Transparent Areas Research Articles

Structure of the Earth’s crust of the Eastern Rhodopes (Southern Bulgaria) from the regional deep reflection seismic profile Ivaylovgrad–Ardino

This paper presents a geological interpretation of the deep seismic profile Ivaylovgrad–Ardino, which was published in 1996. Four plates are distinguished according to their seismic features that build up the Eastern Rhodope Terrane. They have a total thickness of 22–24 km and layered structures with sub-oceanic character. The lower two plates (1, 2) are westward obducted on the Rila-Western Rhodope Terrane, forming one obduction complex. Plate 3 is probably also a part of the obduction complex. Plate 4 is thrust southward on all plates. A Kobilino Crypto-dome, comprising Plates 1 and 2 and covered discordantly by the third one, is found at the eastern part of the profile at 7–7.5 km depth. The two lower plates do not appear on the surface, but some ultrabasic to basic bodies are supposed to be parts of them, rising as tectonic slices. The Plate 3 is revealed on the surface at the eastern part of the seismic profile (east of Avren Fault), and is built up mainly by the Pre-Rhodopean Supergroup metamorphic rocks, respectively from the seismically indistinguishable Upper and Lower Allochthon. The Plate 4 appears mainly at the western end of the profile (between Mishevsko Village and Ardino Town), and is built up by the metamorphic rocks of the Rhodopean Supergroup from the Startsevo Lithotectonic Unit (or Middle Allochthon). Five fault and shear zone systems of different ages are distinguishable in all plates. Transparent areas in the plates are interpreted as magma chambers of the Paleogene volcanoes, others as Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene (?) plutons. Because these magmatic chambers are located in the sub-oceanic crust, both intermediate and acid Paleogene volcanics have isotopic characteristics similar to those of the metasomatized mantle.

Use of adaptable solutions to achieve near-zero energy buildings through a combined thermal and comfort performance approach

The existing residential building stock in many industrialized countries is large but extremely energy inefficient, despite the existence of energy directives that apply mostly to new construction. Prefabricated building refurbishment for energy upgrading is a viable option for the existing building stock, but solutions need to adapt to each case and usage in order to respond to specific requirements. The “RECO2ST” project (Horizon 2020) is used as example of a forecast methodology that can help achieve nearly zero energy refurbishments, through selection of innovative modular elements for the opaque and transparent areas of the building envelope, covering diverse energy reduction strategies while improving thermal comfort and indoor air quality. This integrated approach is not usual in the field. The Technical Note studies a series of facade and active window technologies that supply climate strategies such as insulation, heat recovery and ventilation. The methodology is demonstrated for three sample cases using a typical refurbishment scenario. It is evaluated through energy simulation and analysis of improvements in thermal comfort and indoor air quality indicators. Practical application: The methodology helps to reduce guesswork for actions to be taken in order to refurbish and upgrade the existing housing stock to comply with current energy directives. It takes into account at the same time energy performance and user comfort, as expressed through indoor air quality.

Effect of Heat Treatment on Structure, Morphology and Surface Properties of Halloysite

Halloysite was one of the nanoscale tubular minerals in nature. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of heat treatment on structure, morphology and surface properties of tubular halloysite, which were significant in the applications of halloysite as functional materials but had received scant attention in comparison with kaolinite. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TG-DSC), field scanning eletron microscope (FSEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and surface area measurement (BET) were adopted to characterize raw and heated minerals. The interior diameter of halloysite tube was about 50 nm, and the length of tube was in the range of 0.5-1.0 μm. A series of substantial changes in crystalline structure and phase state occured in halloysite after heated treatment. The FSEM and TEM images of halloysite showed that the unheated halloysite particles possessed typical cylindrical shapes and contained transparent central areas that run long-itudinally along the cylinder, indicating that the cylinders were hollow and open ended. The morphology of the halloysite had no obvious change before and after heat treatment. Specific surface areas (SBET) of the raw and heated mineral below 800 °C were similar (in the range of 35-36 m2/g), suggesting that it still maintained tubular structure.

Terrane Boundary Reactivation, Barriers to Lateral Fault Propagation and Reactivated Fabrics: Rifting Across the Median Batholith Zone, Great South Basin, New Zealand

AbstractProminent preexisting structural heterogeneities within the lithosphere may localize or partition deformation during tectonic events. The NE‐trending Great South Basin, offshore New Zealand, formed perpendicular to a series of underlying crustal terranes, including the dominantly granitic Median Batholith Zone, which along with the boundaries between individual terranes exert a strong control on rift physiography and kinematics. We find that the crustal‐to‐lithospheric scale southern terrane boundary of the Median Batholith Zone is associated with a crustal‐scale shear zone that was reactivated during Late Cretaceous extension between Zealandia and Australia. This reactivated terrane boundary is oriented at a high angle to the faults defining the Great South Basin. We identify a large granitic laccolith along the southern margin of the Median Batholith, expressed as subhorizontal packages of reflectivity and acoustically transparent areas on seismic reflection data. The presence of this strong granitic body inhibits the lateral southwestward propagation of NE‐trending faults, which segment into a series of splays that rotate to align along the margin as they approach. Further, we also identify two E‐W‐ and NE‐SW‐oriented basement fabrics, likely corresponding to prominent foliations, which are exploited by small‐scale faults across the basin. We show that different mechanisms of structural inheritance are able to operate simultaneously, and somewhat independently, within rift systems at different scales of observation. The presence of structural heterogeneities across all scales needs to be incorporated into our understanding of the structural evolution of complex rift systems.

Mould-integrated heating technology for efficient and appropriate processing of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics

Automated large-scale production of hybrid structures is a key requirement to bring lightweight design into high volume industrial applications. Promising material combinations for hybrid structures consist of short and continuous fibre reinforced plastics and metals. The aim of this study is to develop economic strategies for automated final-shape manufacturing processes for these structures. This paper addresses the development of a mould-integrated heating technology for efficient and appropriate processing of continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastics. Due to challenges in ensuring required processing parameters during manufacturing, inefficient process chains dominate the composite industry. The most critical parameter is the temperature of the composite during forming and over moulding. To enable such complex process chains, the material must conventionally be heated high above its melting point to balance temperature losses during subsequent process steps. In this study, conventional processes and heating strategies are investigated to evaluate their potential of a mould-integrated heating technology. As reference, external infrared radiation heating is used. The mould-integrated heating makes use of transparent areas within the cavity to enable in-mould infra-red radiation. The main benefit of this technology is the increase of energy efficiency due to isothermal moulding processes.

Optical and UV surface brightness of translucent dark nebulae

Context. Dark nebulae display a surface brightness because dust grains scatter light of the general interstellar radiation field (ISRF). High-galactic-latitudes dark nebulae are seen as bright nebulae when surrounded by transparent areas which have less scattered light from the general galactic dust layer. Aims. Photometry of the bright dark nebulae LDN 1780, LDN 1642, and LBN 406 shall be used to derive scattering properties of dust and to investigate the presence of UV fluorescence emission by molecular hydrogen and the extended red emission (ERE). Methods. We used multi-wavelength optical photometry and imaging at ground-based telescopes and archival imaging and spectroscopic UV data from the spaceborn GALEX and SPEAR/FIMS instruments. In the analysis we used Monte Carlo RT and both observational data and synthetic models for the ISRF in the solar neighbourhood. The line-of-sight extinctions through the clouds have been determined using near infrared excesses of background stars and the 200/250 μm far infrared emission by dust as measured using the ISO and Herschel space observatories. Results. The optical surface brightness of the three target clouds can be explained in terms of scattered light. The dust albedo ranges from ~0.58 at 3500 Å to ~0.72 at 7500 Å. The spectral energy distribution of LDN 1780 is explained in terms of optical depth and background scattered light effects instead of the original published suggestion in terms of ERE. The far-ultraviolet surface brightness of LDN 1780 cannot be explained by scattered light only. In LDN 1780, H2 fluorescent emission in the wavelength range 1400–1700 Å has been detected and analysed. Conclusions. Our albedo values are in good agreement with the predictions of the dust model of Weingartner and Draine and with the THEMIS CMM model for evolved core-mantle grains. The distribution of H2 fluorescent emission in LDN 1780 shows a pronounced dichotomy with a strong preference for its southern side where enhanced illumination is impinging from the Sco OB2 association and the O star ζ Oph. A good correlation is found between the H2 fluorescence and a previously mapped 21-cm excess emission. The H2 fluorescence emission in LDN 1780 has been modelled using a PDR code; the resulting values for H2 column density and the total gas density are consistent with the estimates derived from CO observations and optical extinction along the line of sight.

A remote sensing data management system for sea area usage management in China

In China, remote sensing data play an important role in sea area usage management. With the enrichment of available remote sensing platforms and sensors, the volume constantly growing, and more and more complicated data processing operations on data products, remote sensing data overload has been an obvious problem for anyone who is trying to set planning policies and monitor sea area usage activities based on the valuable data products. In order to solve the problem, this paper presents a customized remote sensing data management system (RSDM) for archiving and distributing the remote sensing data products for sea area usage management. This paper has identified a set of key domain requirements by reviewing the workflow of sea area usage management. In the RSDM, a metadata interpreter tool allows data managers to classify the data products into categorical data types according to a set of domain-specific business rules, and a data model based on data lineage is developed to support tracing all relevant data products along processing chains. In addition, a unified procedure, which is used to create Quick Look images with transparent border areas from different remote sensing data sources, is developed. What is more, the system provides summary information about the available data suitable for auditing and exploratory data analysis by using a series of statistic graphs from different perspectives for data managers and users. This paper demonstrates that the RSDM improves data managers' day-to-day working arrangements, and facilitates the application of the remote sensing technology in sea area usage management.

Pixel mask-based three-dimensional display with uniform resolution

A pixel mask-based three-dimensional (3-D) display with uniform resolution is proposed. This 3-D display consists of a reflected light source, a pixel mask, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and a lenticular lens. The reflected light source is located on the bottom layer of the proposed 3-D display. It has a reflective structure to improve optical efficiency, so it can make up the brightness loss, which is caused by the pixel mask. The pixel mask is located between the reflected light source and the LCD panel, and is attached on the back surface of the LCD panel. This pixel mask is made of a reflective material, and some transparent areas are etched on it. The pixel mask redefines the pixels of the two-dimensional display panel located in front of it, so the size and location of redefined pixels depend on the transparent area of the pixel mask. The arrangement of the redefined pixels can increase the column numbers of synthetic images. Therefore, the synthetic images can make 3-D images have uniform resolution. A 4-view prototype of this display is developed and the experimental result shows the proposed method can improve resolution uniformity successfully.

Investigation of the relationship between the allowable transparent area, thermal mass and air change rate in buildings

In recent years, because of the high heat loads during the summer period and increased comfort needs of occupants, the energy used for the air conditioning of buildings has increased in most European countries. Choosing circumspectly the building materials and the transparent areas on the facades, proper indoor thermal conditions can be assured without cooling the fresh air. However, in this case the ventilated air flow has to be controlled properly. The aim of our research was to investigate the effects of thermal mass and air change rate on the allowable transparent area for different orientations of facades. Measurements were performed in a special rotating laboratory to determine the relation between thermal mass, incident radiation and indoor temperature. The incident solar radiation was determined for vertical surfaces using the measured global radiation data from 2009 to 2013. Measurements were carried out to determine the effect of stored heat on the internal air temperature excluding the effect of air change rate and solar radiation. Using the methodology given by standard EN ISO 13790, the allowable transparent area was determined assuming different building materials and air change rates. Based on calculations effectuated on 688 building models, it was proved that there is a linear relation between allowable transparent area and air change rate.

Coloration and Structure of the Wings ofChorinea sylphinaBates

The structure and the origin of transparency of the wings of Chorinea sylphina, a species of glasswinged butterflies, were explored using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, UV photography, spectrophotometry, and optical polarimetry. We found that for normally incident light, the clear transparent areas of the forewings and hindwings exhibit significant transmission as well as minuscule reflection throughout the visible regime in the electromagnetic spectrum. We found that the transparency results from the sparsity, the semitransparency, and the upright orientation of single scales on the wing membrane. The red and dark brown colors of the nontransparent areas of the wings have a pigmentary origin. Coherent scattering from the slanted and overlapping lamellae in the scale ridges and diffraction from every scale's longitudinal network of parallel ridges are responsible for blue iridescence and shimmer at large viewing angles. The transparent areas of the wings function as absorbing linear polarizers, due to both the parallel ridges and the almost unidirectional orientation of individual scales on those areas.

The glazing area in residential buildings in temperate climate: The thermal-energetic performance of housing units in Lisbon

This work aims to provide information related to issues of comfort and energy consumption, with emphasis on fractions of residential buildings with different transparent areas located in temperate climate, especially those that have more than 60% of the façade in glazing (window-to-wall ratio).The study was developed in different phases, based on geometric models verified through experimental and numerical studies, which are capable of representing the main typologies found in the Portuguese building stock.These models were used allowing the development of a solutions Matrix (current solutions mapping in performance verification process using the software EnergyPlus) and parametric studies, resulting on an information set (descriptive and visual) of interest available to the professional Architect; which allows to verify, identify and quantify the different effects and influences on the thermal behavior of units with such characteristics (large transparent areas), with overall results that may differ up to 75% only when changing a single parameter in units with large glazing areas.Through the results is possible to observe an array of options and solutions (20%–80% of facade in glazing, including those of large proportion) under the reference conditions considered. Thus, the reader can easily obtain enough information to make required and desired decisions in the initial phases of the project.

A proposed approach for quantitative benefit-risk assessment in diagnostic radiology guideline development: the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria Example.

The American College of Radiology develops evidence-based practice guidelines to aid appropriate utilization of radiological procedures. Panel members use expert opinion to weight trade-offs and consensus methods to rate appropriateness of imaging tests. These ratings include an equivocal range, assigned when there is disagreement about a technology's appropriateness and the evidence base is weak or for special circumstances. It is not clear how expert consensus merges with the evidence base to arrive at an equivocal rating. Quantitative benefit-risk assessment (QBRA) methods may assist decision makers in this capacity. However, many methods exist and it is not clear which methods are best suited for this application. We perform a critical appraisal of QBRA methods and propose several steps that may aid in making transparent areas of weak evidence and barriers to consensus in guideline development. We identify QBRA methods with potential to facilitate decision making in guideline development and build a decision aid for selecting among these methods. This study identified 2 families of QBRA methods suited to guideline development when expert opinion is expected to contribute substantially to decision making. Key steps to deciding among QBRA methods involve identifying specific benefit-risk criteria and developing a state-of-evidence matrix. For equivocal ratings assigned for reasons other than disagreement or weak evidence base, QBRA may not be needed. In the presence of disagreement but the absence of a weak evidence base, multicriteria decision analysis approaches are recommended; and in the presence of weak evidence base and the absence of disagreement, incremental net health benefit alone or combined with multicriteria decision analysis is recommended. Our critical appraisal further extends investigation of the strengths and limitations of select QBRA methods in facilitating diagnostic radiology clinical guideline development. The process of using the decision aid exposes and makes transparent areas of weak evidence and barriers to consensus.

Summer operative temperatures in free running existing buildings with high glazed ratio of the facades

Nowadays, low energy and low exergy solutions are widely used for new buildings, but existing buildings have high energy demand because of poor thermal properties of their envelope. The situation is worse in summer period in case of buildings built before 1970 with large transparent areas on the facades. The high summer outdoor temperatures and the increased number of heat waves can lead to extremely hot indoor environments or extremely high cooling energy use in these buildings. In this paper indoor operative temperatures and PMV were calculated in east and west oriented offices using measured meteorological parameters and the methodology given by EN ISO 13790. Furthermore, indoor comfort parameters were measured using TESTO 480 instrument. The operative temperature was calculated based on the measured air and globe temperatures in different locations of a room. The effect of lace curtains and drapes on the operative temperatures was analysed.

High mobility of carbon nanotubes into thermosetting matrix

A new manufacturing process based on applying weak magnetic field during the curing treatment is reported in order to induce a selective mobility and alignment of the carbon nanotubes on epoxy resins. Depending on experimental conditions, this procedure allows manufacturing different materials: (a) anisotropic composites with aligned carbon nanotubes and (b) composites with selected nanoreinforced areas and neat epoxy areas. Different composites have been manufactured, such as dielectric materials with insulating inside and electrically doped surfaces, or doped composites with insulating ring.The procedure basically consists on the anchorage of magnetite nanoparticles in the surface of carbon nanotubes and the application of magnetic field during the curing treatment. The mobility of nanofillers can be directly observed through the appearance of black and transparent areas on the composites, while the alignment of carbon nanotubes is analyzed by scanning electron microscopy of high resolution. The anisotropy and different behavior of selected areas for the manufactured composites have been determined by electrical measurements.

Responsive Polymer Photonics.

Responsive Polymer Photonics.

INTERSTELLAR EXTINCTION IN THE DIRECTION OF THE OPEN CLUSTER M29

The interstellar extinction is investigated in a 1.5 deg2 area in the direction of the open cluster M29 (NGC 6913) in Cygnus, centered at R.A. = 20h 24m, decl. = +38° 30′. The study is based on photometric classification of 1110 stars in spectral and luminosity classes down to V = 19 mag using photometry in the Vilnius seven-color system published in Paper I (Milasius et al. 2013). Additionally, in the same area the extinction is investigated using 1147 red clump giants (RCGs), identified by combining selected two-color diagrams of the 2MASS and Spitzer surveys. The investigated area is divided into three parts with different obscuration and in these directions the extinction versus distance plots up to 5 kpc are presented. In the whole area a steep rise of the extinction is observed at a distance of ∼800 pc; it should be related to dust clouds in the Great Cygnus Rift obscuring the stars behind it by AV = 4.0–4.7 mag. RCGs exhibit much larger extinction values, up to = 1.2–1.3 mag in the more transparent areas and 1.45 mag in the northeastern part of the area and above it, where the dust cloud TGU H466 is located. These values of correspond to AV = 10–12 mag. We do not exclude the possibility that the largest values of the extinction belong not to RCGs but to some contaminating intrinsically red AGB stars penetrated through the applied RCG selection constraints. The extinction in the TGU H466 cloud probably originates in two cloud systems—the Great Cygnus Rift at 800 pc and the Cygnus X complex of dust and molecular clouds at 1.3–1.5 kpc.

Large Area Plan-View Transmission Electron Microscopy Sample Preparation for Direct-Bonded Interfaces

A focused ion beam (FIB) sample preparation technique is developed to produce large areas of electron transparent material for plan-view transmission electron microscopy measurements from direct-bonded interfaces without thinning the bonded wafers. A FIB cut allows plan-view sample creation from the bonded interface region, and therefore rapid characterization of the defect density as a function of bonding conditions, substrate miscut, or pre-bonding surface treatments. Uniform electron transparent plan-view areas are extracted from the interface region to facilitate observation of the interface reconfiguration. To demonstrate the technique, the electrically active interfaces of a series of bonded III-V structures is studied as a function of substrate miscut as well as in-plane misorientation. Distinct differences in the interface reconstruction are observed and the interface reconstruction produces screw and edge dislocation networks at the III-V interfaces. The degree of twist and tilt is confirmed with both cross section electron microscopy measurements as well as in-plane x-ray diffraction measurements.

A novel method to fabricate silicon tubular gratings with broadband antireflection and super-hydrophobicity.

We have developed a novel method to fabricate micro/nano structure based on the coherent diffraction lithography, and acquired periodic silicon tubular gratings with deep nano-scale tapered profiles at the top part. The optical properties of these tubular gratings were similar to an effective gradient-index antireflective surface, resulting in a broadband antireflective combining super-hydrophobic behavior. The mechanism of the method was simulated by rigorous coupled wave analysis algorithms. Then coherent diffraction lithography by use of suitable mask, in which periodic micro-scale circular opaque patters were distributed, was realized on the traditional aligner. Due to coherent diffraction, we obtained enough light intensity for photoresist exposure under the center of the opaque area in the mask together with transparent areas. The tapered line profiles and hollow photoresist gratings over large areas could be fabricated on the silicon wafer after development. The dry etching process was carried out, and high aspect ratio silicon tubular gratings with deep tapered profiles at the top were fabricated. The optical property and wettability of the structure were verified, proving that the proposed method and obtained micro/nano structure provide application potential in the future.

The use of virtual resources in preoperative preparation of infrarenal aneurysms: exploring the OsiriX's potential.

IntroductionIn the past few years, the increase of endovascular surgeons' interest on tomography image edition through softwares is marked specially when it concerns to its use on preoperatory study for endovascular aneurysm repair. It is presumed that the bigger the number of informations extracted from the tomography exam and its three-dimensional reconstruction, the smaller is the need of patient's exposure to contrast, as well as the its exposure and the surgical team to radiation. Concepts of image manipulation on the OsiriX software with volume reconstruction of tridimensional tomographic scans of virtual fluoroscopy were used.MethodsThrough manipulation of multi-slice tomography images under three-dimensional reconstruction on software, it was able to modify values of the exam's dose-irradiated distribution. These volume reconstruction presets were saved as Virtual Fluoroscopy, reproducible upon any OsiriX platform. It was able to construct a biplanar image appearing to the patient's operatory fluoroscopy. When compared to the intraoperatory angiography, the images were alike.DiscussionDose-irradiated distribution data manipulation allowed to visualize as opaque bone surfaces and transparent low-dose radiation's areas (viscerae). Thus, under previously marked renal arteries, it was possible to predict it's anatomical positioning related to visualization under real fluoroscopy. Foretelling the better positioning of the C-arm through this technique enables to obtain images with the minimum influence of parallax effect. It is believed that it supports to assess the renal arteries topographic positioning on a bi-dimensional intraoperatory image. The need of frequent angiographies to localize the renal arteries is reduced, decreasing the exposure to contrast on vulnerable patients.

Improving Window Manipulation and Content Interaction on High-Resolution, Wall-Sized Displays

Interaction with high-resolution wall-sized (Powerwall) displays can be a tedious and difficult task due to large display areas and small target sizes. To overcome this, we developed techniques that reduce the precision required to manipulate windows and select data. The manipulation layer speeds up the common tasks of moving and resizing application windows by overlaying them with large, transparent target areas. The Power-Lens magnifies target sizes by automatically appearing once the cursor reaches the region of interest. Two experiments evaluated these techniques against conventional desktop-style interfaces. Experiment 1 showed the window manipulation layer to speed up the tasks of moving and resizing a window by 24% and 27%, respectively. Experiment 2 showed the Power-Lens to speed up the selection of 5 × 5 pixel targets by 18%. Together, our new techniques help to make interaction more fluid on Powerwall displays.