144 research outputs found

    MULTI-WAVELENGTHS 3D LASER SCANNING FOR PIGMENT AND STRUCTURAL STUDIES ON THE FRESCOED CEILING <q>THE TRIUMPH OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE</q>

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    Abstract. The modern 3D digitalization techniques open new scenarios on how to transmit to the next generations the state of health of Cultural Heritage (CH) buildings, paintings, frescos or statues. The final goal of the 3D digitalization is an exact replica of the acquired target, but a standard and unique technique able to digitalize artworks of different size and in different ambient light conditions is still far from being successfully ready for the CH field. Even if both laser scanning and photogrammetry can be considered mature techniques, applied with success in most of the Cultural Heritage study cases, they are limited in terms of colour digitalization and image quality in all the cases where ambient light and big sensor-target distances are crucial factors: differently to standard laser scanners, which collect colour information by the use of a coaxial camera and the distance by an IR laser source, the RGB-ITR (Red, Green and Blue Imaging Topological Radar) scanner, developed in ENEA, is equipped with three different laser sources for the simultaneous colour and distance estimation. The present work shows the results obtained applying the above-mentioned multi-wavelengths laser scanner for collecting a complete high-quality 3D colour model of "The Triumph of Divine Providence" vault, painted by Pietro da Cortona on the ceiling of the noble hall inside Palazzo Barberini in Rome.</p

    Techniques for Effective Optical Noise Rejection in Amplitude-Modulated Laser Optical Radars for Underwater Three-Dimensional Imaging

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    Amplitude-modulated (AM) laser imaging is a promising technology for the production of accurate three-dimensional (3D) images of submerged scenes. The main challenge is that radiation scattered off water gives rise to a disturbing signal (optical noise) that degrades more and more the quality of 3D images for increasing turbidity. In this paper, we summarize a series of theoretical findings, that provide valuable hints for the development of experimental methods enabling a partial rejection of optical noise in underwater imaging systems. In order to assess the effectiveness of these methods, which range from modulation/demodulation to polarimetry, we carried out a series of experiments by using the laboratory prototype of an AM 3D imager ( = 405 nm) for marine archaeology surveys, in course of realization at the ENEA Artificial Vision Laboratory (Frascati, Rome). The obtained results confirm the validity of the proposed methods for optical noise rejection

    Radiation Tolerant 3D Laser Scanner for Structural Inspections in Nuclear Reactor Vessels and Fuel Storage Pools

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    Accurate and timely assessment of displacements and/or structural damages in nuclear reactor vessels' components is a key action in routine inspections for planning maintenance and repairs but also in emergency situations for mitigating consequences of nuclear incidents. Nevertheless, all these components are maintained underwater and reside in high-radiation fields thus imposing harsh operative conditions to inspection devices which must cope with effects such as Cerenkov radiation background, Total Ionizing Radiation (TID), and occlusions in the detectors' field of view. To date, ultrasonic techniques and video cameras are in use for inspection of components' integrity and with measurements of volumetric and surface crack opening displacements, respectively. The present work reports the realization of a radiation tolerant laser scanner and the results of tests in a nuclear research reactor vessel for acquisition of 3D models of critical components. The device, qualified for underwater operation and for withstanding up to 1 MGy of TID, is based on a 515 nm laser diode and a fast-scanning electro-optic unit. To evaluate performances in a significant but controlled environment, the device has been deployed in the vessel of a research reactor operated by ENEA in the Casaccia Research Centre in Rome (Italy). A 3D model of the fuel rods assembly through a cooling water column of 7 m has been acquired. The system includes proprietary postprocessing software that automatically recognizes components of interest and provides dimensional analysis. Possible application fields of the system stretch to dimensional analysis also in spent nuclear fuel storage pools

    Remote and contactless infrared imaging techniques for stratigraphical investigations in paintings on canvas

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    AbstractIn the analysis of complex stratigraphical structures like painted artefact, infrared (IR) techniques can provide precious information about elements hidden under superficial layers of the artwork, such as pictorial features and structural defects. This paper presents a novel complementary use of reflectographic and thermographic techniques for the survey of three baroque paintings, preserved at the Chigi Palace in Ariccia (Italy). First, the IR-ITR laser scanner prototype has been used for the preliminary and remote near-IR reflectographic survey of the areas where the canvas was located. The resulting map was then used for planning the thermographic and mid-IR reflectographic studies, focusing the analyses on the most interesting areas of one of the paintings, called "La Primavera". The combination of the three imaging techniques revealed several details not visible by the naked eye, such as restored lacunas and pentimenti, demonstrating the validity and complementarity of the proposed combined methodologies

    Contact X-ray microscopy of living cells by using LiF crystal as imaging detector

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    In this paper, the use of lithium fluoride (LiF) as imaging radiation detector to analyse living cells by single-shot soft X-ray contact microscopy is presented. High resolved X-ray images on LiF of cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya VRUC135, two unicellular microalgae of the genus Chlamydomonas and mouse macrophage cells (line RAW 264.7) have been obtained utilizingX-ray radiation in the water window energy range from a laser plasma source. The used method is based on loading of the samples, the cell suspension, in a special holder where they are in close contactwith a LiF crystal solid-state Xray imaging detector. After exposure and sample removal, the images stored in LiF by the softX-ray contactmicroscopy technique are read by an optical microscope in fluorescence mode. The clear image of the mucilaginous sheath the structure of the filamentous Leptolyngbya and the visible nucleolus in the macrophage cells image, are noteworthiness results. The peculiarities of the used X-ray radiation and of the LiF imaging detector allow obtaining images in absorption contrast revealing the internal structures of the investigated samples at high spatial resolution. Moreover, thewidedynamicrangeof theLiF imaging detector contributes to obtain high-quality images. In particular, we demonstrate that this peculiar characteristic of LiF detector allows enhancing the contrast and reveal details even when they were obscured by a nonuniform stray light

    Improving underwater imaging in an amplitude-modulated laser system with radio frequency control technique

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    We present the results of an experiment aimed to demonstrate the low-pass filter dependence of water backscattered power in an amplitude-modulated laser scanner for underwater 3D imaging. We also demonstrate that improvements in target imaging are obtained by allowing the device to operate in the stop-band region. A simple model is described to account for the physics underlying the effect and suggesting future experimental schemes based on demodulated detection techniques

    ACCURATE WAVELENGTH MEASUREMENTS AND MODELING OF Fe XV TO Fe XIX SPECTRA RECORDED IN HIGH-DENSITY PLASMAS BETWEEN 13.5 AND 17 A

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    Iron spectra have been recorded from plasmas created at three different laser plasma facilities: the Tor Vergata University laser in Rome (Italy), the Hercules laser at ENEA in Frascati (Italy), and the Compact Multipulse Terawatt (COMET) laser at LLNL in California (USA). The measurements provide a means of identifying dielectronic satellite lines from Fe XVI and Fe XV in the vicinity of the strong 2p → 3d transitions of Fe XVII. About 80 Δn ≥ 1 lines of Fe XV (Mg-like) to Fe XIX (O-like) were recorded between 13.8 and 17.1 A with a high spectral resolution (λ/Δλ ≈ 4000); about 30 of these lines are from Fe XVI and Fe XV. The laser-produced plasmas had electron temperatures between 100 and 500 eV and electron densities between 1020 and 1022 cm-3. The Hebrew University Lawrence Livermore Atomic Code (HULLAC) was used to calculate the atomic structure and atomic rates for Fe XV-XIX. HULLAC was used to calculate synthetic line intensities at Te = 200 eV and ne = 1021 cm-3 for three different conditions to illustrate the role of opacity: optically thin plasmas with no excitation-autoionization/dielectronic recombination (EA/DR) contributions to the line intensities, optically thin plasmas that included EA/DR contributions to the line intensities, and optically thick plasmas (optical depth ≈200 μm) that included EA/DR contributions to the line intensities. The optically thick simulation best reproduced the recorded spectrum from the Hercules laser. However, some discrepancies between the modeling and the recorded spectra remain

    Italian association of clinical endocrinologists (AME) position statement: drug therapy of osteoporosis

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    Treatment of osteoporosis is aimed to prevent fragility fractures and to stabilize or increase bone mineral density. Several drugs with different efficacy and safety profiles are available. The long-term therapeutic strategy should be planned, and the initial treatment should be selected according to the individual site-specific fracture risk and the need to give the maximal protection when the fracture risk is highest (i.e. in the late life). The present consensus focused on the strategies for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis taking into consideration all the drugs available for this purpose. A short revision of the literature about treatment of secondary osteoporosis due both to androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer and to aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer was also performed. Also premenopausal females and males with osteoporosis are frequently seen in endocrine settings. Finally particular attention was paid to the tailoring of treatment as well as to its duration

    Utilization of Renewable Biomass and Waste Materials for Production of Environmentally-Friendly, Bio-based Composites

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    The introduction of renewable biomass into a polymer matrix is an option competing with other possibilities, such as energy recovery and/or re-use in the carbonized state, or production of chemicals, such as, in the case of ligno-cellulosic waste, concentrates on the production of simple sugars, then possibly leading to the development of biopolymers. These competitive applications have also some interest and market, however with a considerable energy, water and materials consumption, due also to the not always high yielding. Other possibilities for renewable biomass are therefore being used as fillers to increase mechanical performance of polymers or to allow e.g., the absorption of toxic chemicals. This review concentrates on the use of biomass as close as possible to the “as received” state, therefore avoiding whenever suitable any thermal treatment. More specifically, it focuses on its introduction into the three categories of oil-based (or bio-based replacement) of engineered polymers, into industrial biopolymers, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and self-developed biopolymers, such as thermoplastic starch (TPS)
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