A high-resolution photogrammetric workflow based on focus stacking for the 3D modeling of small Aegean inscriptions

Any attempt of decipherment and language identification of the scripts from the Aegean dating to the second millennium BCE (namely Cretan Hieroglyphic, Linear A, and Cypro-Minoan) has relied, until today, on traditional catalogues of inscriptions, consisting of incomplete or subjective 2D representations, such as photographs and hand-drawn copies, which are not suitable for documenting such three-dimensional writing systems. In contrast, 3D models of the inscribed media allow for an accurate and objective “autopsy” of the entire surface of the inscriptions. In this context, this work presents an efficient, accurate, high-resolution, and high-quality texture photogrammetric workflow based on focus-stacked macro images, designed for the 3D modeling of small Aegean inscriptions, to properly reconstruct their geometry and to enhance the identification of their signs, making their transcription as unbiased as possible. The pipeline we propose also benefits from a pre-processing stage to remove any coloration difference from the images, and a reliable and simple 3D scaling procedure. We tested this workflow on six inscribed artifacts (two in Cretan Hieroglyphic, three in Linear A, one of uncertain affiliation), whose average size ranges approximately from 1 to 3 cm. Our results show that this workflow achieved an accuracy of a few hundredths of mm, comparable to the technical specifications of standard commercial 3D scanners. Moreover, the high 3D density we obtained (corresponding to the edge average length of the 3D model mesh), up to ≈ 30 µm, allowed us to reconstruct even the smallest details of the inscriptions, both in the mesh and in the texture layer of the 3D models

High-resolution imaging for e-heritage

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Studying the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium in Emission

We assess the possibility to detect the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) in emission and to characterize its physical conditions and spatial distribution through spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopy, in the framework of the recently proposed DIOS, EDGE, Xenia, and ORIGIN missions, all of which are equipped with microcalorimeter-based detectors. For this purpose we analyze a large set of mock emission spectra, extracted from a cosmological hydrodynamical simulation. These mock X-ray spectra are searched for emission features showing both the OVII K alpha triplet and OVIII Ly alpha line, which constitute a typical signature of the warm hot gas. Our analysis shows that 1 Ms long exposures and energy resolution of 2.5 eV will allow us to detect about 400 such features per deg^2 with a significance >5 sigma and reveals that these emission systems are typically associated with density ~100 above the mean. The temperature can be estimated from the line ratio with a precision of ~20%. The combined effect of contamination from other lines, variation in the level of the continuum, and degradation of the energy resolution reduces these estimates. Yet, with an energy resolution of 7 eV and all these effects taken into account, one still expects about 160 detections per deg^2. These line systems are sufficient to trace the spatial distribution of the line-emitting gas, which constitute an additional information, independent from line statistics, to constrain the poorly known cosmic chemical enrichment history and the stellar feedback processes.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, ApJ in press; revised version according to revie

A Mosaic Approach to Abbey Road

In September 1969, The Beatles released their final recorded work, Abbey Road, an album that perfects their unique and innovative approach to multi-track recording. Following an overview of the album that stresses the structural coherence of the Abbey Road Medley, the following discussion will consider the Abbey Road track “Because” using a mosaic approach designed to meet the recorded work on its own terms. Guided by Marshall McLuhan’s probes into the cultural effects of electronic media, this discussion will pay particular attention to the ways in which “Because” creates a living narrative in acoustical space. The implications of that narrative will then be examined in light of the Beatles’ engagement with electric technologies and the ways in which that engagement portends the media environments of the twenty-first century.En septembre 1969, les Beatles publient leur dernier album, Abbey Road, qui vient parfaire leur approche unique et innovante de l’enregistrement multipiste. Après une présentation générale du disque visant à souligner la cohérence structurelle de son medley, cet article propose une approche mosaïque de « Because » qui permet de saisir l’œuvre enregistrée selon ses propres modalités. En s’inspirant des recherches de Marshall McLuhan sur les effets culturels des médias électroniques, l’auteur s’intéresse plus particulièrement à la façon dont « Because » crée un récit vivant au sein d’un espace acoustique. Les implications de ce récit sont examinées à la lumière du rapport étroit des Beatles à la technologie électrique et de la façon dont cette relation a modelé les environnements médiatiques du xxie siècle

Gazing at the Solar System: Capturing the Evolution of Dunes, Faults, Volcanoes, and Ice from Space

Gazing imaging holds promise for improved understanding of surface characteristics and processes of Earth and solar system bodies. Evolution of earthquake fault zones, migration of sand dunes, and retreat of ice masses can be understood by observing changing features over time. To gaze or stare means to look steadily, intently, and with fixed attention, offering the ability to probe the characteristics of a target deeply, allowing retrieval of 3D structure and changes on fine and coarse scales. Observing surface reflectance and 3D structure from multiple perspectives allows for a more complete view of a surface than conventional remote imaging. A gaze from low Earth orbit (LEO) could last several minutes allowing for video capture of dynamic processes. Repeat passes enable monitoring time scales of days to years. Numerous vantage points are available during a gaze (Figure 1). Features in the scene are projected into each image frame enabling the recovery of dense 3D structure. The recovery is robust to errors in the spacecraft position and attitude knowledge, because features are from different perspectives. The combination of a varying look angle and the solar illumination allows recovering texture and reflectance properties and permits the separation of atmospheric effects. Applications are numerous and diverse, including, for example, glacier and ice sheet flux, sand dune migration, geohazards from earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, rivers and floods, animal migrations, ecosystem changes, geysers on Enceladus, or ice structure on Europa. The Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) hosted a workshop in June of 2014 to explore opportunities and challenges of gazing imaging. The goals of the workshop were to develop and discuss the broad scientific questions that can be addressed using spaceborne gazing, specific types of targets and applications, the resolution and spectral bands needed to achieve the science objectives, and possible instrument configurations for future missions. The workshop participants found that gazing imaging offers the ability to measure morphology, composition, and reflectance simultaneously and to measure their variability over time. Gazing imaging can be applied to better understand the consequences of climate change and natural hazards processes, through the study of continuous and episodic processes in both domains

Examining the Lived Experience of Caregivers Learning a Home Program from a Pediatric Occupational Therapist

The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of family caregivers as they learned a home program from an occupational therapist for their child. Gaining information from the caregiver on experiences with patient education may enable therapists to develop an understanding of the needs of caregivers during the educational process that occurs when a therapist is giving the caregiver a home program. Meeting the learning needs of the caregivers may possibly reduce the amount of overall therapy needed by the child. This phenomenological approach sought to answer the following research questions: (a) what are the lived experiences of caregivers of children with special needs when learning about delivery of an occupational therapy home program for their child from the occupational therapist, (b) how did the caregiver learn the home program, and (c) what helped or hindered the caregiver in learning the home program from the therapist. These research questions were answered by purposefully sampling nine caregivers of children with cerebral palsy who had experienced learning a home program for their child from an occupational therapist. Two interviews were conducted with each caregiver along with completion of Critical Incident Questionnaires and a diary. Findings indicated that caregivers experienced a range of negative emotions including guilt, being misunderstood and feeling criticized. The caregivers felt communication was key. It helped when the therapist was patient, compassionate and made the caregiver feel heard. It hindered learning when the therapist was defensive or said things which contributed to the caregiver having negative feelings. Caregivers wanted the therapist to explain why they were being asked to do certain activities within the home program. They wanted information, resources and more time learning how to do what will help the child. Lastly, caregivers wanted the relationship with the therapist to be a partnership. Therapists could benefit from receiving education on teaching/learning theories such as andragogy, experiential and transformational learning. The therapist would then be better prepared to incorporate teaching approaches and would be better prepared to enter the teaching and learning environment of the therapy session and work with their clients

Examining factors influencing sport choice(s) of African-American athletes in Euro-American sports

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston UniversityObjectives: The purpose ofthis investigation was to understand the perspectives and origins ofbehavioral choices, specifically the beliefs, attitudes and cultural influences that impacted sport choice behaviors, participation motives and the ways in which the African-American athletes, who participated in sports played predominantly by Euro-Americans, interpreted the meaning of their sport experiences and choices. This was done by examining the athletes, specifically focusing on how their early sport experiences, relationships with parents, peers and coaches and cultural background impacted beliefs, attitudes and perceptions potentially acted as behavior determinants. Method: Eight (8) African-American collegiate athletes were interviewed about their past and current attitudes and beliefs about how they came to participate in their chosen sport(s) and why they continued to participate in the sport over the course of five or more years. The participants responded to a semi-structured interview and data were analyzed using Extended Case Method (Burawoy, 1998). Conclusion: Implications include the importance for role modeling; the prevalence ofproactive acculturation processes based on cultural and ethnicity; access to Euro-American sport through familial relationships; and coaching/parenting/peer support are required for emotional and physical safety as a deterrent to racism and discrimination