62 research outputs found
Revisiting Rolling Shutter Bundle Adjustment: Toward Accurate and Fast Solution
We propose a robust and fast bundle adjustment solution that estimates the
6-DoF pose of the camera and the geometry of the environment based on
measurements from a rolling shutter (RS) camera. This tackles the challenges in
the existing works, namely relying on additional sensors, high frame rate video
as input, restrictive assumptions on camera motion, readout direction, and poor
efficiency. To this end, we first investigate the influence of normalization to
the image point on RSBA performance and show its better approximation in
modelling the real 6-DoF camera motion. Then we present a novel analytical
model for the visual residual covariance, which can be used to standardize the
reprojection error during the optimization, consequently improving the overall
accuracy. More importantly, the combination of normalization and covariance
standardization weighting in RSBA (NW-RSBA) can avoid common planar degeneracy
without needing to constrain the filming manner. Besides, we propose an
acceleration strategy for NW-RSBA based on the sparsity of its Jacobian matrix
and Schur complement. The extensive synthetic and real data experiments verify
the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed solution over the
state-of-the-art works. We also demonstrate the proposed method can be easily
implemented and plug-in famous GSSfM and GSSLAM systems as completed RSSfM and
RSSLAM solutions
Effect of corrosion on the bond behavior of steel-reinforced, alkali-activated slag concrete
Alkali-activated slag concrete (ASC) is regarded as one of the most promising sustainable construction materials for replacing ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPC) due to its comparable strength and outstanding durability in challenging environments. In this study, the corrosion of steel bars embedded in ASC and OPC was studied by means of an electrically accelerated corrosion test of steel bars in concrete. Meanwhile, the bond performance of the corroded steel bars embedded in ASC was tested and compared with corresponding OPC groups. The results showed that ASC and OPC behaved differently in terms of bond deterioration. The high chemical resistance of ASC decreased the corrosion of steel bars and, thus, increased the residue bond strength and the bond stiffness. © 2023 by the authors
Discovery of entomopathogenic fungi across geographical regions in southern China on pine sawyer beetle Monochamus alternatus and implication for multi-pathogen vectoring potential of this beetle
Entomopathogen-based biocontrol is crucial for blocking the transmission of vector-borne diseases; however, few cross-latitudinal investigations of entomopathogens have been reported for vectors transmitting woody plant diseases in forest ecosystems. The pine sawyer beetle Monochamus alternatus is an important wood borer and a major vector transmitting pine wilt disease, facilitating invasion of the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (PWN) in China. Due to the limited geographical breadth of sampling regions, species diversity of fungal associates (especially entomopathogenic fungi) on M. alternatus adults and their potential ecological functions have been markedly underestimated. In this study, through traditional fungal isolation with morphological and molecular identification, 640 fungal strains (affiliated with 15 genera and 39 species) were isolated from 81 beetle cadavers covered by mycelia or those symptomatically alive across five regional populations of this pest in southern China. Multivariate analyses revealed significant differences in the fungal community composition among geographical populations of M. alternatus, presenting regionalized characteristics, whereas no significant differences were found in fungal composition between beetle genders or among body positions. Four region-representative fungi, namely, Lecanicillium attenuatum (Zhejiang), Aspergillus austwickii (Sichuan), Scopulariopsis alboflavescens (Fujian), and A. ruber (Guangxi), as well as the three fungal species Beauveria bassiana, Penicillium citrinum, and Trichoderma dorotheae, showed significantly stronger entomopathogenic activities than other fungi. Additionally, insect-parasitic entomopathogenic fungi (A. austwickii, B. bassiana, L. attenuatum, and S. alboflavescens) exhibited less to no obvious phytopathogenic activities on the host pine Pinus massoniana, whereas P. citrinum, Purpureocillium lilacinum, and certain species of Fusarium spp.—isolated from M. alternatus body surfaces—exhibited remarkably higher phytopathogenicity. Our results provide a broader view of the entomopathogenic fungal community on the vector beetle M. alternatus, some of which are reported for the first time on Monochamus spp. in China. Moreover, this beetle might be more highly-risk in pine forests than previously considered, as a potential multi-pathogen vector of both PWN and phytopathogenic fungi
Efficient solid base derived from eggshell for heterogeneous biodiesel production
In this work, eggshell waste was investigated in a triglyceride transesterification with a view to determine its pretreatment and viability as a solid base for the biodiesel production, which can reduce the cost of biodiesel to make it competitive with petroleum diesel. Eggshell waste was treated with acid and the produced powder was calcined before the use of solid base catalyst. The physical properties of the catalyst were characterized using the Fourier Transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, CO2-Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and the biodiesel conversion was determined by the Gas Chromatography (GC). It was found that the acid type used in pretreatment has a great effect on the catalytic performance of obtained CaO, and 5 wt% CaO derived from HCl treated eggshell waste is superior to the commercial CaO. The maximum percentage yield of biodiesel by using derived CaO is 99.2% under optimum conditions of 10:1 methanol to oil ratio after 4 h at 65C, while for commercial CaO, 74.9% yield of biodiesel with 10:1 methanol to oil ratio after 4 h
Endovascular Repair of Ascending Aortic Dissection A Novel Treatment Option for Patients Judged Unfit for Direct Surgical Repair
ObjectivesThis paper sought to report the outcomes of patients who are considered unfit for urgent surgical repair of ascending aortic dissections (AADs) who were treated using a novel endovascular repair strategy.BackgroundAAD is best treated by direct surgical repair. Patients who are unable to undergo this form of treatment have poor prognoses. Previously, clinical case reports related to endovascular repair of AAD have been controversial.MethodsBetween May 2009 and January 2011, 41 consecutive patients with AAD were treated in our institution. Fifteen patients were considered poor candidates for direct surgical repair and subsequently underwent the endovascular repair.ResultsThe nature of the referral process to our tertiary care facility made the median time from aortic dissection onset to treatment 25.5 days (range: 6 to 353 days). Dissections in 5 patients (33.3%) were considered acute, and those in 10 patients (66.7%) were considered chronic. The rate of successful stent-graft deployment was 100%, and there were no major morbidities or deaths in the perioperative period. Median follow-up was 26 months (range: 16 to 35 months). One new dissection occurred in the aortic arch at 3 months and was treated with a branched endograft. Significant enlargements of true lumens and decreases of false lumens and overall thoracic aorta were noted after the procedures.ConclusionsEndovascular repair of AAD was an appropriate treatment option in patients who were considered poor candidates for traditional direct surgical repair by the clinical criteria used in our institution. A larger series of cases with longer follow-up is needed to substantiate these results
Insight-HXMT observations of Swift J0243.6+6124 during its 2017-2018 outburst
The recently discovered neutron star transient Swift J0243.6+6124 has been
monitored by {\it the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope} ({\it Insight-\rm HXMT).
Based on the obtained data, we investigate the broadband spectrum of the source
throughout the outburst. We estimate the broadband flux of the source and
search for possible cyclotron line in the broadband spectrum. No evidence of
line-like features is, however, found up to . In the absence of
any cyclotron line in its energy spectrum, we estimate the magnetic field of
the source based on the observed spin evolution of the neutron star by applying
two accretion torque models. In both cases, we get consistent results with
, and peak luminosity of which makes the source the first Galactic ultraluminous
X-ray source hosting a neutron star.Comment: publishe
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