Reconstruction Efforts Research Articles

CONSERVATION AFTER EARTHQUAKE OF MINIMAL URBAN FRAMEWORK HISTORICAL HERITAGE

Abstract. Three years after the earthquake that struck central Italy, a number of pressing points need to be addressed as part of a far-ranging discussion that seeks to identify the steps to be taken in response, including: the widespread agreement on the need for reconstruction efforts which ensure a high level of security; the importance of preserving the urban fabric of ‘minimal’ population centres that are unquestionably intertwined with their surrounding landscapes; the need to acknowledge the most valuable features of historic downtown areas, including their undeniable fact of their intrinsic fragility in the face of seismic events, even though construction techniques developed and refined over time have provided them with a certain resilience. While use is made of a frankly contemporary idiom, when needed to remedy shortcomings, a reconstruction grounded in a critical understanding of the ‘sense of place’ must guarantee that the identifying features of historic downtown areas remain in place (at least in terms of the lay of the land and spatial relations) while, at the same time, ensuring that the constantly evolving memories which render such areas unique are also preserved, so as to allow the past to play its rightful role in the planning of the future.

Evolution of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Nepal

Nepal has tremendous geographic diversity rising from as low as 59 metres elevation in the tropical Terai to the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest, at 8,848 ft. The countryranks 4th, 11th and 30th as the most vulnerable country in terms of risk from climate change, earthquake and flood respectively.[1] As a part of response to any disaster, geographical knowledge of the vulnerable area is the foundation to effectively plan and implement the response. There exist various ways of topographical surveying and mapping which are being used to acquire such geoinformation. The undulating geography of Nepal makes topographical surveying and mapping time consuming and arduous through the traditional ground-based methodologies. Furthermore, the remote sensing techniques are not much useful for a country like Nepal that doesn’t have its dedicated satellites and hence lacking ways to obtain timely updated information. The recent few years have seen escalation of some of the frontier technologies including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in surveying and mapping, aerial photo/videography, surveillance and a number of other applications. UAVs were widely introduced in Nepal in the aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake. An unprecedented number of small and lightweight UAVs were flown over highly damaged areas and heritage sites by journalists and humanitarian responders to assist in immediate rescue, relief, and reconstruction efforts. However, risks to national security by the unregulated use of UAVs was realized by the Government of Nepal, and the Ministry of Home Affairs released a set of strict guidelines that controlled the use of UAVs in a stringent way. This limited use of UAVs in Nepal bottlenecked the increasing adoption of this technology, both for humanitarian responses and private sectors. However, increasing demand has recently led to the release of a comparatively flexible “UAV Flight Guidelines 2075” that provides the authority to grant UAV flight permissions for lightweight UAVs to the local governments, thus simplifying the procedure for most UAV users. It also reflects the positive change in perception of the government towards UAV technology. This study seeks to identify, analyze and document the evolution in application of UAV technology in Nepal across several application areas.

Knowledge adoption in post-disaster housing self-recovery

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore communication of hazard-resistant construction techniques after disaster in the absence of outside influence. It further aims to unpack the barriers and drivers in the adoption of knowledge processes to identify strategic recommendations to enlarge adoption of safer construction practices by local construction actors.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on an analysis of stakeholders’ perspectives during post-disaster reconstruction in the Philippines in the province of Busuanga after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Data were collected from six communities that received no external housing assistance, analyzing surveys from 220 households, 13 carpenters, 20 key actors coordinating reconstruction or recovery efforts, as well as 12 focus group discussions.FindingsThis research argues for a stronger role of governmental agencies, vocational training schools and engineers. Current communication of typhoon-resistant construction knowledge is ineffective to stimulate awareness, understanding and adoption by local construction actors and self-recovering households.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis in this study focuses on a small sample of communities in the west of the Philippines that are not frequently affected by typhoons.Originality/valueThis is one of the few scholarly works in the Philippines focused on adoption of safer construction practices by community-based construction actors when technical housing assistance is absent.

Upper-Extremity Reconstruction in Tetraplegia: A Critical Analysis Review.

Management of tetraplegia should be individualized to a patient's particular deficiencies and functional goals. Surgical decision-making for upper-extremity reconstruction in patients with tetraplegia relies on a thorough physical examination to determine which nerves and muscles remain under volitional control with adequate strength for transfer. Peripheral nerve transfers, either in conjunction with or in place of traditional tendon transfers, enable providers to offer an expanded set of surgical options for patients with tetraplegia who are seeking upper-extremity reconstruction. All upper-extremity reconstructive efforts should be carefully considered with regard to their potential effects on the availability of future reconstructive efforts.

Dynamic Oromandibular Reconstructions Using Chimeric Fibular and Gracilis or Vastus Lateralis Free Flaps

Abstract Background Despite efforts of head and neck functional reconstruction, anatomic restoration has been used until now. This article describes our experience of using a chimeric free fibular osteocutaneous flap conjoined with a functional muscle free flap, defined as dynamic oromandibular reconstruction. Methods Through a retrospective chart review, four consecutive patients who underwent reconstruction with a total fibular free flap were included. The former two patients underwent reconstruction using a conventional osteocutaneous free fibular flap. The latter two patients had an oromandibular defect after cancer resection and underwent dynamic oromandibular reconstruction with a chimeric free fibular flap conjoined with a gracilis free flap or vastus lateralis muscle free flap. Results In the speech analysis, the dynamic group revealed a satisfactory tongue movement. Protrusion and lateralization were the most different movement changes. The tongue range of motion score was 62.5 in the dynamic group and 25.0 in the control group. On the dynamic magnetic resonance imaging, the contact of the soft palate with the tongue was excellent, and the epiglottis closure during deglutition was complete. In the three-dimensional volumetric analysis of mandibular aesthetic contouring, the dynamic group showed a much smaller difference in hemifacial volume, with a difference of 73.7 mL in the dynamic group and 101.76 mL in the control group. Conclusion This study is a preliminary trial of dynamic oromandibular reconstruction using chimeric free fibular flaps with functional muscle transfer. We demonstrated the possibility of dynamic oromandibular reconstruction, which enhanced more functional aspects in the patients in this study.

The Religious Thought of Conservative Judaism: An Analysis

Conservative Judaism is the mediating group between Orthodox and Reform Judaism. It claimed to uphold basic traditions, at the same time adjusting to modern life in its effort for reconstruction of religious thought. It also contended that it is necessary to redefine and reinterpret the main concepts of faith in accordance to modern science and knowledge. This paper attempts at highlighting the position of Conservative Judaism on selected issues for reconstruction of religious thought, namely, the interpretation of law, the application of law, and the position of women. The paper concluded that although Conservative Judaism appeared as a mediating group between traditionalists and secularists, it disregarded their scriptures and relied more on human interpretations. They regarded modern knowledge and rational explanations as primary references rather than the scriptures.

The paradox of community involvement: rebuilding Minamisanriku

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the barriers to community participation in post-disaster reconstruction in Minamisanriku, Japan.Design/methodology/approachThis paper utilizes the extended case method. 31 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with local residents as well as 15 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with professionals working on reconstruction efforts. Multiple site visits were made to conduct participant observation and ethnographic research. The data from these interviews and fieldwork were triangulated with archival research.FindingsThe results from this research show that at least six major barriers to community participation in post-disaster reconstruction were present in Minamisanriku. These barriers were: predetermined tsunami risk levels, a disaster reconstruction menu, existing patterns of government, construction of seawalls, an existing lack of participation and administrative mergers. These barriers were not a product of the disaster event itself, but rather of the pre-existing conditions in Minamisanriku, and Japan in general.Originality/valueThis study pinpoints the actually existing barriers to the worldwide call for participatory measures and community involvement in post-disaster reconstruction.

Alignment of Cell Lineage Trees Elucidates Genetic Programs for the Development and Evolution of Cell Types

SummaryA full understanding of the developmental process requires fine-scale characterization of cell divisions and cell types, which are naturally organized as the developmental cell lineage tree (CLT). Technological breakthroughs facilitated determination of more CLTs, but complete comprehension of the data remains difficult without quantitative comparison among CLTs. We hereby quantified phenotypic similarity between CLTs using a novel computational method that exhaustively searches for optimal correspondence between individual cells meanwhile retaining their topological relationships. The revealed CLT similarities allowed us to infer functional similarity at the transcriptome level, identify cell fate transformations, predict functional relationships between mutants, and find evolutionary correspondence between cell types of different species. By allowing quantitative comparison between CLTs, our work is expected to greatly enhance the interpretability of relevant data and help answer the myriad of questions surrounding the developmental process.

The Afghan “Fog of War”

Abstract The terrorist attacks of 9/11 took the USA and NATO by surprise, as they are still under the euphoric effect of celebrating the fall of the Eastern European ideological walls and the collapse of the communist bloc. The immediate response of the military operations led to the neutralization of the Taliban forces or more precisely to their removed from political power and denial the influence of Al Qaeda. The purely military approach dominated the initial kinetic clashes and conquered the physical terrain but failed to dominate the society marked by perennial conflicts, widespread corruption, poverty and multiple ethnic and tribal fragmentations. The Afghan insurgency that formed seems to have managed to slow down and finally block the reconstruction and development effort made by the strong NATO-centred coalitions. The article examines the causes of the Afghan “fog of war” that led to this great failure and makes recommendations that must be taken into account in future military conflicts.

Preparations and Activities Necessary for Aerial Mosquito Control After Hurricanes.

Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) has a long history of aiding mosquito control efforts necessary for recovery after natural disasters like hurricanes and major floods. As waters associated with these events begin to recede, both nuisance and vector mosquito species surge in abundance and consequently play an increased role in public health. When these situations arise, state and county agencies implement emergency response plans and many rely on Federal Emergency Management Agency or private contractors for assistance in reducing mosquito populations that can alter arbovirus transmission cycles, cause intolerable stress, hamper reconstruction efforts, and disrupt normal community functions. Vector Disease Control International owns the largest fleet of fixed-wing aircraft dedicated specifically to mosquito control and has worked every major storm event since Hurricane Bonnie in 1998. This article describes the logistics and operations required for implementing VDCI's emergency management plan, including the relocation of equipment, adult mosquito surveillance, delivery of pesticides, assessment of efficacy, and filing of low-level waivers and congested-area plans with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The use of a novel synthetic resorbable scaffold (TIGR Matrix®) in a clinical quality improvement (CQI) effort for abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR).

The use of hernia mesh is a common practice in abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) operations. The high cost of biologic mesh has raised questions about the value of its use in AWR. Resorbable synthetic mesh may have the potential benefits of biologic mesh, minimizing the need for removal when infected, at a lower cost. A hernia program has implemented the principles of clinical quality improvement (CQI) to improve patient outcomes. One process improvement attempt was implemented using a newly available resorbable synthetic scaffold. Long-term follow-up was obtained as a part of the CQI process. A total of 91 patients undergoing AWR were included between 8/11 and 9/15 (49months). There were 58 female (64%) and 33 male (36%) patients. The average age was 57.2years (28-80). The average BMI was 34.0 (17.6-53.4). There were 52 patients (57%) with recurrent hernias. Mean hernia defect size was 306.6cm2 (24-720) and mean mesh size was 471.7cm2 (112-600). Outcomes included a mean length of stay of 7.5days (0-49), a recurrence rate of 12% (11/91) and a wound complication rate of 27% (25/91). The recurrence rate decreased to 4.5% (3/66) after several improvements, including adopting a transversus abdominus release (TAR) approach, were implemented. There were no mesh-related complications and no mesh removal (partial or total) was required. The mean follow-up length was 42.4months (0-102). In this group of patients, an attempt at process improvement was implemented using a resorbable synthetic scaffold for AWR. With no mesh-related complications and no mesh removals required, there was an improvement in value due to the decrease in mesh cost and improved outcomes over time. Long-term follow-up demonstrated the durability of the repair.

Full-Scale Supersonic Parachute Shape Reconstruction Using Three-Dimensional Stereo Imagery

This paper describes three-dimensional (3D) stereo reconstruction efforts for the full-scale supersonic parachute deployment tests performed under the NASA Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiment (ASPIRE) program. Specific time-resolved data products that have been generated for the ASPIRE tests and are presented in this work include parachute projected area, parachute vent-hole location, and parachute surface reconstruction (3D point clouds).

European review of performance indicators towards sustainable road bridge management

Within the core of the European transport infrastructure, most roadway bridges have been built as part of the post-World War II reconstruction effort, meaning society is already facing the beginning of the end of their lifetime. Hence, bridge management is becoming more and more influenced by life-cycle multiobjective performance criteria that need to be balanced wisely from a sustainability point of view. This is in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development promoted by the UN in 2015 towards a sustainable planet. In this context, a holistic review, at the European level, is given of the different performance levels, supported by national practice codes, guidelines and research accomplishments towards (a) homogenisation of concepts, (b) linking between performance and management and (c) strengthening of the links between costs, reliability and sustainability. Based on this, a holistic framework for performance indicators is proposed supported by hierarchical categorisation and benefiting from the increased utilisation of structural health monitoring. This framework defines the basis for European training on bridge management by addressing some of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the aforementioned 2030 Agenda.

The 1935 Hsinchu-Taichung Earthquake

The history of natural disasters in Taiwan has frequently been linked to the practice of historical preservation, archival science, oral history, and museum curatorship. All are collectively hallmarks of a broad range of activities that fall under the umbrella of public history. The problem for Taiwan, however, concerns the legitimacy. Taiwan does not have a single national narrative. It has been subjected to waves of colonialism since the seventeenth century and does not presently have a fully post-colonial narrative. The earthquakes discussed in this paper occurred in two different periods of colonisation. In order to situate the history of earthquakes into a public history discourse, the field of earthquake-based research in Taiwan has to incorporate different audiences and integrate into a much broader understanding. By this, I mean that the present regimental academic disciplines in Taiwan need to be cross disciplinary, especially since public history is by its very nature collaborative. It illuminates a shared authority over a much wider area. It needs to. It is my argument that it is in digital humanities that Taiwanese academics work best in collaboration. Efforts have been made to digitise the personal experiences of those involved in typhoon reconstruction efforts. A natural synergy, therefore, for the understanding of earthquakes, as public history, is to emphasise access and broad participation in the creation of knowledge. Digital humanities enables this. Attention to this is particularly important in historical preservation of particular sites on an island that frequently develops and re-develops brownfield sites.

Optical effects on HDR calibration via a multiple exposure noise-based workflow

High dynamic range (HDR) technology allows more of the lighting in a specific scene to be captured at a set point in time, and thus is capable of delivering an overall view of the scene that more closely correlates with our visual experience in the real world, compared to standard, or low dynamic range (LDR) technology. Although HDR capabilities of single exposure capture systems are improving, the traditional method for creating HDR images still includes combing a number of different exposures, captured with an LDR system, into a single HDR image. Several use cases requiring absolute calibration of the resulting HDR luminance map have been undertaken, but none of these have provided a detailed analysis of the optical effects of glare on the results. We develop a calibrated HDR radiance map, including methodical linearization of captured image data, while characterizing the limitations due to the effects of optical glare. A purposely designed controlled test scene is used to challenge the calibrated reconstruction efforts, including low luminance levels, spatial inclusion of lens vignette over the full imaged area, and optical glare. Results demonstrate that even with careful processing and recombination of the LDR data, radiometric accuracy is limited as a result of glare. The proposed approach performs better than calibration methods in commercially available HDR recombination software.

Total and near‐total lower eyelid reconstruction with prefabricated orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous island flap

Full thickness lower lid defects are frequently encountered during daily practice. The unique anatomy of the eyelids hinders reconstructive efforts. The aim of the study is to develop an effective and easy procedure for the reconstruction of full thickness defects of the lower eyelid. Here we present six cases, which we treated with an orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous island flap prefabricated with a chondrocutaneous graft. Five of the six cases suffered from tumors, while one had congenital coloboma of the lower lid. A chondrocutaneous graft harvested from the ear was placed under the orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous flap. Three weeks later, the defect was created and the prefabricated flap was transposed to the defect. Two cases had superficial distal skin loss and one had prolonged oedema. No major complication or tumor recurrence was seen. Using this method, the principle "replace with like" is fulfilled. Orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous island flap prefabricated with postauricular chondrocutaneous composite graft seems to be a feasible method for the reconstruction of full thickness defects of the lower eyelid with its low donor morbidity and good outcomes.

Exposure to conflict-related violence and nutritional status of children in Iraq.

There is limited empirical evidence of the health effects of war-related violence on child nutritional status. Using unique micro-level data from Iraq, we create measures of cumulative exposure to violence since conception for children ages two to five based on their date of birth and geographic location. We examine the relationship between height-for-age z-scores, a measure of chronic malnutrition, and four indicators of violence in a regression framework, adjusting for potential confounders and trends. We find that a child exposed to the maximum number of violent incidents is likely to experience a 0.5 standard deviation reduction in height-for-age z-score compared to a child who is exposed to no incidents. Each type of attack we evaluate is negatively associated with height-for-age. Further analysis reveals that the associations are the strongest for children in the northern and central regions where the bulk of the violent incidents occurred. Contrary to our expectation, the associations are similar for boys and girls. Our findings suggest that, in addition to efforts aimed at decreasing violent conflict in Iraq in general, the government and its development partners should focus relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts in the central and northern regions of the country.

Numerical reconstruction of turbid slab optical properties using global optimization algorithms.

The detection and reconstruction of the optical properties within turbid slabs/plate parallel mediums have been widely investigated for its applications in medical diagnosis, atmosphere detection, etc., where the scattering of light would be expected. Although the scattering signal can be utilized for diagnostics purposes, the multiple scattering in the intermediate scattering regime (with an optical depth ~ 2-9) has posed a remarkable challenge. Existing optical tomography methods usually only reconstruct the reduced scattering coefficient to investigate the properties of the scattering target, while reconstruction efforts in analyzing the exact scattering phase function are rare. Solving such issues can provide much more information for proper interpretation of the characteristics of the turbid slab. This work demonstrates an inversion method based on optimization algorithms and the angular distribution of the transmitted light at the entrance plane and the exit plane of the sought medium. Candidate phase functions were pre-calculated and the optimization algorithm is able to reconstruct the phase function spatial distribution of the turbid slab with a satisfactory computational cost. Parametric studies were also performed to analyze the performance of each optimization algorithm used and the sensitivity of this Markov reconstruction scheme to noise.

Management of Large Facial Defects.

There is considerable variation in the surgical management of patients with large facial defects after excision of skin malignancy. The surrounding facial subunits as well as local, regional, and distant soft-tissue flaps can be considered in more complicated facial defects. We place an emphasis on the versatility of adjacent tissue advancement and transposition flaps in the treatment of these defects. We also focus on the secondary reconstructive efforts necessary to achieve the best functional and aesthetic outcomes for patients.

Abstract 181: The Regenerative Effects Of Reconstruction: An Analysis Of Cutaneous Gene Expression Changes In Irradiated Breast Reconstruction Patients

Purpose: The detrimental effects of radiation therapy on the skin and underlying tissues of breast cancer patients are well documented. While acute changes resolve with time, the overall quality of the skin is forever altered. Breast reconstruction in the context of radiation therapy has been shown to have higher rates of complications and failure, as well as unfavorable aesthetic outcomes. While the adverse effects of radiation are well known, the molecular mechanisms and genetic changes of radiation-induced skin injury are not yet described. Additionally, while there is often clinical improvement in the quality of irradiated tissue with the use of certain reconstructive techniques, the genetic alterations underlying these phenotypic changes are unknown. We utilized RNA Sequencing technology to analyze gene expression profiles of irradiated and non-irradiated breast skin to identify the major pathways that are affected by radiation therapy. Additionally, we used this technology to determine the genetic impact of commonly performed reconstructive breast procedures on these identified dysregulated pathways. Methods: Full thickness skin samples were collected from irradiated and non-irradiated breast cancer patients at the time of mastectomy and either autologous or alloplastic reconstruction. Cases performed in either delayed or immediate fashion were included. Additional samples were collected 3-6 months later at the time of secondary revision. Samples from patients undergoing non-oncologic breast surgery or prophylactic mastectomy were included as controls. Internal control samples were collected when symmetry procedures were performed. All samples were analyzed using RNA-Seq to determine the cellular transcriptome for irradiated versus non-irradiated breast skin, both before and after reconstruction. Gene expression was then analyzed via hierarchical clustering to determine the biologic pathways that were altered by radiation and reconstruction. Results: Gene expression profiles of 50 patients were analyzed. Irradiated samples were shown to have distinct profiles from non-irradiated and control samples. Genomic analysis demonstrated multiple dysregulated biologic pathways in irradiated tissue. In irradiated patients who underwent autologous reconstruction, a number of these dysregulated genetic pathways were reversed to near-normal levels post-reconstruction. This regenerative phenomenon was less clear in the alloplastic reconstruction group. Conclusion: We utilized gene expression profiling to identify biologic pathways that are altered by radiation therapy and demonstrated that autologous reconstruction with microvascular free tissue transfer may restore these dysregulated pathways to resemble non-irradiated, control tissue. We have identified future targets for primary inhibition or pharmacologic rescue of radiation-induced tissue changes. Presently, plastic surgeons can use these findings to tailor reconstructive efforts in irradiated patients to reverse these detrimental phenotypic changes and improve overall reconstructive outcomes.