, methods, and techniques to measure quantities that cannot (yet) be automated or deployed over long time periods. ScaleX is distinctive in its design, which combines the benefits of a long-term environmental-monitoring approach (TERENO) with the versatility and innovative power of a series of intensive campaigns, to bridge across a wide span of spatial and temporal scales. This contribution presents the concept and first data products of ScaleX-2015, which occurred in June–July 2015. The second installment of ScaleX took place in summer 2016 and periodic further ScaleX campaigns are planned throughout the lifetime of TERENO. This paper calls for collaboration in future ScaleX campaigns or to use our data in modelling studies. It is also an invitation to emulate the ScaleX concept at other long-term observatories.

The Longevity of Homosexuals: Before and after the Aids Epidemic

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Cameron ◽  
William L. Playfair ◽  
Stephen Wellum
Keyword(s):  
Early Death ◽  
Drug Abusers ◽  
Surgeon General ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Short Lifespan ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Intravenous Drug Abusers ◽  
Age Of Death

Although the U.S. Surgeon General characterized homosexual sex as “normal” and “healthy,” homosexuals and IV drug abusers have suffered disproportionately from the AIDS epidemic. Longevity is often utilized as a measure of health. How long did homosexuals live before the AIDS epidemic and how long do they live today? We examined 6,737 obituaries/death notices from eighteen U.S. homosexual journals over the past thirteen years and compared them to obituaries from two conventional newspapers. The obituaries from the non-homosexual newspapers were similar to U.S. averages for longevity: the median age of death of married men was seventy-five, 80 percent died old (65 or older); for unmarried men it was fifty-seven, 32 percent died old; for married women it was seventy-nine, 85 percent died old; for unmarried women it was seventy-one, 60 percent died old. For the 6,574 homosexual deaths, the median age of death if AIDS was the cause was thirty-nine irrespective of whether or not the individual had a Long Time Sexual Partner [LTSP], 1 percent died old. For those 829 who died of non-AIDS causes the median age of death was forty-two (41 for those 315 with a LTSP and 43 for those 514 without) and <9 percent died old. Homosexuals more frequently met a violent end from accidental death, traffic death, suicide, and murder than men in general. The 163 lesbians registered a median age of death of forty-four (20% died old) and exhibited high rates of violent death and cancer as compared to women in general. Old homosexuals appear to have been proportionately less numerous than their non-homosexual counterparts in the scientific literature from 1858 to 1993. The pattern of early death evident in the homosexual obituaries is consistent with the pattern exhibited in the published surveys of homosexuals and intravenous drug abusers. Homosexuals may have experienced a short lifespan for the last 140 years; AIDS has apparently reduced it about 10 percent. Such an abbreviated lifespan puts the healthfulness of homosexuality in question.

scholarly journals MOTHERS' KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS ORAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AGED UP TO 3 YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 4052-4059
Author(s):  
Ralitsa Bogovska-Gigova ◽  
◽  
Rositza Kabaktchieva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Bottle Feeding ◽  
Oral Health Education ◽  
Dental Office ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Long Time ◽  
E Learning

Purpose: To comparatively analyze the oral health-related knowledge of mothers of children aged up to 3 years before and after the "Dental Home for Children" educational program (www.dentalendom.bg) Material/methods: The study involved a group of 90 mothers of children aged up to 3 years who visited the special educational and motivational website www.dentalendom.bg and completed our survey. We compared and processed the results of the survey using 90 control questionnaires, which were completed by parents who had visited the dental office without having attended an oral health education and motivation session in advance. Results: The results obtained from the survey completed by mothers of children aged up to 3 years show that their knowledge of the importance of fluoride prevention, the risks of nighttime bottle feeding with baby formula for a long time, mistakes in feeding, and the early transmission of cariogenic bacteria increased substantially compared to the mothers who did not visit the educational website. Conclusion: The obtained positive results give us reason to believe that e-learning health education programs are useful for both mothers and children aged up to 3 years.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF POLITICAL CHANGE TO THE CHANGE OF CORPORATE VALUES

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-25
Author(s):  
Zoltán Kovács ◽  
Emil Nyerki
Keyword(s):  
Political Change ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Corporate Values ◽  
Service Companies ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Economical System ◽  
Countries In Transition ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
Privately Owned

Lean is the mainstream process improvement philosophy. It has a more or less standardized set of techniques, which are well known worldwide, however the application environments – mostly due to cultural differences – are rather diverse. Hungary has been on the way of political and economical transition since 1989. Following the first free election in 1990 there were several changes in the structure of production and service companies. Previously state-owned “giants” of industry died, others have been privately owned for a long time. The study examined the lean applications in different, mostly Central and Eastern European countries in transition based on literature review. They carried out an empirical research in Hungary. Original Hungarian companies which existed before 1990 were in the research focus, analysing their lean implementation and corporate values. The research found basic differences in the attitudes before and after the change of economical system, and providing information about the closed gap regarding corporate values of foreigner owned and Hungarian owned companies. Key words: corporate goals, transition economies, lean, political change, social values.

scholarly journals Improvement of dental health in professional athletes engaged in power sports

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-194
Author(s):  
F R Safaraliev ◽  
A M Safarov ◽  
F Yu Mamedov
Keyword(s):  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Periodontal Diseases ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
Dental Status ◽  
Professional Athletes ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Dental Diseases ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Intense Training

Aim. Evaluation of dental diseases prevalence in professional athletes engaged in power sports and of the influence of biologically neutral products based on propolis on the level of their dental health. Methods. The examination of organs and tissues of the oral cavity of professional athletes engaged for a long time in power sports was carried out. With the use of the developed specialized questionnaire dental status of the athletes was determined. Based on the analysis of the results of clinical and laboratory studies anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effectiveness of products based on propolis were evaluated. Results. The results of the survey showed that not all athletes are informed about the possibility of aggravation of pathological processes in soft and hard tissues of oral cavity during active training, mainly, in power sports. Lack of awareness of surveyed athletes about the need for timely individual oral hygiene procedures and regular dentist visits was revealed, especially during intense training before and after competitions. On evaluation of dental status of professional combat athletes high prevalence and intensity of inflammatory periodontal disease and caries were found. High anti-inflammatory efficiency of the product «Pomegranate Balm» for correction of dental status of professional athletes was proven. Conclusion. High incidence of inflammatory periodontal diseases of mild to moderate severity was revealed in athletes during prolonged and intense physical training; efficacy of biologically neutral products based on propolis was established.

scholarly journals Systematic assessment with I-SCAN magnification endoscopy and acetic acid improves dysplasia detection in patients with Barrett’s esophagus

Endoscopy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (12) ◽  
pp. 1219-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gideon Lipman ◽  
Raf Bisschops ◽  
Vinay Sehgal ◽  
Jacobo Ortiz-Fernández-Sordo ◽  
Rami Sweis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Barrett’S Esophagus ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Barrett's Esophagus ◽  
Narrow Band Imaging ◽  
Clinical Scenario ◽  
High Definition ◽  
Systematic Assessment ◽  
Magnification Endoscopy ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Background and study aims Enhanced endoscopic imaging with chromoendoscopy may improve dysplasia recognition in patients undergoing assessment of Barrett’s esophagus (BE). This may reduce the need for random biopsies to detect more dysplasia. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of magnification endoscopy with I-SCAN (Pentax, Tokyo, Japan) and acetic acid (ACA) on dysplasia detection in BE using a novel mucosal and vascular classification system. Methods BE segments and suspicious lesions were recorded with high definition white-light and magnification endoscopy enhanced using all I-SCAN modes in combination. We created a novel mucosal and vascular classification system based on similar previously validated classifications for narrow-band imaging (NBI). A total of 27 videos were rated before and after ACA application. Following validation, a further 20 patients had their full endoscopies recorded and analyzed to model use of the system to detect dysplasia in a routine clinical scenario. Results The accuracy of the I-SCAN classification system for BE dysplasia improved with I-SCAN magnification from 69 % to 79 % post-ACA (P = 0.01). In the routine clinical scenario model in 20 new patients, accuracy of dysplasia detection increased from 76 % using a “pull-through” alone to 83 % when ACA and magnification endoscopy were combined (P = 0.047). Overall interobserver agreement between experts for dysplasia detection was substantial (0.69). Conclusions A new I-SCAN classification system for BE was validated against similar systems for NBI with similar outcomes. When used in combination with magnification and ACA, the classification detected BE dysplasia in clinical practice with good accuracy.Trials registered at ISRCTN (58235785).

scholarly journals A high-resolution free-surface model of the Mediterranean Sea

Ocean Science ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tonani ◽  
N. Pinardi ◽  
S. Dobricic ◽  
I. Pujol ◽  
C. Fratianni
Keyword(s):  
Free Surface ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Forecast Model ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Argo Data ◽  
Basic Model ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract. This study describes a new model implementation for the Mediterranean Sea with what is currently the highest vertical resolution over the Mediterranean basin. The resolution is of 1/16°×1/16° in the horizontal and has 72 unevenly spaced vertical levels. This model has been developed in the frame of the EU-MFSTEP project and is the operational forecast model currently used at the basin scale. The model considers an implicit free surface and this characteristic enhances the model's capability to simulate the sea surface height variability and the net transport at the Strait of Gibraltar. In this study we show the calibration/validation experiments performed before and after the model was used for forecasting. The first experiment consists of a six-year simulation forced by a perpetual year forcing, and the other experiment is a simulation from January 1997 to December 2004, forcing the model with 6-h atmospheric forcing fields from ECMWF. The model Sea Level Anomaly has been compared for the first time with satellite SLA and with ARGO data to provide evidence of the quality of the simulation. The results show that this model is capable of reproducing most of the variability of the general circulation in the Mediterranean Sea. However, some basic model inadequacies stand out and should be corrected in the near future.

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