ProcSETE2005-11052005.qxd

Due to acidification and eutrophication, extensive areas of sandy, dry and lichen-rich dune grasslands (Violo-corynephoretum) are overgrown by the invasive moss species Campylopus introflexus. Species assemblages of spiders, carabid beetles, Sciaridae and Empidoidea differed between a Violo-corynephoretum reference site and moss-encroached sites. Sciaridae emerged in relatively high numbers from thick moss layers, Empidoidea showed a preference for moss-encroached sites. This suggests that moss-encroachment induces changes in soil fauna composition. Total activity of both carabid beetles and spiders was significantly lower in the moss-encroached sites, suggesting lower food density in moss-encroached dry dune grasslands. Night-active carabid and spider species showed equal or higher activity in the moss-encroached sites, whereas day-active species had a lower activity in moss-encroached sites. This indicates that moss-encroached sites have a more extreme microclimate, or that specific vegetation structures used by xerophylous species disappear by moss-encroachment

Towards operational flood monitoring in Flanders using Sentinel-1

As floods pose an increasing threat to our society, insights into their occurrence and dynamics are of major importance for emergency relief, damage assessment, the optimization of predictive models, and spatial planning. Due to their capability of providing synoptic observations independent of cloud cover and daylight, synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) sensors are an invaluable tool for flood mapping and monitoring. In this study, the potential of SAR, and more specifically Sentinel-1, for automated flood monitoring in Flanders is assessed. Its capability to detect floods with varying characteristics is investigated, and an approach for automated monitoring is presented. This approach, combining thresholding and region growing, requires a SAR image pair and several ancillary data layers, including elevation, land cover, and flood risk, as input. The resulting map discriminates permanent water, open flooding, long-term flooding, possible flooding, flooded vegetation, and possibly flooded forests from dry land. Invisible forested areas are indicated as well. A quantitative and qualitative accuracy assessment, based on 17 and 138 flood maps, respectively, highlights the approach's robustness and improved accuracy compared to benchmark techniques. Furthermore, main sources of confusion are identified and suggestions for future improvements are listed

Isosorbide derivatives

\u3cp\u3eThe invention pertains to an isosorbide derivative having at least one polymerizable group, characterized in that the isosorbide derivative further comprises at least one photo-convertible group for adjusting the helical twisting power of the isosorbide derivative. According to a preferred embodiment the isosorbide has the formula wherein A stands for a bond or a p-phenylene group; B and B' are independently O>X o2o32<or a C=O group; Q and Q' are independently selected from H, C1-C3 alkyl, C1-C3 alkoxy, halogen, and CN;n is an integer from 1 to 3; and m is an integer from 0 to 2.\u3c/p\u3

Synthesis and properties of photoisomerizable derivatives of isosorbide and their use in cholesteric filters

\u3cp\u3eThis paper describes the synthesis of photoisomerizable derivatives of isosorbide. These derivatives contain a stilbene or cinnamate moiety and can therefore be used as photoisomerizable chiral compounds in cholesteric liquid-crystalline mixtures. The reflection wavelength of cholesteric layers made from these mixtures is increased by UV irradiation due to the fact that the Z-isomers of these derivatives exhibit a lower helical twisting power than the corresponding E-isomers. The cinnamate derivatives are very suitable for use in cholesteric color filters that find application in liquid-crystal displays.\u3c/p\u3

Stable photopatterned cholesteric layers made by photoisomerization and subsequent photopolymerization for use as color filters in liquid-crystal displays

\u3cp\u3eNew thermally and mechanically very stable cholesteric layers with patterned reflection colors were described. As such, the layers were made by coating a monomeric cholesteric mixture on a substate followed by a sequence of photochemical processes, namely photoisomerization and photopolymerization. In order to separate both processes, the isomerization was performed in air to avoid polymerization, and the photopolymerization was performed in nitrogen with longer-wavelength UV irradiation.\u3c/p\u3

Robust flexible LCDs with paintable technology

In this article, second-generation liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) made by Paintable LCD technology is presented. With this technology, LCDs are manufactured by a sequence of simple coating and UV curing processes. Since the process can be carried out on plastic substrates and the stack of optical layers is only tens of micrometers thick, the resulting LCDs are ultra-thin and flexible

Robust flexible LCDs with paintable technology

\u3cp\u3eIn this article, second-generation liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) made by Paintable LCD technology is presented. With this technology, LCDs are manufactured by a sequence of simple coating and UV curing processes. Since the process can be carried out on plastic substrates and the stack of optical layers is only tens of micrometers thick, the resulting LCDs are ultra-thin and flexible.\u3c/p\u3