Use of EO-1 Hyperion Data for Inter-Sensor Calibration of Vegetation Indices

Numerous satellite sensor systems useful in terrestrial Earth observation and monitoring have recently been launched and their derived products are increasingly being used in regional and global vegetation studies. The increasing availability of multiple sensors offer much opportunity for vegetation studies aimed at understanding the terrestrial carbon cycle, climate change, and land cover conversions. Potential applications include improved multiresolution characterization of the surface (scaling); improved optical-geometric characterization of vegetation canopies; improved assessments of surface phenology and ecosystem seasonal dynamics; and improved maintenance of long-term, inter-annual, time series data records. The Landsat series of sensors represent one group of sensors that have produced a long-term, archived data set of the Earth s surface, at fine resolution and since 1972, capable of being processed into useful information for global change studies (Hall et al., 1991)

THE ENERGY CONVERSION EFFICIENCY OF DRIVER SHOT IN FEMALE PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR GOLFERS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of driver shot from the viewpoint of the energy conversion efficiency between club head and ball at impact. Six female professional golfers and six female amateur golfers participated in this study. All subjects were instructed to hit a straight ball with their usual swing. Each subject performed ten trials. Three dimensional coordinates of reflective markers attached on a body and club landmarks were obtained using the motion capture system operating at 250 Hz. High speed camera was used to measure the movement of the club head and ball. The energy conversion efficiency was significantly different between professional and amateur golfers (

A New Method of Microcatheter Heat-Forming for Cerebral Aneurysmal Coiling Using Stereolithography Three-Dimensional Printed Hollow Vessel Models

[Background] To perform successful coil embolization of cerebral aneurysms, it is crucial to make an appropriately shaped microcatheter tip for an aneurysm and its parent artery. So far, we manually shaped a mandrel by referencing two-dimensional (2D) images of a rotation digital subtraction angiography (DSA) on a computer screen. However, this technique requires a lot of experience, and often involves trial and error. Recently, there have been increasing reports of manual mandrel shaping using a full-scale three-dimensional (3D) model of an aneurysm and its parent artery output by various types of 3D printer. We have further developed this method by producing a hollow model of an aneurysm and its parent artery with a stereolithography 3D printer and inserting a mandrel inside the model to fit and stabilize a microcatheter tip. [Methods] Based on digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data obtained by rotational DSA, 3D images of an aneurysm and its parent artery were created and converted into standard triangulated language (STL) data. A hollow model was produced by extruding the STL data outward in the normal direction, and then a hole was made at the tip of the aneurysm using these STL data. We output these STL data to a stereolithography 3D printer. After cleaning and sterilizing the model, the mandrel was inserted in the direction of the parent artery through the hole made in the tip of the aneurysm and pushed in, creating the ideal mandrel shape. Twelve cases (14 aneurysms) were included in this study. A microcatheter tip was shaped by this method for patients who were scheduled to undergo coil embolization for an unruptured aneurysm. [Results] In 13 of the 14 aneurysms, the microcatheter was easily guided into the aneurysms in one or two trials, the position of the microcatheter tip in the aneurysm was appropriate, and the stability during coil embolization was high. [Conclusion] Our method differs from the conventional one in that a hollow model made of resin is produced with a stereolithography 3D printer and that the mandrel is shaped by inserting it retrogradely into the hollow model. Using our new method, it will be possible to shape the tip of a microcatheter suitable for safe and stable coil embolization without relying on an operator’s experience

COMPARISON OF GOLF SWING PATTERNS IN SKILLED FEMALE GOLFERS AMONG THREE DIFFERENT CLUBS

The purpose of this study was to compare golf swing patterns using three different clubs among skilled golfers. Five right-handed female professional golfers used their own three clubs (driver, 5-iron, and 9-iron) to hit standard golf balls in our laboratory. 3D coordinates of body and club landmarks during the swing motions were recorded using a 3D motion capture system with operating at 250 Hz frame rates. As the results, the acceleration of club head in each club during downswing reached a maximum around about 0.08 s before impact during similar swing time, and the height of club head at the maximum acceleration showed about 55% of ratio for the body height despite differences of clubs. Skilled golfers therefore might feel as the similar patterns of golf swing even if they are swinging with different length clubs