scholarly journals Finding Possible Weakness in the Runoff Simulation Experiments to Assess Rill Erosion Changes without Non-Intermittent Surveying Capabilities

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 6254
Author(s):  
Alexander André Remke ◽  
Jesus Rodrigo-Comino ◽  
Stefan Wirtz ◽  
Johannes B. Ries

The Terrestrial Photogrammetry Scanner (TEPHOS) offers the possibility to precisely monitor linear erosion features using the Structure from Motion (SfM) technique. This is a static, multi-camera array and dynamically moves the digital videoframe camera designed to obtain 3-D models of rills before and after the runoff experiments. The main goals were to (1) obtain better insight into the rills; (2) reduce the technical gaps generated during the runoff experiments using only one camera; (3) enable the visual location of eroded, transported and accumulated material. In this study, we obtained a mean error for all pictures reaching up to 0.00433 pixels and every single one of them was under 0.15 pixel. So, we obtained an error of about 1/10th of the maximum possible resolution. A conservative value for the overall accuracy was one pixel, which means that, in our case, the accuracy was 0.0625 mm. The point density, in our example, reached 29,484,888 pts/m2. It became possible to get a glimpse of the hotspots of sidewall failure and rill-bed incision. We conclude that the combination of both approaches—rill experiment and 3D models—will make easy under laboratory conditions to describe the soil erosion processes accurately in a mathematical–physical way.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Laburda ◽  
Petr Kavka ◽  
Romana Kubínová ◽  
Martin Neumann ◽  
Ondřej Marek ◽  
...  

<p>Soil erosion is a long-term problem that causes the degradation of the earth's surface depending on geomorphological and climatic conditions. Adverse combinations of these conditions can create situations where not only sheet erosion occurs, but also rill processes begin to occur due to the concentration of surface runoff. Erosion processes become undesirable and dangerous when they occur on construction sites. The presented project is basically focused on the effectiveness of protective geotextiles against soil erosion, but processes related to sheer and rill erosion were also investigated. The research was carried out on experimental plots of 4x1 meters, which were placed in the outdoor laboratory in Jirkov. These three plots were set at slopes from 22° to 34° and artificial rain was simulated on them using a rainfall simulator. A second experimental area of ​​the same size was available at the laboratory rainfall simulator at the CTU in Prague, where a modern facility was created for the purpose of soil erosion testing on steep slopes. This device can create slopes up to 40°.</p><p>The photogrammetric method „Structure from Motion“ was used for monitoring soil surface before and after each simulation. Orthophotos and digital elevation models were compared with each other to get digital elevation models of difference. Calculation of the ratio between sheet and rill erosion was done by manually creating rill polygons and by calculating the volume changes above the polygons of these rills and over the whole surface. According to preliminary results on these 4 m long slopes, the rill volume represented approximately 30 % compared to the overall volume change.</p><p>Shifts of stabilizing natural geotextiles by surface runoff and eroded material were also monitored using photogrammetric methods. Deformations and displacements were measured from differences in the detailed images before and after the simulation. Transversal veins and their shift along the slope were evaluated.</p><p>This research is funded by the TA CR  - TH02030428.</p>


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 726
Author(s):  
Fulvia Ceccarelli ◽  
Venusia Covelli ◽  
Giulio Olivieri ◽  
Francesco Natalucci ◽  
Fabrizio Conti

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic contributes to the burden of living with different diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). We described, from a narrative point of view, the experiences and perspectives of Italian SLE adults during the COVID-19 emergency, by distinguishing the illness experience before and after the lockdown. Methods: Fifteen patients were invited to participate. Illness narratives were collected between 22 and 29 March 2020 using a written modality to capture patients’ perspectives before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. We performed a two-fold analysis of collected data by distinguishing three narrative types and a qualitative analysis of content to identify the relevant themes and sub-themes reported. Results: Eight narratives included in the final analysis (mean length 436.9 words) have been written by eight females (mean age 43.3 ± 9.9 years, mean disease duration 13.1 ± 7.4 years). Six patients provided a quest narrative, one a chaos and the remaining one a restitution narrative. By text content analysis, we identified specific themes, temporally distinct before and after the lockdown. Before COVID-19, all the patients referred to a good control of disease, however the unexpected arrival of the COVID-19 emergency broke a balance, and patients perceived the loss of health status control, with anxiety and stress. Conclusions: We provided unique insight into the experiences of people with SLE at the time of COVID-19, underlining the perspective of patients in relation to the pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii461-iii461
Author(s):  
Andrea Carai ◽  
Angela Mastronuzzi ◽  
Giovanna Stefania Colafati ◽  
Paul Voicu ◽  
Nicola Onorini ◽  
...  

Abstract Tridimensional (3D) rendering of volumetric neuroimaging is increasingly been used to assist surgical management of brain tumors. New technologies allowing immersive virtual reality (VR) visualization of obtained models offer the opportunity to appreciate neuroanatomical details and spatial relationship between the tumor and normal neuroanatomical structures to a level never seen before. We present our preliminary experience with the Surgical Theatre, a commercially available 3D VR system, in 60 consecutive neurosurgical oncology cases. 3D models were developed from volumetric CT scans and MR standard and advanced sequences. The system allows the loading of 6 different layers at the same time, with the possibility to modulate opacity and threshold in real time. Use of the 3D VR was used during preoperative planning allowing a better definition of surgical strategy. A tailored craniotomy and brain dissection can be simulated in advanced and precisely performed in the OR, connecting the system to intraoperative neuronavigation. Smaller blood vessels are generally not included in the 3D rendering, however, real-time intraoperative threshold modulation of the 3D model assisted in their identification improving surgical confidence and safety during the procedure. VR was also used offline, both before and after surgery, in the setting of case discussion within the neurosurgical team and during MDT discussion. Finally, 3D VR was used during informed consent, improving communication with families and young patients. 3D VR allows to tailor surgical strategies to the single patient, contributing to procedural safety and efficacy and to the global improvement of neurosurgical oncology care.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2278
Author(s):  
Anna Micheluz ◽  
Eva Mariasole Angelin ◽  
João Almeida Lopes ◽  
Maria João Melo ◽  
Marisa Pamplona

Light is a determining factor in the discoloration of plastics, and photodegradation processes can affect the molecular structures of both the polymer and colorants. Limited studies focused on the discoloration of heritage plastics in conservation science. This work investigated the discoloration of red historical polyethylene (PE) objects colored with PR 48:2 and PR 53:1. High-density and low-density PE reference polymers, neat pigment powders, and historical samples were assessed before and after accelerated photoaging. The applied methodology provided insight into the individual light-susceptibility of polyethylenes, organic pigment lakes, and their combined effect in the photoaging of historical plastic formulations. After light exposure, both PE references and historical samples yellowed, PR53:1 faded, and PR 48:2 darkened; however, both organic pigments faded severely in the historical samples. This highlights the role played by the plastic binder likely facilitating the pigment photofading. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques—EGA-MS, PY-GC/MS, and TD-GC/MS—were successfully employed for characterizing the plastic formulations and degradation. The identification of phthalic compounds in both aged β-naphthol powders opens new venues for studies on their degradation. This work’s approach and analytical methods in studying the discoloration of historical plastics are novel, proving their efficacy, reliability, and potentiality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingwen Wu ◽  
Zetong Lin ◽  
Genghua Chen ◽  
Qingbin Luo ◽  
Qinghua Nie ◽  
...  

Skin color is an important economic trait in meat-type chickens. A uniform bright skin color can increase the sales value of chicken. Chickens with bright yellow skin are more popular in China, especially in the broiler market of South China. However, the skin color of chickens can vary because of differences in breeds, diet, health, and individual genetics. To obtain greater insight into the genetic factors associated with the process of skin pigmentation in chickens, we used a colorimeter and high-resolution skin photographs to measure and analyze the skin color of chickens. By analyzing 534 chickens of the same breed, age, and feed condition, we found that the yellowness values of the chickens varied within this population. A significant positive correlation was found between the cloacal skin yellowness values before and after slaughter, and the cloacal skin yellowness value of live chickens was positively correlated with the overall body skin yellowness value. Additionally, chicken skin yellowness exhibited low heritability, ranging from 0.07 to 0.27. Through RNA sequencing, 882 genes were found to be differentially expressed between the skin with the highest and lowest yellowness values. Some of these differentially expressed genes may play an important role in yellow pigment deposition in chicken skin, which included TLR2B, IYD, SMOC1, ALDH1A3, CYP11A1, FHL2, TECRL, ACACB, TYR, PMEL, and GPR143. In addition, we found that the expression and variations of the BCO2 gene, which is referred to as the yellow skin gene, cannot be used to estimate the skin yellowness value of chickens in this population. These data will help to further our understanding of chicken skin yellowness and might contribute to the selection of specific chicken strains with consistent skin coloration.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Khaled Ghonim ◽  
Deepti Muley ◽  
Mohamed Kharbeche ◽  
Yousef Mohamed ◽  
Ahmed Madkoor

Crashes involving pedestrians are a major concern for authorities in many developed and developing countries. To refrain pedestrians from illegal or unsafe road behavior, authorities introduced three pedestrian penalties in the State of Qatar from August 2019. This paper assesses the awareness, perception, and adaptive intentions of the new amendment to the pedestrians’ law. A questionnaire survey, designed in three languages, was distributed online using Qatar University contacts and Twitter account of the General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior, State of Qatar. A sample of 521 complete responses was obtained and used for statistical analysis. The results indicated that only 32 % of the respondents were aware of the law amendment before taking this survey. Further, the higher score for perception, adaptive intentions and awareness showed that the respondents were aware of the risks and the law amendment will have a positive effect on their behavior on road as pedestrians. The outcomes of the analysis show the efficacy of the law amendment. However, the actual behavior changes need to be studied by analyzing the pedestrian crash data and conducting a before and after study. Moreover, the study of the effects on pedestrians’ behavior, through empirical observations, is proposed to get insight into actual behaviors after law amendment as a part of future work on the topic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (sp1) ◽  
pp. 1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura del Río ◽  
Daniel Posanski ◽  
F. Javier Gracia ◽  
Antonio M. Pérez-Romero

This chapter explores the presumed superiority of Basel II over Basel I, and assess the effectiveness of Basel II in empirical risk management and prudential supervision practices, as reflected in a series of 15 interviews undertaken with bank risk managers, senior analysts, and supervisors from regulatory authorities in Australia shortly before and after the 2008 global banking crisis. This chapter and the next represent an important contribution, as these experts and professional are charged with the implementation of the Basel framework, and so are well qualified to identify both its strengths and its weaknesses. In addition to providing an insider’s insight into the operation of the Basel II system, the interviews also permit an investigation of the degree of congruency in the approach and views of bank practitioners in one hand, and regulators on the other. The tendencies discovered may be at play also distorting communicative practices in risk management and supervision under the Basel III framework.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (20) ◽  
pp. 3955-3965
Author(s):  
Yuhan Huang ◽  
Fahu Li ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Juan Li

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea di Filippo ◽  
Luis Sánchez-Aparicio ◽  
Salvatore Barba ◽  
José Martín-Jiménez ◽  
Rocío Mora ◽  
...  

This paper presents an efficient solution, based on a wearable mobile laser system (WMLS), for the digitalization and modelling of a complex cultural heritage building. A procedural pipeline is formalized for the data acquisition, processing and generation of cartographic products over a XV century palace located in Segovia, Spain. The complexity, represented by an intricate interior space and by the presence of important structural problems, prevents the use of standard protocols such as those based on terrestrial photogrammetry or terrestrial laser scanning, making the WMLS the most suitable and powerful solution for the design of restoration actions. The results obtained corroborate with the robustness and accuracy of the digitalization strategy, allowing for the generation of 3D models and 2D cartographic products with the required level of quality and time needed to digitalize the area by a terrestrial laser scanner.


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